Let me first of all convey greetings and wishes of
peace and prosperity to the people of your countries
from the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat
Niyazov.
Allow me to congratulate the President on the
occasion of his election to such a high and responsible
post and wish him success in the organization of the
fruitful work of the fifty-seventh session of the General
Assembly.
I would also like to welcome the Swiss
Confederation and Timor-Leste on their membership
this year in the United Nations.
From the first days of its independent
development, neutral Turkmenistan has cooperated
closely with the United Nations and considers that
cooperation the main direction for its foreign policy.
The key issue for Turkmenistan as a neutral
country in such conditions is cooperation  in the name
of peace and security and the well-being and prosperity
of its people. We constantly feel that we have the
support of the United Nations for our foreign policy
initiatives aimed at strengthening these goals. Our
commitment to these international obligations as a
permanently neutral State remains unchanged.
The importance of promoting the role of the
United Nations is constantly becoming more obvious
against the background of current developments of
both global and regional processes where the
concentration of collective efforts and the adoption of
decisions that take into account various interests are
required. Turkmenistan stands for strengthening and
broadening the role of the United Nations in the
solution not only of global problems, but also in the
collective discussion of regional issues and for a more
extensive use of the potential of the United Nations and
its institutions in proposing and implementing foreign
policy initiatives.
We see huge opportunities in the close
cooperation of the United Nations and its specialized
bodies in the implementation of the large-scale national
projects. In this context we express our gratitude for
the cooperation of the leadership of the United Nations
and its specialized agencies, such as the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
the United Nations International Drug Control
Programme (UNDCCP) and others. In cooperation with
these agencies, the Government of Turkmenistan is
carrying out a number of large projects of social and
economic orientation that are producing specific results
in the areas of health care, social affairs, education,
environment and other areas.
More than a year has passed since the tragic
events of 11 September 2001, which forced us to
evaluate the issues of security of our people and our
States through a qualitatively new scale of
measurement and has confirmed the necessity to
consolidate efforts in this direction.
In this context the region of Central Asia has
come to the forefront of the world's attention. In many
30

respects the prospects for peace and security will
depend on the way multilateral dialogue develops on
these issues in the region.
Turkmenistan attaches foremost importance to the
role of the United Nations in invigorating regional and
interregional dialogue in the search for solutions to
emerging problems. In this connection I would like to
draw your attention to the initiative of the President of
Turkmenistan in creating a regional consultative
council of the heads of Government of the countries of
Central Asia. This would be a high-level interstate
body for regular consultations and the development of
joint decisions on matters that touch directly upon the
destinies of the States in the region and the real needs
of their people.
Primarily, these issues would include trade and
economic interaction, energy supply, cross-border
trade, water use, transportation and humanitarian
cooperation. We believe that multilateral consultations
on the part of heads of State will contribute to the
development and implementation of agreed actions by
the parties, on the basis of mutual interests, and will
enable the creation of a maximally effective system of
rational interaction.
In this regard, the initiative of the President of
Turkmenistan, Mr. Niyazov, to hold an international
conference in Turkmenistan on economic cooperation
in Central and South Asia, with the participation of
representatives from the region, the United States,
Russia, China, Japan, countries of the European Union,
other interested States, and international financial and
economic institutions, can be considered to be very
timely.
Such a forum will promote a new system of
economic ties between West and East based on joint
and equal cooperation of States. Its main goal should
be creation of the most favourable conditions for trade,
investment activities, and the introduction of modern
technology. Moreover, holding such an international
conference will make it possible for developed
countries to assess the real potential for industrial and
social development of States in Central and South Asia.
The beginning of work on the trans-Afghan gas
pipeline projects using the “Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-
Pakistan” route is of great importance in developing
regional cooperation. The agreement for the
construction of the new gas pipeline was signed in May
of this year, in Islamabad, by the Presidents of
Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Turkmenistan welcomes the interest shown in this
project by large companies, financial and industrial
groups, and first of all by the Asian Development
Bank, which is taking an active part in the negotiating
process for the implementation of the trans-Afghan gas
pipeline project.
The trans-Afghan gas pipeline is a project on an
international scale that has colossal social, economic
and political significance, primarily from the point of
view of strengthening stability and security in the
region. The trans-Afghan gas pipeline, of which more
than 700 kilometres would be laid through
Afghanistan, has, in addition to its economic
component, an invaluable social and humanitarian
significance. The construction of the gas pipeline
would create jobs for more than 12 thousand Afghans
and would also offer a new social infrastructure for
Afghanistan.
In this connection we call on the United Nations
to assist us in the effective implementation of this
project. Turkmenistan had suggested earlier, from the
same rostrum, the development and adoption, under the
United Nations auspices, of an international convention
on operating regimes and guarantees for interstate
pipelines. Such an instrument would, in our view, allow
us to create a reliable political and legal mechanism for
providing the safe transportation of critical raw
materials to world markets.
Turkmenistan's foreign policy of positive
neutrality is aimed at ensuring secure development and
cooperation aimed at social revival in the countries of
the region. This entails the creation of new workplaces
and fighting against poverty, in other words, everything
that today embraces the human dimension.
Turkmenistan supports the conclusions reached at
the recent Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development. We feel that solutions to current world
problems, especially in the humanitarian, social and
environmental areas, will require a new approach to the
human dimension in world politics.
In the 21st century, the notion of sustainable
development has acquired a qualitatively new meaning
based on steady and stable economic growth. On of the
important aspects of sustainable development is
maintaining a balance between, on one hand, industrial
31

and technological progress and, on the other, protection
of the environment. The realization of this necessity is
especially relevant today, when this balance is
breached throughout the world.
The international community is striving to
prevent negative, technology-generated consequences
on the environment. A vivid example of that is the
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change. Turkmenistan, having
acceded to that important international instrument, is
taking an active role in implementing its norms and
principles, and is cooperating with international
organizations.
In the 21st century, the problem connected with
the huge deposits of hydrocarbon resources in the basin
of the Caspian Sea, which involves not only the
countries of the region but also many other countries
and multinationals, has come to the attention of the
world. It is now known that the deposits of oil and gas
in the Caspian Sea are the most important energy
resources of the 21st century. Their efficient
development, along with the creation of the necessary
pipeline infrastructure for bringing energy resources to
the world markets, will ensure significant economic
growth for many States and ensure the well-being of
their people. It is obvious that many countries are
interested in the security of the energy resources
transit. The United Nations should play an important
role in this process.
The first summit meeting of the Caspian littoral
States in Ashgabat in April of this year, on the
initiative of the President of Turkmenistan, could be
considered as a qualitatively new stage in this process
of agreeing on and developing a mutually acceptable
solution to the Caspian problem. At this historic
summit, Presidents expressed the will of their State and
people, which is to ensure that the Caspian Sea be and
remain a sea of friendship and peace. The result of the
summit is that the Caspian theme was openly discussed
for the first time at such a high level. Strong agreement
was reached that problems are to be resolved
peacefully and constructively. Thus, the first step
towards a common goal — the determination of the
status of the Caspian Sea — was made.
It is obvious today that effective cooperation and
activities relating to the Caspian Sea as a whole are
directly connected with ensuring stability in the
Caspian region. Turkmenistan hopes that the Caspian
region will achieve peace, stability and durable
cooperation on the basis of justice and mutual respect.
We need collective efforts in order to solve the
problems of the international community. The solution
of these problems is possible, not through collective
efforts alone, but also through the assumption by each
member of the international community of its
individual role and responsibilities. This is the logic
guiding the political behaviour of Turkmenistan in its
pursuit of the goals of strengthening peace and
economic, social and cultural development. Our
country is always ready for constructive partnership.
