 I am honoured to
address the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session
as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of
Barbados.
 The theme of this year’s session, concerning the
role of the United Nations, multilateralism and global
governance, is timely, and it permits an examination of
the complex issues facing the global community today.
Moreover, it lends itself to an exploration of solutions
to those issues as well as to restoration of the centrality
of the United Nations and its organs.
 A week ago leaders from every corner of the
world met and confirmed that the global consensus on
the United Nations Development Agenda remained
intact. They pledged to spare no effort to ensure the
fulfilment of our collective promise to the world’s
poorest and most vulnerable.
 Barbados shares the view of the Secretary-
General that the Millennium Development Goals must
serve as “a blueprint for ending extreme poverty”
(A/65/PV.3). The Goals are at the core of the global
development agenda. They represent our common
vision of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world,
in which all human beings can enjoy better and safer
lives. For the past decade these globally shared and
endorsed set of priorities have inspired extraordinary
efforts by Governments and non-State actors alike.
 Now is not the time for complacency. Progress
towards achievement of the Goals remains mixed, and,
while success is still within our grasp, it is by no
means certain. Our common task is therefore to convert
this unprecedented consensus into collective action on
all fronts and immediately implement what has been
agreed in order to guarantee success by 2015. Failing
this, the many words of the Outcome Document that
we adopted a few days ago will simply serve as yet

17 10-55276

another solemn reminder of human needs neglected
and promises unfulfilled.
 This display of global solidarity in the face of
unparalleled economic uncertainty reminds us that the
United Nations is an invaluable and indispensable
instrument for its Member States and for the world’s
peoples, as we seek to respond to the challenges of our
times. While we may not have the same degree of
consensus on every pressing global problem, Barbados
cannot contemplate the prospect of a world without an
Organization such as this. No other entity can mobilize
global political will and coordinated action around
common causes, and provide a voice for the voiceless,
like the United Nations.
 Scarred by the bitter experience of two world
wars and a great depression, the founders of this
Organization had the foresight and wisdom to
recognize that only through multilateralism and a
strong and effective system of global governance, with
the United Nations at its core, could lasting peace be
maintained and international law upheld.
 Today we bear witness to a world which is more
interconnected and intertwined, yet in a real sense
more deeply divided, than ever. Barbados is of the
view that an enhanced and renewed system of global
governance must be at the top of the global agenda. In
this regard, Mr. President, Barbados fully supports
your initiative to address this issue during the course of
this sixty-fifth session. We must take stock and reflect
in a holistic and comprehensive manner on the system
of global governance, including the United Nations and
its organs, to ensure that it truly delivers on the vision
of our predecessors and serves the interests of all
mankind, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.
 Delivering global public goods such as global
economic and financial stability; ensuring the
promotion and protection of human rights; maintaining
international peace and security; and ensuring
environmental sustainability: those matters cannot be
successfully addressed by States acting on their own,
or even by coalitions of the willing. Finding effective
solutions to those challenges and mobilizing collective
action provides the most immediate and obvious reason
for enhancing global governance and strengthening
multilateral cooperation.
 As United States President Harry Truman stated
on 25 April 1945 at the birth of this Organization, in
his address to the opening session of the United
Nations Conference on International Organization, held
in San Francisco:
 “Differences between men, and between nations,
will always remain. In fact, if held within
reasonable limits, such disagreements are actually
wholesome. All progress begins with differences
of opinion and moves onward as the differences
are adjusted through reason and mutual
understanding.”
 Renewing the vision of our predecessors must
start with the United Nations and extend outwards to
all organizations with a role in dispensing global
governance.
 During this session we must finalize the decades-
long project of Security Council reform. If the Council
is to retain its unique legitimacy it should be made
more broadly representative of the international
community as a whole, as well as of the geopolitical
realities of today.
 The Council’s working methods must also be made
to adhere to the highest standards of transparency,
accountability and efficiency. Its outreach to
non-members must be significantly improved.
 Barbados continues to believe that the number of
permanent and non-permanent seats on the Council
should be increased, and that Brazil, Germany, India
and Japan should join the ranks of the permanent
members. Membership from the African Group must
also be assured.
 Sustained and widespread future prosperity will
require major reforms in global economic governance
as well as new approaches to global economic
development. The global financial and economic crisis
has made clear the extent of the interconnectivity of
financial markets, as well as their inherent
vulnerabilities. While there is no precedent for the
current level of global financial and economic
integration, the policies, rules and institutions
established to govern those processes are predominately
national in scope, and global mechanisms highly
compartmentalized.
 We can no longer postpone the task of reforming
the institutions responsible for global economic and
financial governance. They must be better equipped to
address the challenge of a globalized and highly
interdependent world. In this regard, Barbados
welcomes the broadening of the Group of 8 to include

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the participation of developing and emerging economies
and the designation of the Group of 20 (G-20) as the
premier forum for international economic cooperation.
 We also recognize the important role played by
the G-20 in stabilizing the global economy. We
acknowledge its ambitious agenda to restore global
growth and achieve needed reforms in the world’s
financial systems. However, the Group must
significantly enhance its outreach to non-members,
including the smallest members of the international
community, particularly when issues affecting their
economic viability and survival are under discussion.
Furthermore, it must also demonstrate real leadership
in breaking the impasse in the World Trade
Organization and ensure a successful conclusion to the
Doha Development Round. It must also ensure that
reforms in the Bretton Woods institutions are
accelerated.
 Small States have traditionally played a crucial
role in shaping global governance, and our voice
should not be diminished in efforts to reform the
current system. Barbados will play its part. It is against
the background of articulating the role and importance
of multilateralism and a strong and effective United
Nations that I will explore the response of my country
to these global challenges. I will also address the
strategies to be pursued by this small nation intent on
playing its part in this family of nations. Barbados is a
small island developing State classified as a middle-
income developing country. It faces significant
vulnerabilities made real by the spectre of climate
change and the associated natural disasters, the
consequences of the recent financial and economic
crises, and the threat posed by transnational criminal
networks. My country has sought to take its place in a
world characterized by increasing economic,
environmental and social complexities. We take our
place in a world in which the United Nations family
continues to witness increasing economic interdependence
and globalization, both posing challenges to national
sovereignty.
 Barbados shares the United Nations vision for a
world able to achieve and surpass the Millennium
Development Goals. We are committed to the fight
against the ravages of HIV and AIDS and other
infectious diseases. As a natural-resources-poor small
island developing State, we have achieved much on the
basis of our investment in human development,
primarily in the areas of education and health. We have
thus prioritized our responses to those global
challenges in a manner that puts our people first. Our
successes to date have been due to our investment in
our key resource — our people. Given the emphasis on
our people’s development and the dangers posed to our
population, we supported the resolution entitled
“Prevention and control of non-communicable
diseases” (resolution 64/265), introduced by the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the sixty-fourth
session of the General Assembly in 2009. Our
responses can be seen in our efforts to achieve our
ultimate goal of crafting a green economy. We see the
green economy as a tool for transforming our economy
to achieve sustainable development. At the heart of this
economic and social model is a commitment to people-
centred development. Aligning our development
strategy along this particular trajectory ensures a
consistency not only with our global obligations but
also, and more importantly, with our national values
and in the best interests of all our citizens.
 Even as the international community searches for
a definition of the green economy, Barbados has
simply defined this model as an integrated production,
distribution, consumption and waste assimilation
system that, at its core, reflects the fragility of our
small island ecosystems as the basis for policy
interventions for natural resource protection, business
and investment choice, human development
programming, and the facilitation of export market
development strategies.
 In pursuit of the green economy the Government
of Barbados has undertaken an assessment of the
opportunities and challenges of a green economy
transition. Our focus is on the priority sectors of
tourism, agriculture, transport and housing, along with
cross-sectoral issues of water resources, energy and
waste. In addition, we have partnered with the United
Nations Environment Programme to promote a
transition to a green economy, building on existing
Barbados initiatives in the area of resource efficiency
and the promotion of sustainable consumption and
production. We believe that our experience in
transitioning to a green economy will serve as a useful
model for other small island developing States and
small economies, and we intend to share our unique
perspective with the international community in the
preparatory process for the Rio+20 Summit in 2012.
 The efforts of Barbados to transform its economy
into a green economy and achieve sustainable

