I wish to congratulate
His Excellency Mr. Han Seung-soo upon his election to
preside over the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth
session, and to express my confidence that with his
skilful guidance, his leadership and his outstanding
experience our deliberations will be crowned with
success. Allow me also to pay a special tribute to His
Excellency Mr. Harri Holkeri for the excellent manner
in which he conducted the affairs of the General
Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. I wish him success
in his future endeavours.
On behalf of the people and the Government of
Mozambique, I would like to extend our
congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan on
his well-deserved election to the post of Secretary-
General for a second term, as well as on having won
the Nobel Peace Prize this year. We hail his re-election
and the Noble Peace Prize awarded to him and to the
United Nations as recognition of his and the
Organization’s tireless efforts in the search for viable
and lasting solutions to the problems facing humanity.
Allow me to express our sympathy to the
Government and the people of Algeria with regard to
the loss of life and property caused by the recent floods
in that sisterly country. Mozambique, having been the
victim of terrible floods over two consecutive years,
shares the sorrow of the Algerian people.
We also express our condolences to the
Government and the people of the United States of
America and of the Dominican Republic on the tragedy
which resulted from the plane crash last Monday here
in New York.
On 11 September, we witnessed the most barbaric
terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. We
are deeply shocked at the loss of thousands of innocent
lives.
We wish to avail ourselves of this opportunity to
reiterate once again the condolences of the Government
and the people of the Republic of Mozambique to the
Government and the people of the United States of
America on the tragic and unjustifiable deaths of their
citizens. We express our sympathy and solidarity with
all of the victims and the families that have lost their
loved ones.
19

We reiterate our condemnation of terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations, regardless of its origin or
place of occurrence, or of the race or religion of those
who perpetrate it. Terrorism represents a serious threat
to international peace and security as well as to
friendly relations among peoples and nations
worldwide.
The struggle against this scourge requires
concerted action by the whole international community,
within the framework of the United Nations, for the
target of this evil is not a single nation or people but
humankind as a whole.
It is therefore crucial that all United Nations
Member States work together towards signing and
ratifying all of the conventions and protocols related to
the eradication of this enemy of humanity. These
conventions represent the legal foundation upon which
we can build our collective action against international
terrorism.
The work that is under way for the elaboration of
a comprehensive convention on international terrorism
constitutes a further effort to reinforce the international
community’s resolve to face the challenge of
eliminating the scourge of terrorism.
Mozambique came about as the result of the
exercise by Mozambicans of their inalienable right to
self-determination. Therefore, Mozambicans know well
from their own experience what terrorism is all about.
But they are also aware of the distinction between
terrorism and the legitimate struggle of peoples for
their freedom and independence.
Mozambique is ready to participate in a global
discussion on this issue, as an important and useful
initiative to formulate a joint organized response to
international terrorism, so that the targets of our
common struggle against terrorism are clearly defined.
Conscious of the need for the effective
implementation of national measures to combat
terrorism as a way to complement the international
legal regime, Mozambique has already initiated a
comprehensive review of international legal
instruments to combat and eliminate terrorism, with a
view to ratifying and adhering to them.
In this context, Mozambique signed, on 11
November, the International Convention for the
Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. However, it
is clear to us that, for an effective implementation of
this and other legal instruments, Mozambique needs
support from the international community to strengthen
its institutions — namely the police, the judiciary, the
financial system and the State prosecutor’s office.
Last year, our heads of State and Government met
here during the Millennium Summit to reaffirm their
faith in the United Nations and in its Charter as
indispensable foundations for a just, peaceful and more
prosperous world.
The leaders set specific targets to halve the
proportion of people who live in extreme poverty, to
provide clean water and basic education for all, to
reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and to achieve other
development goals. They called for the strengthening
of United Nations peace operations so that vulnerable
communities can count on them in their hour of need.
They committed themselves to fighting injustice and
inequality, terror and crime, and to meeting the special
needs of Africa. In order to achieve these lofty goals,
all Member States should display political will and the
determination to turn these commitments into concrete
actions at the international, regional and national
levels.
The holding by the United Nations of the special
sessions of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS and on
Habitat, the Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small
Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the
World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
represent bold steps towards resolving the various
problems affecting humanity and constitute concrete
steps in the implementation of the provisions of the
Millennium Declaration.
Mozambique is proud of having played an active
role in contributing to the promising outcome of the
United Nations Conference on small arms and light
weapons. We are confident that the commitments
assumed at that Conference will contribute decisively
towards preventing, combating and eradicating the
illicit trade in, and proliferation of, small arms and
light weapons.
We should continuously and critically assess the
progress made in each area of commitment, with a
view to translating into reality the aspirations and
needs of our peoples. Each subsequent session of the
General Assembly should be used to assess the degree
of progress made in the implementation of the declared
commitment towards specific targets. To this end, we
20

should ensure that follow-up mechanisms are put in
place and effectively enhanced for the successful
implementation of the plans of action adopted.
As we take on the daunting task of pursuing the
goals of the Millennium Summit, we need to work
together in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.
Today we are living in a world in which a few
countries are reaping the benefits of globalization,
while the majority, particularly in Africa, are
increasingly being marginalized by the global
economy. Consequently, these increasing inequalities
and asymmetries aggravate poverty, fuel conflicts and
threaten international security, stability, democracy and
peace.
To reverse this negative trend, we call upon all
developed countries to fulfil their commitment with
regard to official development assistance, increase the
levels of foreign direct investment in poor countries,
and to cancel the external debt of the heavily indebted
poor countries.
It is disturbing to note that in Africa 340 million
people — half of the population of the continent —
live on less than $1 per day. The mortality rate for
children under five years of age is about 140 per 1,000,
and life expectancy at birth is only 54 years. Only 58
per cent of the population has access to safe water; the
rate of illiteracy for people over 15 is 41 per cent; and
there are only 18 main telephone lines per 1,000 people
in Africa, compared with 145 for the world as a whole
and 567 for high-income economies.
This appalling situation requires a strong and
clear commitment on the part of us all — Africans first
and foremost — the international community and other
relevant stakeholders.
The establishment of the African Union during
the thirty-seventh Summit of Heads of State and
Government of the Organization of the African Unity is
recognition that only by pooling our efforts can we find
effective solutions to problems affecting the continent.
This effort deserves the support of the international
community, so that a solid union and strong integration
can become a reality in Africa.
The New Partnership for African Development is
an initiative aimed at setting an agenda for the renewal
of the continent, based on national and regional
priorities and on development plans prepared through a
participatory process. It foresees a new framework of
interaction with the rest of the world, including the
industrialized countries and multilateral organizations.
The encouragement given by the G-8 Summit and other
multilateral institutions in Genoa, Italy, last July is
much appreciated.
We are also encouraged by the commitment
assumed by ministers and heads of delegations at the
high-level segment of the substantive session of the
Economic and Social Council held in Geneva last July,
in welcoming the New Partnership for African
Development (NEPAD) and calling on the United
Nations system and the international community to
support it. The invitation extended by the Council to
the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to
ensure an effective and coordinated response of the
United Nations system is a good course of action aimed
at promoting sustainable development and active
participation of Africa in the world economy. The
African leadership and ownership of the NEPAD must
be guaranteed during its implementation.
Conflicts are one of the main obstacles to
development, particularly in Africa. In order to find
durable solutions to conflicts, we need to focus our
actions on prevention measures and address the root
causes of conflict. In this regard, prevention should be
aimed at addressing, inter alia, poverty, governance,
human rights abuses, hunger, endemic diseases and
underdevelopment. The success of this action requires
national ownership based on partnership between the
Government and civil society.
Beyond the preventive measures, we should also
think how we can effectively implement sound
strategies for conflict resolution and management. The
comprehensive review of the whole question of
peacekeeping operations in all their aspects contained
in the Brahimi report provides sound recommendations
to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping. It
emphasizes the need for effective command and control
structures, enhanced levels of interoperability, as well
as the importance of training troops to understand and
operate with more robust rules of engagement. We
believe that the recommendations contained in the
report will be effective if more resources are allocated
to peacekeeping activities, particularly in Africa, and if
the response to actual conflicts are timely, so as to
avoid the application of double standards.
Initiatives undertaken by regions and subregions
aimed at conflict prevention, management and
21

