WORLD LEADERS REAFFIRM CENTRAL ROLE OF UNITED NATIONS IN CRAFTING GLOBAL RESPONSE TO CURRENT FOOD, FUEL, FINANCIAL CRISES
Uncertain Times Call for Revitalized General Assembly,
Security Council, Ministers Say, as 36 Speakers Address Debate
The world had reached a unique point in time, with challenges, opportunities and risks converging at the “global crossroads” of the United Nations, Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom told the General Assembly today, as leaders of large and small nations alike wrestled with how to consolidate democracy at home, and within the Organization.
“We are in a global age […] a world not simply in transition, but transformation, with change more far-reaching than anything we have seen in our lifetimes,” he said, signalling that a major shift in international relations that was due in the wake of massive food shortages, spiralling fuel prices and the recent financial meltdown on Wall Street. Mr. Brown’s concerns –- and his calls for change -- were echoed by most of the 36 speakers who addressed the Assembly’s annual general debate today.
With the shocks of the current crises “leading straight to the front door of every family in every country”, he said, the problems would not be resolved by nations working in isolation, but rather, only by acting together. Further, international institutions created in the aftermath of the Second World War had not kept pace with the changing global economy. Only by making tough decisions on energy security and climate change, and bringing together a new global partnership of oil producers and consumers, could stability be brought to energy markets.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India agreed that there was an urgent need for coordinated action by the global community to address the parallel food and energy crises, as well as unprecedented financial upheavals. The United Nations could become an effective focal point for cooperation towards inclusive cooperation and inclusive growth, but only if it was effectively revitalized.
Indeed, he reminded delegates of their 2005 pledge to adopt an agenda for “early and meaningful” United Nations reform, stressing that States had to “acknowledge frankly” that there had been little progress on the core elements of that agenda. They had to be more determined in their efforts to revitalize the General Assembly, enabling it to fulfill its rightful role as the Organization’s principle deliberative organ. Further, the composition of the Security Council needed to reflect the contemporary realities of the twenty-first century. “We need to expeditiously hold negotiations towards that end,” he declared.
Agreeing, Filip Vujanović, President of Montenegro, said the United Nations, with its core values of multilateralism, provided a reliable framework for strengthening democracy, protecting human rights, respecting international law and fostering economic and social development. To enhance those capabilities, he urged pragmatically oriented reform, especially by strengthening the authority of the Assembly and other principal bodies.
However, most important to the reform process was the transformation of the Security Council to provide equitable regional representation, greater transparency and improved working methods. His country, whose statehood had been democratically restored in 2006, was the most recent Member of the United Nations, he said, adding that statehood represented both political freedom and political responsibility.
Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, stressed that the United Nations, as the “supreme multilateral institution”, must do more. He wholeheartedly endorsed calls for frankness and democratization, saying that work entrusted to the Organization had been compromised by apathy, inaction and the crippling pursuit of narrow self-interest by a handful of powerful countries. “We have, in this session, an historic opportunity to reassert the relevance and credibility of this body be keeping the promises that we have made to ourselves and the world.”
The credibility of United Nations decisions made in the name of peace and security hinged on a Security Council that was democratic, he said, and a General Assembly that was diverse. At the same time, he expressed the hope that the General Assembly would hew closely to the principles of multilateralism. While that body had, over time, gradually strayed from the noblest of its goals, he hoped all Member States would work harder to keep its promises “for the good of the global family”.
Meanwhile, other nations focused inward, discussing the importance of their democratic gains and pressing for international support. Gabriel Ntisezerana, Second Vice-President of Burundi, said that, in 2005, democratically elected institutions had been established in his country, and this year marked the first time that election results had held longer than three years.
So, the Assembly’s current session was taking place at a time when the people of Burundi were at last enjoying the end of war, he said. Delegates of both political parties wished to establish ways to implement the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and his Government would spare no efforts to ensure progress in the peace process. Thanks to the Peacebuilding Commission, a new intergovernmental body that supports peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict, Burundi had launched dialogue frameworks that included its social and political partners, Parliament and the media, among others.
Burundi was determined to respect human rights in all their forms, which was not an easy task for a nation emerging from war, he explained. A national human rights commission and a national children’s forum would be launched, while a new Criminal Code, which covered gender-based violence, among others, was now before Parliament. Human rights focal points had also been established and were being trained in peace education.
Similarly, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister of Nepal, said he was addressing the Assembly as the Prime Minister of “world’s newest republic”. The 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which had followed a decade-long armed struggle, had led Nepal to hold elections for the Constituent Assembly in April this year. At its first meeting, that Assembly had declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, formally ending the 240-year-old monarchy and creating an opportunity to transform the feudalistic State into “new Nepal”, in keeping with the peoples’ aspirations.
Nepal’s peace process was based on multi-party democracy, dialogue and recognition of the people as the ultimate arbiter, he explained. However, new problems had emerged in the form of the global food crisis, rising oil prices and the dangers of climate change, which undermined efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. While the United Nations indeed needed to reform, he reiterated his solemn faith in the principles of its Charter.
Also speaking today were the Presidents of Haiti and Vanuatu.
The Prime Ministers of Jamaica, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Samoa, Bahamas, Malta, Solomon Islands, Croatia, Tuvalu, Morocco, Barbados, Iceland, Fiji, Dominica, Tonga, Saint Lucia, Guinea and Grenada also addressed the Assembly, as did the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh.
The Second Vice-President of Burundi and the Federal Minister of Austria also spoke, as did the Foreign Ministers of Nicaragua, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Somalia and Angola.
