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Security Council's Permanent 5

China

Profound international change: multipolar, globalizing economies.

Respect national sovereignty: proceed through consultation, not force.

China no threat to anyone. Abolish nuclear weapons.

Will not devalue yuan. Continuing to build Chinese socialism.

Human rights: Having already signed the Economic and Social Covenant, next month China will sign the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Right to Development is basic. China is progressively introducing democracy and is strengthening its legal system.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sacred territory."

Massive effort contained our disastrous floods. Thanks for your support.

Russia

Reaffirms commitment to a multipolar and more democratic international system.

Conflicts must be resolved by political, not military means; and always under the authority of the Security Council.

Disarmament: Prime Minister Primakov is pressing the Duma to ratify START II (Nuclear).

Russia is presenting a draft treaty to control nuclear terror.

Sanctions must be pin-pointed; and the conditions for lifting sanctions must be defined when they are imposed.

France

The Cold War has not left a legacy of peace, but a world of complicated troubles.

We must strengthen the UN system.

The Security Council has the sole authority to use force.

Its resolutions must be complied with (Iraq).

The Council must become more representative.

Nuclear and other mass weapons must be controlled.

More and consistent aid to development.

International Criminal Court major achievement.

Organized crime, drugs, terror require international controls.

United Kingdom (Prime Minister Tony Blair)

The mesh of international problems can only be settled by cooperative action. The U.N. is needed more than ever; it should be strengthened and brought up to date.

The Security Council in particular needs strengthening, emphasizing prevention and peace- building.

The U.K. is increasing its aid to development, and strongly supports the European Union's decision to drop all import tariffs on least-developed countries by the year 2000.

Drugs and terror require comprehensive action.

U.S.A. (President William Clinton)

While some success in settling conflicts (e.g. Northern Ireland) has been achieved, and Human Rights are more widely respected, this remains a dangerous world with many tensions and the threat of weapons of mass destruction.

Right now, the fight against terrorism must have top priority. Terrorism knows no boundaries. The notion that a clash between civilizations is inevitable is false, "Americans respect and honor Islam." No sanctuary for terrorists.

U.S.A. "will do our part" to address sources of despair by supporting development.