resolution should be supported and endowed with the
resources they need to build their capacity to act
effectively. The Organization of African Unity
Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and
Resolution should be enhanced and consolidated to
better give appropriate and timely responses to
conflicts affecting Africa.
The international community should continue to
assist Africa in searching for the peaceful resolution of
conflicts, particularly in Sierra Leone and Somalia, as
well as in Western Sahara, when a United Nations plan
has been agreed to by all parties to the conflict.
It is worth noting that within the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) we are
strongly engaged in activities aimed at tackling
conflicts affecting the region. As the current chair of
the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security,
Mozambique, in close cooperation with the other
member States, will spare no efforts to promote peace
and security, through conflict prevention and
resolution.
SADC will continue to work with the United
Nations and all cooperating partners to bring about
lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Angola and in other conflicts on the continent. The
partnership between SADC and the United Nations
should be continuously maintained and nurtured in the
spirit of the Brahimi report.
As the chair of the Community of the Portuguese-
Speaking Countries, Mozambique is also engaged in
the current efforts to bring about lasting solutions to
the problems still affecting some of Community’s
member States. The Community is happy to welcome
East Timor, which will proclaim its independence in
May 2002 as a result of our joint, concerted efforts
with the East Timorese people.
We are committed to the efforts made by SADC
members to eradicate poverty, combat HIV/AIDS and
better respond to challenges posed by globalization, as
a way to prevent conflicts. We are also supportive of
the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan
within SADC, which aims at boosting the region’s
development agenda for the coming decade.
Political dialogue, consensus building,
partnership and cooperation are a must and should be
pursued vigorously. We believe that the World Trade
Organization Ministerial Meeting in Doha, the
forthcoming International Conference on Financing for
Development and the World Summit on Sustainable
Development provide unique opportunities to
collectively produce an integrated and effective
mechanism for the eradication of poverty and the
overall implementation of the development goals set
out in the Millennium Declaration and in the plan of
action for the Least Developed Countries.
It is our expectation that the Monterrey
Conference will be instrumental in reshaping the world
economic order, giving it more equity and fairness. To
that end, the Conference must resolutely address the
steady decline of official development assistance and
foreign direct investment, untie development aid (as
already done by the United Kingdom, which we
salute), reform the international financial architecture
and provide a sustainable solution to the debt crisis
through broad, deep and faster debt relief mechanisms,
including total debt cancellation for least developed
countries.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development
should allow us to assess the implementation of
Agenda 21, as well as devising appropriate strategies to
further pursue this daunting challenge. In
Johannesburg, we should strive to ensure the right
balance between environmental protection and socio-
economic development, while making poverty
eradication our highest priority and fully reinstating the
principle of common but differentiated responsibility.
This is perfectly consistent with the Rio spirit
embodied in Agenda 21, a blueprint that should be
absolutely endorsed; we should avoid any renegotiation
of Agenda 21.
In Mozambique the incidence of poverty reaches
about 70 per cent of the population. To address this
negative picture, the Government approved an action
plan for the reduction of absolute poverty, commonly
known as PARPA, for the period 2001-2005. The
strategic vision of PARPA is founded on two
imperatives: the need to maintain peace and stability
and the need for rapid, sustained and broad-based
growth, where private initiatives play an important
role. The programme has gained strong support from
the meeting of the Consultative Group that was held
recently in Maputo and a boost from Mozambican debt
reduction, made within the framework of the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Mozambique is greatly thankful to all its cooperating
partners for the support pledged at the Consultative
22

Group meeting and for the enhanced HIPC. We hope
for a quick implementation of the commitments made,
so that our resolve to combat poverty can be a success.
Looking at the longer term, the Government of
Mozambique launched a national initiative, Agenda
2025, a strategy based on a constructive dialogue on
the future of Mozambique. The Agenda aims at
creating, through a participatory and inclusive process,
a national strategic vision for development, as well as
strengthening the Government’s and civil society’s
ability to define and implement national policies and
projects.
The fight against HIV/AIDS is another priority
for the Government of Mozambique, for which it has
adopted a national strategic plan that focuses on
prevention and reduction of the impact of the disease.
The plan places the human being at the centre of action
and is directed at the vulnerable groups of the society,
including women, orphaned children and youth,
particularly girls. In this endeavour, the Government
has adopted a multisector approach, with the active
involvement of all stakeholders, including our civil
society.
Because HIV/AIDS is a global problem,
combating it calls for a global solution, and we
commend the United Nations for having proposed the
creation of a Global AIDS and Health Fund to combat
HIV/AIDS. The Fund will contribute positively to the
prevention and combat of this epidemic, which gravely
affects the region of sub-Saharan Africa.
Floods affected Mozambique in the years 2000
and 2001 consecutively, which resulted in loss of life
and production and damage to infrastructure, including
roads, schools, hospitals and houses, and forced people
to flee from their lands and abandon their belongings.
These catastrophes posed a serious setback to the
development of our country.
We are encouraged by the outcome of the Post-
Flood Reconstruction Conference, held in Maputo in
July 2001, at which the Government of Mozambique
presented the reconstruction programme for the central
region of the country, following the devastation caused
by the floods in the early part of 2001. At that
Conference, the Government also had the opportunity
to report on progress made on the implementation of
the programme that had been presented at the
International Reconstruction Conference on
Mozambique in Rome in May 2000. Once again, we
wish to thank all those who extended assistance to our
country. The Government of Mozambique also
appreciates the contribution of the United Nations
system and the international community at large in our
efforts to consolidate peace, to strengthen democratic
institutions and to promote development.
In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm my
country’s faith in the United Nations and its Charter,
for they both remain indispensable foundations for a
just, peaceful and more prosperous world.


Allow me
to extend, on behalf of the people and Government of
the Sudan, our heartfelt condolences to the Government
and people of the Dominican Republic and to the
families of the victims of the tragic American Airlines
crash that took place earlier this week.
We would also like to express our condolences to
the brotherly people of Algeria, who recently suffered
sweeping floods in their country.
At the outset, I would like to express to you,
Mr. President, our warm congratulations on your
election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the
General Assembly. We are pleased to assure you of our
confidence in your ability to lead our work to success.
We would also like to express our gratitude to
Mr. Harri Holkeri for the able and efficient way in
which he discharged the presidency during the last
session.
I would also like to salute Mr. Kofi Annan,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, and extend to
him our warm congratulations on his re-election to
head the Organization for a second term. I am pleased
to congratulate him once again on winning the Nobel
25

Peace Prize. We are confident that he will continue in
his untiring efforts to lead the Organization towards its
noble objectives of achieving a better tomorrow for
humanity.
This session is being held at a time of extremely
complex developments in the wake of the tragic
terrorist acts that took place in New York and
Washington, D.C. From this podium, I would like to
reaffirm Sudan’s condemnation and denunciation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We would
like to express once again our sincere condolences to
the Government of the United States and to the families
of the victims.
The Sudan calls upon the Organization to rise to
the onerous challenges, heavy burdens and subsequent
repercussions of these events. This will require a
coordinated and collective international effort to
combat terrorism and uproot its causes and sources
under the authority of international legitimacy. In this
context, we must differentiate between good and
evil — we must avoid putting both in one basket. We
should not confuse the issues, because if we do, good
might be transformed into evil.
I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize
Sudan’s readiness to continue to participate in and
contribute to this effort. Sudan has ranked first among
Member States that have ratified or acceded to
international conventions on terrorism. At the regional
level, Sudan was among the first countries to ratify the
Arab Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. It
has also ratified the Convention of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference on Combating International
Terrorism. We are in the process of ratifying the
Convention of the Organization of African Unity on the
Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. At the
national level, we have adopted a law to fight
terrorism. Through these measures, my country is
helping to build a proper and sound foundation for
combating and uprooting international terrorism in
accordance with international legitimacy.
I would like to join those who preceded me by
saying that terrorism does not belong to a particular
religion, nationality, or ethnic group. It is an
international phenomenon. Therefore, we must
coordinate our efforts internationally to uproot it. We
deplore efforts in some circles to link terrorism with
Islam in cheap attempt to sow discord among the
followers of divine religions and to portray the issue as
a clash between cultures and civilizations. Islam is a
religion of peace and tolerance, and as such is far from
having any connection to terrorism.
The proceedings of this session could not have
come at a more opportune moment for us in the Sudan.
We reaped the benefit of our common efforts supported
by our brothers and friends to lift the sanctions that
have been imposed on the Sudan by the Security
Council since 1996. This will contribute to Sudan’s
further cooperation with the international community.
In this context, the Sudan calls upon the Security
Council to pursue this objective policy and review the
sanctions it has imposed on a number of countries,
including Libya and Iraq.
The Sudan also calls upon the Security Council to
dispatch a fact-finding mission in connection with the
Alshifa pharmaceutical factory in the Sudan, which
was destroyed by American missiles in August 1998.
We believe that the bombardment of this factory was a
flagrant mistake committed by the former American
administration. It is a mistake that should be
recognized and corrected, which would allow Member
States and peoples of the world to regain confidence in
the Organization and help remove a source of
grievance and injustice. Thus the people of the world
could live together in a world of justice, equality,
security and peace.
The delegation of the Sudan believes that now is
the time to end the unilateral coercive economic
measures imposed on certain countries, including the
Sudan, which have negative effects on many sectors of
our population, particularly women and children.
We in the Sudan look forward to a new era in our
relations with the Organization following the lifting of
the sanctions imposed on our country. We are pleased
to confirm that we will endeavour to make every
possible moral and intellectual effort to support the
activities of the Organization that promote the well-
being of humanity. We also anticipate that the
Organization will play an effective role and make a
new contribution towards assisting the Sudan in the
implementation of its national development
programmes, including the eradication of poverty and
the rehabilitation of areas destroyed by war.
26