Also addressing the Assembly was the President of the Palestinian Authority.
The General Assembly will reconvene Saturday, 27 September, at 9 a.m. to continue its general debate.
Background
The General Assembly met today to continue its annual general debate.
Statements
FILIP VUJANOVIĆ, President of Montenegro, noted that his country, whose statehood had been democratically restored in 2006, was the most recent Member of the United Nations. Statehood represented both political freedom and political responsibility. The United Nations, with its core values of multilateralism, provided a reliable framework for maintaining international peace and security, strengthening democracy, protecting human rights, respecting international law, and fostering economic and social development.
To enhance those capabilities, he supported pragmatically oriented reform, especially strengthening the authority of the Assembly and other principal bodies. Most important to the reform process was the transformation of the Security Council, to provide equitable regional representation, greater transparency and improved working methods.
He said the foundation of national and regional stability was respect for human rights, improved minority and faith-based rights and strengthening relations with neighbouring countries. Therefore, his country focused on the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime.
Representing a country in transition, he supported implementation of the Monterrey Consensus. The economic challenges of such countries impacted how they tackled other issues, making implementation of the Millennium Declaration imperative, especially for those in Africa. It was also vital to resolve the energy crisis and its concomitant impact on rising food prices and food security, in addition to the issues of climate change and the Millennium Development Goals. Montenegro was working towards an interactive relationship between environmental protection and the production and distribution of organic food.
He called for international trade conditions that gave preference to small-scale producers and developing countries, and favoured public-private partnerships between Governments and United Nations agencies on projects for energy efficiency. Finally, he expressed satisfaction with his country’s reform processes, based on democracy, a market economy, efficient institutions and the rule of law, noting that it was a basis for Montenegro’s integration into the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro was creating a legislative framework for deployment of its citizens in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the spirit of multilateral cooperation.
RENÉ GARCIA PRÉVAL, President of Haiti, reminded delegations that only last year, he had recounted the 200 years of suffering experienced by the Haitian people, due to material shortages and natural disasters. He had not considered that, a year later, he would, again be speaking of the damage left by the recent successive hurricanes -- the hundreds of women, children and elderly who had literally been swept away by flood waters, the thousands left homeless, and the severe damage to Haiti’s communication, irrigation, water and sanitation infrastructure.
Profusely thanking the United Nations for mobilizing its agencies to help the most vulnerable, and offering gratitude to all the aid and assistance provided by Member States, the private sector and civil society, he also noted the broad solidarity within Haiti itself, as well as from Haitians living abroad. Despite Haiti’s extensive suffering, his Government was concerned for its neighbours both near and far, including Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, fellow members of Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and parts of the southern coastline of the United States, who also suffered significant damage from the back-to-back storms.
He stressed, however, that these were the first hurricanes of the season, and that a better-defined approached was needed to break the cycle of deficient crisis response and aid dependency, so that Haiti’s deep-rooted problems were effectively addressed. In the long run, charity never helped, but after initial outpouring, Haiti had been repeatedly left alone without long-term assistance. Systematically rebuilding the social infrastructure would require genuine solidarity and a consolidation of resources.
He reminded the Assembly that Haiti’s people were of indigenous and African descent, and were hard workers eager to develop commerce and engage in trade. Rather than aid, he called for support to help Haiti maximize its potential. The liberalization of trade would only be beneficial if clear, transparent rules applied to everyone, not just certain powers. Trade under fair conditions, aligned with appropriate aid, would then help the poor people escape the chains of poverty.
He observed that the United Nations still remained the privileged place for debating the world’s problems, and ensuring the voice of the poor be heard. However, in order to protect the mandate of the Organization, democratic reform was needed. Otherwise, the United Nations would be “resented by the small, and derided by the big”. With too many multi-dimensional crises that did not recognize country borders -- such as climate change and disease -- solutions depended on Member States working together in a new way.
He noted that only four months prior to the hurricanes massive demonstrations over food shortages took place, not just in Haiti, but around the world. It was as if “a collective cry of the poor” had been raised; poor people were refusing to pay the cost of certain decisions, which affected them but which they had played no part in reaching. He challenged Member States to choose between perishing together because no one would cooperate with each other, or mobilizing a new solidarity to save the planet and give the children in every country a chance to build a better world.
Recalling his country’s “difficult progress towards independence”, KALKOT MATAS KELEKELE, President of Vanuatu, expressed gratitude to the United Nations for its “active concern and assistance” through the “Committee of 24” on Decolonization, to make Vanuatu a Member State 27 years ago.
Speaking on behalf of other Pacific countries as well, he said more concerted action by the international community was needed to address climate change as a security issue, and “the increasing vulnerability of today’s global environment where nature respects no boundaries”. Without this, some Pacific nations “will be submerged”, and the United Nations and its Members would have failed in their first and most basic duty: to uphold the principles of the Charter.
On the subject of the graduation from the list of least developed countries, he urged reform of existing criteria, to prevent those countries from being “forcibly reclassified” and losing much-needed concessionary support. A country should be graduated from the list through first-hand assessments, by way of in-country visits, not on the basis of statistical indicators showing achievement of two of the three criteria, in this case: higher national income; significant progress in human assets or human capital; and economically less vulnerable conditions.
He went on to draw attention to the “island paradox” -- when relative prosperity of a country overshadows high vulnerability -- explaining that the sustainability of higher income was “constantly challenged” by the high vulnerability of island economies to the destructive impact of natural phenomena such as hurricanes, cyclones, volcanic eruption and sea level rise.
