A/60/PV.6 General Assembly
The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m.
Next year will mark the sixtieth anniversary of Iceland’s accession to the United Nations.
Newly independent in 1946, the Icelandic people sought the clear recognition of sovereignty which membership of the United Nations gives. The need to reinforce the country’s security through membership of an Organization committed to maintaining peace and security in the world was also an important consideration.
The sovereign equality between nations provided by the United Nations Charter, the promise of living in peace as good neighbours, and the condemnation of the use of armed force except in the common interest — all those were valuable principles which the new Republic of Iceland wished to subscribe to.
But Iceland has never looked on the United Nations as a mechanism solely for safeguarding sovereignty and for mediating relations between Governments. The Charter addresses not only how we as Governments conduct our relations between ourselves, matters of sovereign equality and territorial integrity, but also how we conduct ourselves towards our own peoples — what the Secretary-General has called the accountability of States to their citizens — and indeed, how we conduct ourselves towards the peoples of other countries.
It is my view that, up to now, the key commitments to the peoples enshrined in the United Nations Charter have not been given their due weight. The text proposed for endorsement makes significant strides towards redressing the imbalance.
In particular, we have established the concept of the responsibility to protect. That idea is implicit in the United Nations Charter. It is therefore right that this summit underlines the responsibility that Governments have to their people and the duty of the international community to intervene in a timely and decisive manner if national authorities manifestly fail in their responsibilities.
With the creation of the human rights council, the United Nations will obtain a powerful tool in persuading States to live up to their responsibility to protect. It is in line with our decision to increase resources to the human rights machinery and will equip the United Nations to fulfil its duties towards its peoples, those individuals whose human rights need watchful and impartial protection. Work on that project must proceed rapidly.
The decision to establish a peacebuilding commission will provide another tool which will help to create a better future for individuals and nations. Iceland welcomes its foundation and believes that, if given the necessary institutional weight, it could achieve much in establishing lasting peace following conflict.
Large strides have been made on development matters. Still, there is far to go if we are to attain the Millennium Development Goals. The clear recognition of the particular problems of Africa is most welcome. The clear restatement of the fundamental responsibility and right of developing countries to conduct their own development, the importance of private investment capital, and the massive increase in direct development
aid promised by developed nations is a major achievement.
The Doha round must also make significant progress towards creating an international trade regime that gives developing countries access to the globalized economy. Development assistance from developed countries has a vital role to play in the fight against poverty and injustice. But developing countries, with the help of the international community, need to create political and legal environments in which sustainable development has a real chance.
Iceland also welcomes the text on terrorism, although a universal definition is still needed. Terrorism is a threat to us all and must be condemned in all its forms. We therefore have a duty to conclude an international convention on terrorism by the end of this session of the General Assembly.
The United Nations has made a great difference to many, but it has also failed many. If we do not reform the Security Council, we will lack the necessary strength and power to protect and to secure and maintain peace. Iceland believes that, with the assistance of the President of the General Assembly, that matter can be settled before the end of the year.
Finally, we believe that Iceland can make a contribution to peace and to the welfare of all Member States. It is for that reason that Iceland is for the first time a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the term 2009-2010.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency The Honourable Sir Allan Kemakeza, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to the Government and people of the United States for the tragic loss of life and property resulting from the recent hurricane in the Gulf States.
Allow me to congratulate Ambassador Eliasson on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. Solomon Islands wish to assure him of our support during his term in office. I wish to also register, through him, my delegation’s sincere appreciation to the outgoing President, Mr. Jean Ping, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gabon, who has worked tirelessly with all members of this body in
addressing our fears and charting the future direction of this Organization.
Twenty-seven years ago, Solomon Islands joined this noble institution, believing in the principles and values it stands for. Unfortunately, this institution has not reconciled itself with the ever-changing environment. Countries such as Solomon Islands have slipped from being developing to being least developed and, most recently, into being vulnerable States.
Representing a country from a region identified as off-track in terms of meeting its Millennium Development Goals, my delegation is positive that this summit will revitalize our efforts towards achieving those Goals.
Development remains the most important pillar of the outcome document. Poverty reduction and socio- economic growth are achievable if global partnership is focused on the weak and vulnerable Members of the United Nations. It is the sick that need the doctor. In this case, it is the most vulnerable countries that should be the focus of all United Nations programmes. The growing number of least developed countries indicates that the world has taken a complex approach to dealing with the basic needs of the poorest of the poor. The outcome document shows that various development frameworks remain unsatisfactorily implemented. The Mauritius Strategy recently adopted by the General Assembly, as well as the upcoming review of the Brussels Programme of Action for the least developed countries, provide an opportunity to kick-start and redefine future cooperation between States with renewed commitment.
The Millennium Development Goals are multidimensional, multisectoral and interdependent. They cannot be unilaterally achieved. A genuine partnership between developed and developing countries is key to achieving the Goals. With the assistance of our development partners, Solomon Islands is working towards achieving, amongst other Millennium Development Goals, universal primary education, improved maternal health, better sanitation and clean water supply, and, of course, the eradication of malaria.
More than 90 per cent of today’s conflicts occur within States; more than half originate in least developed countries. Solomon Islands welcomes the establishment of the peacebuilding council. The Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the
Solomon Islands (RAMSI) represents North-South and South-South cooperation. RAMSI’s success in creating an environment conducive to peace has given our people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and foster a secure and peaceful future.
Solomon Islands is committed to addressing past harmful economic policies, including the lack of fiscal discipline and good governance. The country requires human and physical capital to raise productivity and achieve sustained growth. In order to attract and build capital, my Government is initiating a strategy to establish a stable macroeconomic environment. That includes creating friendly tax and regulatory regimes and improving infrastructure.
Solomon Islands’ debt level remains crippling. Work is under way to develop a comprehensive debt strategy. Meanwhile, we welcome the proposal by the President of the Philippines to have debts converted into Millennium Development Goal projects. Solomon Islands calls on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to further explore that proposal.
Over the years, Solomon Islands has consistently called for Security Council reform. The Council must be more representative, democratic, transparent and accountable. It should also reflect the current geopolitical realities. After years of debate, we understand how difficult it is to get a consensus on that matter. It is our hope that the expansion of the Security Council will ensure a stronger focus on matters of interest to small island developing States. Solomon Islands supports Japan, Germany, India and Brazil’s bids for permanent seats within the Council.
Much has been said about the challenges and opportunities of globalization. While terrorism remains a global concern, the United Nations must continue to address its development agenda. In that regard, the Doha Development Round should offer concrete proposals for all States, including the least developed countries.
It is unfortunate that the United Nations continues to deny the right of the 23 million people of the Republic of China to have a voice in this forum. Taiwan is a major player in the international system and should be accorded due recognition as a full and equal member of the United Nations family. Solomon Islands enjoys productive and vibrant relations with the Republic of China. Solomon Islands calls on the United Nations to address the threats in the China
Straits. My delegation feels that preventive diplomacy must dictate the actions of the international community. Therefore, we must be proactive and responsible. Failure to act will undermine the credibility of the United Nations.
In closing, this is the moment for us to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are fully implemented. As leaders, much is expected of us. We are duty-bound to create a world that is peaceful, prosperous and just — a world in which we can confidently guarantee a brighter future for our children. The draft outcome document (A/60/L.1) has something for everyone. The challenge is to translate our commitments into actions, lest history judge us harshly.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Saudi Arabia) (spoke in Arabic): It gives me great pleasure to convey the compliments of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, and his best wishes for a successful meeting. I should also like to extend my thanks to the President of the General Assembly, to the Secretary- General, and to all those who contributed to the preparatory work for this international gathering.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by virtue of its role in the international arena, and as the home of the Two Holy Mosques to which all Muslims turn, is determined to contribute to the success of this historic gathering.