The Sudan, as the current Chair of two African
regional organizations, the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development and the Community of
Sahelo-Saharan States, would like once again to recall
the historic Declaration adopted by the Millennium
Summit so as to confront the challenges faced at all
levels by the international community in the twenty-
first century. The Sudan hopes this Declaration will be
translated into real and tangible action aimed at
achieving justice and equality and the full participation
of all Member States in the creation of a better
tomorrow where human beings will be liberated from
fear, poverty and destitution.
For us to realize our aspirations, this session
should give special attention to reforming the
Organization’s organs, since they are the mechanisms
through which the international community coordinates
plans to realize international peace and security,
comprehensive development and prosperity for all
humanity. The Security Council tops the list of these
organs. Member States have been calling for an
expansion of its membership in the permanent and non-
permanent categories, so that it will be more
representative of the current United Nations
membership. They have also called for improvement in
its working methods and decision-making process,
which should be more democratic and transparent.
The General Assembly should be enabled to carry
out its role as enshrined in the United Nations Charter
with respect to maintaining international peace and
security, and should also exercise its duty to hold other
organs of the Organization accountable.
We should like to emphasize the need to
revitalize the role of the Economic and Social Council,
considering that it is the forum that sets out
international development policies. Its resolutions
should be linked more to economic and social aspects
than to political ones. The Council should be guided by
the decisions adopted at the Vienna Conference, which
considered the right to development an inalienable
human right.
All countries that participated in the World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban,
South Africa, unanimously confirmed their utmost
determination to eradicate all forms of racism and
xenophobia and to address their root causes in order to
achieve justice and fairness for all peoples who have
suffered and continue to suffer from the scourge of
these heinous practices. The Sudan supported the
implementation of recommendations from the Durban
Conference, including those of the Group of eminent
persons.
With regard to the deteriorating situation in the
Middle East, the Sudan expresses its deep concern at
the stalemate in the peace process and reaffirms the
need for total Israeli withdrawal from the occupied
Arab territories in accordance with United Nations
resolutions. This will enable the Palestinian people to
regain its sovereignty over its territories and establish
its independent State with holy Jerusalem as its capital,
and allow sisterly Syria and Lebanon to restore their
sovereignty over all their occupied territories.
The Sudan also reiterates its deep concern for the
negative humanitarian impacts of the current military
operations in Afghanistan on the civilian population.
We welcome and support the mission of the Secretary-
General’s representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to bring
peace and stability to Afghanistan.
With regard to Somalia, where the tragedies of
the long-standing war spread negative effects to the
whole region of the Horn of Africa, the Sudan
delegation calls upon all Somali parties to respond to
the voice of reason and complete national
reconciliation in Somalia, allowing Somalia to fulfil its
regional and international role.
By the decision adopted at the eighth
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Summit in Khartoum last November, the Sudan was
mandated, together with neighbouring countries, to
complete the national reconciliation efforts in
coordination with Somalia’s Transitional Government.
In conformity with this mandate to restore stability in
Somalia, the President of the Republic of the Sudan,
Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, current Chairman of
IGAD, has appointed a special envoy for peace in that
sisterly country. The special envoy is engaged in
intensive contacts with the countries of the subregion,
the Transitional Government in Somalia, the different
Somali factions and the IGAD secretariat. From this
podium, the delegation of the Sudan calls upon the
United Nations and the international community to
support the efforts to restore security, stability and
infrastructure in Somalia, so that the Government will
be able to fulfil its commitments and establish peace
and stability in the country.
27

We understand the concern of the international
community over the continuation of the war in the
southern Sudan. I would like to bring to the
Assembly’s attention the position of the Government of
the Sudan with a view to ending the war and achieving
peace through the following steps: an immediate,
supervised and total ceasefire; regular access to
humanitarian assistance for the population in need;
negotiations on a political solution to the problem; and
the reconstruction of the areas affected by the war.
The ninth IGAD Summit is to be held in
Khartoum in January of next year. We hope that the
questions of the Sudan and Somalia will be given the
importance they deserve so that leaders will come away
with a clear vision of how to end the war and restore
peace in this sensitive region of the world.
In this context, I would like to refer to the
statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in the Sudan before the Third Committee
last week. He stated that the war in the Sudan is not a
religious war, as is repeatedly alleged by some circles
wishing to distort the truth.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend
the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya for their joint initiative for peace and
reconciliation in the Sudan. I would also like to pay
tribute to IGAD member States for their initiative to
stop the war in the Sudan and the genuine efforts to
restore peace in my country. The Government of the
Sudan will continue its commitment to cooperating
with the United Nations, donor countries and
humanitarian organizations in order to facilitate the
delivery of humanitarian assistance to the victims of
the war.
With regard to economics, the Government has
maintained and enhanced reform and liberalization
programmes and has introduced measures and
incentives to promote local and foreign private
investment. The Sudan has now succeeded in
normalizing its relations with regional and
international financial institutions. A positive sign of
this is an increase in local investments and steady
flows of foreign investment to the Sudan.
We are mindful of the accelerated pace of
globalization in the domain of international law,
especially in the field of criminal liability and bringing
before international criminal authorities individuals
charged with committing heinous crimes prohibited by
international law.
In this connection, we believe it is imperative that
all States and individuals should stand as equals before
international law. The avoidance of double standards is
a true safeguard against the distortion of international
justice and ensures that it stays on the right path. We
have made considerable effort in the past few years, in
coordination with many countries of the world, to
guarantee the faithful application of these standards
and noble principles. To this end, the Sudan chose to
follow words with deeds by quickly signing the Rome
Statute establishing the International Criminal Court.
International cooperation on disarmament should
be based on commitment and adherence to
international law and the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter, including the sovereign
equality of States, territorial integrity, the peaceful
settlement of disputes, non-interference in the internal
affairs of other States and the legitimate right of States
to self-defence.
In conclusion, I would like to invite the Assembly
to reaffirm the political will required to achieve
international peace and security. I call upon all to adopt
concrete measures ensuring that globalization becomes
a positive engine of progress; that its advantages and
benefits are shared by humanity at large, not restricted
to a minority; and that globalization does not lead to
cultural and intellectual hegemony and is not used as a
means of political and economic pressure. If that
happened, it would undoubtedly result in widening the
development gap and the clash between the different
cultures of the North and the South.
Let us all join together in a new era of
international relations based on the rejection of
conflicts and confrontation, on mutual respect and non-
interference in the internal affairs of others. To this
end, I would like to reaffirm the Sudan’s commitment
and pledge to cooperate with the international
community to move forward in realizing the common
aspirations of all humanity.


