GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE -- NEED FOR JOINT ACTION STRESSED CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT, IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION, WEAPONS PROLIFERATION

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

21^st & 22^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE -- NEED FOR JOINT ACTION

STRESSED CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT, IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION, WEAPONS PROLIFERATION

During Two-week Session, 189 Speakers Heard, Including 77 Heads of State

And Government, 4 Vice-Presidents, 94 Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers

Having reaffirmed multilateralism as the surest safeguard of global solidarity and collective security –- with world leaders stressing that only joint action could curb weapons proliferation and ensure the achievement of global development goals and the speedy recovery of Iraq -- the General Assembly concluded its annual high-level debate today.

Wrapping up the debate, Assembly President Julian Robert Hunte of Saint Lucia said a total of 189 delegations addressed the debate, including, 50 Heads of States, 27 heads of government, four Vice-Presidents, and 94 Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers.  He added that the central role of the Assembly as the primary advocate, supervisory and policy-making body had been repeatedly emphasized, although the need for its further revitalization had also been stressed.

Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, set the tone for the debate at its opening on 23 September, when he challenged the United Nations 191-member governing body to seriously consider drastic reform of the Organization and its institutions, in order to enhance their authority by making them both open to more voices and more effective in taking action.  The unilateralism of recent events had called into question the decades old tradition of global consensus on collective security and brought the international community to a fork in the road, he said.

The fifty-eighth Assembly opened this year -- which Mr. Annan had called “very painful for those of us who believe in collective answers to our common problems and challenges” -- just as the United Nations was beginning to recover from the 19 August terrorist bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 people including mission chief, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Throughout the debate, delegations from all regions resoundingly affirmed the Secretary-General’s call for reform.  They stressed that the pressing challenges of the day, including terrorism, escalating violence in the Middle East and in certain parts of Africa, and the threat of nuclear proliferation could only be effectively addressed through multilateralism; with a more open and representative United Nations in the lead role.  There was a strong call for the world body to reject unilateralism and reorient itself with its founding principles.

At the same time, many delegations from the developing world noted that while terrorism and weapons of mass destruction received the most attention, smaller countries were struggling to confront other challenges to peace and security:  so called “soft threats” such as extreme poverty, infectious disease, climate change and environmental degradation.  The divisions in the Security Council during the run-up to the United States-led war in Iraq, inequities in the global financial structures and the debt burden shouldered by many poor countries, were also recurring themes.

Today, 15 top ministers from Africa were among those addressing the debate’s closing session.  Overall, they noted that in Africa, where one third of the population suffered in absolute poverty, fratricidal wars continued to undermine States’ development policies.  While they urged the international community and its top donors not to forget their countries -- particularly in war-torn West Africa and the troubled Great Lakes region -- they also praised the positive results yielded by homegrown initiatives such as the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Welcoming yesterday’s launch of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Lewis G. Brown, the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said for the resilience of the Liberians, the timely intervention of ECOWAS and the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL), “Liberia would have slipped into the abyss of unbridled anarchy”.  His country was also grateful to Nigeria and Ghana for their leadership role, and to the United States, the European Union, the African Union, South Africa and Mozambique for their respective roles and continued support.

Addressing the Assembly for the first time, Ahmed Chalabi, current President of the Iraqi Governing Council, said the Iraqi people were determined that development and freedom would flourish.  With more than 60 per cent of its population under the age of 20, the first priority must be to prepare the new generation for the twenty-first century, to give them cultural and educational values that would allow each to emphasize dignity and self-respect.  To achieve these and other objectives, the country’s people appealed for aid and assistance.  In acknowledging the horrors of past years and achieving reconstruction, the international community must stand with Iraq. 

Today, the Assembly heard from the President of the Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Eritrea, Suriname, Georgia, and Zambia. 

Also speaking were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Grenada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration of Benin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Côte d’Ivoire, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Niger, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and la Francophonie of the Congo, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Fiji.

The representatives of the Central African Republic, Slovakia, Seychelles, Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, and Cameroon also spoke.

The General Assembly will meet again on Monday, 6 October at 10 a.m. to take up matters related to the election of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  It is also expected to begin its follow-up of the 2000 Millennium Summit. 

Background

The fifty-eighth General Assembly met today to continue its general debate.

Statements

ASKAR A. AKAEV, President of Kyrgyzstan, said that in recent months, the United Nations had become an arena of acute debates.  Some “hotheads” had even claimed the Organization had exhausted its potential.  But in reality, the disputes and discussions of the past year were democracy at work.  The development of that principle assumed exchanges of views, opinions and even criticisms.  At the same time, however, while there was nothing reprehensible about disputes per se, polarization in that case had endangered the United Nations.

“Attempts to restrain its role are perceived, especially by small States, as a means of undermining the world body”, he said.  But the numerous statements thus far had shown that, although many world leaders had varying opinions about the state of international affairs, they all agreed on the importance of defining a role for the United Nations to ensure that it succeeded in this new century, and fulfilled the promise and expectations of all the world’s people.  The most efficient way to overcome contradictions and overcome on such issues as that of Iraq was through compromise.