This international summit is being held five years after the United Nations Millennium Summit, whose agreed-upon objectives still require more effort for them to be achieved. Today we are in dire need of an effective United Nations, one that is capable of fulfilling its responsibilities to maintain international peace and security, foster sustainable development and safeguard human rights, while respecting the specific characteristics of societies and cultures and their diversity.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to sustainable development. We have allocated a significant portion of our expenditure to human development, which has enabled the Kingdom to achieve many of the Development Goals set out in
the Millennium Summit. The Kingdom has also contributed to development efforts in developing countries throughout the world. Over the last three decades, Saudi Arabia has contributed an annual average of 4 per cent of its GDP to foreign aid. Eighty- three developing countries have benefited from this aid, making the Kingdom the foremost contributor in the world. The Kingdom is also one of the leading contributors to international development assistance. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has taken the initiative of cancelling more than 6 billion US dollars of the debt owed it by some of the least developed countries, and also has provided debt relief to countries eligible under the international debt reduction initiative.
From this podium, we call upon all developed nations to honour their commitments to allocate 0.7 per cent of their GDP to development assistance. We therefore emphasize the importance of attaining international consensus on identifying new and innovative sources for development funding without straining the resources of other developing countries.
Terrorism threatens the entire world. It is imperative that we make a collective effort to combat it. In keeping with our Islamic faith, our heritage and our moral values, the Kingdom reaffirms its rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In order to promote international cooperation in this area, last February Saudi Arabia organized an international counter-terrorism conference. The final communiqué issued at that conference, known as the Riyadh Declaration, reaffirmed the unified global will to combat terrorism and extremism and proposed practical measures to that end. The conference also adopted practical recommendations for drying up the sources of financing terrorism. In addition, it supported the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, to establish an international counter-terrorism centre, a proposal that has received wide international support. Therefore, the Kingdom is pleased to present a draft resolution to the General Assembly calling for the establishment of a task force to review the recommendations of the Riyadh Declaration, including the creation of an international counter-terrorism centre. We greatly hope that the draft resolution will be endorsed so that we can take yet another step towards greater international cooperation in fighting terrorism, which is not specific to any nationality, ethnicity or religion.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the vital role played by the United Nations agencies and hopes that efforts to reform our Organization will strengthen those agencies and enhance their capabilities to better meet the aspirations of our people. The Kingdom supports international consensus on expansion of Security Council membership and restricting veto power by prohibiting its use against the implementation of resolutions previously adopted by the Security Council.
Saudi Arabia calls for the General Assembly to regain its mandate as the principal body of the United Nations, as prescribed by its Charter.
The realization of peace and security requires adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter, untainted by double standards in the implementation of its resolutions. The Kingdom renews its call to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and the Gulf region. It also reiterates that respect for resolutions adopted by the international community is the means to resolve global conflicts. Therefore it is important to support the peace process in the Middle East.
The Arab countries have affirmed their commitment to a just peace by endorsing the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. We hope that concerted international efforts will lead to the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people by ending the occupation and establishing an independent State, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
With respect to the situation in Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms Iraq’s territorial integrity and Arab identity, and hopes that the fraternal Iraqi people will overcome their differences in order to achieve the desired objectives.
Finally, I pray to God to grant us success in creating a world of harmony and peace.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan.
Before beginning my remarks, I would like to express my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in Hurricane Katrina. We stand firm in our support of those who are struggling to recover from the horrifying devastation.
Today, I would like to share a vision of a new United Nations. We need a caring United Nations that reaches out to those who struggle with extreme poverty and that lends a hand to those who strive to help themselves. We need a strong United Nations that lays a path towards peacebuilding and that takes an active role in the fight against terrorism. We need an effective United Nations that reflects our aspirations and the standards of today’s world, not those of 60 years ago.
The caring United Nations needs to enhance its efforts for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Achieving the Goals demands action, not just statements of good intentions. Implementation of the enhanced commitments made by developed countries, including Japan, will serve as a foundation for a better world. But efforts should not stop at financing. The new United Nations will need to encourage ownership by developing countries through partnership with the international community, focusing on a human-centred approach that we call human security.
Peace does not automatically prevail when a conflict ends. The new, strong United Nations, with the proposed Peacebuilding Commission in place, must show initiative in ensuring a smooth transition from ceasefire to nation-building and to reconciliation, justice and reconstruction. Japan is ready to play its part in that challenging but vital undertaking.
In the fight against terrorism, the new United Nations must play an active norm-setting role. In that spirit, I today signed the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. I also call for an early conclusion of negotiations on a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
The world has changed dramatically over the past 60 years. Asia and Africa, once under the shackles of colonialism, are now significant players in our global community. For the past 60 years, Japan has determinedly pursued a course of development as a peace-loving nation, making a unique and significant contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world.
The composition of the Security Council must reflect those fundamental changes. Japan is convinced that Security Council reform is a just cause for the international community, as is the deletion of the long- obsolete “enemy State” clauses from the United Nations Charter. In a reformed Council, Japan is ready to play a larger role as a permanent member.
Last year, from this rostrum, I called upon my colleagues to rise to that fundamental challenge. Now, for the first time in United Nations history, there is a real prospect that action will be taken, with extensive support from Member States. Building upon that momentum, we must pursue an early decision for Security Council reform at this session of the General Assembly.
A renewed United Nations system, including a renewed Secretariat, must have the unwavering trust and support of all Member States and their citizens. The new, effective United Nations must therefore open itself to rigorous public scrutiny. Japan will work with like-minded countries to make that happen expeditiously.
Reform is always a challenge, as it requires us to confront the status quo. But that is no justification for inaction. Let us all unite in an endeavour to make this session of the General Assembly a session for action: action to achieve the comprehensive renewal of the United Nations.
The Co-Chairperson (Gabon) (spoke in French): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Göran Persson, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden.
For decades, solidarity with the poor and the oppressed has been a guiding principle for Sweden in international affairs. The United Nations has provided the structure needed to turn that solidarity into effective measures for peace and security.
Today, we need the United Nations not only for expressing solidarity; multilateral cooperation has become a necessity for all of us. To be sure, one can try to deal in isolation with climate change, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, famine and disease. But most likely, such efforts will fail.
Rarely has the need for joint action been so obvious as in the current Doha round. The benefits to development from trade can be realized only through greater market access and reduced subsidies.
Our times demand multilateral cooperation. That need increases over time and is as valid for large nations as for small ones. It requires a common agenda based on the recognition of shared responsibility. We all share the praise for progress. We all share the blame
for problems. We all share the responsibility for ensuring change.
Tomorrow night, we will agree on a common agenda. It has many strengths. It demonstrates that peace and security, development and human rights form part of one single entity. It reminds us that we will not succeed in one area if we ignore the others. It affirms important principles, such as our collective responsibility to protect our populations from genocide and ethnic cleansing. It paves the way for important concrete measures such as the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission, the creation of a Human Rights Council and the conclusion of a convention on terrorism.
But there are also areas in which we need to advance multilateral cooperation much further.
First, the recent lack of progress in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation constitutes a failure. The risks emanating from nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction are far from fading. We need urgent measures for both disarmament and non-proliferation. Advancement in one area will bring pressure for progress in the other.
Secondly, tougher action must be taken to address climate change. A functioning Kyoto Protocol is a crucial start, but we must also look to the period after 2012. We must become better at combining economic growth with environmental sustainability.
Thirdly, we must agree on reforming the Security Council. The Charter includes all the provisions we need to address the threats of our times. It requires no revision when it comes to the use of force. What we do need is a Security Council that better lives up to its responsibility. We must improve the representation of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Council’s efficiency must be safeguarded. No extension of the veto power should take place.