Trinidad and
Tobago would like to congratulate the President on his
election to preside over the fifty-sixth session of the
General Assembly. His unanimous endorsement by
both his regional group and all Member States is
testimony of the high esteem in which he and his
country are held by the Organization. He may rest
assured of the full cooperation of my delegation as he
engages in the task of presiding over the work of the
United Nations.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago takes
this opportunity to thank Mr. Harri Holkeri, President
of the Assembly at its fifty-fifth session, for the skilful
manner in which he guided the Organization during his
tenure.
My delegation also congratulates the Secretary-
General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on his election to serve this
body for a second term. Mr. Annan has brought a
unique vision and a sense of purpose to the United
Nations, engendering in the Organization a renewed
spirit to address the issues confronting the international
community at the dawn of this century. In so doing he
has sought to put the basic rights and collective
aspirations of human beings at the centre of the work
of the United Nations. It is not surprising therefore that
both Mr. Annan and the Organization that he so
effectively heads should this year be recipients of one
25

of the world’s most coveted and prestigious awards, the
Nobel Prize for Peace. Trinidad and Tobago extends to
them its most sincere congratulations.
It is with an equal sense of pride that I also feel
compelled to mention that the twin island State of
Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of another of this
year’s Nobel laureates, Sir Vidiadhar Naipaul, recipient
of the Prize for Literature.
It is propitious that 2001 was proclaimed the Year
of Dialogue among Civilizations by the General
Assembly. It is a clear acknowledgement by the
international community that it is only through
dialogue that the voices of diverse peoples, and their
approaches to the many challenges that face them, find
expression. Indeed, tolerance and respect for diversity
remain key components of the strategies that must be
developed to address these concerns. Dialogue that is
fair and free of fear speaks not merely of a civilized
society but of a society that will endure. History will
judge us, not by our so-called progress, but by what we
as people, as nation States and as a world community
allow to endure.
In this regard, the fundamental values enshrined
in the Millennium Declaration are so integral to this
process that they can never be overemphasized. They
provide the much needed guidance required in
maintaining focus and commitment as we strive to
address these global challenges. Indeed, in the context
of unfolding world events, there appears to be a greater
and more urgent need to recommit ourselves to the
values inherent in dialogue among nations.
Two months ago, in our host city of New York, in
Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania, the world
witnessed the most heinous terrorist assault. Many
Member States, including my own, count their citizens
among the victims. We have all been affected by the
diverse and widening repercussions of that assault. It
was a harsh and tragic reminder that we live in a global
environment and that events in one country can have an
impact on each and every one of us.
We must recognize those vicious acts for what
they are. No country is immune from terrorism. We
have a collective responsibility to send a strong and
clear message that such acts will not go unpunished.
Action has been initiated to counter them. Member
States must therefore pursue with renewed vigour, at
the national and international levels, all appropriate
measures designed to combat this scourge against
mankind. In keeping with this stance, Trinidad and
Tobago has already acceded to 11 of the international
conventions against terrorism. Trinidad and Tobago
vehemently condemns terrorism in all its
manifestations, wherever it occurs.
Acts of terrorism have their origin in the hearts
and minds of the misguided. There are now looming
threats of recourse to bioterrorism, chemical warfare
and even nuclear weapons. The international
community should not delude itself that conventional
tactics will return that sense of security that many parts
of the world enjoyed prior to 11 September. A world
forum like the United Nations must address the
fundamental underlying causes — the social,
economic, political and psychological conditions that
provide a fertile breeding ground for terrorism. We
have a moral responsibility to our citizens, to our
children and to coming generations, to make the world
a better place for them by denying the terrorist his use
of fear and intimidation.
Let me extend, on behalf of the Government and
the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, our
condolences to those who lost their lives in the recent
tragic aeroplane crash.
Despite the gravity and topical nature of the
phenomenon of terrorism, we cannot allow the spectre
of terrorism to deter us in our sense of purpose as we
pursue developmental objectives aimed at the
betterment of our peoples. Neither should we allow it
to deflect attention from other activities which impact
just as negatively on our societies, such as the illicit
drug trade and the illegal trade in small arms. For its
part, my Government has enacted legislation
authorizing the confiscation of the assets resulting from
drug trafficking. In like manner, existing legislation
will be strengthened and relevant measures put in place
as part of my country’s contribution to the international
effort in the fight against terrorism.
It is this very need to preserve democracy, the
rule of law and respect for human rights, that spurred
the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to propose, in
1989, a renewed focus on the establishment of a
permanent International Criminal Court. We will
continue our efforts to have the crimes of illegal drug
trafficking and terrorism included within the
jurisdiction of the Court.
At the national level, the Government of Trinidad
and Tobago recognizes the need also to maintain a
26

focus on promoting economic growth and creating a
better quality of life for all its citizens as key elements
in preserving democracy. In this context, the
Government has identified nine key objectives aimed at
creating a healthier, better educated and highly skilled
nation, capable of fully participating in the life of the
national community and the wider global society. But
even as we pursue these objectives, we know that, as a
small island developing State, we have special needs
and vulnerabilities. Therefore what is required is a
supportive, regional and global environment. That is
why we accord special significance to the
achievements of the various development targets set
out at last year’s Millennium Summit. As a small
island developing State, we would like to remind this
Assembly of the Summit’s resolve to implement,
rapidly and in full, the 1994 Barbados Programme of
Action and the 1999 outcome of the twenty-second
special session of the General Assembly pertaining to
the needs of small island developing States.
Trinidad and Tobago is also of the view that trade
remains one of the essential elements for our economic
growth. While safety and security concerns have
become a priority, the onus is still on the international
community to guarantee the strength and stability of
commodity prices, on which the majority of developing
countries depend to finance their growth and
development.
Consideration must also be given to extending
debt relief to middle-income countries, as this will free
resources otherwise allocated to debt servicing to assist
in the financing of critical sectors, such as health and
education. Trinidad and Tobago, for example, currently
utilizes a significant portion of its gross domestic
product to meet debt servicing requirements —
resources which would be better utilized in our fight
against the AIDS pandemic, which is fast emerging as
a major development challenge, not only for Trinidad
and Tobago, but for many of our sister islands in the
Caribbean and elsewhere in the world.
Resource mobilization at the national, regional
and international levels is central to the development of
small island States. Trinidad and Tobago has
consequently given priority to the mobilization of
domestic resources within an overall macroeconomic
policy which encourages the creation of a competitive
business environment.
Success in domestic resource mobilization is,
however, heavily dependent on the external
environment and linked to success in accessing the
markets of developed countries. Many of the factors
which impinge on the process of attracting foreign
capital lie outside the control of developing countries.
Trinidad and Tobago faces the particular problem of
attracting foreign investment in the non-oil sector,
which affects the overall development of the social
infrastructure. Foreign direct investment also tends to
flow where profits are highest, not necessarily where a
sound policy for the creation of a hospitable local
environment has been instituted.
Of equal significance for developing States is
next year’s International Conference on Financing for
Development, at which the central issue of reforming
the decision-making system will be under review.
International financial institutions, for their own part,
must therefore work to ensure that developing
countries are allowed to participate more fully in all
policy decisions which directly affect them.
Similarly, the special and differential treatment
provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
agreements must be implemented if developing
countries are to maximize their potential gains of trade.
Trinidad and Tobago is convinced of the need for the
WTO to recognize the differences in the levels of
development capacity which exist among its members,
including developing States. Our position on this issue
was clearly enunciated at the just concluded Doha
ministerial meeting. Trinidad and Tobago therefore
welcomes the agreement reached at that meeting to
make special and differential treatment operationally
effective to facilitate development and to ensure that
modalities for further commitments, including
provisions for special and differential treatment, are
established by 31 March 2003. We also welcome
agreement on a work programme to examine issues
related to the trade of small economies for the fuller
integration of small and vulnerable economies into the
multilateral trading system. We will remain actively
engaged as the process unfolds.
To Trinidad and Tobago, as a member of the
African-Caribbean-Pacific Group of States (ACP), of
critical concern, too, is the inordinate and unjustifiable
delay in granting the waiver request for the ACP/
European Commission Partnership Agreement. It is an
issue which has serious systemic implications for the
Organization and it is for this reason that Trinidad and
27