He went on to say that efforts to reform the United Nations should be accompanied by a return to focusing on specific targets and objectives that must be reached in the immediate future, particularly the Millennium Development Goals and the international war on terrorism.  Together, the United Nations, the great Powers, and the wider international community could effectively address those issues and overcome the common challenges of the day.  Universal cooperation was crucial, for “if we act separately, we can expect a turn for the worse”.

Aside from collective challenges, each nation had its own unique problems, he continued.  Kyrgyzstan was determined to address its specific challenges head on.  Last year, he had proposed a national initiative “Kyrgyzstan -– the country of human rights”, to promote the democratic process.  To push the idea forward, a Democratic Code had been developed, and a Public Council of Democratic Security had been created.  Further, a new draft constitution had been adopted, and more attention was being paid to the establishment of fair and responsible governance, and upgrading anti-corruption policies.  The Government was also focusing on fighting poverty and defining key issues that would allow the country to ensure the sustainable development of its mountain regions.

Finally, he said, the United Nations faced abundant challenges, including political and religious extremism, territorial separatism, drug trafficking and the spread of pandemics.  He supported firm measures to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  In addition, he believed that the use of force should be authorized by the Security Council and based on international law, in order to avoid conflicts and tensions within the international community.

ELVIN NIMROD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Grenada, said that the current focus on security concerns should not displace consideration of the important issues on the economic and social agenda.  While his country remained totally committed to the fight against terrorism, it was important to recognize that its elimination would not alone guarantee social and economic stability.  The many problems associated with underdevelopment, poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment gave rise to hopelessness, and posed a threat to peace and security. 

HIV/AIDS, he stressed, must be dealt with as both a medical and socio-economic problem, as a problem with far-reaching implications for small developing countries.  Thus, while critical attention should be devoted to education for prevention and care, the mobilization of resources and access to affordable medicine, it must also be recognized that those tasks, combined with the cost of caring for those already infected, had become a burden in terms of both human and financial resources.  In that respect, as in the fight to eradicate poverty, developed nations must come speedily to the rescue of developing countries by providing tangible and meaningful technical, economic and other forms of assistance.

There must be reform of the global trading system, he continued, especially within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and in the context of trade in agriculture and other services.  In addition to substantially reducing subsidies to farmers in developed countries and the removal of non-tariff barriers on commodity exports, developing countries must be granted flexibility to develop their service sectors, and add value to primary products in their efforts to diversify their economies and enhance revenue-earning options.  In that sense, the failure at Cancun had confirmed that the divide between rich and poor nations continued to widen.

Noting the great human and material losses that had resulted from the unilaterally imposed financial, commercial and economic blockade on Cuba, he called for the lifting of those sanctions.  Finally, it was to be hoped that the forthcoming meeting on small island developing States in Mauritius would address issues such as preparedness for, and recovery from, natural and environmental disasters, climate change and sea-level rise, preventing shortages of potable water, developing solar and renewable energy sources, and managing growth in tourism.

FRANCOIS LONSENY FALL, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guinea, said that in Africa, where one third of the population suffered in absolute poverty, fratricidal wars had undermined States’ development policies.  However, there had been marked progress recently in extinguishing some conflicts.  In West Africa, progress had been made in the resolution of conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia, while in Côte d’Ivoire, the parties were urged to continue working together.  The increasingly fragile situation in Guinea-Bissau, however, was a source of concern. 

There had also been progress in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where action had been taken in the areas of disengagement, demobilization and re-integration, as well as in Burundi, the Central African Republic and between Ethiopia and Eritrea.  Furthermore, while it was hoped that the Mbagathi Conference would bring lasting peace back to Somalia, the question of Western Sahara should urgently be addressed within the context of the United Nations.

Noting that universal peace and security would benefit the future of the continent, he expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Cyprus, and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the “one-China” principle.  Among other issues, whose resolution would prove to be of great benefit, were poverty, armed conflict, weapons’ proliferation, terrorism, organized transnational crime, and violations of human rights.  In the African context, eradicating the spread of small arms and light weapons, and addressing the use of mercenaries would do much to safeguard international peace and security.  For that, there must be adequate financial assistance to implement the moratorium on small arms and light weapons. 

Mindful of their primary responsibility for the continent’s development, he concluded, African leaders continued their efforts to implement the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  The commitments undertaken by the international community in that regard were welcomed, and the recent decision to allow poor countries to purchase affordable, generic drugs would contribute greatly to the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The concern that had thus far been shown for African development must be translated into tangible actions, he added. 

KNOWLSON GIFT, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, said the challenge of ensuring world peace and security was of particular concern to small States, who relied on international rule of law, and on the collective security mechanism of the Security Council to guarantee their right to a secure, sovereign and peaceful existence.  For that reason, leaders needed to work to strengthen the rule of law worldwide, as well as the capacity of the United Nations to engage both in conflict prevention and in the management of global crises that disrupted international peace and security.

