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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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President decries military suppression of terrorism
Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera who attended the UN 60th Anniversary Summit with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said in an interview with Sunday Observer Staffer M. P. Muttiah that the United Nations had attained maturity, proved to be comparatively more constructive, authoritative, effective and pro-active. Question: How do you evaluate the 2005 UN General Assembly sessions and the World Summit of Heads of States and Governments? Answer: Firstly, the World Summit that was held for three days from Sept. 14 to 16, brought together representatives of 191 sovereign countries, the largest gathering of world leaders in history. Of the 191, 153 were Heads of States or Governments and the others were either Vice Presidents, Deputy Prime Ministers or Foreign Ministers. Practically all of them spoke at the Summit. Secondly, the General Assembly met thereafter commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the UN. A general debate on the vital current international issues took place. Reviewing the history of the United Nations in the last 60 years, my impression was that the UN has attained maturity and proved to be comparatively more authoritative, effective and pro-active. World leaders concentrated on four issues-development, security, human rights and reforms of the UN system. The Secretary General Koffi Annan's report was very comprehensive, contributive and self-critical. Despite President Bush's remarks on the integrity and transparency relating to UN's performance and functions, on the whole the Secretary General earned the appreciation and admiration of the member-countries. Koffi Annan was bold enough to throw out a challenge at the floor of the Assembly to raise any question relating to integrity. Q: What were the highlights of President Kumaratunga's speech at the UN? A: At the World Summit, of course, her interaction was brief and limited because of the time factor. She made a striking contribution at the General Assembly sessions. It coincided with the 60th landmark session as well as 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka's membership in the UN. Significantly, it was her last speech as a departing leader. She concentrated on three evils - poverty, disease and terrorism- that plague our world today. They are factors that affect the social, cultural and economic well-being of mankind. She asserted that these challenges could only be met collectively and through international co-operation. She stressed the urgent need for comprehensive reform in the UN, in keeping with current global realities. She commended the Secretary General for his initiatives in this regard. Q: She made references to the Sri Lankan situation. What is your comment? A: Firstly, she made a characterisation of the LTTE which as an armed group continues to employ brutal methods and suicidal bombings in its campaign of terror and resorts to violation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA). She highlighted the conscription of children as soldiers, despite promises to the UN representatives, and continued killing of leaders of democratic parties and civilians. It had not stopped eliminating Tamil political leaders despite all pressures. She, however, adhering to her committed policy, reiterated her firm conviction that terrorism could not be eliminated through military suppression by the State machinery. She emphasised the need to seek the social, economic and cultural roots of the conflict and to redress them effectively. She traced the history as she initiated the peace process in 1994 to offer a negotiated settlement in place of an armed conflict. She reiterated her offer of extensive devolution of power instead of a separate State and expressed readiness to engage and work with the LTTE for a lasting solution.She stressed the need for the LTTE to become a democratic civilian organisation, which deserves the fullest support of the international community. Q: Of the other world leaders, who impressed you most? A: Of course, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He brazenly led an attack on the US administration indirectly against all its machinations and conspiracies. His wouldbe assassins were roaming in the streets of New York. He demanded that the UN should be shifted out of the US to a safer place for the world leaders to assemble. He stunned the audience with the startling achievements made by his country in the economic sphere. When the Chairman of the UN Assembly interrupted his speech at the expiry of five minutes assigned to him, he shouted back questioning as to how US President George Bush was given 20 minutes. He said that there should be equal treatment to all member States. He continued his speech for 20 minutes with a thundering applause from the audience. Q: How do you assess President Bush's speech? A: President Bush's speech was moderate and conciliatory. This can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, he walked into the podium of the Summit with the shock of the disastrous bomb blast in Iraq which killed more than 150, a few hours before his speech. Secondly, the aftermath of Katrina disaster was apparently worrying him. He was a target of attack from all quarters for his lapses. Thirdly he was saddened with so many burning international issues, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty and natural disasters. He seemed to have dropped his famous phrase: "Who is not with us is
against us". He appeared to be a politically wounded man. |
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