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

I now call on His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Gül, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey.

Mr. Gül (Turkey)

I wish to begin by warmly congratulating the President of the General Assembly. Although the empowerment of women has long been a United Nations priority, it has been nearly 40 years since a woman last held the Assembly presidency. Thus, we are encouraged by her election. I wish her every success.

I also want to express my appreciation to the President of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson. The World Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1), which addresses the challenges of our time, was the joint product of our work and his tireless efforts. His sound guidance enabled us to move forward on the pressing issues related to reform. The Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy are the hallmarks of those efforts.

In addition, it is my distinct pleasure to pay a heartfelt tribute to our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. His name will continue to inspire us whenever we think of his dedication to global peace and stability and his tireless reform efforts.

The hostilities and the outright destruction in Lebanon tested the faith placed in the United Nations. In the end, the resolve of Member States was manifested. From the very beginning, Turkey was engaged in active diplomacy and took its place at the forefront of the international efforts to end the bloodshed. At the same time, we remained in close contact with all the parties to the conflict. Throughout, we provided humanitarian aid to the people of Lebanon and assisted in the rapid evacuation of some 10,000 foreign nationals.

We supported the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). It is a major step forward. Yet, given the many challenges that remain, it is only a first step towards bringing peace and stability to the region. We have decided to contribute to the implementation of the resolution, which is aimed at restoring the political sovereignty of the Lebanese Government.

Indeed, we must try to seize the opportunity represented by resolution 1701 (2006). We hope that its spirit will be translated into a broader political perspective for the entire region. The tragic events in Lebanon should have reconfirmed that unilateralism is not the answer and that the use of force is not the solution. Similarly, they revealed for all to see that the question of Palestine continues to lie at the core of the problems in the Middle East.

This issue is not simply a conflict between two countries. It is a problem for which everyone pays a heavy price -- a problem that has huge ripple effects on a global scale. Indeed, the continuation of this problem is used to justify extremism around the world. Therefore, progress made towards a lasting peace in the Middle East would have a positive impact on many other problems.

We note that everyone has drawn lessons from what took place in Lebanon. Now, in the aftermath of that tragedy, there is a different climate, conducive to a renewed peace initiative. Now is the time to revive efforts to put the Middle East peace process back on track. We make a heartfelt appeal to all the parties and to the international community not to let this opportunity pass by. What we need now is strong and determined leadership that will resolutely follow the path towards peace.

Let us not forget that the growing sense of injustice associated with the Middle East problem deepens the rift in terms of cultural perceptions. We cannot permit events in the region to undermine the prospects of the cross-cultural harmony that we are working so hard to achieve. We believe that better understanding among cultures is indispensable for global harmony. That is precisely why the Prime Ministers of Turkey and Spain co-sponsored the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, launched by the Secretary-General. The objective is to emphasize the elements that unite various societies around our common humanity.

The High-level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations will soon submit a comprehensive report to the Secretary-General setting out concrete and practical measures to improve intercultural dialogue. That is obviously what the world needs now. Therefore, we hope that the initiative will receive strong and sincere support from Member States.

Indeed, regardless of where we come from -- whether it be the East or the West -- whatever faith we profess and whatever tradition we represent, we must all act responsibly. In today's world, in which information travels at the speed of light, we must all refrain from acts and statements that can be misconstrued and can strengthen the hand of extremists. Likewise, our reactions must demonstrate such a sense of responsibility. Thus, we call upon everyone to act with common sense and to keep humanity's best interests at heart.

As we focus on the Middle East, we must not lose sight of Iraq. It is equally urgent that we build a democratic and prosperous Iraq that is whole and free from ethnic and sectarian violence. I should like to recall that a staggering number of people have lost their lives as a result of violence. We must all help the Iraqis to achieve a national consensus and to resolve their differences through dialogue and democratic processes. First and foremost, the Iraqis themselves must work towards that end.

Throughout the past year, terrorism has continued to claim innocent lives. There is a growing realization that no degree of leniency can be extended to those who commit acts of terror. There is no room for double standards, and we can make no distinction between terrorists. At the same time, we must keep in mind that terrorism, an age-old method of coercion, has no deep links to any culture or religion. We should also be cautious not to associate any faith with terrorism.

