I take this opportunity,
Madam President, to warmly congratulate you on your
election to the presidency of the General Assembly at
its sixty-first session. My delegation welcomes your
leadership and assures you of our unwavering support
as you carry out your duties. We are confident that
under your able leadership the reform programmes of
the United Nations will be advanced.
 I also take this opportunity to thank your
predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, for the leadership he
provided in steering the affairs of the sixtieth session.
My delegation noted with satisfaction the service he
rendered, and also noted that under his presidency
positive advances were made towards the reform of the
United Nations.
 Malawi welcomes the admission of the Republic
of Montenegro as the 192nd Member of the United
Nations. Malawi wishes President Filip Vujanovic and
the people of the Republic of Montenegro continued
peace and prosperity as they chart the way forward and
take their place in the United Nations.
 At the end of this year we bid farewell to
Mr. Kofi Annan, who has served as Secretary-General
for two consecutive terms. I am happy to join previous
speakers in paying tribute to Mr. Annan for the
dynamic leadership he has provided to the United
Nations during his tenure of office.
 Mr. Annan had many achievements, but perhaps
one of the greatest was his ability to remain calm and
well focused under great pressure. During his tenure of
office the United Nations faced daunting challenges,
including the fight against famine, hunger and natural
disasters in many parts of the world; civil wars in
Africa and conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf
region; international terrorism; and the fight against
HIV/AIDS. It is therefore with great pleasure that, on
behalf of the people of Malawi, and on my own behalf,
I honour and pay tribute to Mr. Kofi Annan for his
sterling service to the United Nations. I trust that he

06-52988 2

will continue to be of service to humanity in other
capacities.
 The theme of this year’s session, “Implementing
a global partnership for development,” is very
pertinent, because during the 2005 session we renewed
the mandate of the United Nations to meet the
challenges of the millennium, such as eradicating
global poverty and injustice, and the promotion of
democracy, human rights, peace, security and stability
in Member nations. We asserted that these are essential
ingredients for sustainable economic and social
development and that they are interlinked and mutually
reinforcing in the quest for the betterment and well-
being of humanity as a whole.
 I believe that in the search for global partnership
for development the greatest challenge that the United
Nations faces is to eradicate the poverty that engulfs
the majority of humanity.
 I believe that global peace, security and stability
cannot be assured if the greater section of humanity
lives in abject poverty. It is our hope that those who
have will learn to share with those who do not have.
 In order to present to the Assembly the need for a
global partnership framework as a way to achieve a
faster and sustainable rate of economic growth, let me
use my own country as an example. In Malawi we have
determined priorities to fast track socio-economic
growth for the people. We are cognizant that in a poor
nation like ours everything becomes a priority, but we
have agreed on a set of “priorities within priorities”
that we want to implement in the next five years. These
are agriculture and food security, irrigation and water
development, transport and communications
infrastructure, energy, integrated rural development
and the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. We
believe that, when fully implemented, these sectors
will, together, pull our people out of poverty.
 We have given the highest priority to agriculture
and food security because this sector is a mainstay of
our economy and we intend to make Malawi a hunger-
free nation. We are assisting smallholder and peasant
farmers to increase their productivity in food and cash
crops by providing cheap fertilizers and high-quality
farm inputs. This will provide food security as well as
expand agro-processing industries, and it will mean
adding value to our products. We seek international
support in this area.
 Secondly, we need international partnership in
irrigation and water development. This would reduce
our country’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture. We
aim at having small-, medium- and large-scale
irrigation schemes and the construction of multi-
purpose dams throughout the country. This will enable
Malawi to produce enough food even when rains fail.
 Thirdly, we consider transport and
communications infrastructure to be essential for
growth and development and, indeed, a good candidate
for international partnership. We are convinced that
through well developed road networks we will not only
improve movement of goods and services from rural
areas to the urban centres, but also enhance domestic
and international trade.
 More importantly, Malawi seeks global
partnership in opening up access to the Indian Ocean
through the existing Shire-Zambezi waterway, which is
navigable all the way from an inland port in Malawi to
the port of Chinde, in Mozambique, on the Indian
Ocean, only 238 kilometres away. This waterway
would benefit Malawi and other southern African
countries, especially Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda,
Burundi and Zimbabwe.
 Fourthly, Malawi has selected energy as another
area of international partnership. We believe that it is
imperative for our country to develop adequate and
reliable energy for agriculture, irrigation, transport,
industry and all other areas of economic
transformation.
 Fifthly, Malawi would welcome international
partnership in promoting integrated rural development
aimed at eradicating poverty among the rural
communities. We have recognized that the economic
stratification of our country is such that the greater
percentage of the people live in rural areas in squalid
conditions. We seek donor support to boldly take
development to rural areas through promoting rural
growth centres.
 Lastly, Malawi seeks international partnership in
HIV/AIDS prevention and management. We recognize
that our country on its own, without the full support of
the international community, cannot successfully wage
the battle against HIV/AIDS. I am happy to say that
during the past two years Malawi has made tremendous
progress in AIDS awareness campaigns, the supply of
anti-retroviral drugs and voluntary testing.

3 06-52988

 This is Malawi’s agenda for implementing a
global partnership for development. I am submitting
this agenda to the United Nations for support.
 Before I end my statement, I need to mention two
important issues.
 First, through a global partnership, Malawi has
reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. I and the people of
Malawi are truly grateful that our multilateral debts
have been cancelled by the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank. We thank the [G-8 countries
for spearheading the Initiative and for their
commitment to it. We believe that this is a true
example of global partnership in development.
 The second issue that is germane to global
partnership is for me to reiterate my plea for the
readmission of the Republic of China – Taiwan — as a
Member of the United Nations. Many of those present
will agree that since the end of the cold war, and with
the advent of globalization, Taiwan has quietly
contributed to the work of the United Nations and its
specialized agencies in various areas, including
technology, medicine, research, industry and
international trade. That contribution becomes
increasingly important, especially within the principle
of universality, equity and justice.
 Let me conclude by drawing attention to the
report entitled “In larger freedom: towards
development, security and human rights for all”, by
Mr. Kofi Annan, who stated:
 “The right to choose how they are ruled, and who
rules them, must be the birthright of all people,
and its universal achievement must be a central
objective of an Organization devoted to the cause
of larger freedom.” (A/59/2005, para. 148)
 To me, such larger freedom means the freedom of
every nation to belong to the United Nations, the
freedom from oppression of one nation by another, and
freedom for every nation to contribute to the global
partnership for development. These are the freedoms of
the United Nations that should be cherished and
upheld.
 I therefore appeal to the Security Council to
reconsider the fact that Taiwan should be granted
observer status in the United Nations and its
specialized agencies, pending a full review of its
membership. I am convinced that continued denial of
Taiwan’s participation in the community of nations
poses a moral and legal challenge to the United
Nations.


I am indeed honoured to
join previous delegations in congratulating Sheikha
Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa on her election as President of
the Assembly at this sixty-first session. Let me assure
her of Grenada’s support as she guides these important
deliberations towards the implementation of a global
partnership for development.
 My delegation would also like to pay tribute to
Mr. Jan Eliasson, Foreign Minister of Sweden, who
laboured tirelessly during his presidency of the sixtieth
session, and for his efforts in guiding the follow-up
process to the Summit Outcome.
 My delegation welcomes the Secretary-General’s
tenth and final report, which gives a comprehensive
review of the Organization’s achievements, challenges
and preparation for the future. It is fitting at this
juncture to convey to the Secretary-General the
appreciation of the Government and people of Grenada
for his sterling contribution to world peace and security
during his tenure at the helm of this Organization. The
road was not always smooth, but with his calm
disposition, unmistakable eloquence and astute and
dedicated leadership, the Organization was able to
overcome the rough patches. We heartily commend his
efforts to strengthen the United Nations through the
reform process, and wish him well in his future
endeavours.
 We meet in very difficult times. The effects of
rapid technological changes, new geopolitical and
economic alliances, evolving rules in international
trade, and in particular security concerns, continue to
grip ordinary citizens in our small countries and
regions, worsening the notion of an uncertain future.
 My delegation believes that this year’s theme of
implementing a global partnership for development is
timely and one which, if we work together, will
enhance our economies in all of their aspects.
 It is for that reason that, within our region, we
have taken the necessary steps in response to the
challenges we face by deepening our integration
arrangements with the creation of the Caribbean
Community Single Market and Economy. Recognizing
the changing trends related to the movement of skills,
Grenada has placed great emphasis on the economic

