Address by - United Nations by B.E. Mr. Muhammad ... anniversary ofthe Independence Day ofPakistan. ... in Geneva to prepare a road map for national reconciliation and the necessary

PAKISTANl'ER1\IA:-IENT 1\IISSIO:-I TO TIIE UNITED NATIONS

8 EAST 65th STREET - 7>E\\' YORK. 7>Y 10021 - (212)879.8600

As delivered

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Address by

B.E. M r. Muhammad Nawaz SharifPrime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

The General Debate of the Sixty-eighth Session

The United Nations General Assembly

New York. 27 Septernber 20 13

l'Ir. President,

1 congratulate you on yo ur election as the President of the United Nations GeneralAssembly. il is a fiuing recognition ofyour distinguished caree r.

1 also commend Mr. Vuk Jeremic, for his outstanding leadership of the GeneralAssembly in the past one year.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has led the organization ably and wisely. Wewere glad to receive him in Pakistan in mid-August, as our honored guest on theanniversary of the Independence Day of Pakistan.

Mr. President,

1 stand here today before this Assembly, soon after my country has seen a newdawn.

1come before this house in ail humility, as the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan,for the third time. 1 feel exonerated, as my supporters and J stood firrn in ourstruggle for democracy.

J am happy to inforrn the distinguishcd delegates that we now have a strongParliament, an independent judiciary, a free media and a vibrant civil society.

But there is no room for complacency. We cannot lower our guard. Democracyneeds constant vigi lance and strong institutions. Il needs careful nurturing. Mostimportantly, it is not promises, but good governance that sustains democracy.

My Govemment has put people at the centre. We will work to give them peaceand security, an environment of growth and development. 1 am pursuing aninclusive approach for the entire nation.

I\1r. Presiden t,

Pakistan is an ardent supporter of the United Nations, which is an anchor of peaceand a beacon of hope for ail nations.

The United Nations' universal character provides a forum to discuss, evolve andimplement global responses to pressing problems of our times.

1Pakistan upholds intemationallaw and promûtes international conse nsus.

The security of our world is assured and reinforced by friendly relations betweennations and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

The United Nations necds reform. But it should be a reform that reflects theinterests of alI; not the ambitions of a few.

We believe that the Security Council' s composiuon should be made morerepresentat ive, democratie and equitable; and its work more effective, transparentand accountable. The intended reforms must however plan for a dynamic future,not entrench or replicate outdated historical patterns, based on privileges.

The role and authority of the General Assembly must be fulIy restored andrevitalized. In the past few years, the General Assembly has regained influence inresponding to challenges in regard to peace and security, development and climatechange. Il is becoming a platform ofchoice. Yet, it has to go a long way to acquireits fulI authority .

Mr, President,

To save the world from the scourge of war, we have to continue to strive for a fairand just international order, based on rule of law. Festering disputes must beresolved. In this regard, the United Nations has to play a critical role.

The United Nations must continue to rcmain attentive to the issue of Jammu andKashmir and the full realization of the right to self-determination of its people.The suffering of the people cannot he brushed under the carpet, because of powerpolitics.

As in the past, Pakistan calIs upon the international community to give anopportunity to the Kashmiri s to decide their future peacefulIy, in accordance withthe United Nations Security Council resolutions. The issue of Jammu and Kashmirwas presented to the Security Counc il in January 1948; and yet the issue remainsunresolved after nearly seven decades.

1 have an aspiration for regional peace and stability. 1 have shared this vision withleaders in our neighborhood. Shortly after assuming office, [ received a messageof goodwill from the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. 1 extended an

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invitation to him to engage with us to address aIl outstanding issues between ourtwo countries. Prime Minister Singh's response was positive.

Our two countries have wasted massive resources in an anns race. We cou ld haveused those resources for the economie well-being of our people. We still have thatopportunity. Pakistan and India can prosper together; and the entire region wouldbenefit from our cooperation.

We stand ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue.

1 am looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in NewYork to make a new beginning. We have a solid basis to do that. We can build onthe Lahore Accord signed in 1999, which contained a road map for the resolutionof our differences through peacefu l negotiations. 1 am commiued to working for apeaceful and economically prosperous region. This is what our people want andthis is what 1have long aspired for.

