I begin by joining my
colleague Heads of State in congratulating Mr. Ali
Treki on his well-deserved election as the President of
the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. I
would also like to take this opportunity to thank His
Excellency Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for his
effective stewardship of the sixty-third session and to
salute Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his tireless
efforts to promote global peace, security and
development.
 It is an internationally accepted fact that we are in
a period characterized by unprecedented crisis. Crises
related to basic human needs such as food, water and
energy are contributing to great distress and hardship
in every region of our world and precipitating an
escalation in poverty, which we in the United Nations
had committed to halve at the beginning of this decade.
These crises have the potential to bring great social and
political instability to many regions.
 The sheer complexity of these matters and their
connectivity with human development make the task of
addressing them very daunting. The progress made by
the international community in this respect must be
noted. However, we must all be mindful that whatever
the perceived impact or fallout experienced by the
economies of the world, the citizens of the small
vulnerable States among us will be the worst hit, and
therefore they continue to warrant the special attention
of this body.
 The United Nations Conference on the World
Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on
Development, which convened last June in this Hall,
brought renewed international attention to the
magnitude of this crisis. The outcome document
(resolution 63/303, annex) confirmed, and further
emphasizes, that the crisis has had a particularly
negative effect on developing countries such as
Dominica.
 The irony is that though severely affected by the
crisis, our countries had absolutely no relationship or
contribution to its cause. It also threatens the
realization of the Millennium Development goals. In
the Caribbean it is estimated that the impact of the
crisis has created the worst set of economic
circumstances since the era of independence of the
countries of the region, bringing with it depressed
commodity prices, a decline in agricultural export
earnings, contraction of tourism revenues, retreating
foreign direct investment, decreased access to external
financing and declining remittances, among others.
 At the regional level the Governments of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are addressing the
impacts of the crisis through the establishment in July
of a task force that will allow the member States, along
with the heads of our regional financial institutions, to
facilitate the mobilization of funds and present a core
set of proposals for dealing with this crisis. Our Heads
of Government have also agreed to the institution of a
programme of collective enhancement of our financial
services sector through improved national regulatory
and supervisory systems, and also through
rationalization and consolidation to ensure safety,
soundness and stability in that sector.
 We concur with the call for the strengthening of
institutional arrangements for international cooperation
in tax matters. Furthermore, we endorse the
recommendation of the Conference of the CARICOM
Heads of State for consistent and non-discriminatory
implementation of transparency requirements and
international standards for exchange of information.
 We believe that in order to adapt to the adverse
impact of the financial crisis it is crucial that small
island developing States and less developed countries
receive the following: one, speedy implementation of
the decisions of the Conference; two, assistance to
facilitate economic diversification while responding to
the crisis and the negative impact of climate change;
three, fiscal support in view of already high debt
burdens; four, practical assistance from United Nations
agencies through a compact framework; and five,
stimulus funds to be made available by bilateral and
multilateral entities.

09-52463 24

 With the onset of the financial crisis, there is now
a wrong perception that the food crisis is over. Food
insecurity continues unabated around the world, and it
is estimated that more than a billion people go to bed
hungry every night. This is both unacceptable and
unsustainable. The creation of the United Nations
system high-level Task Force on Global Food Security
was a timely and welcome initiative of the Secretary-
General and the Director-General of the Food and
Agriculture Organization. Increasing investments in
agriculture in the developing nations is critical to
addressing the food crisis. We therefore welcome the
Group of Eight pledge of $15 billion over the next
three years for enhancing food security, but we warn
that the desired objective may not be achieved if
harmful subsidies in agriculture continue to prevail in
the developed countries.
 Completion of the Doha Development Agenda
negotiations at the World Trade Organization takes on
renewed importance as we seek solutions to the global
financial crisis. An appropriate trade environment for a
sustainable recovery for all is highly desirable. It is in
that spirit that we must renew our commitment to
re-engage in the Doha negotiations with the declared
objective of concluding them in 2010.
 The status quo has served only to further
marginalize small and vulnerable States and has led to
the almost total collapse of some of our major
industries, including sugar and bananas, which
provided the livelihoods of numerous farming families
and communities. Our Governments continue the
struggle to develop their economies in the absence of
the much-needed foreign exchange that those industries
generated. Increasing the competitiveness of
developing countries and their effective participation in
world trade underscores that Aid for Trade as a new
and independent source of development financing must
be at the centre of the trade and development agenda.
 Climate change has emerged as one of the leading
challenges of our generation. If it is not arrested and
sufficiently managed, its adverse impact has the
potential to undermine human security and the social
and economic stability of all nations. All around us we
see evidence of escalating climate change in the form
of severe weather, floods, drought, devastating
hurricanes and cyclones and rising sea levels.
 Small island developing States are most
vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change. As
a consequence, we find our countries in the front line
of this monumental challenge to humanity. In
Dominica and several of the sister islands of the
Caribbean, situated as we are in the hurricane belt,
there have been and will continue to be an almost
annual cycle of considerable damage to houses, roads,
coastlines and other infrastructure. For many of our
countries there is a constant struggle to achieve
economic development and a higher quality of life for
our people, only to find ourselves experiencing these
heavy losses and having routinely to start all over
again.
 As global preparations for the critical
Copenhagen conference continue, the urgency to act to
address climate change has increased. What has long
been pointed out by the scientists has now been
confirmed by those whose unsustainable production
has precipitated an Earth crisis, which must be
addressed if our planet is to survive. The General
Assembly, in its resolution 63/281 of 3 June this year,
recognized the security implications of climate change
as an additional dimension of the crisis. That is clearly
evident for many small island States whose viability
and very existence are threatened by conditions such as
the rising sea levels.
 Dominica is at the forefront of nature
conservation. Upon attaining political independence in
1978, our country was aptly dubbed the “Nature Island
of the Caribbean” in view of our unwavering
commitment to the management and conservation of
our abundant biodiversity, extensive national parks
system, rich forest resources, mountain ranges, fresh
water resources and a pure marine environment. At the
World Summit on Sustainable Development held in
Johannesburg in September 2002, the then Prime
Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Pierre Charles,
proclaimed our country as the “Nature Island of the
World”. Today in the presence of the world gathering
in this body, I announce Dominica’s intention to make
our country a model for sustainable development. A
cordial invitation is extended to the international
community to contribute to this noble venture.
 Dominica continues to work closely within the
framework of small island States to continue to bring
our perspective, as climate change front-line States, to
the negotiating table. We are contributing to a solution
to the effects of climate change by pursuing measures
at the national level to promote energy efficiency,
reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and develop our

25 09-52463

geothermal potential for national energy needs, as well
as for the possible export of clean energy to our
neighbours, in the first instance to the French overseas
Departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
 Dominica is already generating 40 per cent of its
electricity by hydropower. We are at an advanced stage
of geothermal energy development, which by 2015
should enable us to reach the target of 100 per cent
electricity generation by renewable energy. We express
our gratitude to France and the European Union for
their commendable cooperation towards the shift to
renewable energy.
 Dominica is therefore encouraged by the many
expressions of support for a successful outcome of the
Copenhagen meeting made by world leaders at the
high-level Summit on Climate Change held a few days
ago in this Hall. There is an urgent need for a greater
demonstration of political will in this regard. I
therefore urge every Head of State or Government to
seize the moment to reach an agreement that will
protect the inhabitants of this planet from one of the
most serious challenges ever to confront humanity.
 Dominica remains concerned about the current
economic situation in our sister island of Haiti. We
recognize the important role of the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in
ensuring the stability of that country. We commend all
troop-contributing States for their engagement in Haiti,
and we appreciate the support of the Security Council
in extending the mandate of the Mission. Haiti needs
considerable development assistance in order to
consolidate the stability that MINUSTAH’s presence
has fostered and to ensure the success of the
peacebuilding process. In this regard, we endorse and
applaud the decision of the Secretary-General to
appoint former United States President Clinton as
Special Envoy for Haiti. We hope that this appointment
will advance the cause of rebuilding that country.
Dominica, through its actions and also through
CARICOM, will continue to do all in its power to
advance the quality of life of the Haitian people.
 Central to my country’s development thrust is a
particular focus on the advancement of our indigenous
people. Consistent with this priority of the United
Nations, we support the continued and expanded
efforts of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in
the implementation of the measures contained in its
recommendations. In this connection, we welcome the
recommendations of the eighth session of the
Permanent Forum on indigenous women, the economic
development and human rights of indigenous peoples,
and specific actions in relation to the Arctic region.
Dominica has undertaken and continues to undertake
important initiatives to improve the social development
of our indigenous people.
 We come together every year in the general
debate in a true spirit of common resolve and
partnership. This common resolve and partnership must
assume greater meaning this year because the tasks
before the international community are enormous and
necessitate collective action. However challenging may
be the efforts towards their solution, it seems evident
that only genuine global cooperation and concerted
multilateral action have the possibility of yielding
favourable results. But committed multilateral action in
the face of these crises has so far proved to be elusive.
A greater demonstration of political will should ensure
multilateral action in confronting these crises, as it is
an absolute necessity for the survival of this planet.
 I take this opportunity to recognize all the
countries and organizations that have assisted
Dominica and the more vulnerable States in our
development thrust. Particular reference must be made
to those developing countries which, while dealing
with their own domestic challenges, have extended a
true fraternal hand of friendship. To all, we express our
most sincere gratitude. We also reiterate the call of this
General Assembly for an end of the United States
embargo against the Republic of Cuba and look
forward to an early date for its removal.
 Finally, as we chart a most progressive
development course for our future, we should ensure
that it includes the full implementation of the
recommendations emanating from the Conference on
the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its
Impact on Development. We should also make every
effort to leave Copenhagen with a framework for a firm
commitment and a sound climate agreement that will
protect the inhabitants of this planet, particularly the
most vulnerable, from one of the most serious
challenges ever to confront humanity.


