At the
outset, allow me on behalf of the Chadian delevation
to wholeheartedly thank the President for selecting
the theme for the sixty-seventh session of the General
Assembly, “Bringing about adjustment or settlement of
international disputes or situations by peaceful means”.
That subject is at the very heart of the principles that
underlie the existence of our Organization, and reflects
the global concerns of our day.
Indeed, the world is in an period of unprecedented
tension, perhaps even more serious than that following
the Cold War. From Afghanistan to Mali; from Pakistan
to Somalia; from Libya to Syria; and from the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict to that of the Sudan and South
Sudan, most of the crises that have recently shaken and
continue to shake our planet, while undoubtedly rooted
in political and social claims, also have considerable
religious and cultural undertones that are often difficult
to address.
Africa is the crucible of all the scourges affecting
the world. The war and attacks in Somalia, the situation
in Mali, the crises in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo and between the two Sudans, violence in
Libya and outbreaks in Côte d’Ivoire and the Central
African Republic are situations which many attempts to
resolve have proved ineffective. Based on the principle
that without peace and security development is not
possible, the international community, embodied in the
United Nations, has the firm obligation to contribute to establishing peace by making use of all the legal
mechanisms at its disposal for settling conflict.
The Organization has been particularly active
in recent years in different theatres of conflict, such
as Afghanistan, Darfur, Côte d’Ivoire, Libya and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since its inception,
the United Nations has never been so involved in different
hotbeds of tension around the world. We commend that
presence because of its calming and legitimizing effect
on populations and even on protagonists. However,
we also need to ponder the form and effectiveness of
that presence. The stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the crisis in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, despite the massive and costly deployments
of the forces mandated by the United Nations, clearly
reflect the inability of the international community to
impose peace where it is necessary.
The crisis in Mali comes as a test and a challenge
for the international community. Along with that crisis,
obscurantist and violent religious fundamentalism,
drug and human trafficking and irredentist claims
have taken root in the very heart of Africa today. Can
the world continue to stand by for much longer given
that that gangrene, of which Mali is only the epicentre,
threatens to spread throughout the entire Sahel?
Our delegation commends the determination
of the international community seen at the high-
level meeting on the Sahel that was organized on the
initiative of the Secretary-General. We commend the
commitments of France, the Economic Community of
West African States and above all those of the primary
party concerned, namely, Mali, to act to eradicate that
gangrene. The United Nations, too, needs to expedite
procedures and act quickly by adopting a resolution that
would authorize the intervention of an international
military force.
I would like to take advantage of my presence at
this rostrum to warmly commend Mr. Omer Hassan
A. Al-Bashir of the Sudan and Mr. Salva Kiir of South
Sudan, who overcame their differences and reached
a peace and security agreement, albeit partial. We
sincerely hope that the agreement will quickly lead
to a final understanding, which is so necessary to the
progress of the countries and to the stability of the
subregion.
It is my pleasure to inform the Assembly that within
the framework of subregional initiatives with respect to
peace and security in the Sahel, the member countries of the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)
have undertaken a reform of our organization, which
will incorporate peace and security dimensions into its
updated texts. The President of the Republic of Chad,
Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, has invited his colleagues from
member countries to a summit meeting in N’Djamena
on 29 November to adopt new texts aimed at refocusing
CEN-SAD’s objectives on the specific concerns of the
region.
The ability of extremist groups to cause harm
across borders calls for a collective and appropriate
response. Our community, CEN-SAD, which includes
almost all of the countries of the Sahel and the Saraha,
seems to be the appropriate structure in which to bring
together all our response strategies.
Drawing on lessons from the difficulties experienced
by the United Nations on the ground, Chad requested
the departure in 2010 of the United Nations Mission in
the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).
The Mission had been mandated to stabilize the region
and protect Sudanese refugee camps in Darfur and
those of internally displaced persons in eastern Chad.
Despite a huge budget and considerable resources, that
force did not prove to be an effective deterrent. It left the
bulk of the work to the Détachement intégré de sécurité
(DIS), a special national Chadian force made up 600
men and women. After MINURCAT’s departure,
Chad decided to entrust DIS with the protection of
refugees and displaced persons and any humanitarian
organizations that provided assistance. A joint support
programme for DIS was signed in February 2011 in
order to mobilize the necessary logistical financial
support to enable it to operate. The overall budget was
estimated to be $20 million, about 2 per cent of the
budget allocated to MINURCAT, which, I would remind
the Assembly, amounted to some $800 million per year.
That support has not yet been forthcoming, and Chad
has been bearing the cost of the unit alone, estimated
at about $4 million per year. I would also remind the
Assembly that the responsibility of providing security
to refugees, displaced persons and humanitarian
organizations living in that region cannot and should
not be left to Chad alone. The international community
has the obligation to consider that issue and address
it. That is why Chad is reiterating the special appeal
it launched from this rostrum last year, requesting our
Organization to take heed.
Africa sorely needs international solidarity, not
only to settle the conflicts and crises sweeping through it, but also for its development. In both cases, the results
have been disappointing. The Millennium Development
Goals, official development assistance and debt relief,
in sum all of the commitments made in that regard,
have either not been met or have been met only
halfway. We would remind the Assembly that poverty,
unemployment and, at times, despair are the scourges
that push young Africans to extremism and to seek
better prospects elsewhere. Africa needs assistance on
a large scale, not in small doses, in order to help those
young people and give them new confidence in their
continent. This would not absolve the African States
from shouldering their primary responsibility to create
the right conditions for progress and prosperity.
For its part, my country, Chad, under the
leadership of President Idriss Deby Itno, is continuing
the necessary political and economic reforms for its
development and stability. We have just held the first
municipal elections in our political history, and there
were presidential and legislative elections in 2011. In
addition, we are reviewing ways of establishing new
arrangements for political dialogue with the democratic
opposition, similar to those which enabled us to hold
the latest elections in a calm and tranquil environment.
For that reason, we are patiently working to
consolidate the rule of law and strengthen the values of
tolerance and democracy within Chadian society. That
is a long and arduous process in a country that has just
been through three decades of violence and political
instability. With stability restored and socioeconomic
progress achieved, Chad would like to make its modest
contribution to building a world of justice and peace.
For that reason, my country is for the first time a
candidate for a non-permanent seat in the Security
Council during the elections of October 2013.
The efforts undertaken by my country have,
however, been hampered by unexpected events: first,
the crisis in Libya, which required us to strengthen
security along the borders with that country, in addition
to our efforts to secure our borders with the Sudan, the
Central African Republic and the Lake Chad region that
borders Nigeria and the Niger; secondly, the arrival of
nearly 100,000 Chadians who had f led the war in Libya,
the majority of whom were young people needing help
with reintegration; and, thirdly, the current f loods,
caused by exceptionally heavy rains. The Government’s
appeal for help for the victims of the disaster has not yet
received the expected response. Despite all those constraints and the sacrifices
undertaken by Chad, we have not been able to benefit
from the debt relief that comes with reaching the
completion point. We therefore call on our bilateral and
multilateral partners to take into account our unique
situation and support us as we move forward.
The theme of our session this year reminds us that
all of the formulas that have been used to address the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed. As the crisis
goes on and on, it is becoming accepted; yet, it is at the
very root of the worst violence the world has seen in
recent years. The community of nations cannot behave
like an ostrich indefinitely, allowing a crisis as old as the
United Nations itself to drag on interminably — a crisis
which is a constant threat to peace and the regional and
global balance. Here, too, old postures need to change
and robust initiatives need to be taken to put an end to
the conflict, which has gone on far too long.
The international realities of our time should also
strengthen our determination to bring about the reform
of the Security Council. The primary innovation should
be to expand its membership, with the admission of
Africa as a permanent member with the right of veto.
The world has greatly changed. We therefore need to
adapt our global governance to these developments.
In conclusion, the delegation of Chad, through
me, would like to express how much we admire the
newly elected President’s steering of the work of the
General Assembly. We also would like to pay tribute to
the Secretary-General for his personal commitment in
the quest for peace worldwide. We firmly hope that his
efforts will be successful and bring about more justice
and serenity for humankind.


I wish to warmly congratulate
you, Mr. President, on your election to the presidency
of the General Assembly at this session. Rest assured
that you have Italy’s full support as you assume your
crucial responsibilities in the service of international
peace and cooperation.
Every day and everywhere, people strive to
overcome fear, achieve justice and persevere through
hardship and uncertainty to protect their families
and livelihoods and to ensure a better future for their
children. Governments strive to achieve and preserve
peace, justice and prosperity in a world gripped by
political tensions, civil wars and a severe economic and
financial crisis. In 2011, financial markets showed serious new
signs of tension, due primarily to the deterioration of
public finances. What we have been experiencing is
not a recurrent cyclical imbalance. In the case of the
European Union (EU), it is the deepest and worst crisis
in its history.
