Allow me first to congratulate
Mr. Al-Nasser on his election to the presidency of the
General Assembly at this sixty-sixth session. We wish
him every success during his term of office. In the
same way, we congratulate the Secretary-General on
having been re-elected to a second term because of the
confidence he has won from the people of the United
Nations.
 I have not been involved in global issues, being
the representative of the youngest nation in this family
of nations. Our country is just two months and 14 days
old today. Members can see how many problems and
challenges are ahead of us. I wish at the outset to avail
myself of this opportunity and the privilege of
addressing this stellar gathering to reiterate, on my
own behalf and on behalf of the people of the Republic
of South Sudan, our most sincere and profound
gratitude to the entire international community for the
warmth with which our State has been welcomed into
the community of nations. My people back home in
South Sudan, and I personally here in New York,
regard this significant moment as yet another milestone
on the long list of our achievements.
 The President returned to the Chair.
 I should like to seize this opportunity also once
again to salute the many who stood with us during our
long struggle. We are indebted to many friends in this
great Hall, without whose efforts it would not have
been easy for us to get where we are today. We owe a
debt of gratitude to the countries of the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),
the troika States, and the friends and partners of IGAD,
who waged a struggle for peace for the Sudan that
culminated in the signing of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) in 2005. As an emergent nation that
has been embroiled in conflict during different periods
of time, all of which add up to more than five decades,
the Republic of South Sudan stands in dire need of all
the help it can get.
 In most post-conflict situations, nations would
normally expect to rebuild. That is not the case for us.
Even before the ravages of war set in, our country had
nothing worth rebuilding. Hence, we characterize our

21 11-51185

post-conflict mission as one of construction rather than
reconstruction, and we therefore hope that the
overwhelming outpouring of support and sympathy
that greeted our independence from all corners of the
globe will translate into tangible development
assistance for South Sudan. Our march out of the abyss
of poverty and deprivation into the realm of progress
and prosperity is going to be a long one, and that is
why we need members to partner us on this difficult
journey.
 Although nature has endowed our country with
some resources, notably oil and other mineral wealth,
we hardly produce anything for ourselves — at least
not yet. We are determined to diversify the economy of
our country and lessen our precarious and near total
dependence on oil. Our strategy is to use the oil as a
catalyst to unlock the potential we have in other areas,
especially in agriculture.
 Oil is a non-renewable resource that will
inevitably be depleted at some point in the future, but
we know that the land, water and human resources at
our disposal will continue to be our country’s true,
inexhaustible fount of wealth. The ambition of the
people of South Sudan is to be able to transform their
country into a regional agro-industrial powerhouse, but
without a helping hand from others the attainment of
this goal will indeed remain a tall order. Much as we
need external assistance, it is our passionate wish that
it be offered on terms that will also respect our
political and economic choices.
 The Republic of South Sudan is under no illusion
that economic development and prosperity can be
achieved in the absence of a climate of peace and
stability. We shall therefore strive to promote peace
and harmony not only internally but also between all of
our neighbours and us. Inside South Sudan, we have
set up broad-based executive and legislative organs of
Government that are inclusive of key political parties.
We did so despite the fact that our party, the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement, won a landslide in the
recent elections.
 We were not deterred from installing such an
accommodative Government by the fact that we do not
even yet have in place the requisite legal framework
governing political party activity. We took those steps
not only because of our commitment to political
pluralism, but primarily because of our strong
conviction that measures of inclusion such as these can
foster peace and harmony.
 In the external domain, we remain strongly
committed to maintaining peaceful and mutually
beneficial relations with all States, and particularly
with our neighbours. In that regard, I wish to affirm
that the Republic of South Sudan fully adheres to the
principle of absolute respect for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all States, including the Republic
of the Sudan. Therefore, the Republic of South Sudan
hereby categorically restates that it has not interfered
and will not interfere in any domestic conflict situation
in the Republic of the Sudan.
 However, on account of the fact that conflict
areas in the Republic of the Sudan border our country
and that any spillover effects from those could
negatively impact our own security, we urge the
Government of the Sudan to seek a peaceful resolution
to those conflicts. We would like to emphasize in
particular that the reinstatement by the Government of
the Sudan of the recent Addis Ababa framework accord
on the situation in Southern Kordofan State and
political relations between the Government and the
opposition could go a long way towards promoting the
restoration of peace in the areas bordering South
Sudan.
 There are a number of outstanding issues that
have carried over from the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement. We hope to expeditiously resolve them so
as to ensure the complete normalization of relations
between the two States and the start of a new era of a
positive and mutually beneficial relationship that will
be predicated on the commonalities shared by the
people of the two States. We therefore urge the
Government of the Republic of the Sudan to consent to
the speedy demarcation of the border between the two
States, with the help of the international community.
We hope that Khartoum will no longer object to such
an arrangement, given that South Sudan is now a
sovereign State.
 We would also like to plead with the Government
of the Republic of the Sudan to agree to the submission
of our dispute over the ownership of a number of
border areas to international arbitration. The
Government of the Republic of South Sudan applauds
the cooperation of the Government of the Republic of
the Sudan in paving the way to the deployment of the
United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, and

11-51185 22

hopes that the two countries will reach agreement
sooner rather than later on the resolution of the Abyei
issue, in line with the relevant provisions of the CPA.
 On the economic front, South Sudan wishes to
declare that it is willing and ready to outline serious
negotiations with Khartoum. That will be done with the
aim of reaching mutually acceptable arrangements that
will guarantee for the Republic of the Sudan a fair
income from the use of Sudan’s oil export
infrastructure.
 In terms of governance, we have moved to rectify
some of the defects in our system by strengthening the
pillars of good governance. A number of key bills —
notable among which is a public financial management
bill — are now making their way steadily through the
legislative process. The passage of such laws will help
promote accountability and transparency and
ultimately curb corruption and the unwarranted loss of
public revenue.
 In conclusion, the new Republic of South Sudan
vows to become an active member of the global family
of nations, making its contribution to fostering world
peace and prosperity for the benefit of all humankind.


We are
pleased to sincerely and warmly congratulate
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth
session and to his brotherly country, Qatar, with which
we share deep fraternal relations. We are confident that
his diplomatic experience, especially in the field of
multilateral diplomacy, will have a great impact on the
success of this session. We wish also to express our
appreciation to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss of
Switzerland, for his successful efforts in the conduct of
the previous session. We also extend our
congratulations to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on
the international community’s renewed confidence in
him, as evidenced by his re-election to his post for a
second term, so that he can continue his efforts to
revitalize the role of the United Nations and further
develop its work.
 Each year, when we address the Assembly from
this rostrum, we begin by presenting the issue of the
Palestinian people. The international community has
worked to encourage negotiations between the
Palestinian National Authority and the Government of
Israel, the occupying Power. Unfortunately, the
situation remains at a standstill. For that reason, the
global community, and the United Nations in
particular, should act to fulfil its responsibility to find a
just and comprehensive solution. We believe that the
establishment of a Palestinian State on the basis of the
borders of 4 June 1967 and the recognition of that State
as a Member of the Organization will undoubtedly lead
to serious negotiations aimed at reaching a just, lasting
and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
 Brotherly Somalia has been the victim of a
decades-long civil war caused by a weak leadership
that failed to reach a political consensus to end that
hateful war. We believe that, to save the Somali people
from the threefold threat of poverty, ignorance and
famine, the time is ripe for the United Nations to
intensify its efforts, in cooperation with regional
organizations, including the League of Arab States, the
African Union, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development, to devise a plan to bring peace to
Somalia. We would also stress the importance of
increasing the provision of humanitarian assistance to
the millions of Somali refugees and displaced persons.
We are confident that Somalia’s neighbours share our
belief in the need for political solutions to the chronic
crisis in that country. We also reiterate to the Secretary-
General that we are fully prepared to support the
efforts of the United Nations in that regard.
 On 26 January 2011, my country submitted its
periodic report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva
in the context of the mechanism for the periodic review
of States’ reports. We in the Sultanate of Oman are
satisfied that we have come a long way in terms of
protecting human rights at all levels. We consider this a
national and spiritual commitment aimed at achieving
justice that also supports the dimension of a global
culture of human rights protection.
 Our contemporary world is witnessing profound
changes in the demographic composition of the peoples
of the world, as young people now constitute the
majority of the world population. As they are the most
ambitious group, capable of mapping the future, the
international community should take this reality into
consideration in the elaboration of all manner of plans
in the economic, education and sustainable
development fields.
 As our region is experiencing such profound
changes, we, like the rest of the world, believe that the
aspirations of young people to a better and more secure
world and decent livelihoods have prevailed and
should be accepted and welcomed by all Governments.
We in the Sultanate of Oman, in keeping with the
instructions given by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin
Said, have based all of our national economic and
social plans on empowering young people to make
maximum use of their potential to benefit from
technology and to achieve a society characterized by
prosperity and sustainable growth.