Fourthly, developed nations must increase the level of their official development assistance. If we are to reach the Millennium Goals, more resources are needed for women’s and children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health, the fight against HIV/AIDS and for environmental protection. Also, measures must be taken to ensure good governance, freedom from corruption and strong political and economic institutions in all countries.
The founders of the United Nations knew that States working together would be able to achieve things that are beyond what even the most powerful State can accomplish by itself. Today, we need the vision, determination and political will of those men and women. As political leaders, we have an obligation to our citizens to abide by the common agenda agreed here. It is only through personal commitment by all of us that this will succeed.
The Co-Chairperson (Gabon) (spoke in French): The General Assembly will now hear a statement by His Excellency Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium.
I would like to begin my statement by congratulating and thanking Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has seized the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of our Organization to strengthen its effectiveness and legitimacy. In fact, the need for the United Nations is more palpable now than ever before. I must say that my country, Belgium, agrees with the Secretary- General’s ambitious proposals, as set forth in his report “In larger freedom” (A/59/2005).
Unfortunately, the draft outcome document (A/60/L.1) arrived at on Tuesday is not as ambitious; nevertheless, it represents a fresh start and can, I believe, give the United Nations a strategic impetus. Our Organization will thus be better equipped to respond to the needs of the twenty-first century. I would like to thank, in particular, Mr. Jean Ping for his perseverance in providing the United Nations with a new mandate and new guidelines.
Belgium fully supports the basic idea that security, development and human rights are inseparable. This strategy can succeed only if we build upon powerful and representative institutions.
My country wishes to express its full support to the speedy establishment of the Human Rights Council. We are pleased that the concept of “responsibility to protect” has finally been recognized. Let us all hope that henceforth this should enable us to avoid tragedies like the one in Rwanda in 1994.
At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to combat terrorism, to fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and against weapons that spread instability, poverty or misery.
Above all, let us not forget the need to invest in development. If we want to create a safe, free and democratic world, investment in development is an absolute necessity. This is why, five years ago, in this very Hall, we jointly proclaimed the Millennium Development Goals that we are reconfirming today.
It is true that some progress has been made, which is encouraging; but today we all must also realize that the results, unfortunately, have systematically fallen far short of the objectives, as shown by the limited progress in Africa. Let us, for example, consider Goal 1, reducing extreme poverty by half. If the current trend continues, Africa will achieve this Goal not in 2015 but instead in 2150 — that is, 135 years late.
Today, while the United Nations is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, life expectancy in Africa does not exceed 46 years of age. Six out of 10 youngsters are carriers of HIV. Twenty-five million people have already died from HIV/AIDS, and just as many are living now with this dire perspective. Of the 35 poorest countries in the world, 31 are in Africa. Since 1998, more than four million people have died in armed conflicts in central Africa. This is the highest death toll since the Second World War. If this number of victims were to be found in another part of the world, for example in Europe, we would call it a World War. Nowadays, we only speak of regional conflict. One out of every five African children today succumbs to starvation, malnutrition or an easily curable disease.
This is unacceptable. This situation is morally unacceptable, politically dangerous and, economically speaking, a mistake that constitutes gross misconduct. We must help Africa out of this vicious circle, and we know how to do it. We know what Africa needs: political and economic stability in order to allow economic growth; investment in infrastructure, in health care, as well as equitable opportunities in the world marketplace and, of course, peace.
Peace is the first step, and it is time for us to put an end to arms trafficking. That is why Belgium has proposed starting, as soon as possible, negotiations on an international agreement on the arms trade.
Like peace, good governance is indispensable, governance that can achieve results. We can only realize this goal if we coordinate our aid and efforts worldwide. I am convinced that the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission will play a crucial role.
Belgium wants to contribute actively to this objective and is fully prepared to share her experience with transition in the Congo and Burundi.
Nonetheless, and this is very important, we do insist that agreements should be honoured and that promises should be kept. Too many promises have been broken: promises made by several African leaders, by several Western leaders and especially the promises of the entire international community. Currently, Belgium spends 0.45 per cent of its GDP for official development assistance, thus respecting its commitment, I am pleased to confirm, to reach the target of 0.7 per cent by 2010.
During this High-level Plenary Meeting, we must accomplish one thing: we must strengthen our commitment and, above all, carry out the promises we made five years ago to offer hundreds of millions of people more prosperity, more peace and more freedom. Those millions of people want to hear only one message: that we shall keep our word, that we shall keep our promise.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency The Honourable Said Wilbert Musa, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, National Development and Public Service of Belize.
Five years ago, I stood at this very rostrum, committing my country and my Government to a global compact for development. As leaders, we agreed to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as the incidence of malaria and other major diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.
In addition to meeting those targets, small countries like Belize have to find effective solutions to other grave concerns such as crime and violence in our societies and our vulnerability to natural disasters.
The terrible tragedy unleashed by Hurricane Katrina on a major city in the United States of America and the stunning paralysis and vulnerability it exposed should leave a very clear idea of the damage that is done to entire economies of small countries like Belize on an annual basis, away from the glare of
international media attention. Our sister Caribbean country, Grenada, is but the latest example.
In the face of these economic, social and environmental challenges, some would say our goals are too ambitious, too idealistic, but idealism grounded in reality is what provides the passion for concerted action.
Like most other Member States, Belize’s first Millennium Development Goals report shows mixed results in the progress towards the achievement of the targets. While there is a positive outlook for achieving universal primary education, eliminating gender disparity in education at all levels, reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, there are considerable challenges to meeting the time-bound targets for poverty eradication and for halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.
As a young, developing nation, we are faced with various demographic and economic challenges. For example, 52 per cent of our population is less than 19 years of age, 51 per cent of our people live in rural areas and the population density is 10.9 persons per square kilometre, which increases the cost of infrastructural development.
Growing inequality and income disparity, the rise in poverty hotspots especially within urban and indigenous communities, youth unemployment and malnutrition are critical MDG-related challenges that Belize is facing.
While we have made significant progress with respect to reversing the spread of malaria and tuberculosis, new emerging non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, are on the rise.
In addition, our vulnerability to external shocks such as exploding oil prices, the dismantling of preferential access to industrial countries for agricultural commodities and vulnerability to destructive hurricanes make it difficult for countries like Belize to avoid high public debt, which in turn restricts our ability to invest in public and social services to reach all our people.
My Government has taken a head-on approach in meeting these challenges. We are very advanced in developing our five-year National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan. This plan, which will be
completed by January 2006, is incorporating a results- oriented approach to poverty reduction using specific poverty-reduction targets based on the Millennium Development Goals.
An updated medium-term economic strategy is also under way that will incorporate debt management, fiscal policy, public-sector investment and growth with equity as integral components.
At the same time, we recognize that the eradication of poverty and the improvement of the quality of lives of Belizeans will only be sustainable if government is effective, transparent and accountable. Since 1998, my Government has been building a strong national integrity system, including an independent judiciary with security of tenure, a broad-based Governance Improvement Commission that is working to strengthen oversight institutions, like the Auditor- General, the Contractor-General and the Ombudsman, and modern legislation that safeguards accountability in the administration of public finances.
It is the position of my Government that the United Nations and its development system are indispensable to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. For millions of poor people around the world, a reformed United Nations with an agenda for international cooperation, promoting peace and security, and development and human rights can literally mean life over death, hope over despair.
Out of necessity, small countries like Belize tend to be more concerned with poverty and development, while the developed world tends to be more concerned with security issues. These differing perspectives might be the biggest obstacle to international cooperation in achieving the MDGs. The Secretary-General’s report “In Larger Freedom” (A/59/2005) vividly and graphically demonstrates the links between security and development. They are two sides of the same coin. Collective security can never be built on a global minefield of poverty and injustice. What is needed is the global political will to make good on our respective pledges of five years ago.
