PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS URGES ASSEMBLY TO EVALUATE MILLENNIUM TARGETS, ASSESS PROGRESS IN LAST SESSION BEFORE 2005 REVIEW

Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Plenary

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS URGES ASSEMBLY TO EVALUATE MILLENNIUM TARGETS,

ASSESS PROGRESS IN LAST SESSION BEFORE 2005 REVIEW

More Than 30 Speakers, Address United Nations

Reform, Globalization, Threat Posed by International Terrorism

As a number of world leaders today focused on the Millennium Development Goals, slated for review in 2005, President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus urged the General Assembly to use its fifty-ninth session to evaluate the ambitious targets set, determine a hierarchy of priorities, identify specific objectives, and assess progress.

Mr. Papadopoulos went on to say that making development an issue of global concern would measure the ability of the United Nations to induce significant changes and advances where they were most needed.  He was one of more than 30 speakers, including heads of State and government, who addressed the Assembly’s annual high-level segment over two sessions today.  National leaders also focused on reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, as well as globalization.  Many others continued to express concern about the deadly threat of terrorism.

President Festus Mogae of Botswana, while noting that the Millennium Declaration had recognized that eliminating poverty was fundamental to sustainable development, underscored that many people still lived in abject poverty and that its alleviation and eradication was, therefore, still a top priority.  He drew attention to the continuing debt burden that was contributing to the failure to deal effectively with poverty.  Most developing countries had taken courageous measures to implement painful structural reforms.  Those commendable steps to introduce sound macroeconomic management and principles of good governance deserved an urgent, positive and appropriate response.  But it must also be acknowledged that some of the reforms could, in the short term, worsen the plight of the poor for a long time before the benefits of the sacrifices were realized.

The current international situation raised the question of whether the United Nations was still suited to its mandate and whether its work enjoyed the international acceptance it needed, Germany’s Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told the Assembly.  There was no alternative to a world acting multilaterally, and to make multilateral cooperation sustainable, a courageous and comprehensive reform of the Organization was needed.  Questions that must be addressed included more effective conflict prevention and peace-building; peacekeeping reform; and understanding of the right of self-defence and the definition of terrorism.

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that terrorism exploited technologies spawned by globalization and targeted democracies.  In addition, international terror networks appeared to cooperate more among themselves than did the democratic nations they targeted.  “We speak about cooperation, but seem hesitant to commit ourselves to a global offensive to root out terrorism.  We do have a global coalition against terrorism.  We must now give it substance and credibility, avoiding selective approaches and political expediency”, he urged.

Adding force to India’s point, Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, said that a clear strategy and acceptable legal framework to combat terrorism had been laid down by the Security Council in resolution 1373 (2001) and subsequent decisions.  Nations now needed to amend their national legislation, accede to international anti-terrorist conventions and finalize new international legal counter-terrorism instruments.  The time had come to renounce double standards once and for all when it came to terror, no matter what slogans it used.  Harbouring terrorists or their sponsors undermined trust among participants in the anti-terrorism front, justified terrorist action and encouraged them to commit crimes in other nations.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, describing terrorism as indiscriminate in its targets and merciless in its hatred, paid tribute to the victims of terrorism in Iraq –- the majority of whom were Iraqis killed alongside foreigners helping to build a more stable country.  And while he acknowledged that opinion had differed over the path to war in Iraq 18 months ago, he said no nation could be in favour of the terrorist insurgency now occurring there.  “We must come together to defeat the terrorists and their despicable aims”, he said.

Addressing another current crisis of serious concern to the international community, Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sudan, said his Government was doing its utmost towards the return of peace and stability in Darfur, but progress had been stymied by the rebels, with the encouragement of the Security Council.  Khartoum had cooperated with the African Union by going to Addis Ababa, but the rebels had not participated.  He appealed to the Council not to further undermine the efforts of the African Union.  To deal with the humanitarian situation in Darfur, the Sudan had deployed a team of human rights experts, among many other measures.  The doors were open; the Sudan had nothing to hide, he declared.

Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, speaking also in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union, said that while the United Nations was justifiably seized with the issue of weapons of mass destruction, it could no longer ignore the question of small arms and light weapons.  The latter were killing people at a daily rate cumulatively amounting to “monumental destruction”.  Nigeria and the African Union welcomed the start of negotiations for an internationally legally binding instrument to enable States to identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons globally.

Also speaking today were the Presidents of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Honduras and Uruguay.

The Prime Minister of Malta addressed the Assembly as did the Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and Public Service of Lesotho.  Also speaking were the Vice-President of Ghana and the Vice-President and Minister for Health of Palau.

Other speakers included the Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Israel and Turkey, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Swaziland.

The Assembly also heard statements by the Crown Prince of Monaco, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Italy, France, Bangladesh, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Bulgaria, Kuwait and Serbia and Montenegro.

Following the debate, the representative of Spain spoke in exercise of the right of reply, while the representative of Equatorial Guinea spoke on a point of order.

The fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly will continue its general debate tomorrow, 24 September, at 10 a.m.

Background

The General Assembly met this morning to continue its general debate.

Statements

ABDOULAYE WADE, President of Senegal, said it was unfair that the Republic of China on Taiwan was still sidelined from the work of the United Nations, whose Charter enshrined universality.  Turning to the people of Palestine who had been denied sovereignty, he said the refusal of Israel to follow the international community’s call to stop building the wall imperilled international legality.  He appealed to the Quartet to persevere and to continue its dialogue to find a lasting solution to that problem.  Senegal would continue to support the Palestinian people, who had suffered too long.  He called for a special meeting on the situation.  The establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel, had been endorsed by the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the African Union.

The Senegalese were attached to human rights and the rule of law, and would work to promote those principles, he said.  The human rights of women, children, and people with disabilities in particular, had motivated his decision to work to abolish capital punishment in his country.  There was a need to strengthen, under the leadership of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the mechanisms for cooperation and to provide nations the resources to combat terrorism.  The African Union adopted an additional protocol to the Algiers Convention, which was a mechanism to combat terrorism.  The illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons was also an issue, as they were considered weapons of mass destruction on a regional basis.

AIDS was an important issue in his nation, he said.  Quicker action was needed in the areas of prevention and treatment to stop the illness and its devastating effects.  Since the anti-retroviral drugs were now free, Senegal had become a success story in the area of treatment.  Turning to agriculture, the invasion of locusts were ravaging important areas in North Africa and the Sahara, compromising the lives of thousands of people.  He launched an appeal to the international community for help to fight the locusts.  His nation would try to launch a campaign for the final elimination of locusts.  His nation had been supported by the World Bank and other international organizations.  There was a shared responsibility to mobilize the communities to save harvests.

There was much work to be done in combating poverty, in particular in the least developed countries.  He was satisfied to see the conclusions of the meeting that had taken place before the beginning of the general debate, hosted by the President of Brazil.  In spite of relative improvement in Africa since 1995, it would not be possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals given progress to date.  Africa was compromised by subsidies and marginalized in world trade.  Those subsidies also increased unemployment.  African debt was a thorny issue, and his nation would hold a summit next year on how to end the debt of Africa.  It was the will of the continent to fight against unemployment, which was a major focus for Senegal in the development area.

He was pleased to see the progress made so far to finance the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), although it was insufficient.  He proposed a conference to close the agricultural divide.  He also proposed digital solidarity among peoples, and the establishment of a digital fund to overcome the digital divide.  The reception had been enthusiastic in developing nations with regard to the fund.  Giving Africa the means to progress in information technology would help the continent resolve the digital divide issue.

TASSOS PAPADOULOS, President of Cyprus, said that this was the last General Assembly session before the review of the Millennium Development Goals.  There must, therefore, be an evaluation of the ambitious targets set to determine a hierarchy of priorities identify and pursue specific targets and objectives and assess progress.  More specifically, making development an issue of global concern would measure the ability of the United Nations to induce significant changes and advances where they were most needed.

Cyprus attached particular importance to revitalization of the Assembly and reform of the Security Council, especially the latter, whose structure should reflect contemporary political realities a more balanced geographical representation, he said.  Consolidating effective multilateralism in a flexible and versatile United Nations was the best way to address the complete spectrum of global crises and ensure that preventive mechanisms were in place to avert each one.  “Such consolidation also applies to security deficits and particularly terrorism, the underlying causes of which, we have been unable to eliminate despite our concerted efforts, he stressed.  The conclusion of a comprehensive United Nations convention against terrorism was important to facilitate the elimination of that threat in the framework of international legality.

