Ecuador hails the choice of Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki
as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session. We believe his broad experience in the
international scene augurs success in the work of this
Assembly. Ecuador wishes especially to commend the
former President, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann,
for his determination in democratizing this
Organization and for his unswerving commitment to
the poor and the voiceless of this planet.
 The central theme of this general debate —
strengthening multilateralism — is the very purpose of
the United Nations. This Organization is called on to
be the expression of horizontal, democratic and
respectful relations among the countries of the world,
under the strictest observance of the principle of equal
sovereignty among States.
 However, with its current structure and
operations, the Organization has not been able to
respond to the great challenges of the twenty-first
century. For that reason, it is urgent to strengthen its
structural reform. The Security Council must be more
representative, democratic and efficient. To achieve
that, we call on all Member States to make a
commitment to achieve true substantial transformation
this year in the Council’s composition and its working
methods. Likewise, our country believes that the
General Assembly, as the most democratic and
universally representative body, must fully assume the
role established for it in the United Nations Charter. It
is essential to move forward on substantial agreements
that can lead us to a real revitalization of the Assembly.
 Along the same lines, Ecuador is committed to
regional integration processes as mechanisms of
coordination, cooperation and solidarity among
peoples. We therefore take on with great dedication and
enthusiasm the pro tempore presidency of the Union of
South American Nations (UNASUR), as an opportunity
to contribute to integration through a welcome
mechanism to promote democracy and collective
welfare in a coordinated and consensual manner.
 Latin America and the Caribbean have
understood that the best way to face today’s challenges
is through effective multilateral action. Our region is
undergoing an intense process of integration based on
solidarity and cooperation. That process is
demonstrated in such vital regional forums as the Rio
Group, UNASUR, the Bolivian Alternative for the
Americas (ALBA) and the Caribbean Community.
Those groups engender the most diverse proposals and
initiatives designed to construct common agendas on
social, cultural, political and economic matters, in
order to build a new development strategy that is more
inclusive and less predatory.
 Every integration effort requires the recognition
of the principles of equality and sovereignty of States.
Therefore my country applauds the reversal of the
unfair exclusion of our sister Republic of Cuba from
the Organization of American States (OAS). We have
settled part of Cuba’s debt, but despite repeated calls
on the part of this Assembly over the past 17 years, the
economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed
by the United States of America against that brother
country remains in place. The blockade is contrary to
the great principles of international law, and its
continuance is still severely affecting the well-being
and dignity of the Cuban people.
 Latin America and the whole world have taken a
stand with the historic General Assembly
pronouncement (resolution 63/301) condemning the
coup d’état against the legitimate Government of the
Republic of Honduras. The international community
has categorically and unanimously rejected this attack
against democracy and against all the practices of
peaceful coexistence between peoples. We therefore
insist on the immediate restitution of President Zelaya,
as well as on the protection of his physical person and
an immediate end to the repression of the Honduran
people. We echo the resolutions of the United Nations,
the OAS, the Rio Group, UNASUR, the European
Union, ALBA and the many other international
organizations that have made decisive statements on
this subject.
 I would also like to mention the declaration made
by the 61 heads of State and Government of South
America and Africa who met on Margarita Island,
Venezuela, on 26 and 27 September, in which we

09-52604 28

condemned the coup d’état in Honduras. In that
document, we also express our support for the Security
Council meeting held on 25 September 2009, which
highlighted the issue of the security of the Brazilian
embassy in Tegucigalpa, where President José Manuel
Zelaya has legitimately been taking refuge since
21 September and which has been subject to an
unjustifiable military and police barricade.
 We call on the international community to act
together to adopt strong measures that guarantee the
restitution of democratic order in Honduras in order to
promote an election process of some kind and
recognize the authorities that are elected as a result of
such a process.
 Today, we are facing a systemic and
multidimensional crisis that jeopardizes not only the
balance of an economic system but also the very
survival of human beings. The food crisis, the energy
crisis and the scandalous financial crisis are clear
symptoms of the fact that the system does not work and
must be re-invented.
 One of the most obvious facets of the overall
crisis is the economic and financial crisis. Although
this crisis originated in the main speculative markets of
the rich countries of the North, that is, the casino
economy, its effects have been multiplying and
expanding in developing countries.
 Nevertheless, the current financial crisis is only a
symptom of a larger crisis — the crisis of a system that
favours the financial and speculative economy over the
real economy. It is also the result of an international
financial architecture that is unequal, non-inclusive and
inefficient and that must be reformed urgently. Ecuador
proposes that the crisis does not require merely
technocratic reform but a profound change of our
economic model.
 For that reason, my Government strongly
supported the decision of the General Assembly to
hold, this past June, the high-level Conference on the
World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on
Development. At the Conference, Rafael Correa,
President of the Republic of Ecuador, became the main
voice of the countries of the South advocating for a
comprehensive reform of the current world economic
order, which jeopardizes the life and the well-being of
millions of people around the planet. President Correa
also proposed to democratize and redefine the
international financial architecture.
 At that Conference, important steps were taken in
recognizing the fundamental role of the United Nations
in the reform of the international financial system and
architecture. We welcome the fact that the Conference
acknowledged regional and subregional agreements as
integral parts of multilateral responses to the current
crisis.
 I have the honour of announcing one such
response in this forum. This past Saturday,
26 September, at the South American and African
summit that took place on Margarita Island, our
countries signed the constitutive act of the Bank of the
South, which will start out with a declared capital of
$20 billion and a subscribed capital of $7 billion. The
Bank will be a multilateral financial entity aimed at
supporting human development in South America. This
agreement was reached at the summit of South
American and African countries. This important event
was part of the proposal put forward by my country on
the creation of a new international financial
architecture based on a series of regional responses.
 In addition to this achievement, we must mention
initiatives such as the creation of a common Latin
American reserve fund, the establishment of a regional
system of payments as a prelude to the creation of a
regional central bank and the consolidation of a common
monetary system that will create an electronic currency
to facilitate our trade. The good news is that we have
begun to take fundamental steps in the establishment of
the Centralized Payment Compensation System, called
SUCRE, which will soon enter into force within ALBA.
 We reiterate our reservations concerning the
actions undertaken by international credit institutions
such as the International Monetary Fund and the World
Bank, since they have collaborated actively to take
strong economic and political measures against certain
nations. We also reject, on the basis of the principle of
sovereignty, the relationship between the World Bank
and arbitration centres such as the International Centre
for Settlement of Investment Disputes, which has only
served to pass judgment on and penalize certain parties
and to benefit transnational interests over national
interests.
 For our countries, the restructuring and relief of
our external debt is more urgent than ever. We cannot
continue to give higher priority to paying off external
debt than to financing a recovery in production and
development.

29 09-52604

 We have an enormous task ahead of us with
respect to the effects of the crisis. The General
Assembly working group on the financial crisis will be
the ideal mechanism through which to follow up on the
implementation of the commitments and tasks that
arose out of the Conference last June.
 This crisis has shown that capitalism as a model
for economic and social relations is not viable. It has
also highlighted the imbalances in the relationships
between society, nature and the economy. One of the
most obvious examples of this is the imbalances that
are to be found in the way that the issue of climate
change is dealt with.
 This past week, a high-level Summit on Climate
Change was held in this very Hall. I must frankly state
that it was a great disappointment. Empty rhetoric
abounded, and no commitments were undertaken, with
few exceptions. As a result, our response to the issue
has been nothing more than inadequate and, at times,
irresponsible. Even worse, we heard repeatedly last
week that the major challenge is how to maintain
economic growth without affecting the environment —
that is, how to preserve the current system, with a few
cosmetic adjustments. We believe, however, that we
need to completely transform the means of production
and consumption and not simply promote further
growth without stopping to take stock of where we are.
 The principle of shared but differentiated
responsibilities, as contained in the Framework
Convention on Climate Change, recognizes that rich
nations and the elites who consume too much are the
major causes of this scourge and that they must
therefore assume a large proportion of the costs of
reducing emissions. Wealthy countries must make
additional efforts to decrease their greenhouse gas
emissions, beyond the reductions already brought
about by the economic crisis.
 Reducing emissions is urgent but not sufficient.
Adaptation measures must be identified, in particular
in vulnerable countries and countries that lack the
economic resources to deal with the impacts of climate
change. We are not speaking about donations or credit
being offered for adaptation efforts. Reparations must
be made that recognize the ecological debt and take
into account the historic responsibility for the
excessive emissions of the past several decades, when
the greenhouse effect was already recognized. Serious
studies on the subject estimate that this would amount
to at least $50 billion dollars a year over 20 or
30 years.
 We demand that the countries of the North
comply with and strengthen the commitments they
undertook in the context of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto
Protocol regarding measures for adaptation and
mitigation, the development and transfer of
technologies and their financing. However, we
recognize that we have a shared responsibility to
provide responses to the climate crisis. For this reason,
Ecuador has offered significant proof of its
commitment to this issue. I would like to briefly
mention four initiatives that my country has
undertaken.
 The first initiative, and the one that provides the
guidelines and foundation for Ecuador’s international
environmental policy, is the Yasuni Ishpingo-
Tambococha-Tiputini (Yasuni ITT) initiative, an
innovative project that was introduced by President
Rafael Correa at the 2007 United Nations Climate
Change Conference and that breaks with traditional
discredited approaches. Ecuador has decided to keep a
considerable amount of its proven oil reserves
underground — about 850 million barrels of crude —
in order to pursue three important goals. The first goal
is to prevent the pollution that would result from the
emission of 410 million tons of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. The second is to protect the indigenous
peoples who live in the Yasuni National Park, the
Taromenane and Tagaeri peoples. The third goal is to
preserve biodiversity. In that connection, an
international trust fund will be established in the
coming weeks as a financial mechanism to enable us to
receive international contributions and invest them in
conservation and sustainable development initiatives
for the country, in line with the development goals laid
out in our national development plan.
 The second initiative is the Forest Partners
Programme, which is an initiative that provides
economic incentives to indigenous peoples and rural
farmers to protect our forest. This will enable us to
protect 20 per cent of our total forest areas until the
year 2015.
 The third initiative is a programme to transform
the energy grid, aimed at ensuring that the main
sources of energy used in the country are renewable
and sustainable. One of the projects undertaken under