Although the primary responsibility for development rests with national Governments, it is also essential that our developed partners follow through on the assistance to which they committed. International assistance is a key investment in human development. The Government of Belize, therefore, supports the call
that, for aid to be effective, the volume of aid must be increased, aid must be more easily accessible and at lesser transaction costs, and aid must have country ownership.
We must commend the efforts of the Group of Eight to cancel the debt of those developing countries designated by the United Nations as heavily indebted poor countries. This is the type of partnership that we must develop if we are to accomplish the full implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in the decade to come.
The Government of Belize accepts that trade has the potential to advance the prosperity of the poorer countries of the world. Unfair trade practices not only limit that potential but also are inconsistent with the Goals.
Agricultural subsidies in rich countries continue to stifle the prosperity of efficient agriculture sectors in developing countries.
The Doha development round was launched in 2000 with the overarching objective of ensuring that the multilateral trade rules account for the needs of developing countries. There are high stakes for Belize in a successful conclusion of the round, that is, a conclusion that embodies the needs and concerns of developing countries, especially those with smaller economies.
The great achievements of the past century and the current wave of globalization have created more wealth and knowledge than ever before, making it possible for the first time in human history to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life for men, women and children.
Yet, there is persistent poverty and growing human insecurity. Our strategy of achieving sustainable economic growth together with social equity requires fundamental reform of social policies to reflect principles of universality, inclusion and solidarity. We must all recognize that we are our brothers’ and our sisters’ keepers. For Belize, the United Nations and its Charter epitomize these core and indispensable principles. The lives of millions around the world hang in the balance. Let us not lose this opportunity to change our world for the betterment of all.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by Her Excellency
Ms. Truong My Hoa, Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
Five years ago leaders from 189 countries solemnly adopted the Millennium Declaration out of a deep desire for humanity to live in a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. Looking back over those years, we rejoice to note the progress achieved in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Nevertheless, we cannot help but be concerned about the lack of progress or efficiency in the implementation of the MDGs in a large number of countries and regions. While we recognize shortcomings in national development policies and institutional capacity, we can all clearly see that those difficulties also arise from the international political and economic environment, which has become more complex, especially with the rise of terrorism and the growing tendency to use force in international relations and to resort to protectionism in trade.
For a long time the Vietnamese people have been highly esteemed by the international community for their resolve and courage in the struggle to protect people’s human rights to live in freedom and independence and to determine their own destiny. Nowadays Viet Nam is commended for its important socio-economic achievements and its implementation of the MDGs. I take this opportunity to draw members’ attention to the fact that, as of 2004, Viet Nam had reduced poverty rates by three fifths as compared with 1993, thus attaining the MDG of halving poverty 10 years ahead of schedule. Regarding universal primary education, Viet Nam eliminated illiteracy and achieved universal primary education back in 2000 and at present — universal junior secondary education exists in nearly half of the provinces in Viet Nam. Significant progress in promoting gender equality is clearly reflected in the constant rise of Viet Nam’s gender development index, from 0.668 in 1998 to 0.689 in 2004. More than 27 per cent of parliamentarians in the Vietnamese National Assembly are women, ranking Viet Nam among the leading countries for this indicator in the Asia-Pacific region. Women are today fully recognized for their significant role in the family and in society. As for the other MDGs, the under-five mortality rate has been halved and the maternal mortality rate has been reduced by one third as compared with 1990.
The Vietnamese Government has submitted a national report on the implementation of the MDGs in Viet Nam, to contribute to discussions during this summit. The root cause of the encouraging results in Viet Nam just mentioned is the determination to promote the cause of socio-economic development evinced by the State and the people of our country. Other positive factors contributing to implementation of the MDGs in Viet Nam include perseverance in reform, integration of the MDGs into national socio- economic development and international cooperation programmes, mobilization of domestic resources, active integration into the global economy, expansion of external economic relations, a combination of economic growth and promotion of social welfare, administrative reforms and enhancement of the capacity and wide participation of the people.
Let me, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government and State, take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, international non- governmental organizations and foreign friends for the valuable assistance extended to Viet Nam for our development.
Although the implementation of the MDGs is the primary responsibility of each country, the assistance of the international community is very important. To better assist developing countries in successfully achieving the MDGs by 2015, we wish to make the following recommendations: first, honour the commitment to allocate 0.7 per cent of gross national product to development assistance, reduce and write off debt for developing nations and facilitate the accession of the developing countries to the World Trade Organization; secondly, implement the MDGs and other commitments made at global conferences over the previous decade; thirdly, assist developing countries in framing strategies and building capacity to achieve the MDGs and increase coordination of donor assistance; fourthly, strengthen support for South- South cooperation, including the two plus one cooperation programmes between Viet Nam and a number of African countries.
For a long time we have agreed on the need to reform the United Nations to make the Organization more efficient in fulfilling the mandates enshrined in the United Nations Charter and to reflect the enormous changes in the world over the past 60 years. On this issue, Viet Nam shares the views of a large number of
nations that the reform of the United Nations must be based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and must be conducted in a balanced and comprehensive way, with a view to ensuring democracy, transparency and representativeness of the Organization, as well as to increasing its efficiency in the interest of all Member States.
Recent complex developments in the world give added urgency to the task of bridging the development gap and promoting equitable and sustainable development within and between countries with a view to rooting out the causes of instability in the world today. The MDGs are a crucial means to that end.
For its part, Viet Nam reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the MDGs. In fulfilling and surpassing those Goals, we will also help to achieve the common goal of our people, namely, to build a strong Viet Nam with prosperous citizens, and a just, democratic and civilized society.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Zia Massoud, Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
At the outset, allow me, on behalf of the Government and the people of Afghanistan, to express my heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the United States of America in connection with the tragic loss of life and the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
It is a great and distinct privilege for me to address the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. This occasion provides a unique opportunity for all Member States to review lessons learned and assess the present situation and future prospects.
For the past 60 years, the United Nations has been engaged in the maintenance of international peace and security, development and the protection and promotion of human rights. The values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations are still valid. However, the end of the cold war, the new geopolitical realities of today’s world and the emergence of new threats and challenges require a rethinking of the Organization’s role.
We welcome the presentation of the three comprehensive reports: the report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, entitled “A more secure world: our shared responsibility” (A/59/565); the report of the Millennium Project, entitled “Investing in Development” (A/59/727); and the report of the Secretary-General entitled “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all” (A/59/2005).
At the time of the Millennium Summit in September 2000, Afghanistan, owing to the situation prevailing in the country, was unable to adopt a national strategy for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, since the Bonn process began, Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, has made impressive gains in the social, political and economic fields.
We have convened two loya jirgas. The first led to the formation of a Transitional Government. The second adopted a new constitution establishing a democratic Islamic State. Furthermore, we successfully held presidential elections, and, in less than three days, we will hold parliamentary and provincial elections.
More than 5 million children, including girls, have returned to school throughout Afghanistan, and approximately 4 million refugees have returned to their place of origin from neighbouring countries. However, the effects of the armed conflicts imposed on my country persist. Poverty, the high rates of infant and maternal mortality and the lack of resources for basic social services make the international community’s continued assistance indispensable.
The successful holding of the parliamentary elections will mark the last step towards implementation of the historic Bonn Agreement of December 2001. The international community’s sustained support and engagement are required over the coming years for the rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the country, as well as for the consolidation of peace and security.
In that regard, we emphasize the following key principles for the further enhancement of cooperation between the Afghan Government and the international community: the Afghan Government’s leadership role in all aspects of the reconstruction process; the need for a just allocation of resources throughout the country; the need to ensure that international efforts
serve to build lasting capacity and sustainable institutions; and, finally, the need to ensure public transparency and accountability at all levels.