On behalf of the
Nigerian delegation, I wish to congratulate His
Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election as
the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-
fourth session. I have no doubt that the Assembly will
benefit from his wealth of experience and wisdom. Let
me therefore affirm the full support and solidarity of
my country. Similarly, I wish to commend the
President of the Assembly at its sixty-third session, His
Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, for the
able and effective manner with which he conducted the
affairs of that session.
 Last year when we gathered here, we were
hopeful that the world would soon put behind it the
devastating impact of the various global crises in the
energy, agriculture and financial sectors. However, in
spite of the efforts by the international community, the
developing world is yet to experience any serious
relief. There is no doubt that more than ever before the
international community needs to fulfil its
commitments to the developing world if more than half
of humanity is to avoid an imminent calamity.
 In this connection we welcome and applaud the
efforts of the United Nations, in particular the outcome
of the United Nations Conference on the World
Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on
Development held in New York last June . We call for
the support and implementation of the recommendations
of the conference and hope they will receive the
unconditional support of the developed nations.
 Equally important is the need for global efforts to
boost food security. We need to increase food
production, whether for domestic consumption or for
export, which requires collaboration among investors,
organizations and Governments. It is relevant here to
reiterate our call for the removal of the enormous
agricultural subsidies that developed countries continue
to give their farmers, a practice that defies the logic of
a free market economy and remains unfair to millions
of poor peasant farmers across the world.
 As we approach the countdown to 2015, a
convergence of many factors, including the global
economic crisis, is threatening not only the
achievement of the targets for the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), but also the substantial
gains already made. Unless we act fast, our dream of
lifting the vast majority of humanity out of extreme
poverty, hunger and disease will remain an illusion.
Donors and recipient countries alike should make more
effort to fulfil their commitments under the
programme. For our part, we are determined to do all
we can in order to attain the MDG targets, and we are
calling on the international community to continue to
provide support.
 The African Summit on Roll Back Malaria, which
was held in Abuja in 2000, adopted the Abuja
Declaration and the Plan of Action to reduce malaria
by 50 per cent in Africa by 2010. To achieve this goal,
African countries affected by malaria were expected to
devote 15 per cent of their public expenditures to the
health sector.
 Although considerable efforts have been made by
the affected countries, as well as by donor agencies, the
goal of Roll Back Malaria has not been realized.
Malaria remains by far the biggest killer disease for

09-52604 42

children under 5-years old in Africa. This should weigh
heavy on the global conscience.
 Africa is committed to the goal of eliminating
malaria, and to this end, Nigeria intends to host the
Abuja-Plus Ten Summit on Roll Back Malaria in 2011.
We would therefore appreciate the support of the
Secretary-General, not only to make the proposed
summit possible, but also to facilitate the realization of
its objective.
 The quality of participation at the just concluded
2009 Summit on Climate Change was a testimony to
the global realization that climate change has truly
become seen as a genuine existential threat to
humanity. I commend the Secretary-General for his
consistent engagement with this most important issue
of our time, and call on all Member States to rededicate
themselves to reversing the worst effects of this
phenomenon.
 For us in Africa, as the continent where,
unfortunately, 15 of the world’s 20 countries most
vulnerable to the impact of climate change are situated,
we hope that the outcome of the fifteenth Conference
of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change coming up in
Copenhagen later this year will be an acceptable
response to this global threat.
 Even in the middle of this tale of global economic
and financial woes, there is a silver lining. We are
gratified and greatly encouraged by the increasing
rapprochement between the United States and Russia
on nuclear disarmament. The idea of a nuclear-free
world, the architecture of which is now being put
together, has great appeal for many of us.
 Such an outcome, probably achievable in our
lifetime, would not only result in a safer and better
world, but would free resources for use in sectors that
would benefit humanity. Nigeria encourages all nuclear
Powers to identify with this great initiative, this dream,
and to embrace any and all initiatives that promote the
achievement of the goal of a world free of nuclear
armaments and the apocalyptic nightmare.
 It is in this connection that Nigeria applauds the
conclusion and bringing into force of the Pelindaba
Treaty, the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty,
which bans the testing, manufacturing, stockpiling,
acquisition and possession of nuclear weapons in
Africa. This is a commendable testimony to Africa’s
total rejection of the proliferation, and indeed the
existence, of nuclear weapons. We call on all other
regions to follow suit. The Review Conference of the
Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons coming up next year provides an
opportunity that should not be missed.
 While we applaud this development, let us not
forget that there are weapons still being produced that
have killed far more people than nuclear arms in the
tragic history of humanity. I speak, in particular, about
the production of small arms and light weapons and
their illicit export to regions like my own, Nigeria and
West Africa, where these small arms and light weapons
have become the real weapons of mass destruction —
destroying many lives of innocent children, men and
women, destroying property, economies and dreams —
as well as the undermining of national and regional
efforts at development.
 We are all aware of the close link between such
weapons and organized crime, drug trafficking and, in
the case of Nigeria, piracy and oil smuggling in the
Niger Delta. The proliferation of such weapons in West
Africa is fast turning the region into a major transit
point for illicit drugs, thus also facilitating the growth
of criminal syndicates, some with enough firepower to
challenge a nation’s military forces. This cannot be just
a West African problem. It should be seen as a global
threat.
 This is why we continue to call on the
international community to demonstrate greater
commitment to keeping this threat in check by
implementing existing initiatives, as well as developing
new and legally binding ones, where necessary, geared
towards achieving the goal of preventing, combating
and eradicating illicit trade in small arms, and
regulating the transfer of conventional weapons in
general. The full implementation of the United Nations
Programme on Small Arms would be a very good
beginning.
 Although over the past decade, West Africa has
made considerable progress by way of building or
strengthening democratic structures in our various
countries, the job is far from done, and this is not the
time to rest on our laurels. Peace and security
challenges remain daunting in some parts of the
subregion. As current Chairperson of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

43 09-52604

Mr. Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua sent a special envoy, in
fact a former Head of State, the former President of
Nigeria, to President Mamadou Tandja of the Republic
of Niger with a view to establishing a line of
communication with him in favour of a peaceful
resolution of the political problems of our esteemed
neighbour to the north. A delegation of ECOWAS
Foreign Ministers undertook a similar visit with the
same objective. Our role is largely mediatory, but we
are waiting with cautious optimism for the democratic
imperative in the Republic of the Niger to be upheld.
 The situation in Guinea-Bissau is somewhat more
cheerful. Guinea-Bissau held successful elections last
July and, as members may already be aware, President
Malam Bacai Sanhá was sworn in on 8 September.
Because of the strong commitment on the part of all
stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau, this peaceful transition
to democratic, constitutional rule has taken place. We
are indeed very proud of what the Government and the
people of Guinea-Bissau have been able to achieve.
Guinea-Bissau can now look forward with hope to a
peaceful and bright future, and Nigeria will continue to
stand side by side with that country as it charts its
destiny for the future.
 In Guinea-Conakry, where elections have again
been slated for next January, we continue to impress on
the authorities the need for the country to return to
democratic rule through manifestly transparent, free
and fair elections. We hope that these efforts will yield
dividends in the form of an elected civilian government
early next year. Our own experience and history in
Nigeria leave us with no other choice than to remain
unwaveringly and unambiguously on the side of the
consolidation and maturation of constitutional
democracy and to strongly repudiate even the slightest
prospect of democratic reversal in the subregion. It is
our national interest to do so.
 ECOWAS has proven over and over again its
willingness and capacity to come to the aid of its
members in their hour of need. In that spirit, we will
continue to make our best efforts to ensure that peace
and stability reign in the region and to facilitate the
realization of the objectives implied in the
Community’s name. We continue, as usual, to count on
the support of the United Nations system.
 Nigeria continues to make great strides in our
efforts to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous
nation, able to provide the best possible life for its
citizens and able to fulfil its international commitments
and obligations. We have made great progress in laying
a solid foundation for democracy, and we are seeking
to build on this foundation to grow an economy that
will see Nigeria take its rightful place among the
world’s economic powerhouses. However, there are
challenges. Some we can deal with by ourselves.
Others require the help, support and cooperation of our
friends and allies and of the United Nations family.
 Those who have been watching events in our
country in the past few months will testify to the
progress we have made in the Niger Delta in finding
durable solutions to the political, social and
environmental problems of one of the most
strategically important regions of our country. Today,
relative peace has returned to the Niger Delta, largely
on the back of an amnesty deal which the Government
and erstwhile militants forged and are implementing
together. The return of peace to the region would
provide the platform for meeting the aspirations of the
people, as well as allowing the resumption of full
economic activity there.
 Nigeria is a signatory to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and to the majority of
other international and regional human rights
instruments, and we continue to remain focused and
committed on the issue of human rights.
 In our endeavour to overcome the constraints
brought about by the present gap between our nation’s
increasing demand for power to drive its development
and the available supply, we join others in pursuit of
reliable, cheap and environmentally friendly alternative
sources of energy. In this regard, we are gratified by
the support and assistance that we, as a non-nuclear
State, continue to receive from the International
Atomic Energy Agency in exploring alternative sources
of electricity generation, as well as in the areas of
radiation control, waste management and training. We
will continue to collaborate closely with the Agency, as
well as to rely on the assistance of our allies and
friends.
 Nigeria welcomes the ongoing reform and
democratization of the United Nations system and
notes the progress made in the intergovernmental
negotiation process. We encourage all parties to
continue the negotiations with renewed vigour with a
view to achieving the desired objectives. Of particular
importance to Nigeria is the enlargement and