Other crises threatened the European project in the
past, but each time Europeans found a way to continue
down the path on which they embarked upon more
than 50 years ago. In his memoirs, Jean Monnet noted
that Europe would be built through crises. Indeed, it
is by solving those crises that Europeans have realized
how closely integrated their interests are and how
interdependent their economies. Today, the world has
learned how essential a viable Europe is to tackling
global economic and security challenges, and how
important the euro area is to the recovery of the global
economy. Today it is clear that “more Europe” is in the
general interest, and not just that of Europeans.
We cannot overlook the importance of the measures
being taken at the EU level to strengthen governance and
fiscal integration, as was underlined by President Van
Rompuy. It is also essential that European Governments
deliver at the national level. Italy will continue to do
its part to further strengthen fiscal sustainability and
enhance potential growth.
Historic changes are taking place in the
Mediterranean region. Italy has stood by the Arab
peoples in their quest for justice and democracy. In the
past months, we have engaged with the new leaders
of those nations. I found in them a deep commitment
that inspires hope. Both bilaterally and through the
European Union, we are lending concrete support to
their new Governments to assist their recovery, set
mutually beneficial trade policies and foster inclusive
economic development, thereby promoting stability
throughout the region.
There is also an element of self-interest in that
pursuit. Instability around the Mediterranean impacts
our own security. Conflicts and social unrest on the
southern shore spill over to our own shores. Terrorism
finds new avenues to reach Europe. Trafficking in
human beings has destabilizing effects on the countries
of destination and often results tragedies at sea, which
we can no longer accept. The situation in the Sahel is of
grave concern and a top priority for Italy. It is a volatile
mix of fragile institutions and rampant organized
crime and terrorist groups. We cannot let the situation
deteriorate any further. Italy, for one, will make its contribution jointly with our partners and the States of
the region.
The ultimate goals of peace and cooperation will
be achieved only if all the countries concerned work
together on the basis of mutual respect and a shared
sense of purpose. A culture of dialogue must prevail
over confrontation. Extremism and intolerance must be
isolated and rejected. Rights, dignity and opportunities
must be offered to every component and member of our
societies, especially minorities and women.
Italy is fully committed to implementing such a
vision. For us, protecting and promoting human rights
is a long-standing domestic commitment as well as a
fundamental pillar of our foreign policy. In that vein,
we shall continue to pursue the universal abolition
of the death penalty, the protection of minorities, the
advancement of the status of women and the free and safe
expression of religion or belief. We need to cooperate
wisely in firmly rejecting the misrepresentation of
religions or beliefs as an instrument of disruption and
destabilization.
To achieve that goal, good laws are always
necessary, but they are not always enough. Tolerance
must be promoted through educational programmes
and consistent grass-roots work, engaging the efforts
of both Governments and civil society. I strongly
encourage the membership of the Assembly and all
relevant international organizations to resolutely
pursue such an approach.
The Arab Spring has experienced difficulties, yet it
has also scored a number of remarkable achievements.
Nothing is easy, yet nothing is impossible. But nothing
can be achieved without goodwill and good faith, which
we will need if we want to put an end to the ongoing
massacres and the massive human rights violations in
Syria. The regime in Damascus refuses to comply with
the resolutions of the Security Council, and it continues
to commit indiscriminate violence against civilians.
Italy fully supports the mission of the new Joint Special
Representative for Syria and strongly urges the Security
Council to overcome the stalemate that is preventing
effective international action. History will not be
lenient in judging those who bear responsibilities.
Nor can we underestimate the increasing danger of
nuclear proliferation. Italy supports the commitment of
the International Atomic Energy Agency to obtaining
clarification of the true nature of the Iranian nuclear
programme. We urge Iran to fully comply with all the relevant Security Council resolutions. Italy advocates
more effective arms control regimes, and looks forward
to concrete nuclear disarmament measures as proposed
in President Obama’s Prague appeal.
Respect for the rule of law is the basic condition for
promoting human rights and maintaining international
peace and security. In that context, Mr. President, I
welcome your proposal of “Bringing about adjustment
or settlement of international disputes or situations
by peaceful means” as the overarching theme for this
session of the General Assembly.
I am also pleased to announce that Italy is now
ready to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the
International Court of Justice in accordance with
Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Court’s Statute. This
is a defining moment for the International Court of
Justice and for international jurisdictions in general,
since they are the key institutions for interpreting
international law and guaranteeing global compliance
with its provisions. More and more, effective actions to
assure international order and security demand respect
for international law.
The same holds true for actions to counter new
threats, such as piracy, which is particularly troubling
given its impact on the world economy and on the lives
of seafarers. International efforts to protect sea lanes
and fight piracy can be effective only if all nations
cooperate in good faith, according to the established
rules of international customary law and United Nations
conventions, including those protecting the jurisdiction
of the f lag State in international waters.
The Organization can expect no less from each
Member State, and especially from those Members that
aim to have a decisive influence on the rules of global
governance. Any erosion of the sending State’s exclusive
jurisdiction over servicemen on official duty would
jeopardize the status of our agents on international
missions. Consequently, it would also undermine the
sustainability of United Nations peacekeeping missions.
By the same token, we must not tolerate any breach
of diplomatic missions, whose inviolability must be
respected. We firmly condemn any proposition that
violence is an acceptable response to speech.
Transnational organized crime also requires a
collective response grounded in the rule of law and
the principle of shared responsibility. With the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Italy has actively
contributed to, and co-financed with Colombia, a digest to promote the implementation of the Palermo
Convention by illustrating best practices. The digest
is a practical tool for law enforcement officials and
prosecutors. It will be officially presented next month
in Vienna, on the occasion of the sixth Conference of
the Parties to the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime.
The United Nations is called upon to play a key
role in conflict prevention, the settlement of disputes
and providing assistance for crisis management
and nation-building, in cooperation with regional
organizations. Despite the current financial juncture,
Italy continues to do its part in crisis management,
peacekeeping and stabilization missions. Our
expertise and resources — both military and
civilian — will remain engaged in a number of critical
theatres, especially Afghanistan and Lebanon. That
commitment constitutes a heavy burden, but one we
deem a worthy investment for the sake of the common
interest.
In that light, helping Somalia to recover its integrity
and dignity will remain high on my Government’s
agenda.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
have played a crucial role in changing development
cooperation policies and practices. But since they
were first agreed upon, the development landscape has
changed deeply. New challenges have emerged and
other issues and processes have come to the fore. The
post-2015 development agenda will therefore have to
take those trends into account. It will have to include
such important dimensions of development as reducing
inequality, fostering credible democracy, promoting
human rights, good governance, equitable growth,
migration, employment, decent jobs and tackling
climate change.
We are very pleased with your decision,
Mr. President, to constitute a high-level panel to
discuss this fundamental issue, and to appoint three
important leaders to conduct the international debate.
We are confident that the process of defining the pillars
of the future development agenda will be as inclusive as
possible, while avoiding the top-down assumptions that
emerged in 1995.
In our view, the post-2015 MDGs will have to be
harmonized with the inputs that emerged from the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20). The three dimensions of sustainable development — the social, economic and
environmental — will be part of the scenarios we face
in the future. We will also have to work within the
framework of the new Busan Global Partnership for
Effective Development Cooperation.
In the area of climate change, sound and balanced
management of land and marine resources, involving
strengthened trans-boundary cooperation, deserves
closer political attention and common application. Some
challenges are particularly pressing. Tackling climate
change through coordinated emissions-reduction
policies is a prerequisite to substantially reducing, and
possibly stopping, the serious degradation of planet
Earth’s fragile ecosystems, on which our lives depend.
In line with our joint strategic objectives to overcome
the financial crisis, we attach great importance to
innovative sources of financing for development. Italy
has helped promote a number of significant initiatives,
in particular in the health field.
Migrant remittances play a key role in the
development of many countries. That process will be
facilitated by achieving the commitments of the Group
of Eight (G-8) and the Group of 20 to reduce the average
global cost of transferring remittances.
Food security is a priority for the Italian
Government’s development assistance policy. In 2009,
under Italy’s presidency, the G-8 adopted the L’Aquila
Food Security Initiative, a new and inclusive mechanism
that has been joined by more than 40 countries and has
funded several food security projects amounting to an
estimated $22 billion.