By voting in favour of the proposed United Nations comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in the April 2004 referendum, Turkish Cypriots responded positively to the expectations of the international community. Notwithstanding the intensive and sincere efforts of the Secretary-General, the Greek Cypriot side rejected that plan. Despite that rejection, the Turkish side remains committed to a just, peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question, based on the well-established parameters determined through the good offices mission of the Secretary-General. Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue to support strongly the Secretary-General's mission. Indeed, the United Nations is the only sound platform that can help deliver lasting peace, cooperation and prosperity to all inhabitants of the island of Cyprus. The Turkish side still maintains the hope that the Greek Cypriot leaders will support the vision of a new partnership based on political equality with their Turkish Cypriot counterparts. The Turkish Cypriots have already given their support to the 8 July agreement and their consent to the United Nations suggestions for implementing that agreement in due course. There should be full-fledged negotiations on substantive issues between the two leaders of the island. Our proposal of 24 January 2006 for the simultaneous lifting of all restrictions related to the island remains on the table. In this day and age, living under unjustly imposed restrictions defies all reason. It is time for the Turkish Cypriots to integrate into the global economy. We appeal to the international community to heed the call of the Secretary-General to end the current isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, which has no legal or moral basis.

Turkey is close to the centre of most of the issues of concern to the international community, which naturally figure prominently on my country's foreign policy agenda. Our objective is to establish conditions for a lasting peace and enhance cooperation for integration in the greater region. In this context, our relations with our neighbours continue to diversify. We believe that our good-neighbourly relations with Greece will enhance cooperation, stability and prosperity in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In a similar vein, we have prepared several regional initiatives. We take part in peacekeeping and police missions around the world. These greater objectives help explain our active diplomacy, primarily in regions such as the Balkans, the Middle East and the Caucasus surrounding Turkey. In all such instances, we work to avert outright conflict and consolidate stability. We try to put out the fires of discord and cultivate reconciliation. We are committed to political processes and diplomatic solutions and are in the forefront of post-conflict rehabilitation, reconstruction and assistance.

The Balkans are passing through a profound transformation. In order not to relive the pain and suffering of the 1990s, we must vigilantly keep watch over peace. We must promote the building of viable State structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We must also promote a peaceful transition in Kosovo. We welcome Montenegro as a new Member of the United Nations.

Frozen conflicts in the Caucasus also demand our urgent attention. Resolution of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict on the basis of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is of vital importance for peace and prosperity in the region. We would like to see this region become an area of prosperity based on cooperation.

We will continue to support the political process and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. In addition to our strong presence in the International Security Assistance Force, Turkey is establishing a provincial reconstruction team in the Vardak province of Afghanistan. Turkey will continue to be active in the areas of health, education and development in Afghanistan.

On the Kashmir question, we continue to encourage the parties involved to work for a just and lasting solution to the problem through dialogue.

We advocate reform at a time when transparency, the rule of law, gender equality, good governance and similar common values can no longer be denied to peoples, especially in an age of globalized communications.

Turkey's efforts are not, of course, confined to its immediate vicinity. Having consolidated our place among the largest economies of the world, we want to enrich and improve our relations with more distant regions. Our aim is to strengthen bilateral ties with Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific. We are actively engaged in efforts to resolve the problems of the African continent, having established local offices of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency in Addis Ababa and Khartoum to help coordinate this larger effort across the African continent. More branches will follow. Turkey has been recognized by the World Food Programme as a major donor of food to Africa. Turkey is also contributing to five United Nations and two European Union missions in Africa.

The fate of Africa is our common destiny, and we cannot remain indifferent to that continent's acute problems. We must not let down Africa. We appeal to the more fortunate to help that continent achieve its true potential.

After reviewing our activities within the United Nations, we have selected a number of areas as a priority in our work. These are issues related to development, peacekeeping operations, the strengthening of peacebuilding activities, humanitarian and relief operations, combating terrorism in all its forms and enhancing global energy security through the creation of safe transportation routes.