The achievement outlook for Millennium Development Goals was found to be “poor to fair” in Vanuatu’s first report of its Millennium Development Goal National Committee. That was due to poor linkages in Government priorities and inadequate allocation of resources. But, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Vanuatu was trying to accelerate progress in the pursuit of Millennium Development Goals by better identifying key challenges and improved ways to address them, he said.
Among other issues, he requested extending submissions on the Extension of Continental Shelf beyond May 2009, and noted Vanuatu’s dispute with France over the matter. On the subject of United Nations reform, he called for the Security Council to become more representative of its membership by granting permanent seats to Japan and India.
GABRIEL NTISEZERANA, Second Vice-President of Burundi, speaking on behalf of the President Pierre Nkurunziza, said the Assembly’s current session took place at a time when his people were at last enjoying the end of war. Delegates of both political parties wished to establish ways to implement the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and he thanked the United Nations, the African Union and the Regional Initiative for Peace, for their participation in the return of the Palipehutu movement to the process.
Reasserting that the Government would spare no efforts to ensure progress in the peace process, he said it had been three years since the establishment of democratically elected institutions -- the first time that the election results had held longer than three years. The Government and people of Burundi welcomed that development. Thanks to the Peacebuilding Commission, the Government had launched dialogue frameworks among social and political partners, Parliament and the media, among others.
Burundi was determined to respect human rights in all their forms, he said, but explained that that was not an easy task for a nation emerging from war. A national human rights commission and a national children’s forum would be launched, while a new Criminal Code, which covered gender-based violence, among others, was now before the Parliament. Human rights focal points had also been established, and were being trained in peace education.
He said security in his country was generally good, but there had been killings due to armed robberies and land disputes. The Government had begun disarming the civilian population, and unless those weapons were taken out of circulation and destroyed, peace would be threatened.
On the economic front, Burundi’s gross domestic product (GDP) was among the world’s lowest, and inflation had grown considerably, particularly with increased food and commodity. A national census had been organized, and the results would allow for improving school and health policies. Macroeconomic and structural reforms had been created to privatize State enterprises, and manage both banks and the military. A law on counteracting corruption had been issued, and public oversight bodies were playing their role.
Peacekeeping and security was a multidimensional task, he said, noting the combat of terrorism, hunger, disease and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The United Nations was mobilizing resources, but the way forward remained long, and “bloody conflict” remained in Somalia, Iraq and the wider Middle East, among other areas. The United Nations must demonstrate the means to combat such conflict, and Burundi would provide military observers in Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire, and military contingents for peacekeeping in Somalia.
FAKHRUDDIN AHMED, Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, said food security, democracy and development were three interrelated issues of fundamental importance to the welfare of the citizens of Bangladesh and other least developed countries. Food insecurity could disrupt the core of a democratic policy and derail development priorities.
The recent rise in global food prices had severely impacted Bangladesh, as domestic rice prices had spiked by nearly 60 per cent during the year through February 2007. This had occurred against the backdrop of two devastating floods and a tropical cyclone that had devastated one of the country’s key harvests. Food insecurity was measured by increased instability, as well as deprivation, and making food available for all at affordable prices was a cardinal responsibility for all Governments.
On democracy and corruption, he said the Bangladeshi Government announced a road map for staging a truly democratic election, soon after assuming office in January 2007. This was not an easy task, as decades of corruption had seriously undermined the country’s democracy and economy. The fight against corruption was the first step in a long and difficult process, and the Government would continue to work under the auspices of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Government electronically registered more than 80 million voters with photographs and fingerprints in 11 months, and the Election Commission trained more than 500,000 election workers. However, an election was only one pillar of democratic governance, and the Government had also made the judiciary fully independent, created the National Human Rights Commission, and enacted a Right to Information law that provided transparency. The Bangladesh Election Commission had successfully held local mayoral elections last month, and was fully committed to free and fair parliamentary elections on 18 December of this year.
On the food crisis, he said that situation would return, perhaps with greater intensity and frequency, unless the international community put short- and long-term measures in place to prevent the recurrence. As a recognized least developed country, Bangladesh urged the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of creating a “Global Food Bank”. Such a mechanism would allow countries facing a short-term production deficit to borrow food grains on preferential terms. After overcoming the shortfall, those countries could return the quantum to the bank.
Though economic progress had been made since the adoption of the 2001 Brussels Programme of Action, least developed countries still faced serious structural hurdles in their development efforts, and were acutely susceptible to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters. It was unlikely that least developed countries would achieve the overarching goals of the Brussels Programme and the Millennium Development Goals unless the international commitments for the countries, in the areas of aid and trade, were fully delivered. He urged Member States to fully support the holding of the fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, planned to be held before the end of the decade.
PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL, Prime Minister of Nepal, recalled the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and said Nepal had held elections to the Constituent Assembly in April this year. At its first meeting, that Assembly had declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, formally ending the 240-year-old monarchy, and creating an opportunity to transform the feudalistic State into a “new Nepal”, in keeping with peoples’ aspirations. His Government was committed to restoring law and order, providing immediate relief to conflict-affected people, fighting the “cancerous” growth of corruption, and starting a pro-poor economic recovery package.
Nepal’s peace process was based on multi-party democracy, dialogue and recognition of the people as the ultimate arbiter, he explained, noting his appreciation for the United Nations’ continued support. However, as Nepal continued its process, new problems had emerged in the form of the global food crisis, rising oil prices and the dangers of climate change, which undermined its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He called for fulfilling the “solemn” pledges made in 2000, and at the 2002 World Conference on Financing for Development.