We are still paying careful attention to policies
aimed at mitigating the effect of agricultural price
volatility. The availability of high-quality, healthy and
sustainable food for all humankind is the historical
and concrete challenge being taken up by Expo 2015 in
Milan. The theme “Feeding the planet” is crucial to the
global agenda — from the Millennium Development
Goals to Rio+20 and its Zero Hunger initiative, as well
as the G-8 and G-20 processes — and is particularly
relevant to the work of the United Nations system. All
States Members of the United Nations have been invited,
and so far almost 100 countries and international
organizations have confirmed their participation.
In conclusion, I wish to respond to the appeal
you launched in your opening address. Yes, Italy
will make an active contribution to the efforts aimed
at revitalizing the General Assembly by enhancing its role and efficiency. Today more than ever, the
world needs the authority of the United Nations. The
reform of the Security Council is a key element of
this agenda. We are very much counting on members’
assistance in making it happen. An effective Security
Council is crucial not only to meeting the challenges
to peace, but also to creating a better international
order. An equitable reform of the Council is a matter
of continuing legitimacy, rather than of increasing the
national power of select Member States. The principles
of accountability, consensus and regional empowerment
must continue to inspire our commitment.


On behalf
of the Government of the Republic of Angola, I avail
myself of this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Vuk
Jeremić on his election to preside over the General
Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and to assure him
of the support of my country in the fulfilment of his
mission. It is our belief that under his leadership this
session will confirm the importance and role of the General Assembly in finding solutions to the burning
issues affecting humankind, thereby helping to make
the world safer and fairer. I would also like to express
our gratitude to Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for
the exemplary and wise manner in which he conducted
the work of the Assembly at its previous session. I
further salute Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for
the dynamism he has invested in the work of our
Organization. In this connection, I would like to thank
him for his visit to my country in February of this
year, during the celebration of the tenth anniversary
of the advent of peace in Angola. During that visit,
he had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the
progress made in the reconstruction of the country and
consolidation of democratic institutions.
This session of the General Assembly is taking place
at a time of profound international political, economic
and social transformations, which reaffirm the relevance
of the central theme of our discussion: maintaining
international peace and security, eradicating poverty,
promoting development, protecting the environment
and ensuring a better future for generations to come,
guaranteeing the rule of law in international relations,
and promoting and ensuring the protection of human
rights. These are indeed the main challenges facing us
today.
In addition to these, there are further challenges
requiring priority attention from our Organization,
including disarmament, the fight against organized
crime, the implementation of the Global Counter-
Terrorism Strategy, and the persistence of armed
conflicts and their impact on people’s lives. Having
had the painful experience of war, which still has
major consequences for the lives of our people, Angola
reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the way to
a peaceful resolution of conflict. Angola will continue
to meet its obligations and fulfil its responsibilities
at the international level, in particular with regard
to Africa as a whole, as well as in the context of the
regional economic and political groups to which it
belongs, including the Southern African Development
Community, the Community of Portuguese-speaking
Countries, the Economic Community of Central
African States and the International Conference of the
Great Lakes Region.
The international economic and financial crisis
that is affecting all countries in the world continues
to demand solutions, including the reform of the
economic, financial and international trade system in order to serve the interests of all countries in a global
perspective. In this regard, my Government reiterates
its support for initiatives aimed at liberalizing
international trade in line with the Doha Round. The
reform of the international economic and financial
system’s regulatory institutions is of crucial importance
to ensure greater flexibility and transparency in
allocating capital to the least developed countries — a
category that includes the majority of African nations.
It is also essential to take appropriate measures
towards strengthened support for international action
on sustainable development and increased financial
contributions to the United Nations to enable our
Organization to fulfil its mandate efficiently. It must
do so by renewing its commitments to the sustainable
development issues contained in Agenda 21, adopted
at the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
provided a solid framework for creating national and
international policies to ensure the social, economic
and environmental welfare of our peoples.
We note that despite the progress made, there is
a continued need for the international community to
translate commitments into action in order to achieve
sustainable development. Africa in general, and my
country in particular, believe that intensive efforts on
the part of the international community are needed to
tackle the phenomena that threaten to reverse progress
made with respect to development. Drought and
desertification, climate change, natural disasters, loss
of biodiversity and rapid urbanization are just some of
the factors that adversely affect development efforts
worldwide.
The Security Council plays a key role in preventing
and resolving conflicts, and in peacekeeping efforts, in
accordance with the powers conferred upon it by the
Charter of the United Nations. The central theme at
the heart of our debate calls for reform of the Security
Council, as well as ensuring the fair representation
of all regions and the broadening of its permanent
membership in order to adapt it to contemporary reality.
Allow me to refer to a set of conflicts that are of
critical concern to my country. In the Great Lakes
region, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo continues to worry the international community.
My country reaffirms its support for the decisions of
the third extraordinary summit of the International
Conference on the Great Lakes Region, held in Kampala, as well as the efforts of the African Union
and the Southern African Development Community.
Angola welcomes the normalization of the legal
and constitutional order in Somalia as a result of the
completion of the transition process, including the
inauguration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Given that the situation remains unstable, Angola urges
the international community to continue to support the
stabilization process in that country.
The situation in the Sudan has seen positive
developments. Angola welcomes the recent agreements
between the sisterly Republics of South Sudan and the
Sudan, with a view to the settling of their disputes.
Angola urges stakeholders to engage with one another
and to show the political will necessary to implement
the commitments undertaken.
With respect to Mali, Angola deplores the
worsening humanitarian situation resulting from
the crisis prevailing in that country. Angola calls
upon the international community to demonstrate its
determination to preserve the unity, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Mali.
In the sisterly nation of Guinea-Bissau, we
advocate a comprehensive solution and the permanent
normalization of the constitutional order, in accordance
with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the
African Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking
Countries and the Economic Community of West
African States, as well as the wishes of all the internal
actors, in order to stabilize the country and establish
peace.
We remain concerned about the lack of progress
in resolving the issue of Western Sahara. We call on
the parties involved to continue negotiations under
the auspices of the United Nations so that the people
of Western Sahara can exercise their right of self-
determination.
The prevailing situation in the Middle East in
general, and the Palestinian territories in particular,
is one of the most serious problems facing the
international community. Angola supports the creation
of an independent Palestinian State living side by side
with the State of Israel in peace and security and within
secure internationally recognized borders, in line with
the position of the international community.
The conflict in Syria poses a grave threat to
international peace and security and will seriously exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the region.
Angola urges the international community to support
the efforts of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special
Representative of the United Nations and the League
of Arab States for Syria, to seek a negotiated solution
to the conflict.
The embargo imposed on Cuba violates international
law and for decades has been a major impediment to that
country’s development and improvements in the lives
of its citizens. Angola reiterates its principled position
affirming the need to end the embargo in accordance
with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
Angola’s foreign policy will continue to be based on
mutual respect, mutual benefit, good-neighbourliness
and the strengthening of regional economic integration.
Angola will continue to comply with all the international
commitments and international instruments to which it
is a party.
Ten years after achieving peace, Angola has
recorded significant progress in consolidating its
democratic process. General elections were held on
31 August in a civil and peaceful atmosphere, thus
demonstrating the maturity of its people. The results
expressed the sovereign will of the Angolan people,
as verified by international observers who closely
followed the election.
Currently, Angola is joyfully celebrating the
investiture of its organs of State sovereignty, including
the President of the Republic and the National Assembly,
as well as the assumption of office by members of the
Government. It is experiencing a dynamic reconstruction
and development process marked by the consolidation
of macroeconomic stability that has had positive
effects on the stabilization of the national currency.
In addition, the rehabilitation and modernization of
major productive and social infrastructure, namely
the reconstruction of roads, railways, electricity
supply and distribution systems, water supply systems
and sanitation and telecommunication networks, are
contributing to the progressive improvement of the
living conditions of Angolans.
Political stability and the strengthening of
institutional capacity have enabled the Angolan
economy to grow at an average rate of 9.2 per cent over
the past five years, while the non-oil sector has grown
at an average rate of 12 per cent. Those growth rates
were due to effective measures by the Government
aimed at stabilizing the fiscal, monetary and currency macroeconomic indicators and thereby facilitating the
revival of the economy.
The fi ght against hunger and the struggle to reduce
and eradicate poverty are two of the biggest challenges
being addressed by the Angolan State owing to their
impact on people’s lives. Indeed, their resolution is
crucial if we are to build a more prosperous society and
achieve social justice.
Despite Angola’s successes in the last decade,
it was not possible to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals as we had wished. However, the
country’s macroeconomic development indicators have
permitted the Committee for Development Policy of
the Economic and Social Council to consider Angola
eligible to graduate from its least developed country
status starting in 2015.