06-53615 12

empowerment of its young people, as well as on the
creation of a more diverse and non-traditional job
sector. Having lost much of our traditional agriculture
through natural disasters and the changing global
environment, we have been forced to create
alternatives through global partnerships.
 Since the adoption of the Millennium
Declaration, we have encountered untold challenges in
attempting to achieve the prescribed goals. As this
body is well aware, Grenada, as one of the small States
which hold membership in this Organization, has on
many occasions relied not only on our immediate
regional partners, but also on the wider membership
and respective United Nations agencies during some
very difficult and trying times. Our most recent past is
not yet overcome, since we are still rebuilding our
shattered economy following the devastation of two
hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
 However, despite those challenges, we pledge to
continue to work towards the achievement of some of
the Millennium Development Goals. We have made
significant strides in our efforts to contain the spread of
HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. along with
improvements in education, poverty eradication and
environmental sustainability.
 Grenada has over the years worked closely and
successfully with the United Nations agencies in our
region. Therefore, we are hopeful that, during this
session, no effort will be spared to ensure the
sustainability of those agencies.
 My delegation has on numerous occasions made
reference to the unfortunate reality that special and
differential treatment for small and vulnerable
economies is fast becoming a thing of the past. We
have seen decreases in financial and technical support
from traditional partners, and a reduction in the market
for trade in goods and services.
 In that vein, the suspension of the Doha Round of
multilateral trade negotiations in July 2006 was a
major setback for my country. International trade and
reduction in poverty are inextricably linked to
development. Greater market access for products from
developing countries can lead to economic growth and
higher standards of living. Grenada therefore looks
forward to the resumption of those negotiations.
 In the past few months, the United Nations has
been encumbered with the task of maintaining peace
and security in many parts of the world. My delegation
commends the efforts made in that respect and
welcomes the creation of the Peacebuilding
Commission, which will assist States in the post-
conflict era. We extend condolences to the families of
those brave men and women who lost their lives in the
service of the organization. Grenada is proud to be a
police-contributing country with the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti and looks forward to
continuing its involvement in that area.
 My delegation is well aware that this
Organization will have to increase its efforts in
combating terrorism, and welcomes the recently agreed
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as a positive step in
that regard.
 Grenada makes it clear that it uncompromisingly
condemns terrorism and all acts of violence, and
pledges its full cooperation in combating that
phenomenon. Though my delegation is supportive of
those measures, as a small island developing State we
are faced with serious financial and technical
constraints in maintaining continued peace and security
within our region. The measures we have implemented
in that respect will be tested as we host the 2007
Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.
 My delegation, in applauding the creation of the
Human Rights Council, is hopeful that the new body
will be able through its work to ensure that democracy
and good governance are observed in all their aspects.
We fully support the Secretary- General’s sentiments
that mainstreaming all human rights, including the
right to development, is necessary, and support to
Member States in their efforts to build stronger
national systems for the promotion and protection of
human rights is of extreme importance.
 Grenada was indeed honoured to participate at
the highest level in the launching of the new Central
Emergency Response Fund earlier this year and to lend
its support to the growth of the Fund. We commend the
work of the Organization in that regard and are well
aware of the importance of maintaining and supporting
the Fund, especially since, globally, there has been an
increase in natural and humanitarian disasters. We are
pleased with the decision to expand the relationship
outside of the membership to include the private,
individual and non-governmental sectors.
 We call on the international community to honour
its responsibility and commitment to the full

13 06-53615

implementation of the Mauritius Strategy and to
support programmes in our region related to early
warning systems, the Catastrophe Risk Insurance
Facility, and vulnerability reduction, while at the same
time building resilience.
 My delegation has taken note of the resolution on
development. However, we are disappointed that this
aspect of the Summit Outcome has not progressed with
the kind of vigour we would have welcomed. That is of
special importance to countries like my own, since
support for development objectives is paramount to our
economic sustainability. We cannot fail to reiterate our
vulnerability and call for swift action at this session in
order to ensure the stability of our small societies.
 My delegation salutes the Secretary-General’s
efforts to strengthen the Organization through its
engagement with civil society and other non-State
actors, and agrees that they are important to the
legitimacy of democratic ideals.  Grenada has
increased its efforts to strengthen the relationship
between Government and the private sector through
partnerships in trade, education, health, tourism and
investment activities, and has already seen positive
results from this type of engagement, especially in the
aftermath of the recent hurricanes.
 2007 will mark the bicentenary of the passage of
the act abolishing the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the
British empire, and it is anticipated that the General
Assembly will hold a commemorative event to mark
that historic occasion. The members of the Caribbean
Community will submit a draft resolution to the
General Assembly, and we expect the full support of all
Member States in that regard.
 We, along with other members of the Caribbean
Community, feel compelled on a regular basis to make
the plea for special attention to be paid to the threat
facing the Caribbean Sea. Grenada therefore takes this
opportunity to reiterate its concerns over the
transshipment of nuclear waste and other hazardous
material through the marine environment of the
Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea provides for us a
lifeline, the potential loss of which could be enormous
to our people’s livelihood. As we are well aware, loss
of economic opportunities brings with it poverty and
social unrest and ultimately threatens democracy — a
solid tradition on which the Caribbean Community
continues to pride itself. We therefore urge
understanding and solidarity with our cause.
 My delegation applauds the Organization for its
work in the areas of reform and looks forward to the
continuation of that process, especially in the areas of
development, Economic and Social Council reform,
Secretariat and management reform, Security Council
reform, system-wide coherence, disarmament and non-
proliferation, and other areas that have received only
partial attention. Let us pursue with vigour our work in
ensuring that this body finds ways not only to sustain,
but to continue to build on the successes of its past
achievements.
 The many challenges that we all now face make it
necessary that we work together to make the planet a
better place for future generations. Let us, then,
commit ourselves to cooperating with and supporting
each other in the journey towards genuine
development.
 Finally, my delegation, having listened to the
debate over the past few days, is heartened by the
pledges of support and is convinced that, together, we
can make it work to our collective benefit. Grenada is
pleased to join in that pledge and looks forward to
working with the Organization and its partners in
attaining that goal.


At the outset, Madam, I would
like to congratulate you warmly on your election as
President of the General Assembly at this session and
to assure you of my delegation’s full cooperation in
discharging the responsibilities entrusted to you. I am
fully confident that we will be able to bring the
business of this session to a successful conclusion
under your leadership.
 His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, the outgoing
President, deserves our sincere appreciation for a job
well done.
 I join previous speakers in heartily welcoming the
Republic of Montenegro as a fellow Member of this
world body. The continued expansion of the
membership underlines the importance of the United
Nations as an Organization of truly global character,
centrality and indispensability in global affairs.
 This is, indeed, a great opportunity for me to
represent the voice of the democratic Government and
the sovereign people of Nepal in this Assembly. I have
brought with me greetings and best wishes from the
Government and the people of Nepal for the success of
this session.
 I wish to inform the Assembly that Nepal is
undergoing a fundamental transformation following the
restoration of democracy through the peaceful people’s
movement in April 2006. The people of Nepal has
become, for the first time in history, the real source of
sovereignty and State authority. The historic
parliamentary proclamation of 18 May 2006, and the
subsequent decisions of the parliament, have made real
contributions to safeguarding and consolidating the

5 06-53329

gains of the people’s movement. We are currently
engaged in institutionalizing an edifice of a democratic
and inclusive Nepali State through the reinstated
parliament.
 The people and the Government of Nepal are
thankful to the international community for its strong
support during our struggle for democracy. We are
hopeful of even greater support and solidarity in our
transition towards full-fledged democracy and lasting
peace.
 This momentous change in Nepal has also led to
the conversion of a protracted conflict into a peace
process, and we are confident that it will be brought to
a successful conclusion. I take this opportunity to
sincerely express my appreciation to the Secretary-
General for his assistance to the peace process,
including in the monitoring of human rights, assistance
in ceasefire monitoring, arms management and the
observation of elections to the Constituent Assembly,
at our request. The successful resolution of our internal
conflict will set a worthwhile example to the rest of the
world that democracy is indispensable and brightens
the prospects for resolution of conflicts of all kinds.
 Now, we have pressing post-conflict
reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs.
Meeting these challenges requires an enhanced level of
international support and assistance. Peace, security,
stability, democracy and development constitute global
public goods. It is critically important that newly
emerged democracies are safeguarded and protected,
thus allowing them to develop further and flourish.
With this vision in mind, we strongly support the
newly established United Nations Democracy Fund.
 The United Nations today is confronted with
numerous challenges, such as international terrorism
and transnational crime, the threat of use of weapons of
mass destruction, narcotic drugs and human trafficking,
money-laundering and other financial crimes, regional
conflicts and low-intensity wars, extreme poverty and
hunger, human rights abuses, successive natural
disasters and the threats posed by pandemics such as
HIV/AIDS and avian flu.
 These challenges call for new wisdom founded on
the principles of collective security, well-being and
prosperity. The United Nations is uniquely placed to
muster the much-needed philosophical underpinning
because of its standing as a global body armed with
legitimacy. New wisdom alone will not be enough to
deal with these problems if new strategies, new tools
and new resources do not match it. Nepal firmly
believes that multilateral solutions are required to
address problems and challenges of a global nature.
Multilateralism is the key to promoting global
participation in problem-solving and to ensuring
collective ownership of outcomes.
 Today, old and new threats to peace and security
exist side by side. While military threats to security are
diminishing gradually, new sources of threat have
emerged and are likely to disturb international peace
and security in more than one way.
 The growing menace of international terrorism
characterizes the security scenario in our post-cold-war
world. It has been the consistent policy of Nepal to
unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations. It is disheartening to note that no
international consensus has yet emerged paving the
way for the early conclusion of a comprehensive
international convention against terrorism. In this
context, we welcome the adoption of the United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution
60/288).
 We are concerned about the dismal progress on
disarmament. After failing to agree on non-
proliferation last year, we were unable to produce an
agreement during the review of the regime to control
small arms and light weapons. We are also constantly
reminded of the deadlock in efforts to resolve nuclear
issues by peaceful means. Nepal stands for general and
complete disarmament of all weapons of mass
destruction, including biological, chemical, nuclear and
radiological weapons, in a time-bound manner. The
demand of our time is that we compete for peace, not
war, and for development, not armaments.
 We have offered to host, in Kathmandu, the
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and
Disarmament for Asia and the Pacific. Despite our
long-standing commitment and sincere efforts, the
Centre has yet to be relocated. I wish to reiterate that
the Government of Nepal is ready to sign the host
country agreement, pursuant to the Assembly
resolution, as soon as the Secretariat provides it with a
draft. We urge the Secretariat to conclude the necessary
procedures for the relocation of the Centre to Nepal
without further delay.
 The recent upsurge of violence in Lebanon has
left unbearable human tragedy in its wake and has

