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Statement on Agenda Item 10: the Report of the Secretary-General New York, 28 September 2000 Mr. President, I should like, at the outset, to express my delegation=s appreciation to the Secretary-General for his insightful Report on the Work of the Organization. It is comprehensive and provides us with an overall view of the role of the UN in dealing with a myriad of issues of concern and interest to the member states as well as proposals to further strengthen its functioning and to improve its efficiency. As the Report makes clear, security continues to be a pre-occupation of the international community as long-standing conflicts persisted while new ones have erupted, often exacerbated by ethnic and religious differences and fueled by illicit trafficking in arms. They are the major challenges to international peace and security. There is thus a clear need for augmenting global and regional mechanisms for conflict prevention. In this regard, we are gratified to note the steps already taken and those under consideration in preventing armed conflicts in the future. Concurrently, peace-keeping and peace-making have become more complex and demanding which led to a major review by the Brahimi Panel, where its recommendations warrant our serious consideration in further strengthening these operations. In view of the Organization=s indispensable role in these activities, the search for ways and means to ensure stable logistic and financial support has become imperative. While all aspects of the UN activities have faced financial constraints in recent years, but none so severe as its peace-keeping missions. Beyond doubt, the current arrangements for financing these activities are inadequate and unreliable. They place the heaviest burden on the developing countries that contribute troops, thus discouraging participation. Indonesia fully recognizes that the implementation of the Panel=s recommendations will depend to a considerable degree on the availability of additional resources, and resolving numerous other inter-related issues. Equally important, peace-keeping operations should be non-intrusive and noninterventionist in nature. This issue has again been raised in the Secretary-General=s Report which has acknowledged that many states have serious and legitimate concerns about intervention for whatever reasons. Hence, the question of international intervention continues to be controversial as it impinges on the critical issue of foreign intervention and interference in the internal affairs of states. The recent debates have underscored how far we are from reaching a consensus. But those deliberations have marked the beginnings of a healthy dialogue and focused our attention on providing the best care in times of humanitarian emergencies. From Indonesia=s viewpoint, humanitarian assistance can only be rendered by the UN or any other organization following a request by the state concerned, or at a minimum with its express approval. To contemplate otherwise, would threaten the very foundation of the UN which has always upheld the sanctity of the sovereign state as essential to international security and cooperation.As a long-time proponent of regional approach to disarmament, my delegation is gratified to note that the validity of this approach is acknowledged in the Report. In general, we believe that both global and regional approaches to disarmament compliment each other and should be pursued simultaneously. As regards other disarmament issues identified in the Report, the real cause for stalemate is untenable approaches adopted by some countries in the post-Cold War era. Obviously, if the expectations of the international community are to be fulfilled, negotiations must be pursued with a serious political commitment by the nuclear weapon states. Questions have constantly been raised as to their commitment to fulfill their obligations. The challenge today and into the future is to ensure the full implementation of all the provisions of all the treaties by all of the states parties. The question of illicit traffic in small arms alluded to in the Report has acquired urgency in the post-Cold era as civilians have become intentional targets. The linkage of children to violence is poignant and is due largely to the availability of these arms. They have placed the safety of societies and security of states in jeopardy. Various initiatives have already been taken at the regional and sub-regional levels in stemming the illegal flow of small arms. The success of the forthcoming international conference will depend upon resolving a multiplicity of inter- related issues including the root causes of conflicts, state control over its security, arms supplies and iliicit activities, the delinking of small arms with drug trafficking and terrorism, the reintegration of former combatants into unified armed forces and confidence building measures. The Report also touches upon the harmful impact of sanctions on the civilians of the targeted countries and neighboring states whose trade and commercial relations are disrupted without compensation and to the detriment of their economy. Sanctions which are blunt instruments and imposed indefinitely served no useful purpose in achieving their objectives. They should be subjected to periodic review and terminated when their objectives are attained. Such an approach would ensure future support for the imposition and implementation of sanctions regimes.Indonesia considers that the issue of humanitarian assistance, either in regard to natural disasters or conflict situations, should be considered in a balanced manner. We agree with the Secretary-General=s view that an international response to the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) should be designed in collaboration with the government in each affected country. Furthermore, it is our view that the central premise of the policy is that the responsibility for a humanitarian response lies first and foremost with the national government and that such assistance should be based on the request of the government concerned, while fully respecting state sovereignty. My delegation would like to underline the important progress that has been made in improving coordination within the UN system in its response to humanitarian emergencies. The situation in Mozambique earlier this year, which drew an immediate response from the General Assembly and also the ECOSOC, is one example of the success that can be achieved through timely action. Indonesia has always been committed to strengthening its national human rights mechanisms and to effectively promoting and protecting human rights at all levels. We take note of the new developments in the work and mechanisms of human rights bodies, as indicated in the report. In that regard, we consider it important to note that what is foremost required is to make optimal use of existing human rights bodies, by reviewing their procedures with a view to avoiding unnecessary overlapping of activities. Regarding social issues, Indonesia agrees with the Secretary-General that the Special Session of the General Assembly reached an agreement on sensitive social development issues and resulted in commitments toward social development. In particular, we were encouraged by the attention that was given to emerging issues, such as the impact of globalization and the prospects for the future. In this regard, my delegation would like to express its sincere wish that this special session does not end as an exercise in rhetoric, but will help to restore momentum for social development.Finally, Mr. President, on the issue of women, Indonesia also welcomes the outcome of the Special Session on the Follow-up of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing +5). In particular, the prominence that is being given to the issue of violence against women has strengthened that process. We would note, however, that given the significance that should be attached to the five-year reviews, it was perhaps too ambitious to hold two special sessions in the same month and same year. I thank you.
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