General Assembly Session 55 meeting 30

Mr. Aboulgheit (Egypt)

As is his custom every year, the Secretary-General made it a point to include in his report on the work of the Organization his vision of the most important issues and problems facing the United Nations and the international community. I would like to pay tribute to the comprehensive nature of the report and to seize this opportunity to refer to several points that were raised in the report.

The Secretary-General has devoted a large part of this report to the situation in Africa. We welcome the increasing concern about Africa within the United Nations and its main bodies and agencies. We believe, however, that the gap remains very large between what the international community intends and pledges to do in order to prevent and settle the conflicts on the African continent, and the actual steps taken in assuming the collective responsibility to maintain international peace and security in Africa and to deal with the actual root causes of those conflicts, which have wreaked havoc on the political, economic and social infrastructures in that continent.

Concerning the Horn of Africa, Egypt looks forward to the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) so that a necessary political climate for confidence-building can be created between those two sister countries and the way paved to a peace agreement between them.

Egypt looks forward to renewed impetus on the part of the international community to promote efforts to establish peace in Somalia, particularly since we are now at a decisive phase that requires all the efforts of the international community.

As for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we hope that all the parties will create the necessary conditions for moving to the second phase of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and allow further progress towards the solution of this crisis.

The Egyptian delegation believes that the response of the United Nations to the present crisis in Sierra Leone will reflect the commitment of the international community to its responsibilities in Africa and will certainly affect directly the future role of the United Nations in the maintenance of peace and security on the African continent. That is why we look forward to seeing the Organization expand the military component of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and to seeing the international community respect the embargo on illicit trafficking in diamonds, while contributing generously towards the efforts to reconstruct Sierra Leone and its national armed forces.

Concerning United Nations peacekeeping operations, the recommendations contained in the report of the Panel of experts set up by the Secretary-General to study those operations, under the chairmanship of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, form an important and natural part of the Secretary-General's report on the work of the Organization this year. Egypt is fully aware of the importance of those recommendations and of their long-term effects on the performance of the international Organization in the area of the maintenance of international peace and security. We look forward to detailed discussions on the recommendations in the relevant committees of the General Assembly with other Member States in order to reach a consensus on the best approach to take.

In this respect, I should like to point out that the Member States contributing to the peacekeeping operations -- and Egypt is one of them -- should consider the reform of that particular area of the work of the United Nations as very important. We believe that United Nations peacekeeping operations should be effective from the point of view of timing, deployment and operational efficiency. We would prefer, if possible, that the United Nations carry out peacekeeping operations rather than arrangements that are not relevant to it. The United Nations continues to be the only legitimate international forum, accepted by all, for peoples to work through.

I should like to refer to the statement made by the Secretary-General concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the world, and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. The figures contained in the report and in reports of other United Nations agencies indicate that there is a very serious social dimension to the spread of that disease. I refer not only to the frightening rate at which it is spreading -- it affects 25 per cent of the population in some States of the continent -- but also to the fact that it is affecting people of middle age, which will have an impact on the future of society and threatens the development of the continent. That is why Egypt is particularly interested in convening a special session of the General Assembly to discuss the problem of AIDS in all its aspects. Our delegation participated effectively in the deliberations that preceded the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 54/283 concerning the convening of that special session, and made it a point also to become one of the co-sponsors of the resolution.

For that reason, Egypt calls on all delegations and States to display a spirit of cooperation for holding that special session as soon as possible in order to examine ways and means of pooling international resources to tackle that very serious disease.

As for the sanctions, we welcome the proposals submitted by the Secretary-General in his report, because they parallel what my delegation and others have repeatedly affirmed. We would like to stress the importance of assessing the effectiveness of those sanctions in order to discern whether they truly promote the purposes and principles of the United Nations and to take stock of their impact on targeted States at the regional and national levels.

We have often stressed the fact that sanctions should be an exceptional measure and a last resort, in conformity with Chapter VII of the Charter, and should be imposed only after all other means of peacefully settling conflicts have been exhausted, in accordance with Chapter VI. We stress also the fact that sanctions should be imposed in accordance with objective, open, fixed and agreed criteria and for a given period of time, so that they do not become eternal shackles.

