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United States of America

USA Policy Statement, courtesy of Stephanie Bowser

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary General,

Distinguished Delegates,

Let me begin by welcoming everyone to this 53rd session of the General Assembly and by congratulating you Mr. President on your recent election. Your have our utmost confidence and support. I would also like to note, with much jubilance, that we have much to celebrate this year.

It is this year that the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and its impact can be observed on every continent. Millions of people world-wide are enjoying the freedom and respect this Declaration has strived to give them, and a great deal of the credit can be awarded to the United Nations.

It would be idealistic, however, to believe that everything is worthy of celebration. We can all contest to the fact that our beloved world is still ridden by social as well as economic perils. Economic turmoil on a global scale threatens free markets. Nations who are strong enough to do so have a responsibility to do more to minimize this turmoil and to ensure that all people can benefit from global markets. The United States is ready to accept this responsibility.

On the social scale, ethnic, racial, and religious conflicts still exist today and pose a real and grave danger to citizens in every nation of the world. Advanced technology and availability of weapons and weapon making materials threaten international security and make attending to the subject of terrorism critical and necessary.

Other U.S. goals for the UNGA include recommitting the internationals community to human rights, convincing India and Pakistan to adhere to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, discouraging other potential nuclear weapons states from conducting nuclear tests, and supporting the work of the Middle East peace negotiators to renew momentum in the process.

Terrorism is clearly a matter of utmost importance and profound concern to us, and the United States feels that all nations must put the fight against terrorism at the top of our agenda. In recent history, Americans have been repeatedly targeted and the results have been devastating. Innocent citizens, and even citizens devoted to keeping peace between nations have been slaughtered in a war launched against our country by bitter and resentful terrorists.

We the citizens of the United States love our country for its dedication to political and religious freedom, to economic freedom, and to individual freedom. Because of our tolerant policies and the wealth and prosperity shared by our people, we are often the dumping ground for the hate and hostility of those less fortunate around the world.

For the people of the United States to turn our backs on those taking risks for peace and weaken our opposition to terrorism would give victory to those who do not deserve it. We will therefore continue our quest for peace and prosperity around the world in hopes of creating an environment free of terrorism.

Terrorism in the 1990’s has a new face and has become the world’s problem. Increased availability of new technologies coupled with the increasing mobility of terrorists make chemical, biological, and even nuclear attacks a very real possibility.

The United States calls upon all nations to join together and put a halt to the terror. We ask you to join us in giving terrorists no support, no sanctuary, no financial assistance; in promoting stronger domestic laws and controlling the manufacture and export of explosives; in raising international standards for airport security; and in working together to stem the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Our goal is to protect life and to hold terrorists accountable for their criminal acts. When necessary, that is in order to protect our citizens against imminent threats, we are prepared, as Article 51 of the United Nations Charter allows, to take serious action as we did in Sudan and Afghanistan.

In the international struggle against terrorism our weapon of choice is international cooperation. We hope all nations will join us in our policy of making no deals with terrorists, bringing terrorists to justice, and pressuring states that sponsor them.

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Mr. President,

On the topic of the middle east the United States pledges to continue its consistent and dedicated support to the peace process in all regions.

After years of violence and terror surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict talks of compromise still continue and some type of resolution is hopefully right around the corner. We are at a new stage in our efforts to achieve an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian authority on ideas aimed at restarting the final status negotiations, and Israelis and Palestinians have now agreed to discuss directly Israeli refinements to U.S. ideas.

The United States is ready to play a more direct role to help bring the dragged-out negotiations to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible. We are in constant touch with both sides, but believe that it is essential for them to resolve these issues directly. As soon as they do so, we stand ready to involve ourselves as needed.

As we are all aware, the interim agreement will expire in less than ten months. Already Palestinians are discussing a unilateral declaration of statehood and Israelis are warning that any such move will provoke annexation of territories in the West Bank. These developments would have disastrous consequences. The U.S. feels that it is therefore imperative that the parties come to an agreement now that would restore confidence and credibility to their partnership. ( )

IRAQ

Turning to Iraq, we are no less determined to prevent Saddam Hussein from ever again being in a position to threaten his neighbors and our interests than we are to achieve a comprehensive Middle East peace. Indeed, containing the threats to regional stability goes hand in hand with our efforts to promote peace in this volatile region. We are doing this by working to maintain international support for sanctions against the Saddam Hussein regime until it complies fully with all relevant Security Council resolutions. During recent months, UNSCOM has uncovered additional concrete evidence of Saddam Hussein’s deliberate concealment of his Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programs. Until he comes clean with full and complete disclosures – as required by the Security Council Resolutions – the Council cannot contemplate lifting sanctions.