11-51384 52

 Today’s world is facing numerous crises that
make it imperative for the international community to
work jointly to create conditions that are conducive to
finding solutions. The world may be on the brink of a
widespread food crisis, and many people live in fear of
food shortages. Efforts must therefore be made at the
international level to expand production through the
cultivation of larger areas and the use of advanced
technology to increase yields and to combat
desertification in vulnerable areas.
 The continuing global financial crisis obliges us
to collectively rethink the principles underlying
investment and international trade in order to reach
appropriate solutions aimed at reducing the negative
impacts of the crisis on countries and societies,
particularly in the developing world.
 An additional issue we must face is that of global
phenomena such as hurricanes, earthquakes and the
high level of environmental pollution, all of which lead
to major human and economic losses. We believe that
all countries, particularly the major industrialized
countries, should join together to find a solution aimed
at reducing industrial and environmental pollution and
greenhouse-gas emissions based on modern technology
in those fields.
 In closing, we are hopeful that all countries will
seize the opportunity offered by the current session to
take practical steps and measures on all of the issues
under discussion. We hope that the session will meet
with every success.


We extend our warmest congratulations to the
Ambassador from Qatar, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz
Al-Nasser, on his recent election as President of the
General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. We
welcome his intention to use this session to address
pressing issues such as mediation and conflict
resolution, the reform of the United Nations system,
preventing and responding to natural disasters and
sustainable development for global prosperity.
 Ten years ago, the dynamic and vibrant city of
New York was shocked by something previously
inconceivable: the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers.
Thousands of innocent people died in horrific ways,
leaving relatives and friends in a state of helplessness
and sorrow. Echoes of that terror reverberated around
the planet, leaving scars and a trail of pain to this day.
The world has not been the same since then.
 In the interest of security, even in strong
democracies where genuine rule of law prevails, some
individual liberties, previously considered sacred and
immutable, have been sacrificed. While the ashes were
still smouldering and the rubble of the Twin Towers
still lay where it fell, the war in Afghanistan was
launched, which, although perhaps justified as a case
of legitimate defence, has nevertheless produced more
victims than the terrorist attacks themselves. Then
came the occupation of Iraq, which spurred
controversy in various circles of international public
opinion but in any case certainly generated more
violence, produced new victims and new waves of
human suffering and caused more destruction of
wealth.
 The lesson to be learned from these past 10 years
is that there must be a collective effort to eliminate
terrorism as an inhuman practice, to eliminate as well
the economic, social, political, cultural, ideological and
religious factors that fuel it, and to promote a world
that is more open, more tolerant, more respectful and
more willing to engage in dialogue and in the
recognition of human dignity.
 Another event that has shaken the world during
the past decade has been the global financial crisis,
produced by a lack of clear rules in the international
financial system, as well as by arrogance, greed and the
unquenchable thirst for wealth. That crisis has gone
through several stages, but at this moment what is most
worrisome is that it has caused a division among the
most influential and powerful political and economic
sectors in the world over strategies to fix it. While
some think that what is needed at this time is public-
spending stimulus policies to promote economic
growth and job creation, others emphasize reducing
fiscal deficits and paying off sovereign debt.
 How can international capital markets now
demand that Governments pay a debt that was created,
to a large extent, to save financial institutions from
going under in the first place? Although incongruous,

11 11-50871

that is exactly what is taking place. Markets are
currently putting pressure on States to pay sovereign
debts that were themselves essentially the result of
earlier initiatives by States to rescue banks that were
either at risk or on the brink of bankruptcy.
 In order to avoid having to stop payments or
defaulting and watching their economies crumble
further, Governments have had to give in to the
pressure of the markets by implementing severe
austerity measures. Those policies have significantly
decreased citizens’ quality of life, leading to social
unrest and protest movements that erode Governments’
legitimacy and support base. Although it might seem
paradoxical, in some developed countries loss of
popular support has caused Governments to fall,
which, in echoes of coups d’état, have led to a new
political phenomenon that might be called, for lack of a
better word, market “coups”.
 What is strange about this situation is that what
we need is resources to save the international financial
system, stabilize the world economy and return us to
our earlier levels of economic growth and prosperity —
and those resources are at hand. For example, it is
known that even though $4 trillion circulate every day
around the world in the form of financial transactions
in capital markets, no taxes are in place that would
increase States’ fiscal resources.
 How much would Governments collect through a
5 per cent tax on the $4 trillion circulating daily around
the world? That would represent $20 billion per day,
which, multiplied by five business days a week, would
come to a total of $100 billion. If, in turn, we multiply
that number by four weeks a month we would have
monthly income of $400 billion. And those $400 billion
monthly, multiplied by 12 months in a year, amount to
an astronomical $4.8 trillion. That amount would not
only resolve the problems of some countries’ sovereign
debt but there would be enough fresh resources for
investing, which would allow a rapid recovery from the
current financial and economic world crisis.
 Nonetheless, were we to conclude that this was
not an appropriate way for States to raise revenue,
what about the more than 10 trillion dollars deposited
in tax havens, according to reports by international
advisory institutions?
 As we know, not a cent from those deposits,
which increase by more than 600 billion dollars every
year, reaches the tax services of any Government.
 In the meantime, through our failure to tax
international financial transactions and the deposits
made in tax havens, the global financial and economic
crisis continues, citizens become indignant as they see
their standard of living erode, social demonstrations
multiply, Governments are threatened by the lack of
governance, chaos takes over societies, and uncertainty
expands everywhere.
 In sum, we are forced to accept increasingly
alarming levels of social injustice because of the
undeniable and uncontrollable power held by a circle
of the world’s economic elite.
 Despite the wide range of global problems before
us, I wish to address just one of them: financial
speculation on the price of food and oil. The
Dominican Republic will submit a draft resolution on
the subject to this Assembly General.
 Since 2005 there has been a steady increase in the
prices of food and oil, along with that of petroleum
by-products.
 From 2006 to 2008, the price of soya beans has
increased 107 per cent; the price of corn, 125 per cent;
rice, 127 per cent; and wheat, 136 per cent.
 According to the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as a result
of those price increases, 150 million people joined
those around the world who already literally go hungry.
 As a result, for the first time in the history of
humankind, the total number of people who lack access
to food surpassed 1 billion, which represents almost a
sixth of the world population.
 With the recession that took place during the
second half of 2008, food prices went down, and it was
thought that we would return to a situation of
accessible food prices and overall increased stability.
 However, with the slight upturn and reactivation
of the world economy in 2010, prices went up again,
and this year the ravages of inflation have been felt
once again in different parts of the world.
 The same has happened with the price of oil.
After falling to $12 a barrel in 1998, ten years later, in
July 2008, two months before the bankruptcy of
Lehman Brothers, it was priced at $147 a barrel.

11-50871 12

 Paradoxically, at the end of 2008, oil prices had
dropped so precipitously that the new price on the
international market was $37 a barrel.
 Who could possibly explain something as absurd
as a price drop from $147 to $37 a barrel in just four
months?
 It has been argued that, with regard to both food
and oil, those exorbitant price increases can be
explained by the growth of the world population, an
increase in demand from emerging economies,
especially China and India, the effects of climate
change, and geo-political tensions in regions of the
world affected by conflict.
 There can be no doubt that some of those factors
have influenced prices to some extent, but there has
also been a clear effort to downplay the importance of
a new element in international markets: financial
speculation in commodity futures.
 According to well-known international analysts,
30 to 40 per cent of the price increases for
commodities or basic products can be ascribed to the
impact or influence of financial speculation on futures
contracts.
 In light of that situation, which has a daily impact
on our food- and oil-importing people, the Dominican
Republic has weighed the need to propose regulatory
measures of international scope in order to guarantee
market transparency and price stability.
 To that end, it is essential to limit the volume of
transactions that may be executed by such futures
market participants as insurance companies, investment
banks, pension funds and equity funds, among others,
which play no direct part in the physical production of
the product.
 Likewise, deposits on futures contracts should be
raised, as a way to discourage speculative transactions
that only contribute to price volatility and create
uncertainty and a lack of market predictability.
 We believe that by adopting such a resolution we
will take an important step towards solving a serious
problem that has condemned a large part of humankind
to hunger and destitution.
 In sum, the objective of this initiative is simple,
just, and of far-reaching importance, namely, to
persuade the Assembly General of the United Nations
to declare, for the sake of the human race, that food
cannot be considered a financial asset.
 Food must be used only to guarantee the survival
of the human race on the face of the Earth.


It gives me great
pleasure to congratulate the President on his election to
lead the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. I
wish to assure him of the full cooperation of my
delegation in successfully discharging his high
responsibilities. I would also like to express our
appreciation to his predecessor for his excellent
stewardship of the Assembly’s previous session. And
allow me to take this opportunity to once again
congratulate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his
reappointment to a second term, and to express our
admiration for work well done during his first term.
 It is with a great sense of brotherhood that I
warmly welcome the Republic of South Sudan to the
family of our global Organization and offer our sincere
congratulations and best wishes to the newest Member
State. We also welcome the Libyan delegation, which
we recognized some time ago. We are not oblivious to
the Herculean challenge that they face.
 The globalizing world has always presented
challenges to Africa and the developing world.
However, the negative developments over the past few
years, which appear to be far from being mitigated,
have made it even more difficult for countries such as
ours to move ahead on the path to development as fast
as we would have liked and our potential and
commitment would have allowed. There is a need for a
redoubled effort so that the achievements of the
Millennium Development Goals are not frustrated.
That was also the hope of the fourth United Nations
Conference on the Least Developed Countries. For our
part, we feel that we have been on track for almost all
the targets, and our commitment is to be even more
ambitious, in line with our five-year Growth and
Transformation Plan. Nevertheless, the global
economic situation is a source of concern.