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development will be undermined without ambitious
and urgent global action to address climate change. The
challenge of climate change remains one of the great
threats to the survival and viability of Barbados and
other small island developing States. Even as science
points to a worsening situation, global emissions
continue to rise and the prospects seem dim of arriving
at an agreement to provide legal certainty in the fight
against climate change. It is clear that the objective of
an ambitious and comprehensive legally binding
outcome will not be achieved in Cancún, Mexico, in
December this year. Barbados nevertheless believes
that the substantive outcomes at the sixteenth session
of the Conference of Parties (COP-16) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
must demonstrate that the international community
remains committed to addressing the defining
challenge of our time. In this regard COP-16 should
deliver outcomes that: prioritize the needs of the most
vulnerable, particularly in the areas of adaptation and
finance; finalize issues on which there is a broad
agreement and provide guidance and clarity on the
difficult issues; and demonstrate progress on the
delivery of the $30 billion fast-start financing pledged
at Copenhagen. Critical to the success at Cancún is
arriving at a common understanding of how, when and
where an ambitious and legally binding international
climate agreement will be finalized.
 In 1994 Barbados had the distinct honour of
hosting the first Global Conference on the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States. The
Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius
Strategy for Implementation (MSI) remain the essential
blueprints for the sustainable development of small
island developing States. Barbados welcomes the
recently adopted outcome of the five-year review of the
MSI and hopes that this will result in a renewal of the
commitment of the international community to support
the sustainable development of small island developing
States. It is of great concern to Barbados that, 18 years
after the international recognition of the special case of
small island developing States at Rio, our unique and
particular vulnerability is being challenged. Barbados
is not prepared to renegotiate the special case of small
island developing States but urges the international
community to focus on the delivery of tangible and
concrete actions to build resilience and promote
sustainable development in small island developing
States.
 The January 2010 earthquake that devastated
Haiti serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of
island States to natural disasters. In the immediate
aftermath of the earthquake, the Government of
Barbados provided financial assistance, relief supplies
and deployed a contingent of medical and security
personnel as part of a CARICOM relief team. If Haiti
is to realize its full potential, the international
community must remain fully engaged in Haiti, and the
many pledges of financial and technical support must
be delivered on time. The Government and people of
Haiti can be assured that Barbados will continue to be
a partner in this rebuilding and reconstruction phase.
Our commitment remains strong, and we will play our
part in Haiti’s long-term development. We call on all
who have mobilized resources for the benefit of Haiti
to work with countries like Barbados and in
collaboration with the Government and people of Haiti
to rebuild that country.
 There is a very definite role for a reformed
United Nations to assist countries like Barbados. The
model economy being pursued by Barbados cannot be
achieved by unilateral action.
 As stated previously, the role of the United
Nations is clear. It must generate the templates to be
adopted and serve as a catalyst for action: it must seek
to mediate where conflicts arise; it must work to ensure
that there are reforms of the global economic and
financial system to make it inclusive, transparent and
supportive of the development aspirations of least
developed countries and more developed countries; it
must also facilitate South-South cooperation,
supporting the efforts of these countries to share
appropriate experiences and indigenous solutions.
 Barbados shares your vision, Sir, for a strong,
inclusive and open United Nations as the guarantor of
global governance. Barbados maintains the strong
position that responsibility for the setting of rules and
the making of core decisions on matters of a global
nature rightfully belongs within the ambit of the United
Nations, given its primacy as the only legitimate forum
for global action.


Most
of the speeches we have heard so far today and
yesterday have had three main focuses. One of them,
without a doubt, is the global economic crisis, its
impact and evolution and how to overcome it. Climate
change has been another focus. And, finally, the third
fundamental and very important topic has been the
maintenance of international peace and security.

10-54959 4

 I believe that emerging countries, and Argentina
in particular, have a wealth of experience to share in
connection with these three topics, and that we need to
take a position. With respect to the global crisis, whose
impact has been felt in emerging countries despite the
fact that it actually originated in developed countries, it
must be pointed out that it was precisely the
developing countries that supported the economic
growth of the past decade and that will again reignite
and sustain economic growth and activity and thus
provide the means to overcome what is perhaps the
most significant economic crisis since 1930. And
Argentina, in this sense, was somewhat of a guinea pig
for the policies of the 1990s, when it was held up as a
model pupil while it was in reality ratcheting up
unsustainable levels of debt, producing neither goods
nor services, and actually experiencing a fall in job-
creation, finally collapsing in 2001 in a financial crisis
very similar to that which shook the world in the third
quarter of 2008.
 The ground fell out from beneath Argentina in
2001. However, through the policies we pursued from
2003 onwards, we have been able to overcome that
crisis, which so closely resembled that which hit the
world in 2008. And we did so through our own efforts
and, crucially, with an economic and political strategy
that was not dictated by demands from the multilateral
credit institutions but was in line with our own
convictions and, crucially, our own interests.
 In the eight years leading up to this bicentennial
year — this year, my country marks 200 years of
freedom — we have achieved the most significant
economic growth ever seen in our 200 years of history.
We managed to emerge from debt in a way never
before seen in our history. Since that sovereign default
of 2001, which was the greatest such default in history,
today Argentina has renegotiated 93 per cent of its total
debt with Argentine debt title-holders. And, moreover,
Argentina has achieved heretofore unknown inclusive
growth in the past year, following our application of
counter-cyclical measures throughout all of 2009 and
in late 2008. We have experienced growth in economic
activity of 9 per cent over the past 12 months. We
brought the unemployment rate back down to 7.9 per
cent. And we managed to continue reducing the rates of
poverty and extreme poverty, which are now at levels
never before seen in our country.
 This is due essentially to counter-cyclical
economic management and to an understanding that
instruments such as the central bank, reserves, foreign
trade, production, employment generation and better
living standards, with a robust expansion in fiscal
spending, are exactly what has meant that the crisis
overwhelming developing countries has not had the
same impact it would have had at other times.
 In this context, I wish to point out that we have
also promoted the intelligent use of our reserves, which
is something currently under discussion in all
multilateral bodies, in the world of economics and in
the context of the Group of 20. We have used our
reserves rationally because we believe that, in our case,
they are the result of a trade surplus — that is to say,
hard currency dollars — and should be applied to
paying down the debt rather than putting them into
capital markets, thereby resulting in double-digit debt
while we would be paid only 0.5 per cent interest for
our reserves. It would really have been senseless and
irrational for our country to go into double-digit debt
when in reality we had more than enough reserves, for
which we would be paid barely 0.5 per cent.
 What I am trying to say is that our experience in
Argentina, as well as that of other emerging countries
— which, I wish to reiterate once again, are shoring up
economic growth — makes it incumbent upon the
Group of 20, as well as the Group of 77, where we will
also push for this, to carry out a rigorous reform of
international credit agencies, which have failed in their
fundamental purpose: to ensure a stable global
economy that produces jobs and well-being for the
inhabitants of the planet.
In that regard, we believe that it is truly urgent
for there to be global legislation in the area of vulture
funds, which basically move from one area of the
country to another in genuinely speculative ways and
have a pitiless impact on economies. We also believe
that there is a need to evaluate and legislate on risk-
rating agencies, which for instance rated Argentina’s
debt as highly risky when it reality the Argentine
Republic had been scrupulously paying its debt since
the first renegotiation, in 2005, without turning to
capital markets. Nevertheless, they have given much
higher rankings to countries that subsequently
demonstrated that they did not have the capacity to
address their debt because they had structural problems
in their economies, such as fiscal deficits, commercial