Nowhere was there a more pressing need for peace and security than in the Middle East, he said.  Under the present circumstances, consideration should be given to the deployment of a United Nations force to ensure the implementation of “realistic and mutually acceptable confidence-building measures”.  The Organization also had a pivotal role to play regarding both nation-building and the political transition in Iraq.  Threats to international peace and security were not posed by State actors exclusively, he noted, but also by organized criminal groups engaged in the illegal drug and small arms trade.  On terrorism, he stated that the international community must focus its attention on the root causes of that now global phenomenon.  He was also concerned with the non-conventional threat posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and observed that, while Africa remained the hardest hit, the Caribbean ranked second in terms of prevalence rates.

Turning to small island developing States, he pointed out that implementation was the Achilles’ heel of the Barbados Programme of Action.  Small island developing States had taken the lead in sustainable development efforts, and his region needed the support of the international community.  He was also concerned by the continued trans-shipment of nuclear wastes through the Caribbean Sea, and insisted that the reassurance of adequate safeguards did not constitute guarantees against the potentially devastating impact an accident could have on the economies and ecosystems.

He noted that there was a need for reform of the United Nations to make it more relevant to present day realities.  In that regard, he hoped that recognition would be given to the role which small States would play in international affairs. The reform exercise must also have, as its ultimate objective, the strengthening of the United Nations and an enhancement of its capacity to respond to new global challenges.  Also required was the “long overdue” reform of the Security Council, by expanding its membership, so that it could be made more democratic and representative.  He also felt that the General Assembly could be better empowered to play its role more effectively as the “chief deliberative and policy-making organ” of the Organization.

ROGATIEN BIAOU, Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration of Benin, said international relations today were marked by doubt and disillusionment.  The United Nations was now facing an existential challenge, with rumblings that it had outlived its purpose.  But the Organization must stand up to its detractors and reaffirm its role as the guarantor of international peace, security and development.  All nations must promote the ideal of multilateralism to ensure the dawn of a new and more equitable world order.  He added that one area where the United Nations had succeeded was in the management, prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes.

He went on to urge all States to step up support for Africa and African initiatives.  He praised the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Among other things, that initiative would give Africa the means to not only spur development and enhance democracy throughout the continent, but also help establish a framework to contain dangerous lingering conflicts and tensions. Recounting the myriad conflicts that had riven his region and the continent as a whole, he stressed that NEPAD would eventually be able to maintain an internal military force, that could be called up to quickly restore order when necessary.

He also saluted the international community’s rapid response to the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, but stressed that the political crisis was far from over, and it was critical that an international military presence be maintained in that country.  He also cited the immediate response of African-led forces, which had helped stave off coup attempts and grave conflicts in Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe.  The complexity of events meant that the Secretary-General should maintain a dialogue with African countries, and he welcomed the decision to create an envoy on African affairs within the Secretariat.  He also urged civil society groups to become more involved in the development and maintenance of peace in Africa.

The current dysfunctional state of international affairs, particularly the global marketplace, had seriously called into question the will of the rich countries and the wider international community to ensure sustainable development and economic independence for developing countries.  He was concerned by the low implementation rates for the Brussels Plan of Action for least developed countries.  He noted, however, that while the latest WTO round in Cancun would be branded as a failure, it had yielded benefits, since the sheer number of small countries that were present had at least been able to make known the unique challenges they faced.  Markets must be opened up so that developing countries could sell their products.  That was particularly necessary for African countries that produced cotton.  The rich countries must finally hear the voices of poor peasants bent double in the cotton fields.  They must assume their responsibility to give those people the chance for survival.

ALI SAID ABDELLA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, brought to the Assembly’s attention what he termed “dangerous developments” that threatened to destroy the peace process between his country and neighbouring Ethiopia.  He urged the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), its partners and troop-contributing countries not to be discouraged by those developments.  In a message to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ethiopia had “rejected” the decision of the Boundary Commission, and had threatened to start another war against Eritrea if the terms and conditions it had set were not met.

In spite of its obligations to respect and implement the decisions of the Boundary Commission, Ethiopia had chosen to flout international law, he stated.  Ethiopia’s rejection of the decision and denunciation of the Commission followed a series of major violations of the Algiers Agreement.  Those violations included the illegal deployment of troops, the building of settlements on Eritrean territory, the aggravation of the suffering of over 60,000 Eritreans displaced from their villages, and the delay of the demarcation of the border.  In addition, Ethiopian leaders had assumed their lawlessness and aggressive policy because they had been emboldened by the past patterns of unjustifiable tolerance by the international community.  “How long shall this culture of impunity continue?” he asked.

Noting that the international community had already invested too much, both in financial and political terms, to bring about a legal and peaceful resolution to the dispute between the two countries, he said the danger of the peace process failing was now distinct, due to the international community’s failure to take seriously its obligations under the Algiers Agreement.  Unless appropriate action was taken now, before the situation exploded, crisis management would be too late and would not be worth the effort.  He appealed to the Assembly and to the international community to take the necessary actions to ensure the peace and security that the region had been denied for more than three decades.  Instability in the region had had devastating effects on the two countries’ economies, and both deserved peace and development.

He said peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia could be guaranteed only through respect for the rule of law, the sanctity of agreements, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity.  While Eritrea was and would continue to be committed to such peace, it was now up to the international community and, in particular, the Security Council to uphold those principles.  In essence, he added, Ethiopia was no longer in conflict with Eritrea, but with the Charter that the Security Council had to uphold, as it had done in several similar cases.

