Allow me to begin by
extending my delegation’s warmest congratulations to
the President upon his assumption of the office of the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth
session. We have full confidence in his ability to guide
our deliberations to a successful conclusion. I also pay
tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping, for skilfully
conducting the work of the fifty-ninth session of the
General Assembly and for his efforts in preparing the
High-level Plenary Meeting, held from 14 to
16 September 2005.
It is appropriate that the theme for the sixtieth
session of the General Assembly is “For a stronger and
more effective United Nations: the follow-up and
implementation of the High-level Plenary Meeting in
September 2005”.
Indeed, this session has the responsibility to
implement the decisions of the High-level Plenary
Meeting. Our leaders have clearly pronounced that the
goals and objectives of the Millennium Summit and
other United Nations conferences and summits
represent the minimum required to deal with the issues
and challenges of our time. Their message is that 2005
should be a year for concrete action to deliver on those
goals and objectives. We must, therefore, summon
political will and assume moral responsibility to work
truly for the benefit of our peoples on whose behalf we
gather at the United Nations year after year.
In the report “In larger freedom: towards
development, security and human rights for all”
(A/59/2005), the Secretary-General argues that the
principles and purposes of the United Nations
contained in the Charter remain as valid and relevant
today as they were in 1945 and that what is now
required is for practice and organization to move with
the times. My delegation fully agrees with that view.
Our work must always be guided by the Charter, but
our approach must adapt to changing circumstances
and challenges. In doing so, we must move beyond
narrow national perspectives and interests and treat all
issues in a balanced and holistic manner.
As I stated at the High-level Plenary Meeting last
week, my delegation supports all initiatives to
strengthen the United Nations and its institutions. Of
17

significant interest to my delegation is the
strengthening of this Assembly, which is the only
universal body in the United Nations. There is a clear
consensus within the membership on the need for
urgent and wide-ranging reform of the United Nations,
although differences remain on the nature and extent of
reform. The 2005 World Summit Outcome has
entrusted the sixtieth session with implementation of
certain reform decisions and at the same time with
carrying out further discussions and negotiations in
areas where consensus has not been reached. We must
continue with our efforts to find consensus in those
areas.
Among the issues that are unresolved is the
reform of the Security Council. We have debated this
issue for well over a decade, but have not yet reached a
decision. My country continues to call for early action
to enlarge the permanent and non-permanent
membership of the Security Council and to improve its
working methods. In this context, we reiterate our
support to include Brazil, Germany, India and Japan as
permanent members. Those countries have
demonstrated their capacity and will to contribute to
world peace and security. We also believe that Africa
should be adequately represented by permanent
membership on the Council.
Development is the most immediate and pressing
issue for the vast majority of Member States. No other
issue can be as central as development when millions
live in deprivation and despair; and global peace and
security cannot be truly achieved without advancing
development. In fact, partnership in other areas cannot
be sustained without genuine international cooperation
in development.
The shortfalls in our commitments to the
Millennium Summit and other major United Nations
conferences and summits are all too clear. More needs
to be done urgently to address the hurdles of
development, which range from finance to debt, trade,
global governance and systemic issues, the
environment and science and technology.
Adequate and predictable sources of financing are
crucial for the success of development efforts. We
therefore welcome ideas for innovative sources of
funding and calls for increased official development
assistance (ODA). In this regard, my delegation would
like to commend those countries that have achieved or
exceeded the ODA target of 0.7 per cent of gross
national product (GNP). We welcome the timetable
established by some countries to achieve the ODA
target by 2015 and urge others to do so expeditiously.
We also urge that 0.2 per cent of GNP be allocated to
least developed countries to enable them to achieve the
goals and objectives of the Brussels Programme of
Action and the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). The recent decision of the Group of 8 (G-8)
to cancel the external debt of 18 highly indebted poor
countries, including 13 least developed countries, is a
welcome move. My delegation is hopeful that the same
consideration will be given to all least developed
countries.
As a small, least developed and landlocked
country, Bhutan sees official development assistance as
its primary source of financing for development. In this
regard, my delegation would like to place on record its
deep appreciation of the bilateral and multilateral
partners that are actively supporting our development
efforts. Despite a significant increase in its own
resources, my country will have to rely on ODA for
some time in its efforts to realize the MDGs as well as
for overall development.
The continued support of the international
community for our development efforts is crucial at the
present juncture. Decades of gradual but deliberate
change in the system of governance of the country,
spearheaded by His Majesty King Jigme Singye
Wangchuck, are entering a critical phase. A draft
constitution for the country is currently under
discussion. Its adoption in the near future will
transform the country into a parliamentary democracy.
For this system of governance to succeed, it is
imperative that the country be able to maintain the
current level of progress in the social, economic and
other fields.
My country attaches great importance to the
conservation and protection of the environment, as
human life is fundamentally dependent on natural
systems and resources. There cannot be sustainable
development without environmental sustainability. We
must commit ourselves to meeting the goals of, inter
alia, the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
Agenda 21 and the Kyoto Protocol. In Bhutan, we have
made serious efforts to integrate the principles and
practices of environmental sustainability into our
development policies and programmes. As a result of
our conservation efforts, Bhutan has successfully
maintained 72.5 per cent of its land area under forest
18

cover. Our modest achievement in this area was duly
recognized by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) in April 2005 when it awarded to
His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan a
UNEP Champions of the Earth 2005 award.
My country fully supports the establishment of a
worldwide early warning system for all natural
hazards. Situated in a very fragile mountain ecosystem,
Bhutan is prone to glacial floods and other natural
disasters, including earthquakes. The solidarity that the
international community demonstrated last year when
many countries in the Indian Ocean rim were
devastated by the tsunami was exemplary and is worth
replicating in other areas.
Terrorism is a pernicious threat to peace and
security. It cannot be justified under any
circumstances. It is imperative for the international
community to act resolutely to root out this menace.
We condemn terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations. Bhutan supports all efforts to conclude
a comprehensive convention on international terrorism
and other initiatives. Small and poor developing
countries are particularly vulnerable and are in need of
international support to fight terrorism. They are also
vulnerable to transnational crime and need assistance
to deal with it.
International migration is on the increase today.
Migration offers opportunities and at the same time
presents serious challenges to both source and recipient
countries. Associated with it is the problem of illegal
immigration, which presents serious challenges,
particularly to small countries such as my own. It is
therefore important for a high-level dialogue on
international migration and development to be held by
the General Assembly in 2006 to address all issues
associated with migration.
My delegation supports the Secretary-General’s
continuing efforts to organize annual multilateral treaty
events in conjunction with General Assembly sessions.
In this context, we are pleased to report to the
Assembly that Bhutan acceded to the following treaties
last week: the United Nations Convention against
Corruption; the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children
in Armed Conflict; and the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
Bhutan, as a responsible Member State, fully
upholds all relevant international treaties and
conventions. However, our desire to accede to them is
consistently constrained by lack of capacity to deal
with the range of issues they contain and by the
difficulties of meeting reporting and other obligations.
This is a serious hurdle faced by many small countries,
especially least developed countries. There is a genuine
need to look at ways to simplify reporting and other
obligations and to provide technical and financial
assistance to countries in need.
We must heed the call of the Secretary-General
who has said,
“Our action must be as urgent as the need,
and on the same scale. ... Only by acting
decisively now can we both confront the pressing
security challenges and win a decisive victory in
the global battle against poverty by 2015”.
(A/59/2005, para. 23)
We believe that the time to act is now. We must not let
the opportunity slip. I wish the General Assembly
continued success at this session.