06-53329 6

resulted in the large-scale destruction of material
property. We welcome the ongoing ceasefire and
express our support for Security Council resolution
1701 (2006) on strengthening the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon. We are committed to
contributing a battalion of troops for the cause of peace
there.
 Nepal’s profound interest and continued
participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions
underscores its contribution to the maintenance of
international peace and security. Even when it had its
own internal conflict, Nepal never stopped sending
troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Nepalese Blue Helmets have served in various
missions, including in many trouble spots, in an
exemplary manner, earning international repute for
them and their country. Currently, Nepal has over
3,500 troops in various United Nations missions. Many
of them have sacrificed their precious lives in the
service of peace and humanity. Nepal will continue to
uphold this noble cause and participate in future
missions when asked to do so.
 Nepal’s commitment to human rights is total and
unflinching. Nepal firmly believes that all human
rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated,
interdependent and mutually reinforcing. We welcomed
the establishment of the Human Rights Council in the
belief that that body will prove effective in protecting
and promoting human rights around the globe based on
the salient principles of universality, objectivity and
non-selectivity.
 The current Government of Nepal has accorded
top priority to the protection and promotion of human
rights with a view to translating Nepal’s international
human rights commitments and obligations into reality.
We have been working closely with the United Nations
human rights bodies, including the United Nations
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in
Nepal, to create an environment in which full
enjoyment of human rights by all is guaranteed. The
return of democracy and the start of the peace process
have led to a significant improvement in the protection
of human rights in Nepal. We greatly appreciate the
role played by the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights in Nepal in improving the human rights
situation in the country.
 We are determined to bring to an end the culture
of impunity which was so pervasive during the
autocratic regime. Our belief is that no one is above the
law and that those who violate and abuse human rights
must be brought to justice. We are fully committed to
protecting human rights in all situations and creating a
framework to bring to justice those who have violated
human rights in the past.
 Opportunities arising out of globalization, such as
those associated with global migration, have been
stifled by unfriendly policy regimes around the world.
The rights of migrant workers must be protected in all
situations in accordance with international norms.
Nepal’s experience shows that the benefit of
remittances generated by migrant workers counts a
great deal for developing countries. But that cannot in
any way be a substitute for development assistance,
debt relief or trade concessions.
 The benefits of trade liberalization are not
distributed equitably. The multilateral trading regime
must be made responsive to the needs and requirements
of the developing and least developed countries.
Enhanced trading opportunities, coupled with
productive capacities, are critically important for the
achievement of sustained economic growth and poverty
reduction in the least developed countries (LDCs). The
agreed commitments for duty-free and quota-free
access for the products of the least developed countries
need to be complemented with favourable rules on
origin.
 We are concerned about the suspension of World
Trade Organization (WTO) talks on the development
round, and urge the immediate revival of the talks to
complete the Doha Development Agenda.
 Our development agenda has been advancing
rather slowly. We realize that, given the current pace,
many countries will not be able to achieve the
internationally agreed development goals, including
the Millennium Development Goals. It reminds us that
we must urgently and sincerely implement all the
commitments agreed to in the various global compacts
of recent years, including the Monterrey Consensus,
the Millennium Declaration, the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation and the Brussels Programme of Action
for the Least Developed Countries.
 This year’s midterm review of the Programme of
Action for the Least Developed Countries showed that
most of the least developed countries will not be able
to achieve the agreed targets within the previously

7 06-53329

defined time frame unless we accelerate the pace of
implementation.
 The least developed countries need better policies
on aid, trade, investment, debt relief and
capacity-building, as well as timely reforms in the
international financial institutions. We call on the
international community to take a holistic approach,
combining policies to support the LDC development
agenda. The least developed countries need a
substantial flow of external aid and investment if they
are to meet those goals. Investment in poorer countries
is not just a moral responsibility; it is investment in the
collective security of the world.
 Many least developed countries are handicapped
as a result of being landlocked, which significantly
reduces their competitive edge in regional and
multilateral trading regimes. This state of affairs
continues to frustrate their development efforts. We
urge the international community to pay greater
attention to the plight of those countries and to make
serious efforts to implement internationally agreed
commitments.
 It is a scar on our conscience that hundreds of
millions of people are living as refugees in various
parts of the globe. The international community must
take it as its bounden duty to address their concerns in
a non-selective manner.
 I regret to inform the Assembly that more than
100,000 refugees from southern Bhutan have been in
camps in Nepal for over a decade and half — a painful
experience — despite the bilateral agreements reached
between Nepal and Bhutan. With no early and lasting
solution on the horizon, the refugees are showing
increasing signs of frustration and desperation. In
essence, this is a problem between the Government of
Bhutan and its citizens. Nepal has entered the picture
simply because it has provided shelter to fleeing
refuges on humanitarian grounds. The issue cannot be
resolved in the absence of a genuine willingness on the
part of the Government of Bhutan to solve this
problem.
 The international community must exert a
positive influence so as to break the impasse. We stress
that the Bhutanese refuges must be given the right to
return to their home country in conditions of dignity
and respect and that any solution must be acceptable to
them. Nepal also supports the democratic aspirations of
the people of Bhutan and urges Bhutan to
accommodate the plight of the refugees in their
political dispensation.
 Our Organization has made great strides,
especially in the adoption of the reform measures
endorsed by world leaders here last year. The
Government of Nepal remains committed to supporting
all reform initiatives aimed at addressing the concerns
and aspirations of all Member States.
 The strength of the United Nations lies in its
democratic decision-making and in its impartiality,
neutrality and efficiency. The General Assembly — the
only global body in which the voices of the peoples of
the world can be heard — must be placed at the
forefront of all decision-making processes within the
United Nations. The organs dealing with socio-
economic issues must be strengthened and enabled to
take a lead role in the fulfilment of international
development objectives.
 Contemporary realities dictate that the United
Nations must undergo a fundamental transformation
without undermining its founding principles and
objectives. Any reform of the United Nations will be
incomplete without a commensurate reform of its
principal organ responsible for the maintenance of
international peace and security. The Security Council
must be democratized so as to provide it with greater
legitimacy and credibility. There is a genuine need to
increase Council membership, in both the permanent
and non-permanent categories, so as to make the
Council more representative. Such an increase should
include two permanent seats each for the Asian and
African regions, one for Latin America and one for
Western Europe. We also need to improve the
Council’s working methods.
 This year, Member States will elect the next
Secretary-General of our Organization. In accordance
with the principle of equitable geographical
representation and that of rotation, Nepal reiterates that
the next Secretary-General should come from Asia. We
also believe that a greater role should be played by the
Assembly in the appointment of the Secretary-General.
I commend the role played by the outgoing Secretary-
General, Mr. Kofi Annan, during his term of office. He
led important reforms at the United Nations and made
genuine efforts to establish the central role of our
Organization in resolving global problems and
debating international issues.

06-53329 8

 Nepal has submitted its candidature for non-
permanent membership of the Security Council for the
period 2007-2008. We think that we rightly deserve it,
as nearly two decades have elapsed since we last
served on the Council, in 1988-1989. This world body
is fully aware that Nepal has for a long time been
making substantial contributions to the maintenance of
international peace and security by regularly providing
troops to various peacekeeping missions. Moreover, we
believe that Nepal’s election to the Council this time
around would represent a significant recognition of its
democratic credentials in a changed context. The
people of Nepal deserve due recognition from the
international community for their unprecedented
courage and for the determination with which they
have defeated autocracy and restored democracy. I
make a sincere appeal to fellow Members to extend
their valuable support to Nepal’s candidature and allow
it to serve on the Council with renewed confidence in
the fulfilment of its fundamental responsibilities.
 The purposes and principles of the United
Nations contained in its Charter, including the
sovereign equality of nations, the peaceful resolution
of all disputes, non-interference in the internal affairs
of States, and the principle of refraining from the threat
or use of force are sacrosanct to Nepal. I solemnly
reiterate Nepal’s profound commitment to the founding
objectives and principles of the United Nations, as
enshrined in its Charter.
 The United Nations today suffers from a lack of
credibility, an inability to arrive at important decisions,
weak implementation of its own declarations and
decisions, and slowness in responding to challenges
that require its most pressing attention. We need to
change this situation. Together, we can better equip our
Organization to respond to those challenges.