We have often called attention to the negative side effects of sanctions applied under Chapter VII -- be they on the people of the targeted State, or on third parties whose interests are closely linked to those of the State in question, particularly neighbouring countries. In this regard, we were very interested in what the Secretary-General said in his report about the need to re-examine the concept of sanctions, and we continue to call for the lifting of sanctions and for the application of the relevant Articles of the Charter, in particular Article 50.

We congratulate you, Sir, and your friendly country on your election to preside over this session. We are confident that your well-known expertise and capabilities will enhance and ensure its success. I again assure you of our delegation's cooperation to ensure the success of the session.

Mr. Mabilangan (Philippines)

I wish to thank the Secretary-General for his statement and for presenting us with his annual report on the work of the Organization.

The debate on what the international community should collectively do to address the concerns and issues before us comes at an opportune time, when our heads of State and Government have just concluded their Summit. We should now give effect to the commitments they made in their Declaration. We should begin with our Organization itself.

There are two important elements in any reform of the United Nations: first, the restoration of the primacy of the General Assembly in United Nations affairs; and, secondly, making the Security Council more representative of the United Nations membership and more transparent in its working methods.

The General Assembly is, and should remain, the principal body in the United Nations for deliberation on issues of international concern. It is where the sovereign equality of nations finds full expression.

The reform of the United Nations would not be concluded without an effective reform of the Security Council. Its membership must reflect the increase both in numbers and diversity of the membership of the United Nations. Even more important, the Council's decision-making process must reflect the principle of the sovereign equality of all States, which is the cornerstone of the United Nations. While the Open-ended Working Group has made tremendous efforts to achieve Security Council reform, it must complete its work soon.

The United Nations must be given all the resources required to enhance its effectiveness in maintaining international peace and security. Emphasis should be placed on conflict prevention. At a time when United Nations resources are stretched to the limits, preventive diplomacy presents a more cost-effective option than peacekeeping, which some estimate would require $3 billion to $4 billion a year to maintain in the coming years. But for as long as conflicts continue to erupt the United Nations should strengthen its peacekeeping capacity. The Philippines will remain fully engaged in United Nations peacekeeping missions to the extent that its resources allow.

The United Nations should seriously consider the recommendations of the Brahimi Panel and support its constructive suggestions, which would improve United Nations peace operations. The United Nations must ensure that United Nations peace operations are adequately financed and supported by Member States.

The Philippines is concerned about the adverse impact of sanctions on innocent civilian populations. The United Nations should help eliminate these negative effects and call for periodic and regular reviews of existing sanction regimes. The Security Council should only impose sanctions that are "targeted" and "smart", so as to spare innocent civilian populations from unnecessary suffering.

The United Nations should continue to promote democracy and the rule of law in all the countries of the world. It should be committed to the consolidation of representative democracy as a system of government for all. Political pluralism balanced by good governance and the ethical discharge of public duties must form part of the United Nations core values. Democracy, the rule of law and the effective participation of citizens in all the nations of the world must be a rallying point for all the Members of the United Nations.

The United Nations should be relentless in the promotion of human rights around the world. The principle must be upheld that Governments should, first and foremost, safeguard and protect the fundamental rights of their citizens. Only an unwavering commitment by all to the promotion of human rights will prevent a recurrence of the humanitarian catastrophes witnessed in the last decade.

The United Nations Charter principles on the sovereign equality of all its Members and non-interference in the internal affairs of one another should continue to be upheld. Any armed intervention, no matter how justifiable, must be carried out only with the authority of the Security Council if a modicum of international order is to be maintained.

The General Assembly should make a concerted effort to respond to, if not totally eliminate, the menace of HIV/AIDS. The response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires cooperation, not competition, by all the relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental bodies. It demands collective action by all.

The United Nations should make special efforts to address the critical problems of the African continent. A higher proportion of the populations of sub-Saharan Africa are affected by poverty than in any other region of the world. Africa is also affected by a high incidence of HIV/AIDS. These combined hardships are ravaging the region in a manner not seen anywhere else. Therefore, specific measures for debt cancellation, increased official development assistance, increased flows of foreign direct investment and improved market access should be established specifically for Africa.

My delegation will continue to participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court. We view the discussions on the crime of aggression as having particular importance.

The Philippines supports the goal of preventing impunity and bringing perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to the bar of justice. But we will continue to evaluate whether the Court would be an effective tool to achieve the goals set for it. My delegation will also look closely at how the Court will be financed. And we will continue our study of the critical issue of the Court's jurisdiction.