Turkey firmly believes in the need for international cooperation to achieve environmentally friendly and socially sustainable development. We must better cater to the needs of the developing countries, particularly in the field of poverty reduction, eliminating infectious diseases, reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health. If we fail to create equal opportunities for women and provide education for children, none of the above will ever be achieved.

I am pleased to say that Turkey is becoming a major donor country. Last year, Turkish official development assistance reached US$ 600 million. This figure does not reflect the contribution of the Turkish private sector, which contributes an almost equivalent amount. In this regard, we will further increase our contributions to the United Nations funds and programmes that serve the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.

Mr. Gül (Turkey)

Over the past two years, we have been campaigning for a seat on the Security Council for the term 2009-2010. Turkey has not served on the Council since 1961. This is an anomaly. We believe that, in the spirit of equitable rotation, our turn to be represented is long overdue. Turkey's membership will enrich the work of the Security Council in a singularly important manner. We will bring our unique attributes to bear on the work of the Council. Our membership will bring new insights and perspectives at a time when we see the United Nations becoming increasingly relevant in fulfilling the rightful hopes of humanity.

The President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Jean Asselborn, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg.

Mr. Asselborn (Luxembourg)

Two years ago, at this same rostrum, as the conclusion of my statement (see A/59/PV.10), I quoted these famous verses of the Spanish poet Antonio Machado:

"Traveller, your footsteps Are the road, and nothing else; Traveller, there is no road. The road is made by walking; Walking makes the road."

What a road we have travelled since then. Indeed, the opening of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly is above all the opportunity for us to look back and assess the progress we have made, particularly since the September 2005 World Summit, but also to try to assess the work that still needs to be done to implement the noble ambitions we all agreed upon one year ago in this Hall where we meet every year as a real parliament of nations. On that historic occasion, we forcefully reaffirmed that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and constitute the essential element of a more just and a more peaceful world order.

One year later, what have we accomplished, and how can that progress be assessed in the light of these criteria: the reality of the situation, and the way in which the complex international situation and the never-ending future are evolving?

When we look at the current situation, we have to see that areas of shadow coexist with reasons for hope, and we have some cause for concern. More than ever, the Middle East is the centre of deep political, military, socio-economic and cultural tensions, with military confrontation on Lebanese lands and bombings in northern Israel, to mention only the most recent examples. A month of war has left behind it a terrible legacy of death and injury, destruction and contamination by mines and unexploded ordnance, as well as major economic consequences. My country immediately joined international solidarity efforts. The Stockholm conference enabled us to coordinate international support and to move towards reconstruction under the aegis of the United Nations and the Lebanese Government.

But beyond that immediate reaction, now that a cessation of hostilities has been brought about -- late, it is true -- we now have to consolidate the ceasefire and lay the foundations of a sustainable political process, the principal elements of which are defined in Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). As reaffirmed a few days ago from this podium by the current President of the European Council, Ms. Tarja Halonen (see A/61/PV.10), the European Union is prepared to fully play its role in this context. Already, European contributions -- to which my country is committed to participate -- constitute what Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called the backbone of a strengthened United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

So the task of supporting the emergence of a fully sovereign and independent Lebanon which can exercise its sovereignty and a monopoly on armed force throughout its territory must be completed; all regional players must make their contribution to this process. By bringing about the lifting of the blockade of Lebanon, and by concretely addressing the issue of prisoners, the Secretary-General has laid the foundations for a lasting solution. We thank him for his effective work.

I was in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Ramallah a few days ago, and I realized once again the extent to which the absence of true peace in this region has had a negative effect on civilian populations, particularly in the occupied territories, where the humanitarian situation is getting worse day by day. I also realized the extent to which confrontation, violence and despair tend to spread and become entrenched. It is this grievous machine that we have to stop. More than ever before, it is clear that there can be no military solution or unilateral solution to the continuing conflicts in the region.

On 15 September, the ministers for foreign affairs of the European Union reaffirmed our full support for the search for a negotiated solution. We welcomed the announcement by President Abbas with regard to an agreement on the formation of a government of national unity, and we expressed the hope that such a government's programme would reflect the principles of the Quartet. Two days ago, as we know, the Quartet too endorsed that position.