09-52604 44

democratization of the Security Council. It is
unacceptable that Africa, with 53 countries, is not
represented in the permanent seat category of the
Council. We call upon Member States to demonstrate
the necessary political will to bring about the long-
awaited reform, in order to make the Security Council
more legitimate, more democratic and more transparent
and inclusive.
 Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations and
the international system has been demonstrated over
the years. This commitment accords with the
provisions of our Constitution, which enjoins us, inter
alia, to promote international cooperation for the
consolidation of universal peace and to promote
respect for international law and treaty obligations. Our
international behaviour has always been guided by
those noble foreign policy objectives.
 Nigeria has been the fourth-largest contributor in
the world to peacekeeping operations, and the role we
have played — and will continue to play — in
peacekeeping in the subregion, the African continent
and, with the United Nations, around the world is a
clear testimony to our unflinching commitment to
joining hands with others, especially the United
Nations, in laying solid foundations upon which human
prosperity can be built. This is why we welcome the
new strategy by the United Nations to strengthen the
partnership between troop-contributing countries and
the United Nations, especially in the provision of
adequate resources and the capacity to strengthen
regional peacekeeping initiatives.
 Finally, as usual, Nigeria will continue to draw on
its vast experience and commitment in its efforts to
contribute to the realization of the objectives and
values of the United Nations. We assure all our allies
and friends that Nigeria will continue to be a
responsible global member of the United Nations,
subscribing to all the norms, conventions and values of
this human family and providing leadership, especially
on issues concerning West Africa and indeed the rest of
the world.


We are
meeting once again, but this time at a moment when
humankind is facing many problems, each as difficult
as the others, as if they had been planned to coincide:
the agriculture crisis, the financial and economic crisis,
environmental peril and tenacious, deadly diseases. Be
that as it may, we are destined to prevail. There is
simply no other option. We must and we can succeed.
The numerous deliberations about these problems at all
levels illustrate our increasing awareness of the
dangers to us and succeeding generations.
 Believing fundamentally as I do in the genius of
humankind and its capacity for imagination and
creativity in extricating itself from the most difficult
situations, I am both optimistic and aware of the price
that will have to be paid. This is what we are called on
to do here and elsewhere. The only question is how to
coordinate the numerous elements required to expedite
the rescue mission.
 Before going any further, however, I should like
warmly to congratulate Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, who
has been charged with guiding the work of this sixty-
fourth session of the General Assembly. I have known
Mr. Treki for a long time, and Senegal is delighted by
his election and expresses its confidence in his human
and professional qualities, which will bolster the
success of his mission.
 I also pay tribute to Mr. Miguel d’Escoto
Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its
sixty-third session, for his contributions to the effort to
revitalize the Assembly. His commitment and
dynamism are well known. I have admired his
intelligence, his lively wit and the sensitivity he shows
in his relations with others. To Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon, Senegal reiterates its support for his delicate
task in the face of the many and urgent issues facing
the Organization.
 This sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly
has begun at a time of multifaceted turmoil. The
economic and financial crisis, the scale of which has
surprised many observers, reveals above all the
deadlock in contemporary economic theory. In
highlighting the inadequacy of our analytical and
predictive abilities, it calls for a broader sense of
shared responsibility both for the management of its
immediate effects and for the search for long-term
responses. In seeking solutions, let us be careful not to
make the mistake of falling back on received wisdom
and ready-made answers. Be it in the sphere of the
environment, political and economic governance or
development, the world must find a new way of
thinking and acting, and thereby address the need to
change our outlook.
 Having myself argued, often strongly, for the full
participation of Africa in the conversation on world
governance, I welcome the progressively expanded
cooperative framework of the Group of Eight (G-8)
and the Group of 20 (G-20). I only regret that my
proposal to establish a shadow G-20, made up of the

41 09-52425

world’s greatest experts but open to all those who bring
new ideas, has not yet been put into practice.
 The President returned to the Chair.
 Clearly, the world’s heads of State, elected on the
basis of political criteria, cannot miraculously
transform themselves into universal polymaths. They
must hold to their political and even strategic role, and
rely on the superior knowledge of experts. It is through
dialogue open to all that we will be able to grasp the
diversity of our respective situations and apply real-
world answers to real-world problems. It is therefore
fitting that the theme of this sixty-fourth session should
be “Effective responses to global crises: strengthening
multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for
international peace, security and development”.
 The current challenges, both complex and global
in nature, call strongly for innovative and concerted
solutions if we are to succeed. That is especially true
for problems of agriculture and food security. If we are
to achieve on schedule Millennium Development Goal 1,
to halve by 2015 the number of people suffering from
hunger, we must put into practice a different approach
to international cooperation, one based on support for
agriculture instead of food assistance, which should be
used only as an emergency response to exceptional
circumstances.
 The development of agriculture to promote
sustainable food security in Africa necessarily involves
water management, the availability of equipment,
producers’ access to inputs and a sound organization of
chains of production, storage, processing and sales of
agricultural products. That is why Senegal hopes that
these essential questions — and others, such as the
regulation of agricultural markets and scientific
research to increase productivity — will take a
prominent place on the agenda of the Summit of the
World’s Regions on Food Security, to be held in
January 2010 in Dakar, and of the Global Partnership
for Agriculture and Food Security proposed by the G-8.
 Once the right conditions are in place, there is no
reason why Africa should not be able to ensure its own
food security. Better yet, its enormous land and water
resources predispose the continent to become the
world’s breadbasket. To that end, however, we must
avoid the vicious trap of ceding land to foreigners
bearing millions of dollars. The G-8 quite rightly
expressed its concern on this subject at its most recent
summit in Italy. According to recent estimates, between
15 and 20 million hectares have changed hands over
the past three years, primarily in Africa. We Africans
should make it our vocation to become farmers tilling
our own land rather than being agricultural labourers
working for capital-rich foreign planters.
 For its part, Senegal, as I have often said, cannot
accept such a course, which would without doubt
empty our countryside of newly impoverished millions,
who would swell our slums and the ranks of those ripe
for illegal emigration. On the other hand, if we exploit
our mutually complementary circumstances, we of the
North and the South can promote a win-win
partnership in which investors and local communities
join to develop African land without dispossession.
Senegal has succeeded, in record time, in responding
positively to the food crisis. For the second year in a
row, our home-grown agricultural campaign for food
and abundance, known as GOANA, has rewarded us
with excellent results.
 We intend to strengthen this food self-sufficiency
option with the unionization of rural producers, on the
model of Québec. To this end, we are currently setting
up a green bank for farmers, fishers and livestock
farmers, which will support financing of these sectors.
This is a bold innovation, a green revolution that we
want very much to see succeed.
 At the global level, I believe that, beyond its
adverse impacts, the current crisis has a silver lining
insofar as it stimulates creativity, initiative and a
fighting spirit. If the Secretary-General had not
launched his emotional appeal at World Food Day in
Rome two years ago, I might not have felt a challenge
so great as to demand the invention of GOANA. And
because the fate of our people is at stake, it is our
primary responsibility to establish on our own the
conditions necessary for a brighter future.
 Internal efforts will continue to be futile without
a healthy global environment rid of the speculative
practices of the virtual economy and unjust asymmetric
programmes, such as subsidies and other inequitable
practices. In this context, non-oil-producing African
countries continue to feel the full brunt of the increase
in oil prices resulting from speculative practices that
we cannot mitigate because they are controlled by the
oil oligarchy. Economies such as ours, which had
hitherto posted average growth rates of 5 per cent, have
been brutally weakened by imported inflation.