37 11-51384

 Within that global context, the Horn of Africa has
been hit by the worst adverse climatic conditions in 60
years, causing a very tragic drought situation. At this
critical juncture, the international community should be
galvanized, particularly in helping to alleviate the
crisis in Somalia. The call made on Saturday at the
mini-summit on that issue needs to be reiterated and
amplified. We should do more for the people of
Somalia and those others in the region who have been
affected by the calamity.
 Even more crucial in the Horn of Africa is
sustainable development. Our youth need to have their
hopes for the future not frustrated, and the condition of
our women and children requires much greater
attention. On top of denying people their human rights,
poverty is not a solid foundation on which peace and
security can be built. That need compels us to draw
attention to a number of challenges that we, in the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
region, face, particularly with respect to climate
change. The adverse consequences of climate change
are becoming evident in various ways. The challenges
are global, requiring global solutions, on the basis of
common but differentiated responsibility. We do not
believe that enough is being done commensurate with
the gravity of the threat to humanity in general.
Moreover, the whole issue embodies injustice because
Africa and the developing world happen to be the
worst affected, while contributing the least to climate
change.
 As members of IGAD, we have for some time
tried to bring our collective effort to bear on the
various challenges the Horn of Africa faces. Realizing
the fact that one of the major factors hindering
development in our region is related to security and the
lack of durable stability, apart from doing our best to
lay the basis for the integration of our subregion
through various infrastructure-related projects, we have
continued to strengthen our common endeavour for
peace and security in the IGAD region.
 The positive outcomes are there to be seen. No
regional group has been as closely identified with
peacemaking in the Sudan as IGAD. In Somalia, in
close collaboration with the East African Community,
the African Union and the United Nations, IGAD has
been the lynchpin in the effort to assist the people of
Somalia in achieving peace, stability and national
reconciliation. Now, with the extremists and
Al-Shabaab having been driven out of Mogadishu and
the tide turning against them, there is new hope in
Somalia, which should be sustained. The Kampala
Accord laid the basis for a breakthrough in Somalia,
for which we owe gratitude to President Yoweri
Museveni and Ambassador Mahiga, Special
Representative of the Secretary-General.
 Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to
Uganda and Burundi for the sacrifices that they have
made, and continue to make, as the two countries that
spearheaded the efforts of the African Union Mission
and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to
keep those such as Al-Shabaab and their supporters at
bay. It must be underlined that it is a fight that has
humanitarian and development implications, not only
security or political. That is why the successful
cooperation of the IGAD countries for stability and
security in the Horn of Africa, and in the fight against
terrorism and extremism, has been so vital. It requires
the wholehearted support of the international
community, the General Assembly and, most
particularly, the Security Council.
 I need not go into the details of what the IGAD
countries have requested of the Security Council in
terms of support for them to succeed in the effort that
they are making for peace in Somalia and to contain
those who not only encourage, but also take part in
carrying out terrorism. It is particularly vital for the
Council to act on the conclusions and
recommendations of a body established by the Council
itself. Sweet talk, devoid of any behavioural change in
practice and on the ground, should not lead the
Security Council to wish away concrete evidence
presented to it by a committee of its own creation.
 Let us admit that there are double standards in the
fight against terrorism. Our counter-terrorism effort
cannot succeed if we are selective in that struggle. The
Prime Minister of India could not have been more
correct when he said from this rostrum last Saturday:
 “There cannot be selective approaches in dealing
with terrorist groups or the infrastructure of
terrorism. Terrorism has to be fought across all
fronts.” ()
 We in Ethiopia have never had a short-sighted
perspective on what we need to do to ensure that our
national interest and our national security are
protected. In this day and age, it is only through
collective effort that we can ensure peace, security and
stability. Some might imagine that they would benefit

11-51384 38

by encouraging discord in their neighbourhood. The
Horn of Africa has suffered because of policies
emanating from that kind of mindset for too long. That
should be combated. We seek the support of all fair-
minded people in that endeavour.
 For our part, we have been guided by the
objective of protecting and defending the collective
security interest of the people of our region. That has
guided our policy in the Sudan and in the effort that we
have been making to nurture mutual confidence
between us and both the Republic of Sudan and the
new nation of South Sudan. We have also followed that
signpost in conducting our policy with respect to
Somalia.
 Ethiopia is not a newcomer to international
diplomacy. As a founding member of the United
Nations, we take our responsibility as members of the
human family seriously. We view our vocation to be a
factor for strengthening international peace and
security and for enhancing friendly relations among
nations, large or small, on the basis of full equality.
That is why, as we continue to call for the reform of
the Security Council, we also remain committed to the
revitalization of the General Assembly, the true
representative of the people of the world in the true
spirit of the United Nations Charter, whose very first
phrase is: “We the peoples of the United Nations”.
 In that same spirit, Ethiopia wants to express its
position on the historic turning point that the people of
Palestine and the people of Israel are passing through
and the challenges that they are facing. We are
convinced that no great wisdom is required to realize
that, at the end of the day, it is only through peaceful
negotiation and mutual accommodation that the two
parties can reach the final destination.
 In that regard, it is not enough that the right of
the Palestinians to a viable State of their own be
acknowledged and be paid lip service. It is also
necessary that real, tangible and practical steps be
taken, and in good time, towards the realization of that
objective. That has not been done. No doubt, that is
partly the explanation for where we are today and at
this moment. On the other hand, while it is self-
defeating, and also unjust, to use it as a pretext for
delaying the realization of the dreams of the people of
Palestine, nonetheless, it is neither proper nor realistic
to underestimate and belittle the security concerns of
Israel.
 When the time comes for us to pronounce
ourselves on this signature issue of the sixty-sixth
session of the Assembly, the position we take will be
based on our objective assessment of all dimensions of
the issue in good faith and in line with what we believe
is dictated by the cause of justice and sustainable
peace.
 We are passing through a period not only of
uncertainty, but also of great historic and momentous
change. The world that emerged from the Second
World War is almost no more. Periods such as this need
to be handled delicately. That is why it is so critical
that more attention be paid to the need for preventing
conflicts and for mediation. We are pleased that the
President Al-Nasser has made this one of his top
priorities. We want to assure him that he can expect the
full cooperation of the IGAD countries.
 Let me conclude by asking for the support of all
Member States for the draft resolution that the IGAD
countries will be submitting requesting observer status
for IGAD at the United Nations.


At the
outset, allow me to thank most sincerely the
Ambassador of sisterly Qatar on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth
session. I should like also to thank Secretary-General
Mr. Ban Ki-moon on his reappointment to a second
term as Secretary-General.
 I stand before the Assembly today feeling sadness
and awe at the loss of the more than 30,000 martyrs
who sacrificed their lives for my country. Their sacred
blood was shed to write a new history for the new
Libya. By the same token, I bow before the mothers
who now know that their sons’ sacrifice was just and
rightful. Had the same events been repeated, mothers,
fathers, sons and daughters would have done the same,

