I am pleased and  grateful to the Almighty to have the opportunity once
again to attend this important universal forum.
 In the present tumultuous world, loud outcries,
threats and tensions predominate. The big Powers are
unable to solve present problems, and mistrust in
regional and international arenas is on the rise. The
psychological security of societies is targeted by an
onslaught of political and propaganda designs;
disappointment prevails with regard to the efficacy of
the policies and actions of the international
organizations in the establishment of durable peace and
security, and the protection of human rights is being
weakened. I plan to touch upon and explain the roots of
and solutions to these predicaments and some of the
principal challenges facing our world. I will also speak
to you about the need to remedy the present situation,
about prospects for a brighter and a more hopeful
future and about the appearance of the sublime, about
beauty, compassion and generosity, about justice and
the blossoming of all God-given human talents and
about the prominence of faith in God and the
realization of the promise of God. I will then submit
for your judgement the question of Iran’s nuclear
programme as a yardstick for the measurement of
honesty, efficacy, steadfastness and accomplishment. In
the closing part of my statement, I will offer my
proposals.
 As you are all aware, mankind is currently facing
important, numerous and diverse challenges. I will
refer to some of them.
 First, organized attempts to destroy the institution
of family and to weaken the status of women. Family is
the most sacred and valuable human institution. It is
the centre of the purest mutual love and affection
between mothers, fathers and children, provides a safe
environment for the nurturing of human generations
and serves as a fertile ground for the blossoming of
talent and compassion. This institution has been
respected in all times by all peoples, religions and
cultures. Today we are witnessing an organized attack
by the enemies and plunderers of humanity, who are
trying to destroy this noble institution by promoting
lewdness and violence and by crossing the boundaries
of chastity and decency.
 Womanhood, as the manifestation of divine
beauty and supreme kindness, affection and purity, has
been heavily exploited in recent decades by the holders
of power and the owners of media and wealth. In some
societies, womanhood has been reduced to a mere
instrument of publicity, and all the boundaries and
protective shields of chastity, purity and beauty have
been trampled. That is a colossal betrayal of human
society and of future generations, and it is an
irreparable blow to the pillar of social coherence, the
family.
 I now turn to the issues of widespread violations
of human rights, terrorism and occupation.
Unfortunately, human rights are being extensively
violated by certain Powers   especially those who
pretend to be their exclusive advocates. Setting up
secret prisons, abducting persons, carrying out trials
and secret punishments without any regard for due
process, conducting extensive tapping of telephone
conversations, intercepting private mail and issuing
frequent summonses to appear at police and security
centres have become commonplace and prevalent.
These Powers prosecute scientists and historians for
stating their opinions on important global issues.
 They use various pretexts to occupy sovereign
States and cause insecurity and division, and then use
the prevailing situation as an excuse to continue their
occupation. For more than 60 years, Palestine, as
compensation for the loss that it incurred during the
war in Europe, has been under the occupation of the
illegal Zionist regime. The Palestinian people have
been displaced, are under heavy military pressure or
economic siege or are incarcerated under abhorrent
conditions. The occupiers are protected and praised,
while the innocent Palestinians are subjected to
political, military and propaganda onslaughts. The
people of Palestine are deprived of water, electricity
and medicine for the sin of asking for freedom, and the
Government that was freely elected by the people is
targeted. Terrorists are being organized to attack the
lives and property of people with the blessings of the
politicians and military officials of the great Powers.
 The brutal Zionists carry out targeted
assassinations of Palestinians in their homes and cities,
and terrorists are decorated with medals of peace and
receive support from the great Powers. On the other
hand, they attract a number of Jews from various parts
of the world by using false propaganda and by
promising to provide them with welfare, jobs and food,
and then settle them in the occupied territories,
exposing them to the harshest restrictions,
psychological pressures and constant threats. They
prevent these people from returning to their homelands
and, by coercion and propaganda, incite them to
malevolence towards the indigenous Palestinian
people.
 Iraq was occupied under the pretext of
overthrowing a dictator and the existence of weapons
of mass destruction. The Iraqi dictator, who had been
supported by the same occupiers, was disposed of, and
no weapons of mass destruction were discovered, but
the occupation continues under different pretexts. No
day passes by without people being killed, wounded or
displaced, and the occupiers not only refuse to be
accountable for and ashamed of their military
adventure, but speak in a report of a new market for
their armaments as a result of it. They even oppose the
Constitution, the National Assembly and the
Government established by the vote of the people,
while not even having the courage to declare their
defeat and to leave Iraq.
 Unfortunately, we are witnessing the bitter truth
that some Powers do not value any nation or human
being and that the only things that matter to them are
themselves and their political parties and groups. In
their view, human rights amount to profits for their
companies and their friends. The rights and the dignity
of American people are also being sacrificed for the
selfish desires of those holding power.
 I shall now discuss aggressions against
indigenous cultures and national values. Culture is the
manifestation of identity, the key to the survival of
nations and the foundation for their interaction with
others. In an organized movement, indigenous cultures
that are messengers of monotheism, love and fraternity
are being subjected to broad and destructive
aggressions. National customs and values are being
humiliated, and the self-esteem and character of
nations are being ridiculed and defamed. The purpose
is to promote blind emulation, consumerism,
scepticism towards God and human values and the
plundering of the peoples’ wealth by great Powers.
 With regard to poverty, illiteracy, health-care
issues and the gap between the rich and the poor, I
should like to say that, while a major part of the natural
environment in Asia, Africa and Latin America is being
plundered by the political and economic domination of
certain Powers, the situation of poverty and deprivation
is alarming.
 Let me draw the attention of the Assembly to
some data issued by the United Nations. Every day,
nearly 800 million people go to bed hungry and about
980 million suffer from absolute poverty, having less
than a dollar a day in purchasing power. People in
31 countries   equivalent to 9 per cent of the world’s
population   have an average life expectancy of
46 years, which is 32 years fewer than the average in
developed countries. The gap between the rich and the
poor in some parts of the world has increased by
40 times. In many countries, the majority of the people
are deprived of access to education and schooling. In
developing countries, the rate of maternal mortality
during pregnancy is 450 per 100,000; that figure is 7 in
the richer nations. The infant mortality rate is 59 per
1,000 live births for the developing countries and 6 for
the richer nations. One third of the deaths throughout
the world   or 50,000 deaths daily   result from
poverty. I believe that those data clearly demonstrate
the tragic situation dominating economic interactions
in the world.
 Next, I shall take up the forsaking of noble values
and the promotion of deception and lies. Some Powers
sacrifice all human values, including honesty, purity
and trust, for the advancement of their goals. They
propagate scepticism and deception in the relations
between States and peoples. They lie openly, level
baseless charges against others, act in contradiction to
legal norms and damage the atmosphere of trust and
friendship. In their relations with others, they openly
abandon morality and noble values, forsaking justice,
respect for others, love, affection and honesty for
selfishness, supremacy, enmity and imposition. They
sacrifice all the good things of life, including the
sublime, for their own greed.
 I now turn to violations of rules of international
law and disrespect for commitments. Some, who
themselves have drafted international law, openly and
easily violate it and apply discriminatory policies and
double standards to others. Having drafted
disarmament regulations, they daily test and stockpile
new generations of lethal weapons. Having helped to
frame the Charter of the United Nations, they show
disrespect for the right of sovereign nations to self-
determination and independence. They conveniently
abrogate their formal treaties and do not yield to laws
concerning protection of the environment. Most of the
violations of international obligations are committed
by a few global Powers.
 I will now talk about an escalation of threats and
the arms race. Some Powers, whenever their logic fails,
simply use the language of threats. The huge arms race
casts its menacing shadow over the entire globe. The
nations of Europe were the victims of two world wars
and a number of other devastating conflicts and were
subjected to the consequences of the cold war for many
decades. Today, Europeans are living under threat and
their interests, security and lands are endangered
because of the arms race carried on by certain big
Powers.
 A bullying Power arrogates to itself the right to
set up a missile system, poisons the life of the peoples
of a continent and lays the ground for an arms race.
Some rulers who superficially appear to be powerful
actually believe that the tools they have at hand can be
used at any time and for any purpose and,
consequently, threaten others and cast the shadow of
insecurity over nations and regions.
 International organizations and mechanisms
clearly lack the capacity to overcome problems and
challenges, to put in place fair and just relations and
peace, fraternity and security. There is hardly a
Government or nation that really trusts these
mechanisms to secure its rights or defend its
independence, territorial integrity and national
interests.
 There are many more challenges besides the ones
I have enumerated. I know that I could have introduced
more had I wanted to touch upon them, but I chose to
confine myself to the ones I have stated. Now, the
important and decisive question concerns the roots and
causes of these challenges. A scientific and careful
analysis shows that two fundamental factors account
for the present situation. Without a doubt, the first
factor is the relations arising from the consequences of
the Second World War. The victors of the war drew the
road map for global domination and formulated their
policies on the basis not of justice but of safeguarding
the interests of the victors over the vanquished nations.