On behalf of the Angolan Government, we would
like to express our gratitude for the trust that investors have shown in us and for the assistance provided by
international partners which, added to investment from
national sources, has allowed us to achieve the level of
economic growth the country has been experiencing.
We are aware that there is still much to do to ensure
that the high growth rates the country has seen in the
recent past are reflected in an effective, systematic and
gradual increase in the standard of living of the Angolan
people, through a better distribution of national income
and higher employment levels, especially among youth,
and increased and better investment in the area of social
welfare.
In conclusion, I must reiterate Angola’s commitment
to the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter
of the United Nations and state that we will continue
to engage in the search for solutions to the challenges
facing the international community.


At the outset, I wish
to convey thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-
General for his true commitment to the fulfilment of
the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The United Nations and its General Assembly are a
unique tool, the one and only global forum that provides
room for dialogue to discuss strategic visions and to
seek policy-level solutions to the problems that we are
jointly confronted with at the international, regional
and national levels. It is our obligation and moral duty
to search together for ways of bringing peace and
prosperity to all humankind. Conflicts do not stop at
borders. The world we live in is so interconnected that
every problem is a problem for all of us and every threat
is a threat faced by all. At the same time, every success
is of benefit to all of us.
Besides numerous indisputable benefits, the
process of globalization introduces new challenges. I
will mention just three challenges encountered in the
early twenty-first century: the global economic crisis,
environmental change and man-made threats, including
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. We need
global partnership and cooperation. We need strong
multilateralism. We need a proactive United Nations that
can lead effectively on all fronts: political, economic,
military, social and civil. We need a trustworthy United
Nations that people can rely upon to save them from the
scourge of war. We need to work together towards our
common goal: peace, security and dignity for all.
The Organization’s primary objective is to preserve
peace and security in the world. We have been through
an extremely challenging year full of unexpected twists
and turns, including some severe new conflicts, grave
violations of human rights, disease, famine, terrorism
and extremism, as well as other threats to peace and
security, which, unfortunately, we cannot always
successfully prevent. Attacks have even occurred
against diplomats and diplomatic missions, which we
resolutely condemn as totally unacceptable.
It is the way we go about resolving constantly
occurring conflicts and the effectiveness of our
responses to new threats that tells us how successful
we are in meeting the objectives of the United Nations.
Violence can never be the right way to settle a dispute.
Open dialogue, respect for mutual differences and a
joint search for solutions by peaceful means is the only
way to proceed; there is no alternative. Therefore, we
appreciate the appeal to concentrate specifically on
that crucial aspect of international relations. We are
all obliged under the Charter of the United Nations to
resolve disputes by peaceful means so that peace and
security are not at risk.

The Charter provides us with a range of options,
including negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation,
arbitration and other peaceful means, which must
be used effectively. Mediation under the auspices
of the United Nations is key to resolving conflicts
by peaceful means. Reinforcing United Nations
mediation capacities, confidence-building, improved
implementation of the Charter and enhanced respect for
its provisions are central.
While the nature of conflicts evolves and changes,
their essence remains the same — achieving goals by
violence. I refer not just to military battles. Famine
and thirst have even more devastating consequences
than weapons. Unfair distribution of wealth, social
imbalances, poverty and the feeling of injustice remain
breeding grounds for conflicts and disputes. Persons
whose basic needs are met do not seek conflict; rather,
they seek ways of making the best of their lives. In that
context, I think that prevention is the most effective
tool for ensuring peace, sustainable growth and a life
of dignity.
It is crucial to eliminate the primary causes
of conflicts, including through poverty reduction,
sustainable development, respect for human rights, the
rule of law and respect for its instruments, building of
democratic institutions, and arms control. Those are
the basic building blocks of peace and prosperity. The
United Nations, with its multipurpose focus, possesses
the potential to effectively assist its Members in all
those areas. But it must be adequately empowered to
do so.
However, we still differ considerably on what the
United Nations should do, and how. Terrorism poses an
imminent threat to every one of us, yet we are unable
to find common grounds to describe its characteristics.
Climate change has brought about crucial changes with
concrete impacts on agricultural production, yet the
production of greenhouse gases and emissions does
not decline. The gap between the wealthy and the poor
has been growing. An increasingly important role is
being played by non-State actors — multinational
corporations and speculative investors.
The crisis has shown that even the strongest
economies are vulnerable. They are vulnerable when
they live on credit, when the moral hazard goes beyond
what is sustainable. The crisis has shown that peace
has its limits in every society, whether that society is
more or less advanced. It is important for the global
economy that the strongest economies are stable and, in particular, that they are aware of their responsibility
for global development and the sustainability of
social stability in the world. This is not only about the
application of the principle of social solidarity; it is
about the self-preservation of humankind.
We therefore have to pursue a common target:
to transform the United Nations into an effective
Organization with a leading role in a new international
environment. We need a political willingness on the
part of all Members and a clear vision to adapt the
United Nations to the global demands of the twenty-
first century.
One of the instruments for preventing conflicts is
the elimination of poverty and ensuring sustainable
development for all, and in all aspects. The United
Nations has the necessary tools in its hands. At a time
of fiscal constraints, we have to use the existing tools
more effectively. We do not need to create new parallel
or duplicate structures.
At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20), we agreed that we needed an
inclusive, strong multilateral system that will be able
to effectively address threats in the area of sustainable
development. Such a system is crucial for enduring
peace and, of course, for security.
We support Sustainable Energy for All, an
initiative launched by the Secretary-General. In the
spirit of the initiative, we emphasize, among other
things, the positive aspects of the use of nuclear energy
in the energy and health care sectors. I am convinced
that priority investments in research to increase the
operational safety and security of nuclear power plants
would be more useful than massive investment in the
closure of functioning power plants.
Slovakia is prepared to intensively and constructively
cooperate with partners in order to maximize the
effective functioning of the United Nations system in
the economic, social, environmental and other areas.
We support strengthening the Economic and Social
Council and more effective cooperation of the Council
with the General Assembly and other entities across the
United Nations system.
Slovakia takes seriously its moral duty to help
developing countries and countries in distress. We have
less than three years to go to accomplish the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals. We need
to step up our efforts. As a donor country, Slovakia
contributes its share to addressing the pressing problems of global development. Despite its tight budget, Slovakia
increases its total contribution to official development
assistance every year.
A secure and stable environment conducive to
development cannot be achieved without effective arms
control and universal disarmament as the fundamental
instruments of conflict prevention. Slovakia is an
advocate of a comprehensive, universal and binding
arms trade treaty. Our objective is to curb irresponsible
dealing in arms and to prevent their transfer to the hands
of terrorists, criminals and other illicit groups. I regret
that the years-long efforts of States, in cooperation with
civil society, were not crowned with success at the July
2012 Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty. I believe
that further negotiations will lead to a consensus on an
effective agreement.
A world free of nuclear weapons is one of the
priorities long pursued by the international community.
Although we have made some progress in this respect
in recent years, there are still countries that are not
parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons.
We appreciate that a conference on a Middle East
zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass
destruction has been scheduled for December 2012 in
Helsinki. We believe that despite the regrettable turmoil
in the region and the unwillingness of some countries to
cooperate, we will overcome the differences and jointly
bring the conference to a successful conclusion, for the
sake of our common goal, namely, peace and security
in the Middle East without the fear of nuclear weapons.
Success of the conference would also support long-
lasting efforts to drive away concerns over the Iranian
nuclear programme. Rocket tests performed by Iran
do not contribute to belief that its nuclear programme
serves a peaceful purpose.
With regard to further improvements in the
work of peacebuilding missions and increasing their
effectiveness, I would like to mention three aspects
that I consider crucial: first, cooperation among United
Nations missions; secondly, the protection of civilians
and the contributions to monitoring human rights; and,
thirdly, the need to prepare a strategy for the transition
from peacekeeping to peacebuilding, that is, increased
effectiveness in the implementation of security
sector reform. More intensive cooperation among
peacekeeping missions will allow for effective sharing of
funds, equipment and personnel between neighbouring
missions, as well as contribute to improving the
capabilities of United Nations peacekeeping forces
to adequately respond to unforeseen situations. The
protection of civilians is one of the main objectives
under the mandates of peacekeeping operations. It will
enable the restoration of political processes in a country,
including the implementation of measures aimed at
the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of
combatants, as well as of ordinary people affected by the
conflict, including children. As the road from conflict
to enduring peace is complicated, it is important that
we prepare strategies for the peacekeeping forces to
anticipate and transfer responsibility for peacekeeping
in a host country with the aim of eliminating duplicate
instruments and procedures.