Afghanistan is in the process of preparing its national development strategy, which includes a programme of action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Owing to the circumstances Afghanistan faced at the time of the 2000 Summit, we have fixed 2020, rather than 2015, as our target date for achieving the Goals.
Afghanistan is one of the least developed countries of the world. We firmly stress the importance of implementing the Programme of Action of the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries held in Brussels in May 2001.
We also underline the need for continued, coordinated and effective international support for achieving the development goals in countries emerging from conflict. In that context, my Government welcomes, and expresses its full support for, the proposal of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change to establish a Peacebuilding Commission and a Peacebuilding Support Office within the framework of the United Nations.
While recognizing the Security Council’s primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan would like to stress the importance of the long needed reform of the Council in terms of both its composition and its working methods.
Terrorism continues to be one of the main threats to international peace and security. More than any other country, Afghanistan continues to suffer that global menace. The Government of Afghanistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirms its commitment to cooperate with the international community to eliminate that scourge. In that context, Afghanistan welcomes and supports the ongoing efforts carried out within the framework of the United Nations to finalize the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
Let me conclude by expressing Afghanistan’s full support for the outcome document before us. We are confident that this historic gathering of world leaders will result in a more efficient and more effective Organization, better able to address the challenges of
the twenty-first century and ensure the prosperity, security and dignity of the peoples of the world.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by Mr. Roberto de Almeida, President of the National Assembly of Angola.
It is for me a great honour to address the Assembly on behalf of His Excellency Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola.
Allow me, at the outset, to congratulate the Co- Chairpersons and to reiterate how pleased we are to see them presiding over the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.
Also, we wish to express our sincere sympathy and solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The reports on implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the report of the Secretary-General entitled “In larger freedom” (A/59/2005), prepared as input for this summit’s debates, highlight the complexity of the challenges faced by the international community. Indeed, the international community is no longer in a phase of reaffirming commitments; rather, the time has come for it to muster the political will to mobilize the resources required to fulfil the obligations it has committed to in all major United Nations conferences, among which I would highlight the World Summit for Social Development; the Millennium Summit; the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development; and the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.
In this context, there is an imperative need to correct the anomalies currently affecting international trade so that it can become a true driver of development; to broaden South-South cooperation; to forgive the debt of poor countries; and to promote science and technology as critical factors influencing the progress of developing countries.
Other essential questions are those relating to the role of education and its adaptation to the realities and needs of emerging countries; gender; and the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is today one of the main threats to the peoples of Africa and other regions of the world.
We are in absolute agreement with the analysis and conclusions contained in the Secretary-General’s
reports. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Secretary-General for his personal commitment, dedication and leadership, as well as for his outstanding contribution to the reaffirmation of the objectives and principles set out in the United Nations Charter, the sixtieth anniversary of which we very proudly commemorate.
We welcome the draft political Declaration before the Assembly at this summit. The Angolan delegation is very pleased with the agreements achieved on the four main topics of the development cluster, namely, the Millennium Goals, foreign debt, trade and development aid. Furthermore, we would like to stress that in the final document references have been included to the special needs of Africa.
On the subject of terrorism, the recent adoption of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism demonstrates that it is also possible to reach an agreement when the subject is the fight against terrorism, including arriving at a definition. The Angolan delegation shares the view that the fight against terrorism requires a worldwide strategy, and for that reason we commend current efforts to conclude an international convention against terrorism.
We support the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission, the objective of which, as set out in the final document, is to assist countries emerging from conflict in the process of their economic recovery, preservation and peacebuilding. However, based on our own experience, we believe the mandate of the Peacebuilding Commission would not be complete if it did not include a conflict prevention component.
The Angolan delegation supports the idea that we must pay attention to the specificities of post-conflict countries that are facing problems of an economic and social nature, the resolution of which has a direct bearing on the preservation and consolidation of peace. Regrettably, those aspects are not always given due attention and, since the funds required for reconstruction are not mobilized in sufficient measure, such countries are unduly penalized. Such is the current situation in Angola — a situation that we consider to be extremely unfair.
The Angolan delegation is pleased to note that there is a broadening and — hopefully — continuing debate on such sensitive issues as the use of force in
international relations, the responsibility to protect and the Human Rights Council.
In proposing a series of measures designed to strengthen the United Nations, the Secretary-General provided an opportunity for institutional reform. That effort will be able to succeed only if United Nations agencies are able to fully perform their functions as set out in the Charter. We therefore reaffirm the central role of the General Assembly as the main deliberative body of the United Nations.
With regard to the Security Council, we agree that it should be more representative, efficient and transparent. The international community, on behalf of which the Security Council makes its decisions based on the Charter, must feel that it is integral to the decision-making mechanism.
Another problem which must be of concern to the international community is the illicit exploitation of natural resources. This constitutes a threat to both peace and security, prevents the development of affected countries and contributes to massive human rights violations.
In this regard, the Angolan delegation underlines the importance of ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, particularly as it relates to the protection of civilians in conflict situations. In my delegation’s view, the prevailing lack of respect for humanitarian law deserves particular and urgent attention from the United Nations.
In Angola, we have been trying to implement the Millennium Development Goals, and we are continuing to make every effort to consolidate peace and promote national reconciliation so as to ensure both economic and social stability for our country. At the same time, we are committed to bringing political activity back to normal, and to ensuring that democratic institutions are fully operational. Preparations for general elections in 2006 are at an advanced stage.
Let me conclude by underscoring our belief that never before has humankind’s destiny has been so interconnected as in our time. We must respond in a collective manner with unity of action that safeguards the interests of not just a few, but all of us. Thus the preservation of the central role of the United Nations in international relations is of the utmost importance.
Given its mandate, its universal character and the number of its organizations and programmes, the
United Nations is well positioned to consider the issues the world faces in the twenty-first century. The nature and complexity of those issues will evolve over time, but their overarching characteristic is that their effects do not respect borders. Thus only farsighted and wide- ranging actions on the part of the international community can provide the positive answers that humankind expects and deserves.
In conclusion, I hope that the final document to be adopted at this summit will represent a major contribution to the Millennium Goals and targets: peace, collective security, sustainable development and the promotion of human rights.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Mr. Joschka Fischer, Deputy Federal Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany.
In the world of the twenty-first century, we are confronted almost daily with new risks and dangers. How can we avert conflicts about limited resources? How can we preserve the global ecosystem? How can we overcome the growing gap between rich and poor? How should we shape globalization? How do we ensure development opportunities for everyone? How do we prevent global conflicts?
Above all, security in the twenty-first century means investment in development, in democracy and in human rights. All of those challenges are inseparably linked. They are our core tasks.
Five years after the Millennium Summit, we, the members of the United Nations, must assess together the extent to which we have achieved the Goals laid down in 2000. We must discuss how we want to proceed in order to implement the Millennium Declaration further and in full. And we must make the United Nations, as the mainstay of multilateralism, stronger and more efficient. We therefore welcome the fact that the international community has succeeded, after all, in agreeing on a summit document (A/60/L.1). That paper provides a point of departure for further negotiations, even if it falls short of our expectations in many areas.
The Millennium Development Goals are the social Magna Carta of our time. Our actions must be guided by them. Now we must continue to work to
make them binding. For we cannot accept that well over 1 billion people are living on less than one dollar a day. We cannot allow a situation to exist in which 11 million children die each year before their fifth birthday.
We must greatly strengthen the rights of women, and we must do everything we can to ensure that women finally have equal opportunities in education, in vocational training and at work. We must ensure that environmental protection and the principles of sustainable development become key components of international policy. Only in that way can hunger, poverty and disease be overcome on a lasting basis. Only in that way can we stop the ever-greater destruction of the sources of life on our planet.