He said the United Nations must tackle such development challenges, among other issues, as religious extremism, nuclear weapons proliferation, transnational crimes and gross human rights violations. Multilateralism was the solution. Further, least developed countries like Nepal faced a special predicament in that they were trapped in a vicious circle of poverty. Their low social indicators, and the growing income gap within and among nations was a “sure sign of looming disaster”. Due to least developed countries’ high level of vulnerability, he strongly urged that their issues be examined separately by the United Nations and with focused programmes.
Nepal was also landlocked, a “double disadvantage”, and had to deal with a high cost of doing trade, he explained, urging full implementation of global compacts and the Brussels Programme of Action for least developed countries. He also highlighted the need for developed country partners to fulfil their pledges to allocate a certain percentage of their gross national product to least developed countries. On climate change, he said Nepal faced the melting of glaciers and shifting weather patterns, and strongly appealed for extending support to help protect its environment. A regime of common but differentiated responsibilities also must be created.
Continuing, he was pleased the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific had been operating in Kathmandu for 20 years. Peacekeeping had evolved as the “soul” of the United Nations, and Nepal had regularly sent peacekeepers since 1958. On human rights, he said the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be a necessary balance between peace and justice, and that Nepal would enhance the work of its National Human Rights Commission.
GORDON BROWN, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said recent events proved that the world was in the new global age –- a world “not simply in transition, but transformation, with change more far-reaching than anything we have seen in our lifetimes”. A unique point in time had been reached, and the challenges, opportunities and risks now met at the “global crossroads” of the United Nations.
In next two decades, the world economy would double in size, which, in turn, would double the potential for jobs and prosperity, he said. While extraordinary promise awaited, there were also new insecurities and pressures, as seen in the first real financial crisis and first real resource crisis of this new age. The twin shocks of a global credit crunch and soaring commodity prices “led straight to the front door of every family in every country”. The global nature of the crises meant that they would not be resolved by nations working in isolation, rather, only by acting together.
The immediate priority was to fairly help people cope with difficult times, he said, adding that in the United Kingdom, the Government was supporting people with the costs of gas and electricity, supporting homeowners, and helping people acquire the skills for jobs.
If anything was to be learned, it was that the world was more interconnected than ever, and as such, solutions must be coordinated, he said. All must be done to stabilize turbulence and rebuild the financial system around clear principles. In the short term, each country was taking action, and the United States deserved support as it sought to agree “in detail” what all parties agreed “in principle”. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom had taken action to protect investors and had introduced a temporary ban on short-selling; injected “billions” into the market, and extended its special liquidity scheme.
Confidence in the future was needed, and there were five principles around which to unite, he stressed, highlighting first the need for transparency and the rapid introduction of improved international accounting standards and disclosure. Second, he called for sound banking practice, and more effective regulation that examined both solvency and liquidity.
There must also be responsibility, he said, so that no member of senior management could say they did not understand the risks, and integrity, so that companies could align rewards with stability and long-term gain. Advice between credit rating agencies and the interests of investors should also be aligned. Finally, oversight must be global, which was why he supported the creation of international colleges for each of the largest global financial institutions, with 30 due by year-end.
International institutions created in the aftermath of the Second World War had not kept pace with the changing global economy, he continued, underscoring the need for international capital movements to be transparent. “The age of irresponsibility must be ended,” he added. However, global action must also address the scramble for resources, and only by making tough decisions on energy security and climate change, and bringing together a new global partnership of oil producers and consumers, could stability be brought to energy markets.
While the United Kingdom was committed to tackling climate change, oil would meet a “large part” of global energy needs for decades to come. States must consider whether the institutional architecture could bring about more transparent energy markets. He planned to host a global energy summit in London to agree on areas for further action.
Continuing, he said only by helping Africa become a net exporter rather than importer of food, could the world see an end to high food prices. On trade, he called for restarting negotiations, removing trade barriers and trade-distorting subsidies, which cost developing countries $15 billion a year. “Now is not the time to pull up the drawbridge,” he declared.
On other international issues, he said the United Nations must help the next Government of Israel build on the foundations of current talks to agree on a two-State solution, which guaranteed Israel’s security and gave Palestinians a viable State. In Cyprus, there was a real chance of settlement. On Afghanistan, he said that only when the Government could deny land to Al-Qaida, and its associates, would the international community have done its job.
On the Sudan, he said that, while United Nations peacekeepers helped keep the fragile North-South peace agreement in place, Darfur remained “a disaster”, and it was up to the Government to create conditions for the conflict to end. Finally, he called for supporting democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe, saying also, that now would be the worst time to “turn our back on the Millennium Development Goals”.
BRUCE GOLDING, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who noted the increase of global production and expanded trade, stressed that the widening gap between rich and poor was likewise expanding, and hopes for the broad achievements of the Millennium Development Goals were fading. With the global economy headed into a severe downturn, and myriad interrelated crises, among them food and fuel shortages, there was an urgent need for developed countries to assist developing countries in improving their economies by expanding productivity, gaining better access to global markets and boosting human capacity-building.
He stated his strong belief that this was not altruism, but rather an essential investment in developing countries that would, among other things, expand markets and increase purchasing power. Because of the interdependent nature of the world’s nations, that would also help address the shared global issues of climate change, global epidemics, organized crime and human trafficking. Global development, not just global markets, needed to be the centre of Member State’s priorities. “We must commit ourselves to creating a world in which not everyone may be rich, but no one has to be poor.”