47 11-51360

in order to write the new history. From this rostrum, let
me salute all the martyrs whose blood was shed, and all
the mothers and fathers in Libya. I also salute the
thousands of wounded in hospitals both inside and
outside Libya.
 Two years ago, in this very Hall and on this very
spot, Muammar Al-Qadhafi stood before the Assembly
and tore up the Charter of the United Nations. That was
a pathetic, theatrical move that disdainfully flouted
international values. Even though we might have some
reservations about the rules that govern the work of
international organizations, they should not be judged
in such a manner or treated in such a theatrical way,
which is harmful to the people of Libya, to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, to the
President of the General Assembly and indeed to the
entire Organization.
 I stand before the Assembly today to show the
world that a new Libya is being born, a Libya that
looks ahead with a vision of development and self-
realization, a Libya that wants to heal its wounds,
overcome its pain and reach out to the entire world.
This new Libya wants to rebuild and to reform its
history.
 The vision of the new Libya is that of a civil,
democratic State governed by a clear, unambiguous
constitution that sets forth rights and obligations, that
does not discriminate between male and female, one
faction and another, one political belief and another,
between east and west, nor along racial or ethnic lines.
 All Libyans are the sons and daughters of this
nation, a nation that is now determined to heal its
wounds and move on after 42 years away from the
international community. It seeks to be an active party,
like other countries of the world, one that can
contribute to a human civilization.
 We do not claim to have a magic wand, as
Muammar Al-Qadhafi did when he looked at himself in
the mirror and suddenly discovered that he was an
almighty prophet with a solution to every problem on
Earth, except for Libya’s.
 After 42 years, one fifth of Libya’s people live in
poverty, and the country’s educational and health
systems and services are the worst in the region.
Infrastructure is falling to pieces, and youth
unemployment is over 30 per cent. Those are the
solutions bequeathed to us by Muammar Al-Qadhafi.
Libya is witness to that.
 The new Libya of which I speak did not arise
from a vacuum. It has been watered by the blood shed
since 17 February of this year, when Libyan youth
decided to turn a new page in Libyan history. The
entire Libyan people — young and old, women and
children — paid the ultimate price. All the sons and
daughters of Libya have written this page. No one can
claim to lead this revolution or own it; only the Libyan
people can claim that.
 In the very first week of March of this year, a
parallel action was launched alongside the act of
revolutionary youth in all cities of Libya. A group of
people, including myself, was working day and night to
provide political support and to interpret the just cause
of the Libyan people on Libyan soil, to interpret the
prevailing oppression and dictatorship and the lack of
any development for the past 42 years. Friendly,
sisterly countries responded to that call. They reached
out to the hands that had reached out to them. The
world helped us to shed injustice.
 On behalf of the Libyan people, I wish here to
thank all friendly States, all sisterly States and all
regional organizations. I wish to thank in particular the
United Nations for Security Council resolutions 1970
(2011) and 1973 (2011), which were a determining
factor in eliminating injustice and protecting civilians
and preventing any further massacres in my country.
 On the basis of such continuous diplomatic
efforts, I can say today that that mission has been
accomplished. Now we have a new mission. Let us
make another attempt. Let us reach out to those who
need technical assistance. Let all funds be unfrozen so
that, having freed themselves from tyranny, the Libyan
people can now rebuild.
 Libya today is at the crossroads of realities on the
ground, expectations and rightful dues. The facts can
be summarized quite briefly. The land is not yet fully
liberated. There are still some fronts to be liberated. It
is our right within Libya to liberate our own land, and
we hope to do just that sometime soon.
 Our infrastructure has been destroyed. There are
many wounded and martyred in all Libyan cities. More
than 63 schools have been destroyed. There are more
than 50,000 injured. Amputees number more than
1,700. They await help and succour so that they can

11-51360 48

once again effectively contribute to rebuilding their
country.
 The social fabric needs healing, having been torn
by Al-Qadhafi. He tried to turn some tribes and
communities against each other and some regions
against others.
 The economy is broken down. Oil sits, needing to
pumped and exported. Although production is being
resumed, we believe that more assistance is required in
that regard.
 Funds and assets have been frozen. The
announced lifting of the freeze certainly does not rise
to the level of what is required in order to enable
reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. State
institutions need to be re-established and rebuilt,
particularly because the country has been deprived of
any real institutions for over 42 years. Libya is a State
that had no law or institutions. Social and political
demands are jostling each other, not just in terms of
participation but also of setting priorities.
 First and foremost, we must agree on the rules
and principles of participation. In addition, as the
Assembly knows, there are many expectations, from
our people within and from members of the
international community without. As the Assembly
considers how soon the transitional period will begin
and how the transitional Government will be created, it
is calling for respect for human rights and for respect
for foreign workers, asking that we deal with them in
accordance with international norms. The Assembly
calls for us to include everyone, without exclusion, to
build institutions at the required speed, to achieve
national reconciliation and end the arming and
militarization of our streets and towns, and to maintain
the unity of the homeland. The international
community is also asking us to include it in
reconstruction.
 That is a great deal by any standard.
Nevertheless, a people that was able to bring down its
regime and face political initiatives from all sides
could not accept that its situation was at a standstill.
The Transitional National Council has always rejected
compromise solutions. Through their will, the Libyan
youth and Libyan people proved that those calculations
were wrong, proving that they can win the battle and
face all the challenges, despite all the doubts and
problems that I just mentioned.
 National unity without a unified land or without
national reconciliation is an illusion. Achieving
security and national reconciliation are urgent
imperatives for any Government, whether interim or
transitional. No political participation is possible
without rules, rights and obligations. Therefore, it is of
the utmost importance to put a draft constitution to the
Libyan people for referendum. We want the rules of
political participation to be fair and to govern the
dialogue and competition, giving rights to all, without
excluding any individual or group.
 The assets freeze on our funds must be fully
lifted as soon as possible. Let me appeal to the
Assembly from this rostrum and to the Security
Council to adopt the historic resolution to lift the
freeze soon. The regime has fallen, even though we
have not yet liberated the entire homeland.
 We seek the help of the United Nations, the
unconditional help of friendly and sisterly countries.
We believe it to be a legitimate and undeniable right of
all States to enjoy sovereignty, whatever the nature or
size of assistance that is sought and needed.
 The Libya that we want is a State of law, an oasis
for human development in the Middle East. We believe
that Libya, through geography, history and its
geostrategic importance in the world, is a cultural link
between North, South, East and West. Libya must
resume that role, a role that has been denied to it for
more than 40 years now.
 I believe that development solutions that Libya
may propose could help find unprecedented solutions
to the phenomenon of illegal migration from the
southern part of the African continent to Europe. We
believe that the twenty-first century will be ruled to a
large extent by demography, and we believe that Africa
has the greatest capacities in terms of geography and
human resources. We believe that hundreds of millions
of young Africans will be driven by poverty and
unemployment to move northward. Libya can be the
gateway to development, instead of being the obstacle
to migration from South to North.
 African labour, skills and competencies that
satisfy the needs of the European economies can
contribute to European economic growth, particularly
in the light of the fact that in the next 30 years Europe
will be facing a much smaller, ageing population. In
2050, the population of Europe will have diminished
by 72 million; Africa’s population will be nearly

49 11-51360

2 billion. We believe that all this can contribute to
European economic well-being and development
through an agreement between Libyan capital and
European technology.
 On the political front, Libya must be a civilian
democratic State that gives full opportunities and
participation to all its sons and daughters. Women must
have a major role in the reconstruction of such a State.
Women in Libya, about 50 per cent of the population,
enjoy a very high level of education, because many
continue their education beyond high school. We
believe that women have a genuine role to play in
rebuilding and developing Libya.
 As for foreign policy, we need a vision that
radically reviews Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s foreign
policy, which was designed to sow fear, terrorism and
blackmail in many regions of the world. Rare is the
region of the world that escaped suffering from
Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s practices and plots to
destabilize them through terrorism. Our new foreign
policy must be based on mutual respect and respect for
mutual interests, and on non-intervention in the
internal affairs of others, just as we do not accept that
others intervene in our affairs. International
instruments, conventions, treaties, norms, values and
ethical principles must be respected. These are the
terms of reference for all relationships today.
 Rebuilding Libya into a civilian democratic State
is an important matter, not only for Libya but, in our
view, for the entire region as well. Libya is capable of
becoming, and has the opportunity to become, a model
of democracy and successful development. The
negative effects of the separation of a country’s politics
from its economy have brought many problems and
difficulties to this region.
 The time has come for a vision of development
that puts young people and women at the very top of its
list of priorities — not just because they make up
67 per cent of the population of the Arab world, but
because the future belongs to them. It is they who
started and led this revolution and the other revolutions
of the Arab Spring. We therefore need a new vision that
responds to the dreams of youth, a vision that the
international community must support; otherwise, the
region will only be subjected to successive waves of
instability.
 Supporting Libya in this development paradigm
is no less important and critical than protecting
innocent civilians. The international community, whom
we thank, did this in implementing Security Council
resolution 1973 (2011). In this context, we are
proposing a clear initiative, which could be termed
“building the new Libya”, to which our brothers and
friends contribute. However, the United Nations must
play a pioneering and leading role here, one through
which its specialized development agencies can
provide expertise and technical assistance. We must
give those agencies precedence over private companies
in order to avoid any possibility of corruption or lack
of transparency and fairness.
 We believe that roads are made by the feet that
walk on them. The Libyan people have now begun
their march towards rewriting their history. We have
great hopes in this international Organization, which
has travelled hand in hand with us. It was a
trustworthy, reliable friend — as was, indeed, the
entire international community — and prevented an
imminent massacre in my country by intervening at the
right time to save civilians. That makes a reality of the
Arab League’s call for an intervention, and we thank
the League for that. Just as the United Nations was a
faithful friend at that time, we believe it can now be a
trusted and supportive partner in the rebuilding of my
country. This is the major battle, for which we appeal
to the Assembly for assistance — political, economic,
financial and technical.