However, persistent tension in the Middle East must not divert our attention from Africa. That continent continues to be scourged by poverty, disease and armed conflict. But at the same time there is hope, thanks to the continent's extraordinary vitality and creativity. Although far too many internal conflicts and international crises remain in many areas in Africa -- for example, in Côte d'Ivoire; the Sudan, in particular the Darfur region, where a large-scale humanitarian crisis is looming; the Horn of Africa; and other areas as well -- there are some signs of hope, sometimes fragile to be sure, are to be seen in countries as diverse as Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where an electoral process of unprecedented scale is under way with the massive support of the United Nations and the European Union, among other partners.

The African Union is also playing an increasingly positive role in crisis management on the African continent, as illustrated by its action in Darfur through the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). It is essential that this crucial action be speedily taken up by the deployment of an enlarged United Nations mission, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1706 (2006).

With the creation and the operationalization a few months ago of the Peacebuilding Commission, another World Summit commitment has now been met. The United Nations now has an innovative instrument to manage post-conflict situations in order to ensure optimal transition from peacekeeping and urgent humanitarian assistance to restarting the development process. We wish every success to this new body, which certainly gives rise to great hope throughout the world.

Before leaving the issue of peace and security, I must briefly mention two subjects that have a major, horizontal impact: terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

With regard to the scourge of terrorism, concerted and decisive action at the international and region levels must obviously be taken. I am pleased that at the end of its sixtieth session, under the energetic presidency of Mr. Jan Eliasson, whom I congratulate for his work, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution 60/288). The Strategy must both address the conditions that encourage the spread of terrorism and seek to prevent and act against terrorism, including through the various bodies of the United Nations, while at the same time guaranteeing respect for human rights and the rule of law. As European Union ministers for foreign affairs declared a few days ago, that latter consideration applies in particular to the treatment of all detainees, as well as to the problematic issue of secret detention centres.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems continues to give rise to grave concern at the international level. The attitude and the activities of North Korea in the area of nuclear proliferation recently led the Security Council unanimously to adopt its resolution 1695 (2006).

Another subject of concern is Iran. In its resolution 1696 (2006), the Security Council defined the main parameters which will guide the way in which the Iranian nuclear issue is approached by the international community and the European Union, which has been in discussion with Iran for more than two years. If those demands -- particularly the suspension of all enrichment activity -- are met, negotiations on a comprehensive agreement can begin and confidence can be restored.

The Summit Outcome Document (resolution 60/1) highlighted in particular the importance of development, which directly affects the fate of billions of human beings. While 2005 was the year of great development commitments, with the holding of the Group of Eight Summit at Gleneagles and the decision taken by the European Union -- under the Luxembourg presidency -- to meet the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income in official development assistance by 2015, 2006 has been the year of implementation, particularly with the adoption of resolution 60/265, which reflects the international consensus in that area.

For its part, Luxembourg continues to be proud of its participation -- still too limited unfortunately -- in the 0.7 per cent club, with 0.82 per cent of its gross national income devoted to official development assistance in 2005. We hope to reach 1 per cent within the next few years.

The meeting held earlier this week to consider the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries showed once again that the establishment of a true development partnership remains a priority and urgent task. Unfortunately, that also remains true for international action against HIV/AIDS, which was the subject of a high-level meeting in June.

Concerned about improving the quality and effectiveness of aid to the most impoverished, my country looks forward with great interest to the proposals of the High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence which will be made public in the next few months. The maxim "development is the other name for peace" remains amazingly current.

In September 2005, the participants in the Summit formally recognized that development, peace, security and human rights are linked and mutually reinforcing. To strengthen the international framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, the General Assembly decided in March 2006, as we know, to replace the old Commission on Human Rights with a Human Rights Council. While the new Council's first session enabled it to make some important progress in terms of standards, we must now bolster its establishment by providing it with all the means and instruments it needs -- including special procedures -- to promote the cause of human rights and to react swiftly and effectively to specific situations of serious human rights violations.