Therefore, for 60 years now, mechanisms arising from
this approach and related policies have been incapable
of finding just solutions for global problems. Some big
Powers still behave like the victors of the World War
and regard other States and nations, even those that had
nothing to do with the war, as the vanquished. They
humiliate other nations and make extortionate
demands. Their condescending ways are reminiscent of
medieval times and the old lord-serf relationship. They
believe that they should have more rights than others
and that they are not accountable to any international
organization.
 Unfortunately, among all the ineffective bodies,
the United Nations Security Council ranks first; owing
to circumstances in which some Powers with an
exclusive and special right to the veto in the Security
Council act as prosecutor, judge and executioner. It is
natural that countries that have been subjected to those
Powers’ infringements of their rights have no hope of
getting what they deserve from the Council.
 Regrettably, humanity has witnessed that in all
long wars   like the Korean and Viet Nam wars, the
war of the Zionists against the Palestinians and against
Lebanon, the war of Saddam against the people of Iran
and the ethnic wars of Europe and Africa   one
Security Council member was one of the belligerents
or supported one party, usually the aggressor, against
the other, or the conflict itself.
 Let us take a look at Iraq. They first occupied the
country and then received authorization from the
Security Council   the same Council in which the
same occupiers have the right of veto. Whom should
the people of Iraq complain about, and where should
they take their complaints, in the hope of securing their
rights?
 We saw in Lebanon that some Powers, for 33
long days, prevented the Security Council from taking
any action against the Zionist regime with the hope of
giving it time to achieve victory. Then, when they
became disappointed at seeing their hopes unfulfilled,
they decided to put an end to the hostilities by adopting
a resolution. But the duty of the Security Council is to
prevent the expansion of conflicts, to put ceasefires in
place and to promote peace and security. To whom and
to what organization should the people of Lebanon
complain?
 The presence of some monopolistic Powers has
prevented the Security Council from performing its
main duty, which is the maintenance of international
peace and security based on justice. The credibility of
the Council has been tarnished, and its efficacy in
defending the rights of United Nations Member States
has been undermined. Many nations have lost their
confidence in the Council. Some other mechanisms,
such as monetary and banking ones, are in the same
undesirable situation and have been turned into tools
that enable some Powers to impose their will on other
nations. It is evident that these mechanisms are not
capable of responding to current needs, solving
challenges or establishing fair and sustainable
relations.
 Again, there is no doubt that the second and more
important factor is that some big Powers disregard
morals, divine values, the teachings of the prophets and
the will of the Almighty. They allow the rule of the
incompetent. How can the incompetent, who cannot
even manage themselves and conduct their own affairs,
govern humanity and arrange its affairs? Unfortunately,
these people have put themselves in the position of
God. They are in servitude to their own whims, and
they desire to have everything for themselves. For
them, human dignity and the lives, property and
territories of others are no longer respected. For
centuries, humanity has had a deep wound inflicted on
its tired body by impious Powers. Today, the problems
that people around the world face are mainly rooted in
disregard for human values and ethics, as well as in the
rule of the selfish and the incompetent.
 The only sustainable approach to the betterment
of humankind is a return to the teachings of the divine
prophets, monotheism, respect for the dignity of
humans and the flow of love and affection in all
relationships, ties and regulations, and the reform of
present structures on this basis. To fulfil this objective,
I invite everybody to form a front of fraternity, amity
and sustainable peace, based on monotheism and
justice, under the name of the Coalition for Peace, to
prevent incursions and arrogance and to promote the
culture of affection and justice. I hereby announce that,
with the help of all independent, justice-seeking and
peace-loving nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will
be heading down this path.
 Monotheism, justice and compassion for humans
should predominate in all the pillars of the United
Nations, and this Organization should be a forum for
justice, where every member should enjoy equal
spiritual and legal support. The General Assembly,
representing the international community, should be
considered the most important pillar of the United
Nations and should, free from any pressure or threats
by big Powers, take the required measures for the
reform of the other United Nations structures including
especially the reform of the Security Council. It should
define new structures based on justice and democracy,
with a view to becoming responsive to present
requirements and settling existing challenges, thereby
bringing about enduring stability and security.
 The nuclear issue of Iran is a clear example of
how such mechanisms perform and of the prevailing
thoughts behind them. Members are all aware that Iran
is a member of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) and has always observed its rules and
regulations. It has had the most extensive cooperation
with that Agency in all areas. All our nuclear activities
have been completely peaceful and transparent.
 According to the Statute of the IAEA, every
member has a number of rights and obligations. In fact,
all members have to stay on a peaceful path and, under
the supervision of the Agency, assist other members,
and they are entitled to be supported by the Agency
and have access to the fuel cycle with the help of the
Agency and its members.
 Thus far, Iran has fulfilled all of its obligations
but has been deprived of other members’ technical
assistance and, even at times, of the Agency’s support.
For about five years, some of the aforementioned
Powers have, by exerting heavy pressure on the IAEA,
attempted to prevent the Iranian nation from exercising
its rights. They have derailed Iran’s nuclear issue from
its legal tracks, and have politicized the atmosphere to
impose their wishes through taking advantage of all
their potential.
 The Government of Iran spared no effort to build
confidence, but they were not satisfied with anything
short of the complete halt of all activities, even those
related to research and university fields. They only
sought to deprive the Iranian people of all their
inalienable rights, even to the extent that centres not
involved in the fuel cycle or not in need of supervision
by the Agency were closed.
 After three years of negotiations and attempts to
build confidence, the Iranian nation came to the firm
belief that the main concern of these Powers is not the
possible deviation of Iran’s nuclear activities, but is to
prevent its scientific progress under that pretext. If this
trend continues, there will be no possibility for Iran to
enjoy its rights, not even in the next 20 years.
Therefore, Iran decided to pursue the issue through its
appropriate legal path, one that runs through the IAEA,
and to disregard unlawful and political impositions by
the arrogant Powers.
 In the past two years, abusing the Security
Council, the arrogant Powers have repeatedly accused
Iran and have even made military threats and imposed
illegal sanctions against it. However, by the grace of
faith in God and national unity, Iran has moved
forward step by step, and now our country is
recognized as one with the capacity for industrial-scale
fuel cycle production for peaceful uses. Unfortunately,
the Security Council, in dealing with this obvious legal
issue, was influenced by some bullying Powers and
failed to uphold justice and protect the rights of the
Iranian people.
 Fortunately, the IAEA has recently tried to regain
its legal role as supporter of the rights of its members
while supervising nuclear activities. We see this as a
correct approach adopted by the Agency. Previously,
they illegally insisted on politicizing the Iranian
nation’s nuclear case, but today, because of the
resistance of the Iranian nation, the issue is back with
the Agency, and I officially announce that, in our
opinion, the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has
turned into an ordinary Agency matter. Today, many
important questions have been raised about the nuclear
activities of certain Powers within the IAEA, which
should be dealt with properly. Of course, Iran has
always been, and will be, prepared to have constructive
talks with all parties.
 I would like to thank all the nations and countries
that, during this difficult period, defended the legal
rights of my nation and motherland. I also want to
express our appreciation to the members of the
Non-Aligned Movement, our friends in the Security
Council and in the IAEA Board of Governors, the
committed and law-abiding experts of the Agency and
its Director General for standing by the law. I would
also like to announce that, unlike the monopolistic
Powers, the Iranian nation is ready to offer to other
members its experiences in the form of educational
programmes, based on its obligations under the
Agency’s Statute and under Agency supervision.
 Now I would like to address those who have
shown hostility towards the Iranian nation for some
five years and who have offended and accused my
people, who have contributed to the history and
civilization of the world. I advise them to learn from
history and their recent actions. They badly mistreated
the great Iranian nation, but they should be careful not
to inflict the same on other members of international
organizations, and not to sacrifice the dignity of
international organizations for the sake of their
unlawful wishes. Today the nations of the world are
wide awake and resistant. If those Powers reform
themselves, the whole world will be reformed. Nations
are inherently good and can coexist peacefully.
 Those Powers should endeavour to serve their
own peoples; others do not need them. Is it not high
time for these Powers to return from the path of
arrogance and obedience to Satan to the path of faith in
God? Would they not like to be cleansed of their
impurities, submit to the will of God and believe in
him? Faith in God means believing in honesty, purity,
justice and compassion for others. They can be certain
that they will benefit from purity, honesty, justice and
loving and respecting human dignity. They can also be
certain that such values are, more and more, considered
appropriate, valuable and beautiful by the nations of
the world.
 This is the invitation of all the divine prophets
from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ and
Mohammed, peace be upon him. If they accept this
invitation, they will be saved, and if they do not, the
same calamities that befell the people of the distant
past will befall them as well. According to the holy
Quran: One who does not answer the divine call
should not think that he has weakened God on Earth;
he has no companion but God and he is clearly
engulfed by darkness”. They have nothing of their own
and cannot escape from the dominion of the rule of
God and his will.
 At this important gathering, I have to remind
them of the following words of the Almighty, which
are mentioned in the Holy Quran:
 Do they not look at the powers and
Governments which came before them? If the
people of the past had actually possessed
something, they would have kept it and would not
have let you possess it now. God destroyed them
because of their sins, and nobody could protect
them against the will of God.