It is an honour and
privilege for me to present my country’s statement, as
commanded by His Majesty King Mswati III.
I am happy to convey the greetings and best
wishes of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty
the Queen Mother, and the entire Swazi nation.
On behalf of my delegation, I wish to
congratulate Mr. Eliasson on his election as President
of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. The
Kingdom of Swaziland is confident that his diplomatic
skills and vast experience in international affairs will
guide the work of the General Assembly to a
successful conclusion as it faces the daunting task of
reform and change.
We wish also to recognize the work done by his
predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping, Minister of Foreign Affairs
23

of Gabon, who ably steered the last session so as to set
the stage for change in the year 2005. He hands over
the leadership of this body at a crucial time — a time
when we have to take concrete and firm action to effect
such change. We wish him well and every success in
his future endeavours.
This is a momentous occasion, as we are
celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the United
Nations at a time when we are charting a course and
adopting clear guidelines for adapting the Organization
to the effective role it must play in the new century. We
have also taken on the responsibility and challenge of
ensuring that the United Nations of the twenty-first
century can make real improvements in the lives of the
peoples of the world.
Given the contributions of the United Nations to
world peace, economic and social development and the
observance of human rights, we are reaffirming our
faith in the Organization, and we will continue to work
to achieve the objectives of the Charter through the
strengthening and revitalization of the United Nations
system.
In the last five years, the international community
has witnessed a mixed bag of successes, trials and
tribulations whose consequences have been felt across
the globe. The scale of some of these man-made
problems and natural disasters — such as terrorism,
war, the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina — was
unprecedented.
It is because of some of these incidents that, for
the first time in its existence, the United Nations has
been challenged in its pivotal role of maintaining
global peace, security and safety. Fortunately, the
United Nations has remained undeterred, and that is
due in particular to the astute leadership of our
Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, whose diplomatic
skills and efforts to unite — tested as they have
been — have managed to keep the Organization
focused as it deals with the critical issues confronting
the international community today.
For those reasons, the Kingdom of Swaziland
believes that this session presents an opportunity for us
to advance further the reform process in order not only
to make the Organization efficient and effective, but
also to ensure that the programmes of action adopted at
past global conferences are fully implemented.
We therefore welcome the decisions taken at the
recently concluded Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) review summit. These will indeed set us on
course to have a significant impact on each and every
country’s socio-political and economic development.
Our quest for a safer and secure world continues
to be challenged. The recent spate of terrorist
bombings in various parts of the world is a clear
indication that we have to fight that growing scourge
with urgency. The adoption of the 13 conventions
covering different aspects of terrorism demonstrates
our unwavering commitment to this course.
The Kingdom of Swaziland supports the
Secretary-General’s call for the drafting of a
comprehensive instrument that will enable us to
collectively and effectively fight terrorism.
Tensions and conflicts within and among States,
which are detrimental to development and productivity,
continue to affect many parts of the world. Such
conflicts are fuelled by the ever-growing illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons, which cause the death
and displacement of thousands of innocent people
every year.
In that regard, the Kingdom of Swaziland
supports United Nations efforts to enhance
international cooperation to prevent, combat and
eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light
weapons. We further call for stern action to be taken
against the mass production of such arms and weapons,
in the same manner as we would deal with drug
producers.
In this age of globalization, collective action will
be necessary given that no single nation can find its
own solutions to the challenges that we face. In that
context, we welcome the various initiatives currently
under way that are aimed at engaging regional
organizations to do their part in responding to
challenges within their regions.
These partnerships have been taking shape, and it
is now up to us to give them substance by establishing
appropriate frameworks, harmonizing methods and
pooling capacities and resources for our work.
We in Africa consider cooperation between the
African Union and the United Nations as being of great
value. For example, peacekeeping and peacebuilding
missions continue to enhance peace initiatives in our
region. However, I would like to stress here that
24

peacekeeping operations must go hand in hand with
humanitarian efforts, with all of the urgency such
situations require.
African leaders have demonstrated their political
will, but they lack the resources to resolve crises in
Africa. It is for that reason that we appeal to the
international community to increase its support for the
African Union, so as to enhance its capacity and
response mechanism.
The Kingdom of Swaziland supports the call for
an integrated approach to conflict resolution on our
continent, and we also support the idea that the African
Union is the organ best suited to mobilizing the efforts
of its members, and, most important of all, to
undertaking preventive action before a situation
deteriorates.
The Kingdom of Swaziland remains concerned,
however, by the conflict in the Middle East, which
continues to threaten international peace and security.
We believe that the road map holds the key to a
positive outcome on the matter and urge the Quartet to
continue its efforts to bridge the differences between
the parties.
While welcoming the positive efforts by the
Government of Israel to withdraw from some parts of
the occupied territories, we would urge both parties to
make a commitment to a comprehensive cessation of
all violence, particularly that aimed at civilians, or else
real progress will remain elusive. We remain hopeful
that a solution to the conflict is imminent and continue
to urge both parties to remain pragmatic and
constructive in their quest for a solution.
The recent MDG follow-up summit succeeded in
highlighting the plight of Africa with unprecedented
clarity. The paradox of Africa is the extreme and
increasing poverty of its people, who face many
problems, including ill health, in a land so richly
endowed with natural resources. This has become
increasingly visible over the past decade, while we
have seen evidence of a decline in poverty in other
parts of the world.
In much of Africa, one of the major causes and
consequences of poverty is disease, mainly malaria and
HIV/AIDS. These diseases continue to compromise the
health situation in African countries, halting and even
reversing health gains achieved in earlier years. The
poor are caught in a complex poverty trap in which low
income leads to low consumption, which in turn results
in low capacity and low productivity.
The Kingdom of Swaziland believes that there
are relatively affordable technologies in our modern
world that can mitigate the effect of disease on the
poor. Experience has shown that proven strategies and
health interventions can effectively and dramatically
reduce the toll of these killer diseases. Fortunately, the
MDGs point the way forward.
We believe that the creation of a world solidarity
fund to eradicate extreme poverty and an accord within
the framework of the World Trade Organization on
patents are imperative and would be steps in the right
direction, so that our countries can provide medicines
to all.
Health is a strong entry point for poverty
reduction, and alleviating the disease burden on the
poor will contribute to the improvement of their social
status.
This year also marks another milestone in the
calendar of the movement for gender equality and the
advancement of women: the 10-year review of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 1995
women gathered in Beijing and took a giant step
forward. At that point, gender equality came to be
recognized as a critical element of development and
peace for each and every country. Some progress has
been made. For example, many more girls are now
enrolled in primary education. Investing in women is
paramount for ensuring sustainable development.
During this session, we must strive to meet the
challenge that the Charter, established 60 years ago,
articulated: the equal rights of men and women.
As we note this progress, we acknowledge the
newer challenges that have emerged, such as the effects
of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on both women and girls.
The HIV/AIDS scourge continues to plague our
communities in Africa. The pandemic is as much a
medical crisis as it is an economic, social and political
crisis. With no cure insight, it will continue to deplete
the essential financial and human resources so critical
for development. For its part, my Government has been
collaborating with local communities to find home-
grown solutions to this problem. We continue to be
grateful to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria and other international
agencies for the assistance and support they continue to
provide us in our fight against this killer disease.
25

There is no doubt that developing countries are
determined to fight poverty by creating jobs for our
people. As we play our part in the mobilization of
domestic resources, I would like to appeal to the
developed world to meet its commitments by
supporting us. Effective assistance by the international
community to enhance the quality of economic choices
is necessary, as is firm commitment without
conditionalities.
The Kingdom of Swaziland believes that the
Doha Development Agenda needs to be seriously
advanced, with industrialized countries addressing the
needs of developing countries. We call for better access
to markets, in particular preferential markets with
lowered tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade with
industrialized countries.
On the question of reform of the United Nations,
the Kingdom of Swaziland supports the wide range of
proposals put forward to revitalize our Organization in
its management of our affairs. We are of the view that
the role of the General Assembly must be significantly
strengthened to enable it to fulfil the tasks originally
assigned to it by the Charter. The General Assembly, as
the most democratic and representative body of the
United Nations, should seize this opportunity to take
the lead and thus demonstrate that it can express the
political will of the people of the world.
In this regard, the Economic and Social Council
too should be strengthened and given decision-making
powers to implement the United Nations development
agenda. We also believe that the Council should
continue to be the overall coordinator of all
development activities, including the Millennium
Development Goals.
As we discuss greater representation and wider
participation in the United Nations system, and as we
celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Organization,
allow me to remind all of us gathered here that the
more than 23 million people of the Republic of China
remain hopeful that their voice in quest of participation
in the very important United Nations system will soon
be heard and positively responded to, so that they too
can make their valuable contributions to the
management and prosperity of world affairs. In the
meantime, it is our continued hope that the existing
issues between the parties will be resolved peacefully.