Likewise, we welcome the recent conclusion of the negotiations on a draft international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. We hope that that important instrument can be adopted this fall by the General Assembly. Another significant innovation, adopted at last year's Summit -- the notion of the "responsibility to protect" in case of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity -- should be applied in accordance with the criteria and conditions defined in the Summit Outcome Document so that it can progressively become an undisputed standard to guide the action of the international community as the situation requires.

While peace and security, development and human rights are the three basic pillars on which the United Nations is based, those fundamental values can be fulfilled and fully expressed in real terms only through an effective and credible multilateral system. Multilateralism must not remain only a word. In the light of recent events in the Middle East, no nation, large or small, can escape the conclusion that multilateralism offers the only viable framework for finding solutions to the conflicts and threats that confront us.

It is our responsibility to provide the multilateral system with adequate means to carry out its principal missions. We must also ensure that the working methods and decision-making procedures of our bodies are defined and structured so that they can produce the best results and can best meet the legitimate expectations of Member States. Achieving a better cost-effectiveness ratio to benefit our peoples must be an objective of all Member States, large or small, of the North or the South. What is at stake is the credibility -- perhaps even the survival -- of multilateralism as a way to manage the major problems shared by humanity.

Some progress was made over the past year in reforming administrative and financial management, but much remains to be done. We must unite to bring about essential reform to transform the United Nations into an instrument fully capable of addressing the grave and multiple challenges at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

In that context, we cannot overlook the organ to which the Charter of the United Nations entrusts a vital role in the maintenance and preservation of international peace and security: the Security Council. For many years, ways and means to strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of that essential body were the subject of in-depth discussions, without any significant progress being made. For our part, we are convinced that Security Council reform remains indispensable. It must be carried out both to strengthen the Council's representativity -- by increasing the number of its permanent and non-permanent members, but without overburdening its functioning by granting the right of veto -- and to improve its rules of procedure in order to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of its work and, thus, the legitimacy of its action.

I should like to conclude by referring to the person who has guided us and provided us with benchmarks as he has led the Organization for the past 10 years. I am, of course, speaking about our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. Although there is still some time before the end of his mandate -- and I am sure that he intends to carry out a number of important missions before then -- it is important that I now pay tribute to him and thank him for the work accomplished over the course of a lifetime devoted to serving the Organization.

The country that I have the honour to represent in this Hall, Luxembourg, also intends to be an important part of the life and the future of the Organization, which, more than 60 years after its establishment, continues to represent a noble ideal and hope for millions and millions of men and women. Luxembourg wants to put itself at the service of that ideal and of the international community and to shoulder its part of the responsibility in that regard. That is why, five years ago, we decided to submit our candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the biennium 2013-2014. Luxembourg, a founding Member of the United Nations that has not yet held a Council seat, views this candidacy as a new expression of its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter, to peace and security, development and human rights and to an effective multilateral system.

Despite difficulties and obstacles, we must persevere, through dialogue and diplomacy, to fashion a United Nations worthy of our expectations. As we do so, let us be inspired by the reflection of the great Michelangelo, who said, "The greatest danger is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it".

The President

I now call on His Excellency Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain.

Shaikh Al-Khalifa (Bahrain)

I am pleased to express my sincerest congratulations to you, Madam President, upon your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. It reflects the international community's trust in your diplomatic abilities, which will help ensure the success of this important session.

I want to take this opportunity to extend my deepest appreciation to all the countries that endorsed the nomination of Shaikha Haya Bint Rashed Al-Khalifa. The election of Shaikha Haya as President of the Assembly is an honour for the Kingdom of Bahrain, she being the third woman in the history of this Organization, as well as the first Arab and Muslim woman, to hold this prominent position. This election confirms the significant achievements and progress of women in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

I take this opportunity to commend her predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson of Sweden, for his tireless efforts during the Assembly's sixtieth session, one that will be remembered for efforts to reform the Organization.

I would also like to pay tribute to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his devotion in promoting the United Nations and strengthening its leading role in upholding peace and security throughout the world, particularly in our Arab region during his recent trip to the Middle East.

In addition, I wish to congratulate the Republic of Montenegro upon its admission to the United Nations as the l92nd Member State. Allow me to express the hope that its joining this Organization will enhance peace and stability in the world.