5 10-54959

deficits and reserve outflows — precisely the opposite
of what took place in Argentina.
 We therefore believe in the need for global
re-engineering of multilateral funds — essentially in a
theoretical framework different from the one that the
world has experienced, namely, the Washington
Consensus. That Consensus has been exhausted by
failure, but has not been replaced by a new theoretical
framework that gives different roles to central banks,
as well as to States as instruments to promote counter-
cyclical fiscal measures that ensure something which,
in our opinion, is a central concern: employment
stability, rather than just currency stability.
 We also sincerely believe that currencies should
not be protected solely from a monetary perspective;
on the contrary, we believe that the value of each
country’s currency is directly linked to the potential for
growth and wealth-generation capacity of each
country’s economy. It is also linked to the equitable
distribution of wealth, which should make societies
sustainable through a model that is not just economic
but also essentially political.
 Climate change, which is very important and will
soon be addressed at the Cancun meeting, has also
been a central theme in all the interventions that have
been made from this rostrum. While it is well and good
to speak of that, we have not been able to reach an
agreement because, in fact, we are not being offered a
solution in this area that is just and equitable in terms
of who, and to what degree, should bear primary
responsibility for damage due to environmental
pollution. It is not fair that developing countries —
which, by paying a high price, have been able to
overcome high levels of poverty and social inequality
through economic growth — should be the ones that
have to assume responsibility for the environmental
legacy of developed countries, which for decades
contaminated the world and which should therefore be
the ones to shoulder this responsibility. Establishing
viable targets and goals that are in line with the need to
continue to grow the economy also require that we
seriously realign our goals in the area of global
warming.
 With regard to the final focus, namely, building
international peace and security, we sincerely believe
that the resumption of dialogue between the State of
Israel and the Palestinian Authority is very good news
indeed when it comes to finally achieving what I
believe all of us have looked forward to for quite a
long time: that the State of Palestine will be seated as a
full member during the next session of the General
Assembly. We believe that will make an enormous
contribution to the maintenance of international peace
and security. I say this by virtue of our experience as a
country that has been a target and victim of
international terrorist groups. As the Assembly is
aware, in 1992 and 1994 my country was the victim of
two terrible terrorist attacks. The first was the blowing
up of the Israeli Embassy, and the second tragedy was
the bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita
Argentina (AMIA).
 In that regard, in 2007, my country’s then
President, Néstor Kirchner, requested the Islamic
Republic of Iran to agree to the extradition of Iranian
citizens whom the Argentine justice system had
accused of participation in carrying out that heinous
crime. I did the same as President in 2008 and 2009 —
to little effect, I must confess. I did so while
emphasizing that mine is a leading country in
respecting human rights and bringing to justice those
who commit crimes against humanity. I have also
underscored that we have a system that ensures due
process and the right to counsel and that does not
permit anyone to be tried or convicted in absentia. It is
for those reasons that we continue to make this request
for extradition. We have also emphasized that for any
Argentine citizens who believe that our country’s
justice system is not fair enough or does not enforce
the law, we are party to international conventions to
which they can turn, including such international
tribunals as the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights. Despite the fact that we have guaranteed that
all these principles will continue to be respected in the
Argentine Republic, we have not yet achieved results.
 I shall not on this occasion call for the fourth
time for something that will clearly not achieve results.
But I will propose to the Islamic Republic of Iran —
even if it has no faith in Argentine justice, as it has
said, because of prejudgement and insufficient
neutrality to carry out a trial — that a third country be
selected, through mutual agreement between our
countries, in which there are guarantees of due process
and where international observers and United Nations
representatives may participate to bring to trial the
terrible attack on AMIA in our country. I should also
like to say that we do not consider that attack as an

10-54959 6

attack on one community or one religion. For us, it was
an attack on all Argentines.
 I am President of a country where we can
celebrate the Jewish New Year with the Jewish
community, as I did this year in my capacity as leader
of the country. We also celebrated the end of Ramadan
at an Islamic centre. We are a country of open-
mindedness because of our immigrant heritage, which
guarantees plurality and diversity for all.
 There is a precedent for what we are proposing.
This precedent is not a capricious or fantastical legal
construction; it is the Lockerbie case. That is an
international precedent of a trial held in a third neutral
country that could provide guarantees for those who
fear they might not be judged impartially. In this
connection, I would like to clarify that the Argentine
Republic is not seeking guilty parties. All the Argentine
Government seeks is justice. Ultimately, anyone who
has committed a crime of such magnitude should be
punished.
 Thus, we hope that the offer I make to the Islamic
Republic of Iran today before the General Assembly
will put an end to the pretext of non-neutrality and to
accusations of our complicity in withholding impartial
justice. I address this in particular to those who insist
that there can be no impartial justice. I believe that this
eloquent gesture has international precedents and will
allow us to resolve this situation and to channel this
dispute institutionally. We must do this if we wish to
feel truly part of the international community. We must
resolve this dispute in a framework of justice and
legality.
 Finally, again in connection with security
concerns, we must once again, here in this Assembly,
demand respect for our sovereign rights over the
Malvinas Islands. We do not do so solely for historical
reasons. Our claim is absolutely up to date. The United
Kingdom has systematically refused to implement
universally binding General Assembly resolutions
calling for negotiations with the Argentine Republic on
the question of sovereignty.
 But that is not all. Unilateral decisions have been
taken to exploit hydrocarbon resources on the islands.
There are two aspects to this exploitation. The first is
that it constitutes depredation of natural resources that
belong to us. It is unthinkable that territorial, historical
or legal sovereignty can be maintained over islands
that are 14,000 kilometres from the United Kingdom
and whose transplanted population sits on a continental
shelf that unquestionably belongs to the Argentine
Republic geographically, geologically and historically.
 The second aspect is the risk of ecological
catastrophe. British Petroleum, operating off the coast
of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, set off an
unprecedented ecological catastrophe. The lack of
oversight by our country or any other over what the
United Kingdom is doing in the Malvinas Islands has
mobilized us not only to defend the natural resources
of my country, but to seek to avert an ecological
catastrophe that could occur due to this total lack of
oversight.
 Some may say that this has nothing to with
security. It has a great deal to do with security, because
one of the central problems of our globalized world is
the need to adapt the Security Council to our times. We
need a Security Council worthy of its name. England,
like other countries that have a permanent seat on the
Council, has used and misused its position. Resolutions
of the Council are applicable only to those countries
that do not have sufficient power or the right to a
permanent seat on the Council. The Council should be
reformed because it has never been able to maintain
international peace and security.
 That is not simply because some seats are
permanent or because the world context has changed
since the San Francisco Charter created the Security
Council. The Security Council, with its permanent
members, was a Security Council where those who
were seated could, by pressing a red button, cause a
nuclear holocaust. That was the true reason for creating
a Council that could strike a balance between the
interests of a bipolar world and prevent a nuclear
holocaust.
 That world no longer exists. Those who were
once irreconcilable enemies and rivals are now
associates, allies, friends or whatever anyone might
care to call them. What is certain is that those who can
unleash terrible conflict situations, tragedies and
international terrorism are not and never will be seated
there. Thus, the Security Council has lost its
effectiveness because it is not in line with today’s
world or the dangers besetting it. Quite the contrary,
the use and misuse of their dominant position by
members of the Council in certain countries have
provoked conflicts that cannot then be stifled by the
Council, much less by the Organization.

7 10-54959

 We believe that the case of the Malvinas Islands
is very enlightening. The United Kingdom can do as it
likes because no one is compelling it to implement the
decisions of the Security Council, because it is a
permanent member and an important member of
NATO. In a world of double standards — where only
the developing and extremely weak countries are
compelled to abide by the international legal order
while those who can systematically violate it do so —
it is not possible to build peace, let alone maintain
international security, because such situations end up
creating the kind of insurmountable disputes and
differences we see every day.
 I believe it important to note that the concepts of
security and peace can never be associated with
military matters alone. They must be essentially
associated with political values, equity, freedom and a
cause for which humankind has fought from the
beginning: equality.


Allow me to begin by
congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President
of the General Assembly and by assuring you of the
full cooperation of my delegation. In the interest of
saving the Assembly’s valuable time, I will read out
only part of my address, the full text of which has been
circulated.
 The United Nations was created, 65 years ago, to
save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,
to affirm faith in fundamental rights, to establish
conditions under which respect for international law
can be maintained and to promote social progress and
better standards of life in larger freedom. Six and a half
decades later, globalization has made the world a much
smaller place. It has also created conditions whereby
the problems and challenges of one country or region
can very quickly become those of the larger community
of nations.
 Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction, maritime piracy, pandemics and
epidemics, organized crime and narcotics smuggling
recognize no borders or boundaries. Similarly, the
fallout of intra-State conflicts, failed States, climate
change, natural disasters, food shortages and financial
and economic crises transcend countries and regions.
Under those circumstances the international
community looks to the United Nations to overcome
the common challenges of humankind through the
harmonized actions of nations, as stated in the Charter.
 The United Nations is the only organization that
can be at the centre of an international governance
system. However, it needs urgent reform to reflect
contemporary realities and to effectively meet
emerging global challenges. The first step has to be the
reform of the Security Council. The overwhelming
majority of the membership has been clear in seeking
an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent
categories of membership. It is imperative that we
bring the negotiations to an early and logical
conclusion.
 We must also truly revitalize the General
Assembly. It must reclaim its position on vital matters
such as the appointment of the Secretary-General and
the relationship between the United Nations and the
Bretton Woods institutions. Along with the Economic
and Social Council, the General Assembly should also
set the paradigms of multilateral engagement for the
global economy and for development and
developmental cooperation.
 It is matter of much satisfaction that this year we
have significantly advanced the United Nations reform
agenda in the areas of gender equality and women’s
empowerment. I wish to reiterate our strong
commitment to UN Women and to its strengthening.
 We also need to ensure that the review of the
Human Rights Council this year adds to the Council’s
role as an effective, credible and premier United
Nations mechanism dealing with human rights.
 My Government accords the highest priority to
the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
Our development challenges were exacerbated by the
financial and economic crisis that started in 2008.
Acting in concert, the Group of 20 (G-20), which
includes the largest developed and developing
countries, reacted promptly and purposefully to stem
the global slowdown and send a strong message of
confidence and stability. India believes that the
G-20 — the premier forum for international economic

