As we assemble this year for the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference, ASEAN has much to be satisfied about. The East Asian Crisis is well behind us. Through persistent endeavours and reforms, affected member countries are progressing firmly on the path to strong economic growth That they Should have done so, is testimony not merely of their economic wisdom and expertise, but also of the resilience and strength that ASEAN collectively bears as a group.

2.     Mr. Chairman, as we stand back and review global developments during the past few decades, we find that sea changes have taken place in the international scenario. This new emerging world of ours has made progress in diverse fields ­ genome mapping, robotics, advanced molecules for treatment of diseases, industrial and consumer electronics, computers and information technology. The suffering and deprivation of the underdeveloped is no longer hidden from world audiences and international media. The multinational model of doing business - where goods and services are sourced from all over the world - has proliferated. In the emerging global village, based on interconnectivity and economic interdependence, both the developed and developing world, have learnt to sit and talk to each other. International institutions, like the United Nations and its agencies, IMF, and World Bank, as well as bilateral donors, have to meet the resource challenges of the decade. Excited by the prospects of integrating with the global mainstream, many of our countries have undertaken significant liberalisation of our economies. There has also been major multilateral trade expansion through organisations such as the World Trade Organisation.

3.     But what the South has gained in the wake of these changes is not so encouraging. To a considerable extent, countries of the sub-Saharan region, parts of Asia and Central and Eastern Europe continue to languish In conditions of poverty, hunger and deprivation. According to the Human Development Report 2000 of the UNDP, poverty eradication remains a major challenge for the 21st century. The report indicates that as many as 90 million children today do not have access to primary school facilities. Further that, 232 million children cannot go to secondary school. Again in the developing world, approximately 1.2 billion people are living in poverty, 1 billion persons do not have access to safe drinking water, while as many as 2.4 billion people do not have basic sanitation facilities.

4.     Clearly, globalisation is no panacea. As experienced recently by many of us during the financial crisis, economic liberalisation alone does not eliminate fundamental problems in national economies. Globalisation has To be a human and benign process. Further, it needs to be undertaken gradually and in accordance with a country's individual priorities. A necessary consequence of opening up national economies is the intense competition that nascent domestic industries face from multinational corporates and global businesses. In the process, there are frequent closures of domestic industry, and disruptions of the domestic work force. It is in this context that our discussion on devising appropriate social safety nets in the economy, as an international endeavour, assumes special importance.

5.     Here I would like to refer to Finance for Development, which needs closer examination today. The  adoption of the resolution in December 1997 in the General Assembly is significant for it reflects the consensus in the international community on the need for comprehensive treatment of the issue of finance for development. All countries have a shared interest in this area, Issues of concern to developing countries include debt issues, ODA and volatility of private sector flows. The Conference could also consider distortions in availability of financial resources arising from trade sector reforms in the context of the implications of the Uruguay Round undertakings for terms of trade, market access and subsidies. Issues of financing for development, infrastructure and social sector activities as well as inefficiencies in financial and capital markets could also be considered.

6.     I refer to these facts, Mr. Chairman, because any discussion on security implications of globalisation and conflict resolution loses its relevance unless conducted within the overall framework of development and poverty alleviation. Today, globalisation has profoundly altered economic organisation, it is forcing all nations to think beyond their political geography, Even though the impact of globalisation on social interaction, as well as on the security of nations and individual is partially understood, it is not difficult to conclude that globalisation has led to an enlargement of the traditional concept of security. It is no longer adequate to consider security as being merely a function of military strength or as being limited to territorial defence.

7.     Today, there is an increasing stress on the theme of conflict resolution in the UN and other international fora. While this is an unexceptionable goal, often there is excessive emphasis placed an military means to resolve conflicts. It ignores the economic dimension of conflicts. Undue emphasis on religious or ethnic identities has led to conflicts in many parts of the world, Rather than placing excessive reliance on narrow religious or ethnic identities, which causes endemic instability and strife, our preferred option should be for a participatory order- and democratic; pluralism.

8.     The nature of the threat to national security too has been altered- Security analysts can no longer remain oblivious to the impact of issues like environmental degradation, mass displacement of populations, the spread of infectious diseases, the instability of financial markets, as well as a greater range of potential adversaries. Globali5ation has helped, albeit inadvertently, perpetrators of transnational crime, be it terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking of human beings or attacks on computer networks, to threaten not just individuals, but whole societies across national boundaries. Such threats by non-state actors are a real and immediate concern.

9.     History is replete with instances where the starting point of conflict can be traced to economic causes. Continued poverty, hunger and deprivation will lead to frustration and despair in any community. These people will shun the conventional road to economic development and resort to violence, communal discord, trafficking in arms and terrorism Indiscriminate violence aimed at civilians has been used to disrupt the normal democratic processes and destroy the basic rights of citizens, including the right to life and the right to freedom of movement. Terrorism is the very anti-thesis of every idea espoused and cherished by the UN Charier. Incitement to terrorism and complicity and participation in terrorism across borders, undermine the international system, It is in this context, that India has called for concerted global action to root out the scourge of terrorism through comprehensive and effective international measures underpinned by political determination and the will of the international community.