No
one here took part in the first General Assembly in
1945. We can only imagine how at the end of the
Second World War men and women full of hope were
prompted by a firm resolve to change and make the
world better. They were right. The shortcomings and
weaknesses of our Organization should not in any way
detract from the leading role of the United Nations in
the world.
Do we today share the same spirit that inspired
our predecessors? At the end of this General Assembly
will we feel that we have improved the world?
We welcome the draft outcome document. We
also welcome recent resolutions adopted by the
4

Security Council on counter-terrorism and conflict
prevention, particularly in Africa. We support the early
establishment of a human rights council so as to
promote democracy.
However, the results of the summit meeting do
not fully correspond with Africa’s aspirations. What is
lacking is that long-hoped-for impetus that would
enable every Member State to express its views, give
hope to our peoples, preserve the balance of nature and
enable us to ensure the futures of all the world’s
children. We need to further strengthen our efforts by
trying fresh approaches.
First of all, it is high time to strengthen the role
of the General Assembly. It is also time for Africa to
be better represented within United Nations bodies,
and in particular on the Security Council. That is a
matter of justice, but it is also a necessity for the
development of our continent. Having Africa’s voice
heard on the international level and allowing it to share
in responsibilities on a global level are marks of
concern and respect for our States and our peoples. Let
us put an end to the exclusion of the African continent.
We want to make our full and complete contribution to
debates and decision-making on issues that concern
how our world works.
The discussions in recent months have focused on
institutional reform at the United Nations. That is a
very important question. It is also important for Africa.
But we would ask you to expand the discussion so as to
properly define the role that the Organization should
play in world development. The United Nations should
be more than just a crisis management body — a body
that addresses poverty, disasters and emergencies. Let
us convert it into a body that inspires us with hope. Let
us work together for development, justice and equity.
The sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations
should mark the beginning of a new era in which we
will have the opportunity to build a more prosperous,
more just, more democratic and more environmentally
aware world — a world that is sounder, healthier, more
responsible and more united.
We need to work out strategies and plans that
arouse enthusiasm among nations and attract the
fervent hopes of our peoples. We will only change the
world if we can secure the support of our populations.
The United Nations must devise and adopt the
necessary measures to establish a more balanced world.
All the crises, the wars, the questions of security and
terrorism, the world’s epidemics — all of those have
concrete causes.
The Secretary-General rightly quoted one of the
United Nations purposes from the preamble to the
Charter: “to promote social progress and better
standards of life in larger freedom”. Our peoples want
to have real opportunities. Quite rightly, they call for
the favourable conditions that will allow them to take
advantage of those opportunities.
Our Organization is 60 years old. Much has been
achieved in decolonization and peacekeeping, for
instance. Five years ago we defined the Millennium
Development Goals. Now we must go still further. Let
us devise a genuine global strategy for development, a
strategic partnership with a clear-cut vision and more
ambitious goals.
As regards Africa, what is lacking is a clear
vision of its future. It can be seen that Africa is still a
poor continent. Nonetheless, Africa has the potential to
be rich. The previous General Assembly provided me
with an opportunity to propose a “Marshall Plan for
Africa”. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
made the same proposal and the President of the World
Bank, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, has also spoken of a plan of
action for Africa. Let us ask other donors to join in this
initiative.
The Marshall Plan for Africa should cover much
more than a call to cancel debt and increase financial
support. It should take into account Africa’s potential
and the right steps that are needed to realize it. It
should build a positive image of our continent and
determine the role that it could play in economic,
political, social and cultural spheres.
Globalization highlights the economic dimension
of international relations. However, we need to invest
more in the social dimension of development by
enhancing the role of the Economic and Social Council
so as to meet the legitimate aspirations of our peoples.
The future of Africa lies, of course, with its
children. The plan for Africa should describe how we
can approve the transfer of knowledge and how we can
ensure access for young Africans to the world’s
knowledge and expertise, so that the intellectual
potential of millions of people will not be wasted.
We need to increase literacy levels. We also need
an educational system that meets international
5

standards of quality and effectiveness — a system that
will foster creativity and help our peoples to realize
their dreams; a system that will optimize our countries’
human resources so as to enable us to play an
important role in the world economy; a system which
will help to close the digital divide among nations.
Saving African children also means feeding them.
In that respect, overcoming hunger in Africa is an
urgent challenge, as millions of people will be affected
by this crisis.
Madagascar, as a new member of the Southern
African Development Community, urges the General
Assembly to make that crisis its highest priority. We
must act rapidly and with resolve.
Let us also improve the situation of women. They
deserve to play a more significant role in civil society
and in the economic and political arena.
I have personally been asked by the Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project to share their
concerns with you. Indeed, one of the most
burdensome daily chores of African women is
providing a family with water. Access to drinking
water for all frees women from servitude and thus
preserves their dignity. Moreover, the issue of water
management is inseparable from those of sanitation
and hygiene. Water is a source of life and a great
economic asset. The development of hydroelectric
energy is one solution to Africa’s energy deficit. Let us
not forget that rational water management will enable
us to achieve food self-sufficiency.
Such a Marshall Plan should include the
protection and development of natural resources, which
are crucial to our continent. To that end, we have a
vision, which we call “Madagascar, naturally”.
Two years ago in Durban, I announced our
decision to triple the extent of protected areas in the
country so as to ensure the preservation of our rich and
unique biodiversity. We took the decision to earmark 8
per cent of funds stemming from the cancellation of
external debt for the funding of our protected-area
system.
The African continent already is involved in the
preservation of natural resources for the world and will
increase its efforts in that area.
Let us focus on agribusiness by creating more
opportunities for processing our natural products and
thus enhancing the value-added that they bring to our
countries. This is the approach that Madagascar is
taking now, with the support of donors. Let us foster
initiatives to establish a fair and equitable trading
regime among nations, such as the reduction of trade
barriers.
In short, such a Marshall Plan should make it
clear that the African continent can prosper by
shouldering its responsibilities. We need to speak more
of our assets than of our weaknesses. We need to speak
of our potential rather than our lack of resources. The
world wants to invest in our potential. Let us find a
fresh approach. Let us create a new image, a new, clear
vision for Africa. It is only through such a vision,
along with a genuine global strategy for development,
that the Millennium Development Goals can be
achieved.
Such an approach must incorporate the various
international and bilateral programmes and projects
whose differing structures, objectives and content
make them complicated to manage and hinder the
identification of possible synergies. But it is incumbent
on us to ensure the effective coordination of
development and thus adopt the concept of country
ownership. We in Madagascar have taken the initiative
of setting up national programmes in which all donors’
projects are incorporated.
The world must heed the needs of Africa, but
Africa must also face up to its responsibilities by
strengthening democracy, good governance and the
rule of law.
The discussions on the role and the structure of
the United Nations which have taken place in the
context of the sixtieth anniversary offer us an
exceptional opportunity. Let us create more equitable
structures that are better suited to today’s needs and
realities. Let us draw inspiration from the spirit of the
founding fathers of our Organization.
Let us be nations united in spirit, with a global
vision and strategy of development for a world that is
not only more dynamic but also more balanced, more
equitable and more responsible. Let us work towards
that end.


It is a
distinct honour to address this Assembly on the
occasion of the sixtieth regular session of the General
Assembly of the United Nations, an important
milestone in the life of our Organization. We would
like to take this opportunity to express our warm
congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the skill
and dynamism he has displayed in leading our
Organization. We would also like to pay tribute to his
dedication to the cause of peace and to the interest he
has always paid to the people of Burundi during their
difficult times. Allow us also at this memorable time to
express our profound gratitude to the Security Council
of the United Nations for the resolute will it has
displayed in accompanying the people of Burundi step
by step in their search for peace.
Our country has just entered an essential phase in
its history. In political terms, after more than ten years
of war and a lengthy period of transition, the main
protagonists in the conflict have agreed to bury the
hatchet. Free, pluralist, fair and transparent elections
were the culmination of this long process. Indeed, it
was at the end of a genuine electoral marathon,
involving local, legislative, senatorial and presidential
elections, that the people of Burundi overwhelmingly
chose the programme and candidates of my party, the
CNDD-FDD (Conseil National pour la Défense de la
Démocratie, Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie),
in calm and in dignity. This was an indisputable and
undisputed victory recognized and acknowledged by
all of the many foreign observers. The political parties
have also accepted the verdict of the ballot boxes.
In order to enable every opportunity for national
harmony and establish democracy once again, we have
just set up a Government of broad national union
consisting of all the elements of the Burundi people,
with its political, social, ethnic and regional diversity, a
Government where women hold the significant
position they deserve.
We are especially pleased to note the genuine
social and mental change represented by the entry of
Burundian women into the political sphere. Today,
women hold 35 per cent of posts in the executive
branch. Their presence is notable in all State
institutions. For the first time in my country’s history,
2