MAMADOU BAMBA, Minister of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, said that his country had once been a model of stability and a haven of peace, enjoying relative economic prosperity.  But, for more than a decade, it had been affected by a latent crisis that finally boiled over with the coup d’état of December 1999.  Then, in September 2002, an aborted coup d’état quickly degenerated into armed rebellion by external elements, who desired to do away with the country’s republic institutions and democratically elected Government.  And, although the adoption of the Linas-Marcoussis Accords had led to the establishment of a Government of national reconciliation, the path to peace continued to be riddled with difficulties.

Since the crisis in Liberia had sent more refugees fleeing across Ivorian borders, he urged the international community to increase its support, as the country had to already provide for the repatriation of its own citizens, who had sought refuge in neighbouring countries.  The Government had set up a ministry dedicated to overseeing the situation of human rights, and intended to extend its fullest cooperation to the special rapporteurs of the Human Rights Commission.  Acknowledging that the country’s future depended on the continuation of the inter-Ivorian dialogue, he hoped that the situation could be stabilized sufficiently to hold fair and transparent elections in 2005.

Among the other issues of primary concern was the continued threat posed by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, he added.  While, as many as 20 million Africans had been infected with HIV/AIDS, malaria continued to have an equally grave impact on the continent’s rate of mortality, and there were disturbing signs that tuberculosis was making a comeback.  The Global Fund, which represented the continent’s genuine hope for beating those diseases, must become immediately operational and be better endowed.

Moreover, he said, the expanding market for mercenaries and the trade in small arms and light weapons demanded the same kind of special attention that was given to terrorism.  On the economic front, the current system, whose rules distorted free competition by subsidizing farmers in developed countries, must be corrected.  Action was also needed to stabilize commodity prices, ensure fair compensation for the work of producers in developing countries, increase official development assistance and reschedule debt.  The fight against poverty would not be won without the implementation of such commitments.

FERNAND POUKRE-KONO (Central African Republic) said poverty, marginalization, HIV/AIDS, and underdevelopment were all threats to peace in several regions, and particularly to his country.  From March 2003, the transitional Government had fostered the country’s move towards democracy, on a strict timetable to conclude in 2005 with general elections, aiming to establish security, improve public finances and stimulate social and economic growth.

The Central African Republic would like to see the United Nations regain and maintain its primacy on the international scene, in order to help promote human rights, democracy and development throughout the world, he stated.  Those were crucial elements for ensuring broad-based peace and security.  He hoped that the Organization would become more involved in promoting a true human rights culture. 

Creating such a culture would require adaptation and revitalization, he continued.  In addition, the Security Council must be reformed so that it could fulfil its duties in a more fair and representative manner.  Even if veto power were retained, the body’s membership certainly needed rethinking.

KLÁRA NOVOTNÁ (Slovakia) said Iraq was among the most challenging issues facing the international community, and efforts for reconstruction and the establishment of a democratic society there was the best course of action for stabilizing the country.  The Afghan people, too, continued to strive for democracy, but there was still room for the resurgence of extremists.  She expressed concern over the deteriorating situation between the Israelis and Palestinians, and asked that both parties act responsibly and consider the negative consequences of a complete breakdown of the peace process.

Underestimating the threat of global terror and weapons proliferation could have a fateful impact for the international community, she said, adding that the Organization should play a decisive role in the fight against both.  As a party to all 12 global conventions against terrorism, Slovakia had harmonized their provisions into its own legislation.  Peacekeeping efforts around the world had grown exponentially in the past 10 years, and their success depended on the political will of Member States to contribute contingents and equipment, and support and sustain operations with financial contributions and timely payments. Currently, Slovakia was serving in six United Nations missions in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

She said the establishment of the International Criminal Court was one of the most important steps towards achieving international justice and ending impunity for the most serious violations of human rights, war crimes and genocide.  She also noted that arms control was a pivotal instrument of security policy, and called on all delegations to accede to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Ottawa Convention banning landmines.  Poverty, drug smuggling and the spread of deadly diseases were all challenges to the international community.  Finding solutions to them would require multilateral cooperation with the United Nations at the centre.

CLAUDE MOREL (Seychelles) said that, while some had questioned the relevance and utility of the United Nations, he believed that the United Nations remained the unique, indispensable and universal multilateral institution, where global issues could be debated and addressed.  Despite its shortcomings, there was no other institution better equipped to meet the diverse demands for justice, peace, security, development and international cooperation.  However, he acknowledged that the United Nations needed to be reformed and modernized.

He called for the establishment of a follow-up mechanism to monitor and implement decisions and resolutions taken by the General Assembly, as well as those of the major United Nations conferences in the last decade.  The Security Council also needed to be transformed into a democratic and representative organ, which reflected its universal character and present-day realities.  He wanted to see an increase in the permanent and non-permanent members, inclusive of developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

He believed that development ought to be central to the renewed United Nations agenda, and the reform process should focus on reinforcing the Organization’s role in the area of international cooperation for development.  Closer collaboration and coordination between the United Nations system and the international financial institutions could aid that effort.  The ongoing dialogue between the Economic and Social Council and the Bretton Woods institutions should also be vigorously pursued.  In addition, continued dialogue between the Group of Eight (G-8) leaders and their counterparts from developing countries would serve as an opportunity for candid discussions about issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, the debt burden and environmental degradation.