I extend my
warm and respectful greetings to all, and hope that the
sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly will yield
fruitful results. I would like to congratulate Mr. Nassir
Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his assumption of the
presidency, and extend my sincere appreciation to Mr.
Joseph Deiss for his service as the previous President
of the Assembly.
 We are at a moment when both the international
community and the United Nations are being tested in
an unprecedented manner. I feel obliged, however, to
state very frankly that today the United Nations is not
demonstrating the leadership necessary to help
humankind overcome its fears of the future. The United
Nations must therefore reform itself and renew its
vision with a view to protecting the universal rights of
humankind as a whole, rather than act in the interest
and remain under the guardianship of certain countries.
 Last month in Somalia, for instance, I personally
witnessed how the United Nations and the international
community remain helpless in the face of today’s
pressing problems. It is impossible for me to put into
words the poverty and suffering I saw in Somalia. I am
speaking of this because I have personally witnessed it,
with my family and ministers. It is not hearsay; I have
seen it myself. The tragedy of Somalia, where tens of
thousands of children have died for the lack of a mere
piece of bread and drop of water, is a matter of shame
for the international community and cannot be
dismissed in a few words. The civil war that has gone
on for the past 20 years has wiped out all of Somalia’s
resources and livelihood. The Somali people are being
gradually dragged to their death as the world looks on.
 The international community is watching the
suffering in Somalia as if it were a movie. It is urgent,
however, that we face this situation, which is a test of
our humanity. In doing so, we should not only look at
the picture we see today, but also at the shameful
history that has led Somalia into this great tragedy.
Indeed, beneath the tip of this huge iceberg lie great
crimes against humanity.
 In that respect, the situation in Somalia has also
revealed the deep wounds inflicted by the colonialist
mentality that kept Africa under its hegemony for
centuries. Today, however, this cold colonial attitude
stands aloof from places where it has no interest, and is
watches idly as millions of children die for want of a
morsel of bread in Somalia. I will be frank. No one can
speak of peace, justice or civilization in the world if
the cry rising from Somalia is left unheard. No words
are sufficient to describe the agony there.
 Turkey’s approach to Somalia or any other
international issue is firmly grounded on humanitarian
principles, which is why we have launched a

31 11-50865

comprehensive aid campaign for Somalia with the
strong support of our nation. We have collected
donations from our people of about $300 million
within the past two months; moreover, our
humanitarian assistance to date totals more than
$30 million. We also organized an emergency meeting
of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul,
at which pledges exceeded $350 million.
 Along with emergency humanitarian aid, Turkey
is also determined to help build the infrastructure and
facilities that will enable Somalia to stand on its own
feet. In that regard, Turkey has undertaken a wide
range of projects, from transportation to health and
education, and from agriculture to fisheries and
construction, including roads, hospitals, schools and
water wells. By reopening our embassy in Mogadishu,
we have also shown the world that claims of security
problems cannot be an excuse for delaying assistance.
 Along with such measures, it is also essential that
we bring an end to the civil war as quickly as possible
and provide Somalia with democratic and unified
governance in order to succeed in the fight against the
piracy and terrorism originating there. In that regard,
we would ask everyone to consider why the
international community refuses to bestow on Somalia
the attention it has given to conflict areas elsewhere in
the world. The entire international community must act
with a sense of utmost urgency in support of the efforts
to build peace and stability in Somalia. The civil war
that has suffocated our Somali brothers for 20 years
must end without further delay.
 In that context, the recent progress made by
Somali leaders towards building a national consensus
gives us hope for the future. As Somalia resumes its
well-deserved place within the international
community, the world will become a safer and more
stable place. It is precisely this understanding that lies
at the heart of Turkey’s determined efforts to help
Somalia. We are making every attempt to implement
infrastructure investments that will enable Somalia to
stand on its feet, and working unrelentingly to help
establish an environment of political stability and
peace conducive to sustainable development. We are
doing this solely because it is our humanitarian
responsibility, and with no other motive. It is our
greatest hope that the leadership demonstrated by
Turkey in this area will set an example for the entire
international community.
 For us, the United Nations symbolizes the ideal
that international law and justice shall prevail over
sheer force and oppression, that peace shall prevail
over conflict, and that the conscience of humanity shall
prevail over narrow self-interest and political
equilibrium. That is what I understand the United
Nations to be.
 The greatest impediment to the realization of this
ideal is the Arab-Israel conflict, which has been
ongoing for more than half a century. The fact that this
problem is still not resolved and that rights, law and
justice have been sacrificed for the sake of political
balance is the greatest blow to the our sense of
international justice.
 To date, Israel has not complied with — and I
emphasize this number — 89 binding resolutions of the
Security Council. In addition, there are hundreds of
resolutions adopted by the General Assembly — this
very body — that Israel has ignored. Even more
regrettable is the fact that the United Nations has been
helpless to take a single step to end the human tragedy
suffered by the Palestinian people.
 Therefore, I must ask is whether the United
Nations will fail to implement the sanctions it has
imposed on other countries just as it has failed to
implement its resolutions concerning Israel. Will the
United Nations assiduously follow through on the
resolutions it has taken with regard to other places, for
example, the Sudan? We really do need to look at
ourselves in the mirror.
 This situation causes great indignation in the
international community in general. Therefore, it
cannot remain unresolved; the international community
must act urgently to heal this bleeding wound.
 Israel readily uses phosphate bombs and
possesses the atom bomb, and has endured no
sanctions. But if even the hint of such a possibility
emerges elsewhere in the region, efforts are made to
suppress it. I ask whether that is fair and just.
 To be frank, the problem in this context is caused
by the Israeli Government. Those who govern the
country take steps every day that, instead of paving the
way for peace, build new barriers to it. Thus, it is the
Palestinian territories that are under occupation, not
Israeli territory. It is a contradiction of history to say
that it the occupied lands are Israeli territory. It is
Palestinian territory that is under occupation. It is

11-50865 32

Israel that uses disproportionate force. Once again, it is
Israel that does not abide by international will.
 In this context, the illegal settlements that are still
being established in the occupied territories of
Palestine, despite the calls of the international
community to stop, as well as the blockade on Gaza,
stand out in particular.
 I ask the Assembly; Does the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights allow for a country,
society or people to be cut off from international
justice? In my copy of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, I do not see such a possibility. If you
want to send a box of tomatoes to Palestine, you must
get permission from Israel, and I do not think that is
humane.
 As I have stated before, those who govern Israel
must make a choice. Loopholes in the United Nations
system and lobbies in some countries may give Israel
the opportunity to evade international law and justice
as it pursues its illegitimate actions. However, that will
not ensure — and I say this with emphasis — the
security that Israel needs today.
 Those who govern Israel must see that real
security is possible only by building real peace. I
would like once again to remind Israel from this
rostrum that nothing can substitute for peace. What we
face today is not a simple equation of peace for
security. Israel must read the newly flourishing
political and social landscape in the Middle East and
understand that it will no longer be possible to carry on
in environment of continuous strife and conflict.
 If we, as the international community, believe
that the ideal of establishing international peace and
security is the founding principle of the United
Nations, then it is time pressure Israel to achieve
peace, despite the actions of its leaders, and to show it
clearly that it is not above the law.
  One of the most important steps that need to be
taken in this regard is responding to the legitimate
demands of the Palestinian people to be recognized as
a State and to have the representatives of the State of
Palestine take their well-deserved place in this
Assembly as a Member of the United Nations. Indeed,
in 1947 the United Nations, through resolution
181 (II), declared Palestine a State, but unfortunately
that resolution was not implemented.
 Turkey’s support for the recognition of the State
of Palestine is unconditional. Turkey will continue to
work actively in the Middle East to ensure peace. We
stand ready to do so. Accordingly, we will continue to
work actively for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the recognition of the State of Palestine, the
achievement of unity among Palestinians, and the
lifting of the illegal blockade enforced against the
people of Gaza.
 This commitment is a natural extension of our
vision for regional peace and stability and our
commitment to international law and justice. It is also
the result of the responsibility we feel in this area.
Similarly, when a humanitarian aid convoy of
participants from 33 countries was attacked by air and
sea in international waters, resulting in the deaths of
nine innocent civilians, we could not remain silent. Our
reaction to Israel was a manifestation of our
conviction.
 Turkey has never pursued hostile and
confrontational policies against any State. Our foreign
policy is based on the principles of friendship and
cooperation. Our policy towards Israel is no exception
to these principles. However, Israel has seriously
wronged a country and its people who have through
history shown great friendship to it and its people.
What we demand of Israel is clear. Israel must
apologize, pay compensation to the families of our
martyrs and lift the blockade on Gaza. Until Israel
meets these demands and takes steps in this direction,
our position will not change.
 Let me also emphasize from this rostrum that we
do not have a problem with the people of Israel. Our
problem arises from the aggressive policies of the
current Israeli Government. In fact, we have had very
constructive relations with previous Israeli
Governments, making great strides in a number of
areas. Currently, the source of tension is solely the
Israeli Government.
 Turkey is a country that is trustworthy in the
international arena and whose friendship and
cooperation are sought. We will not abandon this
principled and determined policy.
 We are witnessing a historic process of
transformation and change in the Middle East. From
the very first day when these events began, we
appealed to all administrations in the region to lend an
ear to the calls of their people for democracy. The