09-52425 42

 For that reason, Senegal supports and encourages
the dialogue between producers and consumers
initiated by the International Energy Forum to improve
transparency in the oil market and take effective
measures against speculative practices that devastate
the economies of importing States.
 In implementing the “Wade formula”, I proposed
a fund to fight poverty funded by voluntary
contributions from African oil-producing States and oil
companies working in Africa, based on the principle of
shared social responsibility. The fund could be
managed collectively or entrusted to the World Bank.
Similarly, I welcome the extension of the Exogenous
Shocks Facility to countries benefiting from the Policy
Support Instrument.
 The summit meeting on climate change
confirmed a broadly shared conclusion. If we do not
change our methods of production and consumption,
the future of mankind itself will be in peril. We must
admit that we have not taken sufficient action to
reverse these negative trends. Nature subjects us daily
to the adverse consequences of our own attacks against
it in different ways, including floods, droughts,
desertification and coastal erosion. These upheavals
foreshadow even more devastating phenomena.
International consensus is therefore urgently needed to
save the planet. In order to survive, each of us must
strive to behave more respectfully towards the
environment and to create a world with fewer
greenhouse gas emissions. According to the hopeful
statement of the Secretary-General, we now find
ourselves on the threshold of a new era — that of the
green economy. Let us have the courage to cross the
threshold for ourselves and for succeeding generations.
 Africa for its part wishes to assume its share of
responsibility in this necessary environmental rebirth.
That is the essence of the Great Green Wall project that
runs from Dakar to Djibouti. Shared by all countries it
runs through, the Great Green Wall is 7,000 kilometres
long and 15 kilometres wide, and Senegal has the
responsibility of coordinating it on behalf of the
African Union.
 With the assistance of experts from all over the
world, we have selected plants adapted to the fairly
arid conditions prevailing in the Sahelian-Saharan
zone. At the same time, we have decided to build
water-collection basins along the entire length of the
Great Green Wall, based on the model that we have
implemented in Senegal with some 250 basins. Every
African State involved in the construction of the Great
Green Wall organizes its implementation at the local
level through a national agency. At the continental
level, national agencies are coordinated by a pan-
African Great Green Wall agency under the auspices of
the African Union.
 I cherish the hope that the United Nations will
become involved in this project, which contributes to
protecting the global environment, by mobilizing what
might be called anti-desert soldiers along the lines of
peacekeeping troops. Here, I pay tribute to the
participation of Ivorian boys and girls who, although
not directly impacted by desertification — Côte
d’Ivoire being a country of forests — spontaneously
participated in building the Senegalese section of the
Great Green Wall in Senegal. They worked voluntarily,
side by side with their comrades from Senegal. These
young people, transcending the artificial borders
created by colonization, are using self-determination to
take ownership of the struggle for Africa’s future. This
experience could serve as a prelude to the creation of a
broad movement of “youth without borders” that unites
young Africans from throughout the continent. They
could be the heralds of various causes, such as the fight
against HIV/AIDS, early marriage and female
circumcision, as they in Senegal.
 While we await foreign assistance, Senegal has
already built nearly 527 kilometres of the Great Green
Wall. The project is also under way in Mali, and Chad
will follow in the near future.
 Through the progressive restoration of the
Saharan ecosystem, the Great Green Wall will
contribute through greenhouse gas sequestration to the
global fight against global warming. I thank the
European Union for its pledged support, and I welcome
in particular President Sarkozy’s initiative to deploy to
this front — the only worthy front — soldiers to plant
trees and build water-collection basins. I cherish the
hope that this initiative will serve to inspire other
States with the necessary human and material resources
to support the Great Green Wall.
 Given the severity of the situation, the
environmental threat, in my opinion, should be
considered a threat to international peace and security.
If it were, we might consider allocating new
international missions to national armies. In the
manner of peacekeeping operations, Senegal proposes

43 09-52425

the creation of a mechanism to save and restore the
environment based on the voluntary commitment of
armies through modalities to be determined.
 In the framework of civilian and military
activities, countries wishing to do so could mobilize
contingents for specific periods to assist in
implementing major environmental projects, such as
the Great Green Wall, or what is referred to in Senegal
as the Atlantic wall against coastal erosion.
 In Senegal, we are currently creating along our
coastline a concrete wall 3 to 4 metres deep and
40 centimetres wide built on an impermeable
foundation to stop the maritime erosion that threatens
many African countries. Its effectiveness is guaranteed.
The only problem is the cost — $1.5 million per
kilometre. From Casablanca to Cotonou, representing
some 5,000 kilometres of vulnerable coastline, the
overall cost would be $7.5 billion. Compared to
expenditures often seen at the global level, it certainly
is not much. Moreover, if mankind were to stop
building lethal weapons for only three months and
allocate the money thus saved to building the Atlantic
wall, the threat to that part of Africa would be
permanently removed.
 For 16 years now, Security Council reform has
been an important item on our agenda. It is a paradox
that an Organization, universal in its mission, should
remain deadlocked 64 years after its creation by the
elitist nature of its principal body. The leader
Al-Qadhafi summarized our position on that issue (see
). As Africa is the only continent not
represented among the permanent members, despite the
fact that it’s the focus of 70 per cent of the Council’s
work, that historic injustice must be corrected by
granting the continent here and now, outside the
context of overall reform, one seat with the right of
veto that could be held by the Chairman-in-Office of
the African Union. Let us ensure that this session is the
one at which we finally solve the issue of Security
Council reform so that we can focus our efforts on
other important issues.
 Those important issues still unfortunately include
the tragic situation in the Middle East. While it
recognizes the Israeli people’s right to live in peace
within secure and internationally recognized borders,
Senegal resolutely supports the just and legitimate
claim of the Palestinian people to a viable, free and
independent State. That claim is morally consonant
with the right of peoples to self-determination.
 However, in general, Senegal rejects violence in
all its forms, whatever its origin. Israel’s pursuit of
illegal activities on Palestinian territory is
counterproductive. The settlement, expropriation and
lockdown of the territories are a serious obstacle to the
negotiations process and delay the prospects of an era
of peace for all peoples of the subregion. Senegal
supports the vision of two States, Israeli and
Palestinian, as recalled here yesterday by President
Barack Obama (see ).
 Turning to the situation in Africa, Senegal
welcomes the considerable progress made in the
peaceful settlement of disputes and in the integration
process towards establishing the United States of
Africa. The accomplishment of African unity is the
only viable answer to the challenges of globalization,
the creation of large groupings and the redefinition of
the rules of governance. It is also an essential condition
for the establishment of lasting peace and stability on
the continent.
 Senegal continues to contribute to the settlement
of disputes in Africa on the basis of that ideal of peace.
I therefore welcome the normalization of the situation
in our sister Republic of Mauritania following the
Dakar Accord of June 2009. We should remember that
the Accord was concluded with the support of the
International Contact Group throughout the negotiation
process. I reiterate my congratulations and my
appreciation to all.
 In the sister Republic of Guinea-Bissau, I
welcome the gradual return to stability after the
presidential elections, recognized and acknowledged
by all as free and transparent. As a neighbour, Senegal
reiterates its call for the convening of a donor
conference in support of the courageous stabilization
and development efforts of the people of Guinea-
Bissau, through their new authorities.
 On the other hand, the situation in the Republic
of Guinea seems to me of greater concern. That
country merits our full attention because it could fall
into violence at any time. Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,
President of Liberia, and I, in our capacity as goodwill
neighbours, were in Conakry only two weeks ago. I
reported back to the African Union, stressing the need
for an ongoing presence in the field and for a dialogue
with all stakeholders, including the army. In my view,

09-52425 44

that is the only way to help restore the constitutional
order in Guinea.
 The ideal of peace, the primary raison d’être of
our Organization, remains seriously threatened by
extremism of all stripes, fuelled and perpetuated by
ignorance, mistrust and the manipulation of religion.
The need for dialogue between cultures and
civilizations is all the more urgent on that account. The
challenge today, in particular for the three revealed
religions that share the same God, is to build on that
common monotheistic pedestal a bridge of brotherhood
that brings us closer and teaches us to live together
again by sharing our common values and with respect
for our differences.
 As Chairman-in-Office of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference, I reiterate once again the
dedication of the Islamic ummah to dialogue for the
mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence of
peoples because Islam, in letter and spirit, is a religion
of the happy medium and of peace that teaches, in all
things, knowledge, moderation, reasonableness and
respect for the freedom of worship.
 Let us all agree to strive to learn to better
understand each other, overcome mistrust and fight the
obscurantist ideas that give rise to tensions and
confrontation. A world living in peace in the twenty-
first century will be one in which all peoples enjoy an
equally dignified existence.
 In that spirit, Senegal will host the Third World
Festival of Negro Arts from 1 to 15 December 2010.
That artistic and intellectual event, with Brazil as guest
of honour, will provide the opportunity for Africa and
its diaspora to celebrate the values of culture and
civilization of the black world. For us, that is a way to
fight the prejudices that still haunt some malicious
minds and fuel the re-emergence of revisionist ideas.
 Africa is ready to meet the challenges of the
twenty-first century in a spirit of openness and
dialogue with all peoples for a world of peace and
human brotherhood.


