It honours me to deliver the statement of Saudi Arabia
on behalf of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the outset, it gives me
great pleasure to express to you and your Government
my most sincere congratulations on your election as
President of the sixty-first session of the General
Assembly. I am fully confident that your diplomatic
expertise and thorough knowledge of international
affairs will guarantee the success of this session. I
would like to express my appreciation to your
predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, Foreign Minister of
Sweden, who presided over the previous session with
wisdom and expertise. The constant and diligent efforts
of the Secretary-General were essential for revitalizing
the role of the United Nations and for upholding its
principles, despite the difficult times and crucial
challenges we face. He, therefore, deserves our full
support and deepest gratitude.
 The world today faces a host of global problems
that can be successfully addressed only within the
context of multilateral cooperation under the umbrella
of the United Nations. Human suffering caused by
poverty, hunger, malnutrition, the spread of diseases
and epidemics and natural disasters still require the
concerted efforts of the international community in
combating them. These global challenges do not
distinguish among people on the basis of colour,
religion or nationality. Invariably, it is the most
vulnerable who suffer the most from these
humanitarian threats, making it all the more urgent for
the international community to assume its collective
responsibility in addressing these issues.
 The Middle East is in the midst of a very
dangerous phase, with the emergence of new crises and
the worsening of old ones, such as the continued Israeli
occupation of Arab lands in Palestine, Syria and
Lebanon; the volatile situation on the Lebanese-Israeli
border; the invasion of Lebanon; the challenges posed
by continued instability and sectarian violence in Iraq;
and the as-yet unresolved issue of Iran’s nuclear
programme. The accumulation of crises and tensions in

51 06-53323

the region can only encourage an environment in which
extremism and terrorism will thrive with undesirable
consequences. It is, therefore, imperative that we warn
specifically against the continued trend towards
stopgap crisis management that has taken the place of
the serious pursuit of a comprehensive and just
solution based on the principles of international law
and resolutions of international legitimacy free from
partiality, double standards or selectivity.
 Undoubtedly, the key to resolving these multiple
crises will be to invigorate the peace process with the
aim of achieving a just and durable settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the oldest conflict in
modern times. This conflict is the most enduring
international conflict today, and its continuation
negatively affects the prospects of reaching effective
solutions to other crises.
 The ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine
represents a flagrant breach of international law and
the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force and blatant disregard for resolutions
of international legitimacy. This issue lies at the core of
the Middle Eastern problem. The international
community should no longer tolerate procrastination or
repeated failures in resolving this situation. The
international community, and especially the major
Powers, must set aside their divisions and face up to
the vital task of reaching, as soon as possible, a
peaceful, just and lasting solution, in accordance with
the principles of international legitimacy.
 The resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
must be placed in its appropriate context by reconciling
the rights of the Palestinian and the Israeli people and
establishing two neighbouring States enjoying security,
which is a natural outcome of peace. It is peace that
ensures security, and not the other way around. The
basis for a solution is clear to all of us, as expressed by
the President of the United States in the context of his
two-State vision, which is in harmony with relevant
United Nations resolutions and with the Arab Peace
Initiative, adopted unanimously at the Beirut Summit.
What is urgently needed today is to link that vision
with a clear agenda bound to a specific time-frame.
 Regrettably, the problem has been portrayed as
inextricably complicated and not amenable to
customary solutions. Using security considerations as a
pretext, exceptional provisions allowed one of the
parties to the conflict to specify unilaterally the basis
and conditions for negotiations, to choose its
negotiating partner, to violate previously concluded
agreements, to impose unilateral measures and to use
force to impose a status quo. Our purpose here is not to
enter into futile debates, but it is important to
recognize that the peace process has suffered greatly
from these exceptions, which give rise to double
standards and inequitable obligations.
 Reviving the peace process will require serious
international cooperation so as to realize the two-State
vision within a reasonable time-frame. Recent events
have once again proved that military solutions only
undermine the interests and the security of all parties.
It is therefore essential that we learn the lessons of our
previous failures in the pursuit of peace. These failures
resulted from an exaggerated emphasis on procedural
and provisional issues. The establishment of interim
security arrangements proved complicated and
exhausting, while procedures for building mutual trust
enabled the enemies of peace to undermine the peace
process in its entirety.
 What is required from us today is a fundamental
change in our quest to achieve a just and
comprehensive peace in the area. It is imperative that
we go to the root and heart of the conflict by
establishing an effective mechanism to ensure
immediate and peaceful negotiations addressing all
final status issues, including Jerusalem, borders,
refugees and mutual security arrangements. The
required breakthrough can be achieved only through a
historic and comprehensive deal.
 A clear outline of the solution has been apparent
ever since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) in 1947.
That resolution set out the partition of Palestine, which
was then under a British Mandate, into an Arab and an
Israeli State. It also proposed clearly defined borders
for those two States. Since then, the Security Council
and the General Assembly have issued hundreds of
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 242
(1967), which emphasized the principle of refraining
from the acquisition of territory by force, and called on
Israel to withdraw from all territories occupied in
1967. It also reiterated the need to find a just solution
to the issue of the Palestinian refugees. Thirty-nine
years after the adoption of this resolution, the
Palestinian people continue to be deprived of their
inherent right to self-determination and of their
entitlement to live in an independent State with Arab
Jerusalem as its capital.

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 Only two months ago Israel launched a brutal act
of aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the
destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure, the
displacement of one third of its population, and the
wounding and killing of thousands of civilians,
including women, children and the elderly. That
senseless war, of course, did not make Israel any safer.
The only thing achieved by Israel in Lebanon was vast
destruction and devastation, provoking yet deeper
hatred and enmity. We wonder how many tragedies and
victims we and the world will have to have before
everyone understands that military solutions will not
succeed.
 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its full
support for the legitimate Lebanese Government as it
seeks to extend its authority and influence over its
entire territory. The Kingdom also calls on the
brotherly people of Lebanon to stand united so that
their country may once again enjoy security and
prosperity. We reiterate the need for all parties to
remain committed to Security Council resolution 1701
(2006) and call for a rapid Israeli withdrawal from the
Sheba’a Farms area, recognized by Israel as an
occupied territory. We also call for a return to the
Armistice Agreement signed between Lebanon and
Israel in 1949, as this is the only means of
guaranteeing security and stability and avoiding a
return to the status quo ante.
 As part of our commitment to reconstruction
efforts in Lebanon, we call on the international
community to hold Israel responsible for providing fair
compensation for the destruction and losses inflicted
upon Lebanon as a result of that aggression. One of the
reasons why Lebanon has been a victim of repeated
Israeli invasions — seven so far — is that we have not
held the aggressor accountable.
 We are profoundly concerned and extremely
saddened by the deteriorating security situation in Iraq,
marked by daily confrontation, acts of violence and
bombings. The absence of security and stability in Iraq
continues to hamper the efforts of all countries
committed to assisting Iraq in overcoming its ordeal,
rehabilitating its economy and helping it to rebuild.
The Kingdom has always reaffirmed the importance of
consolidating Iraq’s unity, respecting its independence
and sovereignty, and refraining from interfering in its
internal affairs. We call on the international community
to support the programme adopted by the legitimate
Iraqi Government, led by Mr. Nuri Al-Maliki, to
achieve a comprehensive national reconciliation;
revitalize Government institutions in the security,
military, political and economic areas; and disarm the
militias.
 It has long been acknowledged that the
proliferation of nuclear weapons has seriously
undermined the security of all countries. Over time, a
number of international treaties and conventions have
produced bilateral and multilateral obligations, but
such obligations are of no use if they are not fully
observed and fully applied. We cannot ignore the
serious threat to global peace and security that such
weapons continue to pose, regardless of whether they
are used in wars between States or fall into the hands
of terrorist groups.
 Effectively preventing the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction will require abandoning
double standards and emphasizing the importance of
making the entire Middle East, including the Arab Gulf
region, a zone free from nuclear weapons. Israel is the
only country in the region that is known to possess
weapons of mass destruction but is not subjected to any
form of monitoring.
 While we support the right of all countries to the
peaceful use of nuclear energy — including the
acquisition of know-how and nuclear technology for
peaceful purposes — we call on all parties to support
the path of negotiations and peaceful solutions with
regard to the Iranian nuclear issue. Iran’s repeated
statements that its nuclear programme is restricted to
the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should continue to
serve as a strong basis for negotiations.
 The Kingdom and other members of the Gulf
Cooperation Council are eager to maintain and enhance
their relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and
we hope that the Government of Iran will respond
positively to the repeated calls by the United Arab
Emirates for the peaceful resolution of the issue of the
occupied islands belonging to the Emirates.
 International terrorism is a threat to us all. The
ongoing atrocities perpetrated by terrorists continue to
test our resolve to combat and counter terrorism. There
is no acceptable justification for any form of terrorism,
but we cannot ignore the fact that it has roots and
causes that enable it to thrive. Achieving a decisive
victory over terrorism will require not only that we
deny all financial support to terrorists, but also that we
address the origins of extremist thought and the