Regarding the vulnerability of small island developing states, he urged the international community to heed the call to accord special and differential treatment to those countries with structural disadvantages.  He also called for renewed concerted international action on the issue of global warming, and urged industrialized countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.  In addition, he believed there should be provisions within NEPAD to take into account the peculiar problems and specificities of the eight island nations that made up the African family.

AICHATOU MINDAOUDOU, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Niger, reaffirming that the maintenance of international peace and security should remain a priority objective for the United Nations, stressed that, in addition to the fight against terrorism, the international community must ensure a world free from the spectre of proliferation in both weapons of mass destruction and small arms and light weapons.  Moreover, as one could see that the majority of conflicts in Africa had subregional aspects, it was important to strengthen regional mechanisms for the maintenance of peace, including through a deepened coordination between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations.

Committed to general disarmament, she said the Niger stood ready to receive a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for any inspection of its production and sale of uranium.  Her country had adopted, in conformity with Article 3 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a system of guarantees that offered no opportunity for shady dealings like those of which it had been unjustly accused.

Implementing the Millennium Development Goals must continue to be a constant preoccupation of the international community, she said.  To be effective, this meant that the commitments undertaken by States must be translated into concrete action, otherwise the paradoxical situation in which a world endowed with enormous riches would continue to witness the overwhelming majority of its population suffer in extreme poverty.  The reduction of poverty, more than a moral imperative, constituted an investment in global peace, prosperity and social progress.  To ensure this investment, the international economic governance system must be made coherent; the debt crippling developing economies cancelled; market access for the products of developing countries increased; and agricultural subsidies in developed countries eliminated.  As it was, the Cancun Conference had reaffirmed that developing countries’ needs were not being taken into account.

Determined to take its own destiny in hand, Africa had launched NEPAD, while the constituent countries of the African Union developed national poverty-reduction strategies.  Now it was time for Member States to take the future of the Organization in hand, to ensure for it a renewed credibility in world public opinion through commitment to reform.

MARIA E. LEVENS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Suriname, said opportunities arising from world developments were often out of reach of children, leaving them with serious developmental setbacks in both the economic and social sectors.  Disparities between rich and poor were becoming wider, not only in economic terms, but in the rapidly growing digital sector.  Globalization could only be an avenue of global development if it was all-inclusive and assumed a human face.  To accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, policies that generated stronger economic growth, complemented by action, were necessary.

International peace and security was a major concern as declining security affected the protection of human rights.  The United Nations offered the best guarantee for the maintenance of peace, she said.  Adding that, tolerance and understanding among peoples were needed, she noted her country’s ethnically diverse population, which included Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews.  Dialogue among civilizations, in particular among religions, should be encouraged to remove factors that gave rise to global insecurity.

The restructuring of the United Nations should result in a more effective General Assembly, she said.  It was important that the general public perceived the Assembly as an important international body, contributing to world development and prosperity.  The common task ahead was to work collectively towards sustainable human development and create a society where opportunity existed for all.

LEWIS G. BROWN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia, said terrorism today undermined collective freedom and, therefore, required collective will and efforts to combat it.  However, the lack of international consensus to fight was undermining those efforts, and the willingness to work to achieve consensus focused attention on the structure of the United Nations and the continued relevance of the Security Council.

When the Security Council appeared divided on fundamental questions of international security, the world became vulnerable, he said.  “A divided Security Council fertilizes the grounds for the germination of international terror and insecurity.”  If the Council was to serve as the guarantor of international peace and security, then it had to be guided by mechanisms that ensured the judicious development of consensus and the respect for and adherence to international law.  But, the united condemnation of and fight against terrorism should never degenerate to the use of methods similar to those used by terrorists themselves, as “to fight fire with fire will leave our global village without a single hut”.

The conflict in the Middle East posed the greatest challenge to international peace and security, he went on.  Both Israel and the Palestinian side should recognize each other’s right to exist within recognized international borders.  At the same time, the Security Council should develop, strengthen and maintain international consensus on the way forward.

On the crisis in his country, he said that for the resilience of the Liberians, the timely intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL), “Liberia would have slipped into the abyss of unbridled anarchy”.  His country was also grateful to Nigeria and Ghana for their leadership role, and to the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, South Africa and Mozambique for their respective roles and continued support to restore peace, security and democracy to Liberia.  He welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and pledged his country’s cooperation and support for the Mission’s objectives; saying comprehensive disarmament, demobilization and a sustained programme of reintegration and resettlement were absolutely essential for peace, security and stability in that country and West Africa.  Although Liberia urgently needed international assistance and support, his country’s situation was not hopeless.

IRAKLI MENAGARISHVILI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, said international terrorism was a global threat, and it had become evident that many of the new democratic States were particularly vulnerable to it.  Highlighting the need for intensified global cooperation, he said scarce material resources and a lack of qualified personnel undermined the efforts of those States.