I should like, on behalf of my delegation, to
say how delighted we are to see you, Madam, the
representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain, a friendly
country, presiding over the General Assembly at its
sixty-first session. I would like to assure you of our
sincere wishes for your success. You can rest assured
that my delegation will fully cooperate with you.
 I would also like to pay tribute to the Kingdom of
Sweden, a friendly country whose Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Jan Eliasson, presided over the General
Assembly at its sixtieth session in such an outstanding
manner. Major progress was made during that session.
 Finally, I should like to extend to Montenegro a
warm welcome to the family of the peoples of the
United Nations.
 This session of the General Assembly is taking
place at a time when the world is once again facing
major challenges. I am thinking in particular of the
upsurge of terrorism, which threatens the security of
States and our collective security. I am also thinking of
the persistence of underdevelopment and the almost
endemic poverty in the countries of the South. I am
thinking, too, of pandemics of all kinds, including
HIV/AIDS. Finally, I am thinking of cross-border
organized crime.
 Our world and our Organization need more
generosity, more solidarity, more ethical behaviour and
more tolerance, but also more courage and more
imagination to tackle these challenges, which require a
global approach in the multilateral context in which the
United Nations is the forum par excellence.

06-53958 18

 Opinions are being expressed in various quarters
deploring the inability of the Organization to respond
adequately to the fundamental aspirations of the
world’s people, while some also believe that the
Organization has become obsolete. Cameroon would
like to reaffirm that it believes that, despite the
inevitable shortcomings inherent in an organization of
such size, the United Nations is today, more than ever
before, the only institution that can bring about
consensus in an effort to ease tension and find
solutions. Very simply put, there is no substitute for the
United Nations in managing in a coherent manner the
problems to which I have referred.
 In that regard, I would like to pay special tribute
to the work of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I also
wish to convey to him the gratitude of my country and
my personal regard and appreciation for his efforts.
Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, he has
reinvigorated multilateralism in an especially difficult
international environment. Cameroon is proud to have
contributed to the election of this noble son of Africa
following its assumption of the chairmanship of the
Organization of Africa Unity. Today, while peace to
many seems to be but a myth, Africa is truly honoured
that Mr. Kofi Annan has taken his place among the
world’s great peacemakers. In that regard, the Noble
Peace Prize awarded to him was richly deserved.
 In an international environment characterized by
difficulties in ensuring that the rule of law prevails
over the use of force, the Secretary-General was
courageously able to promote the voice of reason. In an
environment of heated passions, he succeeded in
delivering a message of peace and brotherhood. Allow
me, by way example in that regard, to refer to his
unequivocal commitment to Cameroon and Nigeria —
two brotherly countries linked by history and
geography — in the peaceful and consensual
implementation of the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) ruling of 10 October 2002 finally resolving the
border dispute between our two countries.
 The Greentree Agreement of 12 June 2006,
implemented following the withdrawal of all Nigerian
troops on 14 August 2006, is a credit both to the United
Nations and the personal commitment of the Secretary-
General. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
friendly countries, including the Federal Republic of
Germany, the United States of America, France and the
United Kingdom. Along with the United Nations, those
countries agreed to provide their moral and political
support to the Greentree Agreement, which defined the
modalities for the implementation of the ICJ ruling of
10 October 2002 on the Bakassi Peninsula. More
importantly, they agreed to help us to implement it.
 I would also like to reaffirm here and now
Cameroon’s solemn commitment to continue to fulfil in
good faith all its obligations emanating from the
International Court of Justice decision and the
Greentree Agreement. In particular, I would like to
affirm that Nigerian nationals living in Bakassi
desiring to remain there will be treated in the same way
as the 4.5 million Nigerians living in Cameroon, who
are able to live their lives in peace and harmony with
Cameroonians.
 That process has taught us that true lasting peace
can never be imposed; it can only be established
through patience and a spirit of compromise. In short,
real lasting peace can only come from genuine joint
political will.
 Allow me to highlight some of the many
initiatives undertaken by the United Nations that
reflect the geopolitical developments under way and
the aspirations of people around the world. In that
regard, I would specifically like to refer to the
Millennium Declaration, which is a genuine charter of
international solidarity binding on all of us as an urgent
obligation. In addition, the Organization’s ongoing
attention to Africa is prominently reflected in the
Secretary-General’s report on sustainable development
and the causes of conflict in Africa, a document that
will be an ongoing source of encouragement to our
countries.
 I also wish to recall that the Secretary-General
laid the foundations for the reform of the Organization,
which was made necessary in the light of the changes
that have taken place in the world’s balance of power
since the founding of United Nations. I should
therefore now like to say a few words about what has
come to be known as United Nations reform.
 The Organization stands no chance of
maintaining its place in world affairs unless it
safeguards its legitimacy. In other words, it must
ensure that its representative character is beyond
reproach. The reform we seek should therefore take
into account the development of the international
system in the course of recent decades. Likewise, it
will no doubt be necessary to modify the role played
by some organs of the United Nations system. In that

19 06-53958

connection, I am thinking in particular of the role of
the International Court of Justice. It is in everyone’s
interest that the reform be properly carried out while
taking into account today’s realities. But however
reform is carried out, I believe that Africa should have
permanent representation in the Security Council. That
is not just a matter of justice, but also one of common
sense.
 In order to retain its credibility, the Organization
should resolutely continue to pursue its efforts with
regard to major issues related to peace and
development in the developing world. On the political
level, special attention should be paid to the Middle
East, Darfur and the issue of nuclear proliferation.
With regard to development, the Millennium
Development Goals should be attained within a
reasonable time frame.
 In order to avert doubts as to the positive aspects
of trade globalization, the United Nations likewise has
a responsibility to maintain a balance between the
countries of the North and the South in such major
trade negotiations as the now-suspended Doha Round.
Failure in that regard would have disastrous
consequences for Africa.
 Finally, our Organization must continue to
safeguard the cultural identity of the various peoples of
the world and to promote a dialogue among cultures
and religions. The sharing of experiences and the
knowledge gained through such an honest and
respectful dialogue will be the best antidote to the
clash of civilizations that some predict as well as a sure
alternative to terrorism and violence.
 Over the years, the United Nations has become a
crucial stakeholder in the international arena. I believe
we should all welcome that development because, first
of all, this parliament of nations is the only forum in
which virtually all peoples are represented and where a
blueprint for international democracy is gradually
being drafted. We should welcome it also because —
and this is an important point — the systematic
consideration by our Organization of crises or tensions
gives negotiation a chance and makes the use of force
less likely. True, it has not just been success stories,
but I think that, broadly speaking, the balance sheet is
quite positive. This should prompt us not to begrudge
the United Nations our trust and to give it means
commensurate with its ambitions, its responsibilities
and the expectations we have of it.
 For its part, Cameroon will continue to support
all the initiatives of our Organization aimed at
maintaining peace and solidarity among peoples. I need
hardly say that the human person must remain
paramount among our concerns. This, inter alia, will be
the task facing the new Human Rights Council, of
which my country is honoured to be a member.
 Our Organization cannot remain indifferent to the
tragedy of the massive migration flows that we have
been witnessing for some time. Clearly this situation
poses a challenge not only to our States but also to the
entire international community, and we must all work
together to strengthen cooperation in this area between
the countries of the North and the countries of the
South.
 I believe that, appearances to the contrary — and
although many hotbeds of tension and threat still
remain — the international community seems to be
moving towards greater stability. Credit, to a large
extent, goes to the work done by the United Nations,
its various organs and its staff, who are carrying out
their responsibilities in conditions that are often
difficult, even dangerous.
 That is the substance of the message of Mr. Paul
Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon, to the
General Assembly at its sixty-first session.


