On behalf of the Australian delegation, I wish to thank you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Canada for bringing this important question to the forefront of the Security Council’s agenda. We also very much welcome the fact that the decision was made to discuss this in an open meeting of the Cou…
Australia is pleased to have been a sponsor of the draft resolution on the implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
We wish, however, to register our disappointment that the draft resolution was not able to ensure the f…
I feel very privileged and proud to speak for Australia at this historic commemoration, although I must say that it is our view also that it would have been more fitting to conduct this important debate in the General Assembly Hall, with the full weight, dignity and solemnity that that venue confers…
Australia welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements, which contains in its annex the report of the Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements. The direction it takes in strengthening and focusing United Nations activities in the environmental area is enco…
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has been the basis of Australia's approach to the regulation of maritime space since its entry into force in 1994, and it is pleasing to see that, in this International Year of the Ocean, there have been further accessions to this very important Co…
The large number of speakers in this debate is, as it was last year, testimony to the importance of the issue of Security Council reform. But because of this — by my calculations there are still 60 more speakers listed after me — I will be brief.
Australia’s position is well known. Reform of the Se…
Australia remains determined to achieve a comprehensive and lasting solution to the global landmines problem. The conclusion of the Ottawa Convention banning landmines was a major step towards the achievement of a global ban on landmines, and my Government looks forward to ratifying the Convention a…
I have the honour to speak today on behalf of the delegations of Australia, Canada and New Zealand on agenda item 20.
Since we addressed the Assembly a year ago, a number of positive developments have taken place. In particular, our delegations are pleased to note that closer coordination and colla…
Australia is pleased to have the opportunity to commend Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic
Australia attaches great importance to the central role played by the IAEA in enlarging the contribution of nuclear technology to peace, health and prosperity throughout the w…
Australia attaches considerable importance to this agenda item. As the organ of the United Nations with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council plays a key role which directly affects the interests of all Member States. Its report to the G…
Although Australia shares the concerns of some Member States about the situation with respect to human rights and political freedom in Cuba, we do not consider that isolating Cuba through economic sanctions is an effective means of achieving human rights and political reform.
For that reason, Austr…
Australia welcomes the report of the Secretary-General. We believe that this is an excellent report which identifies the substantial challenges the Organization is facing as we prepare ourselves for the new millennium.
I want to concentrate on two of the challenges only that the Secretary-General h…
On behalf of the delegations of New Zealand and Canada and my own delegation, Australia’s, I wish to welcome warmly the re- election of Mrs. Sadako Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Mrs. Ogata has demonstrated outstanding vision and leadership in guiding the Office of the Unite…
On behalf of the Foreign Minister of Australia, Mr. Alexander Downer, who is unable to be here because of our national election next
As was very clear from the range of issues addressed on the first day and again this morning in the general debate, you take up the presidency, Sir, at a time when th…
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the delegations of Canada, New Zealand and Australia in explanation of position on the procedural decision just taken on improving the working methods of the Fifth Committee.
While there are limits to what can be achieved through legislative action, there are…
Australia has voted in favour of this resolution because we consider it a practical procedural measure which will clarify and assist the participation of the Palestinian observer delegation in the United Nations.
The resolution enhances the Palestinian observer delegation’s current rights as an obs…
Australia is pleased to be able to participate in this extremely important open debate in response to the recent series of nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Nuclear proliferation, with the attendant horrifying risks of a nuclear war, constitutes the worst possible threat to international peace an…
My delegation believes strongly in the importance of the principle of consensus decision-making, particularly in relation to financial and administrative issues in the United Nations. We accept that we will not always be fully comfortable with the compromises this approach inevitably requires, but w…
I am very pleased to speak this evening not only on behalf of my own delegation, but also on behalf of the delegations of Canada and New Zealand, to welcome the adoption of this important resolution on “United Nations reform: measures and proposals”.
This consensus resolution demonstrates the commi…
The importance Member States attach to a reformed, modernized and expanded Security Council has once again been demonstrated by the very large and impressive number of speakers in this debate.
The question of how this reform should be achieved has been the subject of intense, often difficult, but w…