Despite its difficulties, Georgia had made substantial progress against terrorism.  The Pankisi Gorge no longer posed a threat to his country, as it had been freed of every illegally armed person.  If the root cause of the problem -- the conflict in Chechnya -- was not settled, however, one could not consider the problem eliminated.  The fight against terrorism would be successful only through concerted international efforts.

Protracted problems such as unresolved conflicts, resulting in the creation of uncontrolled territories had become breeding grounds for terrorism, he said.  For example, Abkhazia, Georgia had turned into a safe haven for criminals, human and drug traffickers, illegal arms dealers and terrorist groups, and he pointed out that the United Nations record of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in the area, had been less than satisfactory.  The granting of Russian citizenship to the Abkhaz people, the illegal acquisition of property in Abkhazia, Georgia and the illegal presence of the Russian military base in Gudauta were some of the factors exacerbating the situation in Abkhazia.  Through an increased role of the United Nations, the Abkhaz separatists could be forced to compromise.  Otherwise, his Government would call on the Security Council to measures envisioned under Chapter VII of the Charter.

On United Nations reform, he said the new global realities made it clear that immediate measures should be taken, if leaders wanted to ensure the United Nations sustainability and strengthen the confidence of the Member States in the Organization.  Reform of the United Nations was essential, and he supported the enlargement of the Security Council, with permanent States for Germany and Japan and an increase in the number of elected members as well.  Council decision-making process should also be made transparent and democratic to ensure that the passage of necessary resolutions did not fall prey to special narrow interests.

Globalization had become an every day reality and advances in modern technologies had made the process irreversible, he said.  But, it was up to the United Nations to take a more active role in guaranteeing an equitable distribution of resources among all the nations in the world.

KALOMBO T. MWANSA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zambia, said his country condemned terrorism and pledged to cooperate with the international community in its fight against it.  Dangerous weapons posed a serious threat to security, and in Africa, small arms and light weapons had destabilized States and exerted a great toll on life and property.  Emphasis should be placed on addressing links between terrorism, money-laundering and organized crime, which were among the most serious challenges to stability in the region.

Poverty was the greatest impediment to development, he said, and, therefore, reducing it remained the priority for developing countries.  However, unless the flow of official development assistance (ODA) and other forms of aid were increased, it would be difficult for developing countries to beat the cycle of poverty, already exacerbated by huge external debts.  He noted that 34 out of the world’s 49 least developed countries were located in Africa.  He urged developed countries to honour their pledges to meet the ODA target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national profit.  In addition, while he welcomed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative, it was necessary to broaden the process of accessing funds.  Equally important was to ease access to markets in developed nations.  In an effort to level the playing field, he called for the removal of agricultural subsidies.

Mindful that the continent’s development was hampered by conflicts, he commended Africa’s leadership for the time and resources they had directed towards resolving them.  The HIV/AIDS pandemic, he added, was a global crisis, and an impediment to human development, political stability and international peace.  His country was devoting resources and attention to combating the scourge, as well as to tackling the problems associated with the pandemic, including the plight of AIDS orphans, street kids and vulnerable households.

RODOLPHE ADADA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and la Francophonie of the Congo, stressed the need to strengthen the spirit of multilateralism and to reaffirm the role of the United Nations as the central pillar of collective security, international cooperation, justice and equality.  Having been challenged by events in Iraq, the Security Council must find unity anew, to ensure the ability of the international community, to help the Iraqi people regain peace, security and stability in the reconstruction of their country.

The international community should also provide support for the Road Map as the sole means of arriving at a just and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said.  Moreover, it should avoid the easy option of equating terrorism with any one religion, civilization, geographic region or fight for national liberation.

He said Africa was seen today as the focal point for the challenges facing humanity, such as armed conflict, underdevelopment and the proliferation of pandemics.  Yet, the continent had demonstrated its commitment to take its own destiny in hand with the adoption of NEPAD.  In Central Africa, which had suffered the paradox of being simultaneously one of the continent’s richest endowed and least developed subregions, there had been progress in resolving conflicts in

12 different countries that had recently suffered armed crises, among them Angola, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo, Central African Republic, Burundi and Chad.

In his own country, he said, the Accords signed on 17 March 2003 had returned peace to the entire national territory.  That peace was being reinforced every day, including through the implementation of the national plan for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants and the reintegration of displaced persons.  However, such programmes necessitated considerable expenditures, which the Congo alone, could not provide.  The way forward, he concluded, was by implementing the “New Hope” policy, a thorough reconstruction effort aimed relaunching the economy, reducing poverty and fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

KALIOPATE TAVOLA, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Fiji, said that while recent events had called into question the value, relevance and future of multilateralism, the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States had been a shattering ordeal that had changed history and the United States.  Thus, Fiji understood the concerns that had led the United States to act as it had against Iraq.

He pledged unwavering commitment to the concept of the world community working together, seeking the common path forward, and standing by the ideals of a multilateral, cooperative approach among nations.  In that regard, Fiji welcomed the decision by the United States to seek United Nations involvement in Iraq’s reconstruction.  In the Pacific, the Nasonini Declaration on regional security, adopted last year as a keystone of joint strategy that had followed the earlier Honiara Declaration on law enforcement cooperation, aimed at countering transnational and organized crime.  It was important to strengthen multilateral treaties and conventions on disarmament and non-proliferation and Fiji wanted to see an effective global strategy for the control of small arms and light weapons.