It is a great honour
for me to address the General Assembly at its sixty-
first session on behalf of the people of Liberia, not just
in my capacity as a leader, but as the first
democratically elected woman President in Liberia and
in Africa.
 Let me congratulate you, Madam, on your
election as President of the General Assembly at this
session. We are proud of you, as the first Arab Muslim
woman and the third woman to occupy this noble
position. One of your women predecessors, Angie
Brooks, hailed from Liberia. I was pleased to honour
her last Friday in a moving ceremony here in New York
for her dedicated services to our country.
 Let me also seize this opportunity to pay a well-
deserved tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson
of Sweden, for his insightful knowledge and
enlightened leadership in steering the affairs of the
General Assembly at its sixtieth session.
 I wish also to welcome and congratulate the
Republic of Montenegro for its admission as the one
hundred ninety-second Member of the Organization
and to assure its delegation of Liberia’s friendship,
solidarity and support.
 Let me now pay special tribute to Mr. Kofi
Annan, the outgoing Secretary-General. I had the
privilege of working with him as a former senior staff
member of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), and I am personally aware of his
dedication and commitment to the Organization,
particularly the reform of the United Nations and the
strengthening of its institutions. As I said to him during
an honouring ceremony in Monrovia in July, we are
proud of his record of enhancing the responsibility of
the United Nations: the responsibility to protect the
poor from the rich; the weak from the strong; and the
humble from the arrogant. The Liberian people, and
indeed all the people of Africa, are proud of him and
his accomplishments.
 Sixty-one years ago, when countries gathered in
San Francisco to address issues related to the scourge
of, and the scars left by, the Second World War, and the
need for peace in a post-conflict world, Liberia was
there and was a signatory to the Charter of the United
Nations. The purposes and principles of the Charter
have proved to be of durable value over the years.
 Times have changed, and the world, too, has
changed, beyond what we could have imagined when
the Organization was established. Today we are truly a
global village, interconnected physically and
electronically, increasingly bound by a shared
commitment to confront and overcome the challenges
that threaten global peace, stability and the well-being
of our human family.
 Yet the original aims and objectives of the United
Nations remain today as relevant as they were when
the Charter of the Organization was signed 61 years
ago. The need to maintain international peace and
security, to cultivate friendly relations among nations,
to achieve international cooperation in solving global
economic, cultural, social and humanitarian problems,
and to promote respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms constitute, and still remain, the
cardinal objectives of the Organization.
 Thus the main focus of this year’s
deliberations — the implementation of a global
partnership for development — serves to remind us
that at this session the General Assembly must
vigorously consider how to bring equity to the present
international financial, trade and development
structures; how to do more to create the conditions that
will improve the standard of living of humankind
everywhere; how to be sensitive to the needs of
developing countries and assure them the dividends of
globalization.

7 06-52737

 In the new millennium, the United Nations should
not operate on the basis of structures designed 61 years
ago. We must therefore review the issue of the
inequitable representation of the world’s peoples, as
reflected by the present structure of the Security
Council. It is in that regard that reform of the United
Nations is urgent, especially with respect to the
decision-making process in a Security Council which is
undemocratic and hegemonic. The apparent continued
violations of the United Nations Charter by some
Member States on account of national interests
represent a disguised threat to world peace and
security.
 Hence we must now find an acceptable solution
under which nations large and small will receive equal
treatment, in consonance with the Charter. The United
Nations was conceived to promote world peace,
democracy and equity for all.
 I strongly support women and gender equality,
and I look forward with interest to the report of the
High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence,
appointed by the Secretary-General earlier this year. It
is expected to submit its final recommendations on
United Nations reform. It is my hope that the
establishment of a new, independent United Nations
fund or programme for the empowerment of women
and gender equality will be fully supported by Member
States, and that such a fund will have sufficient
resources to support targeted programmes for the
empowerment of women.
 Three years ago, representatives of contending
warring factions, political parties and civil society in
Liberia gathered in Accra under the auspices of
international partners and signed the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement. Under provisions of that Agreement,
a National Transitional Government was installed in
October, 2003, with a mandate to disarm combatants
and prepare our country for elections. In October and
November, 2005, legislative and presidential elections
were held, leading to our historic and landmark
election by the Liberian people. The United Nations
played a pivotal role in that national transformation.
For and on behalf of the Liberian people, I wish to
thank the United Nations and other international
partners for the mammoth role they played in securing
peace and bringing sanity to Liberia.
 I wish also to express the deep appreciation and
gratitude of the people of Liberia and their friends
everywhere to the men and women of the United
Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for their active
role in securing and enhancing peace and security in
our country. I am proud to say that the leadership,
commanders, men and women of the various
contingents of UNMIL have largely comported
themselves well and performed their mission with
diligence and dedication. They have sacrificed greatly
and persevered in a very challenging peacekeeping
environment. The Special Representative of the
Secretary-General deserves particular commendation
for his foresight and support of our country’s
reconstruction efforts. I thank them all sincerely on
behalf of the Liberian people.
 There are others to whom we owe a huge debt of
gratitude. The Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the United
States of America, the European Union and the
People’s Republic of China have been selfless and
generous in their material, financial and moral support
of our cause. I would be remiss if I did not single out
the sacrifices made by our West African brothers and
sisters to bring peace and sensibility to a suffering
people. We thank them.
 While we are enjoying a semblance of peace, we
are particularly concerned about conflicts in other parts
of the world. Of notable concern is the protracted crisis
in the Middle East, which continues to create a state of
restlessness and threatens world peace and security.
From our experience, we have learned that no matter
how protracted a conflict, the parties must sit around
the table to iron out their differences and make peace.
Both the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities owe
their respective peoples, and the rest of us in the world,
an obligation to break out of their cocoon of pride to
resolve their differences harmoniously. We call for the
active engagement of the United Nations in the
peaceful and amicable resolution of the Middle East
crisis.
 Elsewhere in Africa, and especially in
neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, the standoff in the peace
process is troubling. We call on the parties in Côte
d’Ivoire to save their people from further punishment
by resolving their differences. We call upon the United
Nations to continue strong and decisive intervention to
prevent it from becoming a wider subregional and
regional crisis.

06-52737 8

 The situation in Darfur and the slow pace with
which it is being addressed require urgent attention.
The continued stalemate over whether an African
Union or a United Nations force should be deployed or
maintained in the region exposes weaknesses in
international cooperation and collaboration and
demonstrates a lack of international will to address the
sufferings and yearnings of the citizens and residents
of Darfur, who plead everyday for international
intervention. Darfur represents a potential
humanitarian catastrophe. The world must not allow a
second Rwanda to happen. In the new millennium,
civilized nations must not be indifferent to any
conflict, internal or external, regardless of the factors
that fuel it.
 The United Nations obligation to protect the
helpless and innocent must remain paramount in that
regard. My Government therefore calls on this General
Assembly and the Security Council to exercise
Chapter VII authority to restore peace, security and
stability to Darfur.
 On the other hand, my delegation is pleased with
the successful holding of peaceful democratic elections
in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time
in 40 years. We look forward to seeing a peaceful
conclusion of the final stage of that process and the
ushering-in of a Government elected by the people of
that country. It is our hope that the democratic gains
made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be
sustained to enable the new Government to employ the
vast national resources of that country for the benefit
and welfare of its people.
 Globalization has significantly altered the world
and economic transactions among States. Africa will
remain on the periphery of the global village unless
we, as leaders, awaken to the imperatives of the ever-
changing requirements. The first step towards that
process of awakening is the promotion of democracy,
free enterprise, good governance, human rights and
social justice in our countries and across our continent.
 There is increasing evidence that shows a direct
correlation between the material and moral well-being
of a people and their country, and the quality of their
democratic environment. My Government is keenly
aware of that reality. We have therefore promulgated
policies that support openness, transparency,
accountability and the equitable distribution of our
meagre resources, while endeavouring to address the
development and reconstruction challenges of the
country.
 Five years ago on 11 September, 2001, a few
miles from this very Hall, terror of unimaginable
proportions struck, shocked the world and claimed
close to 3,000 precious and innocent lives. As the
people of the United States and the families of the
innocent dead remember their tragic and irreparable
loss this month, the people of Liberia join me in
affirming our identification with their loss. We
mourned with them then and we mourn with them now.
We also resolve, as all civilized nations should, to join
the global effort to fight terrorism anywhere in the
world, recognizing that it is today the most signal
challenge to world peace and collective freedom.
 The world has witnessed a significant
achievement in science and technology, leading to
rapid industrialization and the improvement of the
standards of living of humankind. Although the gains
have led to the development of new medicines and
other scientific knowledge, they also pose a threat to
the environment and human survival.
 Rapid industrialization and scientific discoveries
can have a damaging impact on the environment.
Unless there is a modification in our activities, the
pleasure derived from successes in scientific
achievement could, sadly, lead to tragedy and doom.
 Thus, in the race for modernization and
development, we cannot ignore the potency of the
threats posed to our survival by environmental
degradation. Saving the planet is required for the
continued existence of its more than 5 billion
inhabitants.
 It is in that regard that my delegation supports the
efforts of the Commission on Sustainable
Development, the Kyoto Protocol and the decision
reached on Agenda 21 during the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development,
intended to raise international awareness about the
degradation of the environment and the need to reverse
the negative trend. We trust that environmental issues
will remain a priority on the global agenda.
 Among the many impediments to social and
economic development in Africa are poverty, poor
health delivery systems, intraregional wars and civil
conflicts. The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases has contributed significantly

