Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama at the Special Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the U. N.

Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama

New York
October 22, 199.

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Distinguished Representatives,

It gives me great pleasure to join you on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations.

At the outset, I should like to convey two messages. Firstly, I wish to express the gratitude of the people of Japan to the international community. At the time the United Nations was founded, Japan was striving to recover from the devastation of the war and to engage in national reconstruction. Firmly resolved that the scourge of war must never be repeated, Japan adopted its Peace Constitution. Since then, in accordance with its basic philosophy as a peace-loving nation -- including the non-resort to the use of force prohibited by its Constitution -- Japan has made cooperation with the United Nations an important pillar of its foreign policy and has thus been contributing actively to the peace and prosperity of the international community.

Japan has never forgotten the support it received from many members of the international community in building the economic prosperity it enjoys today.

Mr. President.

Secondly, I should like to stress that the role of the United Nations is growing and diversifying. As we approach the next century, how humankind will deal with the population explosion is becoming a serious issue. As a result, securing a stable food supply and environmental protection are becoming greater challenges. It is also of increasing importance that we deal effectively with other global issues, such as refugees and AIDS. Moreover, we are witnessing with profound concern the grave conflicts arising from religious and ethnic rivalries that transcend national boundaries. In many instances, poverty and social instability lie at the root of these difficult problems. The United Nations has an increasingly important role to play in addressing these issues more effectively and in building world peace and prosperity.

Mr. President.

What is required of us if the United Nations is to play such a role is that we not limit our concern to the nation-state level, but that we also focus our efforts on the well-being of each and every one of "Earth's citizens." The part to be played by women and NGOs continues to grow. Hence a new concept of "human security," in addition to that of national security, has emerged as a major challenge for the United Nations. This concept, which embraces respect for the human rights of every citizen on this earth and protection of each of us from poverty, disease, ignorance, oppression and violence, is consonant with my own political principles. Since I became Prime Minister, the creation of a "human-centered society," in which all citizens are treated equally and are able to realize their full potential, has been pivotal to my administration's policy. At the World Summit for Social Development last March I emphasized a people-centered social development as an area of priority.

As a leading donor country, Japan has been supporting the concept of sustainable development, has been providing assistance for the promotion of democracy and economic reform, and has been striving to extend a broad range of economic cooperation, including cooperation to meet global challenges. Japan is also advocating a new development strategy that focuses on combining various policy measures in a comprehensive manner. It intends to play an even more expanded role in these areas. Japan also stands ready to cooperate more actively for peace in such areas as humanitarian assistance, preventive diplomacy and peace-keeping operations, and arms control and disarmament with regard to nuclear weapons as well as conventional weapons, such as anti-personnel land mines and small arms.

The 50th anniversary of the United Nations is also the fiftieth year since the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is time that we accelerate our efforts toward the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons. I thus find it all the more deplorable that nuclear testing continues at this juncture. I strongly call for the immediate cessation of nuclear testing. Toward this end, it is extremely important that a resolution calling for the cessation of nuclear testing be adopted during this session of the General Assembly with the support of as many member States as possible. As a major step toward nuclear disarmament, I also believe that it is a most urgent task to complete the negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty by next spring and to sign it by next autumn.

Mr. President.

In our previous statement at the General Debate, we outlined Japan's position on the reforms that are necessary if the United Nations is to be able to fulfill its mission.

Firstly, Japan, having been playing a major role as the second largest contributor, earnestly calls upon all Member States to face up to the financial crisis of the United Nations, to honor their financial obligations, and to urgently and seriously address the question of UN financial reform.

Secondly, it is increasingly necessary to reform the United Nations system in the economic and social fields. Improving the efficiency and reviewing the mandates of the Economic and Social Council and other related organs are pressing tasks. From this perspective, Japan will continue to actively participate in the discussions on "An Agenda for Development" so that it can make its distinct contribution.

Thirdly, with regard to the reform of the Security Council, it is required that its functions be strengthened by enhancing its effectiveness and its legitimacy. This will necessitate an expansion of the Council that includes an increase in its permanent membership, and an improvement in its working methods, for example, through enhanced transparency. I should like to urge that Member States work expeditiously to reach an agreement on a broad framework of reform which includes these elements by the time this General Assembly session concludes next September.

Mr. President.

We have only five years until the 21st century. Humankind has reached a stage where we should all join hands and advance together so that the coming century will be a century of hope, when we can look forward to the creation and development of a new global civilization. On this occasion, I would like to reaffirm the determination that the people of Japan made fifty years ago to live in peace, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world. I should like to conclude my statement today with the assurance that, as the exploration of a new vision for the United Nations continues, Japan will attach ever greater importance to and enhance its support for the Organization, and, in order to bring about world peace and eradicate poverty and inequality, will do its utmost to contribute to the international community based on the universal ideals of freedom and democracy.

Thank you, Mr. President.