Noting China’s steadily growing presence in the region as the emerging giant in world affairs and trade, he welcomed its involvement and support for his country’s economic and social development.  At the same time, however, Fiji similarly valued its trade and commerce with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its assistance to its development and looked forward to the day when the two countries peacefully resolved their long-standing differences.  Fiji also welcomed the role in the Pacific region of Japan, which was an economic powerhouse, whose increased contribution in promoting international security and development had to be recognized by all Member States by granting that country a special seat on the Security Council.

He emphasized that small island developing States called for a special response from the global community.  The 10-year comprehensive review of the Barbados Programme of Action in Mauritius next year would provide the avenue for development partners to make further commitments to the plight of small island developing States.  The Government of Fiji urged the international community to contribute to the success of that meeting.

AHMED ABDI HASHI (Somalia) said the scourge of AIDS had devastated entire communities and negatively impacted economic development.  To combat the disease, it was incumbent upon the international community to make available more resources, even in nations where the pandemic was reportedly low, such as in Somalia.  Such countries had a unique opportunity to prevent the disease from spreading, and it was, therefore, critical to place a coordinated and strategic AIDS education and early-response programme in place there.

The continued occupation of Arab lands by Israel denied the Palestinian people their dignity and was of great concern to the international community.  Calling this a “gross violation of international law”, he said the Arab Initiative was a unique opportunity for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.  The situation in Iraq continued to be of great concern, and he expressed his country’s empathy for its people, adding that the withdrawal of occupying forces should be done as soon as possible.  In addition, a representative government, based on a constitution acceptable to all Iraqi people, was imperative.

Commending Kenya for its active role in promoting peace in Somalia, he said the Somali National Reconciliation was now in its twelfth month.  The Declaration on the Cessation of Hostilities had been adopted, and the African Union had put in place, monitoring mechanisms in nearly all areas of the country.  Despite progress, however, the last and crucial phase of the Conference had been challenging, as it called for an interim head of State and the formation of an all-inclusive government in Somalia.  Currently, the Conference was stalled.  Still, his country was committed to the Transitional National Government, and it would rejoin the peace conference as soon as its concerns were addressed.  He urged neighbouring countries to scrupulously comply with the Security Council’s arms embargo on Somalia.

ALFREDO CABRAL (Guinea-Bissau) said there must be action to:  ensure respect for the principles and objectives contained in the United Nations Charter; collectively reinforce the Organization’s capacity to address issues such as poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS, human rights, arms control and environmental degradation, among others; fight terrorism in a concerted and multilateral way; resolve conflicts urgently and coherently; undertake fully considered structural reforms; and redress the inequalities of the international economic system in an equitable manner and with solidarity.  To accomplish these goals within the United Nations framework, there must be a real sense of solidarity and political will within the international community.  While the United Nations was an imperfect Organization in a complex and unequal world, its Member States had the capacity to adjust its structure, given the necessary level of political will.

Deploring the 19 August attack against the United Nations, which had come while the Organization was engaged in activities whose very gravity made its participation necessary, he stressed that the African continent continued to confront numerous difficulties, including the poverty and malnutrition attributable to HIV/AIDS, the proliferation of armed conflicts and light weapons.  This latter phenomenon had had particular impact in Western Africa, where turmoil in Liberia had detonated a series of armed conflicts throughout the region.

Following the coup d’état earlier this month, he declared that the people of Guinea-Bissau had shown their support for the freedoms they held dear.  In the current situation, all had joined together to begin the process of a transitional government, whose membership was under discussion at this very moment.  A transitional charter, which spelled out the specific steps to be taken in restoring the constitutional and democratic order, had been adopted, and a transition president had been chosen by consensus.  He would serve as a catalyst for the return of freedom, progress and strengthened national unity.

MARTIN BELINGA EBOUTOU (Cameroon) said Israel and the Palestinians should return to the negotiating table and agree to implement a peace process.  Cameroon condemned the escalation of violence in the Middle East, and said both parties should get used to the idea of living side by side, as real peace could only be built on mutual trust.

In an Iraq emerging from three decades of tyranny, he said international support was needed to facilitate the recovery of the population’s dignity, sovereignty and prosperity, thus allowing them to live in peace with their neighbours.

Despite successful efforts to end African conflicts, some remained on the United Nations agenda, he said.  While new hopes had emerged, deplorable situations still existed.  On trade issues, Africa hoped to play a more important part in the exchange of goods and services, which furthered fair competition.  Yet, the conference in Cancun had raised doubts, and his nation was concerned that without a reduction of subsidies in developed countries, the survival of African economies would be threatened, stifling millions of farmers in Central and West Africa.  Integration of the poor into the global economy was imperative.

Cameroon advocated the necessity of ensuring the rational and sustainable use of the world’s forest ecosystems, and it had outlined a national plan to manage its environment he said.  However, to attain its objectives, Cameroon needed financial assistance.