9 06-52737

to the slowing of progress on the African continent.
While countries in the developed world are leaping
ahead in science and technology, we are still groping to
find the means to combat curable diseases and to join
in the search to address incurable ones.
 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the emergence of
HIV/AIDS brought into focus the recognition that that
deadly virus has eluded the sophistication of science
and technology, thereby posing one of the greatest
challenges to our development effort. The political will
of Africa is challenged to act speedily to eradicate the
virus and combat this health crisis.
 The Government of Liberia welcomes the partial
lifting of the arms embargo and the ban on timber
imposed by Security Council resolution 1521 (2003).
We also look forward to the lifting of the ban on
diamonds as we seek to meet the requirements of
Council resolution 1343 (2001). My Government
pledges its fullest cooperation in the attainment of the
objectives set out in those resolutions. We remain
grateful to the international community for the
continuous assistance and support provided to our
country in its search for peace, security and post-war
reconstruction and development.
 Today, I stand here in testimony to the rebirth of
my country — to our re-emergence to assume once
more our enviable and critical role as one of the first
independent African republics. We are aware that we
face awesome challenges: the challenge of rebuilding
our infrastructure, including education, health and
other institutions; the challenge of addressing
generations of gender imbalance, especially as it
relates to the education of the girl child; and the
challenge of promoting democracy, participation and
fundamental freedoms and rights in an environment of
equal opportunity.
 We have made important beginnings, and we
remain encouraged by the bilateral support provided by
our bilateral and multilateral international partners.
The recent visit of the Secretary-General and other
similarly important visits by leaders of our continent
and of international financial institutions clearly
underscore the commitment of the United Nations and
the rest of the international community to working with
our Government to nurture and strengthen peace and to
foster development.
 In closing, let me say that today, as in the past,
Liberia wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the
United Nations, this timeworn but irreplaceable
machinery and indispensable framework for
international peace and international relations. We
must all join our steadfast forces to make this
institution work for the good of humankind.


Not so long ago,
it appeared that our world was growing at a pace
beyond our control into a single global village. Today’s
reality, by contrast, appears more and more fractured.
Our efforts to overcome divisions and to harmonize
differences have been hesitant. As the recent struggle
between Israel and Hizbollah has tragically
demonstrated, it is not so much the lack of
peacemaking and peacekeeping experience and
resources that leaves non-combatants to suffer and die.
The more fundamental problem is the difficulty in
moulding consistent political will on the part of the
international community.
 In the story of the Tower of Babel, the ancient
world gives us an image of our current divided state.
The confusion of tongues at Babel is the symbol of the
divisions, misunderstandings and hostilities spawned,
not by nature, but by human pride. Today, that same
negative fundamental attitude has given rise to a new
barbarism that is threatening world peace. Terrorists
and their various organizations are the contemporary
version of it, rejecting the best achievements our
civilization has gained. In an order of quite a different
nature, it cannot be denied that super-Powers, regional
Powers, aspiring Powers and oppressed peoples, too,
sometimes yield to the temptation to believe, despite
historical evidence, that it is only force that can bring
about a just ordering of affairs among peoples and
nations.
 The ideology of power can go so far as to regard
the possession of nuclear weapons as an element of
national pride, and it does not exclude the outrageous
possibility of employing nuclear weapons against its
adversaries. Meanwhile, the implementation of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty appears to be stalled,
and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty still
needs to be ratified by some countries to enter into
force.
 This Organization was founded on a very
different understanding of human affairs. Peace can
only be achieved by shared labours aimed at securing a
decent and dignified life for all. Due to the East-West
struggle, the United Nations was able in the past to
achieve only an impoverished sort of peace.
 Recently, the Secretary-General’s proposals put
this Organization on the path to reform; its lofty goals,
however, will be reached only by overcoming the
narrow confines imposed by the dominance of national
interests, so that we may open ourselves to the vision
of a world both reconciled and based on solidarity. In
this spirit, the Holy See continues to be an advocate of
the United Nations and favours its ongoing reform in
the fields of peacebuilding, development and human
rights. In the same spirit, the Holy See commends the
decision to create the Peacebuilding Commission.
 Too often, international bodies act, if at all, only
after war is under way or when innocent populations
have long been under assault. When the rights of whole
groups of people are violated — grievous examples
could be mentioned in Europe, Asia and Africa — or
when they go unprotected by their own Governments,

06-53952 32

it is entirely right and just that this Organization should
intervene in a timely manner by suitable means to
restore justice. The need to improve the system for
effective humanitarian intervention in catastrophes
brought on by war, civil conflict and ethnic strife will
be an important test of the United Nations reform
agenda.
 Strengthening the capacity of this Organization to
foresee conflicts, to resolve them through negotiation
or to transform them non-violently before there is
resort to force is, therefore, a goal of primary
importance in the renewal of the Organization. In this
regard, I regret to say that Security Council resolution
1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, which was a very good
resolution, could have been adopted with the same
wording one month earlier. If repeated pleas for
immediate cessation of the violence, made by many,
including Pope Benedict XVI, had been acted upon, the
killing of thousands of civilians and numerous young
soldiers, the flight of peoples and the enormous
indiscriminate devastation need not have occurred.
Meanwhile, none of the outcomes that some
Governments put forward as a reason for the
continuation of hostilities in Lebanon have, in fact,
been achieved.
 As history has shown, for lack of sufficient
capacity for intervention and common will, millions
have died in needless conflicts — inutili stragi — that
is, “pointless massacres”, to repeat a famous phrase
used by Benedict XV, who was Pope during the First
World War. The appeal by the late Pope Paul VI,
uttered in this Hall on 4 October 1965 — “Jamais plus
la guerre”, meaning “Never again war” — today rings
like an accusation in the heart of the collective
conscience of humanity.
 The surest way to prevent war is to address its
causes. It must not be forgotten that at the root of war
there are usually real and serious grievances: injustices
suffered; denial of human rights and absence of the
rule of law; legitimate aspirations frustrated, and the
exploitation of multitudes of desperate people who see
no real possibility of improving their lot by peaceful
means. How can we not be disturbed by the images of
countless exiles and refugees living in camps and
enduring subhuman conditions, or by those desperate
groups which, intent upon seeking a less wretched
future for themselves and their children, are driven to
face the risks of illegal emigration? And what of the
millions of people oppressed by misery and hunger and
exposed to lethal epidemics, who continue to cry out to
our sense of humanity? These, too, are challenges to
our desire for peace.
 The fulfilment of the Millennium Development
Goals and the resumption of the latest World Trade
Organization (WTO) trade round promise economic
progress, the alleviation of poverty, a reduction in
terrorism and increased social harmony. Building peace
for tomorrow requires that justice be done today.
 Like development, the protection of human rights
is an essential pillar in the edifice of world peace, for
peace consists in people’s unimpeded enjoyment of
their God-given rights. The Holy See hopes that the
newly formed Human Rights Council will enhance the
enjoyment of those rights by all peoples and by the
citizens of every nation. Diversity among cultures
allows for differences in the emphasis and
implementation of human rights, but human nature,
which is their foundation and is common to the whole
of human society, permits no basic human right to be
eclipsed or subordinated for the sake of other rights.
 Every Government must clearly understand that
violations of the fundamental rights of the person
cannot be exempt from scrutiny by the international
community under the pretext of the inviolability of a
State’s internal affairs.
 With respect to fundamental human rights, I
would like to draw attention to three primary rights.
 I turn first to the right to life. The increasing
recognition of the sacredness of life, witnessed also by
the growing rejection of the death penalty, needs to be
matched by a thorough protection of human life
precisely when it is at its weakest, that is, at its very
beginning and at its natural end. Secondly, respect for
religious freedom means respect for the intimate
relationship of the believing person with God, in both
its individual and social aspects. Indeed, there is
nothing more sacred. Thirdly, there is the right to
freedom of thought and expression, including freedom
to hold opinions without interference and to exchange
ideas and information and the consequent freedom of
the press. The observance of this right is necessary for
the fulfilment of each person, for the respect of
cultures and for the progress of science. We must
acknowledge, however, that not all fundamental
rights — and in particular the three which I have
mentioned — are adequately protected in every nation,
and, in more than a few, they are openly denied, even
among States sitting on the Human Rights Council.