I join other speakers in
congratulating Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on assuming
the presidency of the Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session. We are confident that his extensive diplomatic
experience will guide his leadership. He can be assured
of the support and cooperation of Jamaica during his
tenure.
 I also extend Jamaica’s appreciation to Father
Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for his energetic and
visible leadership during the sixty-third session of the
Assembly, and our gratitude to Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon for his expert leadership of the Organization.
 We meet at a critical juncture, as the world
confronts multiple crises: the global financial and
economic crisis and the food, energy and climate
crises, joined by the H1N1 pandemic. Both developed
and developing countries are affected by these crises. It
is the poorest and most vulnerable, however, that are
disproportionately affected and are least capable of
responding. Even as major economies are reporting
their emergence from the global recession, the outlook
for most developing countries remains bleak. For many
developing countries, there are no early signs of so-
called green shoots of economic recovery. For the
majority, the impact of the recession will be deep; it
will be prolonged; and it will be painful. The irony is
that developing countries are hapless victims of a crisis
for which they are inculpable.
 The synchronized nature of the downturn in the
world economy means that its repercussions are
evident in virtually every sphere. Inflows of financing
and investment have plunged precipitously; exports are
weak, and commodity prices are low; official
development assistance has diminished drastically.

09-52592 18

 Those consequences are reflected in Jamaica and
throughout the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
region. Countries like ours now face the daunting
challenge of protecting the most vulnerable of their
citizens in a responsible and sustainable manner in the
context of declining export demand, contraction in
services, including tourism, and lower remittances. As
with most developing countries, the fiscal and financial
stress has forced us to make significant adjustments to
our expenditure programmes.
 The distressing reality is that we in the
developing world have limited scope and capacity to
mitigate the impact of the crisis. We have neither the
fiscal flexibility nor the policy space to afford
ambitious stimulus packages to respond effectively to
the upheavals in our country.
 A major corollary of the economic downturn is
the problem of debt servicing and debt sustainability.
Many developing countries could be on the verge of a
debt crisis, and require special support to help them
attenuate the impact of the global crisis.
 Jamaica has always supported efforts to assist the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries that have benefited
from debt relief initiatives. But there is another group
of developing countries that are equally burdened by
high debt and deserving of special consideration. I
speak of the heavily indebted lower-middle-income
countries, which are overlooked on the presumption
that, by virtue of their levels of gross domestic product
(GDP) per capita, they do not require international
assistance. That approach continues to mask the reality
of our vulnerability to external shocks, persistently
high levels of poverty and dependence on commodity
exports.
 Jamaica is particularly concerned about the
situation of highly indebted middle-income countries,
which cannot benefit from the kind of assistance
available to the Least Developed Countries and
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, but which have been
devastated by the impact of the global economic and
financial crisis. Jamaica is currently saddled with a
debt-to-GDP ratio of 125 per cent. Along with our
CARICOM partners, we will continue to advocate for a
very special category of small, vulnerable and highly
indebted middle-income countries. A review of the
criteria for determining middle-income status could
help to address financial resource accessibility in the
long term. We are lobbying for a review of those
criteria.
 The pervasiveness of the crisis makes coordinated
international action imperative. Over the last two days
in Pittsburgh, leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) met
for the third time in less than a year to review the
progress on commitments made at their last summit
and chart a course to counter the impact of the adverse
economic environment. As much as we value the
inclusion of advanced developing countries in the G-20
process, we believe that it is critical that space be made
to accommodate the voices of a wider cross-section of
developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable.
Our interest is in ensuring that the particular needs of
small, vulnerable economies and highly indebted
middle-income developing countries of the CARICOM
subregion are addressed through appropriate
representation at the summits of the G-20. We must
have an integrated approach in order to craft the type
of common strategy that a crisis of this magnitude
demands.
 At the same time, the United Nations must play
an essential role in helping to manage the various
ramifications of the crisis. It can ensure dialogue and
enable a coordinated response based on an inclusive
decision-making process. The United Nations
Conference on the World Financial and Economic
Crisis and its Impact on Development, held in June,
provided a useful platform. Developing countries that
are not part of the G-20 group were able to bring their
concerns to the international community and contribute
to the search for solutions to the crisis.
 We are encouraged by the candour of leaders
from the major industrialized countries who expressed
their commitment, with obvious sincerity, to effectively
addressing the concerns of developing countries in
order to help them cope with the crisis. We are seized
with a spirit of collectivity, and hope that this renewed
momentum will overcome all obstacles and translate
into tangible, targeted outcomes.
 The severity and complexity of the crisis is
underpinned by the interlinked and interdependent
nature of the global financial system. The experience
of the current crisis supports the case for strengthening
financial regulation and supervision to address
systemic weaknesses in the global financial system.
 Reform of the international financial architecture
is long overdue. Urgent steps must be taken to reform

19 09-52592

the governance structure of the international financial
institutions, including a review of the policy conditions
attached to lending by the International Monetary
Fund. We are disappointed that there is as yet no
visible action on reform of the international monetary
and financial systems.
 Jamaica is a trade-dependent country. We
therefore agree that there is an urgent need to conclude
the Doha Round of negotiations in a bid to revive
global trade and to aid in global economic recovery.
Development must remain central to that agenda. Any
outcome of our negotiations in the Doha Development
Round must lead to clear benefits for our farmers,
producers, exporters and consumers. We must redouble
our efforts in this critical area and resolve to transform
international trade into an engine of growth.
 Progress has been made in the implementation of
Aid for Trade for developing countries. We must build
on that progress. There are outstanding commitments
with respect to the provision of technical and financial
support to help strengthen the trading and production
capacities of developing countries. We look forward to
further collaboration with our international partners
and aid and development organizations in pushing the
Aid for Trade initiative to build on the supply-side
capacity and infrastructure of developing countries, so
that they can take advantage of trade opportunities and
connections with the global economy, particularly
against the backdrop of this global recession.
 The threat posed by climate change must not be
underestimated. Urgent and effective global action on
climate change mitigation and adaptation is required to
avoid the catastrophic consequences of global
warming.
 The Alliance of Small Island States Climate
Change Summit on 21 September, as well as the
Summit on Climate Change held here a few days ago,
reinforced this fact: the time for action is now. We
were heartened by the broad agreement that a
significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is
necessary to reduce global warming. What is now
required is the necessary political will to take concrete,
decisive action so that we can address this clear and
present danger head on.
 As a Small Island Developing State that is
vulnerable to the impact of climate change, Jamaica
has a vested interest in a successful outcome of the
United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen in December — an outcome based on
equity and differentiated burden-sharing. It is now
clearly established that developed country emitters
have a historical responsibility for global warming and
that they should take the lead in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
 Other major emitters also have a role to play in
climate change mitigation while taking into account
their own development needs. To this end, we favour
the conclusion of a post-Kyoto framework wherein the
commitments agreed to by all the parties hold to the
principle of common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities. A successful outcome must
also include concrete commitments on adaptation,
mitigation, capacity-building, technology transfers and
the provision of financial resources to assist
developing countries in addressing climate change.
 We recognize that action at the international level
must be complemented by urgent action at the national
and regional levels. The necessary steps must be taken
to integrate climate change into broader national
sustainable development planning. Jamaica has
embraced this approach.
 The pursuit of complete disarmament and nuclear
non-proliferation, with particular regard to weapons of
mass destruction, must remain a shared goal. The
2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty provides an opportunity for
renewed commitment to strengthen the
non-proliferation regime.
 Restoring peace and promoting regional stability
through peacekeeping operations is at the heart of the
contribution of the United Nations to international
peace and security. However, as we have seen,
peacekeeping interventions cannot by themselves
produce the desired outcome of sustainable peace. The
Peacebuilding Commission, established in 2006, can
assure such sustainability and make a difference in the
lives of people in post-conflict countries. We are
therefore pleased that new arrangements have been put
in place to make the Peacebuilding Fund more flexible
as we seek to support peace efforts in countries
emerging from conflict.
 In my own region, Jamaica remains committed to
the long-term stability, socio-economic growth and
development of our sister country, Haiti. We recognize
the important role of the United Nations Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in helping to foster the