10-55396 4

cooperation — can help catalyse strong, balanced and
sustainable growth for the benefit of everyone.
 As a country vulnerable to, and already suffering
from, the impacts of climate change, India has an
important stake in the success of ongoing international
negotiations in that regard. There is no substitute to the
United Nations-led process, with its inherent
inclusiveness and transparency, to lead us to an
ambitious and equitable outcome that respects the
provisions and principles of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, in
particular the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities. It is
important that there be acceptance of equal sharing of
the resource of the atmosphere for all human beings.
 India has an abiding commitment to achieve
universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament
within a specified time frame — a vision that was most
eloquently articulated in the Assembly by Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988. More than two decades
later, that goal still remains distant. Meanwhile, newer
threats have emerged, including the danger of terrorists
gaining access to weapons of mass destruction.
 India introduced a working paper on nuclear
disarmament in 2006, which contained specific
proposals that reflect the spirit and substance of the
Rajiv Gandhi action plan. We call for an intensification
of discussion and dialogue among Member States and
the larger non-governmental community, so as to
strengthen an international consensus that can be
translated into concrete action to achieve nuclear
disarmament.
 India remains committed to the negotiations in
the Conference on Disarmament on a multilateral,
non-discriminatory and internationally verifiable fissile
material cut-off treaty that meets India’s national
security interests. We hope that the Conference will be
able to commence negotiations at an early date. We
remain committed to a unilateral and voluntary
moratorium on nuclear-explosives testing.
 Terrorism has emerged as one of the most serious
threats to international peace and security. To defeat it,
it is imperative for the global community to build on
international cooperation and take concerted action
against terrorists and their sponsors. There can be no
justification for terrorism, just as there can be no good
or bad terrorists. We urge Member States to display the
necessary political will to finalize and adopt the
comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
 Peace and stability in South Asia is one of our
highest priorities. We are committed to good-
neighbourly relations with all our neighbours,
including Pakistan. In that spirit of solidarity with the
people of Pakistan in their hour of need we pledged
$25 million in aid, which is being channelled through
the United Nations for flood relief efforts in that
country. As a neighbour, we wish to provide succour
and relief in a timely manner to the victims of that
natural disaster. We are saddened by the loss of life and
property that Pakistan has suffered as a result of the
unprecedented floods.
 It is well known that many countries have deep-
rooted concerns about the growth and consolidation of
militancy and terrorism in Pakistan. We share those
concerns, particularly because Jammu and Kashmir,
which is an integral part of India, has been the target of
such Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism for
many years now. Pakistan must fulfil its solemn
commitment not to allow territory under its control to
be used for terrorism directed against India. Credible
and firm action by Pakistan against terrorist groups
operating from its soil is in the interest of the region, as
it is in Pakistan’s own interest.
 Pakistan cannot impart lessons to us on
democracy and human rights. If, however, Pakistan
were to live up to its commitment not to allow the use
of territory under its control by terrorists acting against
India, that would significantly help reduce the trust
deficit that impedes the development of better bilateral
relations between our two countries. We are
neighbours, and as neighbours we have an obligation to
work together.
 Afghanistan recently successfully concluded
parliamentary elections. We believe the international
community needs to be steadfast in its engagement
with Afghanistan to ensure the success of its
reconstruction efforts and its emergence as a
democratic, pluralistic and prosperous society. The
continuing existence of safe havens and sanctuaries for
terrorists beyond Afghanistan’s borders is the major
impediment to the restoration of peace and security in
Afghanistan. That should be a primary focus of the
international community.
 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime
Minister, said in 1948:

5 10-55396

 “The fundamental principles on which the United
Nations is based are right principles. We believe
in those fundamental principles and want to help
the Organization in following these principles.”
The Government and the more than 1 billion people of
India have stood by that commitment. I would like to
solemnly reaffirm our faith in the principles that
underlie the United Nations, and in the United Nations
system itself.


May I start by pointing
out that Sweden aligns itself fully with the written
statement of the European Union (EU), which will
soon be distributed to all Member States.
 By signing the Charter of the United Nations we
have all pledged to combine our efforts towards the
shared goals of international peace and security, human
rights, respect for international law, and economic and
social advancement. Implicit in that pledge is the
principle of shared responsibility. If we are to move
beyond divisions to find common solutions to global
problems, every country will need to assume its share
of responsibility. Last week, world leaders met in this
room to confirm their determination to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Progress
made over the 10 years since the adoption of the
Millennium Declaration has been mixed. The overall

37 10-55276

trend is positive, but critical areas are lagging behind.
This is particularly true for Goal 5 on maternal health.
Sweden will continue to do its part to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals and is one of the
countries contributing the largest share of its national
income as official development assistance. But
development assistance can only complement — and
never replace — development efforts based on genuine
national ownership. Thus, we have a shared
responsibility, developed and developing countries alike,
to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
 The development and prosperity of poor countries
to a large extent depend on their ability to integrate
into the global economy. The fact that protectionism
has largely been kept at bay during the most severe
recession since the 1930s is therefore a major
achievement. Robust international rules for open trade
and investment are key. Free trade benefits rich and
poor countries alike. The regions that have been most
successful in eradicating poverty are also those where
countries trade the most. In order to strengthen the
trading capacity of the poorest countries, aid for trade
can play an important role. Completion of the Doha
Round must remain a shared first priority, but should
not prevent complementary free trade and investment
arrangements.
 The devastating natural disasters in Haiti and
Pakistan have underlined the importance of a well-
functioning and well-coordinated international
humanitarian system. It is only through joint efforts
and shared responsibility that the international
community can ensure quick and effective responses to
people in need. The Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) plays a crucial role in
this respect. Sadly, we see a global trend of increasing
humanitarian needs. It is therefore of utmost importance
that we continue to strengthen the humanitarian system
as a whole, in particular OCHA. In parallel, we need to
focus more on preparedness and prevention to reduce
long-term vulnerability to disasters.
 Climate change is clearly one of the greatest
challenges of our generation, affecting the world and
particularly poor countries in unpredictable and
devastating ways. Even if we meet the two-degree
target set by the United Nations, disasters will continue
to be a reality. Developed and developing countries
alike share the responsibility to ward off this threat to
our planet by working towards concrete climate goals.
Developed countries, as major emitters, bear a large
share of the responsibility for reducing emissions and
for providing funding, but actions must be taken by all
countries. The example of Sweden shows that it is
possible to achieve both emissions reductions and
economic growth — there is no contradiction.
 Together we have a shared responsibility as the
guardians of human rights, enshrined in the United
Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration and the
relevant conventions. Without respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms, all other progress will be
incomplete. The ultimate responsibility lies with
States. It is for us to put ideals into practice. The
Human Rights Council needs to use all its tools to
address the substance of its mandate: human rights
violations. For that Council to be relevant, its members
must meet the membership criteria of fulfilling their
international human rights obligations. Much remains
to be done. The death penalty continues to be applied
extensively across the world, in some cases even
against juveniles, and often without a credible legal
process. As we have recently seen, in some countries a
woman can even be sentenced to death by stoning for
alleged adultery, and both men and women can be
executed for no other reason than their sexual
orientation. The responsibility to stop such barbaric
acts lies firmly with us, the governments. Gender
equality remains one of the greatest challenges to
human rights and democracy. We therefore welcome
the establishment of the United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN Women) and believe it will further the cause of
gender equality.
 Democracy and human rights are not just
mutually supporting; one cannot be said to truly exist
without the other. The right to participate in a
democratic system of government is indeed in itself a
human right. Although we have seen democracy spread
to new countries, a large part of the world’s population
is still denied the right to participate in free elections.
We call upon the Government of Myanmar to make its
November election free, fair and inclusive. In this
context, we reiterate our call for the release of the
political prisoners and detainees, including Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi.
 Freedom of expression is a core human right and
a prerequisite of democracy. In this era of information
technology, communication has been revolutionized.
New technologies can assist in making Governments
more transparent and can stimulate citizens to take a