33 06-53952

 Although in some cases religion continues to be
cynically exploited for political ends, it is my
delegation’s firm belief that, at its best, truest and most
authentic, religion is a vital force for harmony and peace
among peoples. It appeals to the noblest aspects of human
nature. It binds up the wounds of war, both physical and
psychological. It provides sanctuary to refugees and
hospitality to migrants. It weaves bonds of solidarity that
overcome every form of mistrust, and through
forgiveness it lends stability to once-divided societies.
 Twenty years ago, the late Pope John Paul II
brought together the leaders of the world’s religions to
pray and to bear witness to peace. That collective
witness was renewed in 1993 during the Bosnian war
and in 2002 following the barbarous 11 September
terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. More
recently, on 23 July of this year, faced with the
spreading war in Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI invited
Christians and all believers to join him in a day of
prayer and penitence, imploring God for the gift of
peace for the Holy Land and the Middle East.
 In this past generation, leaders and adherents of
the world’s religions have shown themselves time and
again to be willing to dialogue and to promote
harmony among peoples.
 On Wednesday 20 September last, Pope Benedict
XVI repeated his unequivocal support for inter-
religious and intercultural dialogue and expressed the
hope that what he had said at the University of
Regensburg might be a boost and an encouragement for
positive and even self-critical dialogue, both between
religions and between modern reason and the faith of
Christians. The Pope, as is well known, expressed
sadness that some passages of his academic address
could have lent themselves to misinterpretation. His
real intention was to explain that it is not religion and
violence, but religion and reason that go together, in
the context of a critical vision of a society which seeks
to exclude God from public life. Two days ago, while
receiving the ambassadors of the countries of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
accredited to the Holy See, he added:
 “The lessons of the past must … help us to
seek paths of reconciliation, in order to live with
respect for the identity and freedom of each
individual, with a view to fruitful cooperation in
the service of all humanity … respect and
dialogue require reciprocity in all spheres,
especially in that which concerns basic freedoms,
more particularly religious freedom”.
 If, on the one hand, religious motivation for
violence, whatever its source, must be clearly and
radically rejected, on the other it must be emphasized
that in political life one cannot disregard the
contribution of the religious vision of the world and of
humanity. In fact, as the Pope affirmed, were reason to
turn a deaf ear to the divine and relegate religion to the
ambit of subcultures, it would automatically provoke
violent reactions, and violent reactions are always a
falsification of true religion.
 It falls to all interested parties — to civil society
as well as to States — to promote religious freedom
and a sane social tolerance that will disarm extremists
even before they can begin to corrupt others with their
hatred of life and liberty. That will be a significant
contribution to peace among peoples, because peace
can be born only in the hearts of human beings.
 Together with this heartfelt wish, it is my honour
to conclude by conveying to you, Madam President,
and to the peoples here represented the cordial
greetings of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Upon
the deliberations of this General Assembly, he invokes
an abundance of Almighty God’s blessings.


First of all, I would like
to congratulate our President on her election to this
high post and to assure her of the full support of
Ukraine throughout her mandate. I would also like to
express our deep appreciation of her predecessor and
my good friend, Mr. Jan Eliasson, for his outstanding
contribution to progress in implementing the decisions
of the 2005 World Summit.
 I would also like to pay special tribute to the
Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, who is about to
relinquish his important and noble mission. I praise Mr.
Annan for his valuable personal contributions and
devoted efforts to further all aspects of United Nations
activities and wish him the best in his further
endeavours.
 We are convinced that the next Secretary-General
must be a person truly deserving of the post and who
will discharge this responsible duty with honour. I
would like to again emphasize the justified position of
the Eastern European States regarding the priority right
for a representative of this region to be appointed to
the top post at the United Nations. Eastern Europe
remains the only region that has never had a
representative serve as Secretary-General. In this
respect, we welcome the nomination of Ms. Vaira Vike-
Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia.
 Our achievements in implementing last year’s
Summit decisions are quite impressive. The Human
Rights Council, of which Ukraine is an active member,
has started its work. The Peacebuilding Commission,
the Central Emergency Response Fund and the United
Nations Democracy Fund are all functioning and
making important contributions towards overcoming
disasters and injustice. All of these are notable
milestones in the process of reforming the United
Nations.
 Still, we are far from ensuring the adaptation of
our Organization to today’s realities, let alone
preparing it for addressing tomorrow’s threats and
challenges. The reform of the Security Council, the
strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, the
promotion of the 2005 World Summit agenda for
development and improvement in the management of
the Secretariat have yet to be tackled.
 It is well known that without the modernization
of the Security Council, an indispensable pillar of the
collective security system, reform of the United
Nations would be incomplete. From standpoint of the
Member States of the Eastern European Group, this
thesis could be paraphrased as follows: no enlargement
of the Security Council would be complete without
ensuring the enhanced representation of Eastern
Europe. The doubling of the Group’s membership since
1991, with, most recently, the Republic of Montenegro
joining the United Nations as its one hundred ninety-
second Member, supports our argument. At this point, I
would like to welcome the friendly Republic of
Montenegro to the United Nations family.
 We need to unite our efforts so that the United
Nations — that is, all of us together — can adequately
respond to the broad spectrum of existing and future
challenges in the areas of security, development and
human rights.
 Recent commemoration of the fifth anniversary
of the barbaric terrorist attack on this city, as well as
the growing number of terrorist acts in many parts of
the world, should leave no doubt that terrorism
continues to remain one of the most dangerous threats
of the present day.
 Ukraine welcomes the recent adoption by the
General Assembly of the Global Counter-Terrorism
Strategy and is ready to make important contributions
towards its effective realization. This important
decision has become another strong signal that
terrorism will not be tolerated. The Strategy also
testifies to the readiness of the international
community to strengthen coordination and increase the
effectiveness of measures to combat this hideous
phenomenon, within the framework of a concrete

06-53329 20

action plan. On its part, Ukraine recently ratified the
Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of
Terrorism. We call upon Member States to make
additional efforts during the current session of the
General Assembly to elaborate on and adopt the
comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
 Ukraine is deeply concerned with the situation in
the Middle East. Recent events in Lebanon and the
continuing Israeli-Palestinian crisis have shown the
need for more decisive international efforts aimed at
returning peace and stability to this region. Violence
and hatred cannot become the alternatives to the
restoration of dialogue and negotiations aimed at
achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict on all of its tracks.
 Ukraine therefore welcomes the adoption of
Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) on Lebanon.
Support of the resolution by all parties in the region
allows for hope that it will be fully implemented. As a
longstanding contributor to the United Nations
Peacekeeping efforts, including in the Middle East,
Ukraine made its concrete proposals on contributing to
the enhanced United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon.
 The inability to agree on a set of commitments
regarding disarmament and non-proliferation was one
of the major setbacks of the 2005 World Summit. More
than a decade ago Ukraine made a historic contribution
in this area when it unilaterally renounced the world’s
third largest nuclear weapons arsenal. Therefore, we
call upon Member States to strive for progress in the
areas of disarmament and non-proliferation in the
United Nations and other forums, for the sake of future
generations.
 Lately, the international community has been
concerned with the nuclear programme of Iran.
Ukraine supports the efforts of those countries that
seek to gain Teheran’s return to full and close
cooperation with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA). Appropriate levels of transparency
and cooperation with Iran on this issue would help to
ease the concerns of the international community.
Ukraine stands for the right of all nations to use
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; however, in
realizing this right, nations must fully adhere to
commitments in the field of non-proliferation.
 One of the most important tests of the ability of
the United Nations to deal effectively with inter-ethnic
conflict will be how the future status of Kosovo is
handled.
 Taking into account the fragile situation in and
around Kosovo, the political process of determining its
future status should be handled with maximum
responsibility by all the parties involved. Any imposed
decision leading to a unilateral change of borders of
that internationally recognized democratic State will
inevitably destabilize the situation in the Balkan region
and set dangerous precedents in Europe and the entire
world. Unfortunately, we are already witnessing the
unfolding of an undesirable scenario created by
attempts to use the Kosovo settlement as a precedent
for claiming independence for several self-proclaimed
regimes within the boundaries of the former Soviet
Union. I refer to so-called referendums on
independence recently held in Transdniestria, Moldova,
and scheduled for the near future in South Ossetia,
Georgia. Ukraine and the international community do
not recognize these referendums, considering them
illegitimate and without legal consequences.
 Ukraine supports the need for negotiations
between Belgrade and Pristina aimed at finding a
mutually acceptable solution based on Security Council
decisions, including resolution 1244 (1999). It is
extremely important to ensure that the decision of the
Security Council on the final status of Kosovo does not
impose a solution, which can be taken only with the
clearly expressed consent of both parties concerned.
 As representative of Ukraine and Chair of the
GUAM — Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova
Group — Organization for Democracy and Economic
Development, I would like to thank the countries that
supported placing on the agenda of the sixty-first
session of the General Assembly item 27 on protracted
conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for
international peace, security and development. It is an
important step that will help to draw attention to the
need for more active and effective steps by the
international community to achieve progress in settling
conflicts on the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Moldova. We call for implementing the initiative
proposed by the President of Ukraine on Transdniestria
entitled “To settlement through democracy”, the plan
for a peace settlement in South Ossetia presented by
the President of Georgia, and for implementing the
Security Council resolutions and OSCE decisions on
the conflicts in Nagorny Karabakh and Abkhazia.
These conflicts are among the main obstacles to the