The United Nations can rest assured in that respect.


I would like to congratulate
Mr. Jan Kavan on his assumption of the presidency of
the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. I am
confident that his leadership will successfully carry us
through this session. We extend to his predecessor,
Mr. Han Seung-soo, our sincere appreciation for the
excellent manner in which he steered the work of the
recently concluded fifty-sixth session of the General
Assembly.
My delegation warmly welcomes Switzerland as
a new Member of this family of nations. I would be
remiss if I did not pay tribute to the United Nations for
its role in ensuring the smooth transition of East Timor
to statehood. We believe that the new nation will for
some time continue to require the support of the
international community in its efforts at nation-
building. We look forward to welcoming East Timor
into the United Nations in the near future.
Yesterday, the United States and, indeed, the
whole world, commemorated the first anniversary of
the horrific terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington. Terrorism is a threat to international peace
and security. No matter where it occurs, no matter
whom it is directed at and no matter what form it takes,
the scourge of terrorism must be condemned and dealt
with decisively and in conformity with the ideals and
principles of the United Nations Charter. The adoption
of unilateral measures by some countries to combat
terrorism not only is counterproductive but also
undermines the mandate and effectiveness of the
United Nations. In dealing with this scourge, the world
community needs to focus on identifying and
addressing its root causes, such as poverty, the denial
of fundamental freedoms and the absence of social
justice.
The United Nations is confronted with a volatile
situation in the Middle East that has the potential to
engulf the entire subregion. The Palestinian question
should be resolved without further delay, as it is
causing untold suffering to the people in the occupied
25

territories. Israel must withdraw its forces from
Palestinian lands, and the Palestinians must be afforded
the opportunity of having a State of their own. The
carnage that is going on at present will benefit neither
side. Israel must know that its chances for peace and
security lie in having a Palestinian State that will live
side by side with it in mutual respect between
sovereign States.
We believe that Palestinians should be left alone
to elect the leaders of their choice, as it is their
democratic and sovereign right to do. It is only leaders
thus elected who can ensure peace and stability within
the State of Palestine and between Palestine and all of
its neighbours. We note with concern that some
countries wish to arrogate to themselves the right to
choose or impose leadership in developing countries by
sidelining or overthrowing democratically elected
Governments. Not only is this a negation of democracy
and democratic principles, but it constitutes outright
interference in the internal affairs of independent
sovereign States, and must be resisted. I say this in
relation not only to other States but also to my own
country. My people elected me, and that election was
held to have been valid by Africa and its organizations.
But Europe said, “No” — and it was Europe that
yesterday was our oppressor and colonialist. Europe
said “No”, but Africa said, “Yes”. To whom do we
listen? The whites in Europe or the blacks in Africa?
We listen to our own blacks and their judgement; they
are our people. They, and no one else, are the ones who
should elect us.
Zimbabwe welcomes the emergence of peace in
Angola — a fellow member of the Southern African
Development Community — and urges both sides to
the conflict to remain committed to the Memorandum
of Understanding signed earlier this year. The
international community should urgently assist that
country in consolidating the peace, and move on with
the reconstruction and rehabilitation process. This is a
small price to pay in order to give the people of Angola
the peace that has eluded them since the 1950s.
We are also pleased that the peace process in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo is moving in the
right direction. We would like to recognize the efforts
of the Government of South Africa and the United
Nations in this regard and to call on the United Nations
to take strong measures against those who violate the
agreed ceasefire.
Let me take this opportunity to announce once
again that, in view of these positive developments,
Zimbabwe is in the process of withdrawing its
remaining forces from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. We hope, however, that the Security Council
will act boldly and without favour in ensuring that
peace is consolidated in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo and that it will immediately proceed with
the full deployment of the third phase of the United
Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
In the same vein, we note that the mandate of the
Expert Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural
Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo expires in
December 2002. It is our fervent hope that this time the
Panel will have the courage to fully expose the
economic agenda of the countries that invaded the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
We are gathered here to chart the way forward
towards the creation of a world fit for all of us, to the
turn of the century and beyond. We are meeting against
the backdrop of the crucial summits that were held this
year, during which landmark decisions were made
regarding sustainable global economic and social
development. Among these were the Monterrey
International Conference on Financing for
Development, and the recently concluded World
Summit on Sustainable Development, held in
Johannesburg, South Africa. It is our hope that the
decisions of these conferences will be translated into
meaningful cooperation among development partners.
In this context, we welcome the pledges made for
increased development aid and the commitment to
sustainable development, which are essential for future
generations.
Unfortunately, the World Summit on Sustainable
Development demonstrated beyond doubt the
unwillingness on the part of some developed countries
to commit themselves more meaningfully to these
international undertakings. They preferred instead to
hide behind hackneyed and spurious conditionalities
which all but oppose and negate the practice of
democracy, good governance and respect for human
rights in the developing world. While we all cherish
these values, we are dismayed that they are
increasingly being used by developed countries that
have checkered democratic credentials and poor human
rights records in order to settle political scores and to
26

forestall the economic development of countries whose
Governments they do not like. When we see these same
countries propping up regimes that are blatantly
undemocratic, we cannot but conclude that this wilful
commingling of issues is just an excuse for doing
nothing about legitimate demands that the development
aspirations of developing countries be addressed. The
United Nations General Assembly should express its
deep dismay at such dishonest attempts on the part of
those countries and call upon them to stop the abuse of
international agreements and shared values and the
imposition of their interests upon other, often smaller
nations.
We call for improved global governance through
the democratization of multilateral organizations, such
as the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions
and the World Trade Organization. There is also need
for coherence in global policy-making. In the same
vein, the management of the globalization process
should not be left to market forces alone but should be
regulated in a way that gives it a humane face and
reverses the marginalization of developing countries.
In the area of world trade, we call for a level
playing field in agenda setting and rule making in the
World Trade Organization. We also need to see greater
market-access opportunities for goods of export
interest to developing countries in developed country
markets, as well as greater willingness to address
issues of commodity pricing. In addition, we call for
the removal of agricultural subsidies, which have
depressed the competitiveness of products from
developing countries and inhibited their entry into the
lucrative markets of the North. In the same vein, my
delegation also calls for the immediate cancellation of
the debt of poor countries, so that debt-service funds,
which are crippling the development efforts of
developing nations, can be used to improve the
situation of those countries.
The special session on children, which was held
here in New York in May of this year, did much to
bring to the fore the need to address, in a meaningful
way, the rights and development needs of children,
with a view to enabling them to play their respective
roles in society. The United Nations should continue to
articulate those needs and foster the creation of a world
fit for children.
Since the attainment of independence in 1980,
Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress in the
provision of schools and health-care facilities to
improve the quality of life of its children. Regrettably,
these gains were later to be reversed, as the Bretton
Woods institutions demanded that we deprioritize
education, health and social welfare in our resource
allocations. Even without the support of those
institutions, we have continued, within our limited
means, to place primary importance on the
development of the Zimbabwean child and the welfare
of the underprivileged, thereby raising the literacy rate
in our society to 87 per cent.
Zimbabwe and other countries in Southern Africa
are grappling with the effects of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. Our own efforts at combating the scourge
are not enough, and they need to be augmented by the
positive contribution of those countries that have the
requisite financial resources and technological know-
how.
We continue to call on the international
community and private companies to hasten their
efforts at finding an answer to this pandemic, which is
ravaging our populations and economies. Affordable
but effective drugs need to be made available, while
support should be given to care givers helping those
who suffer from the disease. Special assistance should
be given to the growing number of children orphaned
by the pandemic. We hope that the fund set up at last
year's General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS
will receive the urgent and meaningful support that it
deserves.