09-52604 30

this programme is being carried out in the Galapagos
Islands, a world heritage site for humankind, with the
goal of achieving 100 per cent clean energy sources on
the archipelago by 2015.
 Our fourth initiative would take place in the
context of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) and proposes the introduction of an
eco-tax of approximately 3 per cent on oil prices, in
order to bring about a decrease in demand and thereby
a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This proposal
was first put forward by Herman Daly, an
environmental economist, and subsequently taken up
and presented to OPEC by President Rafael Correa.
The revenue from the proposed eco-tax would
facilitate, under the administration of a body such as
the United Nations, projects to facilitate the conversion
of the energy grid to using renewable energy.
 Ecuador believes that this time of crisis
represents an opportunity to make radical changes that
will allow us to transform our societies from their
current model, which is based on competition and on
irrational and unsustainable habits of consumption that
prioritize merchandise over people, into societies based
on human beings living in harmony with themselves,
with their fellow human beings and with nature.
 For us, land, nature and the physical environment
are essential components of the fundamental principle
of our constitutional ordering of well-being, or “sumak
kawsay”. This principle of well-being implies living
with dignity according to our cultural values and in
harmony with nature and is the basis for the
economical and social policies that my Government is
embracing in order to overcome social inequalities.
 We would also like to highlight, once again, the
gravity of the food crisis. In an era where the
technology to produce sufficient food exists, there is
hunger in the world. This is due to the fact that access
to food is dominated by the large transnational
agricultural companies that control the global market.
In addition, subsidies and other distortions on trade
have a serious impact on agriculture in countries of the
South.
 We firmly support the convening of the World
Summit on Food Security, which will take place in
Rome during the sixty-fourth session of the General
Assembly and is aimed at reaching agreements on
assigning priority to the right to food security and
sovereignty over the pursuit of profit and the drive to
maximize gains.
 In order to achieve the targets defined by the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the
minimum required for survival and well-being, those
Goals must be complemented by decisive support from
the countries of the North aimed at increasing official
development assistance and international cooperation
without imposing any kind of conditions.
 Review of the progress made in achieving the
MDGs will take place in the year 2010, as mandated by
the Assembly, and must serve to lay the foundation for
efforts to correct the errors and omissions of these
Goals. They include, in particular, the failure to
consider the structural causes of the problems, the lack
of attention paid to human rights, the absence of any
goal dealing with the generation of valuable
employment, the exclusion of our ancestral peoples
from the process of drawing up public policies and the
absence of a multicultural approach in defining the
Goals.
 At this session, the General Assembly will be
taking important strategic decisions regarding Ecuador.
We are sure that all Member States will strive to make
the Organization’s efforts more effective in the
promotion and defence of the rights of differently
abled persons, the recognition and implementation of
the rights of indigenous peoples, gender equality, and
efforts to combat human trafficking, among other
important issues.
 I would like to refer in particular here to my
country’s commitment to combating the scourge of
illegal human trafficking. We firmly support the need
for a global plan of action, and we offer to the
Organization our national experience in terms of legal
and control issues.
 Another subject we consider essential for the
agenda of this Assembly is that of international
migration. In the current Ecuadorian Constitution, one
of our most transformative principles is based on the
recognition of universal citizenship. We do not impose
any restrictions on the freedom of movement of people
around the world. We believe we are all citizens of the
world. There is no such thing as illegal human beings.
There are, however, such things as illegal and immoral
practices of exclusion and exploitation. In this twenty-
first century, merchandise and capital are not bound by
any borders, but walls are being built to restrict the

31 09-52604

movement of human beings. Ecuador will continue to
work towards a constructive multilateral dialogue on
migration and the adoption of a comprehensive
approach on the issue of the human rights of migrants
and their families, in accordance with the mandate set
by the heads of State in the 2005 World Summit
Outcome.
 As a country that prioritizes respect for and the
guarantee of all human rights, Ecuador currently
receives more refugees than any other country in the
Western Hemisphere. Without belittling the support
that we receive from the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, we must stress that we
have allocated significant economic resources to assist
people who are in need of international protection. We
have implemented pioneering measures and policies
with respect to the protection of refugees. We have one
of the most advanced programmes in terms of refugee
management, namely, the Expanded Registration
programme.
 Ecuador, as a founding member of the United
Nations, accords priority to dialogue and international
cooperation in the resolution of conflicts and believes
that military action alone cannot bring about lasting
and sustainable peace in any conflict zone in the world.
 The commitment of Ecuador to the stabilization
process in the brotherly Republic of Haiti is
internationally recognized. Because of this, since the
beginning of the Haitian crisis in February of 2004, we
have actively participated in the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti, in terms of a mostly
civil contingent. This endeavour was undertaken in
accordance with our foreign policy of complete support
for and attention to humanitarian crises and the
peaceful resolution of conflicts.
 I cannot conclude this statement without
mentioning Ecuador’s satisfaction at having renounced,
a few days ago, any solution that is not in accordance
with international law. We hope to achieve very shortly
a normalization of diplomatic relations with the
brotherly Republic of Colombia, which will be of great
benefit for both of our peoples. This was made possible
thanks to the opportunity for dialogue and meetings
offered by the General Assembly each year.
 Finally, I extend once again the affectionate and
hope-filled greetings of the Ecuadorian people, the
revolutionary citizenry of my country, and my
President, Rafael Correa, to the rest of the world’s
people and to their representatives here.


The
world today is undergoing major developments, major
changes and major adjustments. The trend towards
peace, development and cooperation, which represents
the call of our times, has grown stronger than ever. As
the world moves further towards multipolarity and
economic globalization, multilateralism and democracy
in international relations have won greater popular
support, while openness and cooperation for mutual
benefit and win-win progress have become the shared
aspirations of the international community. Countries
have become more interdependent.
 At the same time, the world remains in the grip of
the financial crisis, and the prospects for economic
recovery are still not clear. Worldwide, unemployment
and poverty are worsening, and development
imbalances are more acute. Global issues such as
climate change, food security, energy and resource
security, and public health security have been thrown
into sharp relief. Non-traditional security threats,
including terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction, transnational organized crime and
major communicable diseases, are threatening our
world. Some long-standing hotspot issues remain
unresolved, while regional and local conflicts continue
to flare up. The instability and uncertainties on the
international landscape pose severe challenges to world
peace and development.
 In the face of unprecedented opportunities and
challenges, we members of the international
community should commit ourselves to peace,
development, cooperation, common progress and
tolerance, and continue our joint endeavour to build a
harmonious world of enduring peace and common
prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of the
peace and development of humankind.
 First, we should view security in a broader
perspective and safeguard world peace and stability.
The security of all countries has never been as closely
interconnected as it is today. Security is not a zero-sum
game, and there is no isolated or absolute security. No
country can be safe and stable in the absence of world
and regional peace and stability.
 We should embrace a new security mindset of
mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.
While maintaining our own national security, we
should also respect the security concerns of other
countries and advance the common security of
humankind. We should adhere to the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and
seek peaceful solutions to regional hotspot issues and
international disputes. There should be no wilful use or
threat of force. We should support the United Nations
in continuing to play an important role in the field of
international security. We should oppose terrorism,
separatism and extremism in all their manifestations
and broaden international security cooperation.
 China has consistently stood for the complete
prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear
weapons and for a world without nuclear weapons. We
call on the international community to take credible
steps to push forward the nuclear disarmament process,
eradicate the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and
promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and related
international cooperation.
 Secondly, we should take a more holistic
approach to development and promote common
prosperity. Increasing economic globalization has
linked the development of all countries closely
together. Without the development and equal
participation of developing countries, there can be
neither common prosperity in the world nor a more just
and equitable international economic order. The
developing countries now face a deteriorating external
environment brought about by the international
financial crisis. Their economies are slowing down,
and their development endeavours are beset by serious
difficulties.
 We believe that common development is an
important way to redress global development
imbalances and achieve sustainable development. The
United Nations should increase its input in