 These Powers have to know that thoughts and
methods based on oppression and injustice are doomed
to failure. Do they not see the signs of vigilance and
resistance based on monotheism, philanthropy and the
justice-seeking spirit of the nations of the world? Do
they not notice that we are nearing the sunset of the
time of empires? I hope that this invitation will have a
practical answer.
 Peoples and Governments are not obliged to obey
the injustice of certain Powers. Those Powers, for the
reasons already mentioned, have lost the competence to
lead the world. I officially declare that the age of
relations arising from the Second World War and of
materialistic thought based on arrogance and
domination is well over now. Humanity has passed a
perilous precipice and the age of monotheism, purity,
affinity, respect for others, justice and true peace-
loving has commenced.
 It is the divine promise that the truth will be
victorious and the Earth will be inherited by the
righteous. Those who are free, believers and the people
of the world should put their trust in God. Those who
crave lofty values, wherever they are, should try to
prepare the grounds for the fulfilment of that great
divine promise by serving the people and seeking
justice.
 The era of darkness will end, prisoners will return
home, the occupied lands will be freed, Palestine and
Iraq will be liberated from the domination of the
occupiers, and the peoples of America and Europe will
be free of the pressures exerted by the Zionists.
Tenderhearted and humanity-loving Governments will
replace the aggressive and domineering. Human
dignity will be regained. The pleasing aroma of justice
will permeate the world and people will live together in
a brotherly and affectionate manner.
 Striving in that way to surrender rule to the
righteous and perfect human, the promised one, is
indeed the final cure for the wounds of humanity, the
solution of all problems, and the establishment of love,
beauty, justice and a dignified life throughout the
world. That belief and endeavour is the key to unity
and constructive interaction among nations, countries,
the people of the world and all true justice-seekers.
Without a doubt, the promised one who is the ultimate
saviour, along with Jesus Christ and other holy
prophets, will come. In the company of all believers,
justice-seekers and benefactors, he will establish a
bright future and fill the world with justice and beauty.
That is the promise of God; therefore it will be
fulfilled. Let us play a part in the fulfilment of all that
glory and beauty.
 I wish for a bright future for all human beings,
the dawn of the liberation of and freedom for all
humans, the rule of love and affection all around the
world, as well as the elimination of oppression, hatred
and violence   a wish that I expect to be fulfilled in
the near future.


It is my honour to
participate in this meeting of the General Assembly
sixty-second session as Chairman of the Presidency of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 I would also like to congratulate you, Sir, on your
assumption of the presidency, and to express my
respect and gratitude to Sheikha Haya Rashed
Al-Khalifa for successfully presiding over the sixty-
first session.
 The United Nations and all other organizations
depend on the collective strength of their members.
That strength should be drawn from the consensus of
the Member States. On that note, I would like to
express my regret for the loss of momentum in
Security Council reform. For the past several years, our
countries’ representatives have met at the global level
and have been prepared to realize the goals of the
Millennium Declaration, in which the United Nations
plays a distinguished role.
 It is well-known that, in the recent past, my
country paid a high price for the imperfect and
inefficient United Nations system. The United Nations
admitted its mistake and emphasized in its first report
on Srebrenica that the United Nations experience in
Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the most difficult
and painful in the Organization’s history. The report
further noted that Srebrenica clarified the truth the
United Nations and the world learned too late: Bosnia
and Herzegovina was as much a moral obligation as it
was a military conflict, and Srebrenica will haunt us
forever.
 On 27 February 2007, the International Court of
Justice ruled on the application of the Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina versus
Serbia and Montenegro. The International Court of
Justice ruled that genocide was committed against
Bosnian Muslims in and around Srebrenica in eastern
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Members will agree, of
course, that this was not an isolated case. That is one
more reason for our determination and commitment,
shared by a majority of the Member States, to the
necessary reform of the world Organization.
 In that light, Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the
opinion that only a strong United Nations can be an
efficient instrument in regulating international
relations, in accordance with the United Nations
Charter and international law. Apart from the necessary
reforms, it is also essential to revitalize the United
Nations, including the General Assembly and its
committees, the Economic and Social Council, the
Secretariat and other bodies.
 That would include defining a number of issues,
such as Security Council membership categories, the
number of members, selection procedures for new
members, veto powers, regional representation,
working methods, and so on. Those attest to the
complexity of the ongoing reform. A productive step
forward will inevitably lead to essential negotiations in
that context, rather than to the usual ongoing
consultations. I should like to emphasize Bosnia and
Herzegovina’s interest in reform that would create a
larger Security Council membership, and thus an
additional seat for the Eastern European Group.
 Multi-ethnic and multireligious Bosnia and
Herzegovina, with its rich historical heritage and
experience of the failures of the international
community, primarily the United Nations — failures
that had troubling consequences for my country, but
also positive results in post-war peacebuilding
alongside United Nations representatives, bodies and
agencies — could contribute greatly to the United
Nations becoming an effective instrument in the
collective management of international relations.
 My country believes that there can be no peace or
stability without economic and social development. My
country maintains its support for the Security Council
as a critical body for international cooperation, peace
and the development of the rights of all nations.
Having met its historic challenges, Bosnia and
Herzegovina is now able to share its experiences with a
troubled world. Bosnia and Herzegovina is thus
determined to intensify ongoing activities leading to its
non-permanent membership of the Security Council
from 2010 to 2012, and looks forward to the support of
the majority of Member States for that membership.
 I come from a post-conflict country that has
moved towards becoming a modern democratic society
and taken the path to European and trans-Atlantic
integration. That is why my country is truly committed
to the strengthening of international cooperation on the
regional, European and global levels.
 It is with great pride that I can state today that
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an active participant in all
regional south-eastern European initiatives and
processes. In 2007, Bosnia and Herzegovina was
recognized for its proactive regional stand. The South-
East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) summit
in Zagreb adopted the decision to make Sarajevo the
regional cooperation council centre. Creating the
regional cooperation council is the final step in the
transformation of the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe, meaning that SEECP member States will
assume regional responsibilities. With that decision,
the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a
future regional cooperation centre, and Bosnia and
Herzegovina will also be home to the regional disaster
preparedness and prevention initiative secretariat,
taking strong regional ownership of the Stability Pact
for South Eastern Europe initiative. The representative
of Bosnia and Herzegovina will play a lead role in the
regional arms control verification and implementation
assistance centre in Zagreb.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina is pursuing active
regional cooperation in fighting organized crime. We
cooperate actively with the Southeast Europe
Cooperative Initiative Centre for Combating
Transborder Crime in Bucharest. It was through more
efficient regional cooperation, electronic identity
databases and efficient border control that Bosnia and
Herzegovina was able to reduce the number of illegal
immigrants, as well as all forms of cross-border
criminal activity.
 We are developing cooperation with the
International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on the
detection and prevention of radioactive substance
transportation and proliferation on Bosnia and
Herzegovina territory. Bosnia and Herzegovina is
building relationships with neighbouring countries on
the basis of equality, complete independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity. Bosnia and
Herzegovina and its neighbours are aware that
complete development can be achieved only by joining
a united Europe. That goal will be achieved by
pursuing the development of all aspects of good
relations with neighbouring countries, the
democratization of the entire region, and acceptance of
general European standards.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina believes in
non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign
countries, and thus that the solution for Kosovo is to be
reached through dialogue among the interested parties.
Bosnia and Herzegovina supports dialogue between
Belgrade and Pristina and is eager to help find a
solution acceptable to both sides within regional
initiatives. Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the efforts
of the Troika Contact Group for Kosovo and hopes that
a satisfying solution for the future status of Kosovo
will be found. A further lengthy delay in the resolution
of the status of Kosovo will certainly have a long-term
negative impact on the entire Balkan region.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina has also achieved
significant successes in the broader international
context. In late 2006, Bosnia and Herzegovina became
a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace. Further
recognition came in May 2007, when Bosnia and
Herzegovina became a member of a rather significant
new United Nations body — the Human Rights
Council.
 On 31 May 2007, Bosnia and Herzegovina
became a presiding member of the Hague Code of
Conduct, which has been signed by 126 United Nations
Member States. My country and the other signatories
of the Code, who believe in the principle of collective
safety, are prepared to fight against the proliferation of
ballistic missile technology. We are aware of the great
danger posed by ballistic missiles in the hands of
non-government entities, which could abuse them for
destructive purposes anywhere in the world. Therefore,
I urge all countries that have not yet signed the Hague
Code of Conduct — particularly those with ballistic
capacity — to accept the Code. I also wish to urge all
Member States to support the relevant draft resolution
proposed by my country and Portugal.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina has participated and will
continue to participate, to the extent possible, in the
international efforts of the anti-terrorism coalition. We
have also undertaken to join the anti-terrorism efforts
of the European Union. The Council of Ministers of
Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved an anti-
terrorism strategic plan for the period 2006-2009. The
ongoing reform of our criminal code will result in
additional anti-terrorism measures that will conform to
the relevant international conventions.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina supports other Member
States in continuing joint efforts to strengthen respect
for all human rights, including civil, economic,
cultural, political, social, developmental and other
rights. Bosnia and Herzegovina has agreed to serve as a
sponsor of the Italian initiative aimed at a United
Nations moratorium on the death penalty, to be
considered by the General Assembly. Bosnia and
Herzegovina has made significant progress in
submitting the relevant reports to the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
in Geneva.