As you are aware, my country and most parts of
Southern Africa, are currently experiencing a
humanitarian crisis as a result of the drought that hit
during the main cereal-producing season earlier this
year. We commend the efforts being made by
international organizations and the donor community to
provide urgent food and non-food aid to our
communities. We particularly wish to mention the
efforts of United Nations agencies in this regard. We
also welcome additional assistance in programmes that
will mitigate the effects of future droughts.
Finally, my delegation is happy to inform you that
Zimbabwe has concluded the fast-track land-
redistribution programme that we introduced in July
2000 in order to transfer land to the hitherto landless
black majority. It will be recalled that we had to face
vehement protestations, bad publicity and
misinformation from those who did not wish us well.
27

We remained resolute in the face of powerful forces
determined to preserve vestiges of colonial privilege.
The primary objective of our agrarian reforms has
been to redress the colonial injustice perpetrated by
Britain, whereby a minority of British settlers in 1890
seized our land and acquired our natural resources but
never paid any compensation to our ancestors.
By assuming its independence in 1980,
Zimbabwe discarded the colonial yoke for all time and,
therefore, will never brook any interference in its
domestic affairs by any foreign Power. I appeal to this
General Assembly to convey to Britain and especially
to its current Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, that
Zimbabwe ceased to be a British colony in 1980 after
Prince Charles, on behalf of the Government of the
United Kingdom, gracefully lowered the British flag,
called the “Union Jack”. He should also be informed
that the people of Zimbabwe waged an armed
revolutionary struggle for their independence and stand
ready to defend it in the same way. We want to be left
in peace to carry out our just reforms and development
plans, as we peacefully interact and cooperate with
other countries within the region, the African continent
and the international community. We refuse to be an
extension of Europe. We are Africans and shall remain
so forever. I wish the 57th session of the General
Assembly every success.


On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and on my own behalf, I congratulate you, Mr. Lajčák, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank your predecessor, Mr. Peter Thomson of Fiji. for his commitment and dedication to the work of the previous session.
I join previous speakers in expressing my deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in Mexico and their families.
My delegation finds the theme of this session of the General Assembly extremely relevant. It appropriately sums up the six overarching priorities of the presidency, which respond to the global megatrends currently facing our world. The interaction between population growth, massive migration movement, climate change and food insecurity renders these megatrends all the more worrisome.
Similarly, the same forces of globalization that in the past have made us so interdependent are exposing deep flaws in the existing international order. A quarter century after the end of the Cold War, the world has become, by many measures, more complex and challenging than ever before. Today, our world is increasingly multipolar, which creates chaos and turbulence as the competition between the major Powers becomes more confrontational. We are more interdependent but more unequal; we are more prosperous and yet millions are still afflicted with poverty. All these factors have contributed to a sense of a world out of balance, and that is the paradox that defines our world today.
While we share the deep concern about the situation on the Korean peninsula, we appeal to all the parties concerned to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid provocative activities and remain committed to peaceful and constructive dialogue so as to defuse tension and promote trust and confidence in the region.
Another factor destabilizing collective security is the unilateral and illegal embargo on Cuba. We ask that this violation of international law be brought to an end.
While it is true that globalization and technological progress have dramatically increased global trade and wealth all over the world, it is equally true that they have been factors in the increases we are seeing in inequality, social tensions and, sometimes, conflicts. To a large extent, those fragilities are responsible for many of today’s conflicts and threats.
One of those threats is terrorism, from which no country is spared. Defeating that transnational threat requires a firm global resolve to comprehensively address it in all its forms, starting with the symptoms and root causes of radicalization and confronting the issues of foreign fighters and financing for terrorism and other forms of support.
Let me touch on two topics of relevance to the theme of this session of the General Assembly, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and climate change.
The 2030 Agenda is inextricably linked to many of the issues that perturb the world today, the most pressing being climate change, which is not only a direct threat in itself but is also a multiplier of many other threats — from poverty, diseases and food insecurity to mass migrations and regional conflicts. In our view, climate change is a global human security issue that presents a serious and unprecedented threat to global peace and security more generally.
Cambodia is regularly ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries globally, with extreme weather events damaging our infrastructure, severely affecting agriculture, disrupting economic activities and hampering crucial social services for our vulnerable groups. While our contribution to climate change is negligible and our domestic resources quite limited, we have nonetheless made clear commitments to low- carbon development and look forward to developing partnerships with other progressive nations that are committed to addressing this formidable challenge cooperatively and fairly. I am pleased to note that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change acknowledges the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, meaning that they are based on countries’ respective capabilities and varying national conditions. Indeed, the 2030 Agenda is our boldest agenda for humankind and it is aimed at fostering fair globalization.
Cambodia has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development over the past two decades. Specifically, our target of reducing the poverty rate to 19.5 per cent by 2015 was achieved ahead of schedule. We have received a United Nations award for halving hunger before the deadline. Cambodia is also among the top seven performers globally for its improvements in the Human Development Index between 1990 and 2015.
26/27 17-29722 With regard to peace and security, Cambodia is proud of its unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. More than two decades ago Cambodia received United Nations Blue Berets deployed on their peacekeeping mission. Since 2006, we have dispatched more than 4,700 troops to take part with great and commendable success in United Nations peacekeeping missions in a number of hotspots in the world, such as the Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Syria and Mali.
As all delegations know, peacekeeping operations are not without security risks. Peacekeepers continue to come under attack from armed groups and increasingly from terrorists. In May, rebel ambushes in the Central African Republic killed and wounded our Cambodian peacekeepers. Let us pay tribute to those who have died while serving under the United Nations flag and remind ourselves to acknowledge their contributions in the transformation of many countries from battlefields to peaceful States.
I now wish to address the issues of human rights and democracy, since my country is regularly targeted in that regard by some countries and United Nations agencies, as well as by international non-governmental organizations active in these areas.
Cambodia upholds the universal principle that we all possess fundamental human rights. We therefore see no incompatibility between national sovereignty, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and international monitoring of the application of those rights, provided that it is impartial and takes all pertinent factors on the ground into account, and that observers harbour no prejudice or prejudgement against democratically elected authorities.
Now, what is the reality? To get straight to the point, assessments of human rights situations vary according to the political predispositions of certain great Powers. The same reasoning holds true for some big international non-governmental organizations whose agendas are far from politically neutral. The issue of human rights and democracy comes up only when the specific interests of certain major Powers are at stake, depending on the vagaries of the moment. Otherwise, all we hear is total and often complicit silence.
My country suffered from the deliberate political instrumentalization of human rights and democracy for more than 12 years, during which time the international community denied the existence of the most terrible mass crimes. Today, as a survivor of the genocidal Pol Pot regime, I am pained and shocked to hear the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia refer to the crimes perpetrated by that regime as mere disturbances. We are subject to incessant criticism on matters that are reported in a partial and biased manner. Those reports always blame the Government and portray the opposition as martyrs of democracy and human rights. They invariably and exclusively target the Government, while the wrongdoings and illegal behaviour of the opposition are never or rarely mentioned.
What country represented in the General Assembly would refrain from acting when opposition politicians incite people to remove border posts, ignite vile hysteria with racist remarks and publish false treaties and fake maps to make people believe that some parts of the country have been annexed by neighbouring States? What country endorses defamation and slander? In most countries, incitements to racial hatred, xenophobic statements and speeches of the extreme right are severely denounced or even condemned, as we have just seen with the events of Charlottesville. While such actions are the daily language of the Cambodian opposition, they have never been condemned or raised by non-governmental organizations or the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.