9 09-52228

development; advance economic globalization in the
direction of balanced development, shared benefits and
win-win progress; and foster an international
environment conducive to the development of
developing countries. The international financial
institutions should use their newly increased resources,
first and foremost, to help developing countries move
out of poverty and provide loans to them in a more
flexible, diverse, convenient and efficient manner.
Great effort should be made to increase the
representation and voice of developing countries in the
process of reforming the international financial system.
 We should take responsible measures to counter
the international financial crisis, firmly oppose
protectionism and actively work for an early,
comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha
Round negotiations. Developed countries should open
their markets to developing countries and reduce or
exempt tariffs for those countries. They should honour
their official development assistance and debt relief
commitments and, in particular, increase assistance to
the least developed countries, with a focus on tackling
such issues as hunger, health care and education.
 For developing countries, self-reliance is
essential. They should explore development models
conducive to their development and poverty
eradication efforts. It is also in their interest to increase
trade and investment cooperation, open markets to one
another and step up South-South cooperation.
 Thirdly, we should pursue cooperation with a
more open mind and work for mutual benefit and
common progress. Climate change, food security,
energy and resource security, and public health security
are all global challenges, and no country is immune to
them. The only way for us to meet those challenges and
ensure harmony and peace is to engage in closer
international cooperation.
 Climate change is one of the serious challenges to
human survival and development, and international
cooperation is the key to tackling that challenge. We
should retain the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol
as the main channel in addressing climate change,
abide by the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities, adhere to the mandate of the Bali Road
Map, and work for the success of the Copenhagen
conference with a view to achieving mutual benefit and
common progress.
 Food and energy are vital to the livelihood,
development and stability of all nations. We should
increase our input into agriculture, develop advanced
technologies, curb market speculation, increase food
assistance and intensify cooperation with regard to
agriculture and food. We should strengthen mutually
beneficial cooperation in the area of energy, step up the
research and development of new and renewable
energies, put in place a system for the research,
development and dissemination of advanced energy
technologies, and diversify the energy supply.
 The continued spread of influenza A — H1N1 —
has presented a global public health challenge
confronting the entire international community. China
is ready to provide help, within its capacities, to other
developing countries in the prevention and control of
influenza A.
 Fourthly, we should be more tolerant towards one
another and live together in harmony. Mutual learning
and tolerance among different civilizations are an
inexhaustible source of strength for social progress,
and all countries — large or small, strong or weak, rich
or poor — are equal. We should acknowledge
differences in our cultural traditions, social systems
and values, respect the right of all countries to
independently choose their own development paths, let
different civilizations and models of development draw
on one another’s strengths through competition and
comparison, and achieve common development by
seeking common ground while reserving the right to
differ.
 The Chinese people will soon celebrate the
sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the People’s
Republic of China. Sixty years ago, the Chinese people
won independence and liberation after a prolonged,
hard struggle and became masters of the new China.
Today, China’s national strength has grown remarkably
and the people are better off.
 China’s development has contributed greatly to
peace and development in the world, and China’s
future is more closely interconnected with that of the
world. A more developed China will make greater
contributions and bring more opportunities to the
world. We are committed to the path of peaceful
development and the win-win strategy of opening up.
We will develop friendly relations and cooperation
with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence. China has always been and will

09-52228 10

continue to be a positive force for world peace and
common development.
 As a responsible and major developing country,
China has always made common development an
important aspect of its foreign policy. We have made a
great effort to provide support and assistance to other
developing countries. To further assist them, China will
adopt the following measures.
 First, we will increase support for other
developing countries hit hard by the financial crisis,
honestly implement relevant capital increase and
financing plans, intensify trade and investment
cooperation and help increase the capacity of relevant
countries for risk resistance and sustainable
development.
 Secondly, we will continue to implement the
measures announced at the United Nations High-level
Event on the Millennium Development Goals to assist
other developing countries in accelerating development
and facilitating attainment of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
 Thirdly, China will follow through on the
measures to help African countries that were
announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation, increase assistance to
Africa, reduce or cancel debts for African countries,
expand trade and investment, provide human resources
and technological support for African countries in such
areas as agriculture, health, education and disaster
preparedness and reduction, and intensify personnel
training tailored to African needs.
 Fourthly, China will continue to participate in and
promote regional monetary and financial cooperation,
maintain financial and economic stability and promote
financial cooperation and trade in the region.
 Let us join hands, share the development
opportunities, rise above the challenges and make an
unremitting effort towards building a harmonious
world of enduring peace and common prosperity.


With your
permission, Sir, I would like to speak in Bangla, my
mother tongue.
 I would like to warmly congratulate the President
on his well-deserved election to preside over the
General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. I am
confident that his wise and able leadership will guide
the Assembly’s deliberations to a successful
conclusion. I would also like to express my deep
appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto
Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its
sixty-third session, for his sound leadership in
successfully steering the Assembly’s work during his
tenure. I should also like to pay tribute to Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon for his tireless and dedicated
efforts to reinvigorate the United Nations.
 Thirty-five years ago, the father of our nation and
my father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in
his first address to the General Assembly from this
rostrum, expressed his gratitude to all who supported
our struggle for independence. He also declared his
commitment to democracy, good governance, human
rights and the rule of law. It is also my proud privilege
and great honour to extend the same commitment here
today on behalf of our country.
 As members may know, for many years following
the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu and 18 other
members of our family, on 15 August 1975, by
misguided armed mutineers, Bangladesh was ruled by
dictators and quasi-dictators. Aside from a period in
the 1990s, the country continued to suffer from
unconstitutional rule, particularly in the most recent
years. Even I was sent into forced exile. But the will of
the people of Bangladesh and the good will of the
international community permitted my return home and
the holding of nation-wide elections on 29 December
2008.
 Universally acclaimed as free, fair and credible,
and carried out under the supervision of United
Nations and international observers, the elections
heralded democracy in Bangladesh. The resounding
victory of my party, the Awami League, reflected the
people’s preference for democratic ideals, secularism
and an outright denial of all forms of extremism. The
elections included record high participation by young
voters and women.
 The huge mandate given by the voters to my
Government also entrusted it with an equally huge
responsibility for delivering on people’s expectations.
Consequently, my Government has embarked on
achieving a digital Bangladesh by implementing its
Vision 2021 election manifesto. Our goal is to
transform Bangladesh into “Sonar Bangla” or “Bengal
of Gold”, as envisioned by Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
 Despite all odds, Bangladesh is making great
strides in its socio-economic development. Education,
particularly for girls, is a priority of our Government,
receiving the largest single share of our annual budget.
Our Government has pledged to ensure 100 per cent
student enrolment at the primary level by 2010.
Accordingly, primary education has been made free —

09-52586 22

with free books — and compulsory for all children.
Provision has been made for free education for girls up
to the twelfth grade, and stipends are provided for girls
in rural secondary schools.
 As for the Millennium Development Goals,
Bangladesh has been successful in removing gender
disparities in the net enrolment of boys and girls in
primary and secondary schools. Our Government is
now planning to provide free tuition for girls up
through the secondary level.
 Since children are our future, our Government
runs a food-for-education/cash-for-education programme
providing food rations to poor primary school children
in rural areas. Our aim is to achieve full literacy by
2014.
 Health is another major sector where our
Government is striving to make progress. During our
last period in power, we formulated a national health
policy whose main thrust was to ensure basic health
care for all without discrimination. A national strategy
for maternal health has also been adopted, which
provides quality services for safe motherhood.
Regarding infant mortality, our plan is to reduce the
infant mortality rate from 54 per thousand live births to
15 per thousand. Our plan is also to extend child
immunization programmes to reach 100 per cent of the
population during our present term.
 During our last period in power, we initiated
programmes to establish one community health-care
centre for every 6,000 people, in order to bring primary
health-care services to people’s homes. Only 4,000 of
the first phase of 18,000 could be completed during the
period we were in power prior to the changeover of
government, and the programme was terminated. We
are now reactivating the programme.
 Bangladesh is often cited for its social safety
programmes. A wide range of safety nets have been put
in place, such as cash and food transfer programmes,
micro-credit and other special poverty alleviation
programmes, and special programmes for minorities,
the marginalized, the disabled, the physically
challenged and the underprivileged. In our earlier
period in power, I had introduced an old age pension, a
pension for distressed women, Shanti Nibash or old
people’s homes, a Karmasangsthan Bank to provide
earnings to unemployed youth through productive job
creation, and Ashrayan or homes on Government-
owned land for homeless people, as well as sustainable
jobs.
 An innovative programme instituted by my
current Government seeks to provide employment to at
least one member of each family. Currently, over a half
of our budgetary resources are allocated to reducing
the poverty level from 45 per cent to 15 per cent by
2021.
 Food security has always been our Government’s
prime concern. During our earlier term in power, my
Government’s agricultural programmes made
Bangladesh self-sufficient in food, for which the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
presented us with its prestigious Ceres Award. After the
change in government, Bangladesh returned to being in
food deficit. This time around, our Government has
adopted a national food policy to ensure sustained food
security for all, enhance people’s access to food,
particularly for children, women and the elderly,
reduce food prices, increase food production by
reducing the price of fuel, fertilizer and irrigation, and
ensure supply of farm inputs.
 On the international level, at the World Summit
on Food Security to be held in Rome in November
2009, Bangladesh will be seeking a global agreement
for the development of agriculture and the attainment
of food self-sufficiency in developing countries,
particularly the least developed countries (LDCs).
Substantial financial contributions from developed
countries, an agreement on sustainable agricultural
policies, the transfer of technology, equitable and fair
trade rules for food and agricultural products with
special preferential treatment for LDCs, and the
removal of agricultural subsidies in the developed
world will also be sought, in order to address the
challenges we face in ensuring the food security
critical for advancing our development agenda.
 For some time now, climate change has been
adversely impacting our low-lying, deltaic, monsoonal
country. Although Bangladesh’s own contribution to
climate change is negligible, it is one of its worst
victims. Erratic floods, cyclones, droughts and
earthquakes have been disrupting our agriculture and
challenging our water resources, as well as our health,
energy and urban planning. In particular, cyclones
battering the coastal areas have taken countless lives,
and sudden floods have uprooted families by the
thousands and continue to do so every year. River bank