53 06-53323

conditions in which terrorists prosper. If we address the
feelings of despair, anger and frustration experienced
by peoples when they are denied their legitimate rights,
we will deprive extremists of their causes and rallying
cries.
 As one of the main targets of terrorism, the
Kingdom has repeatedly denounced terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations and has achieved tangible
success in combating it. The Kingdom has acceded to
most of the international counter-terrorism agreements,
as well as the Arab Convention on the Suppression of
Terrorism and the Convention of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Combating
International Terrorism. The Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud,
has proposed the establishment of an international
counter-terrorism centre under United Nations
auspices. The only way to thwart the evil plans of
terrorists is through the exchange of intelligence and
updated information among countries and agencies.
Innovative solutions can be found to adequately
address reservations regarding the sensitivity of such
information and its secret sources.
 As we renew our commitment to and
participation in the international campaign against
terrorism, we must at the same time draw attention to
growing worldwide concerns about its flagrant use as a
pretext by extremist forces and by advocates of a clash
between civilizations and cultures.
 We must periodically evaluate the effectiveness
and success of our methods of combating terrorism and
extremism. Here, I must reiterate that no true religion
advocates the use of terrorism; all of the world’s great
religions promote noble values. We should not hold the
vast majority of true believers responsible for the
deviant behaviour of a very small minority of
adherents of any religion. Saudi Arabia strongly rejects
the characterization of Islam as a violent religion that
in any way supports terrorism. Saudi Arabia calls on all
those who want to learn more about Islam and its
attitude towards terrorism to consult reliable
authorities or documents such as the 10-year plan of
action adopted unanimously by the members of the
OIC at its recent extraordinary summit held in Saudi
Arabia. The success of the global counter-terrorism
campaign will depend on our strict adherence to the
rules of international law, human rights, norms and
humanitarian values, and respect for all religions.
 The continued humanitarian suffering in Darfur is
unacceptable to all of us. We hope that the current
efforts to remedy the situation will be given a chance
to succeed. We hope that this destructive conflict,
which is causing unjustifiable losses on all sides, will
swiftly come to an end. The Sudanese authorities, who
have achieved a historic success by bringing about
reconciliation in the South, are cooperating with efforts
to achieve reconciliation in Darfur, and have welcomed
the deployment of African Union forces. Arab States
have committed themselves to providing those forces
with the support and financial resources that they need.
We are concerned that the deployment of international
troops without the consent of the sovereign
Government of the Sudan will make them part of the
problem, rather than part of the solution.
 Saudi Arabia, itself a developing country, plays a
major role in promoting development in other
developing and least developed countries. To help
those countries overcome their problems of poverty
and underdevelopment, Saudi Arabia provides
generous aid through its national institutions, as well as
through international and regional institutions. Over
the past three decades, Saudi Arabia has contributed
approximately 4 per cent of its gross domestic product
in official development assistance (ODA) — the
highest percentage contributed by any country in the
world. Saudi Arabia has also offered debt relief
amounting to more than $6 billion to a number of least
developed countries.
 In order to ensure continued global economic
growth, Saudi Arabia has increased its petroleum
production capacity to stabilize petroleum markets, to
ensure the continued flow of sufficient petroleum and
to curb artificially high prices. Saudi Arabia hosts the
secretariat of the International Energy Forum, which it
established as a forum for discussing areas for
cooperation and dialogue between petroleum-
consuming and petroleum-producing countries.
Increased cooperation between those countries will
contribute directly to the stabilization of petroleum
markets. Petroleum, of course, is an essential strategic
commodity for the promotion of sustained global
economic growth.
 Our world is experiencing ever-accelerating and
increasingly complex political, economic and social
changes. Now more than ever, it is vital that we
cooperate with one another to address the complex
issues and changes facing us. Balanced and respectful

06-53323 54

relations among countries, based on the principles of
justice, mutual trust and true partnership, are essential
to that end. Promoting healthy relations and
understanding among nations will best equip us to meet
future challenges and to respond to them in a way that
will benefit all of humanity.


We
wish to congratulate Ms. Al-Khalifa for her election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first
session, with the certainty that her distinguished
personal and professional qualities will ensure the
optimum performance of the work on the agenda. This
also represents recognition of the necessary
participation of women in the reforms of the United
Nations. I also wish to extend our special recognition
to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his
resolute efforts and dedication to international peace
and security, stability, human rights and development,
in addition to his appreciable contribution to the reform
of the Organization.
 The international community currently has
challenges that require our immediate attention. At the
present time, there are more than sixteen armed-
conflicts in the world where the United Nations
participates in peacekeeping operations. El Salvador is
present at some of these operations, concretely
demonstrating our belief in an international system of
law, and in an international organization capable of
resolving such conflicts that seriously threaten our
stability.
 The situation of instability has an indescribable
impact in terms of the loss of human life, the
destruction of infrastructure, refugees, displaced
persons and the shortage of resources needed for life.
This impacts the affected regions, as well as the
political, economic and humanitarian condition of the
entire international community.
 I have come to this rostrum to speak out in favour
of peace and security in the Middle East, as well as
dialogue and understanding, so that we can find timely
and sustainable political and diplomatic solutions that
support our belief in the right of the Israeli and
Palestinian peoples to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized borders.
 We welcome adoption of resolution 1697 (2006)
on 31 July and resolution 1701 (2006) on 11 August by
the Security Council and call for compliance with
those resolutions as they make possible a cessation of
hostilities. This should represent the beginning of a
new phase in finding a negotiated political solution to
the conflict in Lebanon and in the Middle East.
 We are fully convinced that one of the keys to
progress towards peace in the Middle East is the
disarmament of all armed groups operating outside the
law and Government control in the region, as well as
the exercise by Governments of full sovereignty over
their territories. Here, we believe that it is essential for
the United Nations, in particular the Security Council,
to continue to play a proactive and decisive role in
finding a lasting, comprehensive and sustainable
solution in the Middle East and to redirect the peace
process.
 After a careful analysis of the international
situation, and of the Middle East in particular, my
Government made the decision to move its ambassador
from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. We hope that this will
make a contribution to promoting the peace process in
the region and serve as an expression of our
commitment and respect for compliance with United
Nations resolutions.
 We do hope that this decision, in addition to
making a concrete contribution to peace in the Middle
East, will also help to strengthen friendship and
understanding between my country and Israel. We also
wish to express our feelings of solidarity and
friendship to the Palestinian people. They can rely on
El Salvador to continue to seek peace, security and
well-being for the Palestinian people.
 Terrorism is a real and merciless threat against
humanity. Accordingly, I wish to reaffirm our vigorous
condemnation of all acts of terrorism in all their forms
and manifestations, wherever or by whomever they are
committed, irrespective of the objective sought.
 Today, more than ever, it is essential to strengthen
and expand international cooperation to combat this
scourge, within the framework of the rule of law,
human rights and international humanitarian law. The

06-52737 28

United Nations has a historic opportunity to combat
international terrorism through the recently adopted
Global Strategy against Terrorism. The threat of
terrorism is a daily reality, but the opportunity to deal
with it is in our hands. Let us do what we need to do to
implement this strategy and strengthen international
cooperation in combating terrorism.
 El Salvador supports and participates actively in
attaining these objectives. We continue to promote
such action at the national level and hope that our
legislative assembly will adopt a law against terrorism
in the next few days.
 Given the situation of the world as described, we
would like to take this opportunity to add our voices to
the call of the international community regarding the
celebration of the International Day of Peace, set by
the General Assembly on 21 September each year. The
Assembly issued a firm appeal that during that Day all
parties in conflict, wherever they might be, cease their
fighting and observe a global ceasefire, leading to
reflection about the adverse effects of war and the
benefits of peace.
 One of the most serious threats to peace, social
stability, the security of citizens and economic
development is the problem of organized crime.
El Salvador, together with other countries in Central
America, has been particularly affected by this problem
in recent years. The expansion of the criminal activities
of bands and gangs that act not only within countries,
but also beyond borders. They have become criminal
organizations that not only commit individual and
group murder, but also engage in extortion and terrorist
acts related to transnational crime. They have
furthermore become involved in the trafficking of arms
and drugs, human trafficking and money-laundering.
 El Salvador is aware of the dimensions of the
problem and its impact on society. For this reason, we
are one of the main countries promoting a
comprehensive approach. Not only do we directly
combat these groups, but we also use preventive
methods, namely, rehabilitation and social
reintegration. We are convinced that this task cannot be
dealt with individually. What is needed is collective
action and international coordination and cooperation.
 In this connection, we believe that this
Organization should consider the adoption of measures
and mechanisms consistent with the instruments and
protocols that deal with organized crime, so that we
can achieve a broad international consensus aimed at
coping more effectively with this evil that,
increasingly, is threatening society in general.
Moreover, we should develop policies and cooperation
to this end. I would mention, in particular, programmes
for young people in high-risk situations or who are at
odds with the law in our countries.
 Speaking of the reform of the United Nations
means talking about the suitability and relevance of an
international organization could respond adequately to
the opportunities and challenges of today’s world.
 We believe that it is particularly important to
break this stalemate in negotiations and settle as soon
as possible the question of expanding the membership
of the Security Council, both permanent and non-
permanent members, so that it can be more
representative with respect to the current number of
States that are Members of this Organization. For my
Government, this is a subject that is extremely
important. Therefore, it is essential to make this
important body more representative, to give it greater
transparency, to make it more democratic and
legitimate, particularly in the decision-making process
for important decisions.
 Also, recognition should be given to some of the
reforms adopted, and we welcome the beginning of
work of the new Human Rights Council and the
Peacebuilding Commission, of which El Salvador is
honoured and appreciative of being a part. Here, I wish
to reaffirm the commitment of the Government of
El Salvador to respect and protect human rights, while
we make available to the Peacebuilding Commission
the experience gained by El Salvador in its successful
peace process. This would initially apply to some
countries, such as Burundi and Sierra Leone, that are
now being considered with regard to which the
Commission will be able to provide advice to the
Security Council.
 In the life of nations there are always special
questions that determine direction and destiny as they
move towards their future. The question of the
Republic of China in Taiwan is one of those questions.
Even though it is a political reality that has evolved in
parallel with other States and embodies all of the
characteristics needed to be a State, there is still failure
to recognize its existence. This denies the right of 23
million people of Taiwan to be represented in
international organizations and, in particular, the