09-52592 20

environment necessary to ensure a sustainable future
for the Haitian people.
 We must increase our efforts to counter
transnational organized crime, narco-trafficking and
the illicit trade in small arms and ammunition, which
threaten the rule of law and democratic governance in
many countries, and fuel the spread of international
terrorism. At the regional level, through joint
collaboration and approaches within CARICOM, we
continue to tackle these security challenges, which
threaten the social and economic fabric of our
societies.
 The challenges presented by the outbreak of
infectious diseases and the potential pandemics, such
as HIV/AIDS and the H1N1 flu, call for common
global strategies to ensure that developed and
developing countries alike can respond rapidly and
effectively. As a result of the global economic crisis,
accessibility and affordability of essential medicines
are expected to deteriorate in developing countries. In
this regard, however, it is anticipated that developing
countries will have access to the forthcoming H1N1
vaccine at an affordable price.
 We end this first decade of the twenty-first
century confronted by myriad challenges. These
challenges are not constrained by borders and cannot
be confronted by States acting on their own. They can
only be confronted through international cooperation
and effective partnerships. But this can only be
achieved through greater multilateralism, with
equitable participation by all countries, both developed
and developing.
 Jamaica firmly believes that the United Nations is
the only organization equipped to undertake this task
of inclusive multilateralism. With all its imperfections,
the United Nations still enjoys legitimacy in the eyes
of most people in the world. But the United Nations
cannot, in its current form and structure, successfully
tackle this task. It must be reformed to make it more
responsive to all its Members.
 Multilateralism cannot work effectively if the
General Assembly, the most representative global body,
is unable to assert itself as the central decision-making
body of the Organization. Nor can it work if the
Security Council remains an exclusive club,
unrepresentative of the wider membership of the
United Nations. The goal of the intergovernmental
negotiations which commenced earlier this year should
be to come to a definitive conclusion on
comprehensive reform of the Council.
 The theme that the President has chosen for this
session is both apt and timely. It evokes the purposes
and principles enshrined in the Charter. It calls on us to
reaffirm and renew our commitment to joint
responsibility for development, the realization of peace
and security and harmony among peoples. It is in this
spirit that we look forward to the erection of the
permanent memorial to honour the victims of the
transatlantic slave trade, which will remain an enduring
symbol of our collective resolve to eliminate
discrimination, social inequity and prejudice.
 The United Nations must assert its unique
capability as the world’s premier multinational
organization to address the challenges and meet the
needs of the poor and most vulnerable. We need,
therefore, to urgently correct and reverse the tendency
towards inaction, inertia and indifference which has so
far frustrated efforts to address the development
agenda. This would be in keeping with the ideals of the
Charter and our shared vision for the fulfilment of the
hopes, aspirations and expectations of all our citizens
across the globe. We dare not fail to live up to those
expectations, as to do otherwise would seriously impair
the very credibility and relevance of the United
Nations, particularly during this time of crisis.


I would like
to begin by congratulating Mr. Ali Treki on his election
as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session. We are confident that the international
community will greatly benefit from his experience
and wisdom on the political and human fronts, and at
the local and international levels. I also take this
opportunity warmly to thank the Secretary-General and
all Governments, international organizations and
permanent members who have offered support and
have promoted peace and stability in Somalia, and who
have delivered to our country the aid necessary to
protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.
 I wish to express our condolences to the families
of those who have lost their lives in defence of peace
and stability in Somalia. I would particularly like to
thank the African Union, which has made tremendous
sacrifices for the cause of peace in Somalia.
 I would now like to talk about the efforts and
progress made by the Government of Somalia since it
came to power through the Djibouti peace process —
progress made despite the enormous difficulties and
challenges facing the Somali nation, particularly given
that it was established after 18 years of anarchy and
chaos. My Government’s priorities include improving
the security situation, promoting efforts towards
reconciliation and providing essential humanitarian
assistance to the displaced and the suffering in our
country.
 Unfortunately, however, the rebels are
endeavouring to overthrow the Somali Government,
which is still taking its first steps in achieving security.
These rebel elements have conducted a violent
insurrection against the Government, fuelled by the
negative effects and consequences of the past 18 years,
which are further compounded by prevailing high
unemployment and our country’s weakness in the field
of security. It is clear that extremist foreign elements
have joined the ranks of the insurgency and some of
these foreign extremists hold key rebel leadership
positions.
 I would like to recall that we thwarted the
attempted coup d’état perpetrated by the rebels against
the Government. We believe that we were able to
prevail thanks, first and foremost, to God, and then
through the efforts of our Government and people and
the help we received from the international community
and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
We are currently endeavouring to promote and bolster
the Somali security forces, to create new naval forces
and a new coast guard to tackle the problem of piracy,
which continues to threaten international shipping in
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. However,
despite all our achievements we still have a long road
to travel.
 Rebellion in Somalia is a new form of insurgency
that is emerging in the world today. This rebellion is
conducted by foreign and Somali extremists who are
against Islam, against peace, against security and
against stability. They are spoilers who sow destruction
and take exploit the chaos and anarchy that have
existed in Somalia since 1991.
 We suggest that what is happening in Somalia
should not be underestimated or taken lightly. The
international community should take prompt and
decisive steps to ensure that our people are not held
hostage by these extremist groups who are working
against our freedom and our destiny. From this rostrum
I would like to state that if the world does not
comprehend the gravity of what is happening in
Somalia, then the consequences will be very harmful.
The troubles we are experiencing threaten to proliferate
into neighbouring countries and indeed throughout the
world.
 The problem of international terrorism is not
confined to Somalia and this problem should be
addressed at the international level.

19 09-52463

 I turn now to the issue of piracy, which has
recently become a matter of major concern for the
international community. The phenomenon of piracy is
closely linked to the current security situation in
Somalia. As a result, as long as the security situation in
Somalia remains unchanged, piracy will continue in
one way or another. We would like to say, however,
that there has of late been a reduction of piracy as a
result of collective international endeavours. Still, it
remains essential to make additional efforts to combat
piracy.
 Toxic waste sunk off the Somali coast, unlawful
fishing and the pillaging of national wealth are a
violation of Somali sovereignty and cause considerable
damage, which has a negative effect on the
environment through the pollution caused.
 We are resolved to engage in a political dialogue
that is open to all Somali stakeholders, including the
armed rebels.
 We are determined to sit down at the negotiating
table with all parties, even those who are against the
Government, any time and any place, in order to end
the conflict raging in our country. We will spare no
effort to end the conflict and find a lasting political
solution. We will ensure the security of our people and
protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, the extremists do not believe in the benefit of
any manner of dialogue or negotiation; they believe
only in guns and cannons.
 We are ready to establish a firm foundation for an
open, transparent and participatory democratic political
system by creating sound democratic institutions that
reflect the collective political will and the cultural
values of the Somali people. That system will be based
on an institutional regime and constitutional
mechanisms designed to protect human rights and the
rule of law.
 Similarly, we will foster genuine Islamic
principles that encourage tolerance, personal freedoms,
respect for individual rights and equal rights for all
under the law, without regard to gender, clan or ethnic
origin.
 In addition, we will work tirelessly towards
establishing a free-market economic system to attract
foreign direct investment and encourage private
ownership. The system we will introduce will have
sound and effective financial institutions with strong
built-in anti-corruption mechanisms.
 We will use all available means to rebuild a
national Somali State that is at peace with itself, with
its neighbours and with the international community.
Furthermore, we intend to cooperate closely with the
international community in the security sphere.
 At this trying moment in history, Somalia
urgently needs the support and assistance of the
international community, in particular in the form of
security and humanitarian aid. Since 1991, Somalia has
not enjoyed peace, stability or security. Thus, it has
been difficult to achieve social and economic
development and to protect human rights.
 Security and stability may be established if
certain essential measures are taken, including
promotion of the security and police components, the
judiciary and administrative institutions. African Union
troops should be increased to a necessary level and
augmented by other troops, provided that they are
sufficiently funded, trained and equipped to carry out
their task. In order to restore security in Somalia, those
measures must be implemented decisively and as soon
as possible.
In the context of humanitarian assistance, it must
be emphasized that the situation of refugees, both
within Somalia and outside its borders, continues to
deteriorate. There are nearly 3.8 million people in the
country requiring humanitarian assistance. Our people
are experiencing a real humanitarian tragedy that is
compounded by several years of drought. Humanitarian
access to those in need is considerably hampered by
the security situation that has deteriorated as a result of
the conflict.
 In connection with Security Council resolutions
on the arms embargo, I urge the Council to reconsider
the matter and appeal to it to assist us in strengthening
our security forces without which any endeavour to
rebuild infrastructure and achieve security and stability
in Somalia will be impossible.
 On the donors conference held in Brussels in
April 2009 pursuant to Security Council resolution
1863 (2009), we wish to ask donor countries which
have made funds available to Somalia to speed up the
allocation of additional funding. I also urge United

09-52463 20

Nations Member States and Security Council members
to take further measures to support the Republic of
Somalia more effectively in order to end the
intransigence of the extremists and to ensure that no
further obstacles exist to rehabilitating Somalia and
rebuilding its infrastructure so that we can bring an end
to the genuine daily tragedy of the people in Somalia.
 We firmly believe that our progress on security is
likely to enable us to counter the negative economic
and social impacts of the chaotic events of the past
18 years. Somalia would be in a position to revive the
entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Somalia. We
have already begun to make tangible progress with
remittances from Somalis abroad. If Somalia enjoyed
some level of stability and security our economy could
progress reasonably in the coming years. In any event,
peace, stability and development are all interlinked;
there can be no peace without development or
development without peace and stability.
 The worldwide economic decline has severely
affected the people of Somalia and has placed an
additional burden on their shoulders. From this
rostrum, we reiterate our appeal for joint, urgent action
for Somalia. I stand before the Assembly fully
confident in the future of Somalia. It is a country with
vast natural and human resources. We believe and we
are confident that, with support, we will be able to
make genuine and concrete progress.


