Mr. Chairman,

The right of peoples to self-determination, which was historically important, was a powerful weapon for the oppressed nations to fight against imperialism and colonialism so as to win their national independence and the liberation of their peoples, is still of great relevance today. In the contemporary world, the right to self-determination is a sacred principle. It means that each people can choose its own political and social system as well as its own economic model and path to development, oppose foreign aggression, interference and control, and safeguard sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Looking around the world, we still see the powerful bullying the weak, the big cowing the small, and the interference in the internal affairs of other states by resorting to political pressure, economic sanctions and even armed invasion. Such practices not only flagrantly trample upon the UN Charter and the right to self-determination and should be condemned by the international community, but also demonstrate that there is a long way to go before the right to self-determination can be realized.

At the same time we should be aware that there are some people, who, with their evil intention, openly advocate the splitting of sovereign states under the cloak of self-determination. Such practice also tramples upon the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law and deserves the condemnation and firm opposition from all peoples of the world.

Mr. Chairman,

Restoring to the Palestinian people all the rights including the right to self-determination and an early fair and just solution to the question of Palestine are the crux for the realization of a lasting peace in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned about the incessant violent conflict in that area and hope that the parties concerned will exercise the greatest restraint, stop saying and doing things that are not conducive to the peace process, so as to create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for the renewal and acceleration of the peace negotiations.