The latest attacks on the Royal Government of Cambodia pertain to the expulsion of an institute affiliated with a foreign political party that, under the cover of democracy training, deliberately supports the opposition and violates our law; the closure of a tax delinquent foreign newspaper; and the arrest of an opposition leader who, in a recorded interview, confessed to being an agent of a major Power working to overthrow the Government. In what country would such behaviour by a foreign Government be tolerated? We have not acted arbitrarily but rather completely in accord with provisions of our specific laws.
We can learn an important lesson from the history of my country. When we were forced to choose a path set by some Western Powers, Cambodia ended up suffering one of the most horrific human tragedies of the last century. We must recognize that it was the Cambodian Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen and with its own homegrown methods, that secured peace for the country in 1998. It was a striking demonstration of the fact that certain practices imposed from the outside are often part of the problem rather than the solution.
Today we are accused of undermining democracy because, under existing laws, we are prosecuting and punishing people who violate the law. Those who criticize or even threaten us refuse to take into consideration the crimes committed by those whom they protect.
While acknowledging with sincere gratitude the very positive and important contributions of many countries to peace and economic development in our country, I would like to conclude by affirming that the discourse of certain Governments concerning human rights and democracy will be relevant and credible only when those countries first apply to themselves the same standards of treatment that they apply to their assessments, criticisms and condemnations of others.


First of all, on behalf of the people and the Government of the Republic of Korea, I would like to take this opportunity to convey my deepest sympathy to the victims of the earthquake that hit Mexico on 19 September as well as to the people and the Government of Mexico.
I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all Member States and the staff of the Secretariat for their contributions to world peace and security.
I congratulate Mr. Miroslav Lajčák on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- second session. I expectt this session will yield many meaningful results under his excellent leadership.
I also wish Secretary-General António Guterres great success. The Republic of Korea is a strong supporter of the goals of the United Nations aimed at preventing conflicts and sustaining peace. I look forward to its rebirth as an even stronger organization for fostering peace and prosperity for all peoples during his tenure as Secretary-General.
As I prepared this address, I thought about the spirit of the United Nations and the joint mission we all share. The United Nations is perhaps one of the best institutional inventions created by human intelligence. It was born to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and has worked tirelessly to meet the challenges confronting humankind over the past 70 years. The role and contribution to the international community of the United Nations will continue to grow over time. Today the number of transnational issues continues to increase, and no country can resolve them single-handedly. For this reason, we should truly fulfil the spirit of the United Nations in finding solutions to all the problems facing us.
To that end, I hope the world will look to the Republic of Korea, located on the southern part of the Korean peninsula at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. I believe the candlelight rallies last winter in my country represented a historic moment that reflectedthe brilliant achievement of the spirit of the United Nations. Embodying the power of cooperation and solidarity in defiance of challenges, the rallies lit the way ahead towards a future for humankind. Some may remember the scenes of the candlelight rallies shown by the media. On streets sparkling with millions of lights, people expressed their opinions freely and joined in discussions on every street corner. There was singing, dancing and painting, the radiant faces of parents taking their children by the hand to join the rallies, and the pride of young people who picked up trash on the streets afterwards. All those scenes were very much a part of our democracy and peace.
The candlelight revolution in Korea started in a public square where a yearning for the restoration of democracy and the Constitution awakened citizens’ collective intelligence. I myself participated in the rallies as an ordinary citizen. The people of the Republic of Korea achieved democracy in the most peaceful and beautiful manner. They proved the power of popular sovereignty, which is the quintessence of democracy. They also proved that the power of peace can bring greater changes to the world than violence can.
The new Administration of the Republic of Korea was made possible by that candlelight revolution. Beyond its significance in making way for democratic elections, the Administration was established through the people’s participation and aspirations in the awareness that they are the rightful owners of the nation. I stand here now on behalf of that Administration. I am very thankful for, as well as proud, of the fact that the Republic of Korea, while it is a democracy that bloomed only recently, has shown the world new hope for that form of Government. Currently building on its new-found strength, the Republic of Korea intends to play an active role in addressing the issues facing the international community.
The Republic of Korea has always walked in step with the United Nations. Since our Government was established, in 1948, we have received significant assistance from the United Nations, both during the Korean War and in the process of post-war reconstruction. Although we were not able to become a Member of the United Nations until 1991, we have enhanced our role and responsibilities as a State Member faster than any other in the span of only a single generation. Since 1993, Korea continues to participate in peacekeeping operations. As Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission this year, it is focusing on resolving the root causes of conflicts.
In the past five years, the Republic of Korea has increased its financial assistance for refugees 15- fold, and last year, it joined the $20-million-plus club under the aegis of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. By expediting the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and making changes in its own energy policy, the Korean Government is also taking a lead role in supporting the climate-change responses of developing countries through the Global Green Growth Institute and the Green Climate Fund. Moreover, my Administration has reached the goal of filling 30 per cent of its Cabinet positions with female ministers, thereby spearheading efforts to realize gender equality, one of the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In the next few years, the Republic of Korea will significantly increase its contributions to the United Nations in every sector. It is truly meaningful that the theme of this session of the General Assembly — “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet” — is in line with the philosophy of governance of the new Administration in the Republic of Korea. “People come first” is the slogan that I have used for several years to express my political philosophy, and the people are at the centre of every policy of my new Administration. As of now, my Administration is pursuing bold measures to change the economic paradigm so as to deal with inequalities that stand in the way of growth and social cohesion. We are currently pursuing economic policies focused on income growth for individuals and households, and promoting an economy in which growth is fuelled by job creation and everyone can enjoy equal opportunities and the products of growth.
That is what we call a people-centred economy. My Administration’s determined endeavours to realize inclusive growth will not be confined to our country. In accordance with that new paradigm, the Republic of Korea will offer its support for sustainable growth in developing countries.
I was born in a refugee town in the middle of the Korean War. That civil war, which evolved into an international war, devastated countless lives. More than 3 million people died, and many of the survivors were deprived of a decent living. My father was one of them. My father, who believed that he was taking temporary refuge at that time, was never able to return to his hometown before he passed away. I come from one of the separated families — victims whose human rights were violated because of the war. The war has yet to come to a complete end.
The Korean War, which began as an offshoot of the larger Cold War, continues to this day. Although the Cold War ended and it has been 64 years since the conclusion of the Korean armistice agreement, the war continues in the form of an uneasy ceasefire on the peninsula — the last remnant of the Cold War order in North-East Asia. As tensions mount in North-East Asia because of the North Korean nuclear and missile issue, the memory of war and its wounds are becoming more acute, and hearts that long for peace are filled with pain. That describes the situation concerning the Republic of Korea on the Korean peninsula in September 2017.
For me, the President of the only divided country in the world, achieving peace is a calling and a historic duty. I represent my fellow citizens, who have sent a message of peace through their candlelight revolution to the global village in which wars and conflicts know no end. At the same time, I have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding my people’s right to peace and to undisturbed daily life as universal values. For those reasons, I hope that North Korea will be able to choose its own path leading to peace. I believe that peace, when it is chosen willingly, naturally becomes sound and sustainable. More than anything, I am grateful that my convictions are shared by the international community.