Last year, the international community devoted
considerable attention and funds to support Afghanistan
on its road towards responsibility for its own security
and for meeting its obligations. Afghanistan remains
the top-priority foreign military operation for Slovakia.
Our troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as necessary.
Security and stability also depend on a stable
economy. Therefore we also wish to intensify our
involvement in the area of development assistance.
Afghanistan remains one of the three primary recipients
of Slovakia’s official development assistance. At the
same time, we support the central role of the United
Nations and the United Nations Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan in capacity-building and stabilization in
Afghanistan. Wherever in the world human lives are at
risk, the international community should be prepared
to take resolute action.
Allow me to express my deepest regret over the
thousands of victims of the conflict in Syria. The Slovak
Republic has joined the initiative requesting that the
most serious crimes under international law committed
in Syria be investigated by the International Criminal
Court. The primary responsibility for the protection
of its citizens is always borne by the Government and
democratic institutions of a country. The aim is to
build a country governed by the rule of law, respecting
international principles and at the same time reflecting
traditional common law.
Slovakia is committed to the United Nations
principles set out in the Charter. We believe that the key
to resolving global problems in today’s interconnected
world is an inclusive and effective multilateralism.
Global threats to security, the economy, the environment or society know no borders and are so extensive that no
country and no regional organization can alone respond
to or defend against them effectively.
We believe that, together, we will make progress
on our agenda during the current session of the General
Assembly. That is what our citizens expect from us.


Papua New Guinea
congratulates Mr. Jeremić on his recent election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh
session. Our country pledges its support to him in that
role. I also commend his predecessor, His Excellency
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for the valuable work
that he has done in the past year.
Papua New Guinea recently celebrated its 37
years of independence, on 16 September. Prior to that,
despite various challenges, our country successfully
completed its general elections in a fair and peaceful
manner. Those elections culminated in the convening
of our ninth National Parliament and the formation
of a new Government. We thank our close friends
and development partners that have assisted us in the
election process, including Australia, New Zealand,
Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, Great
Britain, the European Union, the United Nations and
the Commonwealth.
As a young developing nation, we are proud of our
Constitution-based and evolving democracy. While our
people have subsisted on the island nation of Papua New
Guinea for many centuries, our short modern history
continues to be a testament to the will of our people to
maintain and consolidate our burgeoning democracy in
line with the rule of law. In today’s world, that is the
basis on which a just and fair society is built and on
which societies have been built.
Papua New Guinea’s key development priorities in
the next five years are contained in our Medium-Term
Development Plan 2011-2015. That seeks to achieve a long-term national road map under our Vision 2050.
We need to strengthen our economy for it to be more
resilient to global market shocks by diversifying
trade and investment and by reviewing development
cooperation, ensuring that our people’s basic needs are
met.
Papua New Guinea is also increasing investment
in our children’s future, security and success by the
provision of free and quality education from the
elementary to the secondary level and by further
subsidizing education from Grade 12 to the tertiary
level. We believe that that will help us to achieve
Millennium Development Goal 2 on universal primary
education, which will enhance our nation-building
process.
We are also rehabilitating and developing our major
infrastructure, such as roads, airports, ports, schools
and hospitals, as key drivers of sustainable development
in our country. We are increasing support for funding
to ensure the delivery of basic health-care and social
services countrywide. That includes the revitalization
of our institutional and human resources capacity to
take the country to a higher development level, which
is our national development priority.
Our Government has prioritized combating
corruption at all levels of society. In doing so, we have
adopted the principle of zero tolerance. In that respect,
our country is setting up the Independent Commission
against Corruption to enhance implementation of the
United Nations Convention against Corruption. We
believe that such legislation and policy efforts will
improve good governance, resulting in the effective
delivery of basic services and the provision of access to
opportunities for participation in national development
by all relevant stakeholders.
The economy of Papua New Guinea is growing at
an annual rate of 8 per cent. Our improved economic
performance is underscored by political stability, sound
macroeconomic management and the development of
the first large liquefied natural gas project. The revenue
from that project is likely to increase the growth of our
economy, doubling the revenue base by 2014. We intend
to share that wealth with our Pacific neighbours in the
appropriate manner. In that context, a sovereign wealth
fund has been set up to professionally manage the
revenue from the liquefied natural gas project and other
extractive industries. We plan to reinvest that revenue
for the future of our country.

We believe that a strengthened economy will
improve our social indicators, particularly by
addressing our literacy levels, high maternal and infant
mortality rates, law and order enforcement, the ageing
public sector workforce and the declining state of our
country’s infrastructure.
Papua New Guinea supports the Secretary-
General’s five-year action agenda on sustainable
development, enhanced human security, enhancing the
core values of the international community, supporting
nations in transition, and working with and for women
and young people, which was launched on 25 January.
Papua New Guinea continues to benefit from a strong
United Nations presence, through which various
development programmes have been implemented. We
highly value the contribution of the United Nations in
that regard.
We have also been implementing the One United
Nations initiative since 2006 as a self-starter country.
So far, that is working exceptionally well for our
country. We are also grateful that the United Nations
has heeded our call and has synergized its development
assistance framework 2012-2015 with our Medium-
Term Development Plan. However, we can do more. We
urge donor partners to abide by the principles of the
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra
Agenda for Action. Through the Pacific Islands Forum,
we have adapted the Cairns Compact in order to better
coordinate development assistance and to ensure the
effective delivery of aid.
We welcome the proactive engagement of the United
Nations with the Pacific region and thank the Secretary-
General for his visit and ongoing commitment. We
are encouraged by that and by the fact that contacts
with the United Nations system and personnel will be
strengthened in the Pacific Islands region.
The challenge for Papua New Guinea is to ensure that
the development of our natural resources is sustainable
and that the benefits are effectively translated into the
improved livelihoods of our people. That, in turn, will
assist us in meeting our Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), especially the 22 indicators and 90 national
targets that we have set ourselves. We acknowledge
that it will be a challenge to attain all the MDGs by
2015, but note there has been measured progress in
the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, which
is MDG 1, and the reduction of child mortality, which is MDG 4. So for our part, our country is taking full
ownership of the MDGs.
With the support of our development partners such
as the European Union and the United Nations, Papua
New Guinea is conducting a trial of the Millennium
Village concept this month. We recommit ourselves
to working with our international partners, including
the United Nations, and we reiterate that the MDGs
need to be the priority while we discuss sustainable
development goals for the long term.
Papua New Guinea continues to scale up its
efforts to further strengthen human rights protection
and advancement in the country. We are working
closely with United Nations agencies and our other
development partners in the furtherance of these
objectives. To date, we have reported to the Human
Rights Council on work done relating to the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women in July 2010. We have also reported to
the Human Rights Council under the universal periodic
review process. Additionally, the 2012 report of the
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its
causes and consequences (A/HRC/20/16) and the 2010
report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
are being considered by our Government this year.
Papua New Guinea is committed to gender
empowerment and equality. We recognize women and
girls as not only key national development partners
but also persons whose inherent human dignity must
be respected and safeguarded. This is a central pillar
of our Constitution and a core value of our national
development road map. A testament to the success of
this measure is that more girls are enrolling in primary
and upper levels of education with an increasingly high
retention rate. Women are also increasingly employed,
recognized and given greater responsibilities in
our public and private sectors. In fact, we achieved
a historical milestone this year, and one which is
unprecedented in our political history, in that, for the
first time, three women were elected to the national
parliament. This positive trend is increasing in our
country at all levels.
We also recognize the critical importance of
protecting our women and girls from violence and
discrimination. Papua New Guinea is taking a
proactive approach through education, advocacy
and legislation to prevent gender-based violence. We have made violence against women and girls a crime
punishable by law. Partnership with all stakeholders,
including our development partners and civil society,
forms an important part of the gender empowerment
and equality issues in our country. In this context, we
commend the funding, substantially from the Australian
Government, that was announced at the margins of the
Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga in August 2012, as
well as that from other development partners, including
New Zealand, the United Nations and the United States
of America.
Having acceded to the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, Papua New Guinea is now in
the process of ratifying the Convention. Our country is
working with our Pacific Islands Forum member States
to host the Pacific Islands Forum Disability Ministers
Meeting on 3 and 4 October 2012 in Port Moresby.
We are also working towards setting up an
independent national human rights commission and, at
the same time, we are in the process of withdrawing
the seven reservations on the 1951 Convention relating
to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. In this
context, we are partnering with Australia to address
human trafficking and human smuggling issues in our
region.
The theme that was chosen for the High-level
Meeting during this session, the rule of law at the
national and international levels, is timely and
commendable. Papua New Guinea fully subscribes, as I
have said, to the principles of the rule of law.