 I also wish to note that Bosnia and Herzegovina,
together with Jordan, has promoted the United Nations
Better World Campaign for the past few years. The
Campaign seeks to improve the timeliness and
effectiveness of humanitarian disaster response.
 Bosnian authorities continue to be committed to
cooperating fully with the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). All
suspected war criminals from the territories of the
former Yugoslavia must be brought to justice. To date,
we have engaged in positive cooperation with the
Tribunal on issues such as the processing of criminal
charges, extradition, contacting the relevant authorities,
access to documentation and providing appropriate
working conditions for Court representatives and
others in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 We are creating a legal framework and have
established the War Crimes Chamber within the Court
of Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin processing war
crimes cases. That is one of the conditions for
establishing an atmosphere of mutual trust and
reconciliation in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, the ICTY should not conclude its work until
the most notorious war criminals — in particular
Bosnian Serb war leaders Radovan Karadzic, Ratko
Mladic and others — are brought to justice.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina supports all peace
initiatives and conflict prevention activities. We
support and are following very closely the Middle East
Road Map, which will lead to permanent and
sustainable peace in Middle East. As part of United
Nations peacekeeping operations, Bosnia and
Herzegovina has military observers in the Congo and
Ethiopia and has contributed to the civilian police
forces in the Sudan, Cyprus, Liberia and Haiti. Bosnia
and Herzegovina has also sent a small demining unit to
Iraq in order to help its people establish a democratic
and self-sustainable country.
 We are certain that, by strengthening
multilateralism, the United Nations can develop
effective measures to prevent armed conflict. At the
same time, however, it is essential to uphold the
principle of the political independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all countries, in accordance with
the guiding principles of international law and with full
respect for human rights.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the Middle East
Road Map and the initiatives of the Quartet, which
establish a basis for the beginning of a true Israeli-
Palestinian dialogue that is brokered by the United
States and in accordance with European Union
guidelines. Bosnia and Herzegovina calls for a general,
unconditional and mutual cessation of all hostilities,
the release of all hostages and the launching of
negotiations on a definitive two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian problem.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina urges all ethnic and
religious communities in Iraq to put an end to sectarian
violence and to take an active role in political life. We
join the rest of the international community in calling
for a broad national political dialogue, emphasizing
full compliance with the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
 Mindful of the potentially catastrophic
consequences of a deepening of the crisis related to the
Iranian nuclear development programme, Bosnia and
Herzegovina calls on Iran to be prepared to cooperate
fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and
to engage in a dialogue with key partners.
 The United Nations role in conflict resolution is
crucial. However, during various international crises,
particularly that in the former Yugoslavia, the
Organization has failed to play the role entrusted to it
by the Charter. The Iraqi crisis highlights the
weaknesses of the United Nations in preventing
conflict throughout the world. If the United Nations
fails to shoulder its Charter responsibilities, that could
lead to a number of unilateral interventions, which
would have a very negative impact on international
stability.
 The foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina is
focused on long-term peacekeeping and development
with a view to ensuring the safety and stability of
overall development. All our international activities are
based on and conform to the Charter of the United
Nations, the Helsinki Final Act of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe and universally
accepted principles of international law.
 Aware of the enormous threat to peace posed by
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, particularly
in the hands of terrorists, Bosnia and Herzegovina has
taken significant steps towards total control in
preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. We have ratified or acceded to most of the
major documents in this area. Bosnia and Herzegovina
is also eager to cooperate fully with other countries at
the bilateral level through relevant multilateral
organizations and initiatives in order to effectively
fight the proliferation and use of weapons of mass
destruction.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted a law
providing for the implementation of the Chemical
Weapons Convention. As one of the countries most
affected by the mine stockpiles left over from the
previous conflict, Bosnia and Herzegovina is paying
close attention to the implementation of the Ottawa
Convention.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina is an active participant
in the response and prevention programmes of the Joint
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Our
contributions to the fight against that disease are
described in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Strategy to
Prevent and Combat HIV/AIDS, 2004-2009.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina pays its dues on time
and on a regular basis to the United Nations and all
other organizations of which it is a member. We urge
other countries, especially major contributors, to do
likewise. I am referring in particular to the dues to the
ICTY and peacekeeping operations that have not been
paid in a timely manner.
 Two days ago in this Hall, we had a highly
constructive exchange of views on one of the most
serous and potentially dangerous phenomena of our
time: global warming. Once again, I should like to
emphasize the crucial importance of effective and
timely United Nations action on this issue. In 2000, my
country ratified the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, which entered into
force in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 15 June 2007. I
urge all Member States that have not yet done so to
ratify the Convention without delay.


Kuwait congratulates Mr. Srgjan Kerim upon
his election to the presidency of the General Assembly
at its sixty-second session, and recalls with
appreciation the efforts of his predecessor, Her
Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, and her
successful conduct of the work of the sixty-first
session.
 Despite the fact that two years have elapsed since
the 2005 World Summit and seven years since the
Millennium Summit, we continue to confront
challenges and dangers to international peace and
security, such as terrorism, poverty, hunger, the spread
of dangerous infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and
malaria, deterioration of the environment and
violations of human rights. Recent times have seen a
number of outstanding achievements, most important
among them the establishment of the Peacebuilding
Commission, the Human Rights Council, the Central
Emergency Response Fund and the United Nations
Democracy Fund, and the introduction of
administrative and financial reforms of the work of the
Secretariat. These were all necessary achievements, but
they are not enough to combat terrorism, eliminate
weapons of mass destruction, affect climate change and
achieve sustainable development in the developing
countries, including the least developed among them.
 Moreover, the revival of racial bias, religious
sedition, incitement of hatred and xenophobia represent
a serious threat to international peace and security. The
Organization must be strong in confronting that threat
seriously and firmly.
 The time has come for us to change our method
and approach in dealing with these universal
challenges and dangers and to move from the phase of
determining what should be done to the phase of actual
work and the faithful fulfilment of the commitments
we have taken upon ourselves at international
conferences and in international agreements and
conventions that we have signed and ratified.
 The State of Kuwait has made good progress in
translating the commitments and resolutions of the
2005 World Summit into tangible realities. It has also
attained the Millennium Development Goals,
particularly in the fields of education, health and
advancing the role of women in society. It has designed
policies capable of uplifting society and achieving
further progress and social and economic development,
as well as raising the standard of living of individuals.
Such policies contribute to efforts to consolidate the
principles of tolerance, moderation and the rejection of
fanaticism.
 Based upon the State of Kuwait’s absolute belief
in the human values of supporting the downtrodden
and helping the needy, my country has, since its
independence, implemented a generous aid programme
for developing countries. In 1961, it established the
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, which
has financed hundreds of infrastructure projects in
more than 100 countries. The value of those projects
exceeds $12 billion.
 The State of Kuwait is also committed to
providing annual voluntary contributions to numerous
international specialized agencies and organizations, as
well as to regional organizations and funds that assist
developing countries in achieving their development
goals. Recently, the State of Kuwait allocated $300
million to the Islamic Development Bank for the
elimination of poverty in Africa. That is in addition to
what we contribute in humanitarian and relief aid to
many countries ravaged by natural disasters.
 It is regrettable that poverty, hunger and disease
persist in developing countries. It is even more painful
to see that more than half of the world’s population is
living on less than $2 per day   a matter that requires
serious examination and a real review of the
impediments to development in developing countries.
In that connection, the State of Kuwait calls upon the
World Trade Organization and the Bretton Woods
institutions to ease the restrictions imposed on exports
from developing countries and to propose a more just
and equitable trading system for least developed and
poorest countries.
 Kuwait is following with concern the
developments in the situation in Iraq. We welcome the
improvements in security conditions in some areas and
provinces of Iraq, as a result of the implementation of
relevant arrangements and a security enforcement plan
carried out by the international forces in Iraq with the
participation of Iraqi security forces. But there is still a
dire need to redouble efforts at all levels, particularly
on the political track, in order to address the security
challenges posed by terrorist operations that target
civilians, houses of worship and State institutions and
that cost the lives of scores of innocent people daily. It
is our hope that the Iraqi Government’s efforts to
achieve national reconciliation will be successful and
produce positive results that can lead to a
comprehensive national consensus in Iraq that takes
into consideration the concerns and the rights of all
sectors of the Iraqi people. National reconciliation is
the only way to build a democratic, free, secure and
independent Iraq that is at peace with itself and its
neighbours and that respects its international
obligations and commitments.