He said 2004 marked 30 years since the occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus’ territory by Turkish troops.  The Greek Cypriot side had repeatedly demonstrated its readiness to move forward by making painful sacrifices and concessions, while the Turkish Cypriot leadership always lacked the necessary political will.  But the quest and eagerness of Greek Cypriots for a solution did not mean that they would accept just any settlement proposed to them or embark on an adventure that would be in all probability condemned to failure with irreversible consequences.  The latest effort by the Secretary-General to solve the Cyprus problem had resulted in a plan, which had been described by some as a historic opportunity to solve one of the longstanding international problems, he said.  But despite the hard work invested in the process by all involved, the end product was inadequate and fell short of the minimum expectations of Greek Cypriots.

The plan was not the product of negotiation, nor did it constitute an agreed solution between the two parties, he said.  Second, it did not place the necessary emphasis on achieving a one State solution with a central government able to guarantee the single sovereign character of Cyprus.  Third, it failed to address the serious concerns of the Greek Cypriot community vis-à-vis their security and effective implementation of the plan.  There were also certain provisions of the Annan Plan that encouraged an unprecedented unlawful exploitation of occupied territories in northern Cyprus.  “We are committed to reaching a solution on the basis of bizonal, bicommunal federation”, he underscored.  He called, however for the withdrawal of troops and settlers and respect for human rights for all Cypriots, as well as the just resolution of land and property issues in accordance with decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

FESTUS MOGAE, President of Botswana, said that those countries that had met the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) devoted to official development assistance (ODA) had demonstrated that that target was realistic and achievable.  The Millennium Declaration had recognized that eliminating poverty was fundamental to achieving sustainable development, but many people still lived in conditions of abject poverty.  The alleviation of poverty and its eventual eradication, therefore, remained a top priority.  The ODA levels had continued to fall in real terms to below the agreed target.

The continuing debt burden was contributing significantly to the failure to deal effectively with the problem of poverty, he continued.  Most developing countries had undertaken courageous measures to implement painful structural reforms.  Those commendable steps taken to introduce sound macroeconomic management and principles of good governance deserved an urgent, positive and appropriate response.  It needed to be acknowledged that some of the reforms could, in the short term, worsen the plight of the poor for a long time before the benefits of the sacrifices were realized.  He was concerned about the slow progress in the multilateral trade negotiations.  Developing countries had more to gain from a just, fairer, and rule based international trading system, which would facilitate integration of their economies into the global economy.  The major players in those negotiations must show a greater sense of urgency and commitment.  Almost half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa continued to survive on one dollar a day and the under five mortality rate was still as high as 174 out of 1,000 live births, he said.

Noting that the resources provided to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic remained inadequate, even though the international community agreed that HIV/AIDS was one of the greatest challenges of our time, the President urged that combating that scourge “must remain high on our priorities for action because the epidemic had a debilitating impact on everything that we do to improve the human condition”.  In Botswana, the immediate challenge was lack of capacity to rollout the anti-retroviral therapy programme to all who needed assistance.  Botswana would continue to rely on the international community for consistent and assured support, if it was to assist its people in time.

He argued that the problems of Africa were global problems.  “We cannot isolate ourselves nor be isolated from the rest of the world and be expected to single-handedly find solutions to (African) conflicts.  We need consistent and continued international support.”  The international community must take urgent measures to arrest the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan.  The Government of  the Sudan should be receptive to the proposals contained in the Secretary-General’s report and also take due cognisance of the Security Council Resolution 1564, particularly with regard to the speedy delivery by the international community of much needed humanitarian assistance.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, President of Nigeria and speaking also in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union, said that the problem of unremitting conflicts in various regions of the world, and the ever-increasing difficult task of seeking solutions to them, seriously challenged the world body.  Nigeria and the African Union commended the United Nations for its determined engagement in crisis resolution and peacekeeping, particularly in Africa, and appreciated the changes in the concept of peacekeeping.  Improvements were still necessary, however, to enable the Organization to address the social and economic challenges that inevitably confronted countries emerging from conflict.  Those socio-economic issues underpinned the causes of the conflicts in the first place.  He also appealed for the continued enhancement of the capacity of regional organizations to undertake crisis resolution initiatives in their respective regions.

Noting that the first challenge of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council had been the situation in Darfur, Sudan, he said that the Union had deployed troops to the region to monitor the ceasefire between the Government and the opposing movements.  He called on the international community to continue to lend its support in resolving the Darfur conflict and its consequences.  He had been pleased by the progress in Somalia, particularly in constituting the parliament, and by the fact that the regional countries had demonstrated an unprecedented collaboration in helping the Somalis move the process forward.  The Great Lakes region, however, remained a “flash point of violence”, as exemplified by the recent massacre of more than 150 persons in a refugee camp in Burundi.  In West Africa, the Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continued their efforts, with the constant support of the United Nations, to ensure steady progress in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.  Once again, however, delay in providing the promised resources for Liberia had been an avoidable hindrance to the advancement of peace there.

He said that, while the United Nations was justifiably seized with the issue of mass destruction weapons, the question of small arms and light weapons could no longer be ignored.  The latter were killing people daily at a rate cumulatively amounting to “monumental destruction”.  Nigeria and the Union welcomed the start of negotiations for an internationally legally binding instrument to enable States to identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons globally.  Of particular interest to Africa was the enormous potential that such an instrument could have on peace and security in his region.  He condemned the totally unacceptable role of mercenaries and their sponsors in Africa.  The recent attempted invasion of Equatorial Guinea and other such attempts went against every imaginable rational effort at promoting stability and democracy on the continent.  He called on the United Nations to join the Union in sending the right signals of condemnation to those mercenaries and their sponsors.

The quest for global peace and security would prove unsuccessful, he said, unless international cooperation for development and the reduction of poverty was intensified.  Four years after the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, there was concern that, if present trends continued, those targets might not be met, particularly in Africa, which, apart from its development challenges, was also being ravaged by pandemic diseases.  He assured the Assembly that Africans were determined to exert all efforts to overcome the obstacles to its development, which were within their control.

Towards that goal, Africa was pursuing implementation of the priorities set in its flagship programme -– the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  The conclusion in the Secretary-General’s second consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support for  the NEPAD -– including the need to make significant financial outlays to fund its key sectoral policies –- had sent a very clear message to Africa’s development partners.  To demonstrate Africa’s own commitment to good governance, transparency and the rule of law, 23 African countries had already subscribed to the Peer Review Mechanism, which was a voluntary commitment to set performance codes and standards to foster best practices and share lessons in the management of national affairs.

He said that Africa required genuine partnership, anchored in the principle of mutual benefits.  One such area of partnership concerned Africa’s external debts, whose negative impact could no longer be denied.  Resolving the lingering debt crisis comprehensively through innovative action would brighten Africa’s development prospects.  Africa remained committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS, and, in Nigeria, a National Scientific Institution for research on the pandemic had been established and public awareness programmes had intensified.  Regarding United Nations reform, the Security Council should be expanded in the permanent and non-permanent categories to make it more representative, effective and acceptable.  Those regions underrepresented in the permanent membership should be given membership.  Africa, whose issues occupied a substantial part of the Council’s time, ought to be accorded priority consideration for permanent membership; Nigeria was a well-qualified candidate.

MANMOHAN SINGH, Prime Minister of India, said that virtually every major issue faced by States today had both a domestic as well as transnational dimension.  “It is becoming increasingly apparent that unless we fashion a global response based on consensus to these challenges, we [will] not succeed in creating a world that manifests the ideals of the United Nations”, he said.  Terrorism was one such challenge.  It exploited technologies spawned by globalisation, recruited foot soldiers on ideologies of bigotry and hatred, and targeted democracies.  And yet, it was sad that international terror networks appeared to cooperate more amongst themselves than the democratic nations they targeted.  “We speak about cooperation, but seem hesitant to commit ourselves to a global offensive, to root out terrorism, with the pooling of resources, exchange of information, sharing of intelligence, and the unambiguous unity of purpose required.”  That must change.  “We do have a global coalition against terrorism.  We must now give it substance and credibility, avoiding selective approaches and political expediency”, he urged.

Addressing the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he said there was an increasing reliance on restrictive regimes and the use of punitive action to confront that threat to international peace and security.  While his country was opposed to proliferation and had an impeccable record in that respect, it believed that only a global consensus of willing nations that would ultimately prove to be more effective in that regard.  Turning to globalization, he said it had undoubtedly brought enhanced effectiveness and efficiency in economies, integrated marketplaces, higher standards of living and a revolution in global connectivity.  But there was also the phenomenon of widening economic disparities, both within and among countries.  Connectivity also meant that people were aware –- in real time -- of how far and how fast they were falling behind in their relative conditions of living.  “The international community must find ways to [contract] the circles of exclusion.” There was a need to find innovative sources of financing and access to technologies, that were necessary to assist those on the margins of globalization.