29 06-52737

United Nations. We firmly believe that the situation of
Taiwan should be examined pragmatically in the light
of the current political reality. The United Nations is
the proper forum to do so — not only because it should
recognize the right of the Taiwanese people to be
represented, but also because a globalized world
should not allow exclusion or marginalization from
international cooperation. Such cooperation
strengthens efforts to combat challenges and problems
that are common to all and could undermine the quality
of life and obstruct the development of peoples. Here,
we reiterate the need to open up room for the
representation and participation of Taiwan in the
United Nations, particularly in the specialized
agencies, which by their nature are related to
humanitarian, economic and social questions.
 The President returned to the Chair.
 A subject of special interest for El Salvador is the
strengthening of international cooperation for
development, particularly with a view to complying
with the Millennium Development Goals. In this
connection, we believe that, in order to implement and
follow up on our development plans, we must have the
support of the international community so as to create
fairer and more open conditions that would enable us
to accede to technological resources, the transfer of
technology, environmentally friendly technology, the
support for the generation of technical capabilities and
new financial resources in favourable conditions.
El Salvador is firmly committed to attaining the
Millennium Development Goals, as envisaged in our
Government plan, and accordingly, we have made
efforts and directed resources, primarily through
national impact programmes, together with
international cooperation, with special focus on
education and health.
 Even though we agree that every country must
assume fundamental responsibility for its own
development, the developed States should contribute to
creating the opportunities needed to enable the
relatively less developed countries to reduce the
political and economic impact of the social deficit,
through the implementation of measures that will
enable us to enjoy the benefits of free trade, economic
globalization and international cooperation and
increase our technical capacity and productivity. This
must include the commitment to give 0.7 per cent of
gross domestic product as official aid to development.
We recognize and express our appreciation to the
countries that have already done so.
 In this perspective, we have warmly welcomed
the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the
follow-up to the results of the 2005 World Summit on
development. It is of great importance if we are fully to
comply with the Millennium Development Goals that
we have set ourselves. We firmly believe that low-
income countries and middle-income countries should
not be excluded from international cooperation and
technical and financial assistance, whether bilateral or
multilateral, particularly those countries that have
maintained good responsible management of resources
obtained through international cooperation and public
finance. However, despite the progress achieved in
improving the quality of life of our peoples, there are
still groups of populations that suffer from extreme
poverty and require cooperation and international
assistance to supplement the efforts we are making to
attain those objectives.
 This could not be otherwise, given the fact that
middle- and low-income countries continue to face
challenges in the development process. Therefore, we
would like to make a resounding appeal to the
developed countries, the middle-income countries and
the multilateral financial agencies to become real
partners and strategic allies, so that we can overcome
our problems and help us to promote the agenda for
development and progress for our peoples.
 In this respect, I am pleased to announce that
El Salvador is planning to hold a forum next year of
low-income countries where we hope to unify criteria
and positions on this subject, in addition to considering
the strengthening of cooperation and technical,
scientific and financial assistance among participating
countries. On this occasion, we cordially invite middle-
and low-income countries, together with donor
countries and development agencies, to participate in
this meeting. We hope that their participation and
contributions will enrich our analysis and will benefit
the middle- and low-income countries, which are
frequently excluded from development funds.
 My Government attaches great priority to the
Agenda for Development, particularly to expand
coverage of basic services and generate opportunities
for productivity in those areas and communities where,
because of their poverty indicators and their growth

06-52737 30

potential, we have felt that they deserve strategic
attention.
 My country has been recognized for having
adopted a series of measures to strengthen democratic
institutions, economic freedoms and social investment.
This has gained us the confidence of the international
community, which we believe is indispensable for
establishing an environment conducive to mobilizing
alternative sources of funding that can make possible
social programmes aimed at reducing poverty.
 From the beginning of our term in office, we have
done much to seek innovative forms of cooperation,
such as those offered by various millennium funds. We
have applied for Millennium Challenge Account
financing for a country programme based on national
dialogue and with the participation of our citizens. It
will be an integrated, comprehensive strategy directly
benefiting more than 850,000 inhabitants of 92
municipalities in northern El Salvador, thus
contributing reducing poverty in that region.
 No less important and closely complementary, we
believe that international cooperation based on
solidarity encompasses the swapping of debt for social
programmes. We welcome the proposals and decisions
of some developed countries, which are supporting
such mechanisms, especially in health and education,
thereby encouraging countries that have honoured their
foreign debt obligations. There is no doubt that these
activities strengthen democracy and freedom.
 We feel that despite the decline in oil prices,
continued high prices are not only detrimental to the
efforts of developing countries to improve and
strengthen our economies, because they make exports
and imports more expensive, reduce income and create
inflation. They also have a negative impact on chain of
production, and on basic necessities and services,
opening the way to the possibility of a worldwide
recession, which clearly would have political and
social repercussions. We feel that oil should not be
used as a tool to achieve goals of any kind, but rather
as a means to strengthen the global economy in
general. It is important to define rules for creating a
more stable oil market and at the same time to enhance
our efforts to find alternative sources of energy that are
accessible and environmentally friendly.
 For El Salvador, migration is one of the priorities
on our domestic and international agenda. We have
decided to create, for the first time in the history of
El Salvador, the post of Vice-Minister for Foreign
Affairs for Salvadorans Living Abroad, a high-level
Government position within the Foreign Ministry,
whose main function is to serve emigrants through a
comprehensive, multidimensional policy. The vice-
ministry is operating successfully. Salvadorans living
abroad are on the presidential agenda. Last week, the
Assembly held a High-level Dialogue on International
Migration and Development. El Salvador participated
proactively and chaired one of the round tables. I am
thankful for the confidence placed in us.
 Allow me to reaffirm what was expressed by the
Foreign Minister of El Salvador at the High-level
Dialogue. We stress the importance of this issue and
the need to continue discussions from a broad-based
and positive perspective, which gives us a
comprehensive view and a higher level of
understanding of the issue of migration as an
international social fact. Migration gives rise to a
dynamic and complex process involving various
aspects including flows of individuals, capital, goods
and services. It involves rights and obligations,
organization, assistance, cooperation, legal and
legislative processes, analysis, studies and research on
this issue, and subsequent oversight by the United
Nations system, as a complement to domestic,
subregional and continental efforts.
 I welcome the outcome of the Dialogue and
express the hope that the United Nations will give the
issue of migration human, just and balanced
consideration.
 On 16 January 2007, we will celebrate the
fifteenth anniversary of the signing of the peace
accords for El Salvador. Fifteen years ago, Salvadorans
were fully convinced that we were worthy of a better
future and deserved a rebuilt, democratic country, a
country of reconciliation and freedom for us and for
our children. We can now be proud of our endeavours
to genuinely fulfil the commitments made at
Chapultepec, whose spirit should prevail as we
continue to strengthen democratic institutions in my
country.
 I would like to pay public tribute to the entire
people of El Salvador for their dedication to the cause
of peace and national reconciliation. I would also like
to acknowledge the men and women who signed the
peace accords, whose historic action was the basis for
our present and future as a nation. Likewise, I would

31 06-52737

like to pay a special tribute to the United Nations for
its work and for its effective mediation, which led to
the completion in 2003 of its work to monitor the
peace accords, and to the countries of the Group of
Friends of El Salvador for their important support for
the successful completion of the peace process.
 Today, the United Nations — an Organization
created to promote and realize universal principles and
ideals that are still valid in our contemporary world,
especially the ideal of promoting progress for the
millions of persons throughout the world who struggle
daily to secure their basic rights, dignity and
importance as human beings — has a choice: either to
ossify and become anachronic, or to modernize and
become an Organization that can deal more efficiently
and effectively with the challenges of the twenty-first
century in a complex, globalized and interdependent
world.
 It is clear that we all wish for a modern and
viable Organization to meet the challenges together,
but Member States will decide whether the
Organization changes to fulfil its mandate, especially
to maintain international peace and security and
promote respect for human rights and economic and
social development.
 Thus, it will depend on us whether the present
and the future of the today’s world will be based on
diplomacy or will be condemned to use force to resolve
differences in international relations. This is the serious
dilemma that we must resolve. The task is complex
because of its size and ramifications, due in turn to its
diversity in the face of the phenomena of power and
the exercise of power. We hold the hope that reason
and conscience will prevail over force and
domination — for the benefit of all humanity.


