Fifty-ninth General Assembly                               

Plenary                                                    

23^rd Meeting (AM)

SPEAKERS IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHT LACK OF RESOURCES

 

TO MEET INCREASED DEMAND FOR UN PEACEKEEPING

 

While expressing support for the Secretary-General’s recommendations concerning the work of the Organization, many speakers in the General Assembly this morning continued to focus on global crises, including hotspots such as Iraq, the Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti and the Middle East, pointing to the disparity between the increase in peacekeeping operations and the resources to carry them out.

Many of the close to 50 speakers who spoke over the last day and a half noted that, while the significant increase in demand for the United Nations peacekeeping operations reflected both relapses in some situations and the emergence of new crises, that demand also showed renewed faith in the Organization and confirmed its role in the maintenance of peace and security.  But many developing nations underscored that the resources to carry out such operations did not match the need, and appealed to their developed counterparts to respond to the Secretary-General’s appeal for additional support.

No less important was the issue of conflict resolution and prevention, which many speakers highlighted throughout the session.  Gabon’s representative stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts.  Africa was doing more and more to take such matters into its own hands, and appeared to be headed in the direction of true regional integration, particularly as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) continued to mature and grow.  That initiative, however, needed the continued support of the wider international community.

Reiterating a many times touted point, China’s representative said development was the basis for global peace and stability.  Thus, he stressed the need to close the widening gap between North and South, and called for the establishment of a new economic order, which was vital for globalization to benefit all.  He also underscored the need to establish a true multilateral trade system and effective global partnerships with developing countries.

He went on to say that international developments in the past year showed that multilateral mechanisms, grounded in the Organization, were vital to peace and security.  Those mechanisms had to be strengthened.  That view was echoed by others today who steadfastly insisted on the Assembly’s revitalization and, what many called, the much needed and vital reform of the Security Council.  That was crucial if the Organization was to indeed equip itself adequately to realistically deal with new challenges and be more representative of its membership.

Supporting the Secretary-General’s call for specific attention to the needs of the world’s poorest countries, particularly landlocked developing States, the representative of Paraguay said the recent outcomes of the Kazakhstan Conference on landlocked countries and the Eleventh United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XI) had both spotlighted the importance of redoubling efforts to ensure socio-economic growth and development for such States.

He added that problems with the transportation of exports and imports, isolation from international markets, delays at border crossings, as well as along routes in transit countries, all had negative effects on the economic development of landlocked countries.  Hopefully, cooperation with developed countries would lead to innovative solutions to such problems.

The representatives of Barbados, Venezuela, Ecuador and Cameroon also made statements this morning.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11 0ctober, to take up the report of the Security Council and consider the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of that body.

Background

The General Assembly met today to conclude its consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on the work of the Organization.  [For a summary of the report, see Press Release GA/10271 issued on 7 October.]

Statements

ZHANG YISHAN (China) said the Secretary-General’s report put forward some enlightening ideas that needed consideration.  The United Nations had been through a challenging year in the area of peace and security, having played an important role in, among others, Irag, the Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire and Haiti.  However, there had been relapses, as well as the rise of non-traditional security threats.  The security situation in Iraq continued to be serious, and the country had a long way to go.  The Organization had an important role to play, and he was in favour of a timely meeting on Iraq.

Continuing, he said the prospect of peace in the Middle East remained weak.  He urged Israeli forces to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, as soon as possible, and create the conditions for the implementation of the Road Map.  He was also concerned with the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, and supported the role of the African Union and the Sudanese Government.  Sanctions would only complicate the problems there.  The increase in peacekeeping operations around the world required an increase in the resources to carry them out.  He hoped developed nations would respond to the Secretary-General’s appeal for additional assistance.

Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remained challenges, he said, adding that it was necessary to strengthen cooperation in both those areas.  Development, he noted, was the basis for peace and stability worldwide.  There was a need to close the widening gap between North and South.  The establishment of a new economic order was necessary so that globalization could benefit the whole world.  He called for the establishment of a true multilateral trade system and effective global partnerships with developing countries.

