The Tongan delegation
joins others in congratulating you, Madam, on your
assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly.
Let us reassure you of Tonga’s full support and its
confidence that the sixty-first session of the General
Assembly will be productive and successful under your
very able leadership. Full recognition is also in order
for the excellent work of your predecessor, His
Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, during the sixtieth session
of the General Assembly. In the same vein, the Tongan
delegation takes this opportunity to commend and
extend its gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General,
His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for his tireless service
over the past 10 years in the stewardship of the
Organization.
It has been a year since our leaders met at the
historic World Summit in an effort to embrace the
realities of the world we live in and to duly reflect
those challenges in the work of the Organization. We
are pleased that there are specific landmarks that attest
to the fact that some progress has been made in the
implementation of the 2005 Outcome Document
(resolution 60/1). They include the inauguration of the
Peacebuilding Commission, coupled with the
establishment of the Peacebuilding Support Office and
the Peacebuilding Fund; the creation of the Human
Rights Council; and the establishment of the Central
Emergency Response Fund.
Mr. Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe), Vice-President,
took the Chair.
Tonga also welcomes the adoption of the United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution
60/288), which forms a basis upon which we can build
our consistent and unequivocal condemnation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations —
committed by whomever, whenever and for whatever
purpose — for terrorism constitutes one of the most
serious threats to international peace and security. We
look forward to the effective implementation of the
Strategy, as well as to the conclusion of a
comprehensive convention on international terrorism
during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly.
Tonga also remains committed to supporting the
work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. We duly
recognize the efforts undertaken to consolidate States’
reporting requirements. We also wish to acknowledge
the cooperation provided by bilateral, regional and
multilateral agencies in helping to fulfil international
and regional commitments to combat transnational
organized crime and to fight terrorism.
Tonga shares the call for the full restoration of
the role of the General Assembly as the main decision-
making, representative and policy-making body of the
United Nations, in accordance with the provisions of
the Charter. That would further enhance the credibility
of multilateralism and the important need to address
the multifaceted and interconnected challenges and
threats confronting the world.
Tonga supports the work pertaining to the
remainder of the reform mandates, especially as
06-53958 4
regards Secretariat and management reforms, the
strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and
the strengthening and streamlining of management in
the Organization.
The important issue of the reform of the Security
Council still remains unresolved, although world
leaders acknowledged that it was an essential element
of our overall effort. Tonga supports the call by the
Secretary-General in his annual report (A/61/1) to find
common ground for action on this fundamental piece
of overall United Nations reform, as well as his urging
that a decision on Council reform be taken sooner
rather than later in order to ensure that the United
Nations machinery to promote the establishment and
maintenance of peace and security will remain relevant
and credible to meet today’s and tomorrow’s
challenges. Tonga continues to support Japan’s
assumption of its proper and permanent place in any
enhanced Council.
Tonga commends the contributions of United
Nations peacekeepers in fulfilling the Organization/s
vital role in helping parties in conflict to end
hostilities. To the degree that it is able, Tonga is
committed to supporting both international and
regional peacekeeping efforts, including the current
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.
For many island developing countries, including
my own, the development agenda remains a top
priority. In that regard, the theme of the sixty-first
session of the General Assembly, “Implementing a
global partnership for development”, is not only very
pertinent but also very timely. While we reiterate that
we take primary responsibility for our own
development, we continue to welcome as a necessary
step the maintenance and enhancement of support at
the regional and international levels to complement our
national efforts. That includes the support provided
under the Pacific Plan to strengthen regional
cooperation and integration, which was endorsed by
Pacific leaders in 2005, as well as the implementation
of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further
Implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States.
Tonga looks forward to progress in the work to
enhance mechanisms to promote coherent United
Nations support to small island developing States
through a strengthened inter-agency consultative
process, the finalization of a strategy for resource
mobilization and the promotion of partnership
initiatives.
In May of this year, His Majesty’s Government
ratified its Strategic Development Plan 8, entitled
“Looking to the future, building on the past”, which
sets out the Government’s road map for the Kingdom’s
future development path for the period 2006-2007 to
2008-2009. The document was formulated following a
lengthy and extensive process of consultation with all
of the relevant stakeholders. It provides due
recognition to the fact that the success of the
implementation of the Development Plan will require
the efforts of both State and non-State actors.
The President of the General Assembly has
rightly observed that the recent historic High-level
Dialogue on International Migration and Development
revealed the potential and opportunities that
globalization presents as a force for improving the
lives of millions of people. The meeting provided
Tonga, a mature migration-remittance economy, with
the opportunity to showcase the important nexus
between migration and development.
A study recently produced by the World Bank
concluded that, for Tonga, recipient household
migration and remittances have positive impacts on
migrant-sending countries through improved income
distribution and poverty alleviation, induced higher
savings and stimulated business activities, resulting in
larger investments in education. The study also
highlighted that improved and restricted, but
organized, labour mobility can significantly contribute
to a country’s gross domestic product and to overall
global income. Labour mobility is therefore a potential
vehicle for achieving our commitment to pro-poor
strategies such as the Millennium Development Goals
and other commitments, and also for achieving national
sustainable development strategies.
The suspension of the Doha round of trade talks
was disappointing. The failure to conclude the talks
will negatively affect global economic prospects and
the growth of low-income countries, including Tonga.
We join others in urging World Trade Organization
member countries to maintain their commitment to the
rules-based multilateral trading system, preserve
progress that has been achieved and to continue with
the negotiations. We also continue to urge the donor
community to move forward with the delivery of aid
5 06-53958
for trade, independent of the Doha round. Regional
cooperation on trade-related projects has the potential
to promote the competitiveness of low-income
countries, such as the island economies of the Pacific.
In October 2005, Tonga’s Legislative Assembly
passed a motion to establish a National Committee of
the Kingdom of Tonga on Political Reform. With the
support of His Majesty’s Government, the Committee
chaired by His Late Royal Highness Prince
Tu’ipelehake has completed public meetings and
consultations throughout Tonga as well as in the
countries where the majority of Tongans reside,
namely, New Zealand, Australia and the United States
of America. It is anticipated that the report will be
deliberated upon by the Legislative Assembly during
its 2006 session and by His Majesty’s Government
with a view to attaining an appropriate political reform
agenda that is not only responsive but also responsible
for fulfilling the objectives of building national unity
and promoting the social and economic advancement
of the people of Tonga.