23 09-52586

erosion, landslides, soil degradation and deforestation
are causing millions of climate-change refugees. They
already greatly affect our densely populated cities. It is
alarming that a metre’s rise in the sea level would
inundate 18 per cent of our land mass, directly
impacting 11 per cent of our people. Scientific
estimates indicate that, of the 1 billion people expected
to be displaced worldwide by 2050 as a result of
climate-change factors, one in every 45 people in the
world and one in every seven in Bangladesh, would be
a victim.
 Bangladesh has therefore decided to take some
measures immediately. Dredging all major rivers is at
the top of the agenda for adaptation to climate change.
Capital dredging projects will keep rivers in their
natural course, deepen them to hold more water,
restrict flooding, reduce flood damage, reclaim
inundated arable land and keep them navigable.
Maintenance dredging would then ensure the sustained
regulated flow of the rivers. With the rise in sea level,
the excavated silt could build, raise and fortify
embankments, increase green belts and help create
elevated flat ground for the homes of the displaced,
thereby discouraging them from moving to cities.
Meanwhile, 14,000 cyclone shelters have been
constructed, and more are on the way.
 Those activities would obviously entail huge
costs. A climate-change trust fund has been established
with our own resources, but in order to implement the
projects the assistance of the international community
is imperative.
 Rapid and unplanned urbanization, occupational
dislocation and lack of food, water and land security
are some of the consequences of climate change. The
affected communities would not only lose their homes.
They would also stand to lose their identity, nationality
and their very existence and, in some cases, their
countries. In December this year, we will meet in
Copenhagen for the fifteenth session of the Conference
of the Parties and, therefore, it is critical that the
outcome of the Conference reflect a commitment to
assured, adequate and easily accessible funding for
adaptation and to affordable, eco-friendly technology
transfer to developing countries, particularly to the
LDCs, as well as specific commitments to deeper cuts
in greenhouse emissions. Bangladesh would, of course,
make a strong call at the Conference to consider a new
legal regime to protect climate migrants under the
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change that ensures the social,
cultural and economic rehabilitation of migrants
displaced through climate change.
 On the vital issue of climate change, the recent
bold and courageous proposal of Prime Minister
Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom has caught the
imagination of States at the forefront of dealing with
climate change. Among his proposals, the proposed
fund to support the adaptation and mitigation
programmes of countries affected by climate change
has, in particular, won our support. It could be the
beginning of a systematic flow of funds towards
improving the adversely changing environmental
conditions around the globe. The Copenhagen
Conference should seriously consider his proposal. The
Conference must also be aware that climate-change
mitigation does not restrict the steps taken to alleviate
energy poverty, and that the post-2012 agreement
should incorporate predictable and legally binding
commitments to address the adaptation needs of low-
lying coastal States, small island countries and LDCs.
 The world is caught in an economic recession, the
likes of which has not been seen since the Great
Depression of the 1930s. The economically vulnerable
countries, such as the LDCs, which are not responsible
for the crisis, have become its worst victims.
Bangladesh is faced with a sharp reduction in exports,
falling prices for primary commodities, declining
remittances and a severe credit crunch, leading to the
contraction of our economic growth, rising
unemployment and poverty.
 The crisis is due to years of neglect of equity and
justice, including a fundamentally unfair international
financial structure that never changed with the needs of
the times. The need of the hour is the immediate
restructuring of the global financial and economic
system. The Bretton Woods institutions, namely, the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, must
accommodate a stronger presence of developing
countries, especially the LDCs. Indeed, a voting weight
proportionate to share capital has proved unsuited to
the Bretton Woods system.
 Surely, fiscal stimulus packages would help
support global demand and aid recovery. However,
liberal trade concessions by developed countries, such
as duty- and quota-free market access and trade
capacity-building for developing countries, particularly
LDCs, would rescue them from dire straits. The early

09-52586 24

conclusion of the Doha Development Round of the
World Trade Organization trade negotiations would be
an important collective stimulus package for our
economies.
 It is also the time for the countries of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development to fulfil their official development
assistance commitments to contribute 0.7 per cent of
their gross national income to developing countries and
0.2 per cent specifically to the least developed
countries by 2010, as reaffirmed in the Brussels
Programme of Action.
 The economic turmoil has adversely affected
employment at the national level and worldwide. The
worst affected are the LDCs, both domestically and in
terms of employment abroad. Remittances constitute a
significant part of their gross domestic income.
However, recent restrictions on new admissions of
migrant workers and, even worse, their repatriation to
their home countries have resulted in socio-economic
instability in many countries. Therefore, recovery
measures should be designed in such a manner so as
not to adversely affect employment opportunities of
immigrant workers from developing countries.
 Bangladesh is proud of its outstanding role as a
major troop-contributing country serving the United
Nations in maintaining peace and security worldwide.
Since 1988, Bangladesh has been involved in
32 United Nations peacekeeping operations in
24 different countries, contributing approximately
83,000 personnel. Today, Bangladesh is ranked second
with 9,567 peacekeepers serving in various United
Nations missions.
 With pride I say that, throughout the years, 84 of
our valiant peacekeepers have laid down their lives for
the cause of peace under the auspices of the United
Nations. Sadly, despite our contributions and
sacrifices, Bangladesh does not have proportionate
representation in the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, nor does it have a say in the planning and
strategy design of peacekeeping missions. Indeed, this
situation calls for rectification on the basis of
proportional representation in all fairness.
 As a peaceful nation involved in United Nations
peacekeeping efforts, Bangladesh is naturally opposed
to terrorism. Bangladesh is a party to all terrorism-
related United Nations Conventions, which is a
testament to our commitment to fighting that scourge.
We categorically reject the claims of those who cloak
themselves in the rhetoric of Islam or any other faith to
justify violence. Nationwide, we have taken stern
measures against militant groups and their leaders. We
are firmly opposed to violence and terrorism; instead,
we promote peace across the world. Bangladesh, in
sessions of the General Assembly, has spearheaded the
flagship resolution on the culture of peace. At last
year’s session of the General Assembly, the resolution
was sponsored by 124 nations.
 The International Mother Language Day was
adopted by UNESCO, at the initiative of Bangladesh,
in recognition of 21 February 1952, when language
martyrs died for their mother tongue Bangla. Now
every year on that day UNESCO celebrates all
languages of the world. The Bangla language is spoken
by over 250 million people worldwide, primarily in
Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The
Bangladesh Parliament therefore recently adopted a
resolution requesting the United Nations to declare
Bangla as one of its official languages. Given the rich
heritage of the Bangla language and its singular place
as a symbol of people’s faith in the power of languages
to sustain cultures and indeed the identity of nations, I
seek the support of the membership of the United
Nations General Assembly for its acceptance as an
official language of the United Nations.
 At present we are witnessing a rapidly changing
world as a result of climate change, economic turmoil
and terrorism. It is crystal clear to those who wish to
open their eyes that we all belong to a global village
where we must live and work together. I therefore call
upon all States to discard short-sighted discords and
adopt a common resolve in facing today’s grim
challenges. Let us share each other’s responsibilities,
burdens and prosperity. After all, at stake is our
common and shared future. In reaching out to one
another, we will leave a harmonious world for our
children and future generations thereafter.
 May Bangladesh live forever! Long live the
United Nations!
 The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh for the statement she
has just made.