the National Assembly is presided over by a woman
and two women are vice-presidents of the Senate. At
the Government level, one of the two vice-presidencies
of the Republic is held by a woman. Women head
seven of the 20 ministries, including in such important
posts as justice, foreign relations and planning. Lastly,
many women are working in provincial and communal
administrations.
Our Government cherishes the hope that this
contribution of women’s talents to managing the affairs
of State will help to strengthen democracy by giving it
a warmer, more thoughtful and peaceful image.
We are also pleased that the democratic spirit of
cohesion and unity in diversity which has breathed new
life into the political scene is also being felt in the
institutions of defence and security. Indeed, yesterday’s
antagonists — the former Burundian armed forces and
the armed groups arrayed against them — have been
merged into new forces, known as the National
Defence Force and the National Police of Burundi, in
which all the country’s players are represented. That
fact is rare enough to warrant highlighting.
All of those profound changes have been made
possible by the synergy between the concern of the
international community, the courage and maturity of
the Burundian people, and the willingness to
compromise of the political class. We express our
warmest thanks to all the international partners that
accompanied us on our long road to peace. In
particular, we would single out the regional initiative,
the United Nations Operation in Burundi, mediators
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and President Mandela,
facilitator Jacob Zuma, the European Union, the United
States of America, the African Union and many
friendly countries, especially those that contributed
troops to the peacekeeping force as well as financial
logistic means.
Peace in our country, like the lasting success of
our democratic experience, is closely linked to the
stability of the regional environment. We therefore
welcome the efforts to restore peace, stability and
sustainable development in the Great Lakes region. We
are closely following and actively participating in the
preparations for the International Conference on the
Great Lakes Region, now being organized under
United Nations and African Union auspices, with the
support of the region’s Group of Friends.
We are one with our world village. Nothing that
occurs there does not touch us. Threats to peace and
security sneer at borders. We call today for an urgent
partnership to combat terrorism. In that context, the
general convention on international terrorism, once
concluded, will be an innovative legal instrument in
addressing issues that have yet to be regulated.
We also need to stem the phenomenon of drug
trafficking, which — with its many corollaries,
including child labour, the sex industry and illegal
migration — is transforming human beings into
twenty-first century commodities.
Combating terrorism must include promoting a
culture of peace. It would thus be useful to use the
International Decade for the Culture of Peace to build
the defences of peace in the minds of men and women,
particularly through education, the media, faith-based
organizations and cultural programmes aimed at
children.
Terrorism is also a denial of human rights. We
therefore welcome the decision to create the human
rights council to promote respect for those rights. The
council will allow us to end the partisan bickering
prevalent in the Commission on Human Rights.
As to the reform of the Security Council and
other United Nations organs, our Government supports
the position of the African Union.
With respect to good governance, our
Government is committed to taking appropriate
measures to establish good governance in all its
aspects. We refer in particular to capacity-building, the
mobilization of domestic resources and the
implementation of strategies to combat corruption,
fraud and embezzlement. We will soon be unveiling a
new law and anti-corruption squad.
We are committed to fighting impunity, for we
want to strive for impartial justice, not only by
building our capacities in that sphere, but also by
reforming the sectors involved in that issue. In that
context, we request in particular the international
community’s assistance in the urgent establishment of
a truth and reconciliation commission.
In the socio-economic field, we hope that the
establishment of new elected, democratic institutions
will lay the groundwork for robust legitimacy and
effectiveness in our reconstruction and socio-economic
development strategies. We wish to prioritize the
3

rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure
destroyed during the war and the reintegration of
expatriates, internally displaced persons, demobilized
soldiers and war victims.
We also intend to attach high priority to
education. Thus, when we came to power, we decided
to provide free primary schooling to all children by the
beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. That priority
goal for education requires the development and
implementation of ambitious and urgent programmes to
train qualified teachers, rebuild schools and obtain new
educational materials.
For the period 2006-2008, we are planning for the
construction of at least one primary school for each
census area, totalling some 350 primary schools. That
will involve the construction of 800 classrooms in
2006, the recruitment of 2,000 new teachers and the
acquisition of teaching materials at an estimated cost of
$15 million. In that same context, we will prioritize
professional training, particularly in the agricultural,
paramedical, technical and trade fields, in order to
hasten the country’s reconstruction. By 2008, we
expect to build in each province a technical secondary
school with several departments and a capacity of at
least 1,000 pupils.
Increased financial resources will be necessary
and we know that we can count on the assistance of the
international community. In that regard, we support the
innovative proposal of the French Government to find
new sources of development financing by imposing a
levy on air tickets.
Much remains to be done in the area of health.
Our Government has undertaken to develop a policy to
make significant improvements in universal access to
health care, and to implement the national strategic
plan to combat HIV/AIDS, an essential component of
which is capacity-building in HIV/AIDS prevention
and treatment.
The achievements of my country, particularly in
the political and security fields, are important steps in
the right direction. Nevertheless, they are only the start
of a process that must be consolidated.
In particular, we will have to resume activities to
combat poverty and re-establish economic growth, two
essential measures that will allow our people to reap
the dividends of peace.
The support of the entire population for the peace
process and the programme for economic growth is
essential. But how can the people feel that the new
policy includes them if their living conditions are not
rapidly improved? That is why the support of the
international community in this difficult period is of
supreme importance. We make an urgent appeal to the
international community to ensure that the level and
quality of their commitments will respond to the
insistent expectations of our population and to the new
democratic changes.


At the outset, I
would like, on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation,
sincerely to congratulate Mr. Jan Eliasson on his
election as President of the General Assembly at its
sixtieth session. I am convinced that under his able
stewardship this session will be crowned with success.
Let me express our deep appreciation for the
contributions made by his predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping,
to the work of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth
session. I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to the
Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his great
efforts over the past year to reform and strengthen our
Organization.
Taking place in the context of the many activities
commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the United
Nations — especially the High-level Plenary Meeting
of the General Assembly that just concluded — the
present session constitutes an event of crucial
significance that offers us a great deal of hope and
confidence. We believe that Member States will be able
to work out effective ways in which to implement the
commitments contained in the outcome document
(resolution 60/1) just adopted by our leaders, especially
those concerning the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We are
confident that, amid both challenges and opportunities
and with the necessary wisdom and determination, we
will find the right path towards a brighter future for
humanity in the twenty-first century.
In today’s celebratory atmosphere, we cannot and
should not forget stark realities as we continue to see
the spread of war and conflict, the resurgence of
terrorism, natural disasters, poverty, the outbreak of
epidemics and transnational crime, which are
threatening the peace, security, independence and
prosperity of nations. The people of the world were
shocked by the recent terrorist attacks in London, in
Sharm el-Sheikh and elsewhere. Viet Nam therefore
joins with others in the fight against terrorism of all
21