Concerned that halfway to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the global community was falling more and more behind schedule, he said that the partnership between developed and developing countries, as defined in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, was a critical component to the success of the Goals. Developing countries needed to ensure their priorities in development, and developed countries needed to keep their commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product to official development assistance (ODA). He noted that only five developed countries had kept this commitment.
Diverse economic and social profiles of developing countries also needed to include middle-income countries with deep pockets of poverty. In that regard, he called for the international recognition of CARICOM States as a special category of “small vulnerable and highly indebted middle-income countries”. The redesign of a global financial system to reflect new global realities that was development-driven would support forward progress and impact poverty throughout the world, he added.
Developing countries were more vulnerable and more impacted by climate change and natural disasters, he said, calling for more long-term social, economic and development strategies, as well as sustainable solutions to fragile humanitarian situations. He expressed Jamaica’s concern regarding the many serious crises throughout the world, and called for strong actions to address and resolve the Middle East conflict, and the persistent humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Greater efforts were also needed towards eliminating nuclear arms, curbing illicit trade of small arms, and identifying comprehensive international support for its neighbour, Haiti, among others.
Concluding, he challenged Member States to ignore the cynicism that existed about the United Nations, and called for the end to the “squabbling and procrastination” among Members over much-needed reforms within the Organization, specifically the Security Council. Fulfilling the mandate of the Charter was still unfinished business. He asked that the leadership of Member States must not fail “the hopes of people everywhere” to create a peaceful and secure world.
JIGMI Y. THINLEY, Prime Minister of Bhutan, said the international community was facing a host of serious challenges -- from natural disasters to food and financing crises, to dwindling water resources -- that were testing the relevance of the United Nations and the resolve of its Member States to work together. Those crises, as well as the threats of terrorism and extremism, threatened to undermine what the international community had achieved collectively and as individual States. Bhutan viewed those developments as interconnected symptoms of a “larger and deeper malaise” that threatened everyone’s collective well-being and survival.
The oil crisis, soaring prices of metals and diminishing water reserves were linked to the exploitation and waste of scarce natural resources. The primary factor behind the financial crisis was a culture of “living beyond our means”, of private profiteering and socializing risks. Those troubles were the outcomes of a way of life that was dictated by the powerful ethics of consumerism in a world of finite resources.
He pointed to increasingly unpredictable natural disasters, such as drought, cyclones, hurricanes and floods, as indications of climate change. There was the danger of increasing hunger in a world where too many people already were starving, where diseases abounded, and where new epidemics threatened man, other life forms and even food crops. Deepening poverty, not unlike the food crisis, was also a sign of the disintegration of communities. Those multiple challenges brought out in sharp focus the “shameful inequities” of a society that failed to share and distribute the enormous wealth it had created to satisfy man’s insatiable greed.
He said Bhutan was involved in global efforts to develop new indicators to measure real human progress. Bhutan had pursued a unique development path guided by the former King’s philosophy of gross national happiness (GNH as opposed to GDP) since the early 1970s. Gross national happiness was based on the belief that happiness was the single most important goal. Indeed, the goal of development was the promotion and enhancement of happiness. That concept emphasized a balanced life that matched the material needs of the body, with the spiritual, psychological and emotional needs of the mind. The Royal Government structured its development programme on four broad themes: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, not growth; environmental conservation; promotion of culture; and good governance.
SERGEI STANISHEV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, affirmed his country’s commitment to the United Nations mandate, and its realignment to the European Union. Bulgaria was preparing to host a summit, “Gas for Europe: A New Transregional Partnership and Project”, which would bring together Heads of State and Government from South East Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian Region, Central Asia, the European Union and the United States, to encourage dialogue on energy and other strategic interests.
He observed that peace and stability began at local levels, and translated into regional, subregional and transborder cooperation, which then built towards comprehensive collective security systems. To that end, Bulgaria had taken leadership in the South East European Cooperation Process, which aimed for continued recovery from a war-torn region into a thriving and dynamic one. That regional cooperation would need the involvement of the European Union and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) regarding the issue of Kosovo.
He also said that Bulgaria supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and rendered its full support to the peacemaking process of the European Union in the Black Sea region. Stating that conflict prevention and development were inextricably linked, he committed Bulgaria’s resources and efforts to any regional centre for United Nations mediation and a Bulgaria/UNDP regional hub in the Western Balkan and Black Sea region.
He concluded that stable peace and security would only be achieved through the reform of the United Nations, and through assistance for Member States’ development. Solidarity with those in need, especially developing countries, was an important principle of Bulgaria’s foreign policy, and part of its development as a donor State in the European Union. He, therefore, urged the Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and to strengthen solidarity with developing countries.
TUILAEPA LUPESOLIAI SAILELE MALIELEGAOI, Prime Minister of Samoa, recalled his messages to the Assembly last year, that the United Nations had not lived up to its Charter, and that Member States had no one but themselves to blame. No country was too powerful or too small to participate in the solution to make the Organization an agent of change. Samoa supported the Secretary-General’s vision to create an Organization that delivered as one entity.
He called for the revitalizing of the General Assembly, and for the reform of the Security Council, especially to expand its permanent and non-permanent membership. He had observed indifference, intentional or not, from some national leaders towards the small and weaker countries, unless they “teeter[ed] on the brink of becoming failed States”, he added.
He went on to say that Samoa’s strategic plan from 2008 to 2012 would be a comprehensive development framework, and with targeted resource allocation. In 2007, Samoa had also worked with the Organization to promote the Millennium Development Goals during the South Pacific Games held in Samoa. The innovative effort of utilizing sports to effect changes in behaviour resulted in a solar-powered Millennium Development Goal scoreboard in front of the main Government building to monitor national progress.