May I begin by congratulating Mr. Treki on
his unanimous election to preside over the work of the
General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. His
election to that position is an honour to the entire
African continent and a worthy tribute to the Great
Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, whose
devotion to the African cause goes without saying.
 Furthermore and on behalf of His Excellency
General François Bozizé, President of the Republic,
who wishes him every success in his work, I assure
him of the support of the Central African delegation in
achieving the full success of his lofty task this year.
His demonstrated knowledge of the United Nations and
of world problems will ensure the success of the
present session. I also wish to congratulate Mr. Miguel
d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua on his excellent
contribution to the previous session in his capacity as
President.
 However, before delivering my assessment the
state of the world in the face of the new challenges of
the twenty-first century and my country’s perspective
on the main issues to be addressed at this session, I
should also like to commend the tireless work of the
Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who spares no
effort in promoting the principles and purposes of the
United Nations. To him, I once again express the deep
gratitude of the people of the Central African Republic
for his notable contributions with regard to the
situation in the Central African Republic and his
support within the framework of the Peacebuilding
Commission.
 In fact, in March this year, pursuant to my
Government’s request, a country configuration of the

37 09-52470

Peacebuilding Commission was established under the
Belgian presidency. The Commission is working
together with Central African authorities to strengthen
the achievements of peace and make it possible to
implement the recommendations resulting from the
inclusive political dialogue held from 8 to
20 December 2008, regarding in particular the
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
programme, security sector reform and the process
leading up to the 2010 general elections.
 My country welcomes this session because of the
items on our agenda, which are true matters of global
concern. Indeed, it should be recalled that we have
several challenges to meet: development, peace and
security, climate change and its effects, terrorism and
necessary United Nations reform. The choice of theme
for this debate — “Effective responses to global crises,
strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among
civilizations for international peace, security and
development” — is inspired. In fact, the changes in the
world’s configuration have given rise to new
challenges that can be addressed only through
international cooperation. Thus, multilateralism now
appears to be the only way to resolve the world’s
problems.
 In this era of globalization and technological
advances, forums for cooperation — even the most
firmly established ones — must address new demands
calling for appropriate and united responses.
 I am grateful for the honour shown to the Central
African Republic, and I should like to stress the
correlation among some of the issues raised since the
beginning of this general debate. With regard to the
world situation, this session is being held in a
particularly worrisome context. This is a critical time
for addressing global political issues at all levels — a
time that requires us, as nations, to seek solutions in a
spirit of dialogue, cooperation and openness. The
current world scene poses major challenges in the areas
of peace and security, economic development and
social progress, and human rights and the rule of law.
 As far as crucial development issues are
concerned, the world economic and financial crisis
remains an unprecedented event in terms of its impact
and the upheavals in the world’s economic and
financial systems. It requires a reorganization leading
to a new world order in this area. Besides that option,
however, other ways to emerge from the present crisis
could be to develop production capacity, to strengthen
trade capacity for the benefit of developing countries
and to implement strategic partnerships among the
various regions to which the Organization’s Members
belong.
 The food crisis, which was caused by rising
prices and whose harmful effects continue to keep a
large part of the world in conditions of famine and
abject poverty, requires that we promote the
agricultural sector, industry and the utilization of
mining resources. The rise in food prices has caused a
significant deterioration in the terms of trade among
countries in the most affected regions, including the
African continent generally and, in particular, the
Central African Republic. That situation could lead to
greater inflationary pressure and a deteriorating
balance of payments. The impact is being felt both at
the macroeconomic level and in terms of household
income and food security.
 The contributions of regional economic
communities and United Nations agencies such as the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, the World Food Programme, the International
Fund for Agricultural Development and the World
Bank, will be invaluable in the quest for a coordinated
solution to this crisis. Agricultural development should
be encouraged with a view to ensuring sustainable
growth and improvements in people’s means of
subsistence, based on the sound management of
environmental and natural resources.
 Programmes and activities to promote long-term
growth should, of course, be carried out in accordance
with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In
2000, when we committed ourselves to achieving the
Goals by 2015, we aroused legitimate hopes
throughout the developing world. We do not have the
right to dash those hopes, which would worsen the
North-South fracture and further deepen the divisions
within our own societies, with incalculable risks for the
governance and stability of States.
 A little more than nine years after the Millennium
Summit, it is indisputable that significant progress has
been made, but we must acknowledge that, in many
countries in Africa and elsewhere, a large majority of
the population lives in abject poverty. The Millennium
Development Goals are the surest way to speed the
progress of African peoples towards well-being. The
development projects in the MDG sectors need stable,

09-52470 38

sufficient and predictable long-term funding. We thus
regard this session of the General Assembly as an
opportunity to raise the awareness of all international
development financing institutions, without exception,
and lead them to effectively pledge to mobilize and
transfer the financial resources necessary to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals.
 Likewise, the Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, aimed
at significantly improving the living conditions of the
more than 600 million people living in those countries,
is concluding and thus should be reviewed in order to
address the marginalization and the new
socio-economic challenges facing least developed
countries.
 Climate change joins the challenges confronting
our world, because the economy, the environment and
the way of life of every nation represented here are
threatened.
 At the United Nations Climate Change
Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2007, world
leaders decided to negotiate a new agreement on
climate change to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
In the Bali Road Map, States defined spheres of action
and agreed to take them into account during the post-
Kyoto negotiations. The working meeting of the heads
of State of the G8+5 in L’Aquila on 9 July 2009
examined the issue of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
 My country is committed to the global fight
against climate change, as demonstrated by its
ratification of several international instruments on
climate issues. I am referring to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Kyoto Protocol.
 For the Central African Republic, the challenge
of climate change relates to not only mitigation,
namely reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but
also to adaptation to the harmful effects of that change.
However, for vulnerable States, with a weak economy
like ours, the cost of adaptation, calculated at several
tens of billions of dollars a year, puts a still greater
strain on our limited resources and increases poverty.
This is an opportunity for me to express the wish that
assistance in combating climate change not replace
official development assistance.
 We have not come to this sixty-fourth session of
the General Assembly to point an accusing finger at the
States responsible for global warming, but rather, like
the brother countries of Africa, to convey a message to
the leaders of the world. Africa will continue its efforts
to preserve its forest ecosystems, but the rich countries
must assume their responsibilities to reach concrete
proposals for post-Kyoto.
 We support France’s proposal at the summit on
climate change, held on 22 September 2009, for the
establishment of a world environment organization, the
implementation of the Bali Road Map through
technology transfers to developing countries, and the
financing of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. However, we strongly hope that, in
Copenhagen next December, the common position of
the countries of Central Africa, which share the forests
of the Congo basin, will be taken into account.
 Allow me here to recall that the countries of
Central Africa, members of the Commission for the
Forests of Central Africa (COMIFAC), signed a
declaration in Bangui on 11 September 2008 in which
they call on the institutions of the United Nations
system, the European Union, the International
Organization of la Francophonie, the Secretariat of the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the
high-level panel of experts to support them in their
effort, inter alia, to include issues relating to the
management of tropical forests in the post-Kyoto
arrangements.
 The forests of the Congo basin, the second largest
forest system in the world, play a key role in regulating
the global climate. The efforts to conserve and
sustainably manage the forests of that natural space
agreed to by the member countries of COMIFAC
should be encouraged as part of the process of reducing
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in
developing countries. In Copenhagen, we must reach a
fair agreement, based on win-win partnerships that
enable developing countries to reconcile the
preservation of natural resources with economic
development.
 The Central African Republic fully supports the
statement made by the Chairperson of the African
Union Commission at its recent special session on the
consideration and resolution of conflicts in Africa, held
in Tripoli, Libya, on 31 August 2009. It shares the
conviction that economic growth and sustainable