He said the United Nations and its agencies were the only instruments available for responding effectively to challenges facing he world.  What was missing, however, was sustained commitment to democratise the functioning of the Organization.  “It is common knowledge that the United Nations is often unable to exert an effective influence on global economic and political issues of critical importance”, he said.  That was due to its “democracy deficit”, which prevented effective multilateralism.  Reforms and restructuring of the Organization could provide a crucial link in an expanding chain of efforts to refashion international structures, imbuing them with a greater degree of participatory decision-making, representative of contemporary realities.  The Millennium Declaration had recognized the urgency of reforming the Security Council.  An overwhelming majority of the world’s population could not be excluded from an institution that legislated on an increasing number of issues, with ever widening impact.  The expansion of the Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, and the inclusion of countries like India as permanent members, would be a first step in the process of making the United Nations a truly representative body.

He said relations between India and Pakistan had been a matter of attention for the international community.  It was known, however, that since January this year both countries had initiated a composite dialogue to resolve all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.  “I reaffirm our determination to carry forward this dialogue to a purposeful and mutually acceptable conclusion”, he said.

JOSCHKA FISCHER, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, said that against the backdrop of the current international situation, the question arose whether the United Nations structures were still suited to its mandate and whether its work enjoyed the international acceptance it needed.  The disputes concerning the Iraqi crisis had highlighted that problem once again.  There was no alternative to a world acting multilaterally, and to make multilateral cooperation sustainable, a courageous and comprehensive reform of the United Nations was needed.  Among the questions that needed to be addressed were the issues of move effective prevention and peace-building; reform of peacekeeping; the understanding of the right of self-defence; and the definition of terrorism.

The General Assembly needed to focus on truly crucial issues, he said.  Otherwise, essential questions would be dealt with in other fora.  Also needed were more efficient working methods.  The Economic and Social Council had to finally become the central organ for consultation and decision-making on economic and social issues.  It was necessary to make more targeted use of its expertise and make it a partner for the Security Council for peacekeeping, as laid down in Article 65 of the Charter.  It had an important role to play in fighting the causes of conflicts and post-conflict rehabilitation.  Its advisory groups on post-crisis rehabilitation in Africa were a step in the right direction.  That was what the decisive link between conflict management and development cooperation could look like.

As such an all-embracing approach needed appropriate financial resources, he proposed earmarking a certain share of the Organization’s peacekeeping budget for post-crisis rehabilitation.  Many criticized the proliferation of subsidiary and subordinate organizations of the United Nations, and in that connection, he raised a question of “whether it would not be better to pool competencies in some cases”.  Some spheres needed to be better equipped, however, for example the handling of environmental issues.  He supported last year’s proposal by French President Jacques Chirac to upgrade the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) into a specialized agency with universal membership.

Turning to the reform of the Security Council, he advocated increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Council.  He supported a more balanced and comprehensive representation of all continents.  The enlargement of membership must adequately reflect such “sea changes” as decolonization, the end of the cold war and globalization.  The composition of the Council must ultimately mirror the current geopolitical reality.  That meant all major regions of the South must be represented by permanent members of the Council.  Also, members who made a particularly meaningful contribution to the accomplishment of the goals of the Organization must be taken into account.  Just like Brazil, India and Japan, Germany was ready to take on the responsibility associated with a permanent seat in the Security Council, he added, but it was especially important that the African continent be represented among the new permanent members.

SILVAN SHALOM, Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, said that, in the face of a global campaign of terror, the world was beginning to realize what Israel had long known -- that terrorism was a challenge to humanity as a whole and that the response to the threat must also be global.  There was a time when the problems of terror, Islamic fundamentalism and Iranian nuclear ambition were seen only as Israel’s problems.  Today, nations were now more united than ever.  The world was also more united in opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  The international community now realized that Iran, with missiles that could reach London, Paris, Berlin and southern Russia, did not only pose a threat to Israel’s security but to the stability and security of the entire world.  “Indeed, Iran has replaced Saddam Hussein as the world’s number one exporter of terror, hate and instability.”

He called on the United Nations to refocus its priorities, saying that the Assembly should “end its obsession with Israel” and ensure that the Organization’s resources were allocated more equally and effectively.  The United Nations also needed to provide solutions to the challenges of hunger and poverty, disease and weapons proliferation, among others.  He called on the Assembly to address the involvement of Iran and Syria in terrorism, and Syria’s continued occupation of Lebanon.  He asked for practical measures to help nations cut off financial and political lifelines to terror.  In the last year alone, 150 Israelis had been killed and thousands injured in more than 40 separate suicide bombings and attacks.  Palestinian terrorism was the key reason that peace in the Middle East had not yet become a reality.  The Road Map had recognized that, calling in Phase One for sustained Palestinian action against terror, the dismantling of terrorist organizations and the end of incitement in schools and the media.  Sadly, he noted, the current Palestinian leadership refused to fulfil those fundamental obligations, preferring to blame Israel for its failures.

Israel was acting in both diplomatic and security arenas to deal with the failure of the Palestinian leadership, he said.  Israel had accepted the Road Map in 2003 and remained committed to its realization.  Currently, however, there was no responsible Palestinian partner ready to join in that effort.  Israel was now planning to leave the Gaza Strip, and was in contact with the donor community and the World Bank in an effort to rebuild Gaza in the wake of Israel’s withdrawal.  On the security front, Israel was building a security fence to stop the unchecked wave of Palestinian attacks.  “The fence does not take lives”, he said, “it saves them.  Where there is a fence, there is no terror”.  The modified route of the fence reflected the necessary balance between the security of Israeli citizens and the welfare of the Palestinian population.  By helping to take terrorism out of the equation, the fence contributed to the prospect of a return to negotiations and the realization of the Road Map.

Ultimately, contact and dialogue, based on mutual respect for humanity, was necessary to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.  Israel was ready for such contact and would talk to any leadership, from Syria, to Lebanon, or the Palestinians, who come to the table without terror and with a genuine intention to finding acceptable solutions to differences.

ALBERT SHABANGU, Deputy Prime Minister of Swaziland, said that future global stability was threatened by the continuing spread of weapons of mass destruction and that “our failure as an organization is due to an inability to agree to a time frame suitable to all members for arms control and nuclear disarmament.  ”The international community needed to find a way to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and prevent the flow of conventional weapons and anti-personnel landmines into zones of conflict.  He pointed out that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) were designed as an essential step toward a world free of the danger that such weapons posed.  The Conference on Disarmament should implement the proposal of the Non-Aligned Movement by establishing, as its highest priority, an ad hoc committee to begin negotiations on a programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons from those countries that had them, within a time-bound framework.

Africa had placed its trust in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to be a vehicle for the shift away from underdevelopment and conflict of the past by addressing the fundamental root causes of the continent’s problems, he continued.  The ongoing integration of all of Africa’s initiatives and programmes within the continent would enable sustainability and true growth in their economies.  The continent’s united effort was also addressing the conflicts that continue to threaten peace, stability and security on the African continent.  “We realize that, without these elements, our development goals will continue to elude us, especially because, apart from resources that are wasted on arms, our people can only be productive and be able to trade amongst themselves and with the rest of the world under conditions of peace, security and stability.”

On United Nations reform, he said that the Organization should be transformed into a structure that was truly representative of all its members and that was transparent and efficient in its operations, while remaining consistent to the purposes and objectives of its founding Charter.  Achieving balanced representation in the principal organs of the United Nations should be a priority.  The Security Council, in particular, required reform in order to strengthen its legitimacy.  Its composition needed to reflect the plurality and diversity of the membership of the United Nations to recognize the profound geo-political changes in recent history.  Due to the lack of political will of some members to increase the membership, progress in the reform agenda remained unattainable.

He noted that developing countries had been facing special difficulties in responding to challenges brought by globalization.  As a result, many of them had remained marginalized in the globalizing world economy and, consequently, the benefits of globalization were unevenly distributed.  In order to maximize the benefits of globalization, the process of integration into the world economy should take into account the level of economic development of each country and the capacity of its institutions and enterprises.  Small economies were not receiving fair treatment in global trade.  The proposed removal of preferential terms for those countries’ agricultural products and the continuation of subsidies for such products from the developed world was bound to deal a fatal blow to many weak economies.  Developed partners needed to understand and appreciate the situation of the small economies.  There should be a partnership that would take into account the countries’ unique situations as developing economies, so that they could participate effectively in the global market.