Papua New Guinea also fully subscribes to
disarmament and non-proliferation to secure a peaceful
world. We urge nuclear nations to denuclearize and
those thinking of going nuclear to refrain from doing
so. The Pacific region remains a nuclear-free zone, and
we urge other Member States that have yet to sign and ratify the Rarotonga Treaty, which prohibits nuclear
weapons in the region, to do so.
We remain concerned about the continued
proliferation of small arms and light weapons. In
this context, we call for the recent impasse on the
negotiations on a global arms trade treaty to be ended
as soon as possible.
Papua New Guinea supports the Group of Seven
Plus forum for its efforts to strengthen peacebuilding
and State-building in fragile and post-conflict countries
and commend Timor-Leste for their leadership. As part
of our national commitment to fostering global peace
and security, Papua New Guinea has commenced its
contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping force
and is looking to expand that contribution.
We remain committed to the United Nations
sustainable development agenda, especially on climate
change, with respect to mitigation and adaptation.
We are committed to working closely with the global
community under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and subscribe to the
Rio+20 outcome declaration, “The future we want”
(resolution 66/288, annex).
Papua New Guinea recognizes the pivotal role
of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for
sustainable development. As a founding member of
GGGI, Papua New Guinea pledges to work together
with other stakeholders to ensure the desired outcomes
through the Institute. In this context, we pay tribute to
the work that has been done by the Republic of Korea.
In conclusion, we support the call made by the
Secretary-General for the reform of the United Nations
system. We also again call for the reform of the Security
Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent
categories of members, in order for it to reflect the
geopolitical realities of today.


On behalf of the Prime
Minister and the people of Fiji, I congratulate the
President on his election and have full confidence in
his guidance of the sixty-seventh session of the General
Assembly. I wish also to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of his predecessor, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser,
through what has been an eventful and turbulent year
for the global community of nations.
The world is facing many challenges that demand
our attention and collective action. As we all gathered
last June in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, millions
of people were recovering from, or living through,
natural disasters. In Fiji, we experienced our worst
f looding on record during the months of January and
April. Beyond the human cost, the economic damage
to infrastructure, schools, businesses, agriculture and
tourism — a sector that generates 33 per cent of Fiji’s
gross domestic product — was immense, and we still
have not fully recovered. Our f loods were by no means
the world’s worst climatic disaster of the year; other
peoples suffered much worse. But as a people who live
on a group of small islands in the South Pacific, we feel
particularly vulnerable.
The ongoing failure of the international community
to seriously address climate change means that we will
all see more frequent and more intense weather events.
Those will erode our development gains and leave our
people feeling poorer and less secure, so it is clear that
it is indispensable to incorporate disaster risk reduction
into global and national development strategies.
The post-2015 development agenda is now under
discussion, and frameworks and modalities are being
developed. However, our job with the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) is not complete. As a
global community of nations that has committed to
those goals, we must give meaningful support to all
those States lagging in their progress. We must also
ensure that a post-2015 development agenda does not
simply delay the target date for the MDG indicators
and goals. The development community can do much
more, including meeting our agreed objectives for
development funding.
Fiji has embarked on a comprehensive reform
programme not only to promote development, but also
to improve the lives of our people. We have embraced
the Millennium Development Goals as they were
intended — to provide specific objective standards for
improving the lives of our people. We are the second
country in the world to introduce the pneumococcal
and rotavirus immunizations as standard, with a view
to minimizing child mortality. That represents progress
towards meeting MDGs 4 and 5.

But the reward is not in meeting the goals; the
reward is in children who are healthier, families that are
less burdened, and generations given a better chance to
become productive adults. We must never forget that
behind each of those Millennium Development Goals
are human beings — the citizens of our nations — who
look to us to provide opportunities for a fuller life. We
still have work to do particularly in meeting MDGs 1,
3 and 6, and we are working on those as best we can.
The particular case of small island developing States
in meeting those goals and their specific challenges
will be addressed by the third Global Conference on the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States, to be held in the Pacific region in 2014. The
success of the Conference will be measured in actions,
not simply in more words. Substantive preparations
for the Conference must therefore be oriented towards
taking action and achieving specific goals.
In addition to support for regional development,
Fiji is also taking the lead in the region on broadband
connectivity. It is clear to us that broadband is
an essential technology for improving education,
medicine, agriculture and environmental services.
Broadband technology is especially important to us
because it will help unite a dispersed people and help
draw us closer to our island neighbours in the Pacific.
If we take care to make it accessible, affordable and
understandable, we will bring an entire universe of
wisdom and understanding to the smallest schools and
remotest villages. Information need no longer be the
property mostly of people who live in the cities or who
are attached to large institutions.
Like all islands nations, Fiji relies on the ocean and
its resources as our economic lifeblood and source of
sustainable development. While fish and other living
marine resources have been vital to Fiji’s economy
and livelihood, we believe that our efforts to explore
deep-sea mineral resources have greater potential,
provided that a precautionary approach with regard to
environmental sustainability is ensured.
The theme selected by the President for this
year’s general debate, “Bringing about adjustment or
settlement of international disputes or situations by
peaceful means”, is most relevant in these times of
turbulence across the world. The United Nations must
continue to be at the vanguard of international peace
and security. It must be able to respond to new types
of crises, always with an aim to stabilize the places it enters and leave behind not just a state of peace and
stability, but also an environment that fosters freedom
and opportunity for the people.
In that context, Fiji continues to play a role in
peacekeeping missions around the world that is far
beyond what is expected of a country of our size
and level of development. We contribute troops and
police personnel to operations in Iraq, Liberia, South
Sudan, Darfur and Timor-Leste. Fiji has responded to
exigent requests by the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, above and beyond agreed contributions,
to ensure that peacekeeping operations in Iraq can
continue unhindered, despite the additional burden it
has placed on our troops operating far from home and
for longer than envisaged. We believe that all nations
must find ways to make the world safer, more humane
and more livable, and as a people we are proud that we
can make that contribution to global peace and security
and to the lives of citizens far away from us. That is
not just Government policy; it is a calling that is deeply
embraced by the Fijian people.
Recognizing the role that peacekeeping missions
with expanded mandates play in helping to build the
foundations of a sustainable future, Fiji has in the past
year also started to contribute in a small yet meaningful
way to the corrections and justice sector of peacekeeping
missions. Mentoring and strengthening corrections and
justice institutions is part of the process of allowing
post-conflict societies to take control of their own
destinies, and Fiji is pleased to be able to be a part of
those unfolding stories around the world.
Fiji has been honoured to be a part of that process
in our own region through our contributions in Timor-
Leste via the United Nations Integrated Mission in
Timor-Leste (UNMIT). Following the successful
elections in Timor-Leste early this year, UNMIT will be
in a position to wind down its operations later this year,
allowing the Timorese people to take full ownership
and control of their own destinies. Timor-Leste is now
an observer to the regional organization of which Fiji is
the current Chair, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and
we trust that through that organization and the United
Nations we will have many years of collaboration ahead.
In the spirit of supporting self-determination,
Fiji continues to work through the Decolonization
Committee of the United Nations to ensure that New
Caledonia’s right to self-determination, as expressed in
the Noumea Accord, is implemented faithfully by all parties. Fiji works through the Melanesian Spearhead
Group in monitoring the progress of implementation
of the Noumea Accord. Additionally, at the Engaging
with the Pacific Meetings held in Fiji in 2011 and 2012,
Pacific island leaders committed to supporting the
inalienable right of the people of Ma’ohi Nui/French
Polynesia to self-determination. We look forward to
working through the United Nations processes and with
all relevant partners in order to have the question of
Ma’ohi Nui’s self-determination placed on the United
Nations agenda again.
Fiji is itself working through a period of reform and
transition. We are building a sustainable democracy
founded on the principle of “one person, one vote, one
value”. Elections will be held under a new constitution
and electoral system no later than September 2014.
Those elections will see the citizens of Fiji go to the
polls without regard to their race for the first time in
our nation’s history. Fiji’s new constitution will be
based on some unassailable democratic principles: a
secular State that recognizes our multi-faith society;
a common national identity in which all citizens, not
just indigenous people, will call themselves Fijians for
the first time; a war against corruption, which inhibits
the country’s development; an independent judiciary
to uphold the rights of every Fijian; social justice and
the elimination of all forms of discrimination, so that
every Fijian is treated equally; good and transparent
governance; and lowering the voting age to 18 to give
our young people a voice.