kinds. It is our view that, in order to root out terrorism,
the international community must seriously and
adequately address the phenomena of poverty, injustice
and inequality.
Viet Nam welcomes the recent positive
developments in the Middle East peace process. It is
our consistent policy to support the just cause of the
Palestinian people in their struggle for their inalienable
rights. In that connection, we welcome Israel’s
withdrawal from resettlement areas in the Gaza Strip.
Proceeding from its principled position that
international disputes should be settled by peaceful
means, Viet Nam supports peaceful solutions to the
nuclear issue in Iran and on the Korean peninsula.
Considering embargoes and blockades to be
unacceptable in the modern world, we call for the early
lifting of the unilateral embargo against Cuba. It is Viet
Nam’s view that the United Nations should be more
active in that connection.
The tsunami that affected Asian countries last
year and Hurricane Katrina, which hit coastal cities of
the United States, both resulting in the loss of a great
number of lives and damage worth hundreds of billions
of dollars, are reminders of the need for effective early
warning systems, preparedness and international
solidarity in confronting the forces of nature.
As we are preparing to translate the commitments
contained in the outcome document into action to
reform the United Nations, I would like to associate
myself with the views expressed by the Secretary-
General in his report “In larger freedom” (A/59/2005)
and reaffirmed in the outcome document concerning
the interactive links among peace, security,
development and human rights. Viet Nam’s experience
shows that an environment of peace and political and
social stability is indispensable for development and
that economic growth, the improvement of people’s
lives, will help to strengthen peace and stability. In that
regard, we believe the United Nations should play a
greater role in making those links more interactive.
Viet Nam shares the common view that reform of
the United Nations should aim, first and foremost, at
enhancing the Organization’s efficiency and democracy
on the basis of strengthening the fundamental
principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. It is
essential to reinforce the central role and power of the
General Assembly, a body that stipulates the equal
participation of all United Nations Members. Reform
of the Security Council should be accorded adequate
attention, so that the Council can be turned into a body
that is able to perform its functions in maintaining
international peace and security effectively. The
Council’s working methods should be improved to
ensure democracy and transparency. The Council needs
to be enlarged in both categories of its membership in
order to ensure that it truly represents all United
Nations Members, as stipulated in the Charter. We
believe that developing States should be more
adequately represented in that important organ. We
would like to reiterate the support we have expressed
since 1999 for India, Japan and Germany as permanent
members of an expanded Council.
Furthermore, Viet Nam believes that reform of
the United Nations must be carried out
comprehensively and in a way that ensures a balance
between the two equally important and mutually
complementary goals of maintaining peace and
security and promoting development. An enabling
environment for development must be built on the
basis of equitable international economic relations,
mutual benefit, shared responsibility and the fulfilment
of agreed commitments.
In that spirit, Viet Nam supports the proposals on
development set out in the report of the Secretary-
General and the commitments contained in the
outcome document, especially the recommitment of the
international community to achieving the MDGs on
schedule. Viet Nam welcomes the commitment on the
part of some developed countries to allocate 0.7 per
cent of their gross national income to official
development assistance without any conditions. If
developing nations are to achieve the MDGs, it is
essential that they be enabled to participate more
actively in the global economy. Viet Nam therefore
calls on the United Nations to adopt and implement
measures to facilitate the entry of developing countries
into the World Trade Organization. Moreover, non-
tariff and other protective measures aimed at blocking
exports from developing countries, under such pretexts
as sanitary and phytosanitary standards, should be
dismantled.
Guaranteeing and promoting human rights always
remain high priorities in the work of the United
Nations. Viet Nam supports a greater role for the
Organization in that regard. We will continue to spare
no effort in contributing to the common cause of
22

human rights protection. Mindful of the need to reform
the United Nations machinery for protecting human
rights, we believe that reform must be conducted in a
manner that is free from acts of politicization. More
in-depth discussions are needed with regard to the
issue of establishing a Human Rights Council and the
concept of the responsibility to protect, so as to ensure
broad support for the measures to be implemented.
The Vietnamese people have just celebrated the
sixtieth anniversary of the founding of their democratic
State. Having gone through a process of comprehensive
renewal, Viet Nam today is a country with high and
sustained economic growth and social equity, and we
have made significant progress in implementing the
MDGs. Today, Viet Nam is a safe and stable country
that has further integrated into the global economy and
has pursued a foreign policy of independence,
sovereignty and diversification, strengthening
multilateral ties in its external relations. It is a country
that is willing to be a friend and a reliable partner of all
countries of the world community.
We have actively participated in various regional,
interregional and global cooperation arrangements.
Viet Nam has been making great efforts to conclude
negotiations for its early accession to the World Trade
Organization. I would like to take this opportunity to
extend our thanks to those countries that have
supported Viet Nam in that connection. We are actively
engaged in the cooperation activities of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), as well as with
ASEAN cooperation with East Asia. To make a greater
contribution to the work of the United Nations, Viet
Nam has decided to present its candidacy for a
non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the
2008-2009 term. We are now actively preparing to
participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations
when conditions are ripe.
To conclude, let me assure the Assembly that Viet
Nam will continue to work closely with other countries
in the international community to strive for our
common goals, among them a stronger United Nations.


Let me congratulate the
President of the current session and former President
Jean Ping for the success of the historic sixtieth
anniversary summit. We admire the dedication and
skill with which President Ping conducted the
preparations for the summit. We thank the Secretary-
General for his initiative to convene the summit and his
numerous constructive ideas to advance development
and United Nations reform.
Pakistan supported adoption of the outcome
document. It reflects the existing consensus on a range
of issues. However, like many others, we are
disappointed with the results. We could have achieved
more, perhaps, if the agenda were not so extensive, if
Security Council reform had not sapped energy from
the preparatory process, and if the negotiations on the
document had been commenced earlier.
Development was, and remains, of the highest
priority for the vast majority of Member States. The
summit was to focus on fulfilment of the
26

internationally agreed development goals. There are
welcome recommendations on official development
assistance (ODA) targets, debt relief, enhancing and
improving aid and addressing the special needs of
Africa; but we did not advance very much on trade,
investment flows and global governance.
However, we can recover lost ground and lost
time on development through a focused and more
determined implementation process. The objective
must be accorded first priority. Fortunately, agreement
exists already on development goals, including the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The
developing countries are adopting national strategies to
achieve those goals. Development partners must now
demonstrate the political will to fully support the
national strategies and to accept greater equity in the
international trade and financial systems.
We must quickly put in place an effective
mechanism to promote and monitor the implementation
of the goals and agreements on development. Adequate
resources must be provided for the purpose.
The summit emphasized the role of the Economic
and Social Council in promoting policy dialogue,
development cooperation, post-conflict development
and coordination within the United Nations system.
Pakistan believes that the Economic and Social
Council should now serve as the central forum for
follow-up and implementation of the development
commitments made at the summit. In this regard, we
would propose that the model developed for tracking
tsunami aid — the so-called DAD (Development
Assistance Database) system — be replicated to assess
the status of implementation of the agreed development
goals. Pakistan has also offered to convene a high-level
informal meeting of members of the Economic and
Social Council and other stakeholders towards the end
of this year to review the steps taken to advance the
implementation of the development goals and decide
on further measures.
The widely recognized interlinkage between
peace and development has now been institutionalized
with the decision to establish the Peacebuilding
Commission. Pakistan is proud that the Peacebuilding
Commission evolved from the concept of ad hoc
composite committees that we introduced in 2003. As a
major troop contributor to United Nations
peacekeeping operations and, in particular, through our
engagement in complex missions, such as in Sierra
Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Burundi, Pakistan has a wealth of experience and
expertise to contribute to the work of the Peacebuilding
Commission. We shall take part actively in the
discussions to be held in the General Assembly to
finalize the details and modalities for the
commencement of the Commission’s work.
Terrorism is a global menace and requires a
collective response. Pakistan has been a major target of
terrorism. We are at the forefront of the international
war against terrorism. At home, the Pakistan
Government has instituted a number of short- and long-
term measures to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
These include banning extremist organizations and
detention of extremists, crackdowns against hate
material, halting the misuse of religious institutions,
registration and reform of the madrassas and fighting
illiteracy and poverty.
The summit has endorsed the elaboration of a
comprehensive strategy against terrorism. We should
set up an ad hoc working group to elaborate this
strategy. A comprehensive strategy should oppose
terrorism, wherever and by whomever — individuals,
groups or States. No strategy can be comprehensive if
it does not address the factors that contribute to
extremism, including poverty, political and economic
injustice, foreign occupation and denial of the right to
self-determination.
Dialogue and understanding between civilizations
and religions should also be an essential component of
a comprehensive strategy on terrorism. There are
several noteworthy and mutually reinforcing initiatives
that can be coalesced to generate international and
national action. These include President Musharraf’s
strategy of “enlightened moderation”, which seeks to
simultaneously promote internal reform in the Islamic
world and the active support of the international
community to help resolve political disputes and
address the socio-economic and development
challenges of the Islamic world.
The failure to achieve agreement on disarmament
and non-proliferation in the outcome document reflects
the deep differences that exist among Member States.
This is dangerous for peace and stability, especially in
regions of tension. It is time for the international
community, for the entire United Nations membership,
not just some self-selected States, to promote a new
consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation
27