On behalf of President Xanana Gusmão and Prime
Minister José Ramos-Horta and on behalf of the people
of Timor-Leste, allow me to congratulate you, Madam,
on your election to the presidency of the General
Assembly at its sixty-first session. Your experience and
diplomatic ability will ensure the success of this
session.
 I would also like to congratulate your
predecessor, His Excellency Jan Eliasson of Sweden,
for the critical role he played in the reform of the
United Nations, including the establishment of the
Human Rights Council and Peacebuilding
Commission.
 I would also like to extend my congratulations to
permanent representatives and experts, for their
positive contributions during the long and arduous
negotiations. I take this opportunity to also
congratulate His Excellency the Ambassador of
Angola, Mr. Ismael Gaspar Martins, for his election as
President of the Peacebuilding Commission.
 Allow me to extend the congratulations of the
people and Government of Timor-Leste to the people
and Government of Montenegro on their new
membership at the United Nations.
 At the outset of this sixty-first session, a great
son of Africa and of the world, His Excellency Kofi
Annan, delivered his last report as Secretary-General
of our Organization. In the complicated international
landscape of the past 10 years, he and his team
contributed significantly to the advancement of the
noble ideals of the United Nations in the world,
including his decisive contribution to the independence
and liberation of my country, Timor-Leste.
 Our people will never forget his decisive support
and we wish much success to him and to Mrs. Nane
Annan, whom we honour for her contribution to the
strengthening the role of women in the world and for
the compassion shown to those who suffer.
 In July of this year, the Prime Minister of the
Constitutional Government, Mari Alkatiri, resigned
from his post and a new Government, under the
leadership of Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta, was
sworn in.
 Since our independence in May 2002 and until
July of this year, significant gains were made in the
establishment of the institutions of the State and in the
creation of basic conditions to facilitate investment,
both national and international.
 The new Prime Minister, in his speech to the
National Parliament, reiterated his determination to
implement the following policies — reconciliation; the
consolidation of security and reform of defence and
security institutions; parliamentary and presidential
elections before May 2007; the reduction of poverty,
economic growth and investment in rural areas; good
governance; the finalization of the land border
demarcation between the Republic of Indonesia and
Timor-Leste; and ratification of the agreement with
Australia, known as “Greater Sunrise”.
 The Government will continue to implement the
national development plan, which was initiated by the
first Constitutional Government, and will do all it can
to attain the Millennium Development Goals as
outlined at the Summit in 2000.

06-53952 16

 In relation to political affairs, the Government, in
conjunction with the Presidency, the National
Parliament, the political parties, the religious
institutions, civil society and traditional society, will
hold a national dialogue to recapture the confidence in
our State institutions that was lost.
 Only yesterday, the Head of Government,
Mr. Ramos-Horta, met with the representatives of the
armed forces who had been dismissed — now referred
to as “the petitioners” — to once again find a solution
that is in conformity with the laws of Timor-Leste and
that is acceptable to the various parties involved in the
situation.
 The Government of Timor-Leste is determined to
proceed with the reform of the security and defence
institutions, namely Falintil-FDTL and the National
Police Force of Timor-Leste.
 The National Police Force, an institution whose
mandate it is to promote law and order, disintegrated
partially during the recent crisis. A first group of 25
members of the Police Force resumed duty this week
under a mentoring scheme run by the United Nations
Police in Timor-Leste. The reconstitution of the
National Police Force as a professional, non-partisan
police force is critical to stability.
 As political leaders of a young nation, we
acknowledge that not every decision made was right
and that some decisions created discontent and were
part of the cause of the demonstrations in April, May,
June and July of this year.
 We are all interested in carrying out a profound
and honest reflection on the causes of this crisis. The
President of the Republic, Mr. Kay Rala Xanana
Gusmão, the Prime Minister, Mr. José Ramos-Horta,
together with leaders of the Catholic Church and other
religious denominations, will co-organize a national
conference based on our culture and traditional values,
in which various actors, including civil and traditional
society, will participate.
(spoke in English)
 As a post-conflict country, we have recently
experienced a relapse of violence owing to institutional
failures of our defence and police forces, high levels of
unemployment and wrong political decisions that we
took as leaders of a new country. As a result of the
violence, we had almost 150,000 internally displaced
persons and almost 100 dead. Consequently, the
President of the Republic, Mr. Xanana Gusmão, the
President of the Parliament, Mr. Francisco Guterres
Lu-Olo, and Prime Minister of the first Constitutional
Government, Mari Alkatiri, had to request international
help. Immediately, our closest neighbours, the United
Nations, members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Community of
Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), and members
of the Pacific Islands Forum extended their support in a
variety of ways.
 We would like to take this opportunity to thank
Indonesia, Malaysia, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan, China, the United States of America, Korea,
Kuwait, the CPLP, the European Union and Cuba, and
many other countries, for their invaluable support
during the recent crisis in Timor-Leste.
 We also welcome the establishment of the
Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-
Leste by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to study the
events surrounding the crisis and the allegations of
human rights abuses. We commend the members of the
Security Council for their support in the creation of the
United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
(UNMIT) pursuant to Security Council resolution 1704
(2006). We praise all United Nations and other
international agencies currently based in Timor-Leste.
Without their support, our response to the humanitarian
crisis would not have been as successful as it is today.
 The Government is fully aware that reconciliation
and justice need to work hand in hand with
development. This fiscal year’s budget was increased
by 122 per cent. It focuses on job creation, not only in
towns, but fundamentally in rural areas, where the
majority of our population lives. It is a budget for the
poor. We hope that this new economic policy,
combined with the policies of reconciliation and
dialogue, will help defuse the tension and will build
common understanding and reinvigorate trust and
confidence in our common and shared future.
 As in difficult times in the past, we are
determined to succeed and restore to the people of
Timor-Leste the stability and peace that we need to
develop our country and improve the living conditions
of our people.
 To achieve these goals, we also need the support
of the United Nations and the international community
at large to help organize and supervise the upcoming
legislative and presidential elections in our country. A

17 06-53952

free, transparent and fair election will definitely pave
the way for a stable political and social environment.
 In the international arena, we have seen an
increase in violence, war and intolerance. Last week, in
this Assembly, on 21 September, the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, made a
strong appeal to the international community to not let
the olive branch fall from his hand. The international
community needs to continue its strong support for the
forces of peace and moderation in Palestine and for the
President of the Palestinian Authority. The
international community also needs to engage the
elected Palestinian Government in order to find ways
to guarantee a free and democratic Palestine living side
by side with the State of Israel in peace and harmony.
 After many years of conflict and violence, the
people of Lebanon need a peaceful environment. We
hope that the arrival of United Nations forces will help
protect that country’s sovereignty and its territorial
integrity.
 In Darfur, Sudan, we require the sustained
attention of the international community in order to
bring to the people of Sudan the peace and stability
they need.
 With respect to Western Sahara, we believe that a
dialogue between the Government of Morocco and the
leaders of the Polisario Front will help lead to a
solution in accordance with relevant United Nations
resolutions.
 As a small country, we believe that
multilateralism, dialogue, negotiations, democracy,
human rights, respect for the Charter of the United
Nations, and respect for each others’ culture and
religious values, are the best answers for today’s
challenges and intolerance. We will continue to support
all initiatives, such as interfaith cooperation and
dialogue among civilizations.
 After the Monterrey, Mexico, conference, in
March 2002, many initiatives were taken to increase
the financial resources of developing countries, one of
which was the Millennium Challenge Account. This
year Timor-Leste was selected as a threshold country,
and we are working with Millennium Challenge
Corporation members with a view to benefiting from
the grant funds.
 We commend President George W. Bush, his
Administration, our friends in the House of
Representatives and Senate and the people of the
United States of America for that great initiative. It
will definitely help to reduce poverty and promote
development in our country and in other countries in
the developing world.
 We also commend the European Union and its
Commission President, Mr. Durão Barroso, for its
continuing support for developing countries, including
Timor-Leste.
 As a least developed country and a member of the
Group of 77 and China, we share the common view
that the allocation of 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic
product of developed countries to official development
assistance is crucial, not only for development in the
South, but also so as to maintain stability, peace and
progress in the world.
 We would also like to welcome the recent
initiative of Brazil and France to tax air travel in order
to provide additional funds for financing development.
 In conclusion, I would like to say a few words in
our national language, Tetum.
(spoke in Tetum; English text provided by the
delegation)
 We would like to reiterate our thanks to all of
you, your peoples and your Governments for your
support during the crisis. I pray to God to continue to
protect you, your Governments and your peoples.