10-55276 38

more active role in the democratic governance of their
countries. Yet, technology alone cannot make
information and expression of opinion free. Access to
technology is needed as a catalyst for human rights.
The harassment and jailing of journalists and bloggers
must stop. The situation in countries such as China,
Viet Nam, Egypt, Myanmar, Cuba, the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea and Iran is deeply
worrying. It is important that the international
community address the issue of violations of freedom
of expression, also in connection with new
technologies and with greater vigour than in the past.
 Sweden is concerned about continued human
rights violations in the Sudan, not least in Darfur. Full
cooperation with the International Criminal Court is an
obligation under international law. The upcoming
referendum on the status of Southern Sudan will be of
crucial importance to the country’s future. We must
spare no effort to make sure that it is credible and to
support the parties in reaching an agreement on post-
referendum arrangements. In this process the United
Nations has a key role to play, together with the
African Union.
 The recently reported cases of sexual violence in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with shocking
news of hundreds of rapes of women and children, are
not isolated incidents. They are part of a pattern of
conflict-related crimes that have been carried out with
impunity over many years. As so often in conflict
situations, women and children are the most vulnerable
groups; as so often in peace processes, women are the
most ignored. A lasting peace calls for the
empowerment and equal participation of women in
negotiations and decision-making. Lasting peace can
never be achieved while there is impunity. It is high
time to fully implement Security Council resolutions
1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and
1820 (2008), on sexual violence in conflict situations.
Sweden welcomes the appointment of a Special
Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual
Violence in Conflict.
 The international community has agreed on the
responsibility to protect populations from genocide,
war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
humanity. We need to intensify our efforts and develop
the right tools to ensure the full realization of the
responsibility to protect, both as sovereign States and
as part of the international community. Sweden fully
supports the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen
the early warning capability within the Secretariat.
 Few aspects of our cooperation through the
United Nations illustrate shared responsibility better
than our joint role in preventing and managing
conflicts, and keeping and building sustainable peace.
Important steps have been taken to improve global
peacekeeping. We welcome the New Horizon Initiative
as a way of further enhancing the capability of the
United Nations to conduct demanding and complex
peacekeeping missions worldwide. Much work remains
to be done in the areas of conflict prevention and
peacebuilding. We need to increase the capacity of the
United Nations to help countries in transition from war
to lasting peace, and to provide relevant support — not
least through the Peacebuilding Commission and the
Peacebuilding Fund — for their efforts to foster peace
and rebuild State and society. Similarly, the United
Nations must have the right tools to help prevent
countries from lapsing into conflict in the first place.
This is a central challenge for the United Nations and a
key priority for the coming decade.
 We welcome the increasingly important role that
the African Union plays, not least in peacekeeping
operations in Africa. Cooperation between the African
Union and both the United Nations and the European
Union has been important in both the Sudan and
Somalia. Earlier this year, Sweden led the European
Union’s anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia,
a mission that provides security for humanitarian
transports of the World Food Programme into Somalia.
Furthermore, the European Union, in close cooperation
with the African Union, is conducting training in
Uganda of the Transitional Federal Government
security forces. The African Union has made a
courageous and considerable contribution to security in
Mogadishu. Yet over the past year we have witnessed
some of the most violent fighting in Mogadishu and in
parts of south-central Somalia. Together with the
Transitional Federal Institutions, we now need to
prepare and plan for the end of the transitional
arrangements by August next year. In this process,
strong United Nations leadership will be crucial.
 The United Nations plays a crucial role in the
efforts of the international community to contribute to
secure, stable and democratic development in
Afghanistan. At the Kabul International Conference on
Afghanistan, held in July, there was a renewed
commitment by the Afghan authorities and the

39 10-55276

international community to enhance national ownership
in this process. Together, the United Nations, the
European Union and other international actors have to
show continued strong resolve in assisting the Afghan
people in building a more peaceful and democratic
society. To this effect, Sweden will continue to contribute
to civilian and military operations in Afghanistan, while
increasing our development assistance.
 In the Middle East the responsibility for the
success of direct negotiations lies with the two parties.
But we all share an interest in, and must contribute to,
a two-State solution with Israel and Palestine living
side by side in peace and security. We deeply regret the
Israeli decision not to extend the moratorium on
settlements. The context of direct negotiations, as
stated in European Union Council conclusions, must be
that negotiations should be based on the pre-1967
borders, that settlements are illegal, that all final status
issues are to be included in the negotiations —
including the status of Jerusalem as capital of two
States — and that both parties are to refrain from
provocative actions.
 We strive for a world without nuclear weapons.
World leaders have made significant progress in
disarmament and non-proliferation efforts in the past
year. The New START agreement is of great
importance, but there is scope for further reductions,
not least of non-strategic nuclear arsenals. The spread
of nuclear weapons must be stopped. The Action Plan
adopted at the Review Conference of the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in May,
covering the three mutually reinforcing pillars of the
NPT, must be implemented and fully respected.
 The early entry into force of the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is as urgent as ever.
The unacceptable deadlock in the Conference on
Disarmament must come to an end.
 We are deeply concerned that the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea has continued its
withdrawal from the NPT, even having tested two
nuclear devices, and that Iran has been conducting
activities in violation of its NPT commitments. It is of
vital importance that commitments under the NPT be
honoured.
 The control of conventional arms is also an
urgent priority. The illicit or uncontrolled spread of
such weapons contributes to regional and international
instability, maiming and killing thousands. We must
seize the opportunity and strive together to find the
political will to agree on regulating mechanisms, such
as is currently being discussed in the form of an arms
trade treaty.
 The European Union is a strong supporter of the
United Nations. Following the entry into force of the
Lisbon Treaty, the EU has established new permanent
structures for its external representation, taking over
functions previously carried out by the rotating
presidency. Ensuring that the EU can continue to
contribute effectively to the work of the United
Nations requires allowing its representatives to
participate actively in its proceedings in the capacity of
observer. We are looking forward to continued
cooperation with a view to ensuring the adoption of a
resolution to that effect as soon as possible.
 Our countries are interconnected today in an
unprecedented way. In a globalized world, problems
such as climate change, natural disasters, disease,
drugs, terrorism and conflicts take on new proportions.
At the same time the alleviation of poverty, the fight
for human rights and democracy, and economic
development remain as relevant as ever. We need to
cooperate in global structures and engage in various
forms of global governance to meet these challenges.
The United Nations is the only world body offering a
unique forum to address these problems in a
coordinated way. We need to continue to reform the
United Nations in order for it to fulfil its functions and
remain relevant. Only when every country assumes its
share of responsibility can the United Nations achieve
its full potential. Sweden will continue to be a strong
supporter of the United Nations and will assume its
share of our common responsibility.


More than ever before, our
world is confronting multiple global crises which
cannot be effectively addressed without a coordinated,
multilateral action. No country can face these crises
and provide for its future in isolation. The threats are
global, and so are the solutions. A strong, central role
for the United Nations is essential.
 It is also essential to resist forces of division that
spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially
among peoples of different religions. The fact is that
humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by
mutual interests, but by shared commandments: to love
God and neighbour; to love the good and neighbour.
 This week, my delegation, with the support of our
friends on every continent, will introduce a draft
resolution for an annual World Interfaith Harmony
Week. What we propose is a special week during which
the world’s people, in their own places of worship,
could express the teachings of their own faith about
tolerance, respect for the other, and peace. I hope that
the draft resolution will have the Assembly’s support.
 Another critical area for United Nations
leadership is peace — and one peace hangs in the
balance today. With direct negotiations between the
Palestinians and the Israelis, a door opens to a final,
two-State settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
And the establishment of an independent, viable and
sovereign Palestinian State, living side by side with
Israel, will pave the way for a comprehensive regional
peace. An end to this conflict is long overdue.
 No regional crisis has had a longer or broader
impact on global security and stability. No such crisis
has been longer on the United Nations agenda, or has
frustrated peacemakers more. Every resource spent in
this conflict is a resource lost for investing in progress
and prosperity. Every day spent is a day lost to forces
of violence and extremism that threaten all of us in the
region and beyond.
 People are wary of disappointment, and spoilers
are doing everything they can to make us fail. We
cannot underestimate the importance of success, or the
painful cost of failure. All of us need to support swift
action, hard choices and real results. The alternative is
more suffering and deeper frustrations, with spreading,
more-vicious warfare. Such a catastrophic scenario will
continue to drag in the whole world, threatening
security and stability far beyond the borders of the
Middle East. To prevent that, the talks must be
approached with commitment, sincerity and courage.
 There should be no provocative or unilateral
actions that can derail the negotiations. Instead, the
parties must work hard to produce results, and quickly.
That means addressing all final-status issues, with a
view to ending the occupation and reaching the two-
State solution, the only solution that can work, as soon
as possible. The status quo is simply unacceptable —
enough injustice, enough bloodshed.
 Jordan and the rest of the Arab and Muslim world
are committed. In the Arab Peace Initiative, we reach
out to Israel with an unprecedented opportunity for a
comprehensive settlement, a settlement that will enable
Israel to have normal relations with 57 Arab and
Muslim States, one third of the United Nations. Now
we reach out to our fellow members of this United
Nations. All stand to lose if the talks fail; all gain when
peace is achieved. Our global and collective influence
is key. Together we must tip the balance towards peace.