through the Conference on Disarmament or a special
session of the Disarmament Commission.
The summit also could not achieve full consensus
on how to ensure the effective promotion of human
rights that, along with “peace and development”, is the
third pillar of United Nations reform. We should build
on the agreement reached to evolve a full consensus.
Pakistan will join in creating a new and representative
Human Rights Council as a subsidiary body of the
General Assembly. Its mandate and methods must
promote cooperation rather than confrontation. We
must also improve and rationalize the Sub-Commission
on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the
host of special mechanisms that exist on the subject
and the participation of civil society in the work of the
United Nations on human rights. We feel that this
exercise of reform should be entrusted to a working
group in Geneva.
We have committed ourselves to strengthening
the United Nations and making it more effective,
efficient, democratic and accountable. Our pledge to
reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly
should be given real meaning. The Assembly’s role and
mandate should be preserved from encroachment,
especially by the Security Council. It is the General
Assembly that should ensure the follow-up of the
summit’s decisions.
In its capacity as President of the Economic and
Social Council, Pakistan will work closely with
member States to implement the proposed enhanced
role of the Council with adjustments to the Council’s
organization, agenda and working methods.
The Security Council has the primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security, but it lacks transparency and
democracy. It is neither fully representative nor
accountable to the general membership. The rationale
for its reform is, therefore, clear. The Council should
be enlarged by adding 10 additional non-permanent
members to reflect the entire spectrum of the United
Nations membership. It could allow immediate
re-election to enable major countries to seek more
frequent membership of the Council, but it should not
add to inequality by inducting new permanent
members. That would alienate many important
countries, divide and weaken the United Nations and
further reduce the Council’s credibility and legitimacy.
The proposal of Uniting for Consensus is
equitable, fair and democratic. It has the flexibility to
accommodate the positions and aspirations of all
countries and regional and political groupings,
including those of Africa. It will increase the
representation of the general membership in the
Security Council. It will enhance the stature of the
General Assembly by making the Council more
accountable to the general membership. We are ready
to continue efforts — in any open and transparent
format, including that of the General Assembly’s
Open-ended Working Group — to reach consensus on
Security Council reform.
Pakistan is gratified that the summit reaffirmed
the central values and principles of the United Nations
and acknowledged that the range of threats we face
requires our urgent, collective and more determined
response. It also acknowledged that many threats are
interdependent. We welcome the renewed emphasis on
the peaceful settlement of disputes and on the Charter’s
strict constraints on the use of force. It is befitting that
we are observing the International Day of Peace today.
Pakistan believes that while dealing with new
threats, such as terrorism and weapons of mass
destruction, the United Nations must continue to
accord priority to addressing and resolving the
numerous disputes and conflicts that afflict so many
regions of our world.
In Africa, there is a new dynamic of regional
ownership and international engagement and
partnership in addressing conflicts and complex crises.
Progress is, however, mixed. Relative improvements in
Sierra Leone and Liberia are in contrast with numerous
challenges in Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo and Burundi. We are heartened by the
prospects of peace in the Sudan. Somalia, on the other
hand, still awaits the international attention and
support needed to restore security and consolidate the
painful gains in the peace process. Pakistan will
continue to contribute to United Nations and
international efforts for the restoration of peace and
stability in Africa.
The early resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
issue in accordance with the relevant United Nations
resolutions and a two-State solution would usher in an
era of peace and stability in the Middle East. We have
welcomed Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza, and we
trust that it will be followed by withdrawal from the
28

West Bank, leading to the creation of an independent
and viable Palestinian State. Pakistan will do whatever
it can to promote durable peace in the Middle East.
That would help considerably to eliminate the
conditions that encourage extremism and terrorism.
Pakistan also hopes for the early restoration of
peace and security in Iraq. We should encourage a
democratic consensus among its peoples and regions
that preserves Iraq’s unity and territorial integrity, as
well as the strengthening of its national capability to
preserve security by combating violence and terrorism.
Afghanistan has completed another milestone
with the successful holding of parliamentary elections.
The international community must remain fully
engaged to help Afghanistan overcome the remaining
challenges. Pakistan is committed, bilaterally and
multilaterally, to support efforts for peace, security,
development and reconstruction in Afghanistan. We
wish to see the 3 million Afghan refugees whom we
still host return to their homes in safety and honour.
There should be no self-serving questions or
quibbling about Pakistan’s commitment and
contribution to peace and security in Afghanistan,
which are in Pakistan’s own best interest. Pakistan is
actively engaged in halting illegal cross-border
movement and containing the threat posed by the
Taliban and Al-Qaida, including through the Pakistan-
Afghanistan-United States Tripartite Commission.
Pakistan’s military presence along the border far
exceeds the combined strength of the national and
international military presence in Afghanistan. We
recently proposed partial fencing of the border in
limited areas to minimize the chances for illegal
movements. We hope that that will be accepted and
implemented in the spirit in which it was offered.
Relations between India and Pakistan are
improving. There is new hope for peace and
cooperation in South Asia. We must also give that hope
to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate
quest for self-determination. In his address to the
summit on 14 September, President Musharraf said that
Pakistan and India must not remain trapped by hate and
history in a cycle of confrontation and conflict. To
prevent that from happening, it is essential to find a
just solution to the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir,
acceptable to Pakistan, India and, above all, the people
of Kashmir. On the same day, the President met with
the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh, in
New York to further advance the ongoing composite
dialogue between our two countries.
Peace in our neighbourhood will also provide a
fillip to the efforts being undertaken by Pakistan for
rapid and equitable socio-economic development. We
share the emphasis placed by the summit on the role of
national policies and development strategies in the
achievement of sustainable development. The
Government has taken a series of actions to transform
Pakistan into a modern, dynamic, progressive and
democratic Islamic State. Our policies have produced
visible results: macroeconomic stability, 8.4 per cent
growth in gross domestic product last year, a reduced
fiscal deficit and growing export earnings, external
remittances and investment. The major focus of our
Government now is to accelerate the transfer of
economic benefits to the people of Pakistan. We are
confident that we will achieve all the targets of the
Millennium Development Goals.
Pakistan is also succeeding against terrorism and
extremism. It is on the path to sustainable democracy.
Our people have been empowered from the grass-roots
level up. That includes guaranteed 30 per cent
representation of women at all levels. Minorities have
been brought into the mainstream. We are determined
to sustain those positive trends in our national
development. At the same time, we are working to
forge close economic partnerships in the region and
beyond.
It is in the same spirit of constructive engagement
that Pakistan wishes to pursue cooperative
multilateralism and to strengthen the United Nations —
this unique forum that is indispensable, in our
interdependent world, for all States, large or small,
powerful or weak.
Pakistan participated actively in, and contributed
constructively to, the preparation of the summit and its
outcome. We are committed to furthering the reform
process in the follow-up to the summit’s decisions. We
look forward to working closely with all other Member
States and would like to assure the Assembly of our
full cooperation in this historic endeavour.


Speaking for the first time from this rostrum, I wish to
reaffirm here the importance France attaches to the
multilateral system. Our common future cannot be
envisaged without strengthening it.
The declaration adopted the day before yesterday
is a milestone in that direction, even if it does not meet
all our expectations. Indeed, the text makes some
significant advances. I am thinking in particular of
innovative financing for development. I am also
thinking of the decision to establish a peacebuilding
commission within the Security Council. Finally, I am
thinking of the establishment of a Human Rights
Council and the endorsement of the principle of the
responsibility to protect. Now it is up to us to put those
new concepts into practice.
In that connection, I wish to pay tribute here to
the remarkable work that has been done under the
stewardship of Mr. Jean Ping.
But let us not underestimate the extent of the task
that still remains to be accomplished, be it in the areas
of counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, Security
Council reform or development assistance.
The United Nations is founded on the rule of law
and the promotion of universal standards. Those reflect
our common values and our conviction that there can
be no security and development without scrupulous
respect for human rights. This is not a moral question
but one of respect for the identity of every individual.
It is not a matter of passing judgement but of enabling
all people to live in greater freedom and in dignity.
Let us reject the impressment of children in
armed conflicts, the systematic use of sexual violence
against women and girls as a weapon of war, the
recourse to threats, arbitrary detention and torture of
opponents, journalists, labour leaders and defenders of
human rights. And, let us conclude the negotiations on
a convention against forced disappearances. To that
end, let us strengthen the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights and promptly
establish the Human Rights Council.
France particularly welcomes the fact that the
international community now has the necessary
legitimacy to exercise effectively its responsibility to
protect populations threatened by ethnic cleansing,
crimes against humanity and genocide. France also
welcomes the progress of the international criminal
justice system, in particular through the action of the
Security Council. Those who believe they can count on
the international community not to act when they
commit their crimes should make no mistake: they will
be held accountable.
Sixty years after the founding of the United
Nations, terrorism is now at the top of the list of human
rights violations. Nothing — no cause, religion or
moral order — can justify attacks on the lives of
innocents, the lives of civilians. We must define acts of
terrorism once and for all so that we can better combat
that barbaric practice which sets humankind back.
17

