State Information Service- Speeshes - <BR>Mubarak’s speech to Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference

Thursday, Septemper 11, 1997

Mubarak’s speech to Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference

The President of the International Parliamentarians,
Representative of UN Secretary-General,
The Speakers of the Parliaments,
The Heads and Members of delegations,

The Egyptian people and government welcome you all at this critical stage in the history of humanity so that you may play a prominent and effective role in formulating international relations in a new pattern and modern concepts that cope with the dangers and challenges to which human civilization is exposed, and to avail yourselves of the opportunities and potentialities at this unprecedented epoch in history.

I have no doubt that you are fully aware of the burden of your responsibilities and the message before you at this period in which we relinquish old systems that have prevailed for centuries on local and international arenas, and welcome new systems that influence all aspects of life. You represent the conscience of the nations that chose you to express their hopes and pains, their dreams and fears, their ambitions and frustrations. You defend their rights and interests at a time where the pace of change is accelerating at an unprecedented and inconceivable rate.

In this context, my concern is to confirm a fact that should be clear to us all, namely that the New World Order, with all its values and achievements, should be the outcome of our collective thoughts and joint work to which each will contribute an equal share. It should also be the result of an exchange of views and varying opinions.

That is only natural due to the diversification of interests and variance in stages of development and progress of peoples in various continents. Hence, each one of us is required to effectively and positively share in formulating this new system of basic principles, values and rules. No group should exclusively reserve this task alone irrespective of its good intentions, power, or degree of progress and potentials because a New World Order can only be so if all peoples of the world and all civilizations contribute to laying down its rules and regulations since the very beginning, through the stage of formulation and birth. All peoples should have the opportunity to express their views without any restrictions or limits.

If some believe that one limited group of nations could lay down the rules of this new order all by itself, then that would not make it universally accepted and would not ensure its stability.

Thus, it would geographically be confined to dispersed islands here and there. In other words, we have to realize that this New World Order often spoken about during recent years, is still in the making and has not yet taken its final shape. Hence, there is still a chance to influence it and delineate its features and rules. It is wrong to imagine that it has been crystallized and established and that it only remains for the different continents of the world but to put it into effect and follow its principles as formulated by this limited group of nations that had taken the lead in making and bringing it to life.

I need not remind you that the old systems, lastly colonialism, have collapsed and disintegrated because they have ignored an essential and indispensable factor for survival and continuity, namely, justice and equality among all nations and peoples.

God Almighty has made equality a basic principle and a solid base for humanity that is capable of achieving glory and progress. God has created all men with equal rights and duties regardless of the difference in wealth, manifestations of power or degrees of progress, which are all temporary considerations that will soon be overtaken by time and factors that do not affect the destiny and lives of nations.

However, talkingof democracy we can say that it is not merely a constitutional principle and a moral basis to preserve the domestic system in every state, but is rather a solid base for the stability of regional and international regimes, and a prerequisite for popular satisfaction and general acceptance of such regimes and policies. You are the institutions most capable of realizing such conditions and requirements because you are closest to the feelings, hopes and dreams of the masses.

From this standpoint, as you are to discuss issues related to globalization, I find it convenient to place before you certain points that deserve due interest in your deliberations and in carrying out the task of enacting laws and legislations, for new rules, in the light of the orientation towards globalization. So, please allow me to present the following points:

First: In order to secure a just and stable New World Order, equilibrium between the superpower's interests and the rights of medium and small countries should be considered, in other words between the interests of the North and those of the South are still waging the battle of development in its initial stages under extremely difficult and critical circumstances. Therefore, it is unjust and illogical to impose on them the same costs and burdens imposed on developed states who are greatly indebted for their progress to the countries of the South that have been subjected to colonialism and for successive centuries have suffered the attrition of their resources and markets.

Second : Apart from moral and legal considerations represented in justice and equality, there are certain practical considerations that require that the interests of the Third World countries should be taken into consideration in formulating international economic relations in the coming period. If those countries do not find convenient circumstances to proceed forward along the road of development, they will be incapable of taking part in world trade at reasonable rates in both exports and imports. This would eventually cause damage to the industrially and technologically advanced countries. The same situation will arise if the same rates of wages and employment conditions applicable in developed countries are imposed on Third World countries. We have to bear in mind that there is no reason for applying the criteria and rates existing in a limited group of countries on the rest of the world. They should not be considered as international criteria that should be applied at all times and in all places, for certainly they have been reached only after long centuries following the Industrial Revolution in the countries of the North .