Germany is aware of its responsibility in that respect. We want to increase our development aid, and we have agreed with our European partners on a step- by-step plan until 2015 to that end. We are also considering new instruments to finance development. We are working with other States on the Action Against Hunger and Poverty alliance initiated by President da Silva. Fairer trade conditions — especially free access to markets — are vital for lasting development. However, it must also be said that lasting successes will be achieved only through developing countries’ own efforts — in particular, good governance and the implementation of rule-of-law principles.
Development is also inextricably linked to climate protection. We therefore must do everything in our power to implement the Framework Convention on Climate Change and to further develop the Kyoto Protocol. The steady rise in the number of natural disasters means that vigorous action must be agreed upon at the international level.
Discussing those issues today as representatives of our States, we must not forget that people in our countries are not interested in debates about agendas or procedure. They want our discussion to be decision- and result-oriented. Therefore, Germany would have preferred a document with a clearer mandate for action in many areas. It is regrettable that no agreement could be reached on the key issue of disarmament and non- proliferation or on the definition of terrorism. Our task must now be to discuss how we can nonetheless make progress in those spheres of key importance to international security.
Although I welcome the proposal contained in the summit document to establish a human rights council, it raises serious questions. Without universal protection of human rights and without the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, we will neither achieve sustainable development nor be able to guarantee lasting peace and stability. Therefore, we must do everything we can to make the new body a powerful instrument. The negotiating body set up for that purpose should present its proposals as quickly as possible, preferably by the end of the year.
The proposal to establish a Peacebuilding Commission is also of great significance, because preserving world peace and international security remains the most important undertaking for the United Nations. The Commission will fill a gap in the Organization’s institutional structure.
If we want to make the United Nations equal to the task of securing peace, stability and development comprehensively and globally, then we must equip it to cope with the challenges of the twenty-first century. The pressure of globalization and international crises and conflicts have made radical reform essential in all spheres.
I am firmly convinced that the ultimate success of such reforms will largely depend on reform of the Security Council. Excuses and half-hearted or bad compromises will not advance our cause. The group- of-four countries have submitted a proposal that meets the needs of the United Nations, its Member States and its regions. Those reforms must stay on the agenda. I call upon all Members to resume consultations on reforms at this sixtieth session of the General Assembly.
In the twenty-first century, the world will need a strong United Nations that has been renewed in every sphere. Either we act now and shape globalization through cooperation and partnership, or the crises and conflicts of the globalized world will force us to respond. We will therefore join forces with our partners and friends and will work with determination and the necessary patience to strengthen the United Nations by renewing it.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Jean Asselborn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg.
Sixty years ago, on 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations, which created the Organization and whose humanist and generous spirit continues to inspire our action to the present day, was signed in San Francisco. That fundamental and innovative act — the lesson drawn by the international community from the failure of the League of Nations and from the tribulations of war — still arouses our admiration today. My country, Luxembourg, is very proud to have been among the founding members that carried the United Nations to the baptismal font.
Today, 60 years later, we are meeting on the banks of the East River to show the same courage and the same vision for the benefit of our common endeavour, the United Nations. It is up to us to be worthy of the heritage we have received and to take up with firm and confident hands the torch handed to us by our predecessors.
As so well stated by our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, whose action at the head of the Organization we commend, the United Nations is indeed at a crossroads. We must adopt the policies and decisions that will lead to a genuine renewal of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. That is the challenge we face; that is what is at stake at this summit.
A great debate began in January this year under the enlightened guidance of the President of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, Mr. Jean Ping. Here, I should like to pay public tribute to his many presidential qualities. During much of that time, my country had the honour to serve in the presidency of the European Union and thus was able not only to lead our internal work with a view to developing the European Union’s positions on the various subjects under discussion, but also to present and defend European points of view during the debates conducted under the aegis of the Assembly presidency. In parallel, a broad consultation process was initiated by the European Union in New York, in capitals and at many ministerial meetings with groups of third countries or individual countries to launch the political momentum that must form the very basis for United Nations reform.
Throughout that work, now continued energetically under the British presidency, the European Union has shown itself to be a determined
and committed partner motivated by a strong will to achieve ambitious and balanced results, in keeping with the objective set during the European Council of March 2005. That ambition obviously continues to guide us. The search for innovative solutions is inevitable, given that we see a growing interdependence of challenges and threats. Increasingly, peace and security, development, human rights, democracy and the rule of law are all linked through close interactions.
Faced with this situation, the answer is clear: we need an effective and overhauled multilateralism that is adapted to the special circumstances of the beginning of the twenty-first century and provided with sufficient instruments and resources to carry out its mission fully.
Development is and must remain the focus of international attention. Whereas many studies, the latest of which is the 2005 Human Development Report, confirm that progress towards the Millennium Development Goals is still uneven and that delays and even setbacks are regrettably occurring in certain regions, particularly in Africa.
Given the scourge of underdevelopment, we must act and act quickly. In May of this year, under our presidency, the European Union took a major decision to mobilize substantial additional official development assistance and to reach the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income between now and 2015.
My country is proud to be part of the group of countries, still too small, that will achieve the 0.7 per cent of gross national income rate in a few years. Substantial efforts must be made by donor and recipient countries to improve the quality of assistance, good practices, good governance and to combat corruption.
Trade questions will be at the top of the world agenda as the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong approaches. Humanitarian disasters, the tsunami, recent famines in Africa and Hurricane Katrina have reminded us, if there ever was a need, of the fact that we need to have instruments with sufficient financial resources that can be mobilized more quickly and on a more predictable basis.
With this in mind, my country strongly supports a review of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) and has already announced its determination to
contribute substantially to a strengthened CERF. Today, our Minister for Cooperation announced that Luxembourg will give four million dollars to this fund. Improved continuity and consistency must mark the action of the international community in post-conflict situations. This idea is central to the new Peacebuilding Commission, which we opportunely decided to create and which should be set up quickly. This Commission will allow us to improve our management of crises and humanitarian activities and will re-launch the development process.
International intervention must be based on the fundamental axiom that there is no peace without development and no development without peace.
In the spring of 2005 in this very same Hall during a very dignified and moving ceremony, we commemorated the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. May that reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust be a constant reminder for the international community that we should no longer remain powerless and passive when faced with genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
That is why what we call “the responsibility to protect” must become a concrete reality when the situation calls for it.
In the same light, we should strengthen our machinery for protecting human rights, given that human rights are the third pillar of United Nations activities, along with development and security, which are in constant interaction.
The early establishment of a Human Rights Council, which we are preparing to create, should strengthen United Nations activities in this sphere and allow for closer follow-up and more effective monitoring of the status of human rights throughout the world.
These topics, to which we should add other important topics such as, obviously, combating terrorism, the environment, sustainable development, and disarmament and non-proliferation, should be debated and dealt with within a multilateral framework of legitimate and effective institutions supported by services whose quality, objectiveness and probity are above any suspicion.
The reforms, already begun or planned, will, I am quite sure, help to achieve fully the goals that we all share.
Given the ambitious goals that I have just stated, have we really managed to move forward? Are we worthy of the heritage left by the founding fathers of the United Nations? Of course, I would have preferred that we were more capable of advancing agreement and of taking bolder decisions that would make us more immediately operational, but that has proved impossible.
Nonetheless, this High-level Plenary Meeting has agreed on certain orientations and taken decisions in principle that lay the groundwork for future progress. Concerning certain questions, precise mandates and detailed schedules outline the steps to follow and to implement those decisions quickly and with determination. The bases have been established. Now, we must build so that the structure does not remain without a roof. Let us all make a firm and irreversible commitment motivated by a true sense of urgency in order to finish this important task as of this General Assembly.
An American intellectual recently stated, “Like fairies and paper money, the United Nations ceases to exist if people stop believing in it”.
Through our vigorous activities sixty years after the founding of the United Nations, we must show that we continue to believe firmly in this Organization that we share.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I now give the floor to His Excellency Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bhutan.