39 09-52470

development are intertwined with the status of and
trends in world peace and security.
 In view of the proliferation of arms of all kinds,
disarmament is a pressing issue. The United Nations
Disarmament Commission must promote resolutions
that encourage multilateralism in the area of
disarmament and non-proliferation, the reduction of
military budgets and respect for environmental
standards in the drawing up and implementation of
disarmament agreements. An effort is also needed to
overcome the current impasse and to achieve nuclear
disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all their
forms. The strategic doctrine adopted by nuclear-
weapon States that justifies the use of or threat of the
use of atomic weapons is as dangerous as uranium
enrichment for weapons purposes and should simply be
discarded.
 On the other hand, a national security concept
based on the promotion and development of military
alliances and nuclear deterrence policies seems better
suited to the ideals that we pursue. The Central African
Republic welcomes the initiative of United States
President Obama in convening a meeting of the
Security Council on nuclear non-proliferation and
nuclear disarmament.
 Terrorism is the most flagrant violation of
international law. It prevents people from enjoying
their basic freedoms and destabilizes legitimately
established Governments. For those reasons, it must
not be tolerated by or associated with any religion,
civilization, ethnic group or claim, however legitimate
it may seem. My country resolutely condemns terrorist
acts and aligns itself with the fight against terrorism
being carried out by the committees established by the
United Nations Security Council.
 The issue of the control of conventional weapons
at the regional level is all the more relevant in view of
the fact that it is the most effective way to tackle the
illegal proliferation of armed groups and transnational
crime. The peace and security of Central Africa are
hampered by that recurrent problem. Armed groups
threaten the stability of the national institutions of
some of our States. Along those lines, the
comprehensive peace agreement signed at Libreville in
neighbouring Gabon on 21 June 2008 enabled the
Central African Republic to thwart an ill-intentioned
plot to seize power.
 However, its concern, like that of other States of
Africa’s Great Lakes region, such as the Sudan, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, is with
the criminal activities of the uprising of the so-called
Lord’s Resistance Army, which has become a
transnational criminal organization, causing death and
destruction as far as the Central African Republic. Its
destructive capacity goes beyond the territory of the
Republic of Uganda and is becoming a regional
problem, for which an agreed solution is essential. The
affected States are striving to achieve that with the
limited resources that they have.
 I am convinced that the Charter of the United
Nations and international law continue to be essential
instruments and the pillars of the preservation and
maintenance of international peace and security.
Representing nearly the entire international
community, the United Nations has well-established
international legitimacy and is the best forum for
finding a lasting solution to problems of that kind.
 The United Nations remains the primary and
fundamental forum for addressing world issues and
seeking consensus. That is why we Member States
attach great importance to strengthening its role and
believe that reform is necessary in order to develop its
full potential. The reform must be comprehensive and
cover all areas, while respecting its political nature and
its intergovernmental and universal character.
 However, adjustments to two organs of our
Organization seem to be a priority in that reform: the
Security Council and the General Assembly. The
General Assembly must be invigorated by giving
greater weight to its role and to its authority as the
main deliberative and representative organ of the
Member States. The General Assembly’s prerogatives
as the chief oversight body of the United Nations, even
in the area of peacekeeping, must be respected.
 As for reform of the Security Council, it must be
directed at achieving transparency and balance within
that body. Its enlargement will enable better
representation of all regions in order to allow us to
debate new approaches to the maintenance of
international peace and security. This is an African
position that has been advocated during this general
debate by the Leader of the Great Socialist People’s
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (see ), and it is one
that the Central African Republic supports. My country
hopes that reform of the United Nations system will

09-52470 40

have a positive impact on the development of
multilateral cooperation in our ever-changing world.


I bring warm
greetings to the Assembly from the happy isles and
convey my Government and people’s profound
congratulations to Mr. Treki on his assumption of the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session. We are confident that, under his leadership, we
will harvest the opportunities the global agenda has to
offer.
 My delegation further takes this opportunity to
commend his predecessor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto
Brockmann. He indeed provided exemplary leadership
and inspired us to realize our unique collective
strength. Throughout his tenure in office, he kept the
most vulnerable people at the front, centre and back of
all of our engagements. We wish him God’s blessing in
his future endeavours.
 The global financial and economic crisis has
presented immense challenges to the international
community. Simply put, the effects of the crisis are
impacting all members of the United Nations family.
Consequently, Solomon Islands’ economy has been hit
by low commodity prices, declining revenues and
widening budgetary deficits. My country has responded
by freezing all Government recruitment and reducing
national recurrent and development expenditures by
35 per cent. Between 2008 and 2009, our economic
growth has taken a negative dive from 6 per cent to
1 per cent, which is affecting the delivery of services to
our people.
 The world has taken measures to address the
systematic fragilities of the international financial
system. To this end, Solomon Islands welcomes the
outcome of the June 2009 Conference on the financial
crisis, calling for greater cooperation by all, including
the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions. We
remain hopeful that the stimulus packages dished out
reach the poorest of the poor, as many will be under
stress for a long time to come.
 Frequent natural disasters are threatening
development across the world and climate change
continues to affect the lives of our people, creating new
pockets of poverty while continuing to increase as
threats. Unless an ambitious outcome emanates from
Copenhagen, we will find that we are fighting a losing
battle. I join the call for urgent action, particularly for
small island developing States and least developed
countries. For us, climate change poses the most
serious threat to our survival and viability, and
undermines our efforts to achieve sustainable
development.
 Solomon Islands fully subscribes to the
declaration issued this week by the Alliance of Small
Islands Developing States. The benchmark for the
negotiations must be founded on the vulnerability of
the small island developing States and the least
developed countries. Science tells us that the future of
low-lying islands is uncertain unless deep and
ambitious cuts to harmful greenhouse gas emissions
are undertaken by Annex 1 countries at levels greater
than 45 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020 and more than
95 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050. We call for the
global average temperature to increase well below
1.5 degrees Celsius if we are to prevent the
acidification of our oceans from threatening our very
existence.
 Deforestation and forest degradation contribute
nearly 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Solomon Islands agrees that this should be one of the
mitigating solutions for protecting the health of our
environment. We further urge that this be considered as
an outcome in Copenhagen. My country is currently
carrying out an inventory of its forests and intends to
participate in the carbon market. We also hope that
multilateral financial mechanisms will become
available to the most vulnerable States in ensuring that
appropriate technology transfer for renewable energy
receives the attention it deserves.
 Solomon Islands is a peace-loving country and
believes that we need to seriously seek a stable
international system. This can be achieved by calling
for global restraint on all military spending and making
a firm commitment to begin holistic multilateral
disarmament negotiations. This is an issue that has
been stalled for years on end and continues to be

09-52470 50

weakly addressed through piecemeal multilateral arms
agreements.
 Solomon Islands emerged from a conflict
situation 11 years ago. This year marks the sixth
anniversary of our partnership with the Regional
Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, commonly
referred to as RAMSI. Under the partnership, State
institutions have been strengthened and political
stability has allowed our Parliament to enact some
30 laws in less than 24 months. Public services are
reaching out to the scattered populations on our
hundreds of islands, indicating that change is
happening.
 This year, our relationship with RAMSI has
progressed from one of assistance to one of
partnership, providing for a framework of cooperation
between the two parties, with clearly defined joint
strategic goals, distinct roles and commitments, with
the overall objective of creating a secure, stable and
self-sustaining socio-economic and political system for
all Solomon Islanders. The Foreign Relations
Committee of our national Parliament has completed
its review of the facilitation of the International
Assistance Act and will submit its report to the national
legislature in November. I take this moment to thank
my Pacific neighbours for their continued support and
contribution to the Regional Mission. It is our fervent
hope that this partnership can increase its international
visibility and interact more with the United Nations, as
provided for under the relevant chapter of the Charter.
 As part of our nation-building and healing
process, Solomon Islands instituted its Truth and
Reconciliation Commission in April. Officiating at the
launch of the Commission was Nobel laureate and
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
The Commission allows Solomon Islands to revisit one
of the darkest chapters of its history, and we do so with
courage, perseverance and a desire to seek a just and
permanent peace within our growing nation. To this
end, we thank the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and all our partners for their
support.
 The time frame for the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) is fast drawing to a close. The Solomon
Islands supports the proposal to convene a review
summit next year, and hopes that the forthcoming
gathering will reinvigorate our global partnership and
enable it to realize the Millennium Development Goals
within the given time frame. My country also
welcomes the decision of the General Assembly
(resolution 63/227) to convene the Fourth United
Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
in 2011. Similarly, we welcome the review of the
Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States,
scheduled for next year. Both review processes should
strengthen the global partnerships and commitments
undertaken within agreed international cooperative
frameworks.
 Eighty five per cent of the population of Solomon
Islands resides in rural areas. Therefore, we have
adopted a rural-focused development approach in our
efforts to meet the MDGs. Solomon Islands is poised to
make gains in achieving some of these goals through
various partnerships. In this regard, I am pleased to
acknowledge that, with the support of New Zealand
and the Republic of China, the Solomon Islands is now
offering free basic education for its children through
the third form. Work has also begun on eliminating
malaria, the number-one killer in the Solomon Islands,
with the launch of the programme in one of our nine
provinces. My Government thanks Australia for its
support and contribution to that end. I also wish to
thank the Republic of China, the European Union and
other development partners for their contribution to the
advancement of the Government’s rural development
policy.
 Human development remains a key ingredient of
our fight against poverty. Solomon Islands opened a
school of tourism this year. We have shifted resources
towards developing our tourism industry in order to
offset the projected revenue loss resulting from the
reduced harvesting of our natural forests. The same
policy also applies to the agriculture, fisheries and
mining sectors.
 South-South cooperation continues to invest in
our people; it has guaranteed the education of
50 students studying in Cuba, and my country thanks
Cuba for the gesture. Solomon Islands also thanks its
Melanesian neighbour Papua New Guinea for its
ongoing bilateral assistance by increasing our presence
in Port Moresby and offering scholarships to our
students studying in Papua New Guinea.
 Global dynamics have changed since the United
Nations was established 64 years ago. The membership