We set up an independent Constitutional
Commission in March to draft a new constitution
guided by those principles. It will be a constitution
of and for the people. Ordinary Fijians are seizing
the opportunity to put forward their views at public
hearings throughout the country and to voice the issues
that are most important to them. The Commission’s
recommendations will be reviewed by a Constituent
Assembly in early 2013. This body, made up of a broad
cross-section of Fijian society, will formulate the final
document through public discussion and debate. That
will set the scene for elections in 2014, for which
preparations have already begun. Through a process of
electronic registration carried out in July and August
of this year, almost half a million Fijians have so far
registered to vote.
Throughout this process, we have stayed true to
the principle that we in Fiji must determine our own
destiny, one that is inclusive and fair to all citizens. We are taking the time necessary to get it right. We
have endured criticism and a degree of isolation at the
hands of some of our traditional friends among the
world’s democracies. By now, those countries have
begun to recognize that we are serious about building a
sustainable democracy that is racially blind, that offers
equal opportunity, and that protects all citizens from
the tyranny of the majority. We need the support of the
world’s democracies, and we invite them to work with us
in our quest to establish the kind of democratic system
that they enjoy. After 40 years of strife and instability,
the work of true and sustainable democracy is just
beginning, and we ask the international community to
support us.
We have examined and redefined our world view
to help forge productive, friendly relationships with
all nations of goodwill. In 2011, Fiji opened three
new embassies in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa.
We have expanded our diplomatic presence this year
by opening embassies in the Republic of Korea and
the United Arab Emirates. We want to learn more, to
exchange more, to develop more, to trade more, and
certainly to contribute more through active and robust
engagement with other nations.
In the United Nations, Fiji pledges to work in the
most constructive manner possible, and to respect the
ideals of the United Nations Charter. That includes the
International Labour Organization (ILO), with which
we are engaged at the present moment. The Fijian
Government’s commitment to a future of equality and
opportunity for all Fijians includes ensuring that the
rights of working people are protected and extended.
The Constitutional Commission has received
submissions from all sectors of Fijian society, including
trade unions and public employees. We expect the new
constitution to help us continue to build an environment
that promotes safe working conditions, protects
workers from arbitrary actions, and allows workers to
form unions. We seek to ensure that unions can take
collective action, as directed by their member workers,
and are subject only to restrictions that are generally
accepted as protecting the public good. We also seek to
protect the rights of those workers who choose not to
affiliate with unions.
The Fijian Government is committed to protecting
workers who are fortunate enough to have jobs and
to ensuring that all workers receive fair wages.
We are equally committed to creating employment opportunities for the young and less aff luent. As part
of Fiji’s progress in reform towards democracy, we
are reviewing our current labour laws to ensure their
compliance with the 34 ILO conventions that Fiji has
ratified. The tripartite Employment Relations Advisory
Board is a key participant in this process. This year
alone, Fiji has ratified or adopted eight ILO instruments,
as recommended by the tripartite Board, including the
2006 Maritime Labour Convention.
By empowering Fijians, the Government is
seeking to ensure that all citizens, regardless of ethnic
background, are on a level playing field and in possession
of the tools needed to compete with their peers in the
global community, improve their livelihoods and fulfil
their dreams. By modernizing Fiji, the Government is
seeking to make the country and its institutions and
legal system strong, independent and world-class.
Fiji may be a relatively small country, but it has
big aspirations. They include being a good global
citizen, a leader by example among island nations,
and an actively engaged member of the international
community. In the spirit of constructive contribution
to the global community and the United Nations, I
am pleased to say that at today’s ministerial meeting
of the Group of 77 and China, Fiji was endorsed as
the Chair of the Group for the year 2013. Fiji takes
on this responsibility with a deep sense of humility, a
willingness to work collaboratively with all States, and
a commitment to addressing the inequalities that exist
between developing and developed countries.
As we look forward to a productive sixty-seventh
session of the General Assembly, we reiterate our full
support for and cooperation with the President and all
Members, with a view to advancing the objectives of
this body and the aspirations of the global community.


At the
outset, allow me to convey the fraternal greetings of
His Excellency Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President
of the United Republic of Tanzania, who could not
attend this session of the General Assembly due to
other equally important engagements.

On behalf of the Government and people of the
United Republic of Tanzania, I wish to congratulate
Mr. Jeremić on his well-deserved election as President
of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. It
is indeed a pleasure for me to participate in the general
debate under his presidency. Similarly, I congratulate his
predecessor and commend him on the manner in which
he steered the work of the sixty-sixth session. It would
be remiss of me not to acknowledge and commend the
Secretary-General and the entire Secretariat on their
service to the Organization.
Echoing the President’s words during the opening
of the session, we meet here amid upheavals of
unprecedented scope, characterized by multiple intra-
and inter-State conflicts in the world and a time of
emerging and worsening conflicts, most of which
are taking place in Africa and the Middle East (see
A/67/PV.1). Those conflicts have caused the deaths
and suffering of millions of people, including children,
women and the elderly. Undoubtedly, a new world order
of lasting peace, security and freedom, as envisaged in
the United Nations Charter, can be achieved through
dialogue and reconciliation.
We applaud the fact that the theme of this general
debate is “Adjustment or settlement of international
disputes or situations by peaceful means”. Similarly,
we welcome the many initiatives undertaken at the
national, regional and international levels in promoting
that matter.
During the 50 years of the independence of the
United Republic of Tanzania, we have witnessed and
respected the effectiveness of preventive diplomacy. We
have participated in various mediation processes in the
region and on the continent, such as in Burundi, Côte
d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya
and Madagascar. The involvement of former Presidents
of Tanzania the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage
Nyerere and Benjamin William Mkapa, as well as
His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of
the United Republic of Tanzania, in those processes
is a clear testimony of our continued commitment to
preventive diplomacy.
We are all too aware of the dire consequences
of conflict, particularly when all the mechanisms
provided for under the Charter of the United Nations
to resolve conflicts fail to find a permanent solution
and to ensure lasting peace. The situation in Syria is
a case in point. It is important that we find ways to strengthen early-warning mechanisms and to prevent
conflicts before they occur. In no case should we
pursue actions that would encourage parties in conflict
to resort to armed solutions instead of dialogue. While
facilitating dialogue, it is also important that we uphold
the principles of impartiality, objectivity and respect for
international law. The unity of the entire membership is
crucial in ending impunity and human rights violations,
wherever they occur.
The pacific settlement of disputes as provided under
Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations has
never been so pertinent. In the interest of maintaining
peace and security, we should learn to keep our
differences aside and not allow them to create divisions
among us. I believe the presidency of Mr. Vuk Jeremić
will guide us in that direction.
Tanzania is the current Chair of the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics,
Defence and Security. We have taken up the mantle of
leadership of the Organ at a time when some countries of
the region face security challenges. Under the umbrella
of SADC and the International Conference on the Great
Lakes Region of Africa, we have resolved to find a
durable solution to the crisis in the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rebel groups
such as the Mouvement du 23 mars are destabilizing and
threatening the peace and security of the entire region.
Members of the International Conference on the Great
Lakes Region have agreed to establish an international
neutral force comprising 4,000 troops to address the
problem. Tanzania has committed to contribute troops
to the neutral force. Through the African Union (AU),
we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that the
deployment of this international neutral force is done
under the mandate of the United Nations.
Likewise, Tanzania will work assiduously with
other SADC member States to support the return
to constitutional normalcy in Madagascar and the
finalization of the drafting a new constitution in
Zimbabwe, which will open the way to democratic
elections by June 2013. We proceed in that endeavour
with the firm belief that a solution in both countries
will finally be achieved through the effective and
constructive engagement of all parties concerned.
Twelve years ago, in the month of September,
we met in this very Hall to adopt the United Nations
Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2), which gave
birth to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Three years from now, we will reach the deadline we
agreed. We have undoubtedly made some progress on
many fronts, but most developing States are unlikely to
achieve all the goals by the deadline of 2015.
My country has also made progress in the
achievement of the MDGs. It attained Goal 2, on
universal primary education, back in 2009. It has also
registered considerable gains on Goal 3, on promoting
gender equality and the empowerment of women, as
well as on Goal 6, on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria
and other diseases. We have also achieved moderate
results on MDGs 4 and 5, dealing with infant and
maternal mortality, respectively. However, much more
remains to be done to emancipate our people from the
traps of poverty.
Our goals to improve the livelihood of our people
must go beyond 2015. It is therefore necessary that we
consider the post-MDG agenda as one that complements,
instead of diverting our focus from the current MDGs.
My delegation proposes a second generation of MDGs,
whereby all our efforts are directed to ensure that
MDGs are achieved post-2015 in those countries that
will not have achieved them by 2015.