I join others in recognizing the success of the recently concluded year 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We welcome the outcome of this review, particularly the reaffirmation by the five permanent members of the Security Council of their nuclear disarmament obligations. However, we express our hopes for the early and meaningful implementation of these obligations.

While there are several established multilateral venues that deal with various aspects of the nuclear issue, it may be time to deal with it in a comprehensive and focused manner. I urge all of us to take charge of preserving our future and to support the proposal of the Secretary-General, contained in his millennium report, that consideration be given to convening a major international conference that would help identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers.

We support the proposal to hold an international conference in 2001 to address the issue of small arms proliferation. Excess weapons must be destroyed where they are found. Their easy movement must be curtailed. National arsenals should have only the weapons they need for legitimate self-defence.

At the same time, we should continue to strengthen the regime established by the landmine Convention. Even before its conclusion the Philippines, fully aware of the humanitarian consequences of the use of anti-personnel landmines, had already abandoned the use of these weapons. We call on all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention. The Philippines also supports all efforts at landmine clearance and victim rehabilitation.

We must ensure the success of the forthcoming Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries by convening an additional meeting of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee. We owe it to our brothers in Africa, in landlocked developing countries, in nations particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, in small island developing States and in my own region of Asia to dedicate ourselves to focus the world's interest on least developed countries.

We must also ensure the success of the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development. We must pay particular attention so that all stakeholders in the process develop a strong sense of ownership and together we can make the international financial system development-oriented and responsive to the needs of the majority of humanity.

We also cannot allow globalization to continue without giving developing countries a chance to catch up. We must not only bring about a more humane economic system, but must find means to bridge the digital divide that now separates the rich from the poor.

It must be stressed that for effective humanitarian assistance to continue the political will to provide the necessary resources, including financial resources, must be present. Moreover, protection of humanitarian relief workers must be assured. We pay tribute to the many men and women who have lost their lives, and those who, in spite of serious danger, are willing to sacrifice theirs to bring relief and assistance to unfortunate fellow men.

The declarations and further actions agreed upon at the special sessions to review progress in the commitments made in Beijing and Copenhagen to empower women and achieve social development, respectively, are testimony to the firm determination of the international community to achieve social development and improve the status of women. What is essential now is to put these commitments into action so that the goals set in Copenhagen and Beijing may be achieved.

The Philippines welcomes the attention given in the Secretary-General's report to the problem of trafficking in human beings, particularly women and girls, as a priority area that must be addressed. In a related sense, the Philippines will be introducing an updated draft resolution that will incorporate commitments made in the special session of the Beijing +5 review.

Finally, as we can see, there is much to be done. I am confident that together we will succeed.

Mr. Kim Chang Guk (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

I would like first to express my gratitude to the Secretary-General for submitting the report on the work of the Organization to the Assembly at the current session. It provides us with comparatively detailed information on the activities of the United Nations relating to international peace and security, development, human rights and other fields during the period under review. On the basis of the report, I would like to present the following views.

On the threshold of the new century, the first and foremost task facing the United Nations is to establish just international relations based on the principles of respect for the sovereignty of Member States and non-interference in others' internal affairs.

The new concept of "humanitarian intervention" which emerged soon after the strike on Yugoslavia last year gives rise to serious concern among many countries as a grave challenge to the supreme principle of respect for sovereignty that should be observed in international relations. This concept of "humanitarian intervention" is based on the notion that power is almighty and therefore, if this is allowed, it will convert present relations into ones in which the strong wield their power against the weak.

In countries whose sovereignty is being encroached upon, a large number of people are forced to live an insecure and miserable life, deprived of the fundamental right to survival, and the situation in neighbouring regions remains unstable. This indicates that if a State's sovereignty is infringed upon, no country can safeguard the dignity of its nation or achieve economic and social development; furthermore, international peace and security will be endangered. There will be no justification whatsoever for so-called "humanitarian intervention" that infringes upon sovereignty.

Like big developed countries, the developing countries also highly value their sovereignty. Respect for a State's sovereignty constitutes a cornerstone of international relations. In this regard, my delegation positively notes that the principles of respect for sovereign equality, non-interference in others' internal affairs and political independence have been reaffirmed in the Millennium Declaration adopted at the Millennium Summit. We hold that these principles should be observed in international relations of the new century and future activities of the United Nations.