I
congratulate you, Madam President, and wish you the
greatest success in this session.
 Four years ago I attended this global forum for
the first time to announce that Colombia was beginning
an era of democratic security. I explained why security
in our time is a democratic value without which
freedoms cannot prosper; it is also a centre of
resources, in whose absence investment does not flow
and the possibility of eliminating poverty and building
equality remains elusive.

06-52988 6

 Four years ago I explained to the Assembly why
our concept of security is democratic and thus deserves
the support and confidence of all peoples and of the
United Nations.
 I am aware that I could not address the Assembly
today to propose a theory of democratic security;
having been President of my country for four years, I
feel compelled to present the results of this policy.
Colombia has held four general elections and countless
local elections over this period. The referendum and
the election of mayors and governors in 2003 were
events that tested our democratic meaning of security.
This year the presidential and congressional elections,
held on two separate dates under a high threat of
terrorism, were nonetheless among the most peaceful
in many decades. All political groupings enjoyed
effective guarantees, regardless of their level of
support for or opposition to the Government.
 Under democratic security, Colombia has elected
mayors, governors and members of Congress of all
political colours. Security has contained terrorism in
order to give democracy free expression.
 There is still much to be done in the area of
security, and a definitive peace is not yet within sight,
but progress is undeniable. The effective protection of
Colombians translates into the reduction in the number
of homicides, kidnappings, acts of terrorism, crimes
and threats against journalists and trade union leaders.
All governors and mayors exercise their powers in
their own jurisdictions, overcoming the nightmare of
exile that many were subjected to as a result of terrorist
actions that were not countered by the State.
 To guarantee the sustainability of security over
time, our citizens must give it credibility. Our task is to
build credibility based on effectiveness and
transparency. Consequently, human rights are an
imperative of security. In recent years we have
increased our security forces by 30 per cent, military
operations have tripled, and at the same time
complaints against the security forces have fallen by 38
per cent. This is all the more important because we are
a country with full internal democracy, completely
open to supervision and international criticism, as
borne out by the presence of an office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
 In spite of the work still to be done, the most
important achievement is our citizens’ positive
assessment of security and the collective determination
to consolidate it.
 We regard organized violence for fictitious
political motives as terrorism, and security as the path
to peace. When a country has a pluralist, vigorous and
guarantee-granting democracy, armed actions against it
are pure terrorism. To deny this would erase the
difference between armed combat against dictatorships,
which merited the recognition of insurgent groups in
other countries, and the violent aggression suffered by
our democracy, which is terrorism.
 The demobilization of more than 40,000 members
of violent groups, as a result of democratic security,
and the efforts proposed by the country to reintegrate
them into constitutional life, prove that for us security
is the path to peace and reconciliation.
 Talking about 40,000 demobilized is easy;
tallying them up is very difficult; demobilizing them is
even more difficult; and reintegrating them is a
monumental task. Amidst understandable controversy,
we have made progress in dismantling irregular forces.
Today the vast majority of illegal self-defence
groups — which, together with the guerrillas, until two
years ago seemed like powers greater than the State —
are demobilized, and a large percentage of their leaders
are being held by our justice system. These results are
more eloquent than rhetoric ever could be. I must add
that the number of demobilized guerrillas is higher
than the number killed by official forces.
 I have come to the United Nations today to ask
for resolute support for our security policy and our
reintegration programme. The violence in Colombia
has received much international media coverage,
constant criticism of the Government and little support
to overcome it. It is time for the international
community to urgently call on violent groups to make
peace without any further delay. The Government is as
firm in implementing security as it is rigorous in
respecting democratic rules, and is open and generous
in looking for peace. A sincere willingness for peace
will not face governmental obstacles to a definitive
reconciliation.
 The international community must support our
security policy more decisively. This will bring quicker
results from our overcoming violence and seeking
peace.

7 06-52988

 The financing of violent groups by illicit drugs is
one of the fundamental aspects that differentiate those
groups from former guerrillas in other Latin American
countries. This criminal, bottomless and autonomous
financing is the main obstacle to peace.
 It grieves me to say that progress in the fight
against illicit drugs has been small compared with the
sacrifice made by the people of Colombia and the
Government’s willingness to eradicate those drugs. The
number of extradited citizens, the confiscation of illicit
wealth and the areas sprayed represent enormous
efforts, but the results are not proportional. For the
second straight year, we have a programme for massive
manual eradication, which will mean 70,000 hectares
of coca destroyed.
 Production and consumption require a global
commitment transcending formal declarations, so as to
increasingly apply programmes that reflect actions of
shared responsibility.
 There are successful alternative development
projects. A few weeks ago, the United Nations
positively assessed the forest keeper families
programme, which covers 43,000 rural families that
have replaced drug cultivation with protection of the
forest and the growing of alternative crops. Some, such
as those in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, offer
ecotourism services. According to the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime, drugs have been
eliminated in 80 per cent of the area of the forest
keeper families, covering 2 million hectares. More than
136,000 hectares of tropical forest have been
reclaimed. Thanks to payments by the Government,
these families have already acquired more than 30,000
hectares of productive land. Nevertheless, to protect a
high percentage of the Colombian Amazon jungle and
tropical forest, we need to reach 120,000 families. That
is a great budgetary challenge, requiring more general
and decisive international support.
 The programme halts the cutting down of tropical
forest and the Amazon jungle, which have suffered the
destruction of nearly 2 million hectares because of
drugs. I ask the world: why is there not less rhetoric
and a greater and more effective commitment, so that
Colombia, which is absolutely willing to achieve it,
may finally and definitively overcome the scourge of
illegal drugs?
 We Colombians do not want to be left with efforts
and sacrifices; we require results. We are willing to
revise our strategy and improve it, but we need the
entire world to get involved with us. I ask the United
Nations for additional efforts to help us find ways to be
effective.
 We reiterate our enthusiastic commitment to meet
the Millennium Development Goals. Social cohesion,
overcoming poverty and building equity are essential
aspirations of our democracy. In 2002 poverty reached
almost 60 per cent of the population; in 2005 it was
down to 49 per cent. We will do everything possible to
ensure that it does not exceed 35 per cent by 2010 and
to reach the goal of 15 per cent by 2019, the second
centenary of our independence. Fortunately, the Gini
coefficient is beginning to show a trend towards
correction in income distribution.
 Our goals for the upcoming four-year period are
ambitious: achieving full coverage in health and basic
education and significant progress in basic sanitation
and providing microcredit for 5 million poor families.
 We want a modern democracy with security,
freedom, social cohesion, transparency and
independent institutions. This is our dream; this is what
we are fighting for. We want a nation without
exclusions and without class hatred, with harmony,
rectitude and prosperity; a nation in permanent
democratic dialogue, with fraternity and without
insurmountable antagonisms; a nation integrated into
multilateralism, grateful for the efforts of the United
Nations, receptive to the international community’s
suggestions and willing to share its experiences and
improve its results.