At the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly,
President Kikwete expressed serious concern regarding
global food insecurity (see A/66/PV.15). Since then,
the situation has worsened and the vulnerability of
many developing countries has increased. We must
work collectively to address food insecurity. We
must increase food production and productivity on
a sustainable basis, strengthen agricultural systems,
and establish early-warning mechanisms, as we also
must develop effective responses to calamities such
as those in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region.
While ensuring food security, we need also to address
the issue of nutrition. It is in that regard that Tanzania is
a proud member of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement.
At the national level, the Government is undertaking
various initiatives to ensure food security through
public-private partnerships. My Government has had
the pleasure of hosting the Africa Green Revolution
Forum, in Arusha, which concluded today, with the
participation of African leaders, ministers, private
agribusiness firms, financial institutions, farmers,
non-governmental organizations and agricultural
experts. The Forum was organized by the Alliance for
a Green Revolution in Africa.

United Nations reforms are long overdue. The
United Nations is composed of its States Members,
without which there is no United Nations. If we Member
States cannot agree on reforms then the United Nations
will never be reformed. It is a fact that we have had long
discussions without reaching concrete agreements. The
time has come to walk the talk.
It is important to remind ourselves that Africa is
the largest regional group in the United Nations and
the only continent that is not represented among the
permanent seats on the Security Council. That situation
equally overlooks the fact that most discussions in the
Security Council concern Africa. We, African leaders
and the African Union, have voiced our sentiments
and agreed to have two permanent seats with the veto
power. We will continue working together based on the
agreed Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,
to which we all subscribed. I therefore appeal to Africa
to maintain that momentum and solidarity.
My country will continue to support reform
of the United Nations, including the Delivering as
One initiative, which has been implemented with
considerable success in Tanzania since 2007. The
Government will continue to support that process,
including its continuation in programme countries.
The endorsement of that initiative by some members
of the Assembly is a clear testimony to the value of
the approach. We believe that the 2012 quadrennial
comprehensive policy review will take into account
those positive achievements.
The United Nations is anchored in the principles
of human rights, the rule of law, good governance and
democracy. We the Member States must implement
what we deliberate and agree upon, otherwise the
credibility of the United Nations will be at stake. The
Security Council and the General Assembly have
adopted many resolutions on Palestinian independence.
Tanzania applauds the admission of the Palestinian
State to UNESCO. As we do so, Tanzania would like
once again to appeal to the major Powers and donors in
UNESCO to review their decision to punish UNESCO
by withdrawing their contributions. That decision
impacts more on developing countries, in particular
African countries, which draw on up to 65 per cent of
UNESCO funds in education, science and culture.
With regard to Western Sahara, Tanzania calls
upon the Secretary-General to continue his mediation
efforts in bringing together the Government of Morocco and the leadership of Western Sahara to resolve the
longstanding crisis. In that regard, my delegation
encourages Morocco to rejoin the AU so that together
we can find a durable solution on the independence of
Western Sahara.
Tanzania remains troubled by applications of
unilateral sanctions and embargos imposed against
Cuba and its people. As President Kikwete said at
the previous session of the General Assembly (see
A/66/PV.15), Tanzania is in full solidarity with the
people of Cuba in demanding the end to all unilateral
sanctions and embargos against them.
We Member States have the duty and responsibility
to make the world a better place. We should maintain the
sanctity of humankind before our ambitions and desires.
In order to achieve that, we should recommit ourselves
to and uphold the objectives and principles contained
in the Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among
States in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations (resolution 2625 (XXV)).


Uganda joins other
delegations in congratulating Mr. Jeremić on his
election as President of this body. My delegation has full
confidence in his ability to steer our deliberations, and
he can count on our support. I also wish to commend
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for his effective
leadership during the last session.
The international community has made significant
progress in reducing conflicts around the world over
the two decades since the end of the Cold War and
the eventual freedom of South Africa from apartheid.
However, we still face challenges arising from conflicts
that take a heavy toll on nations and people around the
world. The theme for this session’s debate is therefore
timely and pertinent. We are again seeing an increase
in conflicts brought about by unconstitutional changes
of Governments, disputed elections, social tensions,
extremist ideologies and territorial or border disputes,
among other causes. We must redouble our efforts to
resolve conflicts and disputes through peaceful means
and in conformity with justice and international law, as
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
From Uganda’s experience over the years, conflicts
are best handled, first and foremost, by the political
actors and citizens of the countries in question,
following democratic principles and guided by the
principle of equality of all persons before the law. In
cases where national actors for some reason cannot
resolve the problem, then subregional organizations
should step in. In the case of Africa those include the East
African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority
on Development, the International Conference on the
Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African
Development Community, the Economic Community
of West African States and others. The United Nations
and the international community would then provide
the necessary support to subregional and regional
initiatives.
Our recent achievements in the peace processes in
Burundi, the Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, among
others, attest to the progress we can achieve by working
together. The advantages of such an approach include
the use of local actors who have more discerning
knowledge of the problems and those in close proximity
and with a greater stake in getting the problems
resolved. In addition, there is the international support and legitimacy that the United Nations provides. The
current ICGLR initiative on the situation in the east
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is based on
such experience. We call upon the Security Council
and the international community to give the necessary
support to the decisions of the ICGLR summit held in
Kampala on 8 September. That regional initiative is
aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict in
eastern Congo, deploying a neutral international force
and responding to the humanitarian crisis.
Our preference for home-grown solutions is
premised on the realization that external influences
or interventions do not necessarily offer sustainable
solutions for the resolution of conflicts. On the contrary,
external interventions often contribute to a cycle of
destabilizing tendencies — which is why we are still
grappling with situations like the one in eastern Congo.
The African Union (AU) has shown strong political
will to resolve conflicts on the continent peacefully and
to contribute to the maintenance of international peace
and security. We call upon our partners to support the
dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as the peace and
security efforts of the AU and subregional organizations.
Uganda’s participation in and contribution to conflict
resolution in our subregion, on the African continent
and on the international scene are guided by that
approach, which has proved to be largely successful in
resolving conflicts and wars.
Regional initiatives need to be complemented by
international support, including assisting countries
emerging from conflict to build the requisite capacities
for the consolidation of peace. It is also important that
such support include provision of immediate post-
conflict humanitarian assistance and material input
for reconstruction and development. We welcome the
continuing deepening of cooperation between the United
Nations and regional and subregional organizations
in the resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of
peace and security. This positive trend should continue,
and every effort should be made to avoid repeating the
mistakes of the past.
Uganda strongly believes that conflicts that might
arise between and within countries should be resolved
through dialogue among all the parties concerned. In
the recent past we have witnessed regrettable instances
in which peace initiatives have been frustrated through
the intransigence of the parties, with support from some
members of the international community. That can only be a recipe for long-term turmoil and instability in the
affected countries and neighbouring regions.
In our view, in situations of armed conflict the
first priority should be securing a verifiable ceasefire,
followed by a political process involving an all-inclusive
dialogue without preconditions. It is up to the parties,
with the assistance of a mediator or facilitator, to reach
a settlement that addresses their interests.
There is no doubt that resolving conflicts requires
identifying and addressing their underlying causes,
which include social, political and economic factors
that are often deeply entrenched and interwoven. In
seeking to resolve any conflict, national, regional and
international actors need to adopt approaches that take
into account the following complexities.
First, it is important to address the substantive issues
that give rise to conflicts in the first place, such as lack
of access to or inequitable distribution of resources,
social or political exclusion and other grievances.
The linkage between development and security in
peacebuilding is now widely recognized, and once
conflicts are resolved, the affected communities need
peace dividends in terms of delivery of basic services
such as health and education as well as opportunities
for employment.
Secondly, efforts should be made to defuse the fear,
hatred and other negative emotions that make conflicts
intractable and often violent. We must collectively
speak out against intolerance and extremism in order
to advance mutual respect and understanding of the
values and beliefs of others. Uganda condemns all acts
of terrorism and violence. We strongly condemn the
recent spate of violence and attacks, including targeting
diplomatic missions of the United States and other
Member States.
Thirdly, political leaders and all actors need
to forge national reconciliation, including through
transitional justice mechanisms, as well as establishing
truth and reconciliation mechanisms, which play a key
role in promoting durable peace. We would also like
to reiterate the need to increase the role of women and
youth in the peaceful settlement of disputes, given the
significant contribution they can make.
On the Israeli-Palestinian question, Uganda
continues to call upon both parties to negotiate and
reach a peaceful settlement based on a two-State
solution, with a Palestinian State living side by side
with Israel in peace, security and mutual recognition.

Finally, we affirm our commitment to the peaceful
settlement of conflicts and to fostering international
cooperation based on the principles of sovereign
equality, justice and adherence to international law.