I am honoured, of course, once again to speak for Canada and New Zealand, as well as my own country, Australia.
Let me say immediately, Sir, how much our countries warmly welcome the adoption of resolution 60/180 this morning, establishing the modalities of the Peacebuilding Commission. Let me also…
I am speaking in explanation of Australia’s vote on draft resolutions concerning the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine.
Australia is concerned that a n…
Last year when Australia spoke under this agenda item, we had some grave concerns about the situation in the Middle East, and our prognosis was bleak. One year later, we have seen some significant changes, and, while much remains that is of concern, we nevertheless feel there is cause for at least g…
Australia congratulates the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people on the achievements made since the Bonn Agreement of December 2001. Australia also warmly welcomes the democratic outcome of the September 2005 national and provincial elections and applauds the courage shown by all Afghans …
A year ago we marked the important milestone of the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Year by year, we have seen a strengthening in the status of the Convention as the foundation of the global community’s interaction with, and use of, t…
Please allow me to begin by again extending the Australian Government’s condolences to the people affected by the South Asian earthquake, particularly in Pakistan.
The South Asian earthquake is the most recent in a string of severe and devastating natural disasters, including the Indian Ocean tsuna…
Australia shares concerns about the state of human rights and political freedoms in Cuba, but we do not consider that isolating Cuba through economic sanctions is an effective means of achieving human rights and political reform. Australia has consistently expressed its opposition, as a matter of pr…
Australia welcomes the first report by the President of the International Criminal Court to the General Assembly. As a strong and committed supporter of the Court, Australia welcomes the progress that the Court has made in the past year and, indeed, since its inception.
Like many others before me, …
I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It has now been 60 years since the world saw the defeat of a barbaric and tyrannical Nazi regime that had been bent on the systematic eradication of the Jewish people and the violent repression of many others.
Canada, …
Australia recognizes the need for a strong international response to global
road trauma and is delighted to support the draft resolution. We also wish to acknowledge the important coordination role played by the World Health Organization and the valuable framework for road safety action provided by…
As Australia’s youth representative, I am honoured by the opportunity to address the General Assembly today. But just to be a little bit different, I am not going to talk about the World Programme of Action for Youth. I am going to talk about Australian young people.
I have travelled the length and…
Australia is a founding Member of the United Nations, and we have long supported this Organization’s important role in world affairs. The United Nations has many achievements to celebrate in its sixtieth year. Equally, the sixtieth anniversary places the shortcomings and indeed the failings of the U…
I have the honour to present to the General Assembly, on behalf of the Chairman of round table 1, His Excellency Mr. John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, a brief summary of the round table, which was held on Wednesday, 14 September 2005. Prime Minister Howard had to leave this afternoon and…
As one of the 51 original countries to sign the Charter, Australia has had a long and active involvement in the United Nations. In this, the sixtieth anniversary year of the United Nations, Australia can look back on a strong record of involvement in a multitude of United Nations- sponsored processe…
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, in article 26, that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Vienna World Conference on Human Rights also made it clear that human …
I should like to begin by suggesting that no one take too much notice of the draft statement that has been circulated in my name. I saw it only a few minutes ago, and it is so manifestly unsatisfactory that I shall be extemporizing for much of the time.
Apart from anything else, the draft that memb…
Australia continues to strongly support the Monterrey Consensus. Its integrated approach, requiring a partnership between developed and developing countries, with policies and actions required of both, is essential to achieving progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. The Monterrey Consens…
I know we must be brief and thus must dispense with the courtesies, but it would be very wrong of me not to congratulate Denmark on its outstanding handling of the Council’s work this month. It is typical of the wonderful work which my friend and colleague, Ambassador Løj, does here.
As the current…
Thank you very much, Madam President, for convening this meeting. Let me also join others in thanking Mr. Annabi for the comprehensive briefing he has given the Council on the Secretary-General’s end of mandate report on the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) (S/2005/310).
As…
It is with sorrow but also sober pride that Australia joins with other nations in marking the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945.
When war was declared in September 1939, our young nation was quick to respond to the threat from tyranny, honouring an hist…