 In that context, we welcome the adoption of
Security Council resolution 1770 (2007), which
consolidated the duties and the mandate of the United
Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. We look forward
to the international community playing its vital role in
helping Iraq to fulfil its political and economic
obligations within the context of the International
Compact with Iraq.
 With regard to the issue of the three occupied
Emirati islands, Kuwait would like to reaffirm its
support for the position of the Gulf Cooperation
Council on this issue. We hope that efforts and contacts
at all levels will intensify between the sisterly United
Arab Emirates and the friendly Islamic Republic of
Iran in order to find a solution to this dispute consistent
with the principles and rules of international law and
good-neighbourly relations, thereby contributing to
strengthening the security and stability of the region.
 The Middle East crisis has been stagnant since
the middle of the past century. The plight of the
Palestinian people continues: their rights are violated,
their lands are occupied and Security Council
resolutions are frozen   despite intensive international
and regional efforts to revive the Middle East peace
process. The Israeli Government, instead of putting
confidence-building measures in place, continues to
create obstacles that serve to increase tensions and
violence and that hinder the establishment of a climate
conducive to moving the peace process ahead. Do
continuing settlement activities help to achieve peace
more quickly? Do the policies of detention, land
confiscation, curfews, closures and restrictions of
movement promote an environment of trust and
stability? The answer is definitely no. Who could think
that this conflict is subject to the principles of a zero-
sum game? Anyone who thinks that Israel will achieve
security for itself at the expense of the security of the
Palestinian people is making a serious mistake.
Security must be for everyone. There will be no
security except through the implementation of
resolutions of international legitimacy.
 The State of Kuwait therefore reiterates its
support for the convening of an international
conference with the participation of all the parties
concerned in the peace process. That meeting should
follow the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference   including the provisions of Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973)   the
principle of land for peace, the Road Map endorsed by
the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) and
the Arab Peace Initiative. The comprehensive, just and
lasting peace that the international community seeks to
achieve must ensure that the Palestinian people attain
all their legitimate political rights. That includes the
establishment of their own independent State on their
own land, with Jerusalem as its capital. It must also
include Israel’s withdrawal from all the Arab land
occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan
Heights.
 Turning to Lebanon, we congratulate the
Lebanese Government on its success in putting a
decisive end to the Nahr Al-Bared sedition. We would
also like to express our gratitude to the Lebanese army,
which dealt with that sedition ably and firmly. We hope
that that accomplishment will contribute to the return
of all Lebanese parties to the negotiating table and the
resumption of a Lebanese national dialogue to address
the issue of presidential entitlement and the political
process, in accordance with the constitution.
 While we commend the regional and international
efforts to achieve national reconciliation among all
Lebanese parties, we condemn the political
assassinations and the recurrent terrorist bombings
aimed at disrupting peace and stability in that sisterly
country. We renew Kuwait's commitment to stand by
Lebanon and to support it in a manner that will
preserve its security, unity, territorial integrity and
political independence.
 As for developments on the Iranian nuclear issue,
we reaffirm our firm belief in the need to respect
internationally recognized principles, including that of
resolving conflicts through peaceful means. The State
of Kuwait calls upon the international community to
coordinate its efforts and to continue to work towards
achieving a peaceful resolution of this crisis, so as to
safeguard the peace and stability of the Gulf region.
We also welcome the recent agreement reached
between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as an
important step towards dispelling fears and doubts
surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme. It is our
hope that dialogue and cooperation will resume with
total transparency. That would allow us to address all
the elements of this issue, so as to foster the conditions
conducive to making the Middle East a zone free of
nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass
destruction.
 In that connection, we call upon the international
community to exert pressure on Israel to join the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to
place all of its nuclear facilities under IAEA
safeguards. We emphasize the right of all the States of
the region to obtain the technology and know-how
necessary to peacefully utilize nuclear energy in
accordance with the terms specified by relevant
international conventions.
 Finally, we renew our commitment to work
through the United Nations to fulfil the hopes and
aspirations of our peoples to live together in a world
where peace, justice and equality prevail.


 Allow me,  Mr. President, to join others in welcoming you and
congratulating you on your election as President of the
General Assembly at its sixty-second session. We are
convinced that your leadership will contribute to
promoting both your country and our entire region, as
well as to a successful outcome at the current session.
 May I also extend wholehearted congratulations
to the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. He can
count on the full support of Montenegro, as the
youngest Member of the United Nations. Particular
thanks go also to Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa for
her successful presidency of the General Assembly at
its sixty-first session.
 It is time for all countries   and particularly
smaller and developing countries   to realize that
multilateralism is the pre-eminent form of interaction
in our changing world. Multilateralism provides a
framework for choosing democratic, development and
cultural options that can most effectively meet the
major challenges ahead, including the maintenance of
peace and security, climate change, development
processes, the fight against terrorism and the protection
of human rights.
 Mindful of the importance of multilateral
organizations, in particular the United Nations,
Montenegro stands ready to actively participate in
making those principles a reality. As a society that is
implementing major structural economic and social
reforms, we understand and support the reform
processes taking place under the auspices of the
Organization. Furthermore, as a Member State, we are
aware of our obligation to respect the international
legal order and to contribute to the consolidation of
peace and democracy in the international community.
 Good-neighbourly relations and regional
cooperation, as integral components of the processes of
European and Euro-Atlantic integration, form the basis
of Montenegro’s foreign policy. We strongly believe
that Montenegro and the Western Balkans clearly have
a European future. In that context, we support the
efforts of all of our neighbours to adopt and implement
European standards and values.
 In mid-October, we shall sign a stabilization and
association agreement with the European Union (EU),
thus establishing the first contractual relationship
between Montenegro and the Union. That will
complete the current phase of intensive activities on
our path towards Europe, which will enable us to enter
a new and enhanced phase in our European relations. It
is in that context that we view our recent accession to
the Partnership for Peace initiative. Our commitment to
European and Euro-Atlantic integration has been
reaffirmed in all the strategic documents that we have
adopted since the restoration of our independence.
 Many development processes are now taking
place in Montenegro: an expansion of our open-market
economy, the transformation of ownership structures
and reform of our public sector, judicial and security
structures. Our institutional reforms and development
programmes, which have been the focus of our
political activities during the current phase, are guided
by the principles of European and Euro-Atlantic
integration, which are a guarantee of stability and
prosperity. It is with a full sense of responsibility that
we are creating an environment that ensures the rule of
law, equality and respect for human, minority and
religious rights. In that way we can contribute to
regional stability as well.
 Although we are a small State, we stand ready to
contribute, to the best of our ability, to the
establishment of conditions that will enable the region
to continue along the path of mutual trust, enhanced
stabilization and unhindered cooperation.
 By becoming independent, Montenegro has taken
charge of its integration into the system of international
relations as an equal partner and has shouldered its
responsibility for the maintenance of peace, security
and stability in the region, while building an open and
democratic civil society.
 In that context, we believe that the direct
negotiations that have begun on Kosovo’s future status
will be fruitful. Montenegro strongly supports that
negotiating process, in which the international
community has invested considerable effort, convinced
that it will lead to a lasting and sustainable solution
that will contribute to the strengthening and
preservation of regional stability over the long term.
 Montenegro is particularly sensitive to the theme
underlying the sixty-second session of the General
Assembly: our response to climate change. As the
Secretary-General stated in paragraph 8 of his report
on the work of the Organization (A/62/1), “[C]limate
change, and what we do about it, will define us, our
era, and ultimately our global legacy”. Here, the idea
of the world as a global village, an indivisible whole, is
perhaps most evident. Without a common approach,
there can be no correct response. No one has the right
to remain indifferent to this challenge, either
individually or in global terms.
The negative impacts of climate change could be
many. It could affect countries such as my own in ways
that include a rise in the level of the Adriatic Sea,
rising temperatures and damage to forest and other
ecosystems and to biodiversity. In that context,
Montenegro is making efforts to keep pace with global
trends, contributing to endeavours to ensure better
living conditions and a more humane environment for
us and future generations. We are carrying out many
activities and projects to that end, including efforts in
fulfilment of our international obligations. We have
ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and we have
begun to prepare our first report on implementation of
the Protocol. We also recently adopted a national
sustainable development strategy and are now
establishing a network of public institutions to plan
activities related to the challenges of climate change.
 Mindful of our country’s natural resources and of
our responsibility to preserve them, the parliament of
the Republic of Montenegro decided in 1991 to declare
Montenegro an ecological State. As an ecological State,
Montenegro has an additional obligation to support
United Nations efforts to promote sustainable
development throughout the world. Through robust
efforts, we shall continue to strengthen Montenegro as
a State that guarantees sustainable development for its
citizens.
 We therefore welcome the efforts of the United
Nations and particularly of the Secretary-General in
this area. We are encouraged by the messages
emanating from the present General Assembly session
and the recent high-level event on climate change. We
hope that those messages will contribute significantly
to the success of the Bali process in December and that
the Bali Climate Change Conference will produce
additional constructive proposals and sustainable
solutions, particularly with regard to the post-2012
goals.
