I
wish to begin by extending my congratulations to
Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa on her election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-first
session. I also express my country’s high regard for her
predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, who succeeded in
spurring the implementation of United Nations reform.
I also pay tribute to the Secretary-General,
Mr. Kofi Annan, for his work at the head of our
Organization, as reflected in the body of his
achievements at the end of his two terms of office.
Those achievements include the ongoing reform, the
promotion of multilateralism, the prevention of armed
conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance
operations, the fight against HIV/AIDS and action on
other fronts, in particular in combating poverty and
terrorism.
Here I would like to briefly discuss United
Nations reform. I echo the sentiments of all who have
referred here to the pressing need for the United
Nations to adapt to the realities of the world in which
we live so that it will be more in tune with current
concerns and managed in an effective and transparent
manner: an Organization whose Charter recognizes that
all States, small and large, possess the right to have
their say in the conduct of affairs that are of interest to
the international community.
Seychelles thus supported the establishment of
the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights
Council, the adoption of the United Nations Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the resolution on
development. We await with great interest the outcome
of the ongoing reform of the Economic and Social
Council and the Secretariat and its management, and of
the revitalization of the General Assembly in keeping
with its great authority and enhanced role.
We hope that the General Assembly will take an
active part in the appointment of the next Secretary-
General, who, we all agree, should be from Asia and
with proven qualities and demonstrated leadership.
Moreover, the reform of the Security Council is of
particular importance in the light of the current
challenges to world peace and to the Council’s
institutional legitimacy.
Now, let me say a few words on the national
policy of Seychelles. My country recently held
elections in a climate of tranquillity and social
harmony. Following the election of President Michel,
and on the basis of the new road map that he has drawn
for his administration, Seychelles will place even
greater emphasis on ensuring sustainable development
in all sectors: economic, social, cultural and
environmental. The policies seek to guarantee the best
possible standard of living for all citizens.
Opening up the economy, respecting human
rights and the rule of law and pursuing the objectives
of good governance will continue to define the actions
of our Government. However, we must note that, as the
World Bank and the Commonwealth have highlighted
in their joint report, over the past five years small
developing States have seen gross national product
growth rates decline in comparison to those of large,
low-income and middle-income countries. Small States
have also experienced an increasingly burdensome
foreign debt. Concerning access to foreign capital,
there is a trend in private markets to consider small
9 06-53958
States to be of high risk, which leads to increased costs
that complicate access to those markets.
In recent years, meetings have been held,
resolutions have been adopted and statements have
been made followed by further meetings, but with little
concrete action and without any satisfactory response
to our concerns. Seychelles regrets that. The global
community is made up of 192 States, and more than 80
of them are small States.
Confronted by these structural development
problems in the context of a globalized economy, small
States rarely have the means and the capacity to
respond appropriately to them. In that connection, the
appeal made by the President of the General Assembly
for a global development partnership has never been so
urgent and critical. The Seychelles hopes that at its
sixty-first session the Assembly will take a decisive
step forward in bringing about such a partnership.
I should like to conclude my statement by
referring to the issues of regional and world peace.
Armed conflicts are occurring at a pace that shows
that, contrary to our hopes, the world remains unstable
and dangerous. Unfortunately, peace and ceasefire
agreements do not always lead to a cessation of
hostilities. Civilian populations, composed mostly of
women and children, continue to be displaced,
maltreated and, too often, the victims of crimes and
massacres. The situation in Darfur is the most tragic
illustration. Those who survive do not always have
access to humanitarian aid. Today, according to a
United Nations report, even the level of violence facing
humanitarian aid teams is unprecedented.
We are all aware of the real causes of wars. Sadly,
sometimes the only way to reach a consensus is to say
nothing; as the saying goes, diplomacy consists of
conversations between friends, and only rarely with the
enemy. That is why the Seychelles joins all those in
Africa, the Middle East, Asia and everywhere else who
hope for a more human, more just and freer world
where peace is the rule, not the exception, and not a
privilege but a right. That also applies to those
countries — such as Palestine and Western Sahara —
that hope someday to be able to conduct their affairs as
they see fit, in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions.
Finally, I should like to reaffirm the support of
the Seychelles for the work undertaken by the
President of the General Assembly to make the sixty-
first session an instrument for peace and development.