33 11-50865

ultimate source of legitimacy for every Government is,
above all, the people and its will. What needs to be
done is to ensure that the people’s will is realized in a
free and open manner.
 We have also said that sovereignty derives from
the will of the people. Any sovereignty that does not
rest on the will of the people is not legitimate.
Sovereignty does not allow any leader or any regime to
repress its own people or kill innocent civilians. A
regime that points guns at its own people can have no
sovereignty or legitimacy. Today, everyone must
understand that times have changed. The era of
Governments that do not meet the legitimate needs and
expectations of their people and of administrations that
oppress and repress their people and fail to give the
highest priority to justice has come to an end.
 This was the call we made. We are very pleased
to see that our calls have been heeded in Egypt, Tunisia
and Libya and have paved the way for democratic
transformation and transition on the basis of the
legitimate demands of the people in those countries.
This gives us hope for the future. We observe with
regret, however, that some countries continue to stay
behind the curve of events and react with misguided
reflexes owing to their outdated state of mind.
 In that context, we are very closely following the
developments unfolding in Syria, which is our
neighbour and therefore very important to Turkey. The
current situation in Syria gives us great cause for
concern. The actions of the Government are
unacceptable and we have warned the Syrian
leadership many times to that effect. We share a
910-kilometre border. We have ties and relatives on
both sides of the border. We have always spoken the
truth, because we believe that friends always speak the
truth, no matter how bitter. We have always stated that
the voices, demands and wishes of the people must be
heard. We have said that persecution and oppression
cannot generate prosperity. We must listen to the call of
the people for democracy, not point guns at them.
 Unfortunately, the Syrian leadership has
persistently ignored our warnings. Now, every drop of
blood spilled in the country only widens and deepens
the divide between the people and the administration of
Syria. Turkey will continue to support the legitimate
and democratic demands of the people of Syria and
elsewhere, and to call on regimes to respect the wishes
and expectations of their people. We expect the
international community to do the same.
  In that regard, we are increasing our cooperation
with Tunisia and Egypt. In Libya, Turkey has
supported the National Transitional Council from the
very beginning. We are very proud to announce that we
were the first country to restore its Ambassador to
Libya. We will continue to staunchly support the new
Libya as it resumes its well-deserved place in the
United Nations as a democratic, united and
independent State.
 During my visit to Libya last week, I went to
Tripoli, Tajura, Misurata and Benghazi, holding
meetings in all four cities. I met and spoke with the
people. I saw and sensed the righteous pride of the
Libyan people in their revolution. I also witnessed the
destruction in Misurata.
 I believe that the international community must
be very sensitive to certain issues in terms of Libya.
First, Libya and its resources belong to the Libyans. As
democracy is established in Libya, it is very important
that the country’s frozen assets abroad be released
immediately so that Libya can stand on its own two
feet. We want to ensure that the Libyans have the
resources they really need. Currently, the country has
$170 billion in assets abroad, but the people cannot
benefit from them. In that regard, it is essential to
implement resolution 2009 (2011). The Libyan people
can determine their own future and we must respect
their choices.
 A fair, comprehensive and lasting solution must
be found to the long-standing problem in Cyprus,
which has persisted for more than half a century. The
United Nations plan put forward in 2004 demonstrated
that the parameters of a solution are there, but that the
Greek Cypriot side lacks the necessary will to make it
a reality. The Turkish Cypriot side, however, has still
not been freed from the isolation imposed upon it, even
though it has always expressed its full determination to
find a solution. Nevertheless, the Turkish Cypriot side
has remained committed to a peaceful solution and has
participated with goodwill in the negotiations resumed
under United Nations auspices.
 The objective is to finalize the negotiations by the
end of this year and have the settlement plan endorsed
in simultaneous referendums early next year, thus
enabling a united new Cyprus to take its place in the
European Union without further delay. Turkey will

11-50865 34

continue to provide all necessary support so as to reach
a solution as soon as possible, in line with that
timetable. I wish to emphasize, however, that if the
intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side does not
permit this to happen, as a guarantor country we will
not let the future of the Turkish Cypriots remain
uncertain forever.
 Moreover, at this critical juncture, we cannot
accept any attempt by the Greek Cypriot side to act as
if it were the sole representative of the Island or had
the authority to make decisions on behalf of the
Turkish Cypriots. In that regard, the attempts of the
Greek Cypriot side to unilaterally determine maritime
jurisdiction areas and to engage in exploration
activities in oil and natural gas fields are extremely
irresponsible in terms of both timing and possible
outcomes.
 In the face of these unilateral activities of the
Greek Cypriot side, which appear to be aimed at
provoking a crisis, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side
will act with common sense, but also will resolutely
protect their rights under international law. At this
point, we expect all concerned parties to work actively
to ensure that the Greek Cypriot Administration halts
these activities, which could lead to tension, not only
on the Island, but also throughout the region.
Otherwise, we will do whatever is necessary.
 The illegitimate occupation of Azerbaijani
territories, which has been ongoing for many years,
must come to an end. It is unacceptable to allow the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict to remain unresolved to the
extent that it is today.
 All of us bear political and moral responsibility
for resolving international problems before they lead to
stalemates. In that respect, more effective efforts must
be made to peacefully resolve the Kashmir conflict and
many other frozen disputes, which I will not enumerate
here. Conversely, peace and stability in the Balkans
can be achieved with the recognition of Kosovo’s
independence.
 Turkey has always been a staunch supporter of
the principles and goals enshrined in the Charter of the

United Nations. I believe that we showed our
commitment in that respect during our tenure as a
non-permanent member of the Security Council in
2009-2010. I also believe that our effective
performance at that time attests to what we intend to do
if re-elected to the Security Council for 2015-2016. In
this regard, I to take this opportunity to reaffirm that
we count on the support of all the Members of the
General Assembly for Turkey’s candidacy to a
non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the
term 2015-2016.
 As yet another manifestation of our support for
the goals of the United Nations, we are also determined
to pursue the Istanbul Programme of Action adopted at
the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries, which Turkey hosted early this
year. We are also continuing our efforts to implement
as soon as possible the announced package of
economic and technical cooperation for the least
developed countries. As part of that package, which
includes many areas of cooperation ranging from trade
to education and agriculture to energy, we intend to
provide the least developed countries with annual
assistance of $200 million. We also envisage increasing
our direct investments in these countries to $5 billion
and $12 billion by 2015 and 2020, respectively.
 We consider security, development and respect
for human rights to be integral parts of the same whole.
Together, they constitute the most fundamental
guarantee of lasting peace. Turkey will continue to
work towards the attainment of these fundamental
objectives of the United Nations and make every effort
to leave future generations a safer and more prosperous
world.


Let me begin by extending my
warm congratulations to Mr. Al-Nasser as President of
the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. His
strong leadership will continue the high standard set by
his predecessor. I wish also to express to the Secretary-
General my deepest appreciation for his many
contributions and accomplishments, one of which is his
recent visit to the South Pacific island countries. I
congratulate him and wish him well in his second term.
 Last July, the Security Council took a giant step
with the adoption of a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2011/15) during its debate on the issue of
climate change and its security implications. We were
encouraged by that bold step.
 As a member of the Pacific small island
developing States (SIDS), we appreciate the
unprecedented action taken by the Security Council as
we continue to face the threat to our existence and the
loss of territorial integrity and sovereignty resulting
from the adverse impacts of climate change and sea-
level rise. The concerns expressed by the Council in
connection with climate change, in particular
concerning sea-level rise as a security threat, is an
important step.
 We cannot but notice, however, the persistent
failure and reluctance by some countries to address the
security aspect of climate change, even in the face of
overwhelming scientific evidence. We believe that
those who opposed the debate in the Council and those
who doubted the security implications of climate
change simply ignored the obvious.
 We respectfully ask those members who opposed
the debate and those who are still in doubt to fulfil
their responsibilities under the Charter of the United
Nations. We also take note of the positions of those
who aspire to membership in the Council, and we
thank those countries who supported our cause. I
strongly urge the Security Council, and for that matter
the whole United Nations system, to utilize innovative