Despite the international community’s concerted demands and warnings, and to our great disappointment and indignation, North Korea recently carried out its sixth nuclear test and additional missile-related provocations. In the wake of the nuclear test, the Korean Government has consequently convinced countries in and beyond the region of the need for stronger sanctions and pressure to make North Korea end them and choose the path of dialogue. I very much appreciate the Security Council’s unanimous and unprecedentedly rapid adoption of resolution 2375 (2017), on North Korea sanctions, with measures tougher than in any previous resolution. That clearly reflects the fact that the international community is collectively outraged and is responding with one voice to address the North Korean nuclear issue and the problems on the Korean peninsula. Once again, as the representative of one of the parties directly involved with issues concerning the Korean peninsula, I would like to express my appreciation to the international community for its shared understanding and support for the position of the Korean Government.
Despite North Korea’s flagrant violation of its obligations and commitments under the Charter of the United Nations, the Korean Government and the international community are determined to make every possible effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully. The relevant Security Council sanctions on North Korea, in resolutions that articulate the principles of a peaceful, diplomatic and political settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue, are also part of those efforts.
Once again, here in the General Assembly, where nations pledge to act to achieve world peace and the shared prosperity of all peoples, I will make the following points very clear to North Korea and the international community. We do not desire the collapse of North Korea. We will not seek reunification by absorption or artificial means. If North Korea makes the decision, even at this juncture, to stand on the right side of history, we are ready, alongside the international community, to assist. North Korea should acknowledge all these immutable facts as soon as possible. It must immediately cease making reckless decisions that could lead to its own isolation and downfall, and choose the path of dialogue. I urge North Korea to abandon its hostile policies against other countries and to give up its nuclear weapons programme in a verifiable and irreversible way.
The efforts of the international community should also be strengthened. It must continue to respond strongly and sternly until North Korea gives up its nuclear programme of its own accord. All nations must thoroughly implement Security Council sanctions resolutions and seek new measures in the event of any further provocations by the North. It is also important to manage the situation calmly. All of our endeavours are aimed at preventing the outbreak of war and maintaining peace. In that respect, the situation surrounding the North Korean nuclear issue must be managed calmly so that tensions are not ratcheted up too far and accidental military clashes do not destroy the peace. We should all remind ourselves of the words of former United States President Ronald Reagan: “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means”.
I would like to make a special request to the States Members of the United Nations and in particular to the Security Council. In order to fundamentally resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, the basic spirit of a secure community enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations should be fulfilled on the Korean peninsula and in North-East Asia. The pillars of security in North-East Asia and multilateralism should be wisely combined.
The spirit of the United Nations is realizing global peace through multilateral dialogue. The Korean peninsula is where that spirit is most desperately needed. The realization of peace is what the United Nations was created for, what it aims for and what it is in the process of achieving. We need the United Nations to play a more active role on the Korean peninsula. The most important role the United Nations is being asked to play today is to come up with fundamental measures to end the vicious cycle of increased provocations and heightened sanctions.
I have explained our new economic map for the Korean peninsula and new vision for the northern economy many times. I believe that genuine peace and prosperity in North-East Asia will begin when the foundation for a North-East Asian economic community is solidified on one side and multilateral security cooperation comes into being on the other.
When the Olympic Games were reintroduced, in 1896, they had not been held for 1,500 years. The impetus behind their revival was the thirst for peace. The history of the modern Olympics started with the overwhelming emotion of the first Olympics, held in Athens on the Balkan peninsula, once a centre of conflict. Five months from now, the XXIII Olympic Winter Games will be held in PyeongChang, in the Republic of Korea, the first of a series to be held in North-East Asia — PyeongChang in 2018, Tokyo
in 2020 and Beijing in 2022. I hope that these three Olympics will offer an opportunity for promoting peace and economic cooperation in North-East Asia, where the remnants of the Cold War and hope for the future, as well as confrontations and cooperation, coexist. The Republic of Korea is ready to make every possible effort to that end.
I would ask members of the Assembly to imagine, for one moment, people who love peace and sports gathering from all around the world in PyeongChang, which is only 100 kilometres from the demilitarized zone, the symbol of division and confrontation on the Korean peninsula. Heads of State and Government from all corners of the world will exchange greetings of friendship and harmony. My heart fills with joy when I imagine North Korean athletes marching into the stadium during the opening ceremony, a South and North Korean joint cheering squad enthusiastically welcoming them alongside the brightly smiling faces of people from all over the world. It is not an impossible dream.
I will work wholeheartedly to turn that into a reality, in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, up until the last minute, in order to welcome North Koreans to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. I hope that PyeongChang will become another candle to be lit. Like the candles the Korean people held out in the face of the crisis of democracy, I believe that PyeongChang will become a candle that sheds light on peace when peace is threatened. I hope that all Member States and the United Nations will light their candles. I hope they will put their hearts and minds together to go hand in hand with peace.
Today, with that heartfelt pledge, I invite all Heads of State and Government from around the world to come to PyeongChang. The steps they take, together, will become a march for peace. I look forward to seeing them all in PyeongChang next year.


It is an honour for me to address the Assembly and to share the Republic of Macedonia’s positions on the most important issues on the United Nations agenda. I firmly believe that we share the common goal of world peace. I also believe that we share the same commitments to a decent life for all in a sustainable environment and, further, that we will find common solutions to our common challenges. Peace, commitment to a decent life, and joint solutions are the values that the Republic of Macedonia has relied on in overcoming a deep political crisis that had repercussions throughout our region.
We are a small, diverse countryy. We have managed to overcome difficult challenges because we have united around common values. That is why today the Republic of Macedonia is again free, secure and stable. It is a friend to all its neighbours and is firmly oriented towards full integration into NATO and the European Union.
As Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, I want to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák of the Slovak Republic on his election to the prestigious position of President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. I would also like to express our full support to Secretary-General Guterres. We wish him great success in carrying out his comprehensive, ambitious and much-needed agenda to transform and adapt the United Nations to enable it to meet its demanding tasks and our common challenges, both existing and emerging.
The United Nations must continue to do more and better to meet those challenges and stand the test of time. We must be vigilant and constant, but also seek to develop innovative and adaptable conflict prevention, sustainable development and management reform mechanisms, while building on the foundations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and other core documents.
The world is plagued by severe humanitarian crises, new and protracted old conflicts, the intensification of terrorist attacks and violent extremism, human rights abuses and increasing climate-change effects. Different in scope and weight, those challenges have become more complex. They require a wide-ranging response. While we have been able to mitigate the consequences for some, others remain unabated. Just a few weeks ago, we witnessed devastating natural disasters in the Gulf of Mexico and South Asia. That is a harsh reminder that our planet is changing, and we all have an obligation to do our best to mitigate and hopefully reverse the consequences. We can progress if we are united.
The promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law must remain at the core of our action. Despite the fact that the United Nations has a robust human rights architecture, the current blatant human rights violations, widespread impunity and lack of accountability around the globe remind us that there is much to be done.
Monstrous terrorist attacks have increased in number. Our actions must focus on preventing violent extremism and radicalization, as they are major factors for terrorist recruitment. The establishment of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, in which one of the priority areas is prevention, was a welcome step. For our part, we are also working on a national strategy for the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization. I am aware that there are differing approaches to those crucial issues, as we have divergent views among us. However, I would like to urge the international community not to focus on its differences, but rather on its primary responsibility to act robustly for the common good.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery continues to jeopardize global security. The implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) is key to minimizing the possible disastrous consequences for the generations to come. In that regard, let me underline that we are deeply alarmed by the continued unilateral actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which has been conducting nuclear tests and missile launches despite the repeated calls of the international community to fully comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions. We believe that the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is possible, and we therefore urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately abandon its nuclear and missile programmes and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Let me comment briefly on the main theme of the current session of the General Assembly, “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”. States must remain focused on the implementation of the new sustainable development agenda that we agreed on at the seventieth anniversary of our Organization. That remarkable undertaking laid the foundations for the future development framework. That had implications for many other important areas of common concern.
