Brazil

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Republica Federativa do Brasil

(Federative Republic of Brazil)

M.U.N. General Policy Statement

Brazil position paper, courtesy of Micah Nickerson:

Statementent by his Excellency Ambassador Luiz Felipe Lamprela, Minister of External Relations of Brazil at the opening of the General Debate of the Fifty-Second United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 22nd, 1997:

Http://www.undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/52ang3.htm

Introduction

Brazil maintains our general policy of seeking peace and prosperity for the people of Brazil. We seek to defend and provide for the diverse people of our nation. We seek to develop and modernize the nation in which they live. We seek to solve inner turmoil, be it social, economic, environmental or political. We seek to further solidify the Brazilian constitution's ideals of justice, democracy and a diverse unity under the leadership of the wise chief of state and head of government President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

However these statements provide our platform in another sense. They present our views of the world and the people of it. The Brazilian delegation is proud of our nation's rich history with the United Nations and has great expectations of the accomplishments which the UN can achieve. We have always strongly believed in providing for populous beyond one's borders. Brazil maintains it's policy of striving to keep peace in the world, and to ensure that every individual of this world has access to all the rights of which we have so aptly spoken. Of peace, justice, prosperity not just citizens of nations, but also as citizens of the United Nations.

Brazil's primary international goals are providing for each of the above through direct resolution, through multilateral negotiation, humanitarian activity and peace-keeping and also through a goal of prevention, through international cooperation and both regional and economic globalization.

On the United Nations

As one of the founding member of the United Nations, a great supporter of UN peace keeping activity and the tenth largest contributor to the UN budget, Brazil continues to work with the UN on the issues which face it, as well as the issues it faces. In this ever changing world, Brazil feels, it is crucial that the UN change parallel to the nations which it represents. Brazil firmly supports UN reform in order to best represent the will of the world in every issue which faces it.

On Security Council Reform

Brazil strongly believes that along with United Nations reform comes the reform of it's most powerful body: the Security Council. It is imbalanced two fold, both on first to third world nations and on it's total membership to the General Assembly's total membership. Brazil supports addition of both permanent veto members as well as non-permanent elected members who represent both developing and developed nations from every region of the world who " . . . are capable and willing to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security . . . " (reformun.htm). Brazil believes as the UN is subject to change, so are the changes we make. Security Council reform should not be set in stone, and if brought into being as a series of short term steps which are subject to review over ten or fifteen years we could leave the door open as a on-going process of balance that would help better represent the world. Brazil also feels that if the permanent nations elected cannot be chosen on through the Security Council, that we should look to the GA for an answer. Wether through regional blocks or a total GA vote, the appointments would better the mandates the of the Security Council (tpcompo1.htm).

On Peace-keeping Operations

Brazil is proud to provide troops for UN peace-keeping duty, as to sustain security in regions in which it is absent and needed. Brazil has always supported peace-keeping activity when needed and hopes to give our support towards areas of conflict in the future. Brazil does feel, however, that areas of conflict need to be well specified before peace-keepers are sent in. Peace-keeping is the process toward negotiation, and not a replacement for it. In situations where negotiations have not proceeded, or where peace-keeping forces are not required in addition to humanitarian aid we should not concentrate our efforts. Brazil feels that peace-keeping missions should be outlined with specific objectives before any peace-keeping action is taken and should only be employed as a last resort. Only diplomatic action can secure peace and stability in a region after the peace-keeper's mission is complete (peace2.htm).

On Humanitarian Issues

Brazil's policy toward Humanitarian issues is the solid belief that the people of nations in need should receive the aid required to ease the problem. We continue to support widespread relief programs in any needy country regardless of status. Brazil does believe, however, that aid will never be the solution to the problems they address and that just as great an effort, if not greater, should be put into pin pointing the reason for the chrisis, be it starvation or disease, and working toward solving it directly with whatever means, respectively, are necessary. The Brazilian delegation feels, in the end, that is the only true path toward prosperity in the world. The Brazilian delegation would also like to note, on the issue of peace-keeping, we feel that not all humanitarian programs need a security component. It is necessary to discover if a emergency requires the assistance of armed force or wether humanitarian programs can alone address the problem (human.htm).

On Human Rights

Brazil feels that immediate effort must be made in any situation to address widespread violations of human rights. Brazil has long employed the simple policy of "unequivocal condemnation" of all acts violating international humanitarian law. The Brazilian delegation in efforts to secure peace and security for all nations feel that human rights violators must " be promptly and properly brought to justice and, if found guilty, must be made to pay for their crimes". It is for this reason the Brazil has supported the establishment of an international criminal court to deal with such humanitarian crimes, instead of international bodies who have not the juristiction to do so (crimcourt.htm).

On International Economics

The Brazilian delegation supports the modernization of national economies across the world, followed by regional economic integration as well as the global integration of the world's economy. Brazil knows first hand the trials of economic reform having battled against stagnant economics and widespread inflation. Due to economic problems, our former President Fernando Collar de Mello was ousted in 1992 and our nation instated three separate finance ministers in one year (Muldoon 96). However we have also seen first hand the rewards of economic control, as well as integration with regional markets such as MERCOSUL and the world market. Due to efforts by our President our country now boasts the fastest growing economy in the world, with that economy being the ninth largest (Reid 79). Brazil believes that a significant part of the world's problems are rooted in economic instability and isolation and if we channeled our efforts into globalizing the economy, the political and economic ties made would be the key to not only humanitarian, but also numerous military, political and social problems worldwide. Brazil urges the UN to continue discussion of international economic policy (damodoc1.htm, damomerc.htm).