Third: Related to this, one of the main factors that should be provided for the New World Order so that it can win general acceptance and global credibility everywhere, is to refrain from adopting imbalanced policies or applying dual criteria because this attitude uproots the concept of globalization. True globalization is the universality of values, principles and rules, before being that of markets and systems.
Unless the peoples of the entire world are not convinced that they are subjected to the same values and criteria, such situation would create a dangerous imbalance in the New World Order and render it susceptible to storms and hurricanes. Thus, it will merely be a limited short term transformation similar to many others which have left no noticeable imprints on the history of mankind.

Fourth: If a New World Order, in the true sense of the word is to be created, the advanced countries of the North should draw up a comprehensive programme to help Third World countries to launch a radical and effective upsurge and development. This requires material and technical assistance be extended to help Third World countries develop their agricultural and industrial products in terms of both quality and quantity, in order to be capable of assimilating high technology in production and services, even on a phased-out basis, until they are eligible to enter world trade markets and become capable of fair and legitimate competition.

Fifth: We should also take into account in imposing the cost of environment protection that countries of the third world had really no hand in damaging or impairing the environment because most of the dangers to which it was exposed have been the outcome of intensive and uncontrolled industrialization which was not committed to environment protection on the part of developed countries of the North which lacked a far- sighted futuristic vision. As such, we should take into consideration this fact when distributing the burdens of international environment protection on the various countries.

It is both unacceptable and unreasonable to impose exorbitant costs on countries that are still taking their first steps on the road to development in difficult and suffocating circumstances. Moreover, these countries have not actually taken part in damaging the environment, though it is surely in their own interest to participate in repairing and confronting the damage done by avoiding practices and policies previously adopted by the advanced countries during the stages of industrial breakthrough without the least consideration to its serious consequences on the environment.

Sixth: It should be a gross mistake to believe that, in this age, where man has attained the highest degree of progress, humanity is threatened by a severe conflict among religions and cultures. This argument had been rejected in the past since the beginnings of the Renaissance and the age of enlightenment which dissipated the darkness of the Middle Ages. Then, how could we go back to those primitive, backward concepts while being on the threshold of the greatest civilizational awakening ever realized in the long history of mankind.Under such awakening, which co-incides with the imminent beginning of the 21st century, all theories and concepts that discriminate between nations and cultures and create a false awareness of contradictions and conflicts among cultures, religions and creeds should be totally renounced. The more avanced along the path of glory and progress man is, the more elevated above such conflicts his thoughts and practice should be. Man should give predominance to such factors that unite rather than disunite, bring people together rather than keep them apart, stress common goals and orientations and discard those of contradiction and conflicts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our call for taking into consideration the circumistances and requirements of the various countries of the world does not stem from a recognition of the conflict of interest and inevitability of clash between the requirements of various countries, but rather from a firm belief in the unity of interests and destiny of all peoples of the world. Our appeal also emanates from our determination to bring about an overall international consensus on a specific concept based on the best possible means of dealing with such transitory, nonbasic conflict of interest should be dialogue and negotiation rather than through struggle and confrontation. We are confident that the advanced countries share the same belief that such situations which reflect some conflict of interests, should be settled through voluntary acceptance and creative and meaningful cooperation among all parties. We are all in fact, one party rather various conflicting parties. We may either succeed together in facing current dangers and challenges, and thereby can humanity to a new stage of security and prosperity, or fall together in the abyss of contradiction and conflict.

Therefore, we have no alternative but to work collectively to realize the objectives on which there is consensus or common agreement in a bid to forge out new international relations compatible with the material and technological progress attained during recent decades at overwhelming rates. Cultural and moral progress should keep pace with material progress at the same rate to avoid an imbalance in the world and in the basic componants of man's existence on this planet at a time man's ambitions and potentials have increased in a bid to unveil the secrets of existence on other extremely distant planets.