10.     Related illegitimate activities range from money-laundering, illegal sales of fire arms, nuclear materials and explosives, trafficking in narcotics, to illegal trade in motor vehicles and works of art, trafficking in women and children, and counterfeiting of currencies. No framework convention to prevent organised trans­national crime in general, has yet been concluded, nor has there been a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

11.     India supports efforts in enhancing international co-operation in combating various forms of trans-national crime, including those efforts to put in place legally binding conventions in specific areas. We hope that divergences on legal questions do riot prevent us from reaching agreement on early conclusion of a framework convention, including a comprehensive definition of organised trans-national crime.

12.     Interdependence calls for a larger number of subjects being deliberated under the multilateral umbrella. No doubt, institutions like the United Nations, the WTO etc. have given more predictability and structure to multilateral decision-­making processes. However, the South, which constitutes the overwhelming majority in this world, must be given its fair and proportional share of representation in important UN bodies like the Security Council. As the UN organ with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Council's decisions must be viewed as serving the collective interest of all UN members. Hence, its membership must be enlarged to include more key global players and developing countries. Its working methods must be reformed so that the Council's decision-making process becomes more transparent and democratic, We hope that the General Assembly working group can soon recommend viable measures to reform the Council.

13.     India welcomes the initiative to hold a UN Millennium Summit later this year. The occasion offers a unique opportunity to tap into the collective wisdom of both the developed and developing world. India would like to see a Summit that is goal­oriented and able to harness the collective endeavours of member states towards tackling the problems and challenges confronting the world today. Globalisation with equity; a nuclear free world; eradication of poverty, disease, ignorance and unemployment, multilateral developmental co-operation, especially the setting of a date for the achievement of the 0.7% target for ODA; combating terrorism and drug trafficking - are some of the issues on which a consensus may be arrived at.

14.     The Summit should have a concrete, action-oriented and forward-looking focus, and should be inter-governmentally negotiated in a transparent manner with effective participation of al countries-especially developing countries, to ensure its Inclusive character. It should add value through affirmation, at the highest level, of the logic and imperative of enlightened multilateralism in addressing the global agenda of this century. This challenge cannot be met if it is divorced from the democratic, ethical and moral weight that only the United Nations can bring.

15.     Similarly, it is important to ensure the strengthening of an equitable and rules-based multilateral trading regime under institutions like the World Trade Organisation. In order to facilitate a level-playing field for the developing countries, due attention should be given to the implementation issues, of the Uruguay Round and to the special and differential requirements of developing and least developed countries. Similar initiatives for revamping international financial institutions, so as to make them more responsive to the needs and priorities of development, will need to be undertaken.

16.     What needs to be encouraged is mutuality, as well as exchange and co-operation - not merely between governments and political leaders but also at a people-to-people level. In the current era of economic interdependence and connectivity, let us use information and communications technologies for building positive awareness about each other and for generating peace and goodwill, We could consider implementing a project for building IT-based linkages whether on technology, business, culture and economic security. The terms of reference for such a project would have to be worked out. The portal jointly created could serve as a clearing house for exchange of views by economists, academics, and professionals from participating countries and institutions. It could also have, a commercial aspect by creating hyperlinks to websites of industry associations and including in the long term, new technologies, venture capital details, commercial directories and other such information, In doing so, Mr. Chairman, one hopes that the dialogue that we have on a yearly basis also extends to our business communities.

17.     The developing countries attach special priority to creation of basic infrastructure facilities in their domestic economies. In fact almost all the areas mentioned in the Hanoi Plan of Action are critical, not only for the future prosperity of the ASEAN region, but in many ways, for all countries of the South. On our part, I would like to reiterate whole-hearted support and willingness for India's participation in many of the areas enunciated under the Hanoi Plan, especially in economic areas such as food security, telecommunications, electronics and information technology, biotechnology, transport and infrastructure. In this context, we would like to be part of the international community working towards the intensification of economic and social development in the Greater Mekong sub-region during the “Decade of Greater Mekong sub-region Development Co-operation 2000 - 2009”. India would like to participate in the development and execution of projects relating to fisheries, water management and resources development, reservoir sedimentation and oceanographic studies, environment impact assessment, bio­diversity enumeration, soil resources study, medicinal plants and aromatics, rice­based agriculture, study of the cultivation of other viable crops apart from projects relating to road and railway development, project management services etc.

18.     Mr. Chairman, the remedies for overcoming the various challenges we have been discussing so far, will need to be strengthened through endorsement at the political level. But opinion building has to involve the-people whom it, purports to support. Without the active and genuine involvement of our various populations and peoples all our efforts will come to a naught. The basis of economic development will have to be peoples-based and peoples-centred. Here the deliberations of the recently held Community of Democracies conference at Warsaw assume special significance. Democratic systems and values are not just important from the economic angle. They also have a cultural and social significance. The support to democratic political systems and norms foster individual thinking and freedom. Democracy helps countries to strengthen their identity, promotes internal cohesion and the ability to withstand pressures unleashed by globalization.

19.     We have to be vigilant in our defence of democracy and constitutional government. We have to protect the rights, both political and economic, of multiethnic democracies. This is a collective challenge for the international community, and any trends contrary to this, as in the case of the current situation in Fiji, need to be firmly reversed in order to avoid any repercussions for democracy and stability in our region. In this regard, we are of the view that pressure of full scope trade and economic sanctions is required to quickly reverse the damage which has occurred in Fiji by the unlawful abrogation of the Constitution and the dismissal of a legitimately-elected government. Our assessment is that moderate and more rational elements, who constitute the majority in Fiji, may be prepared to accept sacrifices in the short-term in exchange for a secure, non-discriminatory democratic Government based on the rule of law.