General Assembly Session 61 meeting 17

The President

The Assembly will now hear an address by the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.

The President

I have great pleasure in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, and inviting him to address the Assembly.

Mr. Sogavare (Solomon Islands)

I bring warm greetings from the Government and the people of Solomon Islands. Allow me to begin by conveying my most heartfelt and sincere congratulations to you, Madam, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. Solomon Islands is confident that, as a result of your leadership, guidance and service to the world, our work to achieve global peace, progress and prosperity will bear fruit. My delegation assures you of our cooperation and support during your term in office.

Solomon Islands would also like to take this opportunity to applaud and pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, Foreign Minister of Sweden, who, with truly admirable skill, led us in achieving many reform initiatives following last year's World Summit, in particular the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council, the launch of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the adoption of the development resolution, management reform, Secretariat mandate review and the Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

It would be remiss of me not to thank our Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for his distinguished service to this premier institution. He has been a constant catalyst for change and has distinguished himself by combining leadership with vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence and faith in this institution. Solomon Islands continues to render him and the Secretariat staff our support. We wish the Secretary-General well in his future endeavours and sincerely thank him for his service.

Solomon Islands would also like to join others in warmly welcoming the newest Member, the Republic of Montenegro, which was admitted into the United Nations family in June this year. We wish the new nation every success and look forward to working with it for the common good of the globe.

Democracy remains the bedrock of the Solomon Islands political system. My Government came to power four months ago, following the country's seventh national election since its attainment of political independence 28 years earlier. We were fortunate in having the Electoral Assistance Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs monitor and coordinate the international observers who oversaw this election. Despite the positive verdict of the international observers, a minor hiccup occurred during the second part of the election and led to three days of rioting. Solomon Islands looks at that incident as a wake-up call, urging that more be done for the development of its growing population. I am pleased to say that the incident is now behind us, stability has been restored and a Commission of Inquiry has been set up to look into the matter.

Solomon Islands would like to thank all those that participated in the election observer programme including the Commonwealth, the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). My Government has gone ahead and put in place some integrity legislation that will strengthen the development of the party system in Solomon Islands and bring about needed political stability.

Like many young democracies, Solomon Islands is being challenged and tested. Governance is expensive and needs support in order to be nurtured and to flourish. Political ideology should belong to all, not only to those that can afford it.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, led by Australia and supported by New Zealand and all the Pacific Islands Forum countries, has just completed its third year. My Government has renewed the Regional Assistance Mission's term for another twelve months, given the Mission's success in transforming the country from a fragile to a stable State. Solomon Islands is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Mission in an effort to strengthen the existing partnership, with the objective of broadening the scope and role of the Mission so that it can take a more development-oriented approach.

The theme of this session, "Implementing a Global Partnership for Development", demands a renewed commitment to existing partnerships between developed and developing countries and presents an opportunity to reorder and close the North-South divide through a strengthened multilateral system.

Just last week, more than one quarter of the most vulnerable Members of the United Nations, the least developed countries, met here in this Assembly to review the Brussels Programme of Action. These countries have special needs and require special attention. While we welcome the declaration issued by the High-level Meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, it is not the declaration that implements the Brussels Programme of Action, rather it is our action in honouring our international obligations and commitments.

Solomon Islands is a country of small communities, scattered across nine hundred islands. Sustainable development for Solomon Islands can be achieved only through a global partnership in which development is directed at rural communities. The approach must have a sense of urgency and the common purpose of enabling the rural population to exploit their resources thanks to the transfer of appropriate technologies and thus to realize their economic aspirations.

The shape and future of international relations depends on how we manage change. According to Charles Darwin, it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most responsive to change.

I am pleased to note that this year the United Nations is looking at expanding its presence in the Pacific region. Such an approach strengthens United Nations relations with its Members. In that regard, Solomon Islands looks forward to the proposed upgrading of the UNDP sub-office in Honiara to the country level.

Solomon Islands notes that the first part of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document features rural and agricultural development. My delegation is heartened by a proposed joint UNDP/United Nations Capital Development Fund project for the strengthening of the Solomon Islands provincial government system and for investing in provincial infrastructure and communications. The project has the merit of strengthening all democratic principles and bringing the State closer to its people. My Government stands ready to assist such a worthwhile project in any way it can. Solomon Islands calls on all partners to contribute to it and to better the lives of a people whose needs have been neglected for so long.