Although not a contributor to the global crises, Samoa’s small size and isolated location did not shield it from experiencing the consequences, of, among others, climate change, energy and food shortages and the current financial turmoil. He noted that the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in August had adopted the Niue Declaration on Climate Change, which highlighted Pacific small island developing states’ vulnerability to global warming. Last week, the European Union and the Pacific Island Forum Troika joined together to highlight the ongoing vulnerability, and the impact of rising sea levels in that region. Samoa would also work within the United Nations to spotlight the security implications of climate change, and he called for the broad support of the Bali road map so that a post-Kyoto climate change deal could be realized. In this regard, Australia’s participation as a State party to the Kyoto Protocol at the Bali meeting had been encouraging.
HUBERT ALEXANDER INGRAHAM, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Bahamas, said efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals must be carried out in tandem with steps to achieve full employment and decent work for all. The Bahamas had achieved many of the targets and indicators of the Goals, and over a two-year period, assistance to the poor and low-income families in the country was being increased by 45 per cent. At the same time, new and emerging problems, such as the current food, energy and financial crises, continued to slow global development, and threatened to erode gains made over the past 10 years towards ending poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
The increasing cost of energy was impacting people’s travel plans, and had a direct negative impact on the tourism industry, the country’s primary industry. In addition, climate change was another challenge for the Bahamas as a small island developing State with about 80 per cent of its landmass within 1.5 meters of sea level. He called for urgent action on climate change, which was also contributing to the increasing number and fury of hurricanes passing through the Caribbean. Those tropical storms had a devastating impact on many countries in their subregion, including Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands and the most southerly island in the Bahamas, Inagua. He said the Bahamas stood by its commitment to preserve its marine and terrestrial environments, and to meet the targets created by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity for 2010 and 2012. The country expected to exceed its commitment to conserve at least 20 per cent of the near-shore marine resources across the Bahamas by 2020.
Turning to economic issues, he said there was a need for permanent representation of developing countries, particularly small developing countries, in international economic, trade and financial institutions, including the Breton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, as well as bodies like the Financial Stability Forum and the Basle Committee. Believing that international tax matters should be discussed in an open, transparent and inclusive form, the Bahamas called for the convening of a major international conference to review the international financial and monetary architecture and global economic governance structures.
The Bahamas reaffirmed its support for the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, with a view to expanding its membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, as well as improving its working methods. On the issue of drugs, he said the 2008 World Drug Report indicated that the supply of illicit drugs was increasing, a fact with serious consequences for the subregion.
The Bahamas and other members of CARICOM were neither significant producers nor supplies of narcotics, or significant manufacturers or suppliers of small arms and light weapons. He reiterated the call made last July by the CARICOM States for the illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons to be addressed in a holistic, transparent and legally binding manner, with renewed commitments for effective and enhanced safeguards.
RALPH E. GONSALVES, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, expressing solidarity with the nations battered by hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike, said his country stood with them in their rebuilding efforts. He went on to wholeheartedly endorse the calls for frankness and democratization, reaffirming also that the United Nations, as the “supreme multilateral institution”, must do more. There was no doubt that the world’s peoples were aware of the challenges, but work entrusted to the Organization had been compromised by apathy, inaction and the crippling pursuit of narrow self-interest by a handful of powerful countries.
Recalling that a year ago, he had denounced the failure to end the “genocide” in Darfur, he said that one year later, he was shocked by the global community’s subsequent collective stumbles, last month. For instance, Force Commander Martin Luther Agwai’s promised peacekeeping force of 26,000 was still less than 10,000 strong. That, among other worrying events, had caused Mr. Gonsalves to wonder about the promises of “never again”. His people, whose past and future were interwoven with the continent, asked: “how can I face such slaughter and be cool?” The credibility of United Nations decisions made in the name of peace and security hinged on a Security Council that was democratic, and diversity in the General Assembly, he declared.
On the food crisis, his Government was implementing a creative national food production plan that mixed agricultural incentives with education and assistance measures. However, farmers, tradesmen and private sector actors were still waiting for the oft-promised opportunities that supposedly accompanied globalization. On the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization Talks, he said solutions to economic crises hinged on genuine negotiation and compromise in the interest of the world’s least privileged. After promises of devoting 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product to official development assistance, his country had been forced to “scour the globe” for development partners.
Taking up other matters, he called climate change, an issue of “life and death” to Caribbean peoples. On the “creeping return of cold war rhetoric” to the international discourse, he urged guarding against the return of discarded philosophies. He hoped the Assembly would hew closely to the principles of multilateralism. While the Assembly had gradually strayed from the noblest of its goals, he urged keeping promises for the good of the global family.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, President of the Palestinian Authority, said he would have liked to have announced a comprehensive agreement had been achieved between the Palestinians and Israel that ended Israeli occupation of its land since 1967. He believed the entire world shared his desire to set the necessary guidelines and principles for the advancement of negotiating towards the conclusion of a comprehensive and complete agreement on all final status issues. The Annapolis Conference, held last year, had emphasized the need for the removal of all obstacles that had impeded the negotiating process.
The main obstacle was the Israeli settlement campaign and its continuation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in East Jerusalem. All participants in Annapolis had taken a united, firm and unprecedented stand calling for the immediate cessation of illegal settlement activities. The participation of most Arab countries had shown the desire to support the political process, based on the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Arab Summit in Beirut more than six years ago.