Another important task facing the United Nations in the new century is to take practical measures to enable countries to benefit equally from globalization. There has been a series of discussions on challenges to globalization in the international arena -- most recently, during the Millennium Summit and the general debate. However, we have not yet achieved a common understanding of the concept of globalization. As a result, countries have divergent views and arguments on globalization.

It can be said that several years have passed since the globalization process seemed to start. Nevertheless, only a few countries, particularly the developed countries, are benefiting from it, while the overall economic and social situation of the developing countries is further deteriorating. The reality shows that the globalization process, based on the international economic relations favourable only for the developed countries, is aggravating poverty in the developing countries and widening disparities between the rich and the poor countries.

This is the conclusion we can draw from the globalization process so far, as we enter the twenty-first century. In order to make globalization really benefit all countries, new international economic relations favourable for both the developed and the developing countries should be established, through practical measures conducive to the economic development of the developing countries, such as reforming the loan policies of international financial institutions and introducing equitable international trade regimes. Their realization requires political will on the part of the developed countries.

For the United Nations to carry out those tasks, its functions and role should be decisively enhanced. What is important here is to enable the General Assembly, the major deliberative organ of the United Nations, to play a central role in considering and deciding on all matters that are brought to its attention. As we are well aware, the General Assembly is the most representative, democratic and authoritative organ of the United Nations, and it has the mandates to discuss any issues, ranging from international peace and security to economic and social development and so forth. That notwithstanding, at present the General Assembly is not able to carry out its mandate under the Charter and continues to be marginalized in the decision-making process. This means that, in the United Nations, crucial issues are being decided upon in other organs with limited membership. In order to address that negative practice, the General Assembly's role should be enhanced to enable it to discuss important issues relating to international peace and security. In particular, a system should be established which empowers the General Assembly to approve resolutions of the Security Council relating to the use of force or to the imposition of sanctions. Security Council resolutions are adopted on behalf of the entire United Nations membership. It is therefore natural that the General Assembly, representing all countries, should exercise such a power.

It is also equally important to ensure that United Nations resolutions concerning economic and social development be fully implemented. Until now, we have not seen the full implementation of various resolutions calling for the democratization of the decision-making process of international financial institutions, the expansion of development assistance and the alleviation of the debt burden with a view to actively assisting the efforts of developing countries towards economic and social development. Consequently, the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustainable development have not produced the proper results, and the expectations placed in the United Nations are diminishing. In that regard, we take particular note of the fact that the central role of the General Assembly as the key deliberative and policy-making organ of the United Nations was reaffirmed in the Millennium Declaration, and we look forward to practical measures being taken to that end.

My delegation believes that those views should be fully taken into account in future United Nations activities, and we assure the Assembly that we will make an active effort to ensure the success of the present session.

Mr. Calovski (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

As expected, the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/55/1) is informative and focused, and -- which in our view is more important -- contains many comments, suggestions and proposals. It gives us a good picture of the work of the Organization and of its priorities for the upcoming period. We have studied the report in parallel with the Secretary-General's millennium report (A/54/2000), entitled "We the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century". The period that both reports review was and continues to be the most challenging of times for the Secretary-General and for the Organization. The main message of the reports is that, in spite of everything, the Organization remains indispensable, and that its organs have functioned satisfactorily.

The United Nations continues to influence global development and the global agenda. Its busiest bodies have been the Security Council and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Of course, the United Nations could have done more. We hope that the positive outcome of the Millennium Summit and of the present Millennium Assembly will stimulate the Organization to do more in the future in that direction -- in accordance, of course, with the Charter.

I would like to take this opportunity to make a few comments on some of the issues dealt with in the Secretary-General's report. In the twenty-first century, the United Nations must become a more relevant organization than it was in the second half of the twentieth century. The principles of the Charter must be observed and respected by all States. International law must be respected also. Globalization should be managed, and the best -- the only -- place to agree on its management is the United Nations. The basis for that management should be the equality of nations and mutual respect among States, which can be achieved only through cooperation and integration, not through confrontation, the use of force or domination.