Tobago, like fellow ACP members, considered it
imperative that it be addressed at the ministerial
conference.
In the sphere of health, no one would dispute that
a real connection exists between a nation’s
development capacity and the health of its people. In
this regard, my Government has noted with special
interest the call to strengthen the resolve adopted at the
Millennium Summit to halt and reverse the spread of
HIV/AIDS by 2015. At the heart of our concern is the
fact that the Caribbean region ranks second among the
regions of the world where AIDS is the leading cause
of death in the 15 to 44 age group, a distinction our
region can ill afford to bear.
Trinidad and Tobago again demonstrated its own
commitment to international efforts by hosting last
month the Tenth International Conference for People
Living with HIV/AIDS. Further, Trinidad and Tobago
was among those countries specially selected to
participate in phase II of the HIV/AIDS vaccine trials,
which aims to develop a safe, affordable and accessible
vaccine. The Government, too, has successfully
negotiated with pharmaceutical companies a 90 per
cent reduction in the cost of antiretroviral drugs.
Trinidad and Tobago also supports the establishment of
the Global Fund for AIDS and Health. As a member of
the Transitional Working Group of the Fund, we will
seek to ensure that, in the modalities of the Fund,
accession will not be burdensome and bureaucratic and
that special consideration will be given to the most
seriously affected countries.
Another element in the pervading cycle of
underdevelopment is the presence of persistent poverty.
Trinidad and Tobago fully supports the call of heads of
State and Government at the Millennium Summit to
strive to cut in half by 2015 the proportion of people
living in extreme poverty. At the State level, Trinidad
and Tobago’s progress in the area of poverty
eradication is illustrated by the high ranking it has
enjoyed since 1977 in the United Nations Human
Development Index.
Likewise, Trinidad and Tobago remains
committed to the agreement on the economic and
environmental goals of the United Nations. We
therefore welcome the agreements reached at the sixth
session of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
especially the establishment of a special climate fund, a
fund for least developed countries and the Kyoto
Protocol adaptation fund to be established in order to
finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes.
We now encourage developed countries to ratify the
Protocol so that it can enter into force as quickly as
possible.
As a small island State which relies heavily on
the marine environment for our petroleum, natural gas,
fishing and tourism industries, we are also committed
to upholding the principles and fulfilling the
obligations of the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea. We support the work of the
International Seabed Authority in respect of the
development and exploitation of minerals of the deep
seabed for the benefit all humankind. In our quest to
ensure the preservation of the marine environment, we
reiterate that the question of the transhipment of
hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea is a cause
of deep concern to the region since, in many instances,
the marine environment constitutes the only
meaningful resource on which some States depend for
their very economic existence.
Against a landscape of differing stages of
development, of differing cultural perspectives and of
disparate and competing interests, what does emerge is
an undeniable strength of purpose within this body that
unites us all in a shared commitment not only to
improving the standard of human life, but to preserving
it at all costs. Harnessing this strength of purpose
ultimately depends on every Member State’s
appreciating its inherent value and the value it adds by
its participation in the work of forums such as these. It
is for this reason that we must continue the dialogue,
albeit more vigorously, to ensure that the interests of
peace and security are better served. Reform of the
Security Council must therefore be advanced in a
meaningful way. Democratization of the Security
Council will require more equitable representation.
This goal can be accomplished only through the
expansion of the Council in both the permanent and the
non-permanent categories.
The task before us is not insurmountable. We
must deepen the dialogue to accelerate implementation
of the goals defined at the Millennium Summit and
specified in the various global conferences and reviews
which have taken place to date. We must ensure that
the process of implementation is conducted within a
spirit of equity and justice. Equal attention must be
given to all groups of countries, developed and
28

developing, large and small, landlocked, transit and
small island developing States. Trinidad and Tobago
remains fully committed to this process. Let us make
this fifty-sixth session one of defining the process of
implementation.


Before I deliver my
statement, please allow me to express the heartfelt
condolences of my delegation to the Governments of
the United States of America and the Dominican
Republic and to the families of the victims of the tragic
air traffic accident in New York on Monday. During
this time of grief and sadness, our sympathies are with
those who lost their loved ones.
It is with great pleasure that I extend to the
President and his country, the Republic of Korea, the
warmest congratulations of my delegation on his
election to the presidency of the United Nations
General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. We are
confident that under his able leadership, we will have a
very productive session. The President can rest assured
of the full cooperation of the delegation of Botswana in
the discharge of the noble task entrusted to him.
I should also like to pay tribute to his
predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland. The skilful
manner in which he guided our deliberations during the
fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly speaks for
his wealth of diplomatic experience and diligence in
his work.
To our Secretary-General, may I express the full
support and confidence of my delegation as he begins a
second term of office. We congratulate him for the
highly esteemed Nobel Peace Prize for 2001, bestowed
jointly on him and the United Nations system. This
special award is not only to the Secretary-General,
personally, but also to the many dedicated men and
women who continue to work tirelessly for the United
Nations system.
It is regrettable that even as we are assembled
here to forge a common future within the same walls
where just 12 months ago our leaders proclaimed the
arrival of a brave new world full of hope and promise,
our attention should be drawn to acts of international
terrorism not far from where we are meeting.
My delegation wishes to add its voice to those of
other speakers who have condemned, in the strongest
language possible, the bombings that occurred in New
York and Washington, resulting in a huge loss of
human life. Immediately after learning of these attacks,
my Government issued a statement in which we
condemned these terrorist attacks and those who
conceived and perpetrated them. A unified and
concerted effort is required from the international
community in order to wipe the scourge of
international terrorism from the face of the earth, once
and for all.
7

Among other things, we need to reaffirm our
commitment to the full implementation of all
conventions on combating terrorism. My delegation is
convinced that the international community
collectively has the resources necessary to win the war
against terrorism. This is a challenge of our age.
The other major challenge that presents
extraordinary danger to humanity is the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, whose devastating impact on our societies
and our economies, particularly in Africa, is well
documented.
According to recent estimates, of the 36.1 million
people living with HIV globally, 25.3 million are in
sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 5.3 million people infected
with the virus during 2000, 3.8 million were in sub-
Saharan Africa. Of the 3.0 million people who died of
HIV/AIDS in 2000, 2.4 million were in sub-Saharan
Africa. These statistics present an extremely grim
picture of the HIV/AIDS situation in sub-Saharan
Africa. As delegates are no doubt aware, my country is
one of the worst affected on the continent. Unless we
join forces to tackle this pandemic, it will continue to
have a devastating impact on our societies and
economies. Funding for the HIV/AIDS programmes is
grossly inadequate and has to be increased in order to
mitigate the impact of the scourge.
Indeed, the twenty-sixth special session of the
United Nations General Assembly underscored the
imperative of intensified global action to combat the
pandemic. The Global HIV/AIDS and Health Fund
could not have come at a more opportune time. It is our
sincere hope, therefore, that the donor community will
respond positively to the financing of the trust fund.
I want to stress the need to strengthen the role of
the United Nations in this fight. Our efforts for the
prevention and treatment of the disease need to be
augmented and strengthened by concrete measures of
support and resources from the international
community if we are to turn the tide of the spread of
HIV/AIDS.
The third issue I wish to highlight is that of
“conflict diamonds” versus “development diamonds”.
Botswana deplores the fact that diamond resources in a
number of countries in Africa are being plundered by
rebels to purchase weapons that are used to cause
enormous suffering to innocent people.
However, I want to underscore the fact that
“conflict diamonds” constitute only 4 per cent or less
of the world trade in diamonds. Legitimate, conflict-
free diamonds, such as those produced in my country,
are used to generate socio-economic growth and
development. I am glad that the contribution of
conflict-free diamonds to the economic growth of
countries such as mine, and indeed of other countries in
Southern Africa, is being appreciated.
We have been active participants in the Kimberly
Process, in which Governments of diamond-producing
countries of Southern Africa and other interested
Governments, the diamond industry and civil society
organizations are working together to institute a
certification scheme designed to eliminate that small
percentage of conflict diamonds from world trade. We
sincerely want to see the suffering inflicted upon the
people of Angola, Sierra Leone, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and others brought to an end.
Regrettably, many more countries in our
continent continue to be torn apart by war and conflict.
We applaud the efforts of the United Nations and other
international players to enhance the capacity of African
countries to prevent conflict and maintain peace and
stability in the continent. We are convinced that the
determination of many in Africa to consolidate
democracy will go a long way towards ensuring that
conditions of security and stability are instituted
throughout the continent. The establishment of the
African Union, which will be launched next year in the
Republic of South Africa, is the most positive
expression of a new solidarity, based on an urgent
search for collective economic security and political
partnership. Without underestimating the hurdles we
still face as we move our continent towards integration,
it is our fervent belief that an era of hope has been
ushered in on our continent.
The most talked about undertaking by Africa in
recent weeks has been the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD), which is aimed at achieving
socio-economic development by alleviating poverty as
well as promoting peace, security, democracy and good
governance. Unlike other initiatives that came before
it, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
challenges African countries to take primary
responsibility for their own development by ushering in
a political environment guaranteeing peace, security
and stability, respect for human rights, democratic
principles and the rule of law.
8