Many vital issues affecting global prosperity are related to the implementation of that agenda. It is therefore important to continue to encourage and build new avenues of cooperation and new partnerships among us. That is central to the integration of the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. Those are the fundamentals for development and a hopeful future, as well as for our peace, stability and security. At the national level, our efforts to transform agreed goals into practice are included in the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework programme, the 2016-2020 United Nations Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Here I would like to mention to last year’s important summit on the issue of large-scale movements of refugees and migrants. That is a global phenomenon with various causes and diverse implications. The United Nations adopted a comprehensive political declaration and pledged to intensify international cooperation, in particular among countries of origin or nationality, transit and destination.
The Republic of Macedonia supports and is participating in the ongoing consultation processes on the two compacts dealing with refugees and migrants. We expect an outcome that will address all aspects of these global phenomena. Let me remind everyone that in the past couple of years, hundreds of thousands of migrants have transited through my country and the region. Even though that presented complex challenges, we managed to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in need. Since we have to adapt globally, we must also do our homework and act as responsible Governments in order to secure and provide a better future and prosperity for our people.
The Government of the Republic of Macedonia affirms its dedication to fundamental democratic values, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. We overcame a deep political and institutional crisis through our resolute stand in defence of those fundamentals. Our understanding is that democracy must be driven by civic engagement from the bottom up. Societies are better off when decision-making is comprehensive, inclusive and transparent. Public policies must work for citizens’ well-being.
My Government has laid out an ambitious reform plan with short-, medium- and long-term measures. Our goal is to restore democracy, build professional and independent institutions and improve the standard of living for every citizen, and to expedite the integration of the Republic of Macedonia into the European Union and NATO.
From the depths of a political crisis we have emerged stronger, and we have been able to contribute to regional stability and cooperation. Those who know Balkan history know that our region has not always been seen in a positive light. I strongly believe that we have a new chance to make a change, not just in perceptions but in substance. Over the past few months, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has strongly promoted a new approach to its neighbours. We have demonstrated the capacity to overcome open issues. We have articulated our national interests and acted in pursuit of them. At the same time, we have been fully aware and respectful of the national interests of our neighbours.
Our policy is based on solving issues through dialogue and cooperation. We hope that that approach will inspire others and stimulate a new approach to bilateral relations in our region. As a positive step forward, let me underscore our signing of a bilateral agreement on friendship, good-neighbourliness and cooperation with Bulgaria. That represents a joint success for the two countries.
This session of the General Assembly represents the twenty-fifth year of our participation as an independent State. Next year, we will mark a quarter- century of our United Nations membership. However, that anniversary is also marked by the dispute over how my country should be referred to, which has unilateral consequences on our development and perspectives.
The Interim Accord of 1995 laid the foundations for a normalization of relations between Macedonia and Greece. At present, the two countries are implementing confidence-building measures, and that is a very positive development. We have a fresh impetus to overcome the long-standing bilateral dispute. I would say that we have both made certain mistakes at various times, but the main goal now is to resolve the issue and close it.
I firmly believe that we must seize the momentum, conduct discussions in good faith and resolve the issue for our shared future. We greatly value the continuing efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, and the good offices that he provides to that end. I firmly believe that there is a way to overcome the problem that Greece has with our constitutional name. For a change, let us try to approach it from a positive point of view.
Maintaining good neighbourly and friendly relations is a two-way street. We are committed to doing our job and expect the same of our neighbours. That message has already been clearly sent to our friends and partners. I would like to reaffirm it here, from the rostrum, where all of us have been recalling the purposes and principals of the Charter of the United Nations. The world can be a very noisy place, but the most important things can be very quiet. I believe that if we listen to our peoples, we can hear the world.
In conclusion, I want to underline that the Republic of Macedonia remains a staunch supporter of multilateralism. We will continue to work with the United Nations and all Member States on jointly reinforcing world peace and security, promoting human rights, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and dealing with all the other issues that are crucial for the people we represent.


On behalf of the people of Honduras, I would like to extend greetings to the General Assembly.
The Honduran people extend solidarity to their Mexican brothers and sisters in the wake of the recent tragedy. I reiterate our commitment to continuing to provide supplies and support.
Three years ago, I addressed the General Assembly for the first time. Three years later, I would like to reflect on how Honduras has met the challenges it has encountered. Today, I would like to share with the Assembly and with the world how we are building a new Honduras.
Four years ago, transnational organized crime in Honduras led to high levels of violence seen in very few countries around the world. At the end of 2013, there were 75 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, and two years prior to 2013, the figure stood at almost 90 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. From 2013 to date, however, the murder rate of 75 per 100,000 inhabitants has fallen by almost 30 percentage points.
The most recent Global Peace Index issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace indicates that our management of the situation has placed Honduras 17 places higher in the global peace ranking. We have also managed to lower our fiscal deficit to 3 per cent from 8 per cent of gross domestic product. We have improved the Honduran economy and growth this year stands at 4.1 per cent. Our exports have increased, investments are on the rise and our national reserves are enough to purchase almost six months worth of imports. The country’s national currency has been revalued and inflation is very moderate. Risk-rating agencies have raised Honduras’ credit rating. Our rating is now the best we have ever had.
This year, we, along with neighbour Guatemala, started the first customs union of the Americas. Honduras and Guatemala now have a zone with free movement of goods, services and people. In addition, we are negotiating with our brothers of El Salvador and Nicaragua to join the customs union and, in the future, we hope that Costa Rica and Panama will also become members. In that way, we will become the seventh largest market in Latin America.
El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras have also launched a plan to develop the Gulf of Fonseca, which has the support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. That will enable us to create a genuine hub for economic, tourism and social development in the Pacific region. It will be the region’s first special economic zone. This region, formerly rife with conflict among the three nations, will become a development hub for the good of our three countries.
I would also like to share with the Assembly the fact that Honduras is poised to make extraordinary headway in attracting investment. I am referring to the establishment of employment and economic development zones, in which both national and international investment will have institutional guarantees in four key areas — the legal, economic, administrative and political spheres — based on good practices that are familiar to companies and workers in prosperous countries. My country and people’s very productive labour force will then have the best opportunities in the world, under the Honduran flag. Based on the economic development plan, Honduras 2020, we will be creating at least 600,000 new jobs for Hondurans over the next five years.
Over the past four years, we have invested approximately $2 billion in infrastructure to make Honduras a major logistics hub in Central America. We have built airports, ports in the Atlantic and the Pacific, highways, an interoceanic highway and a next-generation customs model. All of this will allow the Central American region to have an outstanding logistics system.
We are also making strides in the areas of transparency and counter-corruption. We are the only country in the world that has signed an agreement with Transparency International to work with that organization in five civil service sectors. We have made considerable progress in applying international standards when acquiring and setting up infrastructure, through the Construction Sector Transparency initiative.
We are cleaning up our national police. We are creating a new police institution. We are strengthening our public ministry. We are created anti-corruption courts. We entered into an agreement with the Organization of American States to establish what we call the Mission of Support against Corruption and Impunity. In addition we have reorganized system through which the national health system purchases medicines.
In line with our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 1, our Administration has implemented the most ambitious social programme to protect our most vulnerable citizens. We have named this programme Better Life. It helps us to bring dignity to our compatriots suffering from extreme poverty. There are already nearly 2.5 million participants involved in at least one of the components of Better Life.
