UN General Assembly
1998

to renew our commitment to the fundamental principles that created it in 1945. We also made a strong commitment to further strengthen our genuine, collaborative efforts to ensure that this Organization continues to promote global peace, justice and a healthy environment, as well as to support the process of sustainable development of its Member nations, in particular the small island least developed countries such as those in the Pacific region, including the Republic of Vanuatu. The current international political and economic situation has grown ever more complex and makes increasing demands on our own resources and on the support available from our development partners. We are deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of such international crimes as drug-trafficking, money- laundering, terrorism, organized crime and other similar activities which have the potential to place the sovereignty and territorial integrity of small island States at great risk. The international community must show its genuine collaboration in combating these criminal phenomena if the new philosophy of globalization is to progress in a positive manner.