On behalf of the
Government and people of the Commonwealth of the
Bahamas, I congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss on his
election as President of the General Assembly at its
sixty-fifth session, and I assure him of my country’s
and my delegation’s full support and cooperation. I
also extend sincere congratulations to his predecessor
for his stewardship of this Assembly during the sixty-
fourth session.
 I also take this opportunity to express
condolences on behalf of the Government and the
people of the Bahamas to the Government and people
of Pakistan for the loss of lives and property sustained
as a result of devastating floods affecting their region.
The Government and the people of the Bahamas stand
in solidarity with Pakistan.
 One of the greatest challenges of the global
economic and financial crisis has been the loss in speed
towards achieving the development goals, including
the Millennium Development Goals. We are
encouraged by the decline in the number of people
living in absolute poverty and the reported increased
access to primary and secondary education for some.
We are mindful that high levels of infant mortality,
unsatisfactory reduction in the rate of maternal
mortality, continued high incidences of sexual violence
against women and a rise in the prevalence of HIV
continue to persist in many countries.
 The World Health Organization forecasts that
between 2006 and 2015, deaths from
non-communicable diseases will increase worldwide
by some 17 per cent. The increasing risks and high
prevalence of non-communicable diseases are exacting
heavy tolls on finances and health systems of countries
like the Bahamas. Hence we welcome the adoption of
resolution 64/265, which calls for a high-level plenary
meeting of the General Assembly next September to
address the prevention and control of
non-communicable diseases.
 The Bahamas continues to pledge the highest
priority on attaining and achieving the Millennium
Development Goals. We fully expect to achieve most if
not all of the goals and targets identified. Still, we are
not out of the woods. The fallout from the global
economic and financial crisis continues to impact the
chief engine and principal employer in our country,
tourism, and to slow recovery and expansion in other
segments of our economy. My Government has
accelerated the implementation of a planned
programme of national infrastructure upgrade and
expansion, with a view to upgrading the country’s
infrastructure in order to accommodate new growth and
development when the global economy rebounds.
 We believe it is critical that greater attention be
given to achieving a more transparent international
credit rating system that takes fully into account the
needs and concerns of developing countries. Greater
participation by developing countries is also required
in key international norm- and standard-setting bodies
in financial regulation and supervision, including the
Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on
Banking Supervision. It is also our view that there is an
important role for the United Nations in this process,
particularly in the area of institutional strengthening.
 We are pleased by the considerable progress
made in enhancing our social safety net, expanding
unemployment benefits and introducing a national
prescription drug programme designed to ensure that
the most vulnerable sectors of our society — infants
and school-age children, and the elderly — receive
prescription medication, regardless of their ability to
pay. And we are also pleased that, notwithstanding
forced reductions in Government expenditures across
the board, every child in the Bahamas continues to be
assured of a place in Government-operated schools,
from primary to high school.
 Overshadowing our successes is the ever-present
threat posed by climate change. The Bahamas is the
fifth most vulnerable country to rising sea levels. We
are a country of negligible greenhouse gases and
negligible gas emissions; still, we will suffer
catastrophic results if emissions are not stabilized and
reduced worldwide. Indeed, science demonstrates that
a two degree Celsius change in temperature will result
in a sea-level rise of more than two metres. Such an
occurrence would submerge 80 per cent of our
territory.
 The Bahamas therefore joins with other small
island developing States (SIDS) in reiterating the call
to the international community, and particularly to
developed countries, to undertake urgent and decisive
action to significantly reduce emissions of all
greenhouse gases, and also to implement fast action
strategies. We similarly call for increased financial and
technological support of SIDS, and our particularly
vulnerable countries, as we struggle to adapt to the

13 10-55264

adverse impacts of climate change. As such, we look
forward with considerable anticipation to the
December Conference in Cancún.
 The Bahamas draws attention to the importance
of the Barbados Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States, as that programme remains the blueprint for
action on sustainable development for SIDS, as was
subsequently reaffirmed in the Mauritius Strategy. In
the Bahamas we have an unwavering political
commitment to sustainability as the cardinal principle
for national development strategies. And in the area of
biodiversity, significant achievements have been made
in establishing and expanding marine, coastal and
terrestrial protected areas. We are also well along with
the development of a national energy policy, with
potential for renewable energy.
 It is impossible for my country to note the high
incidence of catastrophic natural disasters being
experienced around the world and not acknowledge the
plight of our great neighbour, Haiti. Haiti and its
people are a priority concern for the Bahamas and the
Caribbean Community subregion, as they are for the
entire international community. None of us, however,
were under any illusion that the recovery and
reconstruction of Haiti, in the wake of the devastating
January earthquake, would be anything less than a
Herculean task. In the immediate aftermath of the
disaster, billions of dollars were pledged and the wider
community of nations vowed to stay the course and
work to ensure that Haiti gained a footing on the path
to sustainable growth and development.
 There has been some progress in Haiti over the
past nine and a half months — but not nearly enough.
Millions of internally displaced people continue to
languish in makeshift tent cities, with inadequate
shelter or protection, and most of the rubble from that
January earthquake still lies where it fell. It is
imperative, therefore, that the United Nations continue
in its pivotal role of mobilizing international assistance
for Haiti and assisting with the recovery and
reconstruction.
 International peace and security remain a concern
to all of us. The recently held second review of the
United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
underscored that we must renew our efforts to combat
terrorism in an effective and integrated manner. I
reiterate my Government’s commitment to full
implementation of the Strategy and renew the call for
completion of negotiations on a comprehensive
convention on international terrorism. The Bahamas is
a full partner in the international fight to combat
terrorism and other transnational criminal activities.
We currently serve as Chair of the Inter American
Committee against Terrorism. We were also pleased to
host this past June a subregional workshop on counter-
terrorism financing, organized by the Organization of
American States in cooperation with the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
 The Security Council is central to international
efforts aimed at fostering peace and improving security
around the globe. We believe that the Council’s efforts
in this regard would be strengthened if its composition
better reflected the geopolitical realities of the world.
Towards that end, the Bahamas lends its voice to the
call for increased urgency in efforts to make the
Security Council more representative, accountable,
democratic and transparent.
 Crime and threats to security continue to occupy
the minds of the people of the Bahamas and indeed of
the Caribbean subregion. International traffic in illicit
drugs and the illicit trade in small arms and light
weapons have for many years disrupted the lives of
peace-loving citizens of the Caribbean. Governments
like my own have been required to dedicate increased
portions of our annual budgets to the fight against
crime. The seemingly unlimited resources of the illegal
cartels continue to render our efforts insufficient.
Hence, we look forward with anticipation to the 2012
Conference, whose objective is the conclusion of an
arms trade treaty. We fully endorse, in that regard, calls
from fellow Caribbean countries for the treaty to be
comprehensive in scope, with provisions for all
categories of weapons.
 My Government also confirms its commitment to
the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and
Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects. We were pleased with the
outcome document of the Fourth Biennial Meeting of
States (A/CONF.192/BMS/2010/3), which was adopted
by consensus in June.
 I record the appreciation of my Government for
the technical assistance recently received from the
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and
Disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean in
the area of firearms destruction and stockpile

10-55264 14

management. We look forward always to assistance in
the future.
 The Bahamas applauds the General Assembly’s
proclamation of the year beginning on 12 August 2010
as the International Year of Youth, under the theme of
dialogue and mutual understanding. We believe that the
overwhelming majority of our young people are
creative and law-abiding citizens. They will doubtless
contribute and be a credit to their community and their
country. Regrettably, however, a significant minority,
not unlike troubled youth throughout the world, find it
difficult to overcome the challenges presented by
poverty, weak educational achievement, risky social
behaviours, including drug and alcohol abuse, criminal
activity and rising unemployment.
 A recent report of the International Labour
Organization found that young people aged 15 to
24 accounted for 22 per cent of the increase in the
number of unemployed persons since the beginning of
2007. My Government is therefore seeking to further
expand educational programmes and career-oriented
training opportunities for our youth by enhancing our
secondary school curriculum and by strengthening the
programmes available at the Bahamas Technical and
Vocational Institute.
 The Bahamas welcomes efforts by the
Organization to continue to bring focus to women’s
issues. We applaud the adoption of resolution 64/289,
which established a new gender entity — UN Women.
 We also applaud the recent launch of the United
Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking
in Persons. Human trafficking is a growing
phenomenon in our region and is increasingly a
challenge for us in the Bahamas, as we are an
archipelagic nation with porous borders. My
Government is therefore committed to combating that
activity and to intercepting and prosecuting to the
fullest extent of the law those engaged in it.
 Building on its ratification in 2008 of the
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children, the Bahamas
enacted child protection and trafficking legislation
specially designed to work on counter-trafficking. We
are fortunate that financing has been made available to
representatives of relevant Government agencies and
key stakeholders.
 The Bahamas believes that the United Nations is
working diligently under its mandate to facilitate
increased international dialogue, realizing the noble
goals set out in its Charter. The Bahamas has taken
note of the Secretary-General’s announcement of a
High-level Panel on Global Sustainability as a
blueprint for a liveable, prosperous and sustainable
future for all.
 My delegation fully endorses the Secretary-
General in his assertion that the time for narrow
agendas and narrow thinking is over. As an
Organization, we must continue to chart a course that
will enable us to meet unprecedented global challenges
and translate our efforts into actions for the benefit of
all. The rhetoric must become reality. We all have a
contribution to make in realizing the goals and
objectives of the United Nations, based on the purposes
and principles outlined in the Charter.


