Statement from Ashot Ayrapetyan, Chairman of Respect International – West-East Bridges at the 2012 High Level Segment of the United Nations the Economic and Social Council. New York, 2-27 July 2012

The necessity for a new world development programme

Our civilization develops unequally. If modern planes, trains, houses and computers were created by engineers, then the global economy was created by politicians and the military in order to control other States. In the world's leading countries, such as France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, it was understood a long time ago that the stability of the State depended on the provision and guarantee of the rights and needs of citizens. Unfortunately, in reality, the relationship between countries is quite the opposite. Rich and prosperous countries are becoming increasingly richer, while the poor are becoming increasingly poorer. As a result, many people from Africa, Asia and Latin America are prepared to take any means in order to move to developed countries. There are also those who want to restore justice, but being unable to find legal routes, resort to terrorism.