I believe that the most important objectives that should win international consensus are equitable and comprehensive peace, balanced and sustainable development, and true democracy to which man should be committed before applying it on others, and which is to be a guide for all categories of the society, irrespective of their status.

As for equitable and comprehensive peace which is based on moral and legal legitimacy, it is the first and most serious goal. Failing such goal, there can be no construction, any achievement will be futile, and our endeavours will be labour in vain. In the absence of peace, our view of the future will be dark black and there will be no room for optimism. A pessimistic, inauspicious outlook will rather prevail. Stability will receive a telling blow, and man will be incapable of planning for the future no matter how strong he may be.

All means of power will collapse before the spectre of war and devastation.

We speak here of peace for the peoples of the entire world whether rich or poor, big or small, developed or developing. Here comes to the fore, the question of realizing just and comprehensive peace not only among various states and entities but also among the different categories of the one and same country regardless of the ethnic, cultural, religious and political differences among its people. Bloody events in the former Yugoslav republics and in some sisterly African states have proved that such differences, which were aggravated by subversive, biased elements, were more violent and ferocious than those in other entities. Hence, it was incumbent on the international community to exert redoubled efforts to decisively confront with all its might this dangerous phenomenon.

If we are to shed some light on peace in the Middle East, we will find that despite the achievements reached, the peace process is still jeopardized by violent events at a time where we are in dire need to bury the hatchet together with all its sorrows and pains involved, paving the way for a new phase of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Therefore, we do call for the adoption of decisive and crucial stances focusing on the requirement to achieve peace as an strategic and inalienable strategy, not only with flowery words and promises but with tangible acts and deeds that have direct impact on the peoples' vision of the present and future as well as on the destiny of the entire region.

I need not elaborate on balanced development and its importance not only to the peoples of various continents but also to the World Order as a whole.

If all of us cannot realize development at the required rate, the entire world will continue to suffer from risks and bottle-necks that would obstruct the attainment of common goals and undermine the necessary basis for effective international cooperation, due to the imbalance and absence of harmony in the development phases of various countries. Sincere and steady efforts are in the first place required to enable countries economically lagging behind in the Twentieth Century to bridge as far as possible that serious gap in development during the coming years. They have to be given all opportunities to contribute in the process of reconstruction and progress in order to make of the 21st Century really a major turning point in the history of humanity.

As for democracy, of which you are the defenders, it is an indispensable and an essential element for the protection of construction and progress. It enables social forces in various countries of the world to express their opinions, hopes and ambitions. Hence, they can participate in laying down the rules of a New World Order free of exploitation, injustice and oppression; with a world committed to justice, equality and solidarity in each country as well as in international relations in the various domains.

Democracy is the only means for the protection of freedom and innovation. It ensures the required equilibrium between rights and duties. In this context, it is far removed from chaos and irresponsible practices, because it has its own regulations, controls and rules. This ensures that democracy cannot be turned into a weapon to be used legitimately or illegitimately by some people or as a pretext whereby to justify transgressions and deviations from the fundamentals necessary to preserve any political, economic, or social system. In short, democracy is the optimal means to realize sublime aims and legitimate goals in accordance with regional and international norms at the various levels.

Naturally your deliberations would be crowned by a declaration on democracy as an elevated human value on which the system of government is based, safeguarding the respect for human rights and the rule of law. No doubt you agree with me that as we are speaking here about a human value of a global nature, it should be formed through the interaction of the various cultures so as to be representative of the multiple elements, which enrich human experience rather than being confined to one single experience no matter how advanced it might be and ensure participation by Egypt and its people in your deliberations and discussions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
These were some thoughts which I liked to present before you at the start of this conference in a bid to to enrich your dialogue in the coming days. This emanates from a belief in the unity of human struggle for a better life and a happier future.
Looking forward to the distant horizon we can see early signs of welfare, success, glory, progress, and elements of a forthcoming major awakening and historical transformation.

We all have no choice but to be the vanguards of this major breakthrough in which we participate with our minds, hearts and strength, defending it with our knowledge and our work today and tomorrow irrespective of our intellectual visionsand thoughts or our national and ideological affiliations. May God guide us to success and protect our endeavours along the right path.

May Allah's Peace be upon you


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