I bring the greetings and good wishes of our King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk, to this meeting and to the United Nations at its sixtieth anniversary year.
At the outset, I would like to convey Bhutan’s sympathy and solidarity with the United States in its efforts to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
We would like to thank all those who worked meticulously to prepare for this meeting. The people of the world have high expectations from this gathering. The outcome document that we will approve, while not meeting all expectations, does contain important
agreements that have to be implemented. This is crucial if we are to deliver on our promises to our people.
In the words of the Secretary-General, “the human family will not enjoy security without development, will not enjoy development without security, and will enjoy neither without respect for human rights” (A/60/341, annex II). Today, more than ever before, we live in an interconnected and interdependent world and face challenges and threats that no nation can tackle alone. Therefore, global action to address the issues facing humanity is the need of our time. Collective action calls for an effective multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core, to maintain international peace and security and promote international cooperation. Towards this end, we must reform and strengthen the Organization and its institutions.
Global action can sustain and become credible only if we seriously follow up on our commitments and implement the goals and objectives agreed upon at the Millennium Summit and other major United Nations conferences. Our community of 191 Member States is not a homogenous one and, although the challenges are the same, perceptions vary and the nature and scale of challenges faced differ from country to country and region to region. It is therefore important to ensure that we approach all issues in a holistic and balanced manner and that the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter are respected and upheld at all times.
As noted by the Secretary-General in his report (A/60/81), the progress made by the least developed countries (LDCs) is insufficient to achieve the goals of the Brussels Programme of Action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the primary responsibility for development rests on individual countries, we must increase our own efforts to tackle problems that impede development. At the same time, our development partners must scale up their assistance, provide full debt relief, assist and enhance trade and facilitate technology transfer. We urge the developed countries to fulfil their aid commitment of 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product and allocate 30 per cent of that assistance to the LDCs. We commend those countries that have already reached or exceeded the 0.7 per cent target. Accelerated global partnership between the LDCs and the international community is urgent as the General Assembly prepares
to undertake the mid-term review of the Brussels Programme of Action next year.
A recent United Nations report states that the relatively poor performance of the Asia-Pacific LDCs is overshadowed by the fast growth of other countries in that region. It also reports that those LDCs receive less than half the average per capita aid given to LDCs in other regions. That is a matter of serious concern and we urge the international community to address the situation faced by the 14 LDCs of the Asia-Pacific region where 260 million people live.
The Royal Government of Bhutan is deeply committed to the Millennium Development Goals and has assumed national ownership of our effort to achieve them. We are hopeful that, with the continued support of our development partners and the international community, we will be able to achieve most of the Goals by 2015. Achievement of the Goals will go a long way towards realizing our national development goal of increasing gross national happiness.
Permit me to briefly touch upon this development paradigm. For over two decades, Bhutan’s development process has been guided by the concept of gross national happiness — a concept enunciated by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk. It stems from the belief that the ultimate goal of every human being is happiness and its attainment should be the purpose of development. We believe that the State should pursue policies and strategies to address the holistic needs of the human individual — both physical and spiritual — and thus create the conditions for achieving happiness. Increasing gross domestic product enhances physical comfort but on its own cannot promote overall well-being. There are other elements that must be addressed, which we have determined to be the following: conservation of the natural environment, preservation of culture and good governance. In our view, that is a more holistic and sustainable approach to development, which could perhaps provide some answers to the many ills that afflict our societies. I call upon the international community to reflect on this.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I call next on His Excellency Mr. Kassymzhomart Kemelevich Tokaev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
This anniversary summit is a milestone event in the history of the United Nations. We are duty bound here to adopt decisions
designed to radically improve the functioning of the United Nations.
In our view, United Nations reform should be geared, first and foremost, towards the consolidation of the international community in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals. Kazakhstan believes that it is crucial to create the political and economic conditions needed to ensure the inseparability and complementarity of the three main pillars of the modern world: development, freedom and peace. The United Nations should not tolerate such phenomena as misery and poverty, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the spread of dangerous diseases, discrimination and terrorism. Regrettably, none of those human vices have been eradicated yet. To make things even worse, threats to peace, security and human health have grown manifoldly.
That is why we should focus our efforts on enhancing the effectiveness of our Organization, a task that is all the more important in view of serious lapses that have occurred in the work of the United Nations. As members of the community of nations, we should work to improve the image of the United Nations as the bastion of peoples’ hopes and aspirations. The quality of decisions taken by the United Nations should be improved, their implementation should be monitored more closely and human resources management should be enhanced. In that context, it is very important to strengthen the functions of the United Nations Secretariat.
Kazakhstan believes that a greater role and a higher status for the United Nations General Assembly as the main deliberative, decision-making and representative body of our Organization would promote genuine democracy in international relations.
As for the enlargement of the Security Council, we believe that the issue should ultimately be resolved on the basis of broad international agreement in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical representation and taking into account the contribution of States concerned towards the development of the world economy and regional and global security.
Peacekeeping functions of the United Nations should be enhanced. Moreover, our Organization should not simply observe efforts to save victims of major natural and man-made disasters from the sidelines.
The destiny of the United Nations is in our hands and that is why we should strive to promote mutual understanding, constructive approaches, responsibility and competence. Those are the principles that have always guided Kazakhstan’s foreign policy.
As the first State in the world to voluntarily close down its nuclear testing ground and give up its nuclear arsenal, Kazakhstan is a committed and consistent champion of an enhanced non-proliferation regime. We are deeply disturbed by the fact that, essentially, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is not working, as demonstrated by the outcome of the recent NPT Review Conference in New York. There should be no room for double standards in our approach to the issue of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, since any ambiguity in this matter may result in the spread of those deadly weapons, new conflicts and stand-offs, with the potential use of weapons of mass destruction.
The efforts being undertaken at the global level to combat international terrorism are not sufficiently effective. The potential of the United Nations and relevant regional organizations in addressing that most dangerous threat to humanity should be tapped to a fuller extent. It is our principled position that without joint efforts and effective practical action we will not be able to win the war against international terrorism.
Kazakhstan has already come up with a proposal to set up a special body on regional organizations and welcomes the establishment of a committee on the subject.
Speaking about the reform of the United Nations, we have to bear in mind that the world is becoming increasingly more diverse. The problems that exist in Central Asia are specific to that region and yet they are also typical of the other parts of the world. Along with the other countries in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is making every effort to address such pressing challenges as international terrorism and religious extremism, illegal migration and the drug trade, trafficking in human beings and shortages of water resources.
Despite all the difficulties and challenges, over the 60 years of its history, the United Nations has established itself in the international community as a universal organization for which there is no alternative. In the final analysis, we are the United Nations, and we alone determine the future of this Organization.
Having firmly embarked on the path of social and economic reform, Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the most dynamically developing and successful States in the world. The Government of Kazakhstan has been implementing a social programme, unprecedented in scope, to raise the standards of living in the country. And yet our efforts in this area have not been duly recognized by the United Nations. We disagree with how the United Nations experts calculate the human development index in our country. Such assessments, based on uncorroborated sources and data, only serve to undermine the credibility of the United Nations in the eyes of the international community and breed mistrust towards our Organization.
My country is a universally recognized leader in Central Asia. The President of Kazakhstan is confidently leading the country along the path of economic progress and genuine democracy. Kazakhstan cannot imagine a prosperous future for itself without close and active cooperation with the United Nations.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I call next on His Excellency Mr. Youssouf Ouedraogo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso.
First, allow me to express to the President of the United States of America, His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush, and to the Government and the people of America, the compassion and solidarity which Burkina Faso feels following the natural disaster in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina.
This session of the General Assembly is being held at a time when we face two issues, the mid-term review of the Millennium Development Goals and United Nations reform.