Solomon Islands follows developments in the Middle East with concern, in particular in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. It is sad to see parents burying sons in a conflict that claims the lives of more children than soldiers. Solomon Islands associates itself with the observation of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, that something is truly wrong. Under such difficult circumstances, we must find the strength to trust one another and work tirelessly to find a permanent, sustainable and lasting solution to the crisis. The world looks to this Organization for a solution, and we must not fail it. That can only be done if we are prepared to take a holistic approach in seeking a permanent solution to the Middle East question, by embracing all parties in the region and working in the spirit of the United Nations Charter and through dialogue and consultation.

On Security Council reform, in the words of our Secretary-General, "no reform of the United Nations will be complete without the reform of the Security Council" (A/61/1, para. 161). The time is ripe to balance ongoing reforms with Security Council reform. The Council's failure to act -- for various political reasons -- to contain certain conflicts calls into question its effectiveness, given its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The most vulnerable Members of the Organization do not have the luxury of waiting, because conflicts and potential conflicts may take root. More than 5 billion dollars has already been spent on United Nations peacekeeping missions -- money that would be better spent on development.

Only by enlarging the Council and arming it with improved working methods can we make it truly representative and accountable to the wider membership of this Organization. Solomon Islands would like to see countries such as Japan and Germany as permanent members, together with emerging Powers such as India and Brazil.

On the question of the representation of Taiwan, the continuous refusal by this Organization over the past 13 years to discuss the representation of the 23 million people of Taiwan at the United Nations is a matter of serious concern. This creates an institutional gap in an Organization where we are all supposed to stand equal. My delegation wishes to register its disappointment at the fact that its right even to discuss the issue was denied last week. Solomon Islands feels that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter continue to be violated in this respect. The time has come for this institution to act according to the rules that guide the behaviour and conduct of Members and to have an honest debate on the issue. Solomon Islands renews its call on the United Nations to recognize the right of the 23 million people of Taiwan to be represented at the United Nations. Solomon Islands is also concerned about security threats on the Taiwan Strait. My delegation calls on all Member States to distinguish our collective interests to preserve peace from narrow interests that threaten peace. Solomon Islands further calls on the United Nations, the body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, to mediate and engage with the People's Republic of China, Taiwan and other stakeholders in finding a permanent solution to this issue.

This year we will be electing a new Secretary-General. Solomon Islands, a member of the Asian Group, would like to see a Secretary-General who has an interest in our subregion. For the last 28 years, since Solomon Islands joined this noble institution, no Secretary-General has ever visited my part of the world. We would like to see our future Secretary-General engage more closely with Member States on the other side of the globe.

On the subject of terrorism, Solomon Islands once again reiterates its condemnation of all forms of terrorism, in whatever form and manifestation, wherever and whenever it may occur. Recent attacks in India and in various parts of the world underscore the fact that terrorism remains a threat to all. Solomon Islands looks forward to an early conclusion of the comprehensive terrorism convention and is pleased that talks between the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee and Member States, including those in the Pacific region, have begun. It is our hope that the consultations will address the gaps in national mechanisms and, where possible, have a regional approach to the issues. I am pleased to report that, with the assistance of New Zealand, Solomon Islands expects to fulfil some of its counter- terrorism reporting obligations during the course of 2007.

Mr. Sogavare (Solomon Islands)

At last year's World Summit, 170 of our Heads of State and Government agreed to ensure the fuller participation of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in the global system. The lack of agreement at the Doha Round continues to hurt small island open-market economies, such as that of Solomon Islands. We hope that enough political will can be garnered to confront existing differences and ensure that a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system is established.

Solomon Islands continues to benefit from North-South cooperation to sustain its growth. We must also continue to work on enhancing South-South cooperation. I am pleased to note that developing countries, such as Papua New Guinea, have provided needed assistance in education and security. My Government is paying closer attention to renewable sources of energy with the help of India, Taiwan and Indonesia. It is our hope that, with the cooperation of all our partners, appropriate technologies will be transferred, so that communities can have access to modern and affordable energy. In this connection, the Global Environment Fund and the United Nations Environment Programme could look at facilitating such initiatives. Solomon Islands would like to thank India, Taiwan, Indonesia, China and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs for enabling experts from the Pacific Islands to meet and work on such programmes.

