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27 September 2011
The Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Tajikistan at the 66th session of the UN General
Assembly
On September 26, 2011 in New York the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Hamrokhon
Zarifi addressed the General Debate of the 66th session
of the UN General Assembly.
The statement is given below.
Statement by H.E. Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Tajikistan
at the General Debate of the 66th session of the United
Nations General Assembly
New York, September 26, 2011
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to congratulate H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz
Al-Nasser on his assumption to the post of the President
of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly. I have
full confidence that his wealth of experience will
contribute to the achievement of important results in
our collective work.
I would further like to congratulate H.E. Mr. Ban
Ki-moon on his re-election as the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
1. Two weeks ago the people of Tajikistan celebrated a
solemn event in their modern history – the 20th
anniversary of Independence of the Republic of
Tajikistan. Despite the numerous difficulties and
challenges, the Republic of Tajikistan, during the years
of its independence, succeeded in achieving considerable
progress, which laid down the foundation for its
evolutionary social and economic development. We highly
appreciate the contribution made by the United Nations
and UN member states to the establishment and
development of independent, sovereign, governed by the
rule of law and democratic Tajikistan.
2. Maintenance of peace and security remains an issue of
top priority for the entire international community. For
this reason, in order to stop wars and settle conflicts
the international community must bear responsibility and
undertake urgent collective measures. We welcome the
peaceful settlement in South Sudan and the accession of
the Republic of the South Sudan as the 193rd member of
the United Nations.
Tajikistan calls upon all those concerned to maximize
their efforts for a speedy and full settlement of the
long-term conflict in the Middle East. We support the
state of Palestine in its efforts to take its
well-deserved place in the community of nations as its
full-fledged member.
3. The Government of Tajikistan, being aware of its
responsibility for addressing the social and economic
issues, consistently enhances efforts at using, to the
maximum degree, its own capacity for achieving the MDGs.
The implementation of the National Strategy for
Development of the Republic of Tajikistan remains the
key area in the Government activities. Proceeding from
the principles of sustainable development of economy,
the Government of Tajikistan identified three major
goals: to ensure energy and food security, and to
overcome transportation and communication isolation of
the country.
We are also undertaking efforts at ensuring food
security and poverty reduction, and rational use of the
available resources. At the same time in recent years,
repeatedly, the agricultural sector of my country and
the entire region suffered from a plague of locusts, and
was threatened by other natural disasters. Despite all
the requisite measures undertaken by the Government
addressing these issues requires regional coordination
and actions. More efficient assistance is required from
the relevant UN institutions and agencies, as well as
from donors.
4. International trade and direct investments also can
be instrumental for achieving the development goals. We
believe that the system of international trade must
remain open, fair, based on agreed upon rules,
predictable and non discriminatory. Guided by these
principles, Tajikistan is currently holding negotiations
on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). In this
regard, we seek support of the state members of the
Organization in accelerating the process of Tajikistan’s
accession to the WTO.
Mr. President,
5. The problems of climate change and its negative
impact cannot be resolved without collective and
coordinated efforts on the part of the entire
international community.
It is known, that climate change also affects the
freshwater resources and intensifies extreme floods,
landslides, mudflows, droughts and other water related
natural disasters. In Tajikistan, where about 60 percent
of all water resources of the entire Central Asia
originate, in the last thirty years more than 35 percent
of glaciers disappeared.
Accelerated melting of glaciers creates additional risks
for sustainable development and regional water, energy
and food security. In this regard, at the Copenhagen
Summit on Climate Change held in December 2009,
Tajikistan put forward a proposal to establish an
international fund on saving glaciers in order to
combine the efforts of the entire international
community in this strategically important area. Our hope
is that the member states will support this initiative.
6. Energy resources are of paramount importance for
sustainable development. Access to energy is an
imperative for ensuring social and economic development,
eradication of poverty and hunger. That is why we fully
support the initiative of providing a universal access
to modern energy services and reducing global energy
intensity by 40 percent by 2030.
Complex development of hydropower, combined with other
renewables, will not only allow to increase the capacity
of energy systems, but also to promote their stability
and increased efficiency, and to considerably decrease
detrimental emissions into the atmosphere.
For over ten years, in the winter season, the Republic
of Tajikistan has experienced a severe shortage of
electrical energy supply. Since Tajikistan lacks other
sources of energy it is of vital importance for the
country, which possesses huge hydropower potential, to
develop a hydro energy economic sector in a consistent
and complex manner.
Tajikistan is prepared to closely cooperate on issues of
rational use of water and energy resources with all the
countries of the region, with due consideration to the
common regional interests. This idea was repeatedly
emphasized by the President of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali
Rahmon, including during the General Debates of the UNGA
at its 63rd and 64th sessions, and at other recent
international water forums.