PETROS MOLYVIATIS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, noted that, from the tragedy of 11 September 2001 to the Madrid bombings to the unspeakable brutality witnessed in Beslan, a dark parade of blind violence had caused immense human suffering and increased the international community’s responsibility, and its will, to fight terrorism.  Furthermore, the world faced additional challenges in the guise of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, human trafficking, organized crime, failing States, environmental catastrophe, social- and economic crises, pandemics, large-scale humanitarian disaster, hunger and poverty, which must be faced with solidarity, regardless of geography, culture or religion.  However, those challenges, though they constituted a source of profound concern, should be met, not with pessimism and fear, but with the hope, optimism and determination recently demonstrated at the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In Athens, he stressed, athletes of the world had demonstrated that competition did not necessarily create crisis or conflict.  Rather, they had proved not only that the ambitions of all could peacefully coexist, but that they could lead to reinforced friendship, solidarity and cooperation among individuals and nations.  The ancient ideal of the Olympic Truce embodied modern man’s hope for the peaceful resolution of the conflicts ravaging the world.  The General Assembly had, many times, called for respect of the Olympic Truce; now the world had but to translate that call into reality.

Reaffirming the importance of peace and development as mutually-reinforcing sides of the same coin, he expressed support for initiatives aimed at combating hunger and poverty, and concern for the situation in the Middle East and in Iraq.  Regionally, the continuing fragile situation in the western Balkans, where unemployment and lack of economic prospects posed a potential social and political time bomb, constituted a source of concern, while the reunification of Cyprus remained an unwavering goal.  Although, the Greek Cypriots had rejected a specific version of the Annan Plan, the international community was urged to keep the window for a solution open and avoid any action that might lead to deepened division of the island or fail to provide incentive for reunification.  On a positive note, bilateral relations with Turkey had improved consistently in recent years and his country fully supported Turkey’s European perspective.

FRANCO FRATTINI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, highlighted the need to strengthen the multilateral system and reinvigorate the role of the United Nations as one of the main international priorities.  Effective multilateralism depended much more on political will and shared goals than on structures and procedures.  The whole international community must be involved, starting with the States that commanded greater resources and capabilities.  Multilateral decisions could be difficult, but that was no excuse for inaction.  The starting point for the reform of the Organization was a review of its policies.

Italy welcomed the reform of United Nations peacekeeping and peace-building, which it supported as the sixth largest contributor to the United Nations budget and one of the top contributors of troops, he said.  Crisis management demanded greater coordination and a stronger commitment from Member States to protect human beings and uphold their dignity.  The membership would have to examine closely the forthcoming report of the Panel of Eminent Personalities appointed by the Secretary-General and discuss its recommendations thoroughly and openly.

On Security Council reform, he said that Italy was in favour of greater inclusiveness, effectiveness, democratic participation and geographic representation, starting with developing countries.  The best way to pursue such reform was to establish new non-permanent seats.  Since the States occupying those seats would have to be periodically elected, they would be accountable to the general membership.  He did not believe the difficulties could be resolved through new permanent, irrevocable appointments and national mandates.  On the other hand, if a broad consensus emerged –- and with full respect for sovereign equality of all Member States -– Italy was willing to contemplate more frequent rotation of longer terms for countries that made a greater contribution to the purposes of the United Nations.

He added that a closer relationship should be built between elected members and their regional groups.  Today’s 25-member European Union could make a fundamental contribution in that respect.  Italy had always worked to allow the Union to speak with a single, more influential voice.  He realized, of course, that it should be a gradual process.  Nonetheless, it was important to stay the course and not jeopardize the achievement of that goal.  “Let us join forces, abandon national ambitions and seek the least divisive ways to enhance multilateralism.  This is the only way the international community can meet the global challenges of the new millennium”, he concluded.

MICHEL BARNIER, Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, said that, more than ever, the United Nations remained the one irreplaceable, legitimate framework for collective action against the challenges confronting the world.  On all fronts, the United Nations was acting, acting for conflict resolution and prevention, for refugee assistance and for counterterrorism.  Yet, at the same time that it waged a merciless fight against terrorism, the international community must also redress that scourge’s roots; it must give the world’s excluded people hope, restore their dignity and establish dialogue and cooperation among civilizations, cultures and religions.

It was the historic responsibility of the present generation to build peace in the Middle East, he stressed.  Yet, the absence of any prospect for peace in the Middle East today made that region a breeding ground for despair, extremism and violence of every kind.  That central crisis would be resolved only through a negotiated settlement based on international law, and it was to be hoped that the withdrawal from Gaza constituted a first step.  Moreover, faced with exploding violence in Iraq, it must be acknowledged that only when Iraqis themselves took control of their future, and the political process approved by the Security Council continued, would that country escape the chaos currently destabilizing the entire region.  And though France continued to refuse military commitment in Iraq, his country reaffirmed its willingness to assist the Iraqi people to rebuild their country and restore their institutions.

In Africa, he added, the international community also faced a battle for justice, without which there would be no peace.  Longstanding crises had been or were in the process of being settled, yet others had broken out.  An effective and coherent partnership between North and South for development and peace-building must be established, for justice and conflict prevention could not be dissociated from collective action to promote development.  And, in addition to the overriding obligation to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals, globalization must be more controlled and, therefore, more just.

Finally, emphasizing the need to reform the United Nations system to meet new needs and threats, he endorsed enlargement of both categories of membership on the Security Council, and expressed support for the aspirations of Germany, Japan, Brazil and India for permanent seats thereon, as well as for an African country.

MORSHED KHAN, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, said that the Millennium Development Gaols provided the best hope for the world’s poor.  The success of those Goals would, however, largely depend on the existence of an enabling international economic environment, particularly in the areas of trade, finance, official development assistance (ODA), and technology transfer.  Extreme poverty was a gross denial of human rights, and the rise in senseless terrorism was a warning that failure in development was not an option, and that poverty could breed extremism.  To effectively rid the world of the tragic consequences of poverty, its root causes needed to be addressed.

Unhindered market access and preferential treatment to products of developing countries should be at the heart of multilateral trade negotiations, he continued.  Managed migration was an important phenomenon, but the root causes of cross-border migratory flows needed to be addressed in earnest.  For the cause of development to progress, an environment of peace was needed worldwide.  In many parts of the world, that was lacking.  Bangladesh was concerned with the persistent violence in Iraq, but was encouraged by the return of the United Nations to the scene.  It expected the United Nations to play a central role in facilitating the democratic process, as well as in reconstruction and in humanitarian work in the country.

Bangladesh believed that there was a direct relationship between disarmament and development.  His country was a party to all major international conventions and treaties on disarmament and had denounced all weapons of mass destruction.  The country’s geographical location made nuclear weapons a direct and legitimate cause of concern.  It, therefore, supported all measures towards arms control, conventional and nuclear disarmament.  It also condemned international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he added.

He said that any increase in the membership of the Security Council should be based on certain criteria, including respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution and the aspirants’ contribution to international peace and security; their proven track record in democracy; their compliance with United Nations resolutions; their avowed commitment to nuclear disarmament; and their profile as a major partner in development, among other things.  The ultimate focus of any reform exercise should be on enhancing the Council’s credibility and democratic profile, through its working methods and its decision-making processes.

ENRIQUE PEREIRA ROSA, President of Guinea-Bissau, said that today’s world was characterized by striking imbalances and inequalities, with much scientific and technological progress, on the one hand, but many cases of malnutrition and disease, on the other.  Combating poverty and epidemics like HIV/AIDS should not be seen as acts of charity or kindness, but rather common sense.  After all, to ensure peace throughout the world, the international community had to improve people’s living conditions.

Noting that his country had not escaped from cycles of violence, he said it had suffered from disastrous economic policies that had never been adapted to its people’s needs.  Under such conditions, people had the right to expect change from their leaders.  In some ways, democracy was a good answer to social ills. However, it was not easy to build in a poor country with a high illiteracy rate. Currently, thousands of women, children and infants were suffering because they lacked necessary vaccinations.  While more international trade could help, it needed to be better regulated, and globalization had to be more adequately controlled to allow for a more equitable distribution of wealth throughout the world.

He said his Guinea-Bissau needed the assistance of the international community in order to meet the enormous challenges facing it.  Already, it had been helped by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bretton Woods institutions to create anti-corruption transparency measures.  However, more help was needed, especially in the provision of water, education and health services.  Also, the rule of law had to be consolidated so that all institutions could function properly and effectively.  Judicial systems must be able to act with full independence and ecosystems required protection so that the world’s children could lead healthy, dignified lives.

Stressing the need for people to work together, he said that, whether discussing terrorism or other important topics, nations should seek lasting solutions based on consensus.  It would also be helpful to involve as many well-intentioned actors as possible, such as non-governmental organizations.  Because the interdependence of the world economy was now a reality, the future of the planet depended on nations’ capacity to bear in mind the collective interest.  In that regard, it was essential to understand the spiritual force that animated each human being.

ALHAJI YAHYA JAMMEH, President of the Gambia, said there was no indication that the goals that the United Nations had set out regarding children and global development would be achieved in the coming years.  Children were being violated, sold into slavery, and terrorized by adults who were supposed to take care of them.  Also, the economies of small States were collapsing as a result of the oil crisis.  All those problems were man-made and their solutions lay with the human race, regardless of race, colour, creed or religion.  The problems of development would continue as long as there was violence; there would be no peace or global security, and the poor countries would become poorer while the rich ones would become richer.