The central force behind progress in developing countries and among their peoples lies in the inching of political reforms, economic liberalization and social modernization. This is the platform that the Kingdom of Bahrain has implemented in its reform process, led for several years by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, to strengthen democracy, human rights and economic growth. National gains have multiplied and popular participation in the political, economic and social fields has increased. This is reflected in many areas.

Democratic practices have been enhanced through municipal and parliamentary elections, with men and women participating as voters and candidates, and by the establishment of the Institute for Political Development to enhance democratic practices and a culture of dialogue in the Kingdom. The Arab Charter on Human Rights has been ratified and a counter-terrorism law has been passed. We have acceeded to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Kingdom of Bahrain has been elected to membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council. We are working closely with other members to promote and protect human rights in all areas. We have enhanced the role of women in society to assume leadership positions in the Kingdom, including the judiciary. In addition, a programme to empower women, overseen by the Supreme Council for Women, has been approved.

We are forging a partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as was evident in the Forum for the Future hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain last November. At that Forum, NGOs worked side by side with Governments in discussing human rights, the fight against corruption, the rule of law and the empowerment of women. Indeed, Bahrain takes pride in having the largest number of NGOs in proportion to its population, with approximately 300 registered NGOs.

We are addressing negative phenomena in the national economy, such as unemployment, by initiating a national project to provide jobs for the unemployed. Moreover, the Kingdom of Bahrain has consolidated its pioneering economic role in the Gulf region through laws to attract investment under the supervision of the Economic Development Board.

A high committee to reform education has been formed to develop and modernize the education system. Its recommendations were adopted in June 2006. The Kingdom of Bahrain has continued to rank high in human development, as confirmed in the latest United Nations Human Development Report. Positive integrated development on the political, social, cultural and economic levels was further evidenced by the recommendations of the National Conference for Social Policies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, held in the spring of this year under the auspices of the United Nations, which aimed to promote integration and cohesion of all aspects and components of development.

We in the Kingdom of Bahrain still view the phenomenon of terrorism and terrorist acts in many parts of the world as the most dangerous threat to international peace and security. There must be greater effort by the international community and more coordination on all levels to confront and contain this scourge. The Kingdom commends United Nations efforts to fight terrorism. The Secretary-General's report issued last April entitled "Uniting against terrorism: recommendations for a global counter-terrorism strategy" (A/60/825) contains many constructive elements that we embrace, along with other points that need further examination and discussion. It is important that any counter-terrorism strategy not infringe on human rights or fundamental freedoms, while complying with international law. One of the positive aspects of that report is its call to address issues that are exploited by terrorists and to study the motives behind terrorism.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has continued its tireless efforts in this field. In fact, it has already signed 11 of the 12 international agreements on terrorism and hosts the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force established in November 2004 to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing. In addition, Bahrain continuously coordinates efforts with its brotherly neighbours of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), pursuant to the GCC Counter-Terrorism Agreement adopted in May 2004. Implementation of the strategy proposed in the Secretary-General's report is just a beginning, as the report states. What is more important is its full implementation.

The events in the Middle East in recent months, especially in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank and then during the past few weeks in Lebanon, have driven the entire region to the edge of an abyss that could become even more dangerous. We must all work more diligently to address the root causes and repercussions of this struggle, which frustrates hopes for peace and disappoints the aspirations of the peoples of the region for peace, stability and security.

Resolution of this catastrophic situation, with its dire consequences, must not be delayed. The international community has special and multiple responsibilities in this regard. Therefore the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers called upon the Security Council to meet at the ministerial level. That meeting was held yesterday to discuss all tracks in accordance with the terms of reference of the peace process, relevant Security Council resolutions, the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative, which was presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and adopted by the Arab summits. A settlement should be pursued through a new and developed mechanism to resume direct negotiations among the parties under the Council's supervision, within a specified time limit and with international guarantees.