Mr. Presid ent,

It gave me great pleasure to welcome President Karzai in Islamabad last month.We reaffirmed our shared goa l of a peacefu l, stable and united Afghanistan.

The people of Afghanistan are and should remain masters of their own destiny.We support an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, leading tonational reconci1iation.

1 reassured President Karzai that we do not wish to interfere in Afghanistan' sinternai affa irs; no r do we have any favorites in that country. In faet , we have aneamest hope that the Afghans themselves will unite for peace, prosperity anddevelopment of their great country.

Pakistan encourages United Nations' efforts for the stabilization of Afghanistan.We will work together with Afghanistan for regional and economie cooperationthat would establish and reinforce regional trade, energy and communicationscorridors.

A manifestation of our solidarity with the Afghan people has been our willingnessto host millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan for many decades. Internationalsupport for their repatriation as weil as reintegration in Afghanistan isindispensable.

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1We also look forward to UN support in addressing other trans-regional challenges,including the flow of narcotics.

1\1 r. Pres ide nt,

Last year, Palestine was given the status of non-member observer state by thisAssembly. We hope that soon Palestine will join this body as a full member state.We are glad that the stalled peace process has started again . Il should lead to theconsolidation of an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine, based onthe pre-1967 borders, with AI Quds AI Sharif as its capital. Pakistan will continueto demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Palestine.

1\1r. President,

Even as we meet here, Syria is in turmoil, with Syrians killing Syrians. We appealto the Syrian Govemment and opposition groups to maye to the negotiating tablein Geneva to prepare a road map for national reconciliation and the necessarypolitical transitions. More war wililead to more killings that need to be stopped.

As party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Pakistan remains opposed to theuse of chemical weapons. We condemn its use in the strongest terms.

We welcome the agreement reached between the United States and Russia, andsupported by other permanent members of the Security Council, to secure anddestroy chemical weapons in Syria. This crucial step has facilitated consensuswithin the Council to adopt a resolution , which will not on ly address the issue ofchemical weapo ns but start the stalled political process in Syria that would lead tonational reconciliation and solutions that are acceptable to the people of Syria.Pakistan will support that resolution. Acceptance of the Geneva One document anda decision on the dates for the convening of the Geneva Two Conference will be abig step in ending the crisis in Syria.

1 cali on ail forces to invest their political will and capital in dip lomacy to bringpeace to Syria.

Mr. Presid ent,

As a responsible nuclear weapon state, wc will continue to pursue the goals ofdisarmament and non-proliferation and adhere to the policy of Credible Minimum

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Deterrence, without entering into an arrns race. We would not, however, remainoblivious to the evolving security dynamics in South Asia, nor would we agree toarrangem ent that is detrimental to our sccurity and strategie interests . Our positionon the proposed Fissile Materia! Treaty is deterrnined by our national securityinterests and the objective of strategie stability in South Asia.

Safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy, without discrimination, isessential for economie development. Pakistan qualifie s for full access to civilnuclear technology for peacefuI purposes, to meet its growing energy needs, forcontinued economie growth.

By the same token, as a mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation regime,Pakistan has impeccable credenti als to join the multilateral export control regime,including the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Pakistan wi ll continue to parti cipat e constructively in the Nuclear Security Summit(NSS) process, which is a laudable initiative.

Mr. President,

As a country that has suffered grievously for the past many years, we condemnterrorism, in ail its forms and manifestations.

In the past twelve years, we have givcn huge sacrifices, in blood and resources.Wc have lost 40 ,000 precious lives of men, women and children, which include8,000 defense and security persormel. There have been colossal damages to socialand physical infrastructure as weil. Our economy has been denied the opportunityto grow [ully.

This must change now. 1 have tried to forge national consensus on a cohesivepolicy to eliminate terrorism from our soil. For that purpose, 1 convened an ailParties Conference, which spoke unanimously against terrorism .

We are resolved to oppose the forces ofterrori sm, by ail means at our disposaI. Atthe same time, we have offered dialogue to end violence, wean young extremistsoff extremism, and integrate ail segments of our society into the nationalmainstream,

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Winn ing hearts and minds, particularly of the youth, is as important as using gunsto deter terrorism. But dialogue shou ld not be seen as a sign ofweakness or a toolof appeasement.