He went on to say that because of the human characteristics of greed and intolerance, human life had been “relegated to nothing”.  As long as certain issues were not addressed, there could not be peace and terror would continue.  There should be a collective response to end the war in Iraq, and even if a MemberState disapproved of the war, it should not say that it would not help.  That war was a human tragedy, and it was not in the interest of the human race to let it continue.  Two wrongs could not make a right and the entire human race carried the responsibility to help end the suffering of the Iraqi people and the Palestinian children.

Cautioning that the world should be mindful of the consequences of allowing terror to continue, he said that United Nations resolutions had been passed for the good of humanity and for the international community, but were not being enforced to the letter in all cases and by all States.  Furthermore, with the end of the cold war, the possession of nuclear weapons was not justified, and there was a double standard in that regard.  The first step should be to abolish all nuclear weapons, as possessing them was the wrong path to take.  The strength of a nation was determined not by weapons but by the ability to make the world a better place for humanity.

RICARDO MADURO, President of Honduras, said that these times of great promise were fraught with potential challenges, the foremost of which were the persistent lack of security and deepening poverty in many parts of the world.  The continued existence of the international democratic system and the eradication of poverty demanded the utmost attention from all national leaders.  While remaining committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as ensuring the security of his dedicated, hardworking fellow citizens, he also worked hard to ensure that Honduras participated actively in the international arena.

Every world leader should be equally committed to that end, he continued, particularly since organized crime, corruption and terror were undergoing a kind of globalization of their own.  Speaking from the front lines of the Latin American region’s ongoing battle to curb the illicit drug trade, he said there were few crimes that destroyed societies like drug trafficking -– a fact Honduras knew well since it was a major stop along the route between producer nations and consumers.  Over the past few years, Honduras had put more drug rings out of business than at any time during the country’s history, but that was still not enough; combating organized crime and drug trafficking was too much for any single nation to handle alone.  Leaders of drug-producing countries, trafficking routes and destination countries must all work together to address the problem, with particular consideration to poorer countries.

On the rule of law, he said Honduras continued to implement its relevant programmes, which promoted responsible use of State resources and curbed corruption.  It had also implemented a State law, which, for the first time, deeded land to the poor. That might seem like a trivial thing to Western nations, but until the law was enacted, more than 80 per cent of Hondurans did not hold deeds to their property.  Security for one nation implied safety and security for its neighbours and, with that in mind, Honduras had peacefully consolidated its land borders and was initiating a process to delineate its maritime borders.

The time had come to declare Latin America a zone of peace, he continued, citing ongoing efforts to eradicate landmines and nascent plans to eliminate all dangerous weapons from the region.  Such programmes should go hand in hand with poverty-alleviation initiatives because a democracy built on empty stomachs was an empty democracy.  Honduras’ poverty-alleviation strategy had been built around the tenets of the Millennium Declaration.  Nevertheless, help and support from the international community would be needed to ensure prosperity and security for all the country’s people.  Such help would be an investment in the entire world’s future.

Expressing his firm belief that protected markets only led to stagnation and growing poverty, he said it was not fair that small-country markets were open to the developed world, when some large countries earmarked certain of their own products for subsidies.  Leaders of coffee-producing countries should work together towards fair regional and international pricing.  Further, if the pricing vicissitudes of the coffee industry could so negatively affect poor countries in the Latin American region, then a highly volatile oil-pricing strategy should be seen as equally disruptive.  A system that took poverty eradication into account was necessary -- perhaps one managed and overseen by the United Nations.  All Member States must help strengthen the United Nations and subordinate national agendas to agreed solutions.  All Member States must also support reform of the Security Council, which would make it possible for countries such as Japan, as well as a representative from Latin America, to participate in order to make the Council’s decisions more legitimate.

JORGE BATLLE IBÁÑEZ, President of Uruguay, noted that globalization had altered global communications and rendered historical frontiers meaningless.  The current generation of young people had more contact with persons living thousands of kilometres away than with their neighbours or relatives.  Could the changes brought by globalization be dealt with by the United Nations or was it still adapting to the new reality?  The world had changed so much since the Organization was founded that its institutions now lacked the capacity to resolve issues that had today taken on totally different characteristics.

Over that last 40 years, moreover, scientific advances had multiplied the resources of a small group of nations, leaving those lacking basic structures far behind, he continued.  In addition, the world’s population was increasing at such high rates that emigration would create serious difficulties of coexistence for some continents.  Was the United Nations and its various agencies adequately equipped to deal with those problems?  It was necessary to reform the United Nations Charter so that countries could assume greater obligations, together with the five nations that had assumed those responsibilities 60 years ago, in resolving current global problems.

Turning to world peace, he said that achieving peace would be futile if the United Nations lacked ready funding to assist the people who needed it.  The Organization should create global and largely autonomous financial instruments to provide those resources.  A nation like Haiti, for example, with 27,000 square kilometres of land and 9 million people, which was lacking the needed institutional and material infrastructure, could not resolve its problems through a contingent of military forces from Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries.  Another type of action was needed, and only the United Nations could undertake that task.

He added that new and terrible forms of terrorism had continued in various parts of the world, including Russia and the Middle East, claiming hundreds of innocent victims, and posing a permanent global threat.  The fight against terrorism and other evils -– hunger, poverty, underdevelopment and marginalization -– needed a United Nations that was capable of more rapid and effective responses, one that was more representative, balanced and reliable, so that it could continue to support the weak and restrain the strong.

If one of the current goals of the multilateral system was to operate effectively in a globalized world, he said, more just and equitable rules of international trade became vital in the march towards social and political stability, which was in serious jeopardy.  States that preached and demanded free trade and open markets imposed obstacles to trade, subsidized their production, and engaged in disloyal competition with countries that could only offer the world the fruit of their land and the labour of their people.  Uruguay strongly supported the Doha Round in hopes that its deliberations would lead to more open and just markets.

PAKALITHA BETHUEL MOSISILI, Prime Minister of Lesotho, said that never before had the world been so insecure or faced such enormous challenges.  Such problems sprang from mankind’s insensitivity and only mankind could solve them.  Although the challenges were numerous, he named four:  global insecurity due to terrorism and armed conflicts; HIV/AIDS; poverty; and high unemployment rates.  Terrorism would remain problematic so long as some Member States continued to harbour and finance its perpetrators.  The international community must confront terrorism directly, employing a “fire with fire” method and examining its root causes.

Turning to Africa, he said the armed conflicts there continued to cause suffering and hinder economic growth.  In the Darfur region of the Sudan, for example, much was being said about the grave situation, but little was being done to address the humanitarian and political crises.  The Great Lakes region, which had recently seen a ghastly massacre in western Burundi, also remained volatile.  However, political crises were not limited to Africa.  In the Middle East, for instance, Israel was continuing to build its separation barrier, despite a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, calling such construction contrary to international law.

As early as 2000, he said, Lesotho had declared that the effects of HIV/AIDS constituted a national disaster and had taken measures to control the disease.  Nevertheless, much help was needed and, in that context, the international community was urged to provide increased support to NEPAD, which would enable African countries to fight the epidemic.  Without such assistance, it would be difficult to meet the Millennium Development Goals, not just in the area of HIV/AIDS, but also in the spheres of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and environmental degradation.

Before concluding, he touched upon Western Sahara, Cuba, and the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying that the people of Western Sahara had suffered long enough and expressing the hope that they would soon be able to determine their future via a referendum.  With respect to Cuba, he criticized the unilateral economic embargo that was causing untold misery to the island’s people.  After all, it was the sacred right of people to determine the system of government most appropriate for their country.  Regarding the ICC, the world would be made much safer if the Court could attain universal jurisdiction, and all States that had not yet done so should ratify the Rome Statute.

LAWRENCE GONZI, Prime Minister of Malta, said that the United Nations role in upholding international law and supporting multilateralism was vital to the external actions of the European Union, of which Malta was a new member.  Multilateralism was indeed essential, given the immensity and complexity of the world’s problems.

Despite progress in some of those problems, he said that there was a bewildering array of areas in which no visible progress could be registered, despite the efforts of tens of thousands working within the United Nations system.  Television screens showed continuing suffering in Darfur, Iraq and the Israeli and Palestinian areas.  He hoped the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change would produce bold recommendations that would be acted on by Member States.  Similarly, it was high time for dramatic results to emerge, on an institutional level, from the High-Level Meeting on the five-year review of the Millennium Declaration.

In that context, urgent remedies needed to be found for the weakness of the Security Council –- limited means of addressing development issues, inequitable distribution of authority among regions and under-representation of the great majority of Member States.  In addition, the General Assembly needed to intensify efforts to strengthen its universality while fighting against the associated inefficiency.  Other organs and specialized agencies needed to harmonize their operations in the interest of sustainable social and economic development.