The initiative underscores the need for a policy
framework and, indeed, regulatory structures that will
enhance governance in Africa. I must say, all of these
are achievable objectives, and we as a continent have
unreservedly committed ourselves, our Governments
and peoples, and the required resources to their
attainment. We also believe that the initiative will
usher in a new concept of technical cooperation
between Africa and our development partners, and that
the United Nations will have a critical role to play in
its implementation.
My delegation attaches importance to the
International Conference on Financing for
Development, scheduled to be held in Mexico in the
spring of 2002, and the forthcoming World Summit on
Sustainable Development, to be held in South Africa in
September 2002. These Conferences will offer us an
opportunity to examine issues of development in a
holistic and pragmatic manner. Issues of environment,
trade, domestic policy-making, international
cooperation and partnership with the Bretton Woods
institutions, as well as the private sector, will have to
feature prominently at these conferences.
Recent developments in Sierra Leone give us
hope that peace will now be given a chance in that
country. The agreement between the Government
and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), which will
see the latter transformed into a political party, is a
major achievement and an important step forward. The
RUF must now translate its promises into action,
because this is the only way that the international
community will be able to provide the much needed
support for the holding of the envisaged national
elections, which will provide the basis for the
restoration of peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
There is a real window of opportunity for peace
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After many
years of bloody conflict, which has inflicted immense
suffering on the people of the Congo, the political
players and other stakeholders have embarked on a
national dialogue that should bring peace to the
country. I would like to underline the fact that
dedication and perseverance will be required on the
part of those concerned in order for the inter-Congolese
dialogue to be crowned with success. We therefore urge
the players to see the process of negotiations through,
because the alternative is to slide back down into the
suffering and misery that the Congolese have endured
for so long. I also wish to call upon the international
community to provide the necessary support and
resources to the Office of the Facilitator, former
President Sir Ketumile Masire, to enable the
facilitation process of the inter-Congolese dialogue to
succeed.
The peace process in Burundi is moving in the
right direction after many years of painful war. The
deal brokered by former President Mandela has
provided a way out of the stalemate. The resolve of the
parties to remain committed to the peace process is the
only way forward.
We continue to be concerned that prospects for
peace in Angola remain distant. At the heart of the
impasse are UNITA’s continuing acts of destabilization
and sabotage. UNITA must understand that there can
be no military solution to the crisis in Angola. We
therefore wish to appeal to UNITA to reconsider its
position and choose the path of dialogue.
My delegation is seriously concerned at the
recent escalation of violence in the Middle East. It is
our sincere hope that the Government of Israel and the
Palestinian Authority will recognize the urgent need to
resume negotiations towards a comprehensive peace
agreement. A lasting solution to this problem is
essential.
In conclusion, let me reaffirm my country’s
commitment to the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter. We are committed to working
with others to strengthen this Organization in order to
surmount the challenges that face us all as nations and
peoples across the globe. The United Nations is our
only hope for a stable and prosperous world.


I congratulate you,
Sir, on your unanimous election as President of the
fifty-sixth session of the United Nations General
Assembly. I would also like to extend my sincere
congratulations to Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-
General, for his re-election to a second term in office
and for the richly deserved Nobel Peace Prize awarded
to him and the United Nations Organization. This is an
acknowledgement of his tireless efforts in the service
of mankind and, as the Secretary-General has said, of a
challenge to do better and, I hope, faster. I would like
to assure the Secretary-General of my Government’s
cooperation and firm commitment in that regard.
The achievements of the United Nations
Organization are many and varied, while its increasing
relevance in an ever more complex international
environment is clear to us. Its objectives are still as
valid and noble today as they were 56 years ago and, I
believe, can only be achieved by our continued
commitment, careful vigilance and firm action.
I would now like to turn my attention to an issue
that is uppermost in my mind and that has changed the
way we live and do business, maybe forever. I am
referring to the terrorist attacks on the United States of
America, an important, worthy and respected Member
of the United Nations Organization and a long-standing
and trusted friend of Kenya.
Terrorism poses a real threat to international
peace and security and must be condemned by people
of good will throughout the world. Terrorism cannot be
justified in any form whatsoever. No philosophy,
religion or creed can allow the taking away of innocent
lives and the destruction of valuable property. The
people of Kenya experienced first-hand the devastating
effects of terrorism in August 1998. The attack on
Kenya, a country faced with challenges of poverty and
underdevelopment, was especially severe and continues
to affect us. Kenya understands well the pain of those
4

affected by the recent attacks in the United States of
America and fully supports the efforts being led by the
President of the United States of America, Mr. George
W. Bush, and his administration to fight terrorism in all
its forms.
In order to carry out one of its fundamental
objectives, that of the maintenance of international
peace and security, the United Nations, and in
particular its membership, must intensify efforts to
resolve all outstanding and persistent conflicts raging
in many parts of the world. We the Member States of
the United Nations must work very closely to ensure
that we completely disable the terrorist machinery. We
must particularly support the coalition against
terrorism.
As an Organization, we must address the issue of
conflicts seriously. Conflict situations impede
development, provide an atmosphere for the illegal
exploitation of resources, the abuse of children, the
influx of refugees, the spread of dangerous weapons
and the deepening of poverty, to mention just a few
aspects. Conflicts steal the dreams, hopes, aspirations
and opportunities of many, many people, especially
children. We must intensify our efforts in the search for
the peaceful and speedy resolution of conflicts.
The conflicts in Africa continue to destabilize our
continent. The United Nations and its membership
must intensify efforts to find solutions to the conflicts.
The peaceful resolution of conflicts is a
fundamental tenet of Kenya’s foreign policy. It is a
matter of record that I have spared no effort throughout
my political career in search of peaceful solutions to
conflicts in our region and elsewhere. Currently, Kenya
is involved in peace negotiations in southern Sudan,
Somalia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. We would like more international involvement
in peace efforts in Africa.
The biggest challenge facing the African
continent today is the increasing level of poverty.
Poverty has become an obstacle, a roadblock to every
effort we are making at improving the overall welfare
of our people.
Poverty is a fertile breeding ground for conflict
and instability, and even terrorism. It is therefore
regrettable that very little progress, if any, has been
made since the World Summit for Social Development,
held in Copenhagen in 1995. I remind members that the
main outcome of that Summit was the resolve to
eradicate poverty as an obstacle to human
development.
We cannot succeed in improving the lives of our
people without the wholehearted engagement of the
international community. The global target of reducing
poverty by half by the year 2015 cannot be achieved
without tangible availability of resources.
Our efforts at attacking poverty are further
undermined by the scourge of HIV/AIDS and other
treatable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, which
have the potential of reversing all the socio-economic
gains we have worked so hard to achieve.
I applaud the Secretary-General for organizing a
special session on HIV/AIDS earlier this year. The
establishment of the Global AIDS Fund is a very
welcome development. I look forward to its
contribution and active participation in our daily
struggle against HIV/AIDS. Kenya calls on the
international community to lend its full support to the
fund.
The effect of marginalization on developing
countries posed by the accelerated process of
globalization must be addressed as a matter of priority.
It is my hope that the Fourth World Trade Organization
Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, will address the
issue of the imbalance in international trade more
effectively. The issue of meaningful market access,
particularly for agricultural products, must be resolved
quickly. Protectionist policies are in no country's
interest and definitely contradict the principles of free
trade and the process of liberalization. In addition,
resources must be made available to the World Trade
Organization by our partners to enable it to provide
technical assistance and capacity-building to
developing countries.
Solutions in the form of better terms of trade and
market access must go hand-in-hand with the flow of
foreign direct investment to developing countries.
Many African countries have taken bold initiatives to
provide a conducive environment for investors. These
efforts need to be supported by clear policies of
developed countries to encourage private sector
investment in Africa.
We urgently need to be freed from the burdens
that are diverting vital resources from our economic
development. Debt relief is necessary. It is in our
5

common interest that our economies be restored to
health in a meaningful time frame.
My concluding remarks relate to the desire for
equity, fair play and justice for all. This is one of the
cardinal objectives of the United Nations. I welcome
the efforts that the Organization has made in the pursuit
of these objectives.
We welcome these efforts. Yet it is a matter of
concern that commitments in the programmes of action
agreed upon have not been fully complied with. This
situation must be reversed. My challenge to the
Organization is that these commitments be honoured so
that humanity can feel that the United Nations is truly
an organization of hope for many nations and peoples
throughout the world. We cannot continue doing what
has so far failed. We need to work on new ways of
addressing our common problems. My Government
stands ready to do its part, and I challenge other
Governments to do theirs. Together we shall succeed in
meeting our commitments to have poverty reduced by
half by 2015.