I would also like to state that Honduras fully supports the reform of the United Nations system promoted by the Secretary-General in order to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Our countries face major challenges due to climate change, the emergence of the nuclear threat, poverty, organized international crime, terrorism, racism, intolerance and human rights violations. These are challenges that we must analyse and face together with determination and absolute commitment. Climate change has been relentless, bringing a tragic series of hurricanes and tropical storms. I wish to express our solidarity and condolences to our brothers affected by the destructive force of these recent natural phenomena, and we encourage the Assembly to assist the countries, predominantly in the Caribbean, that have suffered so much devastated. Honduras will be present, as we have already offered, for our brothers.
Nuclear weapons also pose a serious threat to humankind, and worse still is the threat of using them. Honduras rejects the recent nuclear-weapons tests. We support the resolutions adopted by the Security Council, as well as the channels conducive to the diplomatic management of tensions and threats to world peace.
Poverty is high on the agendas of Governments in developing countries. We have a duty to overcome the structural conditions that exclude large sectors of our societies from access to goods and services that would otherwise allow for a dignified life and opportunities for the comprehensive development of peoples, families, our communities and our countries.
Poverty has effects on the environment. It fosters internal and international migration and has serious social consequences stemming from the breakdown of the family breakdown and the separation it engenders, generating insecurity and violence. It causes much suffering. We must combat poverty with social safety nets, access to basic health and education services, inclusive and sound credit and technical assistance to avoid depriving people of the goods that are essential to life.
However, as developing countries we face the problem of the criterion that developed countries have adopted to allocate cooperation resources. What do I mean? Just think. The criterion used is that of classification by means of the national income of countries at three levels: high, medium and low. The premise is that most help will go to low-income countries, and that middle- and high-income countries have a greater internal capacity to overcome poverty. Because of that, the countries that are most harmed when it comes to access to international aid are those classified in the middle-income category, as is the case for Honduras.
Our country is committed to the defence and promotion of human rights. For Honduras, respect for the human person constitutes a State policy. We recently established a secretariat for human rights. We have institutionalized a mechanism for dialogue between the Government and human rights organizations, and we also manage the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras, which is already open and functioning.
It is very painful for any person to be forced to leave their family, customs and the land of their birth. The migrants of our era are our new martyrs. They are the new heroes who fight abroad, fight adversity, work tirelessly, carry out the most difficult work under the most difficult conditions and yet still press on. They are still able to contribute to their countries of destination with their talent, culture, dedication, efforts and by paying taxes. Our Honduran compatriots, who migrated when they faced difficult circumstances in our country, make us proud of their endeavours, and we therefore demand that they be treated in a way that is dignified and commensurate with their contribution to the countries to which they have gone to build a new life.
Honduras is endeavouring to improve the conditions of our citizens so that they do not have to leave, to abandon their homeland and families in search of opportunities in other countries. However, we are also working with our brother countries in Latin America to ensure that there is recognition of the contribution of those who, due to natural phenomena, have been granted temporary protection status, and for children who had to leave with their parents, grew up far from their homeland and began to dream in another.
May those dreams continue. May dreamers imagine a new world and be fuelled by hope, turning their yearnings into reality. We have worked for that new world the last four years. That new world is the reason we are here today. We are confident that our actions will allow us to see the rising of a new sun, of a new day. Nothing and no one can forbid us to dream. Let us continue to dream. Together, we can build a better world for our children and for the children of our children.


I would first like to express my condolences to the Mexican Government and people after the earthquake.
I wish to express the gratitude of the Ivorian people for the great mobilization of countries gathered here that elected Côte d’Ivoire to the Security Council for the term 2018-2019. That election demonstrates, if that were necessary, the Assembly’s support for my country’s ongoing commitment to peace and dialogue.
It is also a call to share with the the Assembly and the world our experience in managing the emergence
from a crisis and in effective cooperation with the United Nations, as evidenced by the success of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire. That peacekeeping operation, with its lessons learned, has been acknowledged by all as one of the few peacekeeping successes of our global Organization in the past few decades. It should serve as inspiration to the United Nations in its peace initiatives. That is why Côte d’Ivoire, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council — which status was just conferred by the Assembly — intends to promote fair and pragmatic compromises in the settlement of crises on the Council’s agenda.
In a world experiencing severe geopolitical turbulence and climate change, the theme of our session, “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”, is a call to action to strengthen peace in the world. We must conceive of a development model that is better balanced among the countries and more just among people. This theme us an urgent challenge to save our planet so that we can build the virtuous world we want for ourselves and for future generations.
From the discussions we held with all countries as we sought to promote our candidacy for the Security Council, we noted that there is an urgent need to respond to new global threats in order to achieve a lasting peace for all. More than ever before, it is time to act and to fulfil our commitments, so as to meet the expectations of our peoples with regard to security and development.
Since 2001, the global counter-terrorism architecture that our Organization set up has become considerably stronger in terms of law and the coordination of international action. Despite those encouraging developments, and the success of anti-terrorist operations by major Powers and their allies in the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, in Africa, the world is struggling to find a satisfactory collective response to terrorism. Under such conditions, those important successes will be in vain and the terrorist threat will remain a source of concern if Africa continues to be the weak link in the global fight against terrorism.
The major Powers must intensify their commitment to combating terrorism in Africa and must provide greater support to the efforts of the continent and the United Nations. We call for support for the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), whose work is essential for the security of a large part of the African continent. For its part, Côte d’Ivoire will make support for the G5 Sahel and fighting terrorism in Africa one of the priorities during its term on the Security Council, since without stability there can be no development.
Global warming is a real concern. No country is immune to the devastating effects of climate phenomena, which are jeopardizing our countries’ peoples and economies. We must therefore act quickly and responsibly if we are to preserve our environment and our planet.
With regard to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, my Government will live up to its signing of it and will seek, inter alia, energy transitions, the development of smart agriculture and the preservation and protection of the environment. It is urgent that every country, like Côte d’Ivoire, uphold its commitments voluntarily agreed to under the Paris Climate Agreement. In the same vein, developed countries must honour their commitments to finance the adaptation of the economies of the countries in the South to the impact of global warming. We must also be sensitive to the plight of many small island States. We must consider climate change a real threat to international peace and security. We must urgently take the right steps, including by adopting an international pact for the environment, which has been proposed by France.
Maintaining peace and security in the world also requires strict management of the issue of nuclear weapons. We must do our utmost within the Security Council to find a peaceful solution to the serious
nuclear tensions in the Korean peninsula. Any use of nuclear weapons in that region would demonstrate the moral bankruptcy of our civilization and the end of the era we are living in. It would run the risk of a nuclear conflict with unforeseeable consequences. I therefore call on the major Powers to show restraint and to enter into dialogue with North Korea, in order to create the conditions for a lasting de-escalation and to reassure the world with regard to maintaining peace and stability in that region.
All efforts to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking and smuggling have not put an end to those phenomena, which continue to engulf thousands of young people from African countries in the Mediterranean. On the contrary, they have contributed to the weakening of democracy and a rise of extremist feelings, even in established Western democracies.
To put an end to those dangerous migrations, developed countries, in particular countries and regions that receive migrants, must mobilize investments and resources needed to finance development in migrants’ countries of origin and transit so that their economies are able to offer jobs and opportunities to their youth. The fight against people smugglers in countries of origin should also be intensified. Furthermore, the international community must put an end to the war in Libya and dismantle terrorist groups and smugglers’ networks that continue to traffic in human beings.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the response to this scourge is focused on prevention by increasing awareness and assistance with return for those who attempt migration, as well as dismantling smuggling networks. The fight against illegal migration must respect existing international legal obligations that guarantee respect for the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all migrants.