Please accept
my congratulations, Madam, on your election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first
session. I wish you every success. I should also like to
express my sincere thanks to the President of the
General Assembly at its sixtieth session for his
dedicated work and to wish him every success in his
future endeavours.
 The world events that have taken place over the
past 60 years are reflected more graphically in
Germany than in almost any other country. Until 1989,
the wall and the barbed wire across our country
symbolized the division of Europe and the rest of the
world into two blocs. Since then, Germany has become
the embodiment of the successful overcoming of that
division.
 Both division and the overcoming of division
have influenced our view of the world. For 45 years,
peace in Germany was due largely to the friendship and
the political and military protection of partner
countries, which took their responsibility seriously.
That experience shaped the political outlook of
Germans. That is why we, too, are now shouldering our
responsibility, both in Europe and in other parts of the
world. In the context of the United Nations, that means
that a reunited Germany believes it has an obligation to
do everything it can to support the Organization in
creating a more peaceful and more equitable world.
 German soldiers and police officers are taking
part in numerous peace missions that are either led or
mandated by the United Nations. In the Western
Balkans, Germany has provided the largest contingent
of peacekeeping troops in Kosovo and in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Germany is playing a prominent role in
the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Germany is leading
the European operation in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo and is supporting the first free elections
there in 40 years. Germany is engaged in the Sudan
through its support for the African Union Mission in
the Sudan and the United Nations Mission in the
Sudan. And, at this very moment, German navy vessels

29 06-53317

are on their way to the Lebanese coast, where they will
reinforce the United Nations peacekeeping force.
Germany will contribute up to 2,400 troops to that
peace mission.
 Germany supports a policy of dialogue and the
peaceful reconciliation of differing interests. We firmly
believe that political conflicts cannot be resolved
through military force or military victories. Peace is
brought about by engaging in political dialogue,
establishing economic ties and giving people tangible
hope for the future. If the parties to a conflict are
unable to overcome political divisions on their own,
the international community, represented by the United
Nations, has an obligation to help. That is the guiding
principle of our foreign policy.
 As Minister for Foreign Affairs of a reunited
Germany, I have been profoundly influenced by
German and European history. On that basis, I have a
concrete mandate for German foreign policy: we must
do everything in our power to prevent the world from
dividing once again into hostile blocs. Politicians in
every country have a responsibility in that regard.
Everyone can — and, I believe, everyone must —
make a contribution. It is my firm conviction that
anyone who instigates antagonism between people of
different cultures and religions is not living up to his or
her responsibility.
 No one should interpret the involvement of
Germany and its partners in the Balkans, in
Afghanistan, in the Sudan and in Lebanon as an
aggressive global campaign waged by the West against
Islam. In a world that has grown closer together than
ever before, we do not need exclusion or polarization.
Rather, we need the courage to promote understanding
and to engage in dialogue.
 In the Middle East, it is crucial, following
Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), on Lebanon,
that we seize the opportunity to promote
understanding. I call on all parties to the conflict in the
region to act responsibly. Those who want their
children and grandchildren to live in peace instead of
violence, in safety instead of fear, in prosperity instead
of poverty, must have the courage to embark on new
paths rather than simply cultivating long-standing
enmities.
 The principles for a settlement are clear: Israel’s
right to exist, on the one hand, and the establishment of
a Palestinian State, on the other. Those were the core
concerns of the Road Map, to which, I am firmly
convinced, we must return. However, if we are to
ensure lasting success, we must do everything we can
to include everyone involved, even if that seems a
roundabout way to achieve our goal. Therefore, I hope
that we will succeed in persuading Syria to engage in a
constructive dialogue. We need stronger engagement
on the part of the international community, particularly
the Middle East Quartet. I welcome the Quartet’s
recent meeting.
 In Afghanistan, the international community is
demonstrating how the principle of responsibility can
be put into practice in concrete terms. After 23 years of
civil war, political structures are now being developed.
Millions of refugees have returned to their home
country. Just as important, young people — including
girls — can go to school again. However, drug
cultivation and the security situation pose a threat to
the progress that has been made, at least in certain
regions of the country. We, the international
community cannot allow the successes to date to be
brought to naught.
 In the Western Balkans, too, war is a thing of the
past; I am very pleased to note that that is so. The
political and military commitment of the United
Nations, the United States of America, Russia and the
European Union has played a key role in this. In
Kosovo, the task now is to ensure that the two parties
to the conflict take their responsibility for peace and
stability seriously. A solution to the status of Kosovo,
which has remained unresolved for many years, is
overdue. Germany staunchly backs the efforts of the
United Nations Special Envoy, President Martti
Ahtisaari. We believe that stability cannot be achieved
if the will of only the majority population of Kosovo is
expressed. Kosovo Serbs must be guaranteed adequate
protections as a minority.
 We need only glance at a map of Africa to
understand how important the peace and stability of the
Sudan and the Congo are for the African continent as a
whole. I believe that instability and conflicts in Africa
also have a direct impact on Europe. For this reason,
too, Germany is supporting the United Nations in its
efforts to find a solution to the conflicts in those two
countries.
 While the United Nations peace mission in
southern Sudan — the United Nations Mission in the
Sudan (UNMIS) — has made an effective contribution

06-53317 30

towards the implementation of the Peace Agreement
between northern and southern Sudan, peace in Darfur
is still a long way off. Neither the Sudanese
Government nor rebel groups can be absolved of
responsibility for the humanitarian disaster in the west
of the country. Nevertheless, I am firmly convinced
that a lasting solution to the conflict will be possible
only if we work with, not against, them.
 As members are aware, over the past few years
Germany, together with France and Britain, supported
by the United States of America, Russia and China, has
been intensively seeking a solution to the conflict
regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. Let me state
clearly that no one wants to deny Iran the right to use
nuclear energy peacefully. Nor is isolating Iran the
objective of the diplomatic effort. On the contrary, we
hope that Iran will become a reliable and responsible
partner in the crisis-stricken Middle East. That is why,
on 6 June, we offered Iran a package aimed at far-
reaching cooperation. The package includes proposals
for closer diplomatic, economic and security
cooperation, and expressly acknowledges Iran’s right
to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
 However, the international community also
rightly expects cooperation and transparency from Iran.
If Iran were to prove that the suspicions of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are
unfounded and if it sent a clear sign that it truly intends
to use its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes
only, that could open the door to a development which
benefits the people of Iran and the entire region.
 It is now up to the Government in Tehran to face
up to its responsibility. The decision in favour of peace
and stability in the entire Middle East requires courage.
I call upon Iran to end the current phase of
procrastination and give a clear sign of trust so that we
can look to the future together and can finally sit down
at the negotiating table.
 Resolution of the nuclear dispute with Iran is
urgent. However, the challenges of the proliferation of
nuclear weapons go far beyond that. We must act now
if we want to halt the erosion of the non-proliferation
regime. The next attempt to implement the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons must not
fail.
 Not only Iran but also other countries are
thinking about developing enrichment technology. We
will have to develop new instruments if we want to
prevent such risks from arising.
 I am therefore strongly in favour of not merely
exchanging ideas on the multilateralization of the fuel
cycle and transferring responsibility for uranium
enrichment to the international community, but of
further developing such ideas into concrete options. I
therefore appeal for greater efforts to find solutions,
working together with the IAEA.
 The conflicts in the Middle East, Afghanistan, the
Western Balkans and the Sudan, and the dispute with
Iran, as well as the fight against international terrorism,
have one thing in common: in none of those cases is
the West taking a hostile stance against Islam. Nor do
they involve a clash of civilizations. Rather, they are
very diverse conflicts involving diverse interests.
 I believe that there is just one link, albeit a very
different one: each one of those conflicts can be
resolved only with a willingness and ability to engage
in dialogue. That is because dialogue gets everyone
concerned involved, engages them and does not allow
them to shirk their responsibility for resolving a
conflict. However, a policy of cooperation and
dialogue does not mean talking at any cost. Those who
want to engage in dialogue must meet some basic
prerequisites. In my view, these include a readiness to
bring about a peaceful reconciliation of interests —
that is to say, they must be prepared to renounce
violence and respect the position of the other side —
and their own position must be consistent and credible.
If these prerequisites are not met, then no dialogue
with any chance of success can get off the ground.
 I am firmly convinced that a dialogue beyond
cultural borders can succeed because, despite all of our
differences, we are living in one world. The various
cultures of the world have more in common than
political rabble-rousers would have us believe. People
everywhere have the same fundamental interests: they
want to live in peace and security, free from poverty.
They want good health care and good schools for their
children. No responsible Government would ever want
to withhold these from its people — nor should they
ever be allowed to try to do so.
 The United Nations and its agencies and
programmes embody this vision — and it is this vision
that makes the United Nations so indispensable. I am
convinced that we will need the United Nations more
than ever in the coming decades. The number and the

31 06-53317

scale of crises in the world are increasing. That could
bring about a renaissance of the United Nations even in
countries that are sometimes still sceptical about the
world Organization.
 The effectiveness of the United Nations, its
ability to act and the confidence it inspires as the
international community’s main multilateral
Organization are closely connected. Everyone can see
how necessary transparent structures and effective
institutions are for the United Nations. The reform of
the United Nations — the entire Organization, not just
the Security Council — should not, therefore, simply
remain on the agenda; concrete progress must be made.
 We see the expectations placed on the United
Nations rising. This is especially urgent in the case of
the review of mandates, as well as management and
financial reform. Germany pledges to support this
endeavour, because we must reform if we, as members
of the international community, wish to remain
effective. We owe that not only to the United Nations
but, above all, to the people in whose name we
shoulder responsibility together.