I wish to join
other representatives in congratulating you, Sir, on
your unanimous election as President of the fifty-sixth
session of the General Assembly. We are confident that
27

under your able guidance the work of this General
Assembly session will be another milestone on the new
international scene, particularly in confronting the new
challenges facing our world, especially after the
extremely tragic terrorist attacks of 11 September on
the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon
in Washington, D.C.
I believe that the world has completely changed
since the attacks against the United States of America,
the deadliest terrorist attacks ever committed, in which
so many innocent lives were lost. These acts of
terrorism shook the world as the images of destruction
were broadcast live. They were undoubtedly crimes
against humanity. We must strongly condemn these
terrorist acts. We cannot forget those who lost their
lives and the families of the victims. In this regard, I
wish to extend, on behalf of the people and the Royal
Government of Cambodia, our most sincere
condolences to the families of the innocent victims and
the Government of the United States of America.
Cambodia fully supports the United Nations
resolutions condemning the acts of terrorism against
the United States. Cambodia also fully endorses the
international efforts in combating terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations. Cambodia is disturbed,
however, over the loss of innocent civilian lives as a
result of the bombings in Afghanistan. We must do
everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and loss
of life.
In order to find solutions to the current problems
facing our world, I believe that we need to look into
not only the root causes of terrorism but also the other
contributing factors that are confronting the world
today. First, we need to look for a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, in particular a solution to the
Palestine problem. We need to respect the fundamental
right of self-determination of the Palestinian people. In
this regard, Cambodia supports the creation of a
Palestinian State as early as possible. One may argue
that the present situation in the world may have opened
a window of opportunity for finding solutions to the
ongoing conflict in the Middle East. I believe that all
parties concerned should, and I hope that they will,
give peace in the region a chance, which is the way to
overcome the lingering conflict in the region.
Secondly, the increase in poverty in the world is
another crucial problem that must be addressed with
some sense of urgency and collective responsibility.
Poverty is unquestionably one of the major causes of
the problems in the world today. I think that all nations
must join hands to fight poverty throughout the world.
At the same time, we must work to reduce the
widening gap between the developed and developing
countries.
In this regard, it is important for us to recall last
year’s Millennium Declaration, whose main thrust was
a war on poverty in the most comprehensive and most
inclusive manner possible. For the developing
countries, one of the main challenges in the war on
poverty is managing the negative side of an irreversible
process of globalization. The key question is how to
best integrate ourselves into an ever-accelerating
process of globalization so that the developing
countries will not be left out or continue to be further
marginalized. The process of globalization is a reality
without precedent, and no country in this world is
immune to, or able to opt out of, the process.
At the same time, we should work collectively
towards minimizing the negative impact of
globalization, which would enable the developing
countries to pursue sustainable development and
poverty reduction and provide the necessary tools for
the people to improve their standards of living.
Moreover, we think that if there is no mechanism or
principle which is universally accepted in order to
manage globalization, the gap between the developed
and developing countries will further widen in the
future. This is a problem of human security, which the
international community must consider finding
appropriate ways and means of addressing.
Thirdly, another side effect of poverty is the
growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS worldwide, across
regions and continents, affecting mostly the poor and
the developing countries. Therefore, we believe that
the rich, developed countries should do more to help in
the fight against the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Fourthly, as a contributing factor for combating
terrorism, we should attempt to find practical solutions
to the growing threat of the proliferation of nuclear
weapons and the illegal trade of small arms and light
weapons around the globe. In this context, Cambodia
fully agrees with the Secretary-General’s statement at
the Millennium Summit that the issues of nuclear
weapons and illicit trade in small arms and light
weapons should be given the highest priority on the
United Nations agenda in the area of arms control and
28

disarmament. In this context, Cambodia wishes to call
upon all countries to respect all the nuclear-weapons-
related treaties, including the Anti-Ballistic Missile
(ABM) Treaty. Cambodia strongly believes that the
international community should work towards a
gradual reduction of nuclear stockpiles to a minimal
level, and non-proliferation and non-production of such
weapons in the future, which should be the basis for
building and maintaining a peaceful, safe and nuclear-
free world.
(spoke in French)
As a country that has suffered considerably from
the proliferation of small arms, Cambodia welcomes
the adoption of the Programme of Action at the
conclusion of the United Nations Conference on the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its Aspects. In this regard, I congratulate the United
Nations on taking bold steps in addressing this vitally
important issue. Since 1998, the Royal Government of
Cambodia has carried out a nationwide campaign to
address the problems regarding such arms. So far more
that 120,000 small arms and light weapons have been
confiscated, and more than 50 percent of them have
been destroyed in the framework of an operation
named “Flames for Peace.”
Fifthly, for the United Nations to play a greater
role in addressing the increasing number of complex
problems that are now arising, the Kingdom of
Cambodia is of the view that the General Assembly
and the Security Council must be reformed so that they
become more effective and more efficient. As we may
recall, one of the most important pledges contained in
last year’s Millennium Declaration was the
revitalization of the General Assembly. While progress
in the structural and procedural aspects of the General
Assembly are vitally important, we must not lose sight
of the primary objective of this exercise, which is to
return to the General Assembly its original function as
the chief deliberative and representative body of the
United Nations. In other words, the international
community, especially the United Nations as a whole,
must play a constructive and proactive role, without
exclusivity, including in the struggle against terrorism.
I also believe that the current global situation
justifies a call for a constructive and timely reform of
the Security Council, which must reflect the realities
and needs of the world today. The Security Council
must be reformed to be made more representative,
more democratic and more effective in its decision-
making processes. Its membership and structure,
passed down since 1945, are inarguably outdated and
no longer reflect the political, economic, social and
demographic realities of our time or, apparently, the
growing issues of human security.
As the United Nations Charter mandates the
Security Council’s responsibility in the maintenance of
international peace and security, it is important for us
to ensure that the interests of all nations are sufficiently
reflected in the Council’s composition and voting
procedures. It is unacceptable, however, that the two
thirds of the world’s population residing in the
developing countries are not equitably represented in
the Council. Such practices could jeopardize the
Council’s credibility in the maintenance of
international peace and security. In this regard,
Cambodia supports the decision of the non-aligned
countries in favour of an additional increase in the
number of permanent and non-permanent members and
in particular reiterates its strong support for Japan,
Germany and India as candidates for permanent
membership of the Security Council.
In conclusion, it is clear that we are living in a
fast-changing world in which the rapid pace of
globalization and growing interdependence are the
order of the day. Peace, stability and prosperity are
interrelated and affect all nations and peoples on this
planet, especially following the extremely tragic
terrorist attacks in September. It is therefore essential
that we work together to build a genuine community of
nations in which the gap between the developed and
the developing countries is reduced; in which the threat
of terrorism and nuclear annihilation are eliminated; in
which the danger of a global HIV/AIDS epidemic is
mitigated; and in which poverty is alleviated. This can
come about only through the development of a more
genuine cooperation, the fostering of enhanced mutual
respect, the cultivation of greater tolerance, the
promotion of better understanding and the emergence
of a broader spirit of true union among nations in a
world that works on behalf of all.
I strongly believe that we can achieve all this
through collective will and actions that will help us to
usher in a new and brighter future for our world — a
world free of terrorism, a world of stability, peace,
29

security, development and prosperity for all peoples in
the twenty-first century.

Finally, I am pleased to express, on behalf of the
Royal Government of Cambodia, our very warm
congratulations to Mr. Kofi Annan on his re-election to
a second term in the noble post of Secretary-General. I
do believe that, with his dedication and long-standing
experience in dealing with the many challenges faced
by the United Nations, the Secretary-General will
certainly achieve more success for the sake of peace
and stability for all nations Members of the United
Nations.


It gives me great
pleasure, on behalf of my country, to congratulate
Mr. Han Seung-soo on his election to the presidency of
the General Assembly. His election to that high office
29