We wish to express our deep concern at the bloody events and huge destruction that took place in brotherly Lebanon this year caused by Israeli military operations. On the basis of our concern for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, we support resolution 1701 (2006) and the need for all parties to comply with it. We also affirm the importance of the international community's support for the seven points set out by His Excellency Mr. Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon, to complement that resolution. We reaffirm that the Kingdom of Bahrain stands with the Republic of Lebanon against anything that endangers its sovereignty and territorial integrity and support it with a view to preventing any act outside Lebanese State authority that endangers its stability. We also express our appreciation for the efforts of the Arab Tripartite Committee on Lebanon, the State of Qatar -- the Arab member of the Security Council -- and all other States that have supported the Arab position.

The Kingdom of Bahrain realizes that Lebanon, today, faces great challenges that require concerted international efforts by the United Nations, the European Union and all influential Powers. Such efforts must be aimed not solely at keeping the peace but also at rebuilding and reviving the economy with the help of the Lebanese Government and people, so that Lebanon can participate once again, as it has done through the centuries, in the cultural and economic development of the Middle East and the world at large. In this regard, the recent Stockholm Conference was a step in the right direction.

We reiterate our position that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East necessitates, first and foremost, that Israel withdraw fully from all Arab territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights and the remaining occupied Lebanese territories. It also requires the return of Palestinian refugees and the establishment of a Palestinian State on all occupied Palestinian lands, with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomes the recent positive developments in Iraq, including the election of a national assembly and the formation of a permanent Iraqi Government. The Kingdom of Bahrain also welcomes the Iraqi Government's steps to promote genuine national reconciliation and accord and to consolidate peace, stability, and dialogue among all segments of society. Bahrain hopes that the Government's national reconciliation measures will put an end to violence and the killing of innocent civilians, restore stability and preserve Iraq's unity and cohesion. We also hope that these measures will lead to renunciation of violence and to addressing the waves of killing, sectarianism and extremism, so that a new safe and unified Iraq can emerge and enjoy democracy and the rule of law, an Iraq with close relations with its Arab and Islamic brothers and one that adheres to its international commitments and responsibilities. There is no doubt that the Iraqi Government's efforts in this direction are supported by the pivotal role that Iraq's neighbouring countries have played in reinforcing their good-neighbourly policies, through respect for Iraq's sovereignty, cooperation in controlling the borders and non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, together with the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, calls for a peaceful settlement of the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which belong to brotherly United Arab Emirates. This dispute should be settled either through negotiations or by referring it to the International Court of Justice for adjudication.

Within the framework of maintaining regional security in the Gulf region, we confirm that friendly relations among Gulf countries should be based on respect for the principles of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, good-neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes. This would create a positive atmosphere that would help address issues in a spirit of conciliation and in accordance with international law, particularly on the issue of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, in order not to threaten the security, economic and environmental concerns of the countries of the region and help them avoid the dangers of confrontation and tension. To support the creation of such a positive environment, we should work together to make the Middle East, including the Gulf region, a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, we affirm the right of States to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime.

Today, all of us need to join in efforts to achieve the objective of a collective security system through multilateral diplomacy, for which the United Nations is the main arena. Through your presidency, Madam, we hope that our efforts will yield new measures to reform the Organization. In his report on the work of the Organization (A/61/1), the Secretary-General states that no reform of the United Nations will be complete without the reform of the Security Council, which should be more representative of today's geopolitical realities. This would make it more efficient and transparent. Furthermore, we hail the establishment this year of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council.

The gap between developed and developing countries remains wide in the areas of economic, human, scientific and technological development. Developing countries must redouble their efforts to bridge this gap and mitigate its negative impact. They need to promote good governance, uphold human rights, expand democratic participation, enhance transparency, empower women and enhance their role on the international stage. However, they cannot achieve this by themselves: developed countries must continue their commitment to offer support and assistance by cancelling debts and supplying developing countries with the knowledge, up-to-date technology and expertise they need to achieve sustainable development.

The Millennium Development Goals are the best road map towards sustainable development. Those Goals can be reached only through an international strategic partnership between developed and developing countries, along with international organizations and agencies, in particular the United Nations, and with the participation of civil society institutions and the private sector, in view of the vital national and international role they play.

It is true to say that changes in the world situation and great progress achieved by the international community have brought human civilization to wider horizons in which there is no excuse for excluding or marginalizing others. We believe that there is plenty of room for dialogue and positive diversity. This is because we, as nations, are linked in a single international civilization, one that is rich in religions and cultures and within which we can explore everything that can bring peace and stability to the whole world.