There was a need to strengthen multilateralism and the role of the Organization, he added.  International developments in the past year showed that multilateral mechanisms, centred around the Organization, were vital to peace and security.  He was in favour of the expansion of the Security Council and looked forward to seeing new ideas on reform.  He agreed with the Secretary-General on the need to restore respect for the rule of law in international relations, and said that nations that respected the rule of law domestically should also respect it in the international arena.

ALFRED M. MOUSSOTSI (Gabon) said that the Secretary-General’s report had highlighted the enormity of current peace and security challenges.  He was particularly concerned by the continuing indiscriminate killings perpetrated by terrorist groups, which were resulting in massive civilian casualties. The international community must redouble its determination to combat such acts, now more than ever, starting with adhering to and promoting the various relevant international treaties.  Tackling the terrorist threat also meant making a serious effort to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Renouncing the production of and trade in fissile and other materials that could be used to create dangerous weapons would be a major first step in that regard, and would reduce the risk of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorist networks, he said.  It was also important for all States to adhere to the framework of international non-proliferation conventions and treaties.  He praised those States that had adopted and promoted the various regional moratoriums on the trade in illicit small arms and light weapons, and looked forward to the elaboration of a single universal instrument in that regard.  He also looked forward to the elaboration of a treaty on the marking and tracing of such weapons.

He went on to say that the increased demand for United Nations peacekeeping missions had seriously pressured the Organization’s resource base over the past year.  It was therefore necessary that all States stood by their obligations in that regard, so the United Nations could respond more effectively to the increased demands placed on it.  Gabon would continue to cooperate with peacekeeping operation alongside other States.  Turning to conflict resolution and prevention, he stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts.  Africa was doing more and more to take such matters into its own hands, and appeared to be headed in the direction of true regional integration, particularly as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) continued to mature and grow.  That initiative would need the continued support of the wider international community.

On revitalizing the work of the United Nations, he said it was important to strengthen the Assembly and continue discussions on the expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council, in order to make that body more representative of modern realities.

CHRISTOPHER HACKETT (Barbados) said that, over the past year, the United Nations had had to respond to a number of varied political, humanitarian and economic crises around the globe.  However, the Organization did not possess the overall capacity to effectively respond to all those challenges.  For that reason, there needed to be a continuing process of review, reform and renewal of the world body.  In that connection, he welcomed the adoption of the Assembly’s resolution on the revitalization of its work.  That revitalization was not complete, as it was necessary to continue to monitor the resolution’s implementation, with a view to identifying further improvements in the Assembly’s working methods.

Also, the Security Council needed to be more representative of the Organization’s membership today, as well as more transparent in its working methods and more democratic in its decision-making.  The significant increase in demand for United Nations peacekeeping operations over the past year reflected renewed faith in the Organization, and confirmed its role in the maintenance of peace and security.  He shared the belief that the Organization provided the best framework for international cooperation.

While he recognized the great threat to global peace and security that international terrorism posed, he shared the Secretary-General’s assessment that, for the majority of the world’s people, the most immediate threats were those of poverty, hunger, unsafe drinking water, environmental degradation and endemic or infectious diseases.  Given the links between those issues and the Millennium Development Goals, he believed that greater efforts were required at both the national and international levels to achieve the Goals by 2015.  He also appealed for the support of the international community, particularly the United Nations, in identifying means and ways to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, such as the hurricanes that hit the Caribbean region recently.

ELADIO LOIZAGA (Paraguay) said that conflicts in various parts of the world, ongoing deadly terrorist activity, and increased demand for peacekeeping had continued to dominate most facets of the United Nations efforts during the past year, sometimes diverting its attention from the sincere concerns of wider humanity: poverty, environmental degradation, hunger and disease, among others.  He stressed that those issues called for an equally urgent response from the United Nations system in order to address the legitimate needs and desires of the world’s people, particularly with the mid-term review of the Millennium Development Goals fast approaching.  He believed that pressing ahead towards the universal achievement of those Goals would also lead to a tangible reduction of violence.  A sincere alliance between developed and developing countries would effectively contribute to meeting those important objectives.

