Today, we stand on the
verge of global uncertainty. The international
landscape is scarred by wars, conflict, civil unrest,
epidemics, drought and famine. Poverty and
malnutrition continue to ravage the lives of millions of
the world’s inhabitants.
The very values and fabric on which the United
Nations was founded are being besieged by new ideas
and principles that are undermining the authority of
this body to maintain global peace and security. The
clash of ideologies and of cultural and religious
differences continues to give much food for thought.
The United Nations stands at a crossroads. While it has
the mandate to address those challenges, it remains
paralysed as a result of actions taken by the hegemonic
Powers of today. That is the dilemma confronting the
Organization.
The value of the human person and his or her
right to live in a world that is fair and just seems but a
dream. Ensuring the dignity of one’s right to live with
access to the most basic necessities in life remains our
greatest challenge. We speak so ambitiously of creating
a world that is equitable and just, but the outcomes
have been unimpressive.
The schism between the minority rich and the
majority poor continues to grow. The multitudes of the
disadvantaged are being further marginalized from the
so-called benefits of globalization. Fear has struck
many small countries of the developing world. It is not
the fear that the developing world has no capabilities in
contributing to peace and security, but the fear — the
greatest fear, in fact — that the undemocratic practices
of the major United Nations organs, such as the
Security Council, are causing tension and disarray in
the work of the United Nations.
The disparities in the quality of life between the
haves and the have-nots have grown to be fertile
breeding grounds for new and hostile generations. And
it is here that the phenomenon of terrorism continues to
challenge the frontiers of our imagination. It is perhaps
much clearer today than ever before that there are
reasons for increased resentment in certain parts of the
world.
My Government condemns terrorism in whatever
form or manifestation it assumes, and there is an urgent
need for all the Members of the United Nations to work
together openly in combating those dangerous
developments. The destruction of innocent lives should
not be the means to meeting an end. That is inhumane.
All United Nations Member countries therefore have
the responsibility — a moral and ethical
responsibility — to eradicate that menace from the face
of the Earth.
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Peace cannot be won through injustice, the
practice of double standards, aggression or war. We
cannot be victorious in the fight against terrorism if we
fail to address its root causes. Conversely, it is
incumbent on all Member States to act responsibly to
ensure the implementation of all United Nations
resolutions. Moreover, if we are to have any hope of
building a better future, then peace must sometimes
come at a price.
We must begin to look deeply, honestly and with
open hearts if we are really to understand the world
around us. If there is a question of repressive policies
that influence and dominate the international economic
and political order, then those concerned must take
remedial action. The adoption of the resolution on the
United Nation’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is
therefore a positive step forward.
The central focus on the fight against terrorism
has taken centre stage for some, and the diversion of
resources is jeopardizing the realization of the
Millennium Development Goals and official
development assistance target levels. Accessibility to
the markets of the affluent nations has also restricted
the progress of development in many countries of the
developing world. Major world players must not lose
sight of those goals.
Inter-State relations, mutual understanding and
tolerance begin with respect for the individual. The
dignity of the human person is of the essence in
building equality between all persons. That is one of
the fundamental principles of the United Nations. As
Members of the United Nations, we have all agreed to
embrace those principles and we continue to believe in
those values. Vanuatu joined the United Nations in
1981 because it believed in the Organization. Today, I
stand before the Assembly to again reaffirm faith in the
United Nations, but I agree that changes must take
place to adapt the United Nations system to the
evolution of the international and geopolitical and
economic framework.
Reforms of the various United Nations bodies are
therefore absolutely essential. There must be reform of
the Security Council to ensure that it is democratic and
more representative of the United Nations membership.
The veto power in the Council dilutes all the good
intentions of the majority of the United Nations
membership towards addressing many of the
challenges confronting us today. The underlying
question, though, is: Has the disproportionate use of
the veto power sustained reasonable levels of
international peace and stability?
Cultural and religious differences cannot be seen
to be obstacles in that regard. The United Nations
brought civility and etiquette to the conduct of
relations between States, and central to that are
relations between individuals. The art of statesmanship
has therefore become very critical at this time. Respect
must therefore begin here at the United Nations. When
one world Power speaks here, this Hall is jammed.
Thereafter, the debate becomes routine. That is remiss
of many of us. The annual general debate of the
General Assembly is the only practical occasion at
which almost all leaders are together in one place to
discuss and share views on the development challenges
facing the globe. The United Nations is not about one
or several nations; it is about this family of nations
with the one common objective of maintaining
international peace and security.
Over the past few days, millions around the globe
have monitored the unfolding debate in this noble Hall
of the General Assembly. A war of words has
resounded from this rostrum, exposing an alarming rift
in relations between some super-Powers and the voices
of the developing world. The media have exploited the
situation to scrutinize those events, often ending up
with gross assumptions and conclusions that have only
instilled fear amongst the world’s innocent population.