At the
outset, Mr. Treki, permit me on behalf of Yemen and on
my own account to congratulate you on your well-
deserved election to the presidency of the General
Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. I am confident
that your long experience in the area of diplomacy, in
particular Arab and African diplomacy, will ensure
your skilful and able conduct of our proceedings. I
wish you every success in carrying out your noble
mission. I also wish to congratulate Father Miguel
d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General
Assembly at its sixty-third session, on his efforts,
which ensured the success of the various Main
Committees of the Assembly. In addition, I thank the
Secretary-General for his tireless efforts to consolidate
international peace and security and advance the work
of the Organization.
 The Republic of Yemen is facing complex socio-
political and development challenges, to which a
number of factors have contributed, including the
world financial crisis and its impact on Yemen’s
economy, as well as an acute shortage of resources as a
result of declining oil production and low prices on
international markets. We also face a growing
population, combined with water shortages and limited
commitments by our development partners to help us
combat poverty by providing employment
opportunities and decent livelihoods for the Yemeni
population. Despite those difficulties, the Yemeni
citizen has the smallest share of official development
assistance when compared with citizens of other least
developed countries. Undoubtedly, lack of
development and rising unemployment and poverty

7 09-52604

rates have created many challenges and difficulties for
our Government.
 The Government also faces other challenges,
including, in particular, the rebellion by the Al-Hothi
elements in the Sa´ada governorate, who abandoned
the Zaidi doctrine, which is the second most prevalent
religious sect in Yemen, to embrace the beliefs of the
Shi´ite Twelvers sect. Although they had the right to do
so as Yemenis, they exploited it to gain Shi´ite support
and sympathy after they had carried out an armed
rebellion against the Government. These subversive
groups have committed terrorist and violent acts
against citizens, targeted State institutions and facilities
and hampered the work of local councils, calling for
changes in our democratic republican system in order
to return Yemen to the days before the 26 September
revolution. The Government has been compelled to
deal with these destructive groups, channelling a
portion of its limited resources allocated for
development towards fighting the saboteurs and
re-establishing governmental authority and the rule of
law throughout Yemen. The destructive acts carried out
by these rebellious groups before the recent military
operations against them caused the displacement of
tens of thousands of citizens from areas affected by
violence, which has recently increased as a result of
military clashes.
 As a result of its concern about the situation of
internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Yemeni
Government has addressed that humanitarian situation
responsibly and in cooperation and coordination with
international and civil society humanitarian relief
organizations, providing secure camps and meeting the
needs of IDPs for food and health care. Here, I wish to
recall that our Government has declared two cessations
of hostilities during the most recent military
operations, the second of which was in response to the
appeal made by the Secretary-General and
humanitarian and international organizations for the
opening of safe corridors for the provision of relief to
refugees. However, the saboteurs exploited that
ceasefire by increasing their attacks on our military
forces, cutting off roads, planting mines and spreading
false rumours about Government forces attacking the
IDPs. The Government has established a committee to
investigate the situation, although it is aware that there
was no IDP camp in the area but rather a camp used as
a supply centre and meeting place by the saboteurs,
who have violated five previous agreements and
returned to violent actions.
 I wish to highlight our commitment to the
principles of guaranteeing human rights, protecting
civilians from the effects of military operations and
upholding the sovereignty of the Constitution and the
rule of law in dealing with an internal situation caused
by a group that is committing violent and terrorist acts
in violation of the law and the Constitution.
 This challenge is growing, as can be seen from
the activities of Al-Qaida elements in Yemen and their
attempts to consolidate their presence in Yemen and to
target our country and other States in the region.
Al-Qaida is supporting the saboteurs in Sa´ada, seeking
to make their acts of violence and rebellion serve the
interests of Al-Qaida in Yemen and to spread anarchy
and instability. This highlights the need for continued
Yemeni efforts to uproot terrorism and for continued
international coordination among security and
intelligence organs, so that extremism and terrorism
can be defeated.
 Meanwhile, a number of separatist elements are
exploiting the atmosphere of democracy and freedom
of thought and expression, the Government’s respect
for human rights, and economic difficulties and a low
standard of living to promote their separatist agenda —
which was rejected by the Yemeni people in 1994 — in
an invitation to reject constitutional legitimacy and to
conspire against the unity, security and stability of
Yemen.
 The level of expenditure required for our
Government to impose the rule of law and combat
terrorism has reduced the number of employment
opportunities, decent livelihoods and educational
opportunities for our young people and the chance to
fight poverty. Therefore, we urge the international
community, donor countries, international
organizations and Yemen’s partners to join an
international alliance to combat terrorism. Once again,
we call upon them to shoulder their responsibilities and
provide generous support to Yemen in order to
strengthen our development programmes to combat
poverty and provide job opportunities, since
development and economic growth are important
elements in combating terrorism, reducing
unemployment and achieving development. From this
rostrum, we call on Yemen’s partners and donors to

09-52604 8

fulfil the pledges that they made at the November 2006
London conference in support of development.
 The Republic of Yemen continues to strengthen
the democratic principles of its political system,
reflected in political pluralism, the peaceful handover
of authority, freedom of expression, respect for human
rights, growing decentralization, building local
government with broad powers, electoral and
constitutional reform and improving partnerships with
civil society organizations. Those involved in political
work in Yemen agreed to postpone for two years the
parliamentary elections that were to be held next April
in order to reform the election law and to introduce
some constitutional changes with a view to reforming
governance. For its part, the Government has
introduced a system of broad local government
involving the election rather than the appointment of
governors with a view to bringing about further
decentralization of authority.
 The difficult humanitarian situation of the
Palestinian people under Israeli occupation should
remind all in this Hall that the international community
has failed to secure the legitimate demands of the
Palestinian people and to assist it in establishing its
own State, and that it has ignored the suffering of the
Palestinian people, the systematic violation of their
human rights and the increase in illegal settlement
activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The
unjust blockade imposed on the Palestinians in Gaza
makes life a tragedy for the entire population of Gaza
owing to the complete disregard of the practices of the
Israeli occupation in violation of the relevant
international resolutions and instruments, and in the
light of the recalcitrance shown by the Israeli
Government and its rejection of all initiatives aimed at
moving the peace process forward, in particular with
regard to the course adopted by the United States
Administration to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. We
call upon our Palestinian brothers to show a spirit of
national responsibility towards their people living
under the yoke of occupation by unifying and putting
an end to their differences so as to benefit the
Palestinian issue and achieve their goals.
 The situation in Somalia calls for the
international community to take more effective
measures to achieve peace and security and to rebuild
the institutions of the Somali State by urging the
Transitional Federal Government to act in such a way
as to contribute to the strengthening of peace and
stability in the Horn of Africa. Here, we welcome the
efforts of the Transitional Federal Government to
secure peace and to extend its administration
throughout Somali territory. However, it urgently needs
further support to enable it to serve the Somali people.
We call on all Somali parties without exception to end
their differences, to participate in national dialogue and
to achieve reconciliation, putting the interests of the
Somali people above all else.
 We call on the external parties to stop interfering
in Somalia’s internal affairs. Instability in Somalia is
adversely affecting all States of the region. The
phenomenon of piracy and the increasing flow of
refugees to neighbouring States, resulting from the
instability in Somalia, are creating socio-economic and
health difficulties for Yemen, as it bears the burden of
caring for hundreds of thousands of those refugees. We
call on the international community to help the Somali
coast guard to protect the coasts and international
maritime trade.
 With regard to the situation in the Sudan and in
Darfur, we welcome the mediation efforts of Qatar,
Libya and Egypt to achieve peace in the Sudan. We
support the efforts of the international community in
bringing about the reconciliation of all opposing
factions, and we reiterate our call for the decision of
the International Criminal Court with regard to
President Omer Al-Bashir to be overturned as it does
not respect the sovereignty of the Sudan and hinders
the efforts for peace in the Sudan.
 Yemen condemns all acts of terrorism to which
the Iraqi people are subjected, and we call on them to
overcome their differences and to strengthen their
national unity.
 Yemen welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-
General towards reforming the Organization. We
reaffirm our position that the United Nations and its
system should be reformed in order to achieve
equitable representation and a better decision-making
process that places the required emphasis on
development, fighting pandemics, easing poverty and
addressing environmental issues, which have a direct
impact on the standard of living of millions of people.
We must strive to bolster the Security Council’s role in
the maintenance of international peace and security; at
the same time we must reform the Council and expand
it to make it more representative, ensure that its
deliberations are more transparent and rationalize the

9 09-52604

use of the veto so as to avoid its abuse and double
standards.
 In conclusion, on behalf of the Government of
Yemen, I would like to extend our appreciation for the
good work of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in
managing this Organization and in improving its work.
I reiterate my congratulations to you, Mr. President,
and wish you every success.