7. It is widely known that in the second half of the
20th century the Central Asian region faced a severe
ecological crisis that is degradation of the Aral Sea.
It was irrational, careless and irresponsible use of the
natural resources that caused actual death of the Aral
Sea. The numerous water reservoirs, which were
constructed and continue to be constructed in the vast
downstream areas, cause considerable degradation of the
Aral Sea The number of the operating facilities of this
kind exceeds one hundred, and their total water volume
exceeds the today’s volume of water of the Aral Sea more
than 1.5 times.
To resolve the Aral Sea crisis the countries of the
region should not only make huge capital investments
into the water sector and reduce the area of irrigated
lands intended for agricultural products, with high
water absorbency, but also demonstrate political will
and readiness to implement collective long-term measures
on rational use of water-energy resources of the entire
basin of the Aral Sea. For this reason, Tajikistan made
a proposal to implement, under the UN auspices,
comprehensive expertise to the entire system of water
use in Central Asia, including efficiency and
rationality of functioning of all existing water
reservoirs and comprehensive examination of the
ecological situation in the region. We hope that this
proposal will be supported by all the countries of the
region.
8. Water is an essential and vitally important natural
resource: it is essential for sustainable development
and preservation of life on the planet. It is necessary
to strengthen international and regional water
cooperation through efficient use of the potential and
available mechanisms and instruments. Water should
become a uniting factor rather than a divisive one.
Proceeding with this assumption, the Republic of
Tajikistan initiated proclamation of 2013 as the
International Year of Water Cooperation.
Mr. President,
9. Terrorism remains one of the major threats to the
international peace and security. Tajikistan resolutely
and unconditionally condemns terrorism in all its forms
and manifestations. We believe it is necessary to speed
up the adoption of a universal convention on combating
international terrorism. Combating terrorism is a long
term task because of a multidimensional nature of this
phenomenon, alien to humanity.
10. Prevention of illicit drug trafficking is one of the
components of the common struggle against terrorism. The
urgency and scale of the problems caused by narcotics
and their illicit trafficking clearly attest to a global
menace that threatens international stability and
security as a whole. My country makes its contribution
to combating drugs. A solid anti narcotics structure has
been established in the country, which, in cooperation
with the international organizations and similar
services of other states, is undertaking requisite
measures at combating illicit drug trafficking in our
region. We are confident that the struggle against drug
trafficking could be a success only if collective
efforts are consolidated and specific measures are taken
with regard to all links of the chain of illicit drug
trafficking.
11. Tajikistan reiterates its commitment to a full and
efficient implementation of the Ottawa Convention on
prohibition of use, stockpiling, production and transfer
of antipersonnel mines and on their destruction in
cooperation with all the parties concerned. My country
firmly supports a mine free zone in the Central Asian
region. We stand for adoption of practical measures on
removing mines form the mined areas of the region and
for resolution of other problems related to the
consequences of mining.
12. The situation in Afghanistan is a source of great
concern for us. The news about the assassination of
President Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani was perceived
with deep sorrow and indignation. He was one of the
greatest persons of modern history of Afghanistan, the
region, and the world. We express our heartfelt
condolences to the government and people of Afghanistan
for this irretrievable loss.
Tajikistan supports the international strategy for a
comprehensive resolution of the conflict in and post
conflict rehabilitation of Afghanistan. In this context
we believe that involvement of Afghanistan into the
process of regional integration through economic and
trade cooperation with the neighboring states is an
important factor. In this regard, I would like to note
the activities of “The Dushanbe Quartet”, which
comprises Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan,
within the framework of which the efforts are
strengthened with regard to regional trade and economic
cooperation, counteraction to the threats of terrorism,
narcotics and organized crime, as well as development of
human resources for military and civil needs of
Afghanistan. Tajikistan attaches much importance to the
implementation of the transportation and communication
projects that promote development of interregional
economic relations. As of today, five bridges have been
commissioned at the border between Tajikistan and
Afghanistan, and three more bridges are under
construction or being designed.
This year the construction of a 220 kV power
transmission line from Tajikistan to Afghanistan has
been completed. The project CASA-1000, which will be
using the hydro-energy potential of the Central Asian
states, will address the issue of energy shortage in
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The issues of further post-conflict rehabilitation of
Afghanistan are included on the agenda of the 5th
Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan
to be held next spring in Dushanbe.
Mr. President,
It is impossible to address global issues and most
urgent regional tasks without strengthening the UN
system. The process of reforming the UN should be
rational, and the revitalized United Nations themselves
should become strong and capable of responding quickly
and adequately to the developments in the world, and to
efficiently meet numerous global challenges and threats
of a new generation. Tajikistan will continue to render
every possible support to the United Nations in its
efforts at preservation of a secure, prosperous,
ecologically sound and healthy planet.
Thank you for your attention. |