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
constitutes another major threat for the planet, against
which we must remain united and determined.
France, together with its British and German
partners, has proposed to Iran a constructive approach
paving the way for a new relationship between that
great country and the international community. That
relationship is currently compromised by concerns over
Iran’s nuclear programme. We ask Iran to build trust by
providing objective guarantees on the exclusively
peaceful nature of its programme. Iran’s statements
from this rostrum compel the international community
to meet its responsibilities, as referral of the matter to
the Security Council is on the agenda in order to
strengthen the authority of the International Atomic
Energy Agency. The very integrity of the non-
proliferation regime is at stake.
But let us also work to reduce the proliferation of
small arms and light weapons, which fuel so many very
deadly conflicts.
To better serve peace and ensure the security of
populations, the Security Council has expanded its
field of action to the trafficking that finances conflicts
and the impunity that protects traffickers, using, in
particular, sanctions and embargoes. The United
Nations is resolutely engaged on the ground, at the
very heart of conflicts. More than 70,000 blue
helmeted soldiers and police officers are now serving
in 18 peacekeeping operations, and thousands of others
are operating under Security Council mandates.
The results can be seen, for example, in Timor-
Leste, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi,
Liberia and Sierra Leone. But as countries emerge from
crisis, it is essential that they continue to benefit from
our full attention and support. The United Nations has
the duty to take a central role in the transition phase
through the Peacebuilding Commission.
Other situations demand great vigilance and a
high level of mobilization. Thus, in Haiti, the presence
of strong contingents of United Nations soldiers and
police must lead to the strengthening of the political
process by involving all peaceful forces without
exception. Preparations for elections must be
accelerated. Like all peoples, the Haitian people, who
have suffered for too long, are entitled to respect and
freedom.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the presence of the United
Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire and the
appointment of a High Representative of the Secretary-
General for the elections should also help strengthen
implementation of the process set out at Marcoussis
and Pretoria.
But in Côte d’Ivoire, as in Haiti, the determined
action of the united international community will not
produce results unless all parties cooperate in good
faith and demonstrate their sense of responsibility. In
Abidjan as in Bouaké, all must respect their pledged
commitments so that free and transparent elections can
be held throughout the country. No other solution is
possible. That is why it is essential to resolutely
support the electoral process that has begun, as well as
the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration
programmes. All Ivorian parties must understand that
they will not block the peace efforts with impunity if
they take an obstructive stance, make hate speeches or
challenge democratic rules. The Security Council will
meet its responsibilities.
The situation in Lebanon demonstrates what can
be accomplished by a determined international
mobilization, supported by the courageous will of the
people. Most Syrian forces have now left Lebanon.
Elections have been held. A representative Government
has been formed. Our Organization must continue to
support the Lebanese Government’s efforts to recover
full sovereignty and exercise its authority over the
whole of its territory. At the same time, we must
continue to support the work of the commission of
inquiry into the assassination of Rafik Hariri. We are
determined to see justice done.
Also with respect to the Middle East, a dynamic
of hope, which could touch all States of the region, is
emerging following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
France, together with its European partners, stands
with the Palestinians to rebuild and develop that
territory so that its inhabitants can move around freely
and have access to jobs and, quite simply, to decent
living conditions.
But we must not stop there. It is important to
restore political prospects for relaunching
implementation of the road map by, on the one hand,
encouraging the Palestinians to redouble their efforts
on security and, on the other, encouraging the Israelis
to take the measures necessary to stop settlement
activity and to comply with international law in their
18

struggle for security. Peace can come only with the
existence of two peaceful and democratic States living
side by side in peace and security.
Finally, with respect to Iraq, France remains
engaged so that, with the assistance of the United
Nations in particular, the Iraqi people can acquire
democratic institutions with which all Iraqis can feel
identified. It is clear that a policy focused exclusively
on security leads to the retrenchment of a community,
thus jeopardizing the cohesion of Iraqi society and the
country’s unity. In Iraq, too, the political process must
not exclude any representative, peaceful force, and the
political process must offer Iraq the prospect of the
restoration of its complete sovereignty.
In all those crises, the Security Council has
gradually imposed the authority of the United Nations
in the service of international peace and security. Its
action is legitimate, and its authority will be further
strengthened when we reach agreement on an
enlargement of the Council that reflects the emergence
of new Powers and which gives an equitable place to
all continents.
At the same time, it is important to carry out the
thorough management reforms that our Organization
requires. In his report entitled “In larger freedom”
(A/59/2005), the Secretary-General proposed elements
of an action plan and initiated the first reforms. I pay
tribute to his resoluteness and reaffirm France’s
determination to support him in his approach.
We all know that security and development
cannot be separated. Five years after the Millennium
Summit, heads of State or Government have just issued
a troubling assessment of the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals.
The outcome document they adopted (resolution
60/1) clearly sets out the priorities on which we must
take action. The first of those sadly remains food
security, because, as underlined by the Declaration on
Action Against Hunger and Poverty, adopted in 2004
on the initiative of President Lula and President
Chirac, hunger remains the worst weapon of mass
destruction. It continues to kill several hundred million
men, women and children around the planet. We can
see it happening right now in the Sahel and southern
Africa. That scourge belonging to another age can and
must be fought.
Of course, emergency humanitarian aid must be
provided to people in distress. That implies
strengthening the coordination of United Nations
interventions and, in particular, the establishment of an
international humanitarian force, as proposed on
several occasions by France.
But beyond that, it is important to provide all
areas at risk with the technical resources for prevention
and early warning. Above all, it is essential to create
the conditions for sustainable development to the
benefit of all. That is the aim of the Millennium
Development Goals, whose attainment requires
substantial long-term financing. Official development
assistance will continue to be primary for much time to
come. The summit’s outcome document recalls the
international commitments made in that regard, which
France and the European Union will respect. It is
urgent that the other developed countries make the
same commitments. But we know well that this will
not be sufficient. Additional long-term resources have
to be found through innovative financing mechanisms.
France endorses the establishment of
international solidarity contributions. Over 66
countries have given their support to the pilot project
to levy a tax on airline tickets, and we welcome this. In
February, France will host a ministerial conference on
this initiative so that it can be implemented specifically
and promptly.
By devoting three of the eight Goals to health, the
Millennium Declaration has put public health back at
the centre of sustainable development. In terms of its
scope and socio-economic impact, the HIV/AIDS
pandemic is of concern to us all. Only by working
together will we be able to deal with it, through an
approach that integrates prevention, treatment, care and
the medical and social vulnerability of infected
persons. France wants to carry out this integrated
approach with its European partners and with the
World Health Organization, the Joint United Nations
Program on HIV/AIDS and the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We must do
everything possible to achieve universal access to
treatment by 2010, if need be promoting greater
flexibility of intellectual property rights as provided for
in the Doha international trade agreements.
The fight against AIDS requires us all to mobilize
our efforts. For its part, France has pledged to double
its contribution to the Global Fund, increasing the
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amount to 300 million euros by 2007. At the same
time, international cooperation must take into account
the particular challenges faced by certain categories of
individuals: victims of abject poverty who are
excluded, young women denied the right to sexual and
reproductive health, those with disabilities
marginalized by society.
From the Indian Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico,
from Japan to Antarctica, man is confronted today with
an unprecedented rise in environmental threats that he
himself has caused. Scientific proof of the reality of
climate change and its human origins are irrefutable.
All initiatives must be compatible with the Kyoto
Protocol; prospects must be charted for the future of
the multilateral climate regime after 2012. France
would hope to see more robust commitments,
especially regarding the transfer of technologies to
emerging countries. To respond to the threat and more
effectively mobilize energies and resources, France and
Europe have proposed the establishment of a
specialized agency, based on the United Nations
Environment Programme, for the purpose of
coordinating international action. This idea is
mentioned in the summit’s outcome document; it must
now be translated into reality.
The United Nations is commemorating its sixtieth
anniversary this year. The world has changed
profoundly since 1945. Millions of men and women
have gained freedom and have emerged from
underdevelopment. Technological progress has been
staggering and has radically changed the life of society
and relations among States. Challenges and threats
have changed; they are now worldwide and jeopardize
humanity itself.
Yet, we must remain optimistic. It is not too late,
given that we understand what is at stake and that we
mobilize collectively. The United Nations is
rediscovering the way charted for it by the founding
fathers: helping in the peaceful settlement of disputes,
building international cooperation for development and
promoting human rights.
We need the United Nations more than ever; it is
the sole framework for universal comprehensive action
which is legitimate and recognized as such by all
States. Let us give it our full support. France for its
part makes this commitment.