He urged the European Union and its Mideast Quartet partners to remain steadfast in their insistence on the Road Map’s path to peace in that region.  In support of its goals, he described the Union’s objectives in promoting, through partnership, a zone of peace, prosperity and progress in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, along with similar programmes for the Balkans.  He said that such frameworks of regional stability had contributed to Libya’s renunciation of its weapons of mass destruction programme.

Regimes against the proliferation of weapons were growing in importance and must be strengthened through the complementary implementation of measures against terrorism, he said.  As a whole, the fight against terrorism must take place in a context of human rights, development and the rule of law.  Malta remained committed to working on the range of such complex problems facing the international community.

ALHAJI ALIU MAHAMA, Vice-President of Ghana, said that only collective, multilateral efforts could defeat global terrorism.  The success of multilateralism and collective security, however, depended on the implementation of United Nations reforms.  In that regard, he applauded the Secretary-General’s appointment of a high-level panel on threats and challenges to make proposals on how the Organization could best be reformed to meet today’s challenges.  Revitalization of the Assembly and reform of the Security Council would enhance the Organization’s capacity to overcome current threats and emerging challenges.  He reiterated the African position of the need to democratize and ensure equitable geographical representation in the Council, with Africa allotted no fewer than two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats in an expanded Council.

Turning to poverty eradication, he said that as Africa strove to overcome its economic woes, it needed the world’s solidarity, resources, technical know-how and support.  For its part, Africa had adopted NEPAD, which reaffirmed its belief that Africans had the primary responsibility to solve problems of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy.  In tandem, its nations were striving to foster political stability and accountable and transparent governance under the rule of law.  Ghana had been the first country to have volunteered for the African Peer Review Mechanism.  Its renewed resolve, within NEPAD’s context, to accelerate the continent’s sustainable development dovetailed fully with the international community’s avowed commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.  NEPAD’s implementation and the creation of several new institutions, as well as the various commissions of the African Union, reflected Africa’s determination to be the architect of her own future.

It had been disheartening, however, that no significant achievement had occurred since the Millennium Summit, owing to the absence of a genuine global partnership for development.  There remained an “agonizing paradox” between conference declarations and the persistence of an asymmetrical global system that worked largely against developing countries’ interests.  The long-term initiatives to halve hunger and poverty by 2015, for example, could not be achieved without a fundamental restructuring of global trade, particularly in agricultural products.

For many African countries, stable, long-term planning would be impossible without more systematic and sustained debt relief, he said.  Official development assistance also played an essential role in complementing other development financing sources.  The question facing the international community in that regard was whether it was committed to the indispensable, challenging, but ultimately rewarding, global partnership.  He also urged the international community to provide the needed resources for the fight against HIV/AIDS -– a global emergency.

SANDRA S. PIERANTOZZI, Vice-President and Minister for Health of Palau, said that this year’s Assembly session, which was taking place as her country marked the tenth anniversary of its independence, also coincided with preparations for the Mauritius Conference on the Barbados Programme of Action for SmallIsland and DevelopingStates.  That important meeting would do much to change the image of island States in the international conscience:  while small island developing States (SIDS) were home to renowned “swaying palm trees” and “white sand beaches”, the very remoteness and idyllic isolation that made them so enchanting to outsiders often crippled their abilities to develop self-reliant economies, deter terrorism and aggression, and provide medical care and adequate education for their people.

Palau could attest to the myriad challenges facing small islands, she said, adding, among other things, that fuel and transportation prices were among the highest in the world.  More troubling was that the most promising hope for ensuring progress towards sustainable social and economic development -– Palau’s pristine ecosystems and natural resources -– were under threat from outside sources, such as the major industrialized countries’ failure to agree on the overall adoption and full implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

“We have provided a democratic society and assured our peoples’ human rights”, she said, “but without international attention, we will…continue to watch as they leave our homeland to seek education and career opportunities elsewhere.”  No matter what statistics showed or what figures were debated, if Palau failed to provide incentives for its children to remain home and help build the country’s future, “we will have lost”.  The Mauritius Process was, therefore, critical for Palau, which trusted that developed countries would embrace it.

She said that a troubling and growing trend in the donor community demanded that small countries like Palau prove their capacities before they were given assistance.  That “catch-22” threatened to halt the development of SIDS.  The only way to build capacity was to execute projects -– aimed at saving Palau’s unique biodiversity, for instance -– that would provide SIDS with experience and lessons learned.  That did not mean that SIDS were reluctant to accept international obligations and responsibilities, but it was ironic that small islands, home to many of the world’s unique biological treasures, were denied the very means to protect or save those treasures.

ALBERT, Crown Prince of Monaco, praised recent efforts to revitalize the working methods of the General Assembly, saying they must continue throughout the Organization, particularly in the Security Council, which should be enlarged to make it more representative of the world’s regions.

Describing his country’s support for international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, he said States must continue their public awareness campaigns, on the one hand, but also strengthen their ability to provide basic social services and adequate sanitation facilities.  Towards the eradication of poverty, Monaco looked forward to the elaboration of a new global partnership that would pursue the goals of economic development and social justice in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals and the Monterrey Consensus.

Welcoming the creation of an Execution Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, he said the fight against terrorism must continue unchecked.  Monaco had become a party to all 12 relevant conventions and had taken appropriate actions in its domestic laws.  With regard to Darfur and similar situations, he regretted the limitations on the enforcement of international humanitarian law.  Monaco had increased its funding for the education of refugee children.  It became clearer each and every day that the rights of the child needed effective protection, that abominable crimes against children must be answered in an exceptionally strong manner, and that there must be no time or geographical limits on the prosecution of such crimes, or on the fight against transnational organized crime that defied the legal order of States.

ABDULLAH GÜL, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, said that the goals that the Millennium Declaration defined for humanity were ambitious, yet achievable.  Reducing hunger and extreme poverty, spreading universal primary education, halting infectious diseases, and reducing child mortality within 15 years continued to be urgent tasks.  The United Nations system should be encouraged to elevate its role in addressing such threats as terrorism, narcotics, organized crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and racism.  A more effective and credible United Nations would be more capable of facing the common challenges of today, and the Security Council should have “a more representative and balanced character”, in order to increase its legitimacy and efficiency.

He said that he profoundly regretted that the opportunity to solve the long-standing problem of Cyprus had been missed.  As a result, he said, a chance to grant fresh credibility to the United Nations had been lost, and a possible source of inspiration for peacemakers in the Middle East or the Caucasus, had also disappeared.  Turkey, however, would remain committed to a lasting settlement in Cyprus.  He urged the Security Council to positively respond to the Secretary-General’s calls, and appealed to Member States of the United Nations to take, at bilateral level, concrete steps to put an end to the isolation and punishment of the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Along those lines, Turkey would be determined to sustain the promising and constructive atmosphere in its relations with Greece. The wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries, he said, was expanding in every field, and that would facilitate the settlement of all pending issues.  Turkey also believed it was time to begin taking concrete steps to eliminate the existing frozen conflicts in Southern Caucasus, such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Middle East problem and the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he continued, stood as the major conflicts compounding instability in the world and leading to increasing serious consequences.  Turkey would support every effort initiated and coordinated regarding the Israeli-Palestinian problem, and had joined the call made by the Quartet yesterday.  The resumption of the negotiating process between the two parties should remain the central objective of the current efforts, he said, though any settlement would not be complete without progress in all tracks, including the Syria and Lebanese ones.  Regarding Iraq, he said that the motive of Turkey’s strong support of a united, territorially intact and democratic Iraq was an Iraq that was at peace with itself and its neighbours.  This, he said, should and could only be achieved with the full participation and support of the Iraqi people as a whole, and more involvement by the United Nations would facilitate that task.

BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, said that with the emergence of new and complex threats, such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the international community needed to find adequate responses grounded in effective multilateralism and the rule of law.  Strengthening the rule of law, human rights, democratic governance and economic development would reduce intra- and inter-State conflicts, the number of which would also decrease if the United Nations were given the necessary institutional framework to enact effective strategies at all stages.

Pointing out that multilateralism was already at work in the Middle East in the form of the Road Map, she voiced her support for that plan, saying it remained the “only way forward” to a resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.  On the other hand, better international coordination was needed in the Darfur region of the Sudan.  She also touched upon Security Council reform, saying that the body’s current membership did not reflect current geopolitical realities.  A larger and more balanced membership -- which would include representation from the European Union, as well as Africa, Asia and Latin America –- was needed, and the Council’s work should be more transparent.