21 06-53329

full-scale democratic transformation of the region,
which is among the core elements of Ukraine’s
regional policy.
 Having gained a new level of integration during
the Kyiv Summit last May, GUAM member States set
as their main goals the strengthening of democratic
values, the rule of law, and human rights and
fundamental freedoms, the deepening of European
integration, and the achievement of sustainable
development and the greater well-being of their
peoples.
 The Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization (BSEC) is another promising model of
multilateral political and economic cooperation.
During the 14 years of its dynamic existence, that
organization has proved its value as a framework for
regional cooperation. Because issues of energy security
are very important for Europe today, the Black Sea and
Caspian Sea regions take on special significance for
the secure, stable extraction and transportation of
energy resources. Ukraine is ready to take an active
part in promoting energy projects within the BSEC
framework. We are convinced that the BSEC can
effectively support the efforts of the world community
to combat terrorism, resolve the so-called frozen
conflicts in the region and combat trans-border crime.
It is necessary to coordinate BSEC activity with
corresponding programmes supported by the United
Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, the European Union and NATO.
 The Forum of the Community of Democratic
Choice (CDC), held in Kyiv in December 2005, is
another example of cooperation aimed at strengthening
European democratic values in Eastern Europe. The
CDC is a forum in which the States of the Baltic Sea-
Black Sea-Caspian Sea area with the Balkans discuss
their aspirations for the higher democratic standards
required for full-scale European integration. GUAM,
BSEC and the CDC are valuable contributions to the
creation of an Eastern Europe area akin to the
European Union area of democracy, stability and
prosperity.
 Democracy, the rule of law and respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms are essential elements
of Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policies. That is why
we are proud to have been elected to the Human Rights
Council. As a member of that body, Ukraine is ready to
work with other States to bring about real change
through the promotion of human rights worldwide.
 The international community is responsible for
protecting people threatened with genocide or other
violations of fundamental human rights. In two years,
we will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the United
Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide. One and a half decades
before the adoption of the Convention, and even before
the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Ukrainian people was
a victim of genocide. Deliberately organized by the
Communist totalitarian regime for the purpose of
destroying the vital core of the freedom-loving
Ukrainian people — its peasantry — the Holodomor in
Ukraine of 1932 and 1933 killed 7 million to 10
million innocent men, women and children, about
25 per cent of Ukraine’s population at that time. The
Communist regime tried to conceal the scale and tragic
consequences of that inhuman crime from the world
community, and they succeeded for a long time.
 After Ukraine regained its independence, many
new appalling and horrifying facts were revealed. The
parliaments of a number of countries have recognized
the Holodomor of 1932 and 1933 as an act of genocide.
Ukraine calls on the United Nations, as the collective
voice of the international community, to contribute to
the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the
Convention by recognizing the Holodomor as an act of
genocide against the Ukrainian people. That step would
contribute towards making genocide and mass abuse of
human rights impossible in the future.
 With the same aim, a number of events will take
place in Kyiv tomorrow to commemorate the sixty-fifth
anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy. The mass
executions by the Nazis there were among the first sad
pages of the evolving tragedy of the Holocaust. Etched
in the memory of the Ukrainian people, it also saw the
death of tens of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war of
various nationalities. This event will be yet another
important reminder of the lessons of history and the
need to prevent all manifestations of anti-Semitism,
xenophobia and intolerance.
 Needless to say, we should focus on
implementing the Millennium Development Goals and
new commitments on the global development agenda
made at the 2005 World Summit. There has been mixed
progress in this area, and the commitments and
promises made have not yet been translated into action

06-53329 22

with direct impact on the lives of peoples in need. The
response to global threats should be effective and
timely. It took the international community nearly 20
years since the first recorded cases of AIDS to
recognize that this disease could threaten the very
existence of humanity. The twenty-sixth special session
of the Assembly initiated by Ukraine together with
other States, and held in 2001, was a turning point in
combating HIV/AIDS. I want to confirm Ukraine’s
commitment to implementing the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS (resolution S-26/2) and to
express hope for continuing close cooperation in this
field with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria, with the World Bank and with United
Nations specialized agencies.
 Lately, we have witnessed the emergence of a
new disease that potentially poses no less a challenge
to humanity than HIV/AIDS. Avian influenza threatens
the entire world and knows no borders. It is our joint
responsibility to ensure that all countries are protected
against this threat. Combating the spread of avian
influenza and preparations for a possible pandemic of
human influenza demand concerted action at the
national, regional and global levels. Should we repeat
the mistakes of the past or should we learn the lessons
and thus meet the challenge prepared? We believe that
the General Assembly should consider the problem and
provide the answer.
 In the more than 60 years since its creation, the
United Nations has grown both in numbers — from 51
States to 192 — and in quality. Our Organization has
gained invaluable experience in changing the world so
that every person can enjoy more security, justice and
dignity. However, much remains yet to be achieved. I
believe that it is within our power and in our interest to
do all we can to ensure that the world is united not only
by a common past but by a common future as well.


Allow me, Madam, to congratulate you
upon your election as President of the sixty-first
session of the General Assembly. I also wish to take
this opportunity to convey our high appreciation to
Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his commendable
achievements throughout his two consecutive terms of
office, in the maintenance of peace and the promotion
of socio-economic development the world over.
 Despite the fact that today’s global trend is
towards peace and development cooperation, the
international situation continues to undergo rapid and
complex changes. Numerous events during the past
year demonstrate that world peace, justice and security
are far from being secured, due to the use of force in
the settlement of international problems and violations
of the sovereignty of Member States. All of this creates
major impediments to peace and development
cooperation among States and peoples.
 Globalization offers new opportunities for
economic development, yet its benefits are unevenly
shared. Developing countries, in particular the most
vulnerable groups, namely the least developed
countries, landlocked developing countries and small
island developing States, have taken important steps to
launch trade liberalization and further integrate
themselves into the world economy. Nevertheless,
those countries continue to face many problems,
primarily the lack of basic infrastructure, access to
markets, capital, new technology, financing and
investment. In order to solve those problems, the
international community must create an enabling
environment conducive to development, whereby the
interests of developing countries can be tangibly
promoted.
 To enable the United Nations to meet the
challenges ahead, it should be reformed in a
comprehensive, inclusive and balanced manner. This
would enhance the important role of the Organization
in maintaining international peace and security and
promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes and
international cooperation for development. In addition,
the United Nations reform process should include the
revitalization of the General Assembly, the
strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and
reform of the Security Council in order to render it
more legitimate, democratic and effective.
 Despite the failure of the recent United Nations
Conference to Review Progress Made in the
Implementation of the Programme of Action to
Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in
Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, the

06-53329 2

Lao People’s Democratic Republic considers that the
Programme of Action is a living document and remains
a framework for cooperation that empowers States to
work towards its full and effective implementation.
 The historic first meeting of heads of State or
Government of the Group of Landlocked Developing
Countries, held on 14 September 2006 in Havana,
Cuba, adopted a declaration reaffirming the right of
access to and from the sea of landlocked countries, in
accordance with international law, and underscored the
importance of a midterm review to assess the
implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action. In
my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Landlocked
Developing Countries, I appeal to the international
community to further address the special needs and
problems of that vulnerable group and to lend us
support and assistance in our efforts to bring the
midterm review process to a successful conclusion.
 The country supports General Assembly
resolutions that call upon the Government of the
United States of America to put an end to the
economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed
on the Republic of Cuba.
 In the Middle East, there is an urgent need to
implement Security Council resolution 1701 (2006),
which would bring normalcy to the situation in
Lebanon and pave the way for a comprehensive
solution to the Palestinian problem, in conformity with
the relevant United Nations resolutions.
 The situation in the Korean peninsula requires
that problems should be resolved by peaceful means. In
that regard, we call for the resumption of the Six-Party
Talks based on the principles and commitments set out
in the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005, in order
to promote peace and security in the region.
 The international community is deeply concerned
to see the people of Iraq continue daily to endure
significant losses in human lives and property. My
country expresses the hope that peace, security and
national unity will be restored as soon as possible.
 In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,
following the election of members of the National
Assembly of the sixth legislature, held in early 2006, a
new Government has been formed with the main tasks
of consistently pursuing the policy of overall
restructuring and ensuring the effective implementation
of our five-year socio-economic development plan.
That achievement would contribute to strengthening
the nation’s political stability and social security and to
consolidating solidarity throughout society.
 Over the past five years, the national economy
has grown at an annual average rate of 6.3 per cent, the
incidence of poverty has declined from 48 per cent of
the population in 1990 to 28.7 per cent in 2006, and
opium cultivation has been completely eradicated.
Public investment was concentrated in areas such as
infrastructure and social development, particularly
human resource development which focuses on
education, health and culture. Moreover, foreign direct
investment has swiftly increased.
 For the coming years, the Government will
concentrate all its efforts and actively mobilize all of
the country’s forces and potential, in conjunction with
favourable conditions and opportunities provided by
the international community, for the purpose of
ensuring the successful implementation of our national
socio-economic development plan for the period 2006-
2010, with a view to achieving steady economic
growth at an annual rate of 7.5 per cent.
 It is expected that by 2010, the slash and burn
method of cultivation will definitely be terminated and
that the problem of poor households will be basically
solved. In addition, policies of support for small and
medium enterprises will be implemented concurrently
with the promotion and gradual expansion of
industrialization, with a view to further improving the
living conditions of our people and raising them to a
higher level.
 Similarly, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
will further expand its relations and cooperation with
the international community and will contribute
actively to the regional integration process, particularly
the integration of countries members of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the aim of
enhancing the role of the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic as an efficient partner of the countries in
South-East Asia and other regions of the world.
 In closing, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
reiterates its determination to work in unison with the
international community to create an environment
conducive to promoting the well-being of all countries
and peoples the world over.