I
am very pleased, Mr. President, on behalf of the
delegation of the Niger, to express our warmest
congratulations on your election to the presidency of
the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. In
electing you, we recognize your outstanding qualities
as a diplomat and as an active player on the ground -
qualities that augur well for the success of the present
session. Rest assured, Sir, that you will have the full
support of my delegation. We wish you every success
in accomplishing your task.
To your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jean
Ping, I wish to express our appreciation and our
gratitude for the wisdom, skill and insight with which
he guided the work of our previous session and
prepared for the High-level Plenary Meeting.
To Secretary-General Kofi Annan, I wish to pay a
well-deserved tribute for the decisive role he has
played at the head of our Organization. We pledge our
unswerving support for his efforts to reform the United
Nations system and adapt it to the concerns of today.
Need we recall the historic nature of our session?
It is taking place exactly 10 years after the Declaration
and Platform for Action were adopted by the Fourth
World Conference on Women in Beijing and the
Programme of Action was adopted by the World
Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. The
Secretary-General, in his important report entitled "In
larger freedom: towards development, security and human
rights for all" (A/59/2005), made a comprehensive
diagnosis of the multiform and interdependent threats
and challenges facing the world and, at the same time,
made interesting recommendations to deal with them.
Equally historic is the outcome document (resolution
60/1) of the High-level Plenary Meeting, which we just
adopted. It is a source of great hope in our arduous
efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Among those threats and challenges, to which I shall
refer again presently, are terrorism, the inequalities of
the international economic and trade system, and
violations of human rights.
Terrorism continues to rage throughout the world,
seriously threatening international peace and security.
The recent attacks in London and Sharm el-Sheikh
attest eloquently to that fact. The fight against this
scourge must therefore be strengthened and carried out
over the long term, but within the framework of
international law. In that regard, we believe it is crucial
to accelerate the process of elaborating an international
convention to fight terrorism. Such a convention
should define the concept clearly to avoid ambiguity.
Moreover, the fight against terrorism cannot be
effective and fruitful without appropriate international
cooperation. It is because of such cooperation - which
has enabled us to strengthen the capacities of our defence
and security forces - that my country has recently had
considerable success in combating this phenomenon.
Peace and security also require the adoption of
effective measures against the proliferation of weapons
in general. Here, I welcome the initiative of the
Economic Community of West African States - which
the Niger currently chairs - aimed at establishing a
legally binding instrument: its moratorium on the
manufacture, import and export of weapons. That
approach has led us to regret the failure at the most
recent review conference of the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Today, international peace and security are being
sorely tested by a steadily rising number of conflicts,
some of which seem to be endless quagmires because
of their persistence and recurrence. In West Africa,
although some hotbeds of tension are in the process of
being defused - such as in Sierra Leone, Liberia and
Guinea-Bissau - the subregion is still not completely
20

free of insecurity and instability. We hope for positive
developments in Cote d'Ivoire that will permit a swift
return to normalcy in that country, formerly a harbour
of peace and prosperity.
In Western Sahara, the Niger reaffirms its support
for the Secretary-General's efforts to bring about a just
and lasting settlement of the conflict in accordance
with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
In Burundi, we welcome the positive outcome of
the peace process culminating in the legislative and
presidential elections.
Peace must not only be re-established and
maintained; it must also be consolidated. In that regard,
the Secretary-General's proposal concerning the
creation of a Peacebuilding Commission is of capital
importance, in that it will enable many countries
emerging from conflict to break the vicious circle of
violence and devastation.
Concerning the Middle East, my country wishes
to reaffirm once again that settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict necessarily depends upon the
realization of the rights of the Palestinian people,
including the creation of an independent, sovereign and
viable State. In that regard, Israel's withdrawal from
the Gaza Strip is a positive step that, we hope, will
permit the resumption of negotiations within the
framework of the road map.
With regard to Jammu and Kashmir, we remain
convinced that the relevant United Nations resolutions
must be implemented to enable the Kashmiri people to
exercise their right to self-determination. That should
further reduce the tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Niger, a member of the contact group of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference on that issue,
encourages the two parties to move forward in their
talks aimed at a definitive settlement of this problem.
This year, as we assess the progress made in
honouring the commitments made at the Millennium
Summit, the outcome document of the High-level
Plenary Meeting, which we just adopted, once again
emphasizes the interdependence of States and
highlights the need for increased solidarity. To that
end, solidarity and international cooperation must,
more than ever before, go beyond professions of faith
if they are to be more effective. In any event, solidarity
must no longer be infinitely variable, as is
unfortunately the case today.
The Niger, recently the victim of an acute food
crisis, would like international solidarity to be
rethought so that we can invest in the future by
implementing lasting solutions that will ensure
permanent food security for our people. Without a
rethought solidarity, many African countries, including
mine, may unfortunately never be able to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015. That would
require an increase in official development assistance,
from both a qualitative and a quantitative perspective.
In that regard, we welcome the decision of those
developed countries that have elaborated a timetable
enabling them to achieve the set objective of 0.7 per
cent of their gross domestic product by 2015. A
rethought solidarity would also require the
establishment of innovative financing sources that
would not place an excessive burden on developing
countries.
We welcome the recent decisions taken by
partners, particularly the Group of Eight and the
European Union. We urge the international community
and the United Nations to further strengthen their
cooperation with the New Partnership for Africaâ€™s
Development and with new initiatives for Africa,
including the Blair Commission's International
Finance, Facility, President Bush's Millennium
Challenge Account and the Chirac-Lula initiative.
With regard to international trade, we hope that
the multilateral negotiations under way will lead to
mutually advantageous results by 2006, as planned.
However, in the interest of mutual and shared
development, there must be an end to all agricultural
subsidies on exports. In that regard, the Hong Kong
Ministerial Conference planned for December is a
crucial event for us that, once again, should be
attended with this rethought solidarity in mind,
particularly with regard to the poorest countries.
Concerning institutional reform of the United
Nations, my country wishes to pay tribute to the far-
sightedness of the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan,
in identifying the stakes of such reform and in making
his interesting and important recommendations.
The Niger is fully committed to the role played
by Africa in the international arena. That collective
commitment has led us to forge a common position on
United Nations reform, which my country
wholeheartedly supports. In fact, our continent, whose
importance is more apparent every day, must pursue
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with determination and in unity its fight for the
democratization of international relations.
The United Nations is the only world body with
the mandate of addressing issues of security,
development and human rights. To be equal to that
immense and delicate mission, it must be fair,
representative and democratic. It must also base its
actions on multilateralism and consultation,
particularly within the General Assembly.
The long-awaited reform of the Security Council
must be pursued in transparency so that a renewed
United Nations can be more democratic and more
representative of today's world.
The Economic and Social Council, for its part,
must be the forum for coordinating and drafting
strategies so that the excellent opportunities created in
this increasingly globalized world will also be
accessible to the poorest countries.
The establishment of a Peacebuilding
Commission has filled a significant void, because it
constitutes a formerly non-existent link between
security and development.
We welcome the creation of the Human Rights
Council, based on the principles of universality and
non-exclusion. These are the prerequisites for
strengthening and improving our shared House.