We have already left the period of confrontation behind us. The Organization should remain truly universal and of equal importance for all nations, large and small. We should resist most strongly the marginalization of the Organization, and we should uphold the position that only the United Nations can promote global integration for the benefit of all. Relations and cooperation among Member States, large and small, should be based on the principle of good-neighbourliness. Everybody should benefit from this cooperation. The number-one goal of humanity is to eliminate poverty and injustice. That would prevent the eruption of world conflict.

To achieve all of that, and much more, we must have a United Nations that is relevant for this century. The Millennium Summit showed that this is possible. A careful study of the Secretary-General's report makes clear the same message. If that is correct, then the principal organs of the Organization should be reformed, and the present hesitation in that respect should be overcome. The Organization could be an effective engine of change and a leader in improved international relations and increased cooperation if it continues to reform itself, particularly its mechanisms and its principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.

For some time, many delegations, including mine, have been concerned with the need to strengthen the role of the General Assembly, not at the expense of the other principal organs but on the basis of the provisions of the Charter. It is fair to say that the potential of the General Assembly is not being fully utilized. In essence, the Assembly works for only one and a half months a year. Because of that, a routine prevails in its work; if this continues, as is the case at present, the Assembly will further marginalize itself. Hence, in our view, a new arrangement for the work of the General Assembly is a necessity. The commitment undertaken by heads of State or Government at the Millennium Summit is of paramount importance in that respect and should be implemented. The heads of State or Government resolved

"To reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, and to enable it to play that role effectively". (resolution 55/2, para. 30)

To realize that solemn commitment, we need a new arrangement for the work of the General Assembly. The Assembly cannot discharge its duty as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ under the present arrangement, with its one-and-a-half-month working schedule.

The time has come for the General Assembly to start functioning all year round, in the same way as national parliaments are functioning. If that happens, many sub-organs of the principal organs will become redundant. That will be of great importance for the participation in the work of the United Nations of the majority of Member States, which cannot afford huge missions in New York and cannot effectively participate in so many sub-organs and ad hoc working bodies.

The Secretary-General emphasizes in this year's report, as he did in last year's report, the importance and the usefulness of prevention. We could not agree more with him. The Republic of Macedonia has had a very positive experience with prevention. It was the host of the first United Nations preventive peacekeeping force, a very successful undertaking of the United Nations. The Security Council did not establish a similar preventive peacekeeping force in other regions, in spite of the obvious necessity. This issue must be thoroughly examined when we review the Brahimi Panel report and when we consider the report of the Security Council. It must be clear at the beginning of this discussion that the establishment of United Nations preventive peacekeeping missions should be the main preoccupation of the Security Council and be part of the new arrangement for peacekeeping forces. The reputation of our Organization will be negatively affected if the Security Council continues to take action only after the eruption of war conflicts and continues to act like a fire brigade.

In the Secretary-General's report (A/55/1) substantial space is devoted to our Organization's humanitarian action and rightfully so. It is possible that in the future we will be faced with the need for even larger-scale humanitarian actions, owing to natural disasters, war or civil conflicts. Some are concerned that humanitarian efforts could be abused for political aims, or that the principle of sovereignty could be disregarded, or that humanitarian action could be undertaken that was contrary to the principles of the Charter. In our view, there is a need to clarify our Organization's position on this subject. We should not have problems when there is a necessity to help people in need and we should not hesitate to take the necessary humanitarian action. Respect for human rights and our obligation to help people in need should have no boundaries.

The region of my country, the Republic of Macedonia, is the Balkans or South-Eastern Europe, and it is mentioned in various chapters of the Secretary-General's report. It is true that it is a region burdened with many difficulties, owing mainly to the wars in parts of the former Yugoslavia, as well as to the situation in Kosovo. But taking everything into account, we can state that the general situation in the region is improving. The main generator of that improvement is the "Europeanization" of the region and efforts for the region to become integrated into the Euro-structure as fully and as soon as possible. Of particular importance is the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and, of course, the success of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). We are optimistic about the future of our region, but in order to reach a satisfactory situation, the involvement and the assistance of the international community is a necessity.

At this point I would like to end my statement by thanking the Secretary-General for providing us with such a useful and stimulating report, wishing him successes in the upcoming period. The Republic of Macedonia will continue its excellent cooperation with the Secretary-General and will not hesitate to give him its full support in his endeavours.

Mr. Sharma (Nepal)

Since I am speaking in the plenary for the first time, let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your well-deserved election to steer the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly. With your consummate diplomatic skills and leadership, you are sure to guide the General Assembly successfully.