 In recent months, we have seen the United
Nations continue to make significant efforts in hot
spots throughout the world. The contributions made by
the United Nations in Darfur alone have repeatedly
demonstrated the Organization’s capacity to adapt and
to play its appropriate role in today’s world.
 We therefore believe that the United Nations is
capable of undertaking comprehensive reform of its
system to respond to the increasingly complex
challenges facing it. Given the importance of the
Organization to world peace and security, the
modalities of such reform should result in a stronger,
more organized, better coherent and more effective
United Nations.
 We are of the view that effective coordination
among the principal United Nations organs is vital. We
have seen some progress in this area since the 2005
World Summit.
 Another essential aspect of United Nations
reform is reform of the General Assembly, which
remains the primary decision-making organ of the
United Nations. Work on that aspect, together with
others, must be intensified and made more results-
oriented.
 The same thing applies to the ongoing debate on
reform of the Economic and Social Council and, in
particular, of the Security Council. Equitable
representation for the Group of Eastern European
States, to which we belong, should be guaranteed in
that important organ.
 For a small country like Montenegro, effective
cooperation with the United Nations is crucial. We are
therefore most interested in being the agent and
promoter of that cooperation, be it through the One
United Nations Initiative or through a similar modality.
Our commitment to cooperation with the United
Nations is also demonstrated by the project to build the
first United Nations eco-building as the focal point for
all United Nations activities in Montenegro.
 As a developing country, Montenegro looks
forward to the High-level Dialogue on Financing for
Development and to the successful conclusion of the
Doha Round negotiations, which we hope will lend
fresh impetus to bringing together economic, financial
and social issues with the aim of achieving
comprehensive progress and development. The world
today faces a multitude of challenges in this area.
Montenegro stands ready to contribute to the global
partnership for development.
 In that context, Montenegro will continue its
activities conducive to the full implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals, for we are convinced
that in that way we will contribute to improving quality
of life and overall stability.
 With a view to meeting the legitimate security
interests of nations, we must be united and decisive in
tackling terrorism, which continues to threaten the
world. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism
Strategy and its Plan of Action (resolution 60/288) are
of great importance, and call for agreement on a
comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
 Montenegro will continue to demonstrate its full
and unequivocal commitment to, and compliance with,
international obligations through its cooperation with
the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia (ICTY). We shall continue our concrete
cooperation with the ICTY, contributing not only to the
rule of law but also to implementing the Tribunal’s
completion strategy.
 We shall continue to craft our policies and to
work towards our development on the basis of the
principles set out in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, which represent the foundations of
modern democracy. We therefore view the United
Nations as the most important forum for achieving
progress, a more equitable future and a community of
equal nations.
 Our country is proud of its multi-ethnic and
multiconfessional harmony. That is one of our
cherished values, which distinguishes Montenegro in
the regional and broader international context. With
our traditions and culture, Montenegro is part of the
age-old historical currents of the Balkans, the
Mediterranean and Europe. We are at the crossroads of
civilizations and religions, and share the intertwined
influences emanating from them. We want to preserve
and enhance that legacy by working together not only
with our neighbours but also with all other countries
with which we share such advantages of geography,
culture and values.
 The world Organization is the only true global
forum, because it reflects all the diversity and qualities
of its Members, which are united by principles and
values that, after 62 years, continue to serve as a
beacon in an increasingly changing and dynamic
world. Following that course while being prepared to
change is an imperative for us all.


At the outset, let me express, on behalf of
the Lao delegation, my cordial salutations and
congratulations to Mr. Srgjan Kerim on his election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-second
session. I should also like to take this opportunity to
pay tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon,
for his strong commitment to the reform process in
pursuit of a strong, fully mobile and multifunctional
United Nations. His great efforts and dedication to the
cause of enhancing peace and security and promoting
global socio-economic development and justice also
deserve our praise.
 The issue of development is becoming
increasingly prominent. Today, our world remains far
from secure. Parts of our planet are beset by violence,
natural disasters and pandemics. All of humankind
continues to live under the threat of nuclear weapons
and in fear of terror and the spread of weapons of mass
destruction. That fear will become much greater if
those weapons fall into the wrong hands. Furthermore,
the use or threat of use of force to resolve international
problems, together with violations of the sovereignty
of Member States, persists. That hinders progress in the
enhancement of international peace and security and
development cooperation among Member States.
 Despite the fact that globalization offers new
opportunities for development, developing countries
in particular least developed, landlocked and small
island developing States   have not reaped its
benefits, as they ought to be able to do. That is due
primarily to a lack of basic infrastructure, as well as a
lack of access to markets, modern technology,
financing and investment. In order to guarantee greater
benefits for the most vulnerable countries, the
international community must intensify its concerted
efforts to assist them in fully and effectively
implementing its respective programmes of action, as
called for in the 2005 World Summit Outcome
(resolution 60/1). This should include strengthened
international partnerships, increased official
development assistance, greater market access and
special and preferential tariffs for their exports.
 Further measures should be taken to ensure debt
sustainability, technology transfer and the promotion of
equitable structures of international trade and finance
in favour of those vulnerable countries. In addition, the
international community should give priority to the
provision of both financial assistance, in the form of
grant aid or soft loans to those countries, and technical
assistance.
 The world community is facing challenges caused
by human activity, such as climate change, which
affects all nations, rich and poor. Yet the Member
States who suffer most from this catastrophe are the
least developed countries and small island developing
States, due to their lack of resources and capacity for
adaptation. In that context, I believe that the outcome
of the High-level Event on Climate Change will
significantly contribute to successful negotiations on a
comprehensive agreement under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change to deal
with the matter.
 I hereby affirm that efforts to address climate
change should not compromise attainment of the
development objectives of developing countries.
Addressing the issue should fully cover the three
pillars of sustainable development. The efforts should
be based on the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility between the developed and developing
countries. In order to enable the developing countries,
particularly the two most vulnerable groups among
them, to achieve sustainable development and address
climate change, the developed countries should provide
them with the necessary financing for adaptation,
mitigation and the transfer of appropriate technology.
 For the United Nations to meet the daunting
challenges that lie ahead, it should transform itself into
a strong, efficient and effective organization. To that
end, the United Nations reform process should be
conducted in a comprehensive, inclusive, transparent
and balanced manner. A strong and effective United
Nations would better perform its mandate to maintain
international peace and security through the peaceful
settlement of disputes and the promotion of
international cooperation for development. However,
the United Nations reform process would not be
complete without the Security Council being
restructured into a more legitimate, representative,
democratic and effective organ.
 Like other Member States, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic welcomes the progress achieved
in the implementation of the outcome of the Six-Party
Talks on the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula. We
believe that through committed efforts by all concerned
parties, the results of the talks will be fully translated
into action, thus contributing to the eventual
denuclearization of the region.
 The Lao People’s Democratic Republic reaffirms
its continued support for the General Assembly
resolutions urging an end to the economic, commercial
and financial embargo imposed on Cuba. Contrary to
international law and the United Nations Charter, those
coercive measures have caused great difficulties and
losses to the people of Cuba.
 The prolonged and persistent violence in the
Middle East remains a cause of concern to the world
community. As a result, the Palestinian, Lebanese and
Iraqi peoples have suffered great losses in human life
and property. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic
reaffirms its support for the Palestinian people in their
struggle for the right to self-determination, including
the right to establish a sovereign and independent State
of Palestine, living side by side in peace with Israel
and other countries in the region.
 The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is
enjoying unwavering peace, political and social
stability and economic growth. This year is the second
year of the continued implementation of the country’s
sixth Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan,
for 2006 to 2010. As a result, significant achievements
have been recorded. The poverty rate declined from 48
per cent in 1990 to 28 per cent in 2005. Opium
cultivation was completely eradicated in 2006. The
practice of shifting cultivation declined six times from
2001 to 2005. Tourism, particularly cultural and
ecotourism, has been broadly promoted and expanded,
thus attracting more and more tourists to the country.
The Lao Government continues to pursue a
development policy that is aimed at promotion of
sustainable development, sustained use and
conservation of natural resources, exploitation of clean
energy and protection of the environment and the
ecosystem.
 In November 2006, in cooperation with the
United Nations Development Programme, the Lao
Government held the ninth Round-Table Meeting,
which provided a consultative forum for the
development partners and various Lao Government
agencies to engage in a constructive and frank dialogue
on development assistance. The meeting adopted the
Vientiane Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which
reflects the commitments of the Lao Government and
its development partners to improve the coordination
and effectiveness of official development assistance.
 In pursuance of its foreign policy of peace,
friendship and cooperation with all countries in the
world, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has had
diplomatic relations with 125 countries and has
become a member of various regional and international
organizations, with a view to integrating itself into the
regional and international economic system. One of the
significant events for the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic this year is the convening of the twenty-third
ministerial meeting of the International Organization of
la Francophonie on 20 and 21 November 2007 in
Vientiane. As the host country, the Lao Government
would like to encourage all member States to
participate and actively contribute to the success of
that meeting.