He renewed his call to all parties, including Israel, regional and international Powers, to seize the opportunity provided by the Arab Peace Initiative. In this context, he fully supported the indirect negotiations taking place between Syria and Israel with the help of Turkey. The Authority would continue to negotiate towards a comprehensive peace that would end decades of occupation and hostilities, and attain the two-State solution –- the State of Palestine living alongside the State of Israel on the basis of the 1967 borders. That would include the achievement of a just and agreed solution to the plight of the Palestine refugees.
Partial or interim solutions, or the dropping or deferral of certain core issues would be unacceptable and unviable, and would maintain the roots of the conflict, he continued. The solution must also include a mechanism to ensure its full and honest implementation according to an agreed-upon timetable. That required supervision of the solution’s implementation, and a more effective role of the diplomatic Quartet to safeguard the solution, as well as an effective guarantor role of the Security Council and various United Nations bodies.
As he noted the upcoming sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he said the conditions endured by the Palestinians were increasingly severe and complex. The territory suffered from fragmentation and contiguity between its cities and villages was being undermined, as a result of more than 609 checkpoints and roadblocks on all main and secondary roads. The continuing siege and isolation of the Gaza Strip was deepening the tragic humanitarian crisis, where unemployment was endemic and the opportunities of education and medical care were few. Gaza had become a virtual prison for 1.5 million Palestinians, he said.
He reaffirmed that his Government would spare no effort to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation and unity, and to that end, had announced a preliminary plan that opened the door for reconciliation and the formation of an independent, impartial Government that was acceptable to all. Further, the Government would prepare for legislative and presidential elections, and continue rebuilding the security apparatus based on professional tenets, with the support of Arab security. After completing that step, it would be possible to proceed with strengthening reconciliation and deepening the participation of all.
URSULA PLASSNIK, Federal Minister of Austria, told the Assembly that at the heart of the United Nations work and the work of all Member States here and at home, was the commitment to build a better future for the coming generation. She spoke of the bleak challenges facing the global community, among them, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change and poverty. Shared responsibility and partnership based on equality were essential components to actualizing the rights of the global community. That would be accomplished through the equitable application of the rule of law within an intergovermental world body. She, therefore, affirmed Austria’s commitment to the United Nations and the international legal system.
As women were “politically and socially the most relevant emerging power of the twenty-first century”, their contributions must be valued, and participation in leadership encouraged. However, discrimination and violence still challenged the ideals of human rights for women, especially when, throughout the world, one out of every three women was a victim of assault. She was pleased that the Women Leaders Network’s call to the Secretary-General for women to assume leadership positions in the United Nations had been answered, particularly in mediation and peacebuilding. She proposed a thorough review of the results of the Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security on its tenth anniversary.
She also noted Austria’s involvement in establishing an international legally binding ban on cluster bombs, adopted in Dublin as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and called for Member States to join Austria in its commitment to sign the Convention in Oslo in December 2008. Austria had also participated in the Joint Africa-European Union Strategy, a new partnership developed and adopted at the Lisbon summit in December 2007, focusing on peace, security and development. Along with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), Austria organized a Conference on Peace and Security in West Africa in Ouagadougou and a Seminar on Peace and Development in Southern Africa in Johannesburg.
Citing the need for urgent action towards a global climate agreement by the end of 2009, she proposed to develop the United Nations Environment Programme into a fully fledged world environment organization, and offered Vienna as a place in which to host such an agency. Observing the uneven progress among Member States toward the Millennium Development Goals, she called for an increased effort by the international community in achieving this global accomplishment, stating that “the active contribution towards this global effort is a priority for the Austrian Government”.
SAMUEL LÓPEZ, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, noted a common vision among Member States: agreement on the urgent need to act as one to successfully solve the world’s problems, including hunger, poverty, high oil prices, climate change, terrorism and recognition of human rights among them.
At the same time, he called for making the United Nations more democratic, with sufficient guarantees that countries’ interests be taken into account. It was unthinkable to consider a system that gave priority to the hegemony of the few, over the interests of the majority. Such injustice had been the cause of deep social and economic imbalance, an accelerated arms race, and wars of aggression, which, under the subterfuge of some gained freedoms, had hidden an illegal appropriation of energy and natural resources. The global security situation had grown more volatile, he said, urging “intelligent” action to avoid new civil wars and, among other things, lead to complete disarmament.
Nicaragua, a victim of foreign intervention, had understood early on there was no greater value than freedom, he continued. Hunger and poverty were sapping economic and social progress for future generations, and today, millions lived in extreme poverty. The Millennium Development Goals needed greater impetus from nations with greater financial resources, as well as from international financial institutions. Recalling the 2002 Monterrey Consensus on development financing, he said developing country needs must be at the heart of the development programme.
Most donors were not respecting their pledge to increase their aid, he said, also citing data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showing weapons spending in 2007 alone at $1.399 billion. He called for setting aside 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product without conditions, and reiterated that eradicating poverty required addressing injustices, including unbalanced trade relations. “Unbridled capitalism” had led the world into a serious situation, he continued, noting that a few hours ago, the World Bank President had said the United States financial crisis would severely affect development assistance, notably for the poorest countries.
For its part, Nicaragua aimed to overcome poverty, and its citizens would help redefine the country’s path to doing so. The Government had proposed including in policies measures to preserve the environment and patrimony, he said, calling for a new environmental world order which ended the utilitarian use of resources. Nicaragua was also working on food sovereignty, developing “zero hunger” programmes and providing gasoline tanks to families at low cost.