25 11-51191

ways to address the concerns of the most vulnerable
Members of this Organization.
 We are grateful for the historic visit by Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon to our region on the fortieth
anniversary of the Pacific Islands Forum. It was also
the first time in the 66-year history of this body that a
Secretary-General has ever visited any Pacific small
island developing State — on this occasion, Kiribati
and the Solomon Islands. We are confident that the
Secretary-General’s visit will give a greater sense of
urgency to the issue of climate change.
 Climate change is no longer a hypothetical issue
but a real tragedy, as we in the Pacific region are
already experiencing its adverse effects. These impacts
will continue to worsen until countries like mine
disappear, unless immediate and decisive actions are
taken by this body to mitigate climate change at first
evidence.
 It is imperative that we immediately begin to
reduce emissions of long-lasting greenhouse gases like
carbon dioxide. We must complement the action on
carbon dioxide by reducing short-lived climate forcers
such as black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone and
hydrofluorocarbons in order to prevent an additional
increase of as much as one degree Celsius in global
warming over the next decades. Reducing these short-
lived agents is one of the surest ways to protect some
of the Earth’s most vulnerable regions such as the
Federated States of Micronesia.
 I therefore call upon the international community
to join this strategic approach to meeting the challenge
of climate change. The time to act is now.
 More than 60 years ago, my island country, the
Federated States of Micronesia, drew world attention
as a battleground in the Pacific conflict. Today, the
remnants of approximately 60 shipwrecks from that
conflict are posing threats to the lives of our people,
our environment and the marine ecosystem.
Approximately 32 million litres of oil contained in the
bellies of the wrecks are a ticking environmental time
bomb. Leading experts on underwater corrosion have
warned that the shipwrecks will collapse, and when
they do, we believe that oil from these wrecks could
create a spill on a massive scale, with an impact
comparable to the disaster last year in the Gulf of
Mexico.
 Oil from these shipwrecks in my state of Chuuk
has already started leaking. Any disaster could have a
devastating effect on the environment, our food chain
and the surrounding reefs that serve as breeding
grounds for many fish species. It would also adversely
impact our tourism industry, which depends largely on
coral and shipwreck diving. Thus to avoid a major
environmental disaster, I am now appealing to the
international community for immediate assistance.
 Twenty years ago my country gained membership
in the Organization, just in time to become a part of the
movement known as the Rio process. Out of that
process, the principle of sustainability became a
mandate for development. For the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20),
Micronesia and other small island developing States
have been calling for recognition of what we term the
“blue economy”. As island nations with millions of
square miles of the blue Pacific, we naturally have
particular affinity and concerns for the ocean.
 Our ocean’s resources have enormous strategic
value. We depend on them for our subsistence living
and cultural identity as seafarers of the Pacific. The
blue Pacific has opened up new horizons in sustainable
economic development activities. As custodian of these
resources, we welcome the participation of our partners
in the utilization of these resources, but for too long we
have not received an equitable and fair share of our
ocean bounties.
 The development of our ocean resources is
severely hampered by the continuous selfish
behaviours of illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing. If unabated, these kinds of behaviour will
continue to deprive our people and our nascent fishing
industries of millions of dollars in revenues every year.
The fishing industry is further adversely affected by
ocean acidification caused by climate change.
 Conservation and sustainable management of
oceanic resources is important, because we will
continue to depend on the ocean in the years ahead. It
is for that reason that we have committed to various
conservation activities in the Micronesian region. One
in particular is our support for the establishment of
shark sanctuaries. The Federated States of Micronesia
has joined Palau and other countries in committing a
vast area in our Micronesian region to be a sanctuary
for sharks.

11-51191 26

 The current mechanisms for follow-up on the
implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action
and the Mauritius Strategy for Further Implementation
are unlikely to provide the momentum necessary to
take concrete steps as part of a results-oriented
approach. New and additional measures to address the
unique and particular vulnerabilities and development
of SIDS are required.
 Along with the Pacific SIDS, we are advancing a
proposal for Rio+20 to consider a third Global
Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS.
We must build upon the momentum of Rio+20 to
convene a third Global Conference to refocus and
develop new and additional measures that are results-
oriented to support the sustainable development of
SIDS.
 A special category for small island developing
States is imperative if the United Nations is to improve
the lot of the disadvantaged peoples of SIDS. After all,
realities demand it. I therefore reiterate the call made
last year by my own country and other small island
developing States for the creation of that special
category.
 I am grateful for the attention paid by the United
Nations High-level Meeting on Non-communicable
Diseases (NCDs) held earlier in the week.
 It is a major concern for us in the Pacific SIDS
that non-communicable diseases have reached
epidemic proportions. If allowed to continue unabated,
NCDs could potentially undermine our labour supply,
productivity, investment and education, with
devastating consequences for our economic
development. I echo the sentiments on NCDs expressed
by Pacific leaders regarding the importance of
immediate and decisive actions by Governments, the
private sector, civil society, regional and international
organizations and development partners to work
together to address what is now a human, social and
economic crisis for us in the Pacific.
 At the beginning of the current session, we
witnessed history of another kind unfolding in the Hall.
For the first time, a female President stood at this
podium to open the general debate. I join other world
leaders in congratulating Her Excellency Ms. Dilma
Rousseff of Brazil on her many achievements. The
challenge for this body is to continue to encourage
women from all nations to participate on an equal basis
at all levels of political decision-making processes.
After all, women are equal partners in families.
 In joining the debate on the Israeli-Palestinian
issue, my country urges the international community to
remain steadfast in upholding the principles of peaceful
coexistence as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
We continue to support Israel’s right to live within
secure and recognized borders, free from the fear of
terrorism. We also acknowledge Palestine’s right to
statehood, which can be achieved only through a
negotiated settlement between the two parties. I agree
with President Obama that there are no shortcuts to
solving this problem.
 Just halfway into the year, people everywhere are
experiencing the impact of natural disasters, making it
the costliest year on record. They have caused not only
property damage but also the loss of human lives. I
want to extend my people’s sincere sympathies for the
lives lost and the suffering everywhere.
 On the twentieth anniversary of my country’s
admission to the United Nations, we pledge to do our
best to support the goals of this Organization for the
benefit of our people and all peoples around the world.


I would like to begin
by congratulating Mr. Al-Nasser on his assumption of
the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-
sixth session. I express my gratitude to Mr. Joseph
Deiss for his devoted efforts during his tenure as
President of the Assembly at the sixty-fifth session. I
would also like to pay my deep respects to Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership.
 This has been a year of extraordinary challenges
for Japan. A little more than six months have passed
since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck Japan.
Nearly 20,000 people were killed or remain missing,
and nearly 40,000 who were forced to evacuate
continue to endure inconvenience in their daily lives. I
am truly proud to see the noble spirit of the Japanese
people manifest itself even amid such despair and
hardship. At the same time, I have been deeply moved
by the strong feelings of compassion shown by people
the world over towards Japan. There are many
unforgettable stories.
 Ms. Rita Retnaningtyas, an Indonesian nurse
candidate and trainee at the Miyagi Hospital, evacuated
120 patients from the hospital to a safer location just
before the arrival of the tsunami. She stayed on at the
hospital for several days, taking care of the patients in
the absence of electricity and water.
 In Brazil, the children of a small rural town
collected change and sent their contributions to us in a
tin can. I heard that, when asked why, one of the
children answered that it was because Japan, a friend
of Brazil, was suffering.
 University students in Kenya gathered in Nairobi
in memory of Japanese victims of the earthquake. They

31 11-51185

sang in chorus the popular Japanese song known
outside Japan as “Sukiyaki” — whose original
Japanese title reads “Let Us Walk Looking Up” —
saying that they wished to deliver the song to the
Japanese people.
 Those are only a few such stories among tens of
thousands. The world expressed friendship, solidarity
and praise for the Japanese people immediately after
the earthquake. On behalf of the people of Japan, I
express my heartfelt gratitude for the helping hands
extended from all over the world. These bonds between
Japan and the international community will be forever
remembered by the Japanese.
 Since 11 March, the sounds of recovery have
echoed throughout the Tohoku region of Japan. The
Government of Japan has exerted every effort to
restore and reconstruct the disaster-affected areas. The
daily lives of those outside the affected areas,
including the metropolitan area of Tokyo, have
returned almost to normal. The infrastructure and
economy of the coastal areas of Tohoku, which were
washed away by the tsunami, are recovering. Damaged
supply chains are close to full restoration. We have
been sharply reminded of the role that Japanese
companies, including small and medium-sized
enterprises, play in sustaining the growth of the global
economy.
 We are making steady progress towards securing
stable control of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear power stations of the Tokyo Electric Power
Company. Currently, we are focusing our efforts on
moving up the existing target period to achieve cold
shutdown status by the end of this year. A number of
other challenges remain to be addressed, including the
removal of debris and rebuilding of the livelihoods of
the Japanese people in the affected areas. We will
continue to be fully engaged in the restoration and
reconstruction efforts as our highest priority task so
that Japan’s renewal can be realized without delay.
 As the new leader of Japan, I am deeply honoured
to discuss and share Japan’s ambitions for the world’s
future, as well as Japan’s diplomatic vision, with all
those in attendance here today at this meeting of the
General Assembly.
 The world is undergoing tremendous changes,
including those now under way in the Middle East and
North Africa, which have been brought about by the
peoples’ awakening and their resulting common
awareness.
 Through its experience of the massive earthquake
in March, Japan was again made aware of the
importance of its bonds with the people of the world.
We have come to fully realize the importance of the
responsibility to society that is fulfilled by each
individual. We have never felt more strongly the
significance of promoting human security. I am
resolved to implement Japanese diplomacy by working
closely with all the world leaders here at the United
Nations, with the determination to make a substantive
contribution to overcoming the challenges that the
world faces and shaping a brighter future for humanity.
 Allow me to touch on Japan’s efforts to help the
world economy grow. Japan has a long history of
assisting developing countries to create prosperous
societies through nation-building and human-resource
development. From our own experience, we understand
very well that the engine of economic growth is a
strong middle class. In order to strengthen that middle
class, we must construct a social framework within
which all individuals can strengthen their capacities
and develop them to the full. In this regard, Japan will
continue to actively support developing countries
through its official development assistance.
 We must not let the current global economic
uncertainty and financial unrest hamper the efforts of
the international community to achieve growth. It is
vital that all countries cooperate in order to bring
harmony out of the current chaos. I myself am
committed to doing my best as the new leader of Japan.
Achieving economic growth in tandem with fiscal
health is the most crucial challenge confronting the
world at the present time. Japan will press ahead with
its targets for restoring fiscal sustainability.
Meanwhile, as we recognize that revitalizing the
Japanese economy is directly linked to rebuilding the
world economy, we will work on strengthening
industrial infrastructure, employment and energy
conservation in our efforts to achieve a full recovery
from the earthquake disaster. In the mid-to-long term,
we intend to further reinforce partnerships between the
Japanese and other global economies. It is also
important that trade activities not be disturbed by
excessive currency volatility.
 Furthermore, in order to help realize sustainable
growth of the Japanese economy, we will work to