 To conclude, the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic reaffirms its unswerving commitment to
continue cooperating with the international community
in pursuit of a peaceful, equitable and prosperous
world, free of fear and want, in order to ensure the
well-being of all peoples on the basis of respect for the
principles of the United Nations Charter and
international law, as well as the recognition of diversity
and respect for the social, cultural and historic reality
of each country. To that end, greater efforts and
sacrifices are definitely required from us all. Yet I am
sure that together we will be able to make it happen.


Allow me, first of all,
to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to
the high post of President of the General Assembly at
its sixty-second session. On behalf of my delegation,
let me wish you, sir, every success in your important
mission and assure you of our full support.
 I would like to extend warm words of
appreciation to your predecessor, Mrs. Haya Rashed
Al-Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, whose
extensive diplomatic experience and skilful guidance
throughout the sixty-first session greatly contributed to
its success.
 Allow me also to take this opportunity to express
our support for the ambitious plans and consistent
efforts of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to
re-energize the Organization, strengthen its capacity
and update the United Nations system in the new
century.
 International terrorism remains one of the most
serious threats facing humankind today. Last year the
General Assembly, by adopting the United Nations
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, made a concrete
contribution to combat terrorism in a coordinated
manner at the national, regional and international
levels. We believe that the adoption of a definition of
terrorism during the current session would be a starting
point in assessing counter-terrorism measures taken by
each State.
 My country joined the anti-terrorist coalition at
its inception and has made a significant contribution to
its activities. In the last five years, all 13 international
counter-terrorism treaties have been ratified by the
Ukrainian Parliament.
 On the governmental level, we support
international anti-terrorist efforts, in particular, through
participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism. This fall, we plan to organize in Ukraine the
third international forum on measures to counteract
acts of nuclear terrorism with the participation of civil
society, scholars and non-governmental organizations.
 Disarmament and non-proliferation are among the
most important challenges on our agenda. As a country
that voluntarily renounced its military nuclear arsenals,
Ukraine is truly disappointed that a world without
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) remains a
distant dream.
 The international community continues to be
intimidated by the threat of WMD proliferation. The
strengthening of international legal norms and political
instrument to prevent WMD proliferation remains a top
priority. In this regard, I would like to stress the
importance of the universalization of the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, as well as the
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
Commemorating in 2007 the tenth anniversary of the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Ukraine is
ready to contribute to the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) efforts on
ensuring universal adherence to the CWC, particularly
by Middle East countries.
 With this in mind, Ukraine proposes to host next
year, together with the OPCW, an international
conference with the participation of, inter alia,
countries from the Middle East and North Africa. The
anticipated outcome of such a conference might be a
joint statement of the intention of the countries
concerned to adhere to the CWC.
 We are convinced that the only way forward is to
make simultaneous progress in the areas of both non-
proliferation and disarmament.
 We cannot but underscore our concerns over the
recent tendencies that have already caused the erosion
of the multilateral regime in the arms control and
disarmament spheres with a negative impact on mutual
trust and confidence among States. The very recent
events around the Treaty on Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe have seriously put into question the
future of this important arms control instrument,
widely recognized as the cornerstone of European
security.
 Speaking about global peace and security, I
cannot but draw attention to the problem of the
protracted conflicts in the GUAM Group area. These
conflicts create instability and insecurity and constitute
a threat to peace in the region. There is no doubt that
these conflicts endanger the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the countries of the region, while also
hampering their economic and social development.
 We are concerned that numerous international
efforts to settle those conflicts have yielded no results.
It is crucially important that the world community
continue taking practical steps to that end. In our
opinion, the United Nations, regional organizations and
other relevant mechanisms should harmoniously
complement one another, using their comparative
advantages in peacemaking efforts.
 In this context, I would like to stress Ukraine’s
unequivocal support for a lasting settlement in Kosovo.
That objective cannot be achieved by undertaking
unilateral steps nor by steps seeking to bypass the
United Nations. A hasty settlement can only destabilize
the situation in the region and have negative
implications for the entire system of international
relations, since similar scenarios could be pursued by
separatist entities in other regions.
 Ukraine has always supported United Nations
peacekeeping efforts, both politically and practically.
We are glad to note that the recent noticeable increase
in peacekeeping activities has taken place in
accordance with the reform strategy of Peace
Operations 2010. That is especially important in light
of the ongoing and expected deployments in the future.
In this context, Ukraine supports the Secretary-General
in his efforts to strengthen the United Nations capacity
to manage and sustain peace operations.
 I would also like to draw your attention to the
fact that next year will mark the sixtieth anniversary of
United Nations peacekeeping operations. In this
regard, our delegation proposes to adopt, at the sixty-
third session of the General Assembly, a special
declaration to commemorate this event.
 United Nations credibility will always be
measured by its ability to respond adequately to
various threats in all regions of the world. No
organization is better equipped to deal with those
issues. The United Nations should lead multilateral
efforts with a view to reaching solutions in the interest
of all. But, to address them effectively, we need to take
further steps in reforming and improving existing
mechanisms of the United Nations in order to make
this Organization more relevant in the twenty-first
century.
 Unfortunately, the process of reforming the
Security Council, which is the key element within the
process of renewing the United Nations, is still only an
agenda item. We are of the view that the reform
process can only benefit from new, creative approaches
that will eventually bring about tangible results. In this
regard, I would like, once again, to stress Ukraine’s
position that one of the necessary elements of Security
Council reform should be the allocation of an
additional non-permanent seat to the Group of Eastern
European and other States, whose membership has
more than doubled since 1991.
 In today’s world, adherence to sound economic,
social and environmental policies and good governance
are the key factors in achieving sustainable
development. We share the view, expressed in a
number of statements during this session, that
sustainable development is a global challenge. Ukraine
believes that only through concerted efforts, using
universal, multilateral mechanisms as well as regional
and subregional forums, will those challenges be
adequately addressed.
 For Ukraine and other countries of the region, the
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
has become an important element in achieving
internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.
 At the same time, the forces of nature,
complemented by reckless and irresponsible human
behaviour can disrupt development plans, reshape
continents and even wipe out whole countries from the
world’s map. Science has shown, on many occasions,
that climate change, global warming and pollution may
cause sudden and dramatic consequences if not
addressed in timely, proper and effective ways. Ukraine
is firmly committed to the international agreements in
the area of climate change, including the United
Nations Framework Convention to Combat Climate
Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
 This year, we marked the twenty-first anniversary
of the Chernobyl catastrophe, the worst technological
disaster ever faced by humankind. Chernobyl severely
affected my country and the entire region. We call upon
United Nations agencies and individual donors to
continue to provide assistance to the affected States
and to work together on the implementation of the
relevant programmes in a spirit of cooperation.
 Ukraine, as a 2007 coordinator of the Chernobyl
Agenda, has proposed, together with the Republic of
Belarus and the Russian Federation, the adoption at the
sixty-second United Nations General Assembly
session, of a new resolution on strengthening
international cooperation to mitigate the consequences
of the Chernobyl disaster. In this regard, we would
welcome broad support for that initiative during this
General Assembly session.
 Ukraine is approaching the seventy-fifth
anniversary of one of the most tragic pages in its
history   the Holodomor   or Great Famine. The
artificial famine of 1932-33, perpetrated by the Soviet
totalitarian regime for the purpose of annihilating the
rural population, the backbone of the Ukrainian nation,
took the lives of millions of innocent people. For more
than seven decades this horrific crime, which ranks
among the worst catastrophes ever experienced by
humankind, still awaits adequate international
condemnation.
 We sincerely hope that the United Nations, as a
collective moral authority and effective instrument in
safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms,
will raise its voice and denounce the horrendous
disaster that was purposely inflicted on the Ukrainian
population in the early 1930s. By doing so, due tribute
will be paid to honour the memory of millions of our
compatriots who were outrageously deprived of their
lives. It is important to remember the past in order to
learn from it and to avoid repeating crimes against
humankind in the future.
 A decision of the General Assembly to establish
an international day of remembrance of victims of
genocide would be a worthwhile and timely
contribution to the attainment of that goal. Likewise, it
could facilitate the effective implementation of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide, as the world approaches the
sixtieth anniversary of those instruments in 2008. We
are confident that this event deserves the adoption of a
special resolution.
 In the context of human rights, Ukraine attaches
great importance to the harmonious coexistence of
civilizations, dialogue and cooperation among various
cultures and peoples. In this regard, we support the
Alliance of Civilizations established under the
initiative of the Prime Ministers of Spain and Turkey,
and we intend to join the Group of Friends of the
Alliance in the near future.
 The problems before us are daunting. We believe
that the United Nations is the only Organization with
the worldwide membership, global reach and universal
legitimacy needed to address today’s global threats and
challenges, which no country can resolve on its own.
 I take this opportunity to reaffirm Ukraine’s
readiness to continue making an active contribution to
the further strengthening of our Organization.


I congratulate the
delegation, Government and the people of the Republic
of Macedonia on Mr. Srgjan Kerim’s election as
President of the sixty-second session of the United
Nations General Assembly. On behalf of my
Government, I acknowledge the astute diplomatic
skills and wisdom that he brings to this important
assignment. May he rest assured of my delegation’s
support in his endeavours.