Building a peaceful and secure world remains our priority. Despite a difficult economic situation marked by a sudden drop in the price of cocoa, Côte d’Ivoire intends to honour its commitments in the framework of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of its priority development goals, Côte d’Ivoire has reached an average annual growth rate of 9 per cent per year over the past five years, thanks to sound macroeconomic policy, the work of Ivoirians, an improved business environment and significant investment.
We are now working to effectively distribute the fruit of that growth, particularly to the most destitute and the most vulnerable segments, all while seeking to transform the country. That is the essence of the 2016- 2020 national development programme and of the bold social reforms led by my Government. I would like to make an urgent appeal to all States and civil society organizations so that the international mobilization for the implementation of the SDGs does not fade. Developed nations must honour their commitments by contributing to financing for development in accordance with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the third International Conference on Financing for Development.
We must face the fact that the individual and, above all, collective responses of our countries to the main security challenges of our time are insufficient, even if we have achieved significant results in the fight against terrorism in certain theatres. The fact of the matter is that our world is vulnerable and no State can face the global threat alone. The rise of terrorism, the devastating effects of global warming and the persistence of nuclear tension, particularly in the Korean peninsula, have sorely tested our collective security architecture. We must therefore agree on the ways to strengthen and modernize it so as to enable our countries to respond jointly and effectively to the serious threats of our times.
We must also afford pride of place to conflict prevention in order to spare our people the exorbitant human and material cost of war. In that connection, I welcome the implementation of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, which will allow both institutions to work together closely during all stages of the cycle of conflict in a predictable, systematic and strategic manner.
Our Organization is at an important turning point in its history. It is facing significant challenges in the carrying out of its mission. It is therefore timely for my country to pledge its full support for the reforms called for by Secretary-General António Guterres, and to renew our faith in him. His reforms are steps in the right direction. They ought to be pursued in that same spirit, with the support of all countries. Côte d’Ivoire is ready to write a new page in its history at the United Nations after its election to the Security Council, thanks to the support of all. We must continue to work together in the interest of our Organization in order to advance the priority causes of our peoples.


It is another year and another session of the General Assembly. We meet in the same Assembly Hall and deliver our addresses from the same rostrum, yet no modicum of protocol can mask the gaping divide in our ranks. We live in an increasingly fragile, unjust and unequal world. A small minority holds the reins of power and wealth among nations and, for the most part, within nations. The overwhelming majority of nations and their citizens are without power, without voice, without the means for a decent life, and often without peace and security. We may be called the United Nations, but the reality is that we are divided nations and societies.
Despite our deep divisions, however, our destinies are intertwined in a fundamental way. We share a common home: a small planet in a vast universe, a tiny boat in a vast ocean. Whatever calamity happens anywhere in our world — epidemics, poverty, violence, mass displacement, war, terror — it will eventually catch up with all of us.
We share the responsibility to address the fundamental problems of our common world. Certainly, the mighty and wealthy should shoulder bigger responsibility, as they command vast power and resources. It is only fair that more is asked of those to whom much has been given — or, more accurately, those who have appropriated much for themselves. We should unflaggingly remind them of their obligations and press them not for charity, but for enlightened self- interest that understands that might is not permanent and that only shared benefits are sustainable.
We would, however, be gravely mistaken and would have forgotten the lessons of history if we pinned all our hopes on the goodwill of those who currently enjoy disproportionate power, wealth and influence. Power does not readily concede its privileges of its own accord. It resorts to deception, coercion, pressure, sanctions, violence and war to maintain and, if possible, increase its privileges.
The developing countries and the marginalized peoples of the globe stand to gain most from a more peaceful, secure, just and equal world. They owe it to themselves and to coming generations to build solidarity and to steadfastly strive and work and innovate for a better world. It is their duty to ensure freedom, dignity and prosperity for their peoples.
Africa remains the most marginalized of all continents. Undoubtedly, there is some progress, more in some countries than in others. But talk of an African Renaissance, of fastest-growing economies, is misplaced and premature. We should not flatter ourselves or allow others to flatter us. Africa remains a producer and small-bit exporter of primary products. It retains minimum revenue from those exports, with foreign companies getting the lion’s share. Processing of primary products, value addition, industrialization and technology development barely exist. African economies, physical and social infrastructure, institutional and governance structures, and peace and security architectures remain undeveloped.
Yet Africa boasts tremendous human and natural resources. Indeed, over 60 per cent of global natural resources lie in Africa. It is only when Africa’s economies, the quality of its infrastructure, the standards of its health and educational institutions, the level of its artistic, scientific and technological products, the effectiveness of its institutions and enterprises and, more importantly, the quality of life of its citizens reflect more accurately its great potential that we can rightly speak of Africa taking its rightful place in the world. We should safeguard independence and sovereignty, fight ethnic polarization and rampant corruption, chart our own paths, develop bold and imaginative policies that suit our conditions, rely mainly on our own resources and build an Africa that meets the aspirations of its people and makes valuable contributions to humankind.
Eritrea is a young, strategically located nation with significant human and natural resources. It joined the community of independent nations a quarter of a century ago by dint of its people’s 30-year struggle for freedom and self-determination, fought and won against tremendous odds. As an independent nation, it has faced the full brunt of an unfair and unjust international order. It has faced demonization, ostracism, sanctions and armed aggression, and that sustained external hostility caused much harm to Eritrea and its people. It slowed down Eritrea’s progress, but it was not able to stop it. It could not shake the resolve of the Eritrean people and their Government. Eritrea was severely tested but emerged intact, more determined, more experienced and in many ways stronger. It is peaceful, stable, secure and harmonious: a haven of stability in a turbulent neighbourhood.
Eritrea is, quietly and without fanfare, engaged in comprehensive nation-building. It is pursuing policies and taking concrete measures to strengthen the unity and harmony of its people, fostering their political participation and unleashing their energies and talents. It is laying the groundwork for broad-based and sustainable economic development. It is putting modern infrastructure in place, step by step. It is working to ensure that all its citizens get good access to nutritious food, clean water, electricity, shelter, transport, communications, health care and educational services, as well as cultural, sports and recreational facilities.
Eritrea has also embarked on a massive water and soil conservation programme and an afforestation programme as part of its comprehensive plan to enhance the environment and fight climate change. Eritrea is confident that it will meet the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of time. In its ambitious development programme, Eritrea avoids dependency and relies first and foremost on its people and on its domestic resources. At the same time, it welcomes and encourages cooperation and partnership, with a focus on trade and investment. Eritrea also seeks to make a modest contribution to peace, stability and cooperation in its wider region, which includes the Nile basin, the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea basin and the Gulf. It has successfully fought and continues to fight radicalization, extremism and terrorism both on its own and in cooperation with its neighbours.
Eritrea extends its hands of friendship and solidarity to all peoples and nations who strive to build their countries and contribute to a fairer, more just and more equal world. Eritrea takes the initiative to engage with all countries, including those who differ with it. Eritrea strongly believes that its political, economic, social and diplomatic path would be smoother and easier if the external obstacles that have been on its path were removed. It therefore once again calls on the Security Council to lift the unfair and unjust sanctions imposed on it for the past nine years. There is no justification for them to continue, and they do not serve any useful purpose.
Another obstacle facing Eritrea — indeed, facing the whole Horn of Africa region — is the 15-year-old occupation of sovereign Eritrean territory by Ethiopia. Eritrea calls on the Security Council to ensure the end of that flagrant violation of international law and several United Nations resolutions.