Stressing the need for human security throughout the world, she said that concept transcended any divisions between “hard” and “soft” threats.  After all, all such scourges, whether they involved war, hunger, terrorism or disease, deprived people of their sense of well-being.  Because the trafficking of human beings affected security, Austria called for more international cooperation to fight the practice and lauded efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.  Austria called also for greater protection of the rights of minorities and a stronger United Nations programme of action to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

SERGEY LAVROV, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said that terrorists had made massacre an end in itself, knowingly violating every rule of human ethics and opposing the civilized world once and for all.  In defiance of anyone encroaching upon its sovereignty, Russia would strengthen its national unity to counter terror and guarantee secure and decent lives for its citizens.  Adding that measures to achieve those goals would be based on the country’s Constitution, he said that Russia would defend its legitimate interests by means of equitable dialogue, cooperation and partnership, rather than confrontation.

He said the Security Council meeting on 1 September had shown the international community’s strong determination to fight terrorism in a consistent way, which must now be translated into practical action.  Fighting terrorism should unite States rather than divide them, and nations must consolidate their efforts and act in the spirit of solidarity.  Strengthening the anti-terrorist coalition was a vital task, with special emphasis placed on intensifying interaction between special services.

A clear strategy and acceptable legal framework were needed to combat terrorism, which had been laid down in Council resolution 1373 and subsequent decisions, he continued.  Nations now needed to amend their national legislation, accede to international anti-terrorist convention and finalize new international legal counter-terrorism instruments.  The time had come to renounce double standards once and for all when it came to terror, no matter what slogans it used.  Those who slaughtered children in Beslan and hijacked planes to attack the United States were creatures of the same breed.  Harbouring terrorists or their sponsors undermined trust among participants in the anti-terrorist front, justified terrorist action and encourage them to commit crimes in other nations.

Adding that terrorism had become increasingly interwoven with drug trafficking, he said implementation of social, economic and law-enforcement measures within and outside countries had become more urgent than ever.  A key element of that strategy lay in strengthening existing anti-drug “security belts” and creating new ones.  The United Nations should continue to play a central role in uniting international efforts to fight terrorism.  A new Council resolution should be worked out to ensure that the Counter-Terrorism Committee functioned effectively, that weak links in the anti-terrorism network were identified quickly, and that practical cooperation between that Committee and international and regional organizations increased.

In today’s increasingly interdependent world, counter-terrorism efforts could only be considered in light of other pressing issues, especially the settlement of conflicts.  In that respect, the General Assembly should support the Middle East settlement on the basis of commitments by the parties under the Road Map.  As for Iraq, Russia would support a political settlement aimed at preserving territorial integrity, ensuring political sovereignty and genuinely democratic post-war recovery.  Noting that reaching national reconciliation in Iraq was of utmost importance, he said that an international conference bringing together all the major Iraq political forces, neighbouring countries, Council members and the Arab League could be helpful to all.

The United Nations should also give close attention to other global threat to security and sustainable development, such as poverty eradication and illiteracy, environmental security, keeping peace in outer space, and the fight against gross and massive violations of human rights.

JACK STRAW, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, said that 18 months ago the United Nations faced divisions more serious than any since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, with Member States wondering whether the strength and international unity built in the wake of the cold war could survive.  But with the Secretary-General standing at his “now-famous fork in the road”, the Organization had not plunged into paralysis.  Member States had instinctively rallied and followed his directions, evincing a powerful if unspoken determination to make the United Nations work more effectively in order to fulfil its central task -– to secure peace around the world.

He stressed that while frustrations remained, particularly over efforts to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the Road Map, the United Nations had shown the will to make collective action work.  Still, much remained to be done, chiefly in the search to come up with ways to tackle better the dramatically changing nature of threats to international peace and security.  Today, the greatest threats to security often came not from other functioning sovereign States but from terrorist organizations, failing States and man-made shocks to the environment like climate change, which could exacerbate State failure and breed internal instability.

While the imminent release of the report of the High-level Panel on Challenges Threats and Change would certainly provide helpful recommendations in that regard, he said, the United Nations was not an organization set in stone and could certainly adapt to new and future challenges.  To that end, the United Kingdom was acutely aware of the need to widen the Security Council’s membership and had long supported an expansion to 24 seats in that organ, including among its permanent membership Germany and Japan, India and Brazil.  But such expansion must not be seen as a panacea; there was a bigger need to adapt the jurisprudence and operational effectiveness of the United Nations so that it could respond more quickly and comprehensively to today’s new threats.

Highlighting three areas which the United Kingdom deemed particularly important, he said there was a need for a broader approach to address the complex and interdependent nature of security today, particularly focusing on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and promoting sustainable development, especially in Africa.  To that end, the United Nations could monitor and help implement globally accepted norms and good governance, helping to keep unstable States from failing.  Secondly, there was a need to build a new consensus on the scope of collective action.  Member States must resolve never to turn away from “unspeakable barbarities” like the Holocaust, Rwanda or Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The principle on non-interference must be accompanied by the expectation that governments would respect the rights of their citizens, he continued, adding:  “Where they do not, the international community will need to consider how to react.”  Greater support was also needed for the Secretary-General’s power under Article 99 of the United Nations Charter to bring threats to peace to the Security Council’s attention.

The third point concerned the urgent need to combat global terrorism, he said.  Terrorism was indiscriminate in its targets and merciless in its hatred, taking the lives of people of all religions or no religion and of every shade of political opinion.  While opinion differed over the path to war in Iraq 18 months ago, no nation was in favour of the terrorist insurgency now occurring there.  The United Kingdom was committed to upholding international conventions, but those instruments should not be allowed to shelter those involved in terrorism.  While the international community must not stoop to the level of terrorists, it must not let terrorists exploit “protection designed for the persecuted, not the persecutors”.

BRIAN COWEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, said the world could no longer afford to postpone action on the urgent need to rededicate itself to the reinvigoration of the United Nations, and it was time for Member States to act.  More and more citizens of the world questioned whether the United Nations had the capacity, or even the will, to prevent conflict and protect the vulnerable from injustice.  They had become increasingly disillusioned with an organization which either could not take decisions or whose decisions were ignored with impunity.  They heard the United Nations being denigrated by those who made a virtue of their determination to put national interests above all other considerations, and they feared that it was no longer driven by the determination and idealism of its founding fathers.  Both political will and effective structures were required to attain that goal as neither one on its own would suffice.

To that end, a more effective system of collective security was an essential requirement, he said. The composition of the Security Council no longer accurately reflected the global geopolitical realities, and a modest and regionally balanced increase in its membership, both permanent and non-permanent, was justified.  Increased representation from the developing world would enhance its legitimacy and thereby its effectiveness.  But a more effective Security Council would need more than a change in structures.  There must be a change in attitudes.  Those States who sat on the Security Council had a responsibility to rise above national or regional interests and act in the wider interests of mankind.  But those who either asserted or aspired to positions of world leadership bore a particular responsibility to act in the global interest.

Over the past year, the international community had once again seen the failure of State institutions as a major source of conflict and human misery, he said.  The responsibility for protecting people from conflict and the effects of such conflict, and from humanitarian catastrophe, lay primarily with the governments concerned.  However, it had been shown that events within a particular country could threaten international peace and security and spread misery far beyond its borders.  In that regard, where governments were unable or unwilling to take the necessary steps to prevent catastrophe in their own country, the international community had the responsibility to step in.

Turning to the Middle East, he said the root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a struggle over land, which should be shared by agreement arrived at through negotiation between the parties to the conflict.  The continuing unilateral expansion of settlements and the construction and maintenance of the separation barrier on the West Bank would make the conflict more difficult to resolve.  Ireland called on the international community, particularly Israel’s friends, to send that clear and unambiguous message to both the Government and the people of Israel.  Israel and the Palestinian Authority were urged to cooperate closely with the Quartet, to ensure that the withdrawal from Gaza was accompanied by the full and effective assumption by the Palestinian Authority of its responsibilities in the territory, and the full implementation of the Road Map.

MUSTAFA OSMAN ISMAIL, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sudan, recounted progress that had been made towards peace in his country in the past year.  He thanked the international community for the humanitarian assistance it had provided, and requested further aid for development and the resettlement of refugees.

Unfortunately, another rebellion had started in the Darfur region, he said, instigated by foreign forces.  Those who refused to participate in that rebellion then formed militias to protect themselves.  That was how the Janjaweed militias became involved, and the conflict was exacerbated by old tensions and the inflow of arms, along with continued agitation by outside forces.  The rebels started attacking highways and taking relief workers as hostages.  Meanwhile, the Government was trying to stop the violence, and was sending humanitarian relief to Darfur, eliminating administrative processes that had impeded the flow of relief.  The Government had also deployed police to protect refugees and had brought to justice some of those who had violated human rights.