 Similarly, it gives me great pleasure to
congratulate our new Secretary-General, Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, of the Republic of Korea, on his election as
Secretary-General of this Organization. It is the belief
of my Government that the United Nations will greatly
benefit from his wealth of experience as a seasoned
diplomat and statesman.
Nearly two years ago, Liberia held its first post-
conflict elections, following more than 14 years of
civil war. We were strongly supported by the United
Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) and members of the
international community, including the United States,
the European Union, the People’s Republic of China
and Japan. We commend you for your continued
support toward our national reconstruction
programmes.
 My Government welcomes and highly appreciates
the recent decision of the Security Council to lift the
sanctions which it saw fit to impose on the timber and
diamond sectors in Liberia. We pledge our fullest
cooperation with the United Nations as it partners our
country’s reform, which undoubtedly will strengthen
the good governance procedures. Although the
imposition of sanctions was considered by many as
punitive, I am gratified to inform you that the Liberian
people viewed the sanctions as prudent and corrective.
The sanctions helped to accelerate the adoption of new
laws and the institutionalization of appropriate
mechanisms to ensure that we would never again allow
conditions such as those that gave rise to their
imposition.
 We also thank the international community for its
continued support to peacebuilding and the
strengthening of instruments of security and stability in
Liberia. In spite of the gains of peace, Liberia remains
fragile. The recent decision by the Security Council to
extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) is timely and relevant. Liberia
remains grateful for that and other decisions aimed at
sustaining peace and stability in the country.
 Democracy is on an irreversible course in Africa.
The values of democratic governance and the rule of
law are also on an upward march. My Government
notes with great delight the successful holding of
relatively peaceful, free, fair and democratic elections
in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mauritania and Mali. From
our experience in Liberia, we know that democratic
elections in themselves do not provide quick answers
to the monumental problems and challenges that face a
new and emerging post-conflict nation. They do,
however, create the environment, and potentially
unleash opportunities, for freedom and individual
enterprise to thrive and prosper. Because such
democracies are in their infancy, they need the support
of bilateral and multilateral partners. We therefore call
on the United Nations, the African Union and bilateral
and multilateral partners to support all new
democracies and to help us meet the multifaceted needs
of our people.
 Liberia reaffirms its belief in the United Nations
as the best institution for the promotion and protection
of international peace and security and the resolution
of crises around our world. Our faith in the United
Nations is rooted in our conviction that it represents
mankind’s best hope and vehicle for the advancement
of the common purpose of humanity.
 Our generation must avoid the temptation to use
the instruments of our common Organization for
narrow agendas that undermine its Charter. In this new
millennium, the United Nations must continue to renew
its resolve to promote, protect and sustain the universal
virtues of liberty, equality, solidarity, tolerance and
non-violence, while simultaneously respecting and
protecting our environment, pursuant to the mandate of
the Millennium Summit. Liberia commits itself to
being a strong partner and advocate for the promotion
of these shared values of our common humanity. But as
the United Nations pursues those objectives, we must
recognize that it cannot expect to succeed using
frameworks that are nearly three quarters of a century
old. The United Nations needs to be, and must be,
reformed.
 Liberia and other Member States have advanced
practical suggestions for the reform agenda. Liberia
offers the following proposals: first, a timely review
and reconfiguration of the Security Council, including
the current decision-making machinery and processes
of the Organization, should be conducted to make it
more relevant and representative of the world
community; secondly, mechanisms should be put in
place to ensure that the Charter remains inviolate; and,
thirdly, careful consideration should be given to due
process in dealing with Member States.
 Pursuant to our call for reform of the United
Nations, we today call on Member States to give
meaning and expression to gender equality. We propose
that the United Nations recommit itself to ensuring an
equitable partnership of women and men in the
leadership of the Organization. Reforming the United
Nations also means reforming our attitude towards
women and other minority groups worldwide. There is
no doubt in our mind that women will significantly
contribute to the process of change in this
Organization.
 Fully cognizant of the evidence that the dividends
of peace and security are always greater than the
debilitating effects of conflict, Liberia continues to
work within the regional framework of the Mano River
Union, the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), and the African Union to ensure the
realization and advancement of peace in the subregion
and on the African continent. It is said in my country
that there is no capitalism without capital. Peace is
sustained only with the economic empowerment of all
people.
 In that regard, since its inauguration our
Government has engaged in active subregional
initiatives to improve and strengthen ties of friendship
and economic cooperation with our immediate
neighbours in the Mano River Basin and the ECOWAS
Community. As a result of our efforts, the instruments
of peace and security and the potential of trade
rationalization in our subregion are stronger today than
they ever were a few years ago. Under the
chairmanship of Her Excellency President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf, the Mano River Union has assumed a
new vibrancy and renewed sense of cohesion and
common purpose. Citizens of the Mano River Union
countries are exchanging more frequent visits, and
undertaking programmes aimed at enhancing
integration and peace. That is why we were happy to
host President Ernest Bai Koroma a few days following
his inauguration as President of Sierra Leone.
 As events in the Middle East continue to claim
our attention in the world community, we must not lose
sight of similarly grave situations in Africa. I refer to
the continuous humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur in
the Sudan, and crises in Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, Côte
d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Burundi, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African
Republic and Uganda, among others. My Government
therefore welcomes Security Council resolution 1769
(2007) and the consensus reached for the deployment
of a hybrid African Union-United Nations force in
Darfur following months of painstaking negotiations.
We further urge countries that have pledged logistical
and other support to fulfil their promises to ensure the
timely deployment of the peacekeeping force in Darfur.
We applaud the progress made in the resolution of the
crisis in our sisterly Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. My
delegation calls for strong support of the Ouagadougou
agreement, which provides the best possible framework
for peace, security and stability in that country. Peace
and security in Cote d’Ivoire means peace and security
in Liberia, and indeed, in the Mano River Basin and
the Economic Community of West African States.
 The world has witnessed and continues to witness
phenomenal advances in science and technology
leading to the transformation of industrialization and
the improvement of the human condition. We must
work to save our planet, because, when we save our
common Earth, we assure the survival of all of its
inhabitants.
 Liberia supports the efforts of the Commission on
Sustainable Development, the Kyoto Protocol, the
decision reached on Agenda 21 at the 1992 Rio
Conference and the recent high-profile conference
hosted here on climate change, intended to raise
international awareness of the degradation of the
environment and the need for collaborative efforts to
reverse negative trends. There could be no theme more
appropriate and timely for this year’s general debate
than the theme “Responding to Climate Change”.
 This debate will, we are confident, accentuate the
issues of environment and stimulate increased
international action. Liberia is concerned about the
rapid degradation of the climate. We hope that this
session will produce a consensus on how to save
succeeding generations from the impact of
deteriorating climate.
 In our world today, there is a correlation between
war, civil conflict and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The
HIV/AIDS pandemic targets and destroys our human
capital, the backbone of our socio-economic
development. The records of the United Nations and
other organizations show that the prevalence of
HIV/AIDS increases in countries affected by war and
civil conflicts, owing to the mass movement of
populations. Post-conflict countries therefore need
special attention if the scourge of HIV/AIDS is to be
overcome.  The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases has contributed significantly
in retarding the progress of the developing nations.
 African nations must develop the political will to
combat the health crisis on our continent. To this end,
we call upon our partners in the developed world to
treat the issue of antiretroviral drugs as a purely social
and humanitarian matter of an emergency nature,
outside of politics. Liberia recently set up its National
AIDS Commission to advance practical strategies that
will help to halt the spread of this deadly disease. We
are hopeful that prudent action, including a change of
life styles coupled with antiviral drugs, will help
address this emerging catastrophe.
 Liberia continues to be burdened by huge debts
owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors. Servicing
these debts remains a major priority of the Government
of Liberia. However, our capacity to make payment is
constrained owing to the severe resource challenges
arising out of a 14-year civil war. There is a traditional
parable in my country which says that you cannot dig a
hole to fill a hole. We renew our Government’s plea for
international empathy and favourable consideration of
our debt cancellation request.
 We reassure all of our bilateral and multilateral
creditors of our commitment to continue to work with
them to develop the necessary framework toward the
actualization of Liberia’s debt relief initiatives.
 We also thank all our partners, especially the
United States, Great Britain, China and Germany
among others, for active steps taken toward debt relief
for Liberia.
 I assure you that after learning a costly lesson in
violence, the people of Liberia are determined to settle
their differences through peaceful means. With your
support, we have found a better way to resolve our
differences. We have resolved to forgive one another,
pick up our dignity and pride and move forward in
unity and oneness of purpose with strong determination
to work for a better and brighter future. Our unity in
fostering the faith of our founding fathers to build a
nation dedicated to freedom, liberty and justice for all
remains undaunted.
 We are confident that our international partners
want to see a success story in Liberia. Let me assure
this Assembly that nobody wants that more than
Liberians themselves! May the Almighty God bless us,
protect our sovereignties, unify us, preserve our
dignities and keep us safe.