I have
the honour to speak before the General Assembly to
convey the warm greetings of the people and
Government of Guinea, and most especially that of His
Excellency General Sékouba Konaté, interim President
of the Republic, President of the Transition. On this
happy occasion, I would first of all like to congratulate
you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the
sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. I wish you
every success and assure you in advance of my

23 10-55396

delegation’s support. Your undeniable personal
qualities, in conjunction with proven ability, will
certainly inspire our work at a time when our
Organization faces numerous challenges involving the
entire international community. I would also like to
extend our gratitude to your predecessor,
Mr. Abdussalam Treki, for the skill and dedication that
he showed in carrying out his mandate.
 Here, we would like to express our gratitude to
our Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his
tireless efforts to promote the noble ideals of the
United Nations and, in particular, for his personal
involvement in settling the crisis in my country.
 On assuming power on 23 December 2008
against a background of political and economic crisis,
the new Guinean authorities had to deal with many
difficulties, in particular poor governance, State
crimes, widespread insecurity and the proliferation and
circulation of small arms and light weapons. That
worrying situation led to the adoption of various
measures to restore order and security, build national
unity and establish a regime respectful of human rights
and individual and public freedoms.
 In that specific context, the agreement signed in
Ouagadougou on 15 January 2010 enabled the people
of Guinea, of all inclinations, to embark on a path of
peace and dialogue and implement a political plan
ensuring the return to constitutional order based on the
rule of law and good governance. Despite pitfalls, that
process of democratization led to the establishment of
transitional bodies, specifically, a Government of
national unity, led by a Prime Minister, a head of
Government coming from the Forces vives, the
National Transitional Council and the Independent
National Electoral Commission, as well as a timetable
setting the deadline for organizing free and transparent
elections.
 In a show of great commitment, following the
adoption of the new Constitution, the people turned out
in force on 27 June 2010 for the most free and
democratic presidential election that the country had
known since its independence in 1958. The second
round of that important election is planned for the
coming weeks.
 Here, from this rostrum, I would like to launch an
urgent appeal to the African and international
communities to continue to support Guinea with a view
to strengthening peace, stability and security in the
subregion. I would also like to pay warm tribute to the
Facilitator, His Excellency Mr. Blaise Compaore,
President of Burkina Faso, for his tireless efforts to
promote the democratic process in Guinea. I also
extend that tribute to the International Contact Group
on Guinea and, through it, the member States of the
Economic Community of West African States and of
the African Union, the international community and all
friendly countries that are working with us at this
critical time.
 Peace and security continue to be threatened in
some parts of the African continent and the world.
Somalia continues to be subject to a fratricidal and
painful war. In the Sudan, peace remains fragile despite
the huge sacrifices and the investments granted. We
urge the African Union and the international
community to continue their efforts for a prompt and
lasting settlement of those conflicts.
 In Côte d’Ivoire, the recent political
developments have made it possible for that friendly
neighbouring country to move towards the presidential
election planned for 31 October. That important step
forward, in conjunction with the positive outcomes of
the peacebuilding process in Sierra Leone and Liberia,
give us real cause for encouragement and hope for the
peoples of the Mano River Union.
 With regard to Western Sahara, my Government
supports the efforts of the United Nations and remains
firmly committed to the Moroccan initiative on the
negotiation of a status of autonomy for the Sahara
region. It urges the stakeholders to find a lasting and
mutually beneficial political solution.
 The upsurge in threats and terrorist violence in
Africa are a source of serious concern to Guinea. My
country supports the prompt establishment of a
consultative framework for action to eradicate that
scourge.
 In the Middle East, my delegation welcomes the
direct talks between the Palestinian authorities and the
Israeli Government under the auspices of the United
States of America. It hopes that those talks will lead to
the establishment of an independent and sovereign
Palestinian State, living side by side in peace with
Israel. The Guinean Government believes that peace in
that region can be achieved only in a climate of mutual
trust and with a will to implement the agreements and
relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the
Security Council. From that viewpoint, Israel must

10-55396 24

withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories and
end its settlement policy.
 Only a week ago, in this Hall, the international
community reiterated its commitment to the billions of
people who are expecting it to make a reality of the
promise of a better world expressed in the Millennium
Declaration (resolution 55/2). Guinea welcomes the
holding of that summit, which allowed our heads of
State and Government and our partners to reaffirm
their will to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) within the agreed time frame.
 My country remains convinced that achieving the
Millennium Development Goals is within reach. That
is borne out by the remarkable progress made in many
areas by countries that are among the poorest on the
planet. Barely five years from the 2015 deadline, we
must step up the pace, particularly in the countries
facing major challenges, in order to consolidate the
achievements and make even more effective progress
than we have to date.
 In order to take up the many challenges of the
twenty-first century, development partners and the
international community have no choice but to step up
efforts to work together to lend new impetus to
international cooperation. My country urges all
stakeholders to assume, at the national, regional and
international levels, their share of responsibility in
achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
 The Republic of Guinea welcomes the progress
made in recent years with regard to official
development assistance. However, it regrets that long-
standing commitments and those entered into more
recently are far from being met. It is vital to reflect on
all standard and supplementary sources of financing for
development. Innovative financing is becoming an
increasingly important means to mobilize additional,
predictable and stable resources to supplement official
development assistance.
 Guinea, which attaches great importance to an
increase in official development assistance, reiterates
its proposal on organizing an African conference on
innovative financing and drawing up a draft African
declaration on transparency of financial governance
and fighting illegal capital flows. The purpose of that
conference would be to promote strategies to mobilize
innovative financing as a complement to traditional aid
and the domestic resources needed to fund the MDGs.
The draft African declaration on transparency of
financial governance and fighting illegal capital flows
would seek to stem the immense capital outflows from
Africa by redirecting them towards development of the
continent.
 Those proposals were warmly welcomed by
various African bodies and the Leading Group on
Innovative Financing for Development. They also
received support at the twenty-fifth summit of heads of
State and Government of Africa and France and the
backing of the African Union at its fifteenth summit in
Kampala. My delegation hopes that those initiatives
will feature among the proposals for action on Africa
during this sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.
 Regarding international trade, we hope for a
prompt conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations on
the basis of an agreement that is both far-reaching and
fair to all stakeholders, in particular the least developed
countries. We again call for developed countries to
respect their commitment to remove by 2013 all export
subsidies that significantly distort trade and
agricultural production in developing countries. My
country welcomes the substantial progress made with
respect to debt relief and urges the international
community to continue its endeavours to effectively
implement the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
Initiative.
 The subject of climate change quite rightly
occupies a central place on the international agenda,
given that phenomenon’s devastating effects. That
reveals the emergence of a collective awareness and
the real threat that that phenomenon poses to
humankind.
 Given that urgency, my country calls for
concerted and courageous international efforts to
alleviate the suffering of victims, particularly the
vulnerable populations of poor countries. The
commitments undertaken with regard to developing
countries in terms of financial resources, technology
transfer and capacity-building must be fulfilled, so that
the appropriate measures can be undertaken to adapt to
climate change and to mitigate its effects in those
countries. In that connection, my delegation hopes that
the climate conference to be held at the end of the year
in Cancún, Mexico, will lead to an ambitious
agreement that will commit States to concrete action.
 As it is fully aware of the pressing need to act,
the Guinean Government, for its part, is determined to
assume its share of the responsibility, especially since

25 10-55396

Guinea plays a leading role in implementing all
policies and strategies aimed at achieving sustainable
development and restoring ecological balance in
western African. As the source of over 20 rivers that
irrigate the West African region, including the Niger,
Senegal, Gambia and Makona Rivers, Guinea is a
veritable water tower for Western Africa and the
crucible for an incredibly rich biodiversity.
 The main theme of this session, “Reaffirming the
central role of the United Nations in global
governance”, is extremely timely. We acknowledge that
most gratefully. In a highly interdependent world that
is marked by the combined effects of many crises, a
new culture of international solidarity is essential.
 Likewise, a profound reform of our Organization
is needed to make it more democratic, more
representative and transparent. Sixty-five years after its
creation, the United Nations does indeed need to be
reformed in order to become more effective and better
placed to meet the aspirations of our peoples. Let us
make it an effective instrument in the service of peace,
security, development and human rights. Only in that
way will current and future generations in all countries
and all regions of the world see their hopes of living in
peace realized in a world that is free and prosperous,
without fear, poverty or need.