He went on to say that the United Nations needed the determination of MemberStates, as well as international cooperation, to combat terrorism, which affected everyone.  But all such efforts must respect the principles of human rights and the rule of law –- principles that had been rejected by the terrorists themselves.  He reaffirmed Paraguay’s determination to stand by the principles of the United Nations and promote freedom and fundamental rights worldwide.

He was convinced that the process of strengthening the United Nations was of critical importance, chiefly strengthening the Assembly and reforming the Security Council to reflect the realities of the new century.  A reformed and revitalized United Nations must ensure that Member States would be able to participate on an equal footing, as set out in the Charter.  Indeed, collective interests should be put ahead of special interests.

He went on to support the Secretary-General’s call for specific attention to the needs of the world’s poorest countries, particularly landlocked developing States.  He praised the recent outcomes of the Kazakhstan Conference on landlocked countries, as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) XI, both of which had spotlighted the importance of redoubling efforts to ensure socio-economic growth and development for such countries.  He recalled that problems with transportation of exports and imports, segregation from the international marketplace, delays at border crossings, as well as along routes in transit countries, had negative effects on the economic development of landlocked countries.  Paraguay hoped that cooperation with developed countries would lead to innovative solutions to such problems.  Turning to wider issues, he urged both sides in the Palestinian-Israeli dispute to return to the negotiating table and work towards a settlement, in line with the obligations outlined in the Quartet-backed Road Map peace plan.

FERMIN TORO JIMENEZ (Venezuela) said that the progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals had been uneven.  The Goals could only be achieved by wise governments, which were in harmony with their peoples; the massive mobilization of resources for development; and joint action by developing and developed nations.  Priority must be placed on the economic and social progress of the people.  Venezuela had worked hard, despite subversive actions in his nation.  As a result, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had reported a rise in life expectancy, and a growth in school attendance rate at the primary level.  Those encouraging results had been possible due to an increase in the Government’s

budget for health and education, as well as the implementation of public policies to provide the needy with services, so they could overcome the effects of the economic setbacks his nation had faced in the past two decades.

He stressed the need to empower people in order to reduce poverty.  Venezuela had implemented solid programmes in the areas of literacy, education and health.  There were also efforts underway to ensure indigenous peoples their constitutional rights, as well as to change the socio-economic model of the nation.  The main aim of those programmes was to reduce poverty and provide a dignified standard of living for present and future Venezuelans.  His country was moving toward achieving the Millennium Goals.  He added that human rights could not be sacrificed in combating terrorism.  If governments met the basic needs of their people, a peaceful world, free of terrorism, was possible.

LUIS GALLEGOS CHIRIBOGA (Ecuador) described the past year as a difficult one for the United Nations, which made it necessary for Member States to seek solutions to the challenges before the Organization in the framework of multilateralism and mutual respect.  He expressed concern about the proliferation of conflicts involving child soldiers, saying such conflicts affected everyone in society, be they children, women, men or the disabled.

He noted that weapons of mass destruction, which continued to pose a danger to all, and the threat of their use in terrorist activities were issues that the international community needed to address.  Also, more efforts were needed towards the complete elimination of anti-personnel mines.  He appealed for assistance to care for and rehabilitate the many victims of landmines that had fled to Ecuador, as well as to stem the flow of such refugees.  There could be no security until people could live in safety within their own borders.

He condemned terrorism and pledged to cooperate with the international community in fighting that scourge, which transcended national borders.  He agreed with the Secretary-General’s assessment that human rights could not be compromised in the fight against terrorism.  He also stressed the need to reform the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council so that they conformed to today’s realities.

MARTIN BELINGA-EBOUTOU (Cameroon) paid tribute to the Secretary-General for the comprehensive nature of his report, which was characterized by a humanistic dimension.  He noted that progress had been made in Africa, apart from armed conflicts in six or seven nations.  The continent was experiencing a relatively stable time, which was a contrast with the situation in 1998, when there were armed conflicts and civil wars in 14 nations.  The work of the United Nations in African nations did a lot to restore stability, and he hoped the international community would continue to exert its influence.  While the progress made was encouraging, there was concern that Africa, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, would not meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  He called for the strengthening of cooperation between the Organization and international and regional organizations, in particular those in Africa.

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