It is a cause of deep regret that, even compared with last year, the achievement of peace in the Middle East remains elusive, that the parties are distanced by mistrust and lack of confidence and that the energetic efforts of many to take the process forward appear to be achieving little.
Australia…
Australia associates itself fully with the statement delivered on behalf of the members of the South Pacific Forum. In view of the importance of oceans and law of the sea issues to a maritime nation like Australia, we wish to add some further comments.
The Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has adopte…
Australia is very pleased to support and to sponsor the draft resolution before the Assembly. Quite frankly, it is one which we believe no country could oppose — promoting international understanding through sport and culture; advocating active support for the concept of the Olympic Truce; underscor…
First of all, I wish, on behalf of the Australian Government to thank the Director General for his comprehensive report on the work of the Agency, and, further, for his long, dedicated and effective leadership. We warmly congratulate his confirmed successor, Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, and promise Austra…
I have listened with great interest to earlier statements under this agenda item, and I must say that in many of them I find a strong resonance with the views of the Australian delegation. I refer in particular to those views relating to the importance of greater openness and transparency in the wor…
Let me begin by congratulating Mr. Udovenko on his election as President of the General Assembly at this fifty-second session. The country and the Group he represents have seen great changes in the last decade. It therefore seems particularly fitting that he is presiding over a General Assembly whic…
Allow me, through you, Mr. President, to extend my delegation’s appreciation to the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Mr. Wolfgang Hoffmann, for the report on the activities of the Preparatory Commission during 1999.…
This Assembly takes up its agenda item on the situation in the Middle East at a testing and troubled time for the Middle East peace negotiations. The succession of historic agreements — which began with the Madrid Peace Conference in October 1991 and was followed by the Declaration of Principles on …
My delegation abstained in the voting on draft resolution A/51/L.23 because the draft resolution fails to draw a clear distinction between measures imposed unilaterally by individual States and those measures that are undertaken pursuant to resolutions of the Security Council under the United Nation…
As we move into the second half century of the United Nations and towards the new millennium, it is sobering indeed to recognize that although so much has been achieved to advance the human condition in many parts of the world, a substantial section of the world, by and large, has not been party to …
Mr. President, as this is the first occasion on which I am addressing the fifty-first session of the General Assembly, may I begin by repeating the remarks made to you on 30 September by my Foreign Minister, Mr. Alexander Downer, when he expressed to you the immense pleasure Australia feels at seein…
In lending Australia’s strong support to the draft resolution before us on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a text which we join in sponsoring, I would like first to thank the Agency’s Director General, Mr. Blix, for his comprehensive statement, one which underlined the v…
It is clear to all that the United Nations has a role to play in meeting the contemporary challenges faced by the international community. The United Nations Charter and the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations pledge this institution to support and strengthe…
I should like to extend warm congratulations to Mr. Razali on his election as President of the General Assembly. As a close neighbour of Malaysia, Australia will confidently rely on his experience and sound judgement as he presides over this important session of the Assembly.
I feel greatly honoure…
Eighteen days ago, I wrote to you, Mr. President, asking that arrangements be made for the General Assembly to meet today to resume consideration of item 65 of the agenda of its fiftieth session: “Comprehensive test-ban treaty”. I am grateful to you and the Assembly for agreeing to this request.
Wh…
This open debate presents a timely opportunity to examine the situation in Burundi and how the international community can respond effectively to recent developments there.
Australia is seriously concerned about recent developments in Burundi. It holds grave fears that unless the parties to the con…
Australia welcomes the opportunity this debate provides to Member States to present their views on this very important issue.
The Security Council pronounced itself on the general problem of land-mines in a statement responding to the supplement of February 1995 to the Secretary- General’s Agenda f…
This is an important session of the General Assembly, as reflected by the fact that earlier this week the President of Lebanon was at this rostrum.
Australia is appalled by the events in northern Israel and Lebanon which have been taking place during the past two weeks. The toll of the violence, in…
My delegation welcomes the adoption of the programme budget for the biennium 1996 to 1997 without a vote. As the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee said in introducing the reports of the Fifth Committee, the Australian delegation, through Mr. Martin Sharp, was closely involved in the negotiations as …
Australia welcomes the convening of this meeting of the Security Council to consider ways of improving consultations between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries. As one of 34 Member States that jointly forwarded a letter to you, Sir, as President of the Security Council, we should …
