Laos
has always held firm in its efforts to preserve international peace and
security to create environments conducive to the promotion of development
cooperation.
This was the message from Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith during his
speech at the General Debate of the 66th General Assembly of the United Nations
in New York on Monday.
The meeting, attended by heads of state and
governments along with foreign ministers, was held to review the global
situation facing member states with particular relation to peace, stability,
the economy, environment and natural disasters.
Thongloun was cited as saying the Lao
government will always uphold the principle of resolving problems by peaceful
means as it shares a common desire with other countries to reside in a peaceful
and secure world.
"All nations must continue to enhance
development cooperation, to ensure tangible benefits for our peoples based on
mutual respect, solidarity, understanding and assistance, and at the same time
avoid the use of threats, interference and force," he said.
"During the past year, we have faced
multiple challenges caused by regional conflicts, spreading social unrest
coupled with financial and economic crises and devastating natural disasters,
which have become more frequent."
Thongloun said these events combined pose
severe threats to global peace, stability, security and development
cooperation. These multiple challenges are not only obstructing developing and
least-developed countries from pursuing their development goals but they also
cause reverse development.
"We must accelerate the UN reform
process, which has been pending for many years, to achieve more concrete
outcomes. It is more critical than ever for all member states to enhance
cooperation in a sincere and trustworthy manner, without taking advantage of
one another, in an effort to reform UN bodies and improve their
effectiveness."
Thongloun added that the UN should show a more
effective facilitating role by urging all parties concerned to find a solution
and realise the vision of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.
The two should live side by side in peace,
security and within internationally recognised borders as stipulated in the
relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, he added.
"In this regard, the Lao PDR supports
Palestine's application for full membership of the UN," he said.
Thongloun pointed out that another important
concern remains the issue of the economic, trade and financial embargo imposed
on Cuba for several decades, which has seriously affected the Cuban people. He
said he believed it was time for the embargo to be unconditionally lifted.
The deputy PM told the meeting that one of the
main challenges for Laos was the unexploded ordnance (UXO) dropped during the
Indochina War more than three decades ago.
The legacy of war does not only pose obstacles
and hindrances in the country's effort to advance socio-economic development
but also negatively impacts on the livelihoods of local communities, as much of
the agricultural land across the country is contaminated with UXO.
He also touched upon efforts to build the
Asean Community by 2015 and said one of Asean's aims was to implement a free
trade area among the 10 member countries as well as between Asean and its
dialogue partners.
Thongloun also informed the meeting of his
pleasure that Laos will host the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting in Vientiane in
November next year and said the government has made preparing for the event a
top priority.
Vientiane Times
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