A number of developmental opportunities have emerged since the 2005 World Summit meeting. Among other things, a HIV/AIDS declaration has been adopted. Solomon Islands would like to see the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria provide a complete package for the Pacific region, ranging from awareness to treatment. It is cheaper to invest in a problem that is small than to treat a full-blown pandemic. Solomon Islands would like the Global Fund to reconsider the Pacific regional project submitted during the sixtieth session.

Solomon Islands notes with regret that the recent five-year review conference of the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects did not agree on a final document. Solomon Islands continues to believe that the root cause of the emerging gun culture is development-related. At some stage, such conferences should focus more on addressing poverty issues within vulnerable countries, where gun culture is likely to emerge, in a global effort to address the issue once and for all.

On the issue of international migration, which was taken up at last week's High-level Meeting, Solomon Islands, together with its regional neighbours, continues to seek opportunities to manage short-term labour migration within its subregion and globally. While nothing concrete has emerged, the regional discussion has allowed us to better understand the receiving States' position and, hopefully, will allow us to work towards striking an agreed balance. Solomon Islands feels that the pull factor from the South to the North is natural and serves as a win-win factor for the South that provides needed labour for the North's growing economies, while at the same time benefiting the South financially.

The United Nations offers opportunities for Member States to become responsible global citizens. Solomon Islands would like to see mission recruitment procedures at country level. We are also seriously looking at participating in selected United Nations civilian police missions.

Finally, a reformed and strengthened United Nations represents our best hope for a better future. Solomon Islands reiterates its commitment to work within the framework of international cooperation to address today's economic, social, cultural and humanitarian challenges.

The Acting President

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands for the statement he has just made.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now hear an address by the Vice-President of the Federated States of Micronesia.

The Acting President

I have great pleasure in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Redley Killion, Vice-President of the Federated States of Micronesia, and inviting him to address the General Assembly.

Mr. Killion (Micronesia)

I am honoured and grateful to address the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, and in so doing I join other Members in congratulating you, Madam, on your historic assumption of the presidency of this body. Let me assure you of my country's full support. We are confident that under your leadership, the Organization will be steered safely through the challenges ahead. I would also like to pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, for his dedication and stewardship of the Organization during the past year.

Just recently, the Pacific island countries lost one of its leaders. The Federated States of Micronesia is deeply saddened by the passing of King Tupou IV of the Kingdom of Tonga. We express our profound condolences to the people and the leaders of Tonga during their period of national mourning and wish them well in their transition to a new leadership.

We are keenly aware of the remaining awesome task of implementing measures to reform the Organization. We are nonetheless encouraged by the significant achievements made so far since the adoption of the Outcome Document of the World Summit last year. The United Nations has made great strides, for instance in constituting the Human Rights Council, in launching the Peacebuilding Commission and in adopting the resolution on implementing international development goals.

Reform of the Security Council should remain a high-priority agenda item. My country would like to reiterate its position as expressed in previous years. We support a restructured Security Council that reflects the current realities of international society. For the Council to be effective and its work meaningful, its working methods should be improved and its membership, both permanent and non-permanent, expanded. We must give new impetus to the reform process and seek, with an open mind, new ways to achieve the institutional reform of the United Nations.

The small island developing States in the Pacific such as my country, recognized as among the most vulnerable, stand to benefit from an efficient and relevant United Nations. It is for that reason that we place high hopes on the relevant reforms. We hope that such reforms will facilitate our achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally recognized commitments, which, if left to our own devices, we cannot reach, even with the best of intentions and efforts.

Thus, we are pleased with and grateful for the decision to establish additional United Nations offices in our Pacific region, including in my country. Taken within the context of the overall reform of the Organization, the presence of those offices is mutually beneficial to the United Nations and to our peoples in many ways, including through effective coordination in the delivery of much-needed assistance and services.