Allow me to congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss
personally, as well as his country, Switzerland, on his
election to the presidency of the sixty-fifth session of
the General Assembly. His experience and competence
qualify him to ably discharge his responsibilities, and I
wish him every success in his endeavours. I also thank
his predecessor, Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, and extend
to him and his fraternal country our appreciation for
his skilful stewardship of the work of the General
Assembly during the previous session. I would also
like to express to the Secretary-General our
appreciation and wishes for success in fulfilling the
tasks entrusted to him.
 The Middle East region has been rife with
tensions for many decades. It has survived major
events and numerous wars. The policies, interests and
trends that have unfolded on its soil have converged at
times but clashed at others. Due to its geographic
location, the Middle East influences neighbouring
countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and is, in turn,
influenced by them. Syria, which lies at the heart of the
Middle East, has experienced these tensions, policies,
events and outcomes and has reacted to them.
 This fact — which has spelled both positive and
negative consequences for the Syrian Arab Republic —
prompted us to define our perspective in addressing
external issues, particularly the nature of our
international relations. Safeguarding and sustaining
Syrian and Arab interests is our priority. Therefore, our
door remains open for an in depth and meaningful
dialogue aimed at reconciling differences with others
and reaching common ground on the basis of which
progress can be made. That was our response when
Syria endured attempts to isolate and blockade it, a
response we reaffirm today as Syria discharges its role
as a major player in matters related to the security and
stability of the region. We believe that civilized
international relations must be built on openness and
dialogue as opposed to insularity, isolation,
confrontation and aggression. This is our approach,
which we hope will prevail in a world driven by
multiple interests and perspectives, overwhelmed by
problems and complications, yet at the same time
sustained by hopes and noble visions.
 The world has declared that it is determined to
achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle
East, and has stressed that peace is an urgent
prerequisite for the maintenance of security and
stability in the region. In Israel, there is much talk
about peace, yet the drums of war continue to sound.
Land appropriation for settlement-building goes on
unabated. Peace negotiations, we are told, are currently
under way on the basis of the two-State solution, but
settlement activities are about to make this two-State
solution a dead letter that stands no chance of survival.
Israel is intensely pursuing its Judaization plans for
Jerusalem in order to depopulate it of its Palestinian
inhabitants. Israeli actions threaten the safety of
Jerusalem’s holy sites. Through settlement activities,
actions and declarations concerning Jerusalem, Israel
pursues a fait accompli policy on the basis of which it
imposes its will regardless of whether negotiations
continue or stall.
 Peace can be genuine only if there is a genuine
will to make peace. That is the litmus test. Political
manoeuvres during negotiations under the umbrella of
the desire for peace strain and exacerbate the situation
and may make it more volatile and explosive.
 Syria seeks a just and comprehensive peace
achieved through the implementation of Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and the
Arab Peace Initiative. Our position has been known
and declared for years. We have the will to make peace
and we are the masters of our decision, which is
unwavering. The occupied Syrian Golan is not
negotiable nor is it a bargaining chip. Recognition of

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the fact that it must be returned fully is the basis on
which peacemaking arrangements should be made.
Syria is ready to resume peace negotiations from the
point where they stopped, through the Turkish
mediator, if it finds in Israel a partner committed to the
terms of reference of peacemaking, and if that partner
has the political will to achieve peace.
 We note with satisfaction the objective opinion of
the report of the Human Rights Council fact-finding
mission investigating the Israeli attack on the freedom
flotilla that was headed to Gaza on an exclusively
humanitarian mission (A/HRC/15/21). We look
forward to the conclusions to be drawn from the report
of the international commission now that the necessary
legal grounds and supporting evidence have been
established by the Human Rights Council’s fact-finding
mission.
 Syria is a fraternal Arab neighbour of Iraq. For
us, Iraq thus remains a subject of interest and a cause
for concern, particularly when the situation there
deteriorates. We embrace any improvement in
conditions there with a major sense of relief. The
restoration of Iraq’s full sovereignty and independence,
the preservation of its Arab and Islamic identity, the
unity of its people and its territorial integrity are of
utmost priority for our approach towards Iraq and its
future. Undoubtedly, national unity remains the
cornerstone of a secure, prosperous and strong Iraq.
 We have called for the withdrawal of all foreign
forces from Iraq. In this context, the partial withdrawal
of the American forces from Iraq constitutes, in our
view, a positive first step in the direction of Iraq’s
assumption of its power over its own affairs and the
restoration of its full sovereignty over its territories.
We hope that Iraq will ultimately develop strong
military and security capabilities to safeguard its
internal security and safety as an independent and
sovereign State.
 It should be reiterated that Iraqi security is
contingent upon its national unity and is based on its
Arab-Islamic identity and the principle of the
participation of all segments of Iraqi society in
building their country’s present and future. Syria is
willing to cooperate with Iraq in every aspect to serve
Iraq’s interests and the common interests of our two
fraternal countries.
 My country has been advocating the
establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
Middle East since 2003, a demand we included in a
draft resolution we presented to the Security Council at
the time. We continue to stress that Israel must be
made to comply with international decisions calling on
it to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to submit its nuclear
installations to the comprehensive International Atomic
Energy Agency safeguards regime. Israel’s accession to
the Treaty is of extreme significance for the security
and stability of our region.
 We often wonder why some States talk about the
universality of the NPT but hasten to make strenuous
efforts to shelter Israel from the Agency’s oversight.
They are encouraging Israel to continue to develop its
nuclear military programme, which is a cause of
concern to the people of the region. Furthermore, this
policy of double standards runs counter to the
non-proliferation prerequisites, not only in the Middle
East region, but also in the world at large.
 We reaffirm that all States have the right to
acquire nuclear technology for peaceful uses, as
guaranteed by the NPT. We also call for the peaceful
resolution of all disputes relevant to this aspect through
dialogue.
 Syria follows the developments in the Sudan
because we are dedicated to the Sudan’s unity,
sovereignty, security and stability. In that context, we
are grateful to the State of Qatar, the League of Arab
States and the African Union for their efforts. We also
appreciate and support the African Union’s efforts in
settling disputes in the Sudan and other conflict zones
on the African continent, and in promoting Africa’s
role within the international system.
 We also strongly reiterate our call to lift the
embargo that has been imposed on Cuba for decades.
 The world has suffered numerous natural
disasters this year resulting from climate change and
global warming. We all know that these disasters are
but a prelude to more severe and wider-scale calamities
that could well threaten natural life on this planet. We
have an obligation towards nature, yet we have
exceeded all limits in abusing it.
 Many countries have chosen to ignore the
warnings of scientists and the ominous signals from
nature. We must rise to this serious challenge and
assume our historic responsibility, so as to make up for
past imbalances and shortcomings.

21 10-55264

 We look forward to an expression of international
solidarity in Cancún, Mexico, based on scientific
evidence and on the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities. It is our hope that the
Cancún outcome will take into account the priorities of
sustainable development in order to arrive at a
comprehensive and legally binding post-2012
framework agreement. We believe that it is extremely
important to address the shortcomings of Copenhagen
and to renew the commitment to the Bali Action Plan
and the premises of the Kyoto Protocol.
 The painful situation in Pakistan, a typical
symptom of climate change, is yet another example of
the devastating disasters that we must expect unless we
work seriously and collectively to address this grave
situation. The people and Government of my country,
Syria, wholeheartedly sympathize with Pakistan and
other disaster-stricken countries. I stress the urgent
need for States to increase assistance to Pakistan, both
in cash and in kind, to mitigate the tragic and
widespread damage there and prevent any further
exacerbation of the situation.
 We aspire to a better, more just and secure world
and look forward to strengthening and revitalizing the
role of the United Nations and guaranteeing respect for
international law. We must not forget, though, that our
planet Earth is home to the world we are aspiring to
build. This home is besieged by an ominous
phenomenon, climate change, which entails tragic
consequences for humanity. This year was only a
prelude to what is yet to come. We sincerely hope that
the Cancún conference will be the herald of a direly
needed rescue effort.