The U.S. has long expressed its interest in dealing with a successor government in Baghdad, particularly one that is democratic in character and wants to use Iraq’s tremendous natural resources for the benefit of its people, rather than to threaten its neighbors. To move toward this objective, we have laid out a plan to use the funds designated by Congress to aid the democratic opposition to Saddam. We will encourage a united position with the shared goal of instituting a post-dictatorship Iraq that is secure in its borders, at peace with itself and its neighbors and in voluntary compliance with UN resolutions. ( )

IRAN

Iraq’s neighbor to the east is a country in transition. In electing Muhammad Khatami president last year and apparently continuing to support him enthusiastically, the Iranian people, particularly the youth, have made clear their desire for change. It is not clear, however, how quickly the people’s will will be achieved. Conservative forces opposed to change continue to control key organs of power in the Iranian government and continue to thwart the reforms President Khatami seeks to pursue.

The U.S. would like to see the change that the Iranian people are demanding come about. While there are areas of Iranian policy of significant concern to us, we hope to eventually build trust and confidence and overcome misunderstanding.

For our part, we continue to be prepared for an official dialogue with the Iranian government. Recent Iranian actions such as the flight testing of a medium range ballistic missile and the deplorable hanging of an Iranian citizen of the Baha’I faith indicate that we would have much to talk about.

Recent Iranian actions in such areas as narcotics control, the situation in Afghanistan and in relations with its Arab neighbors across the gulf, have demonstrated that Iran can, when it chooses to do so, exert positive influence in its region. However, its development of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems, as well as its continued support for terrorist organizations, remind us of Iran’s potential to threaten our interests and those of our allies in the region.

For these reasons, U.S. sanctions on Iran remain in place and we working with other counties to delay the block and delay the development of Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program. In light of recent developments, this effort takes on new urgency.

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LIBYA

On the subject of Libya, it has been far too long that the victims and family members of the Pam Am 103 bombing have been denied justice. After ten years, we are no closer to getting the accused into an American or Scottish courtroom. The possibility we are now examining is simply moving a Scottish court and Scottish law to another country, namely the Netherlands. We are discussing the possibility, and seeking to resolve the legal complexities. Until we do so, no decision will be made to proceed with this idea. Our bottom line remains the same. There will be justice or there will be U.S. mandated sanctions. ( )

KOSOVO

The international community, the United States included, has recently made it absolutely clear that it is determined to see an end to the violence and repression in Kosovo with the Security Council’s resolution. We are particularly encouraged that the resolution makes clear that the deterioration of the situation in Kosovo constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.

The United States and its allies are moving NATO activities from the planning stage to readiness to act. With more than 250,000 Kosovars displaced from their homes and cold weather coming, President Milosevic must act immediately to heed the will of the international community.

It is refreshing to see the nations of the world unite this way and reminds us all of the purpose of the United Nations and the impact the organization can have. ( )

LAND MINES

The United States is committed to alleviating global suffering caused by land mines and stand behind this commitment by promoting the largest national de-mining program in the world. Our humanitarian de-mining program did not begin last year or the year before; we have been operating since 1993. Its purpose is to relieve human suffering, to develop indigenous de-mining capability, and to promote peace, prosperity, and regional stability. Once hostilities in mine-infested countries have ceased, and at the invitation of the host government, the United States supports mine clearance operations and mine awareness programs. During 1998 we plan on showing our commitment to this cause by expending over $82 million for humanitarian de-mining. ( )

NORTH KOREA

The government of the United States realizes that North Korea remains a potential threat to peace and stability in northeast Asia. Our policy towards them recognizes that the principal problems of the Korean Peninsula must be solved by North and South Korea and that it is in our best interest to support them. It is based on how to best contain the threat of North Korea’s nuclear program and other dangerous activities such as missile development. Although it is a difficult task, we are convinced that we can achieve our objectives best by carefully engaging the North Korean government, not by isolating it. This is a view that is also shared by our allies in the region, including the Republic of Korea. ( )

MALAYSIA

We the people of the United States are concerned that the government of Malaysia has moved to limit the basic democratic rights of assembly, free speech, and open communication. We believe it is important that the government respect these basic rights. We hope that all Malaysians will be permitted to express their views in a peaceful fashion.

We are deeply concerned as well by reports of police brutality. All governments have a responsibility to ensure the safety of those being held in prison. These reports should be investigated, and , if verified, the persons who committed the crimes should be brought to justice. ( )

CAMBODIA

U.S. policy through the unstable post-election period has been clear and consistent. We have called for a genuine power sharing arrangement and restraint on the part of all parties in Cambodia to ensure that chaos does not once again explode. We support the UNGA’s decision to both stay engaged in Cambodia and withhold UN credentials until an acceptable government is formed. Ultimately, however, we recognize that only the Cambodians themselves can determine their own fate. ( )

NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

We adamantly condemn any and all proliferation of nuclear materials or technologies. The government and the people of the United States of America feel that it is in the best interest of the world to cease any developments or pursuits that are nuclear in nature. We are a signer of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and strongly encourage all nations to join us in abiding by its laws. ( )