I would like to congratulate
Mr. Ali Treki on his unanimous election to preside over
the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. His
election is a deserved tribute to his personal qualities
as a seasoned politician and diplomat and also to his
country, Libya, with which Malta has long-standing
ties of friendship and cooperation. I am sure that under
his wise leadership and experience this august
Assembly will be guided throughout his term to a
successful and fruitful outcome.
 My delegation’s thanks and appreciation are
extended to his distinguished predecessor, Father
Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, for the dedicated manner
in which he presided over the work and activities of the
sixty-third session.
 Malta would like to take this opportunity to
commend and thank the Secretary-General for his
unstinting efforts in guiding our Organization in the
maintenance of international peace and stability
worldwide. Under his leadership the United Nations
has made important strides in raising awareness and in
many instances responding effectively to the critical
situation of the poor and more vulnerable. It was
therefore of great satisfaction to my Government and
the Maltese people that we had the honour and
privilege to welcome him to Malta last April.
 This year Malta is marking three important
anniversaries. The first is the forty-fifth anniversary of
our country’s independence, on 21 September 1964;
the second is the fifteenth anniversary of the coming
into force on 21 March 1994 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change; and the
third is the fifteenth anniversary of the coming into
force on 16 November 1994 of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
 Over the past 45 years, Malta has made good on
the pledge it made when it joined this Organization. In
this regard, I would like to avail myself of this
opportunity to renew today, on this forty-fifth
anniversary of Malta’s United Nations membership,
our pledge and our unwavering faith and trust in the
ideals and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the
United Nations.
 One of the issues which in the coming weeks will
be at the top of the international agenda is the
Copenhagen Summit. Two days ago, this Hall
witnessed one of the largest-ever gatherings of Heads
of State and Heads of Government to debate the future
of our planet Earth. During this unique summit we all
agreed that the challenges posed by climate change
have become the most urgent and critical faced by
humankind.
 It will be recalled that in 1988, when Malta took
the initiative to formally submit the issue of climate
change as a political item on the agenda of the forty-
third session of the General Assembly, few of us would
have thought at that time that this issue of climate
change would become in the span of two decades one
of the principal critical issues dominating the
international environmental concerns of this new
century. Throughout these 20 years, Malta has been in
the forefront of those ensuring that climate change
continues to be one of the top-priority issues of our
times. Our commitment of 20 years ago remains
steadfast and as strong as ever. As we have heard
during the past few days, the outcome of the
Copenhagen Summit must signal a turning point. Malta
strongly believes that it is the duty of all countries,
large and small, rich and poor, to contribute their fair
share to this concerted effort, which must be global if it
is to succeed.

09-52425 54

 On 16 November of this year, Member States will
commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the coming
into force of the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, which has been described as the
constitution for regulating humankind’s activities
relating to the oceans. It was 42 years ago that, in this
Hall, Malta once again called on Member States to
undertake a reform of the law of the sea, which
eventually culminated in the adoption of the current
Convention on 10 December 1982.
 It is also necessary to see the 1982 convention in
the light of some pressing and contemporary problems
which are either being addressed inadequately or not
being addressed at all. Among these deficiencies are
the provisions dealing with piracy, illicit traffic in
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the rules
relating to the protection and preservation of the
marine environment and the rules dealing with
submarine cables and pipelines. Examples of omissions
are the trafficking of human beings, the safety and
security of navigation, the transportation of weapons of
mass destruction, and climate change.
 In the light of the issues I have just mentioned,
Malta feels that the time has come for the General
Assembly to examine possible approaches to a review
of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. In this
context, Malta would like to propose that the General
Assembly, through its relevant bodies, undertake
appropriate consultations among its Member States to
revise the Convention in view of the passage of time
and the emergence of new and critical issues over the
years. My delegation will be ready to enter into
consultations with other interested Member States to
advance this proposal further.
 Just as it was necessary in 1948 to recognize the
need for a universal declaration of human rights as a
fundamental condition for the enjoyment of freedom,
justice and peace for all men and women around the
world, so it has become vital now to have a
concomitant declaration on human duties of the present
generation, including our responsibilities towards
future generations. We have the overall task of
conserving the human species in the sacredness of its
life and in its continuity, as well as of preserving the
environment, in all its manifestations. We believe that
such a declaration emanates naturally from that
doctrine of the common heritage of mankind, which
my country first mooted before this Assembly in 1967
and which eventually led to the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
 Malta believes that human duties are intrinsic to
the personality, oneness and uniqueness of the human
being, and are as inalienable as human rights. Those
duties do not arise from laws or obligations but are
inherent to the human being. Such duties relate to
human beings themselves and to their fellow beings,
and in a special manner to their family, to the
community at all levels and to the natural and cultural
environment in which their life evolves. The envisaged
declaration, strengthening and fulfilling the thrust of
the 1948 universal instrument, should mark the work of
this Assembly as a consummate service to the
international community. It should stand out as a major
achievement of the United Nations at the beginning of
the third millennium of our era. It is in this spirit that
Malta proposes that consideration be given to the
drafting of such a declaration on human duties and
responsibilities.
 Conflicts around the world have continued to
affect the political, economic and social development
of many countries and a large part of our societies. It is
tragic that in the past decade more than two million
innocent children were killed and six million seriously
injured in conflicts. The role of the United Nations in
preventive diplomacy and support to peace processes
must enjoy strong and sustainable political backing
from Member States.
 A number of hotspots, from Somalia and
Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the Middle East, continue to challenge our
collective search for peaceful and long-lasting
solutions for these war-torn countries and regions.
Malta therefore welcomes our Organization’s
engagement through its peacekeeping missions and
peacebuilding mechanisms to foster political dialogue
and reconciliation among the warring parties. We
believe that assisting countries emerging from conflict
in the rebuilding of the lives of their populations would
contribute in no small way to providing the necessary
support to nationally driven efforts in the achievement
of sustainable peace and development.
 One of the long-standing issues of which the
United Nations has been seized since its inception is
the question of the Middle East. Indeed, peace in the
Middle East continues to evade our ongoing efforts.
Malta reiterates its vision of a two-State solution, with

55 09-52425

both States living in secure and guaranteed frontiers,
each recognizing the other’s sovereignty, and the right
to peaceful coexistence. Malta calls in both parties to
engage fully in resumed negotiations to this end,
resulting in a viable Palestinian State on the basis of
the June 1967 borders. This is not a view which we
have adopted today. It is a vision that has been ours for
decades, believing as we do that peace in the Middle
East determines peace in the Mediterranean and
beyond.
 Malta’s strategic geographic location in the
Mediterranean has placed it in the privileged yet
responsible position of building bridges between the
two continents. In fact, Malta’s vocation towards peace
and security in the Mediterranean continues to occupy
an important place of my Government’s foreign policy
priorities. During the past 12 months, Malta has
continued to build on the achievements made so far by
enhancing the dialogue between countries in the
Mediterranean region and the European Union and also
with the League of Arab States. It is with a strong
sense of political commitment and direction that we in
Malta bear the responsibility of hosting the liaison
office aimed at strengthening cooperation between the
European Union and League of Arab States, which is
due to be opened this coming October. Malta believes
that the liaison office will render a major contribution
to deepening mutual understanding through practical
cooperation between Europe and the Arab world, as
well as enhancing intercultural dialogue.
 Members will recall that last year I raised the
issue of the influx of illegal immigrants who risk their
lives in crossing the Mediterranean to seek a new
beginning. I had indicated that our size and our
financial and human resources, which are very limited,
make it extremely difficult for Malta to cope with the
large number of these unfortunate people arriving on
our shores on their way to mainland Europe. Malta has
always dealt with this situation with great
responsibility, humanity and benevolence, paying due
respect to every human being without any exception.
And we will continue to do so. At the same time, the
problem of illegal immigration is an international
phenomenon driven by external factors which cannot
always be prevented or even mitigated by the countries
directly affected by the problem. We therefore strongly
feel that the United Nations should address the issue of
illegal immigration in a holistic way so as to find
solutions to a humanitarian problem that Malta and
other like us, especially in the Mediterranean, are
currently facing. Much more needs to be done, and all
of us, including countries of origin and countries of
transit, need to step up our efforts in order to deal with
this challenge.
 My Government is deeply appreciative of those
countries that have come forward to assist us in coping
with this phenomenon, including the United States of
America, France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal,
Slovenia and Slovakia. My Government also hopes that
other countries will come forward to assist in
alleviating the burden which Malta carries — a burden
so acutely disproportionate to the country’s population,
wealth and land area.
 In his report on the work of the Organization, the
Secretary-General has laid emphasis on the need to
embark on a multilateral effort of immense magnitude
“that draws upon the strengths and contributions of all
the countries of the world, as well as their citizens”
(A/64/1, para. 4). Malta believes that such an effort
must find its foundations in this Organization where all
Member States are equal and where the many
challenges facing humankind can be addressed in a
cohesive and coherent manner. The global challenges
which the United Nations faces are our challenges. We,
as Member States, have an obligation and the
responsibility to ensure that our Organization lives up
to the commitments and decisions that we, as heads of
State and Government, solemnly undertake to
implement in the best interests of our constituencies
and societies.
 Allow me to conclude by stating that Malta
continues to strongly believe that together, as Members
of the United Nations, we can and should continue to
support the Organization, our Secretary-General and all
those who contribute to making our world a better
place for present and future generations. I know that
Malta intends to do so.