51 09-52470

then numbered only 51. Reform of the Security
Council has eluded us for the past 15 years. We
therefore need to increase the legitimacy of our
Council and strengthen its role in preserving
international peace. In this regard, my delegation was
pleased to see the debate on Security Council reform
progress into informal intergovernmental negotiations
at the previous session of the General Assembly. We
are equally pleased to note that three rounds of
negotiations have occurred in the past eight months,
signifying that the multilateral seed of reform of our
institutions has been sowed. We need to ensure that it
takes root at this session.
 The relations of the Secretariat with Member
States are important. The interaction of Solomon
Islands with our Organization has grown and matured
over time. Our Government is now finalizing the
allocation of land to give the United Nations a
permanent home in our capital. We hope that the
Secretariat will reciprocate this gesture and seriously
consider maintaining a fully fledged country presence
in Solomon Islands. Comparatively speaking, despite
the fact that my nation has one of the largest
subregional country programmes, relations continue to
be micromanaged from abroad. My delegation takes
this opportunity once again to renew our call to
upgrade the UNDP country presence in Solomon
Islands from Deputy Resident Representative level to
Resident Representative.
 Here it would be remiss of me not to welcome
UNDP’s new Administrator, Ms. Helen Clark. We wish
her every success in her tenure in office and are
confident that she will look at all issues with fresh
eyes. Development is, after all, one of the highest
callings of our Organization. Solomon Islands also
encourages the Secretariat to ensure that its staff
represents the diversity of its membership, in particular
that of States that have yet to fulfil their quota.
 Over the past couple of months, coastal States
with continental shelves have made submissions to
extend their respective territorial claims beyond their
200-mile exclusive economic zones. I am pleased to
inform this Assembly that Solomon Islands has
submitted a number of claims and looks forward to
working with the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf.
 While extending an exclusive economic zone is a
sovereign decision, we are mindful of our global
environmental responsibilities. Solomon Islands is one
of the six countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative.
Three months ago, leaders from the Philippines,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea
and Solomon Islands met in Indonesia and agreed to
work collaboratively across political boundaries to
conserve 75 per cent of the world’s coral species,
40 per cent of the world’s reef fish species and 51 per
cent of the world’s mangrove species. Our populations
rely on our marine resources for survival and income.
We hope to keep it that way for generations to come.
 Good information and data are vital to allowing
national and international systems to make informed
decisions. In this connection, we would like to see
United Nations support for our national statistics office
for the collation of data in real time and its distribution
to all decision makers.
 To foster a vibrant economy, investment in
infrastructure is needed. I am pleased to say that we
have finally enacted a law that will open up our
telecommunications industry to competition.
 On the issue of human rights, Solomon Islands
recognizes that all human rights are universal,
indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually
reinforcing. All human rights must be treated in a fair
and equal manner, on the same footing and with the
same emphasis. That is one of the principles of the
newly established Human Rights Council.
 Solomon Islands continues to support the
Council’s internationally agreed principles.
Unfortunately, within the Third Committee issues of
human rights continue to be heavily politicized,
divisive and country-specific, in disregard of the
universal principles of cooperation and dialogue. My
delegation would like to see the universal periodic
review be the reference point for assessing countries’
human rights situations.
 Before I say anything about Taiwan’s cross-Strait
relations, Solomon Islands conveys its sympathy and
embraces the pain and suffering of all those impacted
by typhoon Morakot. We also acknowledge the spirit
and strength of the Government and people of the
Republic of China in rising above that tragedy with
resilience to rebuild their lives and recover from the
natural catastrophe.
 My country continues to follow cross-Strait
developments with deep interest. A new era of relations

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is emerging between the Republic of China and the
People’s Republic of China. Relations have been
marked by an increased series of engagements. Direct
flights, shipping, postal cooperation and exchanges on
food safety, inter alia, have been initiated. This people-
centred approach continues to build bridges of trust,
tolerance and confidence. We wish this positive
interaction every success.
 Earlier this year, my delegation was encouraged
to witness Taiwan’s admission as an observer to the
World Health Assembly. We hope with all sincerity that
similar overtures will be accorded to Taiwan by other
specialized entities within the United Nations system.
 On the question of the Middle East, my
delegation associates itself with the statement of
Finland’s former President, Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, when he said “All conflicts can be
settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to
become eternal”. To find a lasting and just peace in the
region, the determination of all Members is required.
For 62 years, the matter has been discussed within this
Assembly. Solomon Islands believes that, in the right
conditions, a politically negotiated two-State solution
can be reached. We support all international efforts in
finding a lasting and permanent solution.
 In our effort to create a better world, dialogue and
cooperation between religions and cultures are needed.
Stereotypes created by a few must be overcome.
Extremists thrive on mistrust, fear and suspicion and
use them to their advantage. They must be isolated. My
delegation acknowledges the initiative of Saudi Arabia
to bring together leaders from the East and West in
promoting a global culture of peace. This initiative
presents a new beginning that we should all build
upon.
 We must all work towards stabilizing the
international system, which means that those with
power must not victimize the weak by interfering with
the latter’s health and social needs, be it for
ideological, political or security reasons. Unilateral and
regional economic blockades and punitive action by
States and intergovernmental institutions must and
should be replaced with genuine cooperation and
sincere dialogue. In this regard, we call on the entire
international community to fully engage with Fiji. As
its Melanesian neighbour, Solomon Islands continues
to do so at all political levels.
 In closing, in view of the many challenges we are
confronting today, the words of Abraham Lincoln in
1862 still holds true:
 “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to
the stormy present.


On behalf
of my Government and the people of Antigua and
Barbuda, I congratulate you, Sir, on your election to
preside over the sixty-fourth session of the General
Assembly and wish you every success during your
tenure. I also extend heartfelt congratulations to
Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his visionary and
inspiring leadership over the past year.
  “We are all members of one body. The
welfare of the weakest and the welfare of the
most powerful are inseparably bound together.
Industry cannot flourish if labour languish.
Transportation cannot prosper if manufactures
decline. The general welfare cannot be provided
for in any one act, but it is well to remember that
the benefit of one is the benefit of all, and the
neglect of one is the neglect of all.”
 Those words are taken from a 1914 speech by
Calvin Coolidge. However, as we gather as a
community of nations almost a century later, they are
just as timely. Our common humanity is being tested
by the worst economic crisis since the Great
Depression. Additional challenges that currently
confront us include the increased incidence and impact
of pandemic diseases, worsening poverty and hunger
that trap millions around the globe, the adverse
consequences of climate change, tensions over peace
and security, and increasing environmental
degradation. When history is recorded, our success as
leaders will be determined by our stewardship during
these turbulent times.
 Years ago in much warmer and gentler climes,
small island nations like our twin island nation of
Antigua and Barbuda convened a global conference
entitled “Small Islands, Big Issues”. Today, we remain
small islands, but the issues with which we grapple are
gargantuan. In many cases, they have been exacerbated
by ill-conceived or ineffective interventions and
structures. None among us is immune to the financial
insecurity brought about by global banking
mismanagement and fraud. At the same time, global
climate change threatens to overwhelm the very fabric
of our small nations.
 It has been said that the rising tide of
globalization floats all boats on a sea of economic
opportunities. What is now clear is that such tides can
turn into an economic tsunami that, in one swift wave,
can wash away development gains that took decades to
be realized. That is the situation in which Antigua and
Barbuda now finds itself. An unwelcome visitor in the
form of this global economic crisis has thrust itself
upon our pristine shores and is threatening to wreak
untold damage on our economies.
 Thus, while some members of our community of
nations have begun to tout faint but hopeful signs of
recovery, prudence dictates that we pay heed to the
words of Calvin Coolidge and acknowledge that it
simply is not an option to adopt an insular approach in
responding to this global crisis. The stronger