I
come before the General Assembly as the first woman
to be elected President of Chile, a country that has
learned from its history.
 We Chileans are living through difficult times;
the Assembly knows this. The learning curve was
difficult but productive. From pain hope was born.
Major dissent gave way to major consensus. I come
from a country where today the rule of law prevails,
where the rights of persons are respected and
promoted. It is a democracy that is experiencing
economic growth, which in the past 16 years has
helped millions of Chileans out of poverty. Chile
stands with its region and looks at the world. My
presence here today is a symbol of that Chile, a Chile
that is unafraid to look back at the past and is united in
building its own future. We can say with pride that
today Chile is more free and more fair. As a society we
have granted every citizen the basic dignity and respect
that he or she deserves.
 The world looks different from the far distant
south, and that is the viewpoint my country wishes to
bring here, a viewpoint that is optimistic about the
opportunities of globalization but cautious about its
risks. We can and must steer the course of the planet.
Humans cannot and must not avoid being the
instruments of their own advancement.
 We wish to reaffirm our commitment to
international law and institutions. Only through them
shall we be able to build the fairer and more integrated
world of which we dream, where large and small
coexist in peace and harmony. The United Nations is a
special instrument in this construction. A year ago we
agreed on a programme for the reform of the
Organization based on development, security and
human rights. This has been called the millennium of
hope. Let us make that hope a reality and do so from
here, from this forum.

06-52879 6

 Development is a responsibility shared by all
members of the international community, including the
developed countries. Its attainment requires
imagination and the political will to consolidate the
world alliance endorsed by the Millennium
Declaration. All this presupposes a more open,
transparent and fair commercial and financial system.
To our developed friends I say “Opening your markets
to products from the south is a requirement of justice.”
That will represent a huge step forward towards the
elimination of poverty. Let us therefore redouble our
efforts to bring the Doha Round to a successful
conclusion and make progress in integration processes
at the regional level.
 As an early supporter of the idea of President
Lula of Brazil, Chile joined other countries in the
initiative Action against Hunger and Poverty. We have
introduced a solidarity tax of $2 on international airline
tickets, and the funds produced will finance the
International Drug Purchase Facility (UNITAID)
project, which will provide millions of quality drugs to
people in developing countries suffering from malaria,
tuberculosis and AIDS.
 The most serious failure of the 2005 Summit was
its silence on the multilateral disarmament agenda.
Chile bases its multilateral foreign policy on the
principle that collective security is indivisible. We all
share a responsibility to preserve peace and
international security. That is why Chile has joined in
efforts to revitalize the disarmament agenda and move
towards prohibition of the use of fissile material for
military purposes.
 The security of States is linked to the security of
the human beings that make up those States, because it
allows the exercise of freedom. Terrorism negates these
freedoms and runs counter to the values that we share.
Accordingly, we support the advance of United Nations
reform in the area of counter-terrorism. Terrorism must
be combated within democracy. Whenever we restrict
constitutional guarantees and yield to the temptation to
employ illegal methods to fight terrorism we are
handing a victory to its proponents, because it is only
then that they succeed in threatening the spirit of our
democracy.
 In a spirit of solidarity we are participating
actively in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in
Haiti (MINUSTAH). Chile will continue to support the
Haitian people, and I appeal from this rostrum to all
donor countries to provide the economic and financial
assistance already pledged.
 The creation of the Peacebuilding Commission
was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding
achievements of the 2005 Summit. Chile has joined
enthusiastically in the work of the Commission and
will endeavour to ensure that its results live up to the
hopes placed in it by nations.
 My country deplores the serious crisis affecting
the Middle East and strongly condemns any armed
action targeting innocent civilians. Self-defence may
be exercised only within the framework of
proportionality and containment outlined in
international humanitarian law. The delay in the
Security Council’s call for a ceasefire in Lebanon was
also inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the
Charter. The credibility of the Organization requires
that all stakeholders do their duty without
discrimination and without subordinating collective
security to their individual interests.
 Chile supports the deployment of the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with its
expanded mandate, and will continue to respond to the
appeal to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Lebanon
and Palestine. We urge full implementation of Security
Council resolution 1701 (2006), which calls on the
international community to cooperate in a full
cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, the
restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty over its territory
and the guaranteeing of Israel’s security.
 The promotion and defence of human rights and
democracy is the cornerstone of Chile’s foreign policy.
As I said at the outset, we have learned a great deal
from our own history. Exactly 30 years ago the General
Assembly received terrible news: Orlando Letelier, the
former Foreign Minister and Defence Minister of
President Allende, had been brutally murdered on the
street in Washington D.C. Representatives were
horrified by that crime and today I remember with
emotion how we felt. I mention that to illustrate how
we have learned the lessons of the past. Nothing
justifies the violation of human rights. Chile rejects
impunity.
 I assure all members of our commitment and
enthusiasm to participate in initiatives designed to
promote human rights and democracy. We therefore
welcome the launching of the United Nations
Democracy Fund and the creation of the Human Rights

7 06-52879

Council. We very much value the Council’s adoption of
the International Convention for the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
 The promotion of human rights does not
contradict the principle of non-intervention in the
internal affairs of States. Chile has been, and will
remain, in the front line in the defence of human rights.
 The General Assembly must continue United
Nations reform. It must revitalize itself, reform and
expand the Security Council, reform the Economic and
Social Council and modernize the management of the
Secretariat and the administrative procedures of the
Organization.
 Allow me to reaffirm our hope in the United
Nations. As a woman, a doctor and the political leader
of a developing country, today I ask that we choose
life, affirm justice, promote social justice and make
this noble Organization the common and continuing
response to our peoples’ dreams of peace, development
and dignity.


Let me first congratulate
Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa on her election to the
presidency of the General Assembly. We believe that
under her guidance we will continue the reform process
laid out in the 2005 World Summit Outcome
(resolution 60/1). Our warm appreciation also goes to
Mr. Jan Eliasson, President at the sixtieth session, for
his inspiring leadership.
 Let me take the opportunity to thank the
Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his brilliant
opening speech a few days ago (see A/61/PV.3), and
for his decade of dedicated work for the United
Nations. Slovenia appreciates the role of the Secretary-
General in helping to expand our understanding of
pressing issues, such as the protection of civilians and
the responsibility to protect. The commitment of the
Secretary-General to mainstreaming human rights in
the work of the Organization and his emphasis on the
rule of law in international relations and nationally will
remain a permanent legacy. The report “In larger
freedom” (A/59/2005) contains a fair vision of the
global responsibility that we share and reminds us of
the inevitable challenges that lie ahead.

25 06-53329

 We live in a tightly interconnected,
interdependent and transparent world. It is logical and
it is right that nations should support and help each
other. What place in the world is more appropriate for
that recommendation than the United Nations? All
nations and all people should be asking themselves
how they can help each other. It appears that assistance
and contributions from affluent countries are more
effective. It seems easier for large nations to be great
nations. Unfortunately, not all nations are large. That is
true of most nations of the world, and it is, of course,
true of my country.
 The implementation of the global partnership for
development is a priority of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) to which Slovenia is fully
committed. The new external financial instruments of
the European Union as well as the tenth European
Development Fund open a new chapter in the relations
of the European Union with developing countries and
strengthen Europe’s role as a global partner in
development. That is a promising sign of progress in
the fulfilment of our commitments under the
Millennium Declaration.
 In order to contribute in an important way, the
small countries must make a special effort. We can, in
fact, be effective. Smaller countries rarely threaten or
endanger other countries. They have knowledge of
small systems and knowledge of minorities within
large systems. They can perform special tasks that
demand special qualities and particular capabilities
such as flexibility, adaptability, a spirit of empathy and
cooperation. They can serve as honest brokers. There
are a number of successful small and medium-sized
countries. They can help each other to assume creative
and relevant positions as part of the international
community.
 At the United Nations, we should continue to
review the concept of sovereignty. Many fear that the
erosion of sovereignty provides grounds for interfering
in State internal affairs. Indeed, the potential for
misuse is real. History teaches us that checks and
balances are necessary in order to shield right against
might. At the same time, the sovereignty of States must
be understood in the context of contemporary reality.
National borders are no longer an excuse for the
international community to turn a blind eye to
genocide, crimes against humanity and other gross
human rights violations.
 Last year, for the first time world leaders
formally and universally affirmed the concept of the
responsibility to protect. The 2005 World Summit
Outcome (resolution 60/1) provides a detailed
framework for individual and collective responsibility,
in areas ranging from prevention and protection to
rebuilding. We regard the framework as a conceptual
breakthrough and wish to stress the need for all
members of the international community, and the
Security Council in particular, to deliver on the
implementation of that responsibility in practice.
 Many crises are evolving as we speak, some of
which the international community will try to resolve,
while giving less attention to others. The suffering of
the civilian population in Darfur calls for our
immediate efforts. We should not allow the tragedy that
occurred in Rwanda or Bosnia and Herzegovina to be
repeated in Darfur or anywhere else.
 Attention to the Western Balkans must not
diminish. We are committed to standing by our partners
in the region in their endeavours to expand their
relationship with the European Union and to facilitate
the advent of prosperity for their citizens. Kosovo is
now approaching an important and possibly sui generis
stage in the peace process. Finding common ground
between Serbian and Kosovar Albanian positions and
striking a political deal will be difficult. We are
confident, nevertheless, that all those involved will
summon up sufficient courage to take a critical step
forward and thus enable all ethnic groups in that region
to coexist peacefully and cooperate. We hope that the
integration process in Europe will provide the
appropriate vehicle for the stabilization of the region.
 The disintegration of rigid systems like those of
the Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia has
produced a number of new States and new Members of
the United Nations. The process has sometimes been
called Balkanization. But a closer look will reveal that
many of the newborn countries, contrary to
expectations, have not regressed. Quite the opposite: a
lot of them have progressed, democratized and
reintegrated, or have expressed the desire to integrate
in a different way and have positioned themselves on a
new level. Many former republics of the Soviet Union
and Yugoslavia have thus become, or intend to become,
members of new multinational systems, such as the
European Union.