demonstrates the international community's respect for
and confidence in his ability to guide the work of this
session successfully. It also demonstrates the trust and
high regard that the international community has for
the Republic of Korea and for the important role that
country is playing in the international arena to foster
peace and security in the world. I would also like to
take this opportunity to pay tribute to his predecessor,
His Excellency Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland, for the
exemplary manner in which he guided the work of the
fifty-fifth session.
Allow me also to congratulate the Secretary-
General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, on his
reappointment to head the Organization for a second
term. His dynamic leadership has earned the United
Nations the confidence of the international community
and has raised fresh hopes about the Organization's
ability to facilitate a world atmosphere more conducive
to peace, justice and human dignity as we enter the
twenty-first century. The award of the Nobel Peace
Prize to the Secretary-General and to the United
Nations is testimony to that confidence.
Nearly 13 years ago, the Maldives woke up to the
horrors of terrorism when a band of foreign terrorists
attacked Male, our capital island, without the slightest
warning or provocation, killing many innocent people
and destroying property. By their faceless act of
violence, they changed the peaceful life we had had in
our country for centuries into one full of fear and
apprehension.
On 11 September this year, the most powerful
country, the United States of America, itself became a
target and the victim of a horrendous act of terrorism.
The world community was shocked and promptly
condemned the barbaric attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, and the murder of thousands
of innocent people. Consistent with its stand against
terrorism, the Maldives found itself among the first
States to condemn those attacks in the strongest
possible terms.
The tragedy of 11 September has reminded us
that terrorism is one of the biggest challenges facing
the world community today. It has emerged as an
enemy of nations, be they large or small, and as a
vicious threat to humanity. In combating such a cruel
enemy, it is important that international action against
terrorism be supported and that it be complemented by
measures at the regional and national levels.
At the international level, the legal doctrine
against all aspects of terrorism must be strengthened
and universalized. Concomitantly, action at the
regional and national levels must be brought into line
with international obligations in fighting this global
menace. The United Nations, as the global organization
responsible for international peace and security, must
play the pivotal role in this fight against terrorism. My
country fully supports the early convening of a high-
level conference, under the auspices of the United
Nations, to formulate a clear definition of terrorism and
to draw up a joint, far-sighted reaction to the ever-
growing phenomena of terrorism in its various forms
and manifestations. We are also looking forward to the
early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on
international terrorism and of an international
convention for the prevention of acts of terrorism using
nuclear, biological or chemical material or agents.
As a people who have devoted themselves to the
practice of Islamic faith and values for nearly a
millennium, we are deeply offended by the notion that
terrorism is linked to Islam or to Muslims. On the
contrary, Islam advocates peace, compassion, tolerance
and peaceful coexistence. The projection and portrayal
of Islam as an enemy of civilization or of the free
world is an insult to its noble principles. It is a
perverted view and a falsification of Islam and its
principles. Such perversions are nothing but
propaganda hatched by evil people who wish to breed
hatred among human beings; their claims are no less
harmful than terrorism itself.
At the Millennium Summit last year, our leaders
charted a course for a better world, a world in which
the whole of humanity can prosper in mutual respect
and dignity. Navigating smoothly along that course will
be a difficult task. We have to be ready to boldly
address the challenges in our way.
Over the past year, we met in several special
sessions to address some specific important issues. On
each and every such occasion, we demonstrated our
firm resolve to uphold the objectives set forth in the
Millennium Declaration. The major cross-cutting
theme that runs deep in all these issues is the
dehumanizing scourge of poverty. Poverty remains the
major stumbling block for sustainable social and
economic development in the developing world.
Eradicating poverty, therefore, is core to the attainment
of peace and development. Let us therefore make the
elimination of poverty our top priority and pursue
30

vigorously the target set by our leaders during the
Millennium Summit: to halve poverty by 2015.
The commitments we have undertaken at such
conferences involve high price tags. Unless new and
additional financial resources are made available in a
timely and predictable manner, no action plans or
programmes can be implemented. It is therefore a
collective responsibility of the entire international
community, including the private-sector stakeholders
and civil society, to muster the necessary political will
that is so vital in this regard. We are eagerly looking
forward to the International Conference on Financing
for Development to be held in Mexico early next year.
We hope that that event will provide the international
community with an opportunity to agree on new,
innovative and additional sources and strategies to
mobilize funds for development.
Globalization is now a reality. Many in the
developed world are enjoying the unprecedented yield
of globalization, while its powerful forces are
depressing the fragile economies of many developing
and least developed countries, including structurally
weak countries. The uneven playing field has indeed
contributed to widening the gap between the rich and
the poor. In fact, the obstacles to the development of
the least developed countries have grown in number
and magnitude over the years and have marginalized
those countries in the world economy. My country, the
Maldives, is heartened by the goodwill and solidarity
extended by the international community to the least
developed countries during the Third United Nations
Conference on the Least Developed Countries held in
Brussels early this year. It is now time for delivery on
the commitments made at the Brussels Conference.
Unless those commitments are fulfilled, the plight of
the least developed countries will continue to worsen.
The special circumstances and needs of the small
island developing States (SIDS) have been recognized
and acknowledged by this Assembly on numerous
occasions. The Barbados Programme of Action very
clearly spells out these special needs of SIDS.
Although many SIDS may appear to be relatively more
prosperous on the basis of per capita income level, it is
also a documented fact that, due to the special
characteristics of small islands, they are generally
among the most economically vulnerable and
handicapped countries in the world today.
As a country with little more than a quarter of a
million inhabitants spread over more than 200 islands,
bereft of natural resources and with a fragile economy
based on fisheries and tourism, which are sensitive to
the harsh realities of ecology and the environment, the
Maldives provides a perfect example of this dilemma
of the small island developing States.
The stable political environment that the
Maldives has enjoyed for the past two decades,
combined with the continued flow of assistance from
our development partners, have indeed given us the
opportunity to improve the quality of life of our
people. Our efforts towards development have
remained relentless, as the structural constraints we
face are both persistent and formidable.
Given these realities, my country is convinced
that the present criteria for identifying least developed
countries need to be refined to reflect the impediments
in full. We appeal to the Committee for Development
Policy and the international community to consider
these realities on the ground and to look beyond
abstract indicators into the inherent vulnerabilities of
small island developing States in determining the
criteria for graduation.
We do not wish to remain indefinitely in the
category of least developed countries. However, should
graduation be thrust upon us prematurely, its negative
consequences could easily overwhelm us and result in
serious erosion of our achievements. We need to
strengthen the capacity of our human resources and
institutions to cope with existing and emerging
challenges to our development efforts. We need to find
ways and means to diversify our economic base and
strengthen its sustainability.
We welcome the recent resolution adopted by the
Economic and Social Council to extend our transition
period until the next triennial review of the list of least
developed countries in 2003. At the same time, we
wish to reiterate our belief that ensuring a smooth
transition for graduating countries, in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 46/206, is an essential
obligation of the entire international community.
Indeed, a decision that affects the future destiny of a
nation should not be based on hastily compiled
information that may contain erroneous assumptions
and dubious facts that could mislead the competent
authorities, leading them to reach questionable
conclusions.
31

The state of the global environment remains a
major concern of the international community. A
decade after the adoption of Agenda 21, its effective
implementation has proven to be a difficult task. The
pleas of small island developing States for new and
additional resources to implement the Barbados
Programme of Action remain to be heeded. The Kyoto
Protocol is yet to come into force. Meanwhile,
scientific predictions on the future of the global
environment remain alarming. Unless swift and
concrete action is forthcoming, global environmental
degradation will continue to threaten the survival of
humankind and our planet. The consequences of a mere
one-metre rise in the mean sea level on small island
developing States, such as the Maldives, is now a well-
documented fact. We, therefore, urge the international
community to accelerate its efforts to agree on a legally
binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction regime
and to facilitate the Kyoto Protocol's early entry into
force. In this connection, we are encouraged by the
positive developments achieved in Marrakech last
week and hope that these developments will facilitate
an early entry into force of the Protocol.
A year from now, we will gather in Johannesburg,
South Africa, for the Rio + 10 Summit to take stock of
our labour over the past decade to protect and preserve
the global environment. My country believes that this
would be an excellent opportunity for the international
community to reinvigorate its efforts and rededicate its
commitments to protect and preserve the global
environment.
The Maldives attaches great importance to the
efforts of the international community to foster
sustainable social development. The five-year review
of the Copenhagen commitments and Beijing Platform
for Action, carried out last year, and the recently
concluded review of the implementation of the
outcome of the Second United Nations Conference on
Human Settlements (Habitat Agenda), as well as the
World Conference against Racism and Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
have added renewed impetus to the efforts of the
international community to achieve social harmony.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has become a major
impediment to social development. The Maldives, too,
has not been immune to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Although the number of cases may be relatively low in
our country, we are fully aware of the potential threat
that looms over us. We pledge our full support to the
Programme of Action adopted by the special session of
the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS early this year,
and we call on the international community, including
the private sector stakeholders, to commit the financial
resources required to implement the Programme of
Action.
My country wholeheartedly supports the just
struggle of the Palestinian people. My country
commends the efforts of the co-sponsors of the Middle
East peace process to help put the talks back on track.
We strongly believe that the Mitchell report should be
implemented urgently to pave the way for restarting the
stalled peace process.
Disarmament and arms control measures continue
to remain a high priority on the international agenda.
While we were encouraged by the positive outcome of
the NPT Review Conference last year, we would like to
reiterate the need for continuing efforts to strengthen
and enforce the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Similarly, we look forward to the day when the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) will
come into force.
In conclusion, allow me to reaffirm the firm
commitment of the Maldives to the principles and
objectives enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We
will work with the other members of the international
community to uphold and promote these lofty
objectives. We remain convinced that the United
Nations is the only organization that is capable of
creating a more peaceful and prosperous world for
humanity.