11-51185 32

achieve a low-carbon society and a transition to a green
economy. The key to achieving these goals is
technological innovation in the areas of renewable
energies, saving energy and the clean use of fossil
fuels, all of which are considered part of green
innovation. By next summer, the Government of Japan
will have created a new strategy and plan for the
composition of Japan’s mid- to long-term energy use,
aimed at making a bold shift on energy policy. Japan
will also further improve on its excellent, safe, secure
and environmentally friendly technologies, represented
by energy-efficient houses and electric appliances and
vehicles, contributing to the growth of the global
economy and to a brighter future for all during the
discussions leading up to the 2012 United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development.
 Japan will throw all its efforts into seeking a safe
and brighter future. The run-up height, which is the
maximum onshore vertical height above sea level, of
the tsunami that hit the Tohoku district reached as high
as 40 metres, the highest in Japan in recorded history.
We have learned that we must be very well prepared. In
that regard, there are contributions that Japan, with
such experience behind it, is uniquely qualified to
make. The first lesson to be learned from Japan’s
recent tragedy is the importance of international
cooperation in disaster risk reduction.
 We have a long history of combating and
overcoming natural disasters. In fact, we have actively
supported the response efforts to the disasters that have
occurred in recent years in areas such as Sumatra,
Sichuan in China, Haiti and New Zealand. As a country
that has learned to coexist harmoniously with nature,
we are prepared to share with the world our
accumulated knowledge and skills. As a first step,
Japan will hold an international conference in the
disaster-stricken Tohoku region next year designed to
improve international cooperation on coping with
natural disasters. To build on the outcome of that
conference, Japan proposes to host the Third United
Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction in
2015, and plans to take a leading role in the
international community in creating a disaster-resistant
world.
 Next, Japan hopes to share its acquired
knowledge and experience in the field of nuclear
safety. I welcomed yesterday’s high-level meeting on
this issue held at the initiative of the Secretary-
General. Following the nuclear accident, Japan has
implemented emergency safety measures and further
strengthened its nuclear energy regulation regime. In
yesterday’s meeting, I expressed my resolve to
contribute positively to the reinforcement of global
nuclear power safety, drawing on our experiences with
the accident.
 Next year, Japan will co-host an international
conference with the International Atomic Energy
Agency to share the results of the overall assessment of
the accident in comprehensive detail, and to contribute
to the various measures taken by the international
community to raise standards for nuclear safety.
Although some countries, regrettably, are still
imposing undue restrictions on imports from Japan, our
Government will continue to provide prompt, accurate
and transparent information on this matter. I would
request that all countries make sensible judgements
based on scientific evidence.
 Global threats continue to proliferate. It is
essential to deal with the root causes of such threats
while taking steps to address them. Japan will continue
to respond to those challenges in order to ensure a
brighter and more peaceful future. With regard to the
issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia, Japan will
remain actively engaged in combating the problem
through continued deployment to the area of two
destroyers and two patrol aircraft.
 Japan intends to enhance its efforts to eradicate
terrorism and its causes. Though a decade has passed
since the 9/11 attacks, our collective sorrow has yet to
heal. And in that connection, I would like to express
my sincere condolences on the death of Mr. Rabbani,
Chairman of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council. Japan
reiterates its firm condemnation of such atrocious acts
of terrorism. In order to prevent Afghanistan from once
again becoming a breeding ground for terrorism, we
will continue to confront the problem with strong
resolve. Japan has expressed its commitment to
providing approximately $5 billion in assistance over
five years beginning in 2009, focusing on security,
reintegrating former insurgents into society, and
development, and will continue to implement that
commitment.
 United Nations peacekeeping missions are being
dispatched to fragile and conflict-prone States. Japan
will contribute to peacebuilding efforts by actively
participating in those operations. We must further
improve the conditions that promote that goal. At the

33 11-51185

same time, we will do our best to achieve the ideal of a
world without nuclear weapons through such efforts as
the multi-country non-proliferation and disarmament
initiative.
 The nuclear and missile issues of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea pose a threat to the entire
international community, and Japan continues to urge
that country to take concrete steps towards resolving
those issues. In particular, the abduction issue
represents a violation of basic human rights. It is thus
an issue of universal import and a matter of great
concern for the entire international community. Japan
is committed to exerting all possible efforts to achieve
the return of all the victims at the earliest possible date,
through strengthened coordination with other Member
States.
 With regard to relations between Japan and the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan intends
to maintain its efforts to comprehensively resolve the
outstanding issues of concern, settle the unfortunate
past and normalize relations, in accordance with the
Japan-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Pyongyang Declaration of 2007. Japan urges the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take
positive steps in order that our countries may have a
dialogue toward this goal.
 In recent years, the role of the United Nations has
taken on greater significance than ever. In order for the
United Nations to tackle such issues more effectively,
Japan will continue to support increasing effectiveness
and efficiency in reinforcing the functions of the
United Nations.
 Security Council reform is absolutely necessary
in that respect. We must revitalize the stagnated reform
process. All Member States must proactively commit to
the reform with a sense of urgency. The credibility of
the United Nations is at stake. Japan intends to launch
substantive negotiations toward the reform with like-
minded Members, in order to achieve tangible results
during the current session.
 As I promised moments ago, Japan will recover
from the earthquake disaster and seek a peaceful, safe
and brighter future, side by side with the leaders
gathered here. For that purpose, Japan will maintain its
contribution to the attainment of the Millennium
Development Goals, focusing on health and education.
Moreover, Japan will continue its contribution to the
development of Africa by hosting the Fifth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development in
2013. Regarding the support intended to enable
developing countries to address climate change, Japan
will implement its quick-start finance commitments up
to next year. Japan will continue its support beyond
2012.
 Today, I would like to announce Japan’s new
commitments. First, I wish to congratulate the people
of the Republic of South Sudan on achieving their
independence, and provide assurances that Japan will
extend wherever possible support for the nation-
building efforts in South Sudan as well as for the
consolidation of peace in the region. Japan is eager to
contribute to the United Nations Mission in South
Sudan in the fields in which Japan excels. From this
point of view, we are preparing to dispatch Japanese
Self-Defence Forces personnel to Mission
Headquarters as staff officers. Japan is also interested
in dispatching an engineering unit of our Self-Defence
Forces, regarding which the United Nations has
expressed high expectations. Japan therefore will
conduct the necessary field study as early as possible.
 Second, Japan will remain actively involved in
the international community’s efforts with regard to
humanitarian crises. One of the most pressing
challenges at present is the drought in the Horn of
Africa, which is directly affecting the children of the
region. To mitigate this suffering as effectively as
possible, Japan will provide further humanitarian aid in
addition to the approximately $100 million in
assistance that it has already implemented.
 The last commitment I wish to announce
concerns the Middle East and North Africa. Japan will
support reform and democratization efforts in this
region, which is now undergoing a massive change that
is often referred to as the Arab Spring. To improve the
employment situation and support human resources
development in the region, Japan is prepared to extend
an additional yen loan worth approximately $1 billion
for projects that are expected to contribute to
infrastructure building and industrial development.
 Moreover, we will provide support to ensure fair
elections in Tunisia and Egypt, where polls are
scheduled to be held in autumn of this year. For a new
Libya, Japan will support the country’s nation-building
efforts in cooperation with the international
community, utilizing its expertise and technological
capacity. At the same time, Japan will deepen

11-51185 34

economic relations with Middle Eastern and North
African countries by further promoting trade and
investment through such means as trade insurance and
export loans. As Middle East peace represents the
linchpin for the peace and stability of the region, Japan
will make active efforts, such as extending assistance
to the Palestinians, for the realization of the two-State
solution.
 To conclude my statement, I will touch briefly
upon what I have felt in the aftermath of the Great East
Japan Earthquake. After the events of 11 March this
year, I strongly felt the magnificence of a society in
which each individual undertakes actions in an orderly
manner, a society in which people help each other. In
addition, all lines of the Tohoku shinkansen bullet
trains, including a train that was running at
270 kilometres per hour at the time of the earthquake,
made emergency stops safely, without causing a single
injury. I believe this fact bears witness to Japan’s high
level of technical advancement.
 I thus believe in the strength of the Japanese
people, which comes to the fore most prominently in
times of crisis. I am certain that such resilience, both
human and technological, which does not yield in the
face of enormous difficulties, will be the very source of
Japan’s future contribution to the international
community.
 Let us take up the challenges for the resolution of
the issues confronting the world today, with strong
determination to pave the way to a brighter future for
humanity. As the new leader of Japan, I am determined
to make progress step by step towards a more peaceful,
prosperous and positive future, hand in hand with the
leaders assembled here today.
 The people of Japan as well as the Government
are determined to overcome any and all difficulties. We
will continue our contribution towards a brighter future
for the people of the world.
 I wish to close my statement by reiterating our
firm determination.