06-53329 26

 Occasionally, we still hear expressions of
hesitation and fear: we should not, they say, sacrifice
our national interests for the sake of integration. One
of the problems of the international community today
is complex relations within multinational, multi-ethnic
and multicultural systems. The question is how to
facilitate the productive coexistence of national, ethnic,
religious and other minorities.
 In the past, in Europe and elsewhere, mighty
dynasties or nations, driven by the ambition to rule
over weaker nations and minorities, practised imposed
integration. Modern integration no longer rests on
subordination; it depends on solidarity and
cooperation. Modern nations cultivate
complementarity. In the future, the United Nations
should encourage new projects and provide an efficient
framework for the management of religious diversity
and dialogue between cultures. We could then learn
from countries that had experienced a successful
transition from a central and autocratic system to a
decentralized and democratic system. Essentially, we
are concerned with sustained assistance in the
transition to democracy and coexistence within multi-
ethnic or multicultural systems.
 I support the idea of the dialogue of cultures.
However, we should be careful not to develop that
concept into a clearinghouse for one set of standards. If
so, failure is a certainty. A dialogue between two sides
each convinced of the absolute truth of its own
existence is impossible. When dealing with subjective
or intimate concepts like faith, respect and individual
dignity, we can only hope to encourage debate within
individual systems, not between them. In the latter
case, one would be imposing one’s truth on the value
system of another.
 Rather, a dialogue of cultures should be a venue
for cross-cultural discussion on objective matters like
democratic political systems, sustainable development,
security and energy. The promotion of dialogue on
matters of faith, culture or civilization is an
indispensable tool to create bridges between different
cultures.
 Is there a general clash of civilizations? My own
answer is “no”. On the other hand, we should not
underestimate local and temporary clashes that may
serve purposes far from genuine cultural or religious
issues. There is one welcome and necessary clash: the
clash of our common and global civilization against
illegitimate radical groups that strive for power by
means of terror and that abuse religious beliefs and
ethnic bonds for their own particular agendas. We have
to be aware of this when dealing with such issues in
our own countries and stand ready to assist each other
if we are to preserve the universal values of
civilization.
 Last year, Slovenia chaired the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe; today, we begin
our year at the helm of the Board of Governors of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, and a little more
than a year from now we shall assume the presidency
of the European Union (EU). As a member, and current
Chair, of the Human Security Network, a group of
nations with diverse regional affiliations, we are
looking forward to deepening the understanding of the
concept of human security in order to be better
equipped to overcome the complex problems of the
modern world.
 One of the items on the agenda of the Slovenian
EU presidency will certainly be energy security. To
facilitate insight into regional energy and stability
issues, the international conference entitled Caspian
Outlook 2008, recently organized in Slovenia under the
auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum, offered an
interesting experience in terms of how such issues can
be addressed at the regional level by parties that share
the same concern but look at it from different
perspectives. At the end of the day, all interested
partners have much to gain from political stability,
reliable flows of energy and stronger partnerships.
 The Middle East crisis once again calls for the
focused attention of the international community.
Attempts to address this problem in all its complexity
and with the involvement of many countries should
continue with renewed energy. Slovenia is playing its
part in contributing to the immediate relief of the
situation in Lebanon through its contribution of troops
to the United Nations peacekeeping force there.
 Slovenia welcomes the progress made towards
the implementation of the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and
Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their
Destruction. However, there are some aspects of mine
action on which we should continue to focus: dealing
with the universality of the Convention, the clearing of
minefields and providing assistance to mine victims.
Through its International Trust Fund for Demining and

27 06-53329

Mine Victims Assistance, Slovenia is striving to
alleviate the humanitarian threat that anti-personnel
landmines still pose to the safety, health and lives of
local civilian populations.
 I am grateful for the opportunity to highlight, in
front of this distinguished audience, the importance of
the role of small countries. Their orientations, activities
and possibilities can contribute significantly to
multilateralism.


I
wish to begin by extending my congratulations to
Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa on her election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-first
session. I also express my country’s high regard for her
predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, who succeeded in
spurring the implementation of United Nations reform.
 I also pay tribute to the Secretary-General,
Mr. Kofi Annan, for his work at the head of our
Organization, as reflected in the body of his
achievements at the end of his two terms of office.
Those achievements include the ongoing reform, the
promotion of multilateralism, the prevention of armed
conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance
operations, the fight against HIV/AIDS and action on
other fronts, in particular in combating poverty and
terrorism.
 Here I would like to briefly discuss United
Nations reform. I echo the sentiments of all who have
referred here to the pressing need for the United
Nations to adapt to the realities of the world in which
we live so that it will be more in tune with current
concerns and managed in an effective and transparent
manner: an Organization whose Charter recognizes that
all States, small and large, possess the right to have
their say in the conduct of affairs that are of interest to
the international community.
 Seychelles thus supported the establishment of
the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights
Council, the adoption of the United Nations Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the resolution on
development. We await with great interest the outcome
of the ongoing reform of the Economic and Social
Council and the Secretariat and its management, and of
the revitalization of the General Assembly in keeping
with its great authority and enhanced role.
 We hope that the General Assembly will take an
active part in the appointment of the next Secretary-
General, who, we all agree, should be from Asia and
with proven qualities and demonstrated leadership.
Moreover, the reform of the Security Council is of
particular importance in the light of the current
challenges to world peace and to the Council’s
institutional legitimacy.
 Now, let me say a few words on the national
policy of Seychelles. My country recently held
elections in a climate of tranquillity and social
harmony. Following the election of President Michel,
and on the basis of the new road map that he has drawn
for his administration, Seychelles will place even
greater emphasis on ensuring sustainable development
in all sectors: economic, social, cultural and
environmental. The policies seek to guarantee the best
possible standard of living for all citizens.
 Opening up the economy, respecting human
rights and the rule of law and pursuing the objectives
of good governance will continue to define the actions
of our Government. However, we must note that, as the
World Bank and the Commonwealth have highlighted
in their joint report, over the past five years small
developing States have seen gross national product
growth rates decline in comparison to those of large,
low-income and middle-income countries. Small States
have also experienced an increasingly burdensome
foreign debt. Concerning access to foreign capital,
there is a trend in private markets to consider small

9 06-53958

States to be of high risk, which leads to increased costs
that complicate access to those markets.
 In recent years, meetings have been held,
resolutions have been adopted and statements have
been made followed by further meetings, but with little
concrete action and without any satisfactory response
to our concerns. Seychelles regrets that. The global
community is made up of 192 States, and more than 80
of them are small States.
 Confronted by these structural development
problems in the context of a globalized economy, small
States rarely have the means and the capacity to
respond appropriately to them. In that connection, the
appeal made by the President of the General Assembly
for a global development partnership has never been so
urgent and critical. The Seychelles hopes that at its
sixty-first session the Assembly will take a decisive
step forward in bringing about such a partnership.
 I should like to conclude my statement by
referring to the issues of regional and world peace.
Armed conflicts are occurring at a pace that shows
that, contrary to our hopes, the world remains unstable
and dangerous. Unfortunately, peace and ceasefire
agreements do not always lead to a cessation of
hostilities. Civilian populations, composed mostly of
women and children, continue to be displaced,
maltreated and, too often, the victims of crimes and
massacres. The situation in Darfur is the most tragic
illustration. Those who survive do not always have
access to humanitarian aid. Today, according to a
United Nations report, even the level of violence facing
humanitarian aid teams is unprecedented.
 We are all aware of the real causes of wars. Sadly,
sometimes the only way to reach a consensus is to say
nothing; as the saying goes, diplomacy consists of
conversations between friends, and only rarely with the
enemy. That is why the Seychelles joins all those in
Africa, the Middle East, Asia and everywhere else who
hope for a more human, more just and freer world
where peace is the rule, not the exception, and not a
privilege but a right. That also applies to those
countries — such as Palestine and Western Sahara —
that hope someday to be able to conduct their affairs as
they see fit, in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions.
 Finally, I should like to reaffirm the support of
the Seychelles for the work undertaken by the
President of the General Assembly to make the sixty-
first session an instrument for peace and development.