FM praises UN role in global peace, security, HR, dev
Monday, 25 October 2010
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has renewed Bangladesh's trust and confidence in the UN as the only viable, universal and legitimate global body to address issues of international peace and security, human rights and development.
"We are convinced that unilateral decisions and actions, by any country or group of countries, cannot meaningfully address the problems of international peace and security. This is especially valid if the security of small and economically disadvantaged states has to be ensured," she said.
The foreign minister made the statement at a discussion organised marking the United Nations Day in the city Sunday, reports UNB.
UN Resident Coordinator ad interim in Bangladesh Arthur Erken, diplomats and members of civil society attended the discussion.
On the question of relevance of the UN, Dipu Moni said the UN cannot be expected to be successful in all its missions because the member states have failed to rise above paltry national interests.
"The cardinal question, we believe, is not what is wrong with the United Nations, but rather what is right with it, and how we can make it best serve our purpose despite the evolving global flux and the distractions of the real world," she said.
She said a United Nations that not only upholds world peace and security effectively, but also fosters the spirit of mutual respect and sovereign cooperation among nations for addressing the challenges of the 21st century including poverty eradication, climate change, food security, terrorism or attainment of the MDGs, is essential.
The foreign minister said a small developing country, Bangladesh, is proud to be a major partner of the UN in fulfilling its principal mandate-the maintenance of international peace and security.
Dipu Moni said Bangladesh's diplomatic goodwill has earned itself current membership in 36 frontline UN bodies, unprecedented in its diplomatic history, including at the ECOSOC, Human Rights Council, Conference on Disarmament, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, WFP, FAO, UNFPA, CEDAW, and ITU to name just a few.
The foreign minister said, this UN Day is doubly special for Bangladesh which celebrates receipt of the international 'MDGs 2010 Award' last month in New York.
"We are convinced that unilateral decisions and actions, by any country or group of countries, cannot meaningfully address the problems of international peace and security. This is especially valid if the security of small and economically disadvantaged states has to be ensured," she said.
The foreign minister made the statement at a discussion organised marking the United Nations Day in the city Sunday, reports UNB.
UN Resident Coordinator ad interim in Bangladesh Arthur Erken, diplomats and members of civil society attended the discussion.
On the question of relevance of the UN, Dipu Moni said the UN cannot be expected to be successful in all its missions because the member states have failed to rise above paltry national interests.
"The cardinal question, we believe, is not what is wrong with the United Nations, but rather what is right with it, and how we can make it best serve our purpose despite the evolving global flux and the distractions of the real world," she said.
She said a United Nations that not only upholds world peace and security effectively, but also fosters the spirit of mutual respect and sovereign cooperation among nations for addressing the challenges of the 21st century including poverty eradication, climate change, food security, terrorism or attainment of the MDGs, is essential.
The foreign minister said a small developing country, Bangladesh, is proud to be a major partner of the UN in fulfilling its principal mandate-the maintenance of international peace and security.
Dipu Moni said Bangladesh's diplomatic goodwill has earned itself current membership in 36 frontline UN bodies, unprecedented in its diplomatic history, including at the ECOSOC, Human Rights Council, Conference on Disarmament, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, WFP, FAO, UNFPA, CEDAW, and ITU to name just a few.
The foreign minister said, this UN Day is doubly special for Bangladesh which celebrates receipt of the international 'MDGs 2010 Award' last month in New York.