Crown Prince affirms nation’s commitment to universal values of
tolerance and respect
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei
Darussalam affirmed its commitment to universal values of tolerance and respect
while upholding the institutions, structures and due process of international
affairs the United Nations (UN) embodies, Borneo Bulletin reported.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji
Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime
Minister’s Office, on behalf of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam, underscored the Sultanate’s stance in an address at the 67th
Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
In a craftily worded speech, HRH
said the UN doesn’t need to adjust itself fundamentally but in the structure of
the organisation there are some things that need to be “adjusted”.
Drawing a parallel between the UN
and Asean and how the latter has adjusted despite being one of the most
unstable regions on earth four decade’s ago as a confrontation point for the
national interests of great powers and a focal point of the Cold War, HRH said
Asean has adjusted. It will continue to operate in the interest of its
community of 600 million citizens, not by conflict or confrontation and not by
compromising national values, but by peaceful consensus.
In the same way, HRH hoped the
structure of the United Nations can be gradually and carefully “adjusted”.
Earlier, HRH said Brunei welcomes
the five-year action agenda UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon set out and the
common vision it offers us.
“At its heart, this vision is of
tolerance, respect and understanding between nations. Sadly, over the last two
weeks, we have witnessed events that present a very different vision,” HRH
said, noting that the Sultanate, in considering them, has stated its unreserved
condemnation of their cause.
“We have equally strongly advised
all our people, of our government’s absolute rejection of the violence and
extremism that have been their result.
“Here at the United Nations, we
congratulate the Secretary-General on his statement about the matter. In doing
so, we reaffirm our commitment to universal values of tolerance and respect.”
HRH added that Brunei upholds the
institutions, structures and due processes of international affairs that this
great organisation embodies.
Touching on the theme for this
year’s General Debate, HRH pointed out that the key word here is ‘adjustment’.
“I think it is well-chosen. It
suggests change that is carefully and gradually done. It does not invite
confrontation,” HRH said.
According to HRH, this matches
the main purpose of the annual meeting.
“It is in the structure of the
organisation that we see a need for some things to be ‘adjusted’. The reason
(for a structural adjustment at the UN) appears clear to many of those of us
who are small both physically and politically.
“The current structure appears
far too often to be the deep-seated cause of the headline news I referred to.
“We see it as a 20th Century
structure designed to meet 20th Century realities. It is personified in the 64
years of suffering by the ordinary people of Palestine and in all other
desperate situations in which the root causes of conflict and confrontation are
still buried in the last century”
According to HRH, this must
change, as “in our globalised world, we are all equally inter-dependent and
equally responsible”.
“Like many other members of this
Assembly, we believe that the current structure does not truly reflect this,”
HRH added. “As such, it needs adjusting so that ancient political fault lines
are repaired. The form we hope it will increasingly take will be like some
regions today that operate from a basis of consensus, rather than compromise
and confrontation.”
That is what we have accepted in
our own region of Southeast Asia, HRH said.
“It is the spirit behind Asean’s
present focus of building a peaceful and mutually respectful community of
nations regardless of background, economic resources or national
preoccupations. It is why we greatly appreciate the strong support and goodwill
that is constantly shown to us by our many partners from outside the region.
“It is also why we in Brunei
Darussalam, the smallest of all the members, feel honoured and privileged to be
the Asean Chairman next year. It is an association of neighbours who have
deliberately chosen to ‘adjust’ their region’s previous identity
“Until 45 years ago, it was one
of the most unstable regions on earth, a confrontation point for the national
interests of great powers and a focal point of the Cold War. Now, it has
‘adjusted’. It is determined to operate in the interests of its community of
600 million citizens.”
HRH expressed his confidence that
it will continue to do so, not by conflict or confrontation and not by
compromising national values, but by peaceful consensus.
“In the same way, we hope the
structure of the United Nations can be gradually and carefully ‘adjusted’,” HRH
concluded.
Fadley Faisal
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