Turning to the United Nations, he said the Organization was the only one that could confer legitimacy on multilateral action, and must think in depth about its operations and its implementation methods.  He supported the establishment of a high-level group of eminent personalities, to be charged with strengthening the Organization.

AHMAD CHALABI (Iraq) said he represented the voice of the Iraqi citizen, who had long suffered from cruelty both within and without his homeland.  As such, he would like to raise four essential truths and two fundamental rights.  The first truth was that Iraq’s long dark night had been brought to an end with the flight of Saddam Hussein and his cronies.  Secondly, the liberation of Iraq could not have been achieved without the determination of President George W. Bush and the commitment of the Coalition.  The third was that liberation had come as the embodiment of a universal national will -- it had been the result of vigorous efforts undertaken by the Iraqi opposition during the long regime of Saddam Hussein.  Fourthly, the fall of the old regime was but the beginning; from its ashes, a new Iraq would be born.

The Iraqi people, he continued, were determined that development and freedom would flourish; they were also determined that no gang of mercenaries and terrorists would deprive any person, society or nation of the promise of a bright tomorrow.  The human resources of Iraq outweighed its natural and oil resources, which ensured that any investment in Iraq would be returned in multiples.

With more than 60 per cent of its population under the age of 20, the first priority must be to prepare the new generation for the world of the twenty-first century -- to give them cultural and educational values that would allow each to emphasize his dignity and self-respect.  And that dignity would be protected without exception, without consideration for social status, political position and economic situation, he said.  For, while the individual had been suppressed in the previous period, in tomorrow’s Iraq, the individual citizen would constitute the basis of sovereignty and the starting point for legislation.  The rights of the individual person were basic rights -- the rights of the group derived only there from. 

The new Iraq would be based upon dignity, freedom, justice and peace, he added, and it would respect and uphold all human rights, beginning with those contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The legislation and laws of the country would be equally just for each individual, while the Government would serve each on the basis of an honest, democratic and representational system.  The pillars of this system would be the separation of powers, accountability, transparency and respect for the rights of minorities.  Furthermore, while the principle of local authority would underpin the federal union, that system would reaffirm the unity of the country -- the citizenry of Iraq would not be reducible to Arabs and Muslims.  The new system would also seek to strengthen the rule of law and institutions of governance, to ensure that authority was not usurped through political office.

Finally, the relationship between religion and State would be addressed, he promised.  The great civilization’s heritage and valuable cultural depository of Islamic jurisprudence was one of the country’s primary assets; however, it had been misused under the old regime.  The State had taken from religion that which suited it; it had shaped religious terminology to suit its purposes.  Yet, religion was one of the most important assets of the individual and the society.  The new Iraq would not abandon its religion or its juridical, intellectual or daily implications.

To achieve those objectives, the country’s people appealed for aid and assistance, he said.  In acknowledging the horrors of past years and achieving reconstruction, the international community must stand with Iraq.  Expressing appreciation to those who assisted in the Iraqis’ struggle for liberation, he invited those who remained opposed to the Coalition’s actions to visit the mass graves and Halabja -– where chemical weapons had been used against civilians –- and to view the lists of those who had disappeared under the old regime.  The Iraqi people would ask why they had chosen to remain silent.

Statement by President of General Assembly

The President of the General Assembly, JULIAN ROBERT HUNTE (Saint Lucia), said there had been high levels of participation during the general debate, including 50 heads of State, 27 heads of government and 94 Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers among 189 total speakers.

Having indicated his intention to listen carefully to the priorities identified by high-level participants, he said these would provide the framework of the Assembly’s work.  There had been resounding support for multilateralism and the reaffirmation of the United Nations as the primary international forum in which to address critical global problems.  Many had also expressed the view that the United Nations was now needed more than ever.  Moreover, the central role of the General Assembly as the primary advocate, supervisory and policy-making body had been repeatedly emphasized, although the need for its further revitalization had also been stressed.

Development issues related to poverty, HIV/AIDS, the inequitable global economic system and environmental degradation had been suggested as appropriate foci for the fifty-eighth session, a view that was strengthened by the regrettable outcome of the Cancun Conference, he said.  And, as many speakers had stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the high-level Financing for Development Dialogue, to be held from 29 to 30 October, participation in that dialogue was expected to be high.  Strong emphasis had also been laid upon the implementation of provisions contained within the Barbados Programme of Action for small island developing States and NEPAD.

The Secretary-General’s proposals regarding the reform of the Organization continued to command attention, he noted, as had the issue of reforming the Security Council, in spite of the general view that there had been no significant advances during the 10 years this item had been on the agenda. 

There had been universal condemnation of the 19 August attack on United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, as well as broad support for the Organization’s need to engage in the reconstruction of that country, in order to permit the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their own future.  Furthermore, the situation in the Middle East had broadly been considered a grave concern, while the General Assembly had been urged to send a strong message to both sides on the importance of implementing the Road Map.

Finally, in addition to the constructive and productive atmosphere that had prevailed during the one-day high-level plenary meeting on HIV/AIDS, the amount of common ground exhibited by a large number of speakers on a wide range of issues had been striking.  It was to be hoped that the Assembly would accomplish a good deal of work during its fifty-eighth session.

* *** *