33 09-52463

economies must remain ever cognizant of the fact that
the welfare of the weakest and the welfare of the most
powerful are inseparably bound together.
 In responding to the crisis, all parties must admit
that the old methodologies, as reflected in the
Washington Consensus and similar models, are
obsolete. As we actively pursue the creation of new
structures and strategies, Antigua and Barbuda
encourages the community of nations to explore
alternative models, such as that represented by the
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). With
its foundation principles of complementarity as an
alternative to competition, solidarity as opposed to
domination, cooperation as a replacement for
exploitation, and respect for sovereignty rather than
corporate rule, ALBA represents an innovative and
viable model of integration and development.
 Antigua and Barbuda, along with many of our
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) brothers and
sisters, welcomes the paradigm shift that now
characterizes engagement with agencies such as the
International Monetary Fund. The decision to limit
conditionalities to those critical to achieving the
objectives of the country programme being supported,
and the commitment to play a more supportive role and
allow the objectives to be set by the borrowing country
are welcome responses to earlier calls to recognize the
absolute necessity of using factors other than per capita
gross domestic product as a criteria to access
concessionary financing. We maintain that therein lies
the key to mitigating a downward spiral into economic
and social chaos.
 Decision-making on issues of international
financial governance remains a privilege of the few
when such decisions have great impact on the lives,
livelihood and basic well-being of millions of people
the world over. My Government calls on the developed
countries that are members of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development to ensure that
their response strategies involve better international
cooperation on tax issues through inclusive and
cooperative frameworks that ensure the involvement
and equal treatment of small jurisdictions, as stipulated
in the Outcome Document (resolution 63/303) of the
United Nations Conference on the World Financial and
Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. The
Outcome Document is a welcome one, and I applaud
the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third
session for giving voice to the G-192, including the
developing and most vulnerable countries.
 The genesis of the crisis lies in the capitals of the
developed world, but its effects are global and the
response must be truly global. In this regard, I urge the
Assembly, through the ad hoc working group to follow
up on the outcome of the Conference, to take an
inclusive approach to allow for the participation of
those that are not members of the exclusive Group of
Eight and Group of Twenty clubs.
 Again, drawing on the words of Coolidge, I point
out that the general welfare cannot be provided for in
any one act or, I would add, by any single, small subset
of the community of nations seeking unilaterally to
reshape the global economic and financial architecture.
It is in our power to change the operating principles of
global capitalism such that economic prosperity is
shared equally among countries and within countries.
Drastic change is needed, in theory and practice, in
economic assumptions and in the institutions of
governance. It is the sustainable path to development
and a challenge to which this assembly of nations and
leaders must rise.
 Meeting transnational and global threats and
challenges to development requires international
cooperation. As previously stated, traditional Western-
based modalities of development cooperation in which
partners are not considered equals have failed us. A
paradigm shift is not an option; it is an imperative. My
Government firmly believes in promoting partnerships
in support of sustainable development based on
principles of mutual respect and understanding,
equality and a genuine desire to effect the social and
economic development of all.
 I have already alluded to my country’s
membership in ALBA and commended that innovative
model of integration and development. Antigua and
Barbuda also looks forward to fully playing its role in
ensuring that the various trade arrangements entered
into with the European Union, the United States of
America and Canada work in the interest of all our
nations. My Government, however, will continue to
place a strong emphasis on the development
components, which should be central to ensuring that
these arrangements produce positive results for our
people.
 At the same time, we have deepened our
integration efforts with our CARICOM brothers and

09-52463 34

sisters, focusing on fully implementing the CARICOM
Single Market and Economy as well as deepening the
various subregional regulatory frameworks. As a part
of the smaller Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS) grouping, Antigua and Barbuda fully supports
the establishment of an OECS economic union in an
effort to build on the shared tradition of our
subregional integration arrangements and to expand the
areas of shared sovereignty in order to survive and
ultimately thrive.
 As a member of the CARICOM family, Antigua
and Barbuda is proud of its long-standing relationship
with the Republic of Cuba. It is my Government’s firm
belief that the discriminatory and punitive policies and
practices that serve to prevent Cuba from exercising its
right freely to participate in the affairs of the
hemisphere must be discontinued and with immediate
effect. While the winds of change continue to move
across the United States of America, I call on the
Obama Administration to effect change in its dealings
with our sister nation of the Republic of Cuba. I call on
the United States of America to end the economic,
commercial and financial embargo imposed on our
brothers and sisters in Cuba. As a world leader and
defender of justice, the United States of America must
embrace change fully in the interests of the men,
women and children of Cuba.
 It is worth reiterating that the parallels between
the global economic crisis and the global climate
change crisis are both stark and dire for small island
developing States. Again, we are faced with the
adverse impacts of a crisis that is not of our making but
which is threatening — quite literally in the case of
some of our sister nations in the Pacific — to wipe us
off the face of the Earth. It is a recognized fact, but it is
worth repeating, that small island States contribute the
least to the causes of climate change, yet we suffer the
most from its effects.
 At the summit of the Alliance of Small Island
States held earlier this week, my country joined with
other island States in sending a strong message to the
international community on the need for bold and
ambitious actions. Small island States have expressed
their profound disappointment at the lack of tangible
action within the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change negotiations to protect
small island developing States and other vulnerable
countries, their peoples, culture, land and ecosystems.
 The responsibility for mitigating climate change
is a common responsibility of all nations, be they
developed or developing. However, developed
countries should shoulder their moral, ethical and
historical responsibilities for emitting high levels of
anthropogenic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It
is those actions that have now put the planet in
jeopardy and compromised the well-being of present
and future generations. Antigua and Barbuda therefore
fully supports our sister nation of the People’s
Republic of China in its call for developed countries to
take up their responsibility to provide new, additional,
adequate and predictable financial support to
developing countries, which, in effect, represents a
joint investment in the future of humankind.
 At this pivotal point of the climate change
negotiations that will culminate in December, Antigua
and Barbuda also anxiously awaits an international
agreement significantly to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. A small island nation like ours, which is
highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate
change, including sea-level rise, coral bleaching and
more frequent and intense hurricanes, understands that
our fate, our very existence, hangs on the outcome of
such an agreement. We wait with bated breath and hope
that humanity will show itself worthy of this planet and
that nations will have the political will and integrity of
leadership to solve the most confounding challenge of
our era.
 The effects of climate change have forcibly
brought home the absolute necessity of better disaster
preparedness management and risk reduction. That has
been clearly illustrated by several very active hurricane
seasons in recent history. Cognizant of this, my
Government has upgraded our disaster management
capabilities, including strengthening the national
disaster office, constructing hurricane shelters and
enhancing community resilience. In the spirit of
cooperation and solidarity, we look forward to having
our development partners make available the necessary
resources to enable us to implement our national
adaptation plans and programmes. By so doing, they
will help to address the adverse effects of climate
change that we, the most vulnerable countries, are
already experiencing. We urge them to view this as a
top-most priority and moral imperative.
 Gender equality and women’s empowerment
remain centrepieces of the national development
strategy of Antigua and Barbuda. Having achieved

35 09-52463

universal primary education, we are proud that our
young males and females continue to enjoy equal
access and opportunity to education at the primary,
secondary and tertiary levels. Further, with a growing
number of female parliamentarians and key high-level
political positions occupied by women, we continue to
improve on our record of female empowerment. The
advocacy work of the United Nations system on gender
issues has been instrumental in the progress we have
made thus far, and we look forward to continuing
support as we continue to break down the traditional
barriers to the active participation of more than 50 per
cent of our country’s human capital.
 Transnational crime has burdened our societies
with social and financial costs that we cannot afford to
bear. Crime prevention and small arms control are
priorities for my Government. Our geography has
placed us at a major trans-shipment point for
transnational organized crime networks trafficking in
arms and narcotics.
 In recent years, the level of gun violence and
gun-related crime has escalated significantly, placing
further pressure on an already fragile economy. This
has led to insecurity, fear and loss of life in our
societies, hampering our development efforts and
threatening the general peace and stability of the
region. We need greater cooperation from countries, as
well as the support of the United Nations system, to
eliminate this threat to hemispheric and international
peace and security. Antigua and Barbuda is in full
support of a legally binding arms trade treaty that will
prevent the illegal international transfer of arms and
will govern the trade in conventional arms according to
common international standards.
 As a peace-loving nation, Antigua and Barbuda is
also concerned by the lack of progress in the field of
disarmament and non-proliferation. We remain
steadfast in our commitment to a world free of nuclear
weapons. The threat posed by non-State actors
acquiring weapons of mass destruction is shared by all
countries, large and small. For this reason we support
the extension of the mandate of Security Council
resolution 1540 (2004). Pursuant to our obligations
under that resolution we are pleased to have submitted
the relevant reports to the respective Security Council
committees.
 The trans-shipment of nuclear waste through the
waters of the Caribbean also remains a critical issue.
The risk of an accident or a terrorist attack on one of
these shipments poses a grave threat to the
environmental and economic sustainability of the
region. Heads of Government of CARICOM and of the
wider Association of Caribbean States have
consistently called for a total cessation of these
shipments in our waters, and we reiterate our strenuous
and forceful rejection of the continued use of the
Caribbean Sea for the trans-shipment of nuclear and
other hazardous waste material.
 Finally, as Caribbean people of African descent,
our past is clouded by the dark days of the transatlantic
slave trade. However, with steady hands, committed
minds and innovative plans, a bright future looms with
the sunrise. We must ensure that we develop
programmes to educate and inculcate in future
generations an understanding of the lessons, history
and consequences of slavery and the slave trade. We
must not forget. We must encourage continued action
in this regard. Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to
the erection of a permanent memorial to the victims of
the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, an initiative
being championed by CARICOM. We look forward
also to the continuation of serious dialogue and
eventual consensus on the issue of reparations.
 In conclusion, it is very clear that the multiple
and multifaceted nature of the global threats and
challenges we face will test the abilities of this
assembly of nations and its leaders. Is the United
Nations up to the task? Will we, both individually and
collectively, heed the admonition of Calvin Coolidge
and demonstrate in both word and deed a firm
conviction that the welfare of the weakest and the
welfare of the most powerful are inseparably bound
together? For us, a small island with big aspirations
and dreams for the future of our people, we remain
hopeful that we will all find the political will and the
ability to rise to the task.