Now, is that the right message of hope we are giving to
our peoples, who have faith in the United Nations? Is
the United Nations not the beacon of hope for all
humanity?
Confrontation must be resolved through tactful
diplomacy and negotiation consistent with the purposes
and principles of the United Nations Charter and
established international law. In that spirit, we also
appeal to those concerned to exercise great restraint
and to have the wisdom and responsibility to ensure
above all that any action they take serves that purpose,
which must be in the interest of future global justice,
peace and security. Any retreat from multilateralism
will result only in increased tension and aggression.
Again, mutual dialogue through appropriate
mechanisms is absolutely critical at this very delicate
time.
On the question of the Middle East, both Israel
and Palestine have the right to live side by side in
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peaceful coexistence as independent and sovereign
States. The international community must be realistic
about the future. Let us allow justice, security and
long-lasting peace to prevail for both the Israeli people
and the Palestinians.
Recently, Vanuatu was recognized by the Happy
Planet Index, published by the British-based New
Economics Foundation, as the happiest place on Earth.
We are proud to have been placed so high amongst all
countries of the world, but we have been careful not to
be carried away, and so often it is that island paradox
that conceals the diverse development challenges that
small island countries of the Pacific, such as Vanuatu,
face in today’s world of globalization.
Last week, during the High-Level Meeting on the
Midterm Comprehensive Global Review of the
Implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Least Developed Countries, I spoke of the many
challenges facing my country in the implementation of
the Brussels Programme of Action. Vanuatu has been
showing positive signs of gradual economic growth.
However, in the light of our vulnerability to natural
disasters, exogenous market demand and supply price
fluctuations and their adverse impacts on the three
most important sectors contributing to our gross
domestic product, we consider this an inappropriate
time to include Vanuatu in the list of countries eligible
for graduation.
Furthermore, while the current methods used to
measure the three main thresholds for graduation are
dependent on statistical variables, it is commonly
understood that statistical data for countries in the
Pacific — including Vanuatu — contain major
discrepancies. Therefore, relying solely on such data to
determine Vanuatu’s achievements in relation to the
thresholds would yield inaccurate results.
Very soon, the General Assembly will be
considering countries recommended for inclusion in
the list of countries eligible for graduation. That list
includes Vanuatu. Our arguments for exclusion from
the list are well founded and based on practical
realities. My Government considers as premature the
recommendation by the Committee for Development
Policy to include Vanuatu on the list. We therefore call
upon Members of the United Nations to understand and
support Vanuatu’s case.
As a responsible United Nations Member,
Vanuatu is also contributing towards international
peace and security. Vanuatu peacekeepers have
participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions
in Bosnia and East Timor, and we currently have
peacekeepers stationed in the Congo, Haiti, Côte
d’Ivoire and the Sudan. Vanuatu has also participated
in regional peacekeeping missions in Bougainville and
Solomon Islands. Those efforts illustrate Vanuatu’s
resolve to engage in peacekeeping and peacebuilding
in both the regional and international contexts.
With regard to the question of the environment —
in particular global warming and climate change — my
Government strongly aligns itself with other small
island States in urging the international community to
reduce emissions. The failure of major emitters to sign
the Kyoto Protocol is a major disappointment.
The Charter of the United Nations espouses the
principles that continue to guide the Organization’s
efforts in the process of self-determination. It calls for
recognition of and respect for the fundamental rights of
peoples and territories still under colonial rule. We
must not lose sight of that goal. The United Nations
must make renewed efforts where it has failed to allow
justice to prevail for those peoples who continue to be
denied their inalienable right to freedom and
democracy. We must relegate that dark legacy to the
past.
Determining how to bring more cohesiveness and
unity to this great community of nations has now
become a much more formidable challenge. I affirm
my support for the challenging exercise before us. Our
Almighty Creator entrusted us, the human race, with
the safeguarding of a great asset, the Earth. It is
incumbent on us to make the most of that opportunity.
The world’s destiny is in our hands. In that spirit, I
extend my congratulations to Montenegro on its
admission as the 192nd Member of the United Nations.
Before closing, I would like to acknowledge the
support of our development partners — in particular
Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, the People’s
Republic of China, the United States of America and
the European Union — as well as the various United
Nations bodies that are strongly supporting the
development of Vanuatu. I also extend our appreciation
to India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
for their continuous support within the framework of
South-South cooperation. In addition, my Government
is encouraged by the initiative and the kind gesture of
Venezuela in committing $2 million to the Pacific
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islands through the work programme of the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Those
are positive developments that together are
complementing the leadership role being played by my
Government in its development path.
In closing, I take this final opportunity to pay our
respects to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for
his outstanding stewardship of the United Nations. His
wisdom has ensured that the United Nations will retain
its credibility and its relevance. During periods of
turbulence and uncertainty, he has been relentless in
the pursuit of his belief in United Nations reform. My
Government salutes him for his distinguished service
to the United Nations. We wish him all the best in his
future endeavours.