Human beings have traversed many millennia in their journey. No doubt, the change of a century and a millennium is significant; but we are cognizant that it is incidental to the calendars -- which are many -- that our societies observe. Yet, we must seize every opportunity that comes our way likely to be of service to our common humanity. Nepal is happy that the United Nations did so by organizing the Millennium Summit, which has, presumably, opened a new chapter in the history of both human beings and the United Nations.

It was a cause for exuberance that 147 heads of State and Government met at the Summit and mulled over ways for a better world for everyone. We now have the challenge to translate the vision of the Summit Declaration into concrete programmes and strategies to meet the goals the Summit has set for us. We are soberly reminded that, in the past, the pledges we all have made have remained unfulfilled. If we were to be serious this time, and Nepal hopes we all are, this Assembly is the point whence the process of implementing that vision in all earnestness must start.

Mr. Sharma (Nepal)

As world leaders agreed at the Summit, we need a stronger and better-equipped United Nations playing a pivotal role in global affairs as the most representative and universal body to achieve shared goals in an increasingly multi-polar world; for we all -- large and small, rich and poor -- need the United Nations. We also try to contribute to improving the work of the Organization in our own ways and within our capacities. We feel pain when the Organization fails and rejoice when it succeeds. It is for that reason that the appreciation of the Organization's performance must be viewed in this perspective.

Let me now pay heartfelt tribute to Secretary-General Annan for trying through his untiring efforts to promote peace, stimulate development, foster the rule of law and strengthen the Organization. Under his leadership, the United Nations has become a forward-looking organization willing to take proactive steps and to reach out as necessary. The Secretary-General's annual report, entitled "Common Destiny, New Resolve", presents eloquently both what the Organization has been able to accomplish in the course of the past year and what still needs to be done to improve our common destiny through new resolve. In taking stock of the period under review, we find that the United Nations has had a mixed bag of successes and failures. Just as we celebrate its successes, we must also reflect on its failures.

The Organization's involvement in East Timor has meant the dawning of new hope for people there. People in Kosovo are building new lives and picking up the pieces of their shattered past. Many other trouble-stricken places also see the beacon that the Organization's engagement brings them. Today, 45,000 blue helmets and 13,000 civilian staff are busy keeping the peace and bringing succour to people's lives, more than at any other time in the post-cold-war era. However, much remains to be done to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The world has not become more peaceful, nor has it made progress in spreading to everyone around the world the benefits of globalization and the information revolution. Countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and Europe are embroiled in unfortunate conflicts that are now more internal in nature than inter-State in character. The arms race is moving at full-steam in many regions, thereby sapping States of the strength and resources that could otherwise be used to make a difference in their peoples' lives.

Globalization has unleashed opportunities for growth for some, and has brought burdens to others; more riches for some and more war for others. Globalization has not only created markets for the goods, services, capital and technology of rich countries, but it has also brought to the world crime, pollution, drugs, disease and refugees. Surely, great challenges to peace, prosperity and justice lie ahead for the United Nations.

Sadly for all of us, the Organization has not been able to live up to the mandate conferred upon it by the United Nations Charter, let alone up to the expectations of peoples. The reasons for that are two-fold: the membership has failed the United Nations, and the leadership has failed the peoples. We must work collectively to change that.

The Brahimi report is telling evidence that both the Security Council and the Secretariat failed the people of Rwanda and Srebrenica. The United Nations pulled out of those places just as simmering ethnic disputes were quickly sliding into disastrous conflicts that caused colossal loss of life, and at a time when people in those places needed a stronger United Nations presence. If the Security Council turned a blind eye to impending disaster, the Secretariat was unable to convince the Council to do what was needed to avert it.

Though it is making efforts, the world body has also not been able to make much of a dent in the problem of eliminating poverty and backwardness. We must not shift blame among each other. Rather, we should make a collective resolve to build a better common future.

On questions of peace and security, we appreciate the innovative efforts of the Secretary-General to bring on-board regional organizations in realizing common purposes. However, we must make sure that there is no conflict of interest and that the United Nations provides leadership and does not remain a mere spectator when actions are taken on its behalf. Neither should it let a pattern develop whereby it steps in when unilateral action is over. Preventive steps based on analytical information collected from different sources and independently verified would bring greater value for the United Nations money. The Brahimi report provides many useful recommendations, and needs to be examined thoroughly in order to make the best use of it.