I\lr. Presid ent ,

The war agai nst terrorism must be waged within the framework of internationallaw. The use of arrned drones in the border areas of Pak istan is a continuedviolation of our territorial integrity . ft results in casualties of innocent civilians andis detrimental to our resolve and efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism fromPakistan. 1 have urged the United States to cease these strikes, so that we couldavert further casuafties and suffering.

Mr, President,

Terrori sm knows no borders. ft has no religion or creed , which is why maligning awhole peopl e or a religion on this account, is un fair and unwise.

Islam is a rel igion ofpeace, compassion and brotherhood.

And yet most insidious forrn of contemporary racism in the name of religion is onthe rise. Peaceful Muslim communities are pro filed and subjected todiscriminatory practices. Their faith. culture, holy personalities and scriptures areunder attack ,

Stereotyping of Muslims as ext remists and terrori sts must stop. We must ail usethe influence and reach of the United Nations to ave rt a clash of civilizations andpromote harrnony among followers of diverse religions, ail arouod the world.

Terrorism negates Islam's humanistic outlook and nob le values. Those whoperpetrate terrorism are enem ies of Muslim s and Islam itself.

Mr. President,

Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping. Since 1960, we havecontributed 150,000 troops. One hundred and thirty live of our peacekeepers havelost their lives in service of peace. This is our most tangible assistance to theUnited Nations efforts to maintain international peace and security.

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We fully support the United Nat ions ' effort to finalize and implement a single,coherent post-2015 Development Agenda that identifies benchmarks for povertyallcviation, sustainable development and social incl usion. More importantly, weshould prepare ourse lves to respond effec tively to save our planet from the ravage sof climate change.

Mr. Presid ent,

Our Government has undertaken an economie revolution in Pakistan so that it too,can become part of the emerging markets. We have ail the fundamentals andhuman and natural resources for such a transformation. In the immediate future,our challenge is to overcome a volatile security environment, correct structuralimba lances in the economy and bring an end to cnergy shortages. We are buildinga new Pakistan with a robust economy. From the international cornmunity, we donot seek aid, but enhanced trade, market access, investment and strong economiepartnerships.

We are creating a new framework for change to provide equal opportunities andsocial justice for everyone, elim inate exploitation of the poor, hamess our humanresources and restore the dignity of our citizens.

We intend to use education as a key driver of socio-economic deve lopment ofPakistan. We are introducing a National Health Service across Pakistan with theparticipation of private sector. We have also made eradication of polio in Pakistana matter of great importance for my Government, as we are determined to makePakistan a po lio free country .

It is our strong resolve to promote full participation of women in nationa ldevelopment, wh ile protecting the ir po litica l, social and cu ltural rights as agents ofchange. More than 63 percent of our population is under the age of 25. Byinvesting in their education and skills, we aim to tap into this demographiedividend. Minorities are equa l citizens of Pakistan. They not only have completefreedom to worship, but also full protection to their rights to education,employment and politicai participation.

We are deepl y saddened by the recent terrorist attack on the members of a minoritycommunity in Peshawar. This heinous attack has united the entire Pakistani nationin support of our brothers and sisters of ail faith in Pakistan. We share their griefand declared three days of mourning. This attack has been carried out by the samee lements wh o have attacked masques, shrines , innocent citi zens, and members of

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our security forces. However, this attack has further strengthened myGovemment's reso lve to deal with tcrrorism and extremism in a resolute andcomprehensive mariner, as 1 had reiterated in my very first speech at the NationalAssembly of Pakistan.

l\I r. Pres ident,

ln conclusion, 1 wish to emphasize to this august Asse mbly that Pakistan is astrong supporter of multilateral diplomacy, convinced that it is the mostlegitimate,ultimate guarantor of peace and security , economie and social development, andrespect for universal human rights.

As a non-permanent member of the Sccurity Council, Pakistan has been makingevery effort to strcngthen the role of diplomacy to resolve conflicts and to helpbuild states in post-conflict situations. In ail instances, we have upheld theprimacy of the Charter.

We need multi latera l diplomacy so that we continue to respect diversity whilereach ing deci sions that impact our fate as rncmbers of the international community.Towards this end, the United Nations - the virtual world parliament - is our besthope.

l thank you, Mr. President.

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