On Environmental Issues

Brazil was recently given the honor of hosting the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio, and we believe that while all of the goals put forth by the UNCED, Brazil continues to pledge it's support toward preventing environmental degradation both within the borders of Brazil and abroad (UNCED 4) Brazil has been a leading nation in environmental awareness, as we as a people can only maintain all our human rights as long as we respect and preserve the natural world in which we live. Brazil continues to work with many countries, such as the United States to preserve the natural landscape of which we Brazilians are unduly proud and are working to develop agrarian methods and to provide new sources of arable land in Brazil without laying waste to our environment which the world depends upon. Along with issues in our country, Brazil strongly supports persuing educating other nations of alternate environmental methods of agriculture, land use and energy production. Brazil feels the issues of availability of clean water, deforestation, usage of fossil fuel, greenhouse gas production and alternate energy source production need to be addressed on a wider scale than they currently are. Domestic and Foreign aid are quintessential in the 'package' of relief and modernization which nations of the third world need (brusaid.htm).

On Disarmament

Brazil has maintained a widespread policy of disarmament having given it's support to the disarming of multiple categories of barbaric weapons of which the world is only harmed.

On Nuclear Proliferation

Brazil recently signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty and condemns production, testing and stockpiling of these weapons of mass-destruction. We feel that nuclear weapons are no longer admissible deterrents and pose only a threat to humanity. Brazil has made it clear we in no way intend to produce or export long-range ballistic missiles. Brazil supports the creation of a nuclear free southern hemisphere in addition to the numerous nuclear free zones, such as the Tlatelolco treaty. In addition, Brazil has imposed Law 9112, which restricts export of fissile materials and sensitive missile technologies from Brazil. Brazil has also joined as one of the thirty four nuclear suppliers of the Nuclear Suppliers Group making technology for the peaceful usage of nuclear power available (disarm.htm , deshspay.htm).

On Comprehensive test ban treaty

Brazil has supported a nuclear test-ban treaty since it's first proposal at the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Conference in 1962. Brazil feels that a CTBT is the first step toward total nuclear disarmament and is not a end in itself. Brazil does not condone any nuclear testing in the range of nuclear demonstrations or computer aided simulations. Brazil believes the only solution to the test ban problem is one of zero-yield compasity (testban.htm).

On Chemical/Biological Weapons

Brazil feels equally as strong about nuclear non-proliferation as chemical and biological non-proliferation. As early as 1973 Brazil ratified the disarmament agreement resulting from the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological Weapons. The most recent agreement, from the Chemical Weapons convention of 1993, was developed by an ad hoc group due to a lack of verification of compliance. Brazil was part of this ad hoc group. On March 13th, 1996 we ratified this treaty as a universal, comprehensive, non-discriminatory and verifiable instrument for disarmament, which will provide for the elimination of all such weapons. Brazil maintains strict export regulations on all sensitive chemical and biological components. The Brazilian delegation feels it necessary to gain the support of every nation in the world against the spread of chemical and biological warfare, especially underdeveloped nations which could resort to such weapons. Due to the fact that current treaties lack definite assurance, Brazil continues in negotiation to further enforce current regulations and to curb the spread of chemical warfare (bioweap.htm, chemweap.htm).

On Landmines

Brazil shares the view with a majority of the world that the international community should do everything in its power to prevent the spread of anti-personnel land mines. Brazil is appalled at the effects that these weapons have had on the populous of poorer nations devastated by war. Brazil deeply believes that the nations of the world should further commit themselves toward the removal of such indiscriminate weapons (Cschild.htm).

On The Middle East

The Brazilian delegation believes that in spite of numerous setbacks, the continuing peace process in the Middle East remains hopeful. The efforts of the bold and courageous leaders of this region have not gone unnoticed. While the situation is tense, we believe that diplomatic settlement is an attainable goal. The Brazilian Government believes that if the peace process in the Middle East is continued and there is mutual trust amongst parties, along with agreements currently in affect, it will be possible to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region (dpal1.htm).

On Kosovo

Brazil firmly supports multilateral negotiations as the only solution to the current conflict. While military deterrents may secure a certain level of peace in a region, the only sure root to peace amongst these different countries is a representative agreement between them. While Brazil strongly deplores the open violation of human rights of the Yugoslavian government, we do believe that diplomatic processes are required to resolve the conflict in Kosovo, with support of the UN, if necessary (damokosovo.htm).

On East Timor

Brazil supports the self-determination of the Timorese people and wishes resumption of negotiations between Portugal and Indonesia as soon as possible. Brazil does, however, acknowledge the important steps taken by President Habibie in reducing tensions in his country (timor.htm).

On India/ Pakistan

Brazil joins in the unequivocal concern toward the recent nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan. Brazil firmly condemns the testing and stockpile of nuclear weapons in any form. We urge the two nations to resume dialogue toward a peaceful settlement as they will be key to concrete results in the region. Once more, the Brazilian representation must call upon India and Pakistan alike to ratify the CTBT and help toward the enforcement of that agreement (tinpak1.htm).

Works Cited

"Biological Weapons." Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/bioweap.htm

"Chemical Weapons." Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/chemweap.htm

"Children affected by world conflict."

Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/Cschild.htm

"Disarmament and non-proliferation."

Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/disarm.htm

"Fostering and enabling environment for delevopment."

Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/damodoc1.htm

"International Criminal Court."

Http://www. undp.org/missions/brazil/statements/crimcourt.htm

Muldoon, James P. A Guide to Delegate Preparation. New York: UN Association of USA, 1993