Achieving the United Nations’ ideals required “reviewing our own house”, he asserted, calling for working together to democratize the Organization and welcomed the high-level debate on the issue. Nicaragua was prepared to play a constructive role in that dialogue. Calling the Charter a “fundamental reference point” for action, he said its principles must prevail above egotistical interests.
LAWRENCE GONZI, Prime Minister of Malta, agreed with the Secretary-General that the international community needed to implement the outcomes of the Assembly’s 2005 World Summit to protect humanity from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity. The fight against terrorism must remain high on the agenda. He commended the work of the International Criminal Court, and welcomed the work of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
He also praised the Assembly’s work on climate change, and reiterated Malta’s conviction that the world had a common obligation to stop and reverse the accumulation of greenhouse gases, which were causing detrimental global warming. Small island States were especially vulnerable to the negative effects of the phenomenon. He acknowledged the peace efforts in Cyprus, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria with Turkish mediation, the formation of a national unity Government in Lebanon and improved relations between Lebanon and Syria. He urged all Member States to support the efforts of the Secretary-General and the diplomatic Quartet in resolving the issue of Palestine refugees and the permanent status of Jerusalem, as well as issues of settlements, borders and water and security in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
He highlighted all initiatives aimed at creating a bond between Europe and Mediterranean countries. An important development in the “Euro-Med” partnership had been the launch, last July, of the Union for the Mediterranean. Malta was looking forward to working constructively with the other members of the Union to deal with development issues on water, food security and energy. He also said Malta had been among the countries faced with an unprecedented influx of African immigrants. It had been difficult to deal with the increasing population, especially because of Malta’s small size. Malta had consistently called for help in tackling that problem through the principles of solidarity and sharing of responsibilities.
Africa, he said, presented a challenge for the international community. Progress in Africa was lagging and it needed the world’s help in achieving sustainable development. Rising food and energy prices, along with the unstable world financial markets and climate change, presented huge obstacles to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Meeting the Goals remained a priority on the global agenda, and he encouraged the Assembly to work towards positive reform of the United Nations and its organs.
DERRICK SIKUA, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, said that his delegation deeply regretted that the recently discussed programme of action on the food crisis had not been matched with required resources. Countries would, therefore, have to look at their own resources for solutions. To that end, his Government was encouraging consumption of locally produced food and community-based rice programmes. It also hoped to further strengthen its relations with rice-growing countries, and was looking to both the North and South for energy solutions.
In that connection, he thanked China, Turkey, Italy and Austria, among others, for coming forward with community-based renewable energy programmes. Such cooperation translated into action the Solomon Islands’ policy of bringing affordable electricity to 80 per cent of its rural population. The country was exploring bulk purchasing arrangements with Venezuela, which, he hoped, would provide Solomon Islands -- which spent a third of its national budget on fuel -- with some breathing room.
The magnitude of the problem of climate change had outgrown the existing capacity of the United Nations, which was “heavy on providing technical support and analytical data [but] less so on the ground activities”, he said. Regional and subregional organizations were going in the same direction, leaving countries to fend for themselves. He hoped the small island developing States unit within the United Nations would be strengthened to effectively coordinate the needs of those countries.
As sea levels rose, his country had already begun to experience migration of indigenous populations from low-lying islands. That placed much stress on the land tenure systems, causing frictions between ethnic groups. The issue of climate change for his country was about preserving its forests, reforestation and providing people with environmentally friendly opportunities. Among other things, Solomon Islands was embarking on a programme of scaling down logging, its major export income earner. He hoped that, over time, agriculture, tourism and fisheries would fill in the forestry vacuum within the country’s economy.
Regarding vulnerability to natural disasters, he expressed hope that a more committed outcome would emerge from the Bali Action Plan. He also noted with concern, the proliferation of climate change financial mechanisms outside the multilateral process. That would once again disadvantage the most vulnerable countries, including small island developing States and least developed countries. Dealing with climate change, for those countries, required new and additional resources. Accessibility to the Adaptation Fund, mitigation and technology transfer were all at the heart of the solutions to climate change challenges.
On the Millennium Development Goals, he said that, as a small island with least developed country status, much of his country’s achievements rested on partnership with all stakeholders at all levels. That, unfortunately, had overstretched and crowded the national policy space in strengthening and maintaining good relations with all donors. Meanwhile, the Government welcomed new approaches by non-traditional donors, or providing direct assistance through existing national institutional frameworks. That strengthened governance and democracy, as provided for under the Paris declaration, allowing the State to increase its legitimacy to reach out to its population more meaningfully.
With only eight months left to register the country’s continental shelf, as required by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said Solomon Islands was working diligently on the matter and welcomed a recent decision by the Conference of State Parties in recognizing the constraints faced by many developing countries in meeting the time frame of May 2009. On sustainable development issues, he added that certain countries of the Pacific, including his own, had initiated sustainable management arrangements to protect their juvenile tuna stocks by closing pockets of high seas adjacent to their respective exclusive economic zones.
MANMOHAN SINGH, Prime Minister of India, said that, even though the Member States had called for early and meaningful reform of the United Nations at the 2005 World Summit, little progress had been made on the core elements of the reform agenda. There was need for the composition of the Security Council to reflect the realities of the twenty-first century, and Member States needed to hold negotiations towards that end.
While globalization had contributed to the prosperity of an increased number of countries like India, ensuring inclusive growth within nations and inclusive growth across nations remained a challenge. He said the development gains made by many countries were being threatened by the global food, energy and financial crises. There was a need for a global response to those challenges. He called for a new international initiative to bring structural reform to the world’s financial systems.
Published on: 2008-09-27
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