I wish to congratulate the Secretary-General for his vision, admirably laid out in the report “In Larger Freedom” (A/59/2005), which he has submitted to us. I would like as well to pay well-deserved tribute to our outgoing president, Mr. Jean Ping, and through him, to his country, Gabon, and to that country’s president, His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, for the honour they have brought to Africa.
By adopting in 2000 the Millennium Declaration, the leaders of the world pointed the way towards the creation of a new world order that would be more just
and less stricken by poverty. Five years have now passed; it is time for a stocktaking. What sober conclusions can we draw? Despite a particularly difficult international environment and subregional context, Burkina Faso has forced open the doors to progress to achieve average economic growth of 6 per cent per year and has improved a considerable number of social indicators.
The stability of public institutions and good economic governance have contributed in particular to these results. While the impact of macroeconomic progress has remained limited in terms of the general level of poverty, the implementation of the Strategic Framework to Combat Poverty drafted by our Government offers better prospects.
In the area of education, a strategic sector for sustainable development, the school population grew by 6.7 per cent on average between 1990 and 2004, while the gross school rate went from 30 per cent to 57.6 per cent. But despite this positive trend, achieving universal schooling by 2015 will call for greater efforts and stronger initiatives, in particular in the area of infrastructure and human resource development. In addition, considerable headway has been achieved in the area of gender equality. By 2004, the ratio of girls to boys attained 0.77 in primary education and 0.67 in secondary education.
The health situation has improved on the whole. The overall rate of infant and child mortality dropped 35 points between 1998 and 2003, and the maternal mortality rate dropped 82 points between 1993 and 1998.
In the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is being personally overseen by the head of State, considerable progress has been achieved. According to UNAIDS data from sentinel sites and the results of a population and health survey, the HIV/AIDS rate went from 7.17 per cent in 1997 to 6.5 per cent in 2001, to 4.2 per cent in 2002 and finally to 1.9 per cent in 2003.
On the other hand, malaria is still an endemic illness. It is the main cause of death among children under the age of five. The Government is working to initiate programmes to combat this scourge, but, to be honest, effectively combating malaria requires increased mobilization on the part of the international community, as is the case for AIDS.
The need for sustainable environmental management has led us to elaborate and implement specific programmes by subsector to speed up protection of and rational use of natural resources. As for access to better water sources, a priority objective, the needs of the people are now 80 per cent taken care of. Continued efforts by the Government and its partners should eventually ensure drinking water for all.
Burkina Faso has been selected as a candidate for fast-track implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We see this not only as an acknowledgement of our results, but especially of the need to redouble efforts to meet this major challenge.
We firmly believe that there is room for hope. Therefore the joint and coordinated action of the nations of the world must be pursued resolutely and be strengthened to create everywhere an environment which will promote peacebuilding, security and progress for all. Burkina Faso welcomes the decisions taken to reduce the poor countries’ debt burden. We also welcome the recent initiatives to combat hunger and poverty, to find new funding to finance development and to open industrialized countries’ markets to products from countries of the South. We have a duty to respect fully the commitments we have undertaken together to the benefit of our respective peoples. We have the means to do so. Globalization has irrevocably linked our respective destinies and we have no choice but to succeed together.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I call next on His Excellency Mr. Ghirmai Ghebremariam, Chairman of the delegation of Eritrea.
I deliver this statement on behalf of the late Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea, His Excellency Mr. Ali Said Abdella, who passed away on 28 August 2005. Mr. Abdella had been designated to head the Eritrean delegation to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, and would have loved to personally address the Assembly. I would like to take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the people and the Government of Eritrea, all the countries that sent kind condolences.
The Millennium Declaration of 2000 embodied the noble development goals that humanity aspired to collectively achieve by 2015. However, five years after the Declaration, it is becoming increasingly clear that,
in spite of significant progress made in many regions and countries, most low-income countries will not be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The case of sub-Saharan Africa is of particular and immediate concern. Almost all the countries of that region are off track, and the prospects of achieving most — let alone all — of the Goals by 2015 are remote.
If the commitments to the Millennium Development Goals are to be taken seriously and countries are to have a realistic prospect of meeting the targets, there are two crucial factors that have to be met. First, while pro-poor policy reforms by the recipient countries are necessary conditions for meeting the Millennium Goals, developed countries should turn pledges and promises into concrete action by providing the financing needed for achieving them. Secondly, development assistance is more effective when recipients “own” the development process. National policies and programmes to promote poverty reduction and achieve development goals should be formulated by a broad group of stakeholders within a country.
At independence, the new Eritrean Government inherited a devastated economy and infrastructure, ineffective institutions, a large exiled population and an empty treasury. Yet by mid-1991, the de facto independence year, the Government was able to take effective steps to reconstruct the economy by, inter alia, establishing the regulatory and institutional framework and investing in infrastructure, including school and health systems, water and sanitation facilities and roads. The private sector responded to the favourable investment climate by investing in services, construction and other resource-based industries. As a result, Eritrea embarked on a promising journey of economic progress and, during the period 1992-1997, the Eritrean economy registered an impressive growth rate of 7.4 per cent.
Unfortunately, Eritrea’s promising start was to be disrupted by the outbreak of a border conflict with Ethiopia in May 1998, which quickly escalated into war. During the period 1998-2000, Eritrea also suffered its worst drought in many years. Following the signing of the Algiers Peace Agreement in 2000, the Government of Eritrea embarked on an economic recovery and reintegration programme. Eritreans had hoped for a speedy border demarcation based on the ruling of the Boundary Commission. Unfortunately, we
have not been able to fully turn our attention and resources to tackling the most pressing development challenges because of Ethiopia’s refusal to abide by the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, which was sanctioned and guaranteed by the United Nations, and because of the refusal of the Security Council to fulfil the legal obligations of the United Nations.
Let me turn now to the Millennium targets. Notwithstanding the obstacles to which I have referred, I am happy to report that Eritrea is projected to achieve eight of the 10 targets by 2015. We realize, however, that that is no cause for celebration, for three reasons. First, Eritrea is off track in two crucial areas, namely the eradication of extreme poverty and the achievement of universal primary education. Secondly, the Millennium Goals, even if they were to be fully achieved, represent only the minimum benchmarks for development. Thirdly, Eritrea’s road map to 2015 was prepared on the basis of some crucial assumptions including the resolution of the “no-war no-peace” situation and the return to normal rainfall.
We believe that Eritrea’s MDG status shows that, even with modest resources, countries can go a long way in achieving the Goals if they have the right policies and strong Government commitment.
In conclusion, I would like to assure the Assembly that Eritrea will, as in the past, continue to take the necessary steps and make sacrifices to achieve the Millennium Goals. In that endeavour, we seek the commitment of our development partners in providing adequate finances to meet those goals. Even more important, I call upon the international community to enforce the Boundary Commission’s decision on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border, if only because peace and stability have a crucial bearing on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The Co-Chairperson (Sweden): I would like to offer condolences to the delegation of Eritrea, on my own behalf and on behalf of all delegations, on the loss of Mr. Ali Said Abdella, Foreign Minister of Eritrea.
Before adjourning the meeting, I would like to inform representatives that tomorrow we will have to enforce stricter discipline when it comes to the length of statements. We gained some leeway today since we worked through lunch and late into the evening — I am sure that some representatives will have missed other events. But tomorrow we have further business to do.
We will hear reports from the round tables, and the draft outcome document is to be adopted. We therefore need to stick to the five-minute limit. Perhaps those who are here today will spread the word to those who are not present that tomorrow we must work faster. Otherwise, we will have to sacrifice the whole of our lunch break tomorrow.
I would like to thank representatives for their great patience and for having made this meeting such an important one.
The meeting rose at 9 p.m.