Sanctions have adversely affected innocent people and innocent third countries. The United Nations must find a way to mitigate such effects and compensate innocent third countries.

There is no doubt that the withdrawal of gratis personnel has stripped the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of much-needed human resources. But that must not be used as an excuse for every failure of United Nations operations. We must find the way to remedy the situation in a manner acceptable to all and equitable to all.

We recall that an overwhelming number of statements at the Millennium Summit underlined the fact that poverty is the root cause of conflict. Hence, world leaders have also committed to a number of developmental goals. The United Nations must not let this renewed momentum fizzle out. It must take serious measures to facilitate delivery on the pledge the leaders have made to spark sustained growth, reduce poverty, preserve the environment and to tackle problems such as gender imbalances, illiteracy and disease, including the AIDS epidemic. We must ensure that the creative energies of peoples and the socially responsible private sector are unleashed by promoting market-friendly and innovative development. The United Nations must lead in coordinating activities with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and other international and regional bodies to foster synergy for speedy development.

Nepal applauds Secretary-General Annan for bringing Africa to the world's attention. Africa indeed needs attention commensurate with its problems, but so do other needy countries -- in particular less developed and land-locked countries. What has struck my delegation the most about the report is the fact that there is no mention of certain major recent and future events. Such events include the South Summit and the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in which Africa and other regions facing similar problems have huge stakes. I hope I have not overlooked such references.

Development is an area in which the Organization can do much as a facilitator and catalyst. However, it has been largely unable to deliver on that. It appears that the Organization is still losing more of its capacity, as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other bodies and units of the Organization fear being curtailed or even eliminated. We must come up with more imaginative solutions to our development funding problems at the high-level event next year, as well as at conferences of least developed and land-locked countries. In addition, we must work together to put the Organization back on a steady course as a catalyst for development and progress.

The protection of children and other vulnerable groups in conflicts and disasters, as well as the plight of refugees, are common concerns for us all. Nepal appreciates the efforts of the United Nations in these areas, in particular its efforts to help resolve refugee problems in many parts of the world, including the problem of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. An integrated approach to peacekeeping and human rights might help bring about synergy in the efforts of the Organization in this area.

Humanitarian intervention has become a major issue of late, and the Secretary-General's report expresses concern as to how another Rwanda can be averted. There is no doubt that we must not tolerate massacres in the name of sovereignty, nor should anyone be allowed to trample upon the sovereignty of any State in any other way than that provided for in the Charter of the United Nations.

The answer lies neither in intervention nor in letting massacres happen, but in efforts to prevent "gross and systematic violations" of human rights by addressing disputes before they turn into disasters, through political understanding and diplomacy. If we were to agree on intervention, the obvious question rises: for how long do we intervene? Intervention does not remove deep-seated hatred and animosity. Rather, we must tear down the walls of hatred, build bridges, and enhance social harmony through participatory governance, economic development, and distributive justice.

The United Nations has done much to improve its efficiency and pare down its costs. We support the Secretary-General in these efforts. But there is more that can be done to cut corners, to remove waste and to spruce up its performance. However, staff retrenchment alone -- though essential where redundancy exists -- will not suffice. We must overhaul the system. We must stop politically motivated recruitment and promotion linked with it. We must make the system more result-oriented, merit-based, yet representative and effective. We must streamline its headquarters and field offices, reform its financial rules and regulations; and equip it with the latest management techniques and technologies. These measures are essential if the United Nations is to be a force attuned to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Nepal appreciates the Secretary-General's efforts to reach out to the private sector and civil society. We would, however, like to echo the wise counsel of the former leader of one of our friendly countries: trust but verify. At the same time, we would also encourage the Secretariat to dedicate more of its time and resources to the core responsibilities for which it exists, rather than to peripheral activities that are helpful but not necessarily critical.

To conclude, my delegation commends and supports the Secretary-General for the good work he has been doing and for the leadership he has been providing. We also urge him to be more mindful of the needs and sensitivities of small and poor countries. Every country must feel connected and included; every concern of regional and global significance must find its proper place in the global agenda with which the United Nations is entrusted. Nepal is willing to do its part to move beyond mere supportive sentiments.