He said the Sudan was doing its utmost towards the return of peace and stability in Darfur, but progress had been stymied by the rebels, with the encouragement of the Security Council.  His Government had cooperated with the African Union by going to Addis Ababa, but the rebels did not participate.  When resolution 1556 was adopted with its strict demands on the Sudan, the rebels insisted on impossible conditions and the talks had collapsed.  Similarly, it sent a delegation to Abuja, but the passage of resolution 1564, which ignored Sudan’s efforts to resolve the crisis, again encouraged the rebels and undermined those talks.  He appealed to the Council not to further undermine the efforts of the African Union by such resolutions.

To deal with the humanitarian situation in Darfur, he said, the Sudan had deployed a team of human rights experts, among many other measures.  The doors were open; the Sudan had nothing to hide.  Committees had been established to investigate violations of human rights and other matters.  Arrangements were being made with the international community for the voluntary return of refugees.  The Sudan, in fact, had been the first to warn of a humanitarian problem, even as the problem was being created by the rebellion.  He counted on the Security Council to provide assistance to its efforts and not threats, which hampered them.

He said Sudan’s experience showed the urgent need for Security Council reform.  The veto, in particular, represented a great imbalance among regions.  He condemned terrorism, but warned that terrorism must not be confused with other phenomena.  Attention must be paid to the gap between rich and poor countries, which was increasing and would lead to total catastrophe.  Political will was needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals, and to renew the hope of millions through education, and access to drinking water and other necessities.  In addition, international action was needed to stop the many crimes of Israel against the Palestinians and bring about a just peace through Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian land.  He also affirmed the right to self-determination of the Iraqi people, which must, he said, be asserted through free elections, with the assistance of the international community.

He confirmed Sudan’s determination to work for peace and prosperity in his country, hoping the United Nations would perform its proper role there.  That meant avoiding sanctions, he said.

PER STIG MLLER, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, welcomed the renewed commitment to multilateralism of the past year, including the Security Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 1546 (2004) on Iraq.  Declaring that the United Nations must play a leading role in the political process and reconstruction of Iraq, he further urged Member States to continue to pursue comprehensive responses to the threats and challenges of the new millennium, including those posed by conflict prevention and resolution, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, respect for human rights and international law, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

As a candidate for election to the Security Council during the Assembly’s current session, he said Denmark would seek new and more effective ways to integrate security and development and to strengthen international law.  It was also felt that civilian crisis management must be accorded the same priority as military crisis management in international peace operations, with more attention to be given to issues of demobilization and reintegration of combatants and the social, economic and legal reconstruction of war-torn societies.  In addition to the provision of basic security, State building must be made a central goal of conflict management and peace-building to prevent States from relapsing into conflict.

Countering new threats such as terrorism required multifaceted, integrated responses by the United Nations and its partners, he continued.  Success demanded synergy, a finely tuned mix of diplomacy, aid, police efforts, intelligence, legal assistance and military power, and the United Nations must take the leading role in that fight so as to provide both the framework for global efforts and the legitimacy for collective action.  Overall, terrorism must not lead to isolation, nor could it be allowed to stop globalization.  Social and economic exclusion –- as well as deficient democracy and lack of the rule of law and respect for human rights –- contributed to political radicalization and religious extremism.  Instead, future generations must be ensured access to the benefits of globalization.

SOLOMON PASSY, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, said that it was essential that terrorists did not get hold of weapons of mass destruction “nor distract us from our agenda outlined by the Millennium Declaration”.  International terrorism threatened all States and could only be dealt with by joint efforts.  And for that reason, Bulgaria was actively participating in the global coalition against terrorism.  “We are committed to pursue steadfastly this policy of ours, even though we have incurred damages and human losses”, he said.

He said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had been involved in several countries in South-Eastern Europe for many years and its commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region through its various field offices was invaluable.  Nevertheless, while its work was essential, it could not be done effectively and without enhanced efforts by the international community to address the region’s insufficient infrastructure.  Developing infrastructure and political stability had to go together.  The people of the region were isolated from each other and the rest of the region.  There was a desperate need for highways, railways and infrastructure corridors to bring them closer together.  “There must be no relaxation in the efforts of the international community to stimulate economic growth in this region and to offer young people, in particular, tangible hope for the future.”

He had been encouraged by the Secretary-General’s specific initiatives aimed at improving the synchronization of action, communication and exchange of information with regional organizations, he said.  The contemporary geopolitical realities were encouraging not only the cooperation between the OSCE and the United Nations, but also with the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other relevant international bodies.  Closer interaction between them was crucially important to security, stability, democratic prosperity and tolerance in the world.

He said the measures aimed at revitalizing the activities of the United Nations were of extraordinary importance for the current sessions of the General Assembly.  The effectiveness in the work of the Organization, particularly the Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, was fundamental for solidifying the all-around role of the United Nations.

Sheikh MOHAMMED SABAH AL-SALEM AL-SABAH, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, said that reform and revitalization of the United Nations had become a priority because the world body remained the ideal setting in which to address the challenges of the day, such as poverty eradication, curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, combating HIV/AIDS and strengthening economic and social cooperation among nations.  To that end, Member States must continue to review and re-examine the aims and goals of the major United Nations conferences and meetings of the past decade.  He added that terrorism was another major global threat, which affected everyone.  It should not be associated with any one region or religion, and must be confronted at its roots.

Turing to the situation in Iraq, he said that one year after the fall of Saddam Hussein, that country was still facing widespread violence and instability.  Kuwait supported the interim Iraqi Government towards ensuring security in Iraq, as well as the wider Middle East.  It also hoped for peace and stability for the long-suffering people of the country.  Kuwait also supported the efforts to ensure that the Iraqi people gained full sovereignty and were governed by independent political and administrative bodies.  Kuwait also supported brotherly and good neighbourly relations with a new and democratic Iraq, and welcomed the support provided by the international community on addressing the question of missing Kuwaiti prisoners.

He went on to say that Kuwait was concerned by the plight of the Palestinian people at the hands of Israeli military, in contravention of international law.  All efforts aimed at bringing the matter to a negotiated conclusion, including implementing the Road Map peace plan, had run into Israeli intransigence.  Kuwait praised the resistance of the Palestinian people and called upon Israel to adhere to and implement relevant Security Council resolutions aimed at securing a two-State solution to the dispute.  Kuwait also believed the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran should be solved through negotiations and other peaceful means.  On the situation in the Sudan, Kuwait believed that Khartoum was trying to bring about an end to the crisis there, and would call on the international community to work together to find a solution.

VUK DRAŠKOVIĆ, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, said that in the pursuit of peace, democracy and happiness, the United Nations was the collective conscience of humankind.  In order to achieve the goals of the Millennium Declaration, the Organization must be strengthened structurally, economically and spiritually.  Serbia and Montenegro, therefore, would support initiatives for the enlargement of the Security Council according to the criterion of equal representation of all continents and for the special role of the most developed countries, without whose support the United Nations would not be able to fulfil its goals.

The fight against global terrorism was the primary responsibility today, he said, adding that while force was unavoidable in that fight, prevention was needed most.  Multilateralism should be the means to prevent the clash of faiths and civilizations.  At the same time, terrorism must be condemned with equal resolve by all.  There could be no “acceptable” terrorists nor should terrorists be proclaimed freedom-fighters anywhere.

As a consequence of terrorism and massive violations of basic human rights, he said, almost 200,000 Serbs and other non-Albanians had been expelled from Kosovo.  Serbia and Montenegro was grateful to the Secretary-General and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General for the decision to convene an international donors’ conference in November for the reconstruction of destroyed churches and monasteries in Kosovo.  It was also grateful for the principled position that all homes must be rebuilt, that conditions must be created for the return of those expelled, and that the Kosovo Serbs must be guaranteed the right to life, freedom of movement and all civil, national and religious liberties.

He said that the insistence by some on the creation of a sovereign Kosovo amounted to a call for the break-up of the sovereign State of Serbia and Montenegro.  Such an aspiration would breed new hatreds and miseries, and would be contrary to the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.  The country was ready to work on an agreement on the status of Kosovo, but would not agree to the violation of its rights.  By applying consistent standards in addressing all crimes, the United Nations would also assist efforts towards democratic government in Serbia and Montenegro and to fulfil its obligations to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Right of Reply

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply, the representative of Spain said he had been taken aback by the “astounding and grave” accusation yesterday by the Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea that Spain had militarily and monetarily backed a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.  Spain categorically rejected that allegation and would stress that no positive evidence of Spain’s involvement in that incident had ever been presented to the Assembly or any other international body.  Spain maintained friendly relations with all countries, including Equatorial Guinea.  Spain would reiterate the willingness of its Government to maintain the best relations with that country and believed that sufficient channels were open to address any issues that it might have.

On a point of order, the representative of Equatorial Guinea reserved the right to present a reply to Spain’s statement at a later time.

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