My country, with a large exclusive economic zone, attaches great importance to the sustainable development and conservation of our marine resources and ecosystem. Consistent with that priority, we have joined forces with some of our neighbouring States in calling for an immediate moratorium and a total ban on deep bottom trawl fishing. The Organization must not close its eyes to activities that result in commercial gain for only a few at the expense of the integrity of the ecosystem that supports the livelihood of our people, especially those living in areas that are widely recognized as vulnerable. We appeal to the international community to mobilize support to put an end to bottom trawl fishing and other activities that are ecologically destructive and unfriendly to the marine ecosystem.

It is well established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other highly respected scientific organizations that the Earth's climate is adversely changing due to our carbon economy and the emission of greenhouse gases. Within this decade alone, we have witnessed unprecedented destruction caused by extreme weather events. The increasing magnitude, intensity and frequency of typhoons, hurricanes and other natural disasters, including the unprecedented melting and disappearance of glaciers, are directly linked to human activities. This obviously calls for a more robust post-Kyoto regime.

As an island nation composed mostly of low-lying small islands with large coastal areas, the Federated States of Micronesia is vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate change. Exposed to the effects of extreme weather events, our livelihood and traditions as an island people -- in fact, our whole civilization -- are under greater threat than ever before.

The sad irony is that those of us who contribute little to the causes of climate change and sea-level rise are the first in line to suffer the consequences. In the face of that reality, Micronesia will continue to speak out for concerted global action to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, taking into consideration the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.

While adaptation measures require national actions, the "polluters pay" principle should apply. Therefore, those who pollute should underwrite the costs of adaptation, particularly for small island developing States.

Sustainable development remains a top priority for small island developing States such as Micronesia, but it cannot be achieved by us alone. Our development still requires official development assistance from bilateral and multilateral donor partners alike. But official development assistance on its own is not sufficient. Ongoing propositions for active foreign direct investment and effective development partnerships, among others, should be translated into concrete action, as they are critical components of sustainable development.

The small island developing States continue to pin their hopes on the Mauritius Strategy as a blueprint for their sustainable development. But what good is the Strategy if the support necessary to implement it is not forthcoming? The international community must provide that support, which would include facilitation and improvement of access to existing resources and, where appropriate, allocation of dedicated financial resources. For the Mauritius Strategy to be effective and meaningful, it must be mainstreamed into all United Nations processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process.

In addition to the Mauritius Strategy, we support the principles of the Information Society and the Community of Democracies as vital to our national progress. In particular, we seek help in the formulation of our national plan on information and communication technologies and in access to broadband connectivity, which we believe will help overcome the obstacles to our development that result from the geographical configuration of our island country.

Dependency on fossil fuel is an obstacle to our sustainable development. To mitigate that obstacle and prevent the perpetuation of this carbon economy, my Government has prioritized renewable energy as the way forward. I therefore reiterate the call made by many small island developing States, including my own, for accelerated efforts in the development, utilization and distribution of renewable energy technologies to small island developing States. We will continue to look to the international community, including our development partners, to help ensure that such technologies are transferred and put in place effectively.

Terrorism affects all countries, large and small, rich and poor. Micronesia condemns, in the strongest terms, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The taking of innocent life is unambiguously unjustifiable, regardless of one's grievances.

We therefore call once again on the United Nations to do everything in its power to prevent terrorism and to mitigate its root causes. While we are doing our best to uphold our responsibilities and obligations under the United Nations counter-terrorism resolutions, we need the assistance of the international community to more effectively implement and carry on the fight against this scourge.

In that spirit, we would like to commend the efforts that resulted in the recent ceasefire in Lebanon. We hope that the ceasefire will lead to a lasting peace for the Israeli and Lebanese peoples. We also hope that, by building on that momentum, the conflict between Israel and Palestine will be resolved. The people of Israel have the right to live within secure, recognized borders, free from the fear of terrorism. The Palestinian people have the right to have their own State and to coexist peacefully with their neighbours.

Micronesia is concerned about the threats to regional stability and international peace and security posed by nuclear proliferation. We urge the international community to continue its efforts to address that problem.

In closing, I would like to pay tribute to our outgoing Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for his distinguished leadership and his decades of dedicated service to the Organization. My country expresses to him our gratitude and best wishes.

The Acting President

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Vice-President of the Federated States of Micronesia for the statement he has just made.

The Acting President

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