In conclusion, Madam, we hope that, under your presidency, this session will be marked by the spirit of reform that has pervaded the United Nations. We confirm the need to unify our efforts and exercise patience and flexibility in order to achieve reform and development. The Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to achieving those goals and will support efforts to strengthen the United Nations and its position in the world.

The President

I now call on His Excellency Mr. Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Mr. Kalfin (Bulgaria)

Allow me first of all to align myself with the very warm congratulations addressed to you, Madam President, on your election to your very important position. I would like to assure you once again of the full support of my country in your endeavours for further reform of our Organization and for the consolidation of its role in the coming year. I would also like to express our gratitude to the previous President of the General Assembly, Mr. Jan Eliasson, for his dedicated and efficient work and for the achievements that were made in implementing United Nations reforms.

I would also like to greet the newest member of our large family, the Republic of Montenegro. I am sure that that country from our region, South-East Europe, will spare no effort in contributing to the work of the United Nations.

Mr. Kalfin (Bulgaria)

Bulgaria is on the threshold of a historic achievement. After 17 years of reforms to build political democracy and a market economy, my country is preparing to join the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2007. Our journey, although difficult, has been successful. I am certain that, as a new member of the Union, Bulgaria will contribute added value to the European Common Foreign and Security Policy. We will work with even greater determination for a strong and effective United Nations, which must be at the very centre of the global security and development system. Bulgaria endorses the position set out earlier by the Finnish presidency of the EU.

We welcome the fact that concrete outcomes have been achieved in implementation of the radical reform process launched at last year's World Summit. We hope that that the momentum will be maintained and that the process, which is necessary and useful for all Member countries, will move forward even more quickly.

I would like to express our profound respect and gratitude to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his tireless efforts throughout the past decade to strengthen the United Nations in a globalized world.

I would like to refer to the resolution that was recently adopted on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. The implementation of the resolution should lead to enhanced coordination of the work of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, and to a strengthened role for the President of the General Assembly, a streamlined agenda and improved methods of work.

No United Nations reform effort would be complete without the crucial element of Security Council reform. Despite all the efforts made, we have not yet been able to reach consensus on a viable formula for Council expansion that can be supported by all Member States. Bulgaria believes that any reform exercise should increase the representativity and legitimacy of the Council, while preserving the effectiveness of its decisions and its key role in maintaining peace and security. We also support efforts to improve its working methods.

At the level of institutional reform, two new United Nations bodies have been established: the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. Their potential will be realized in the future. There are certain areas, however, where the desired progress is far from being achieved: mandate review, the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, ensuring effective management and promoting coordination among the agencies and bodies of the United Nations system. Despite the challenges, our work must continue at an accelerated pace with a view to the achievement of concrete results during this session.

I would like to point out that yesterday Bulgaria deposited its instruments of ratification relating to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. We also attach great importance to combating the traffic in human beings and drugs, as well as to the fight against organized crime.

Five years on from 11 September 2001, terrorism in all its manifestations continues to pose a genuine threat to human civilization. That is why Bulgaria welcomes the launching of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to fight that scourge at all levels. The consensus that has emerged regarding the Strategy must give impetus to the process of adopting a comprehensive international convention on terrorism, in accordance with the decisions taken at the 2005 World Summit. Such a convention would provide the international community with an effective, comprehensive, universal legal framework for the fight against that scourge and give substance to its firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Bulgaria supports all initiatives to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among people of different religions, ethnic groups and cultures. Bulgarian history and our national experience have always been characterized by dialogue and tolerance. In this context, we look forward to the recommendations of the High-Level Panel of the Alliance of Civilizations, and we will take part in their implementation.

Bulgaria pursues a policy aimed at promoting effective arms control, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and disarmament. We are concerned about the genuine threat of destabilization affecting legal instruments currently in force, in particular the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), because of non-compliance with obligations and unilateral withdrawals by certain States.

We support the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We firmly believe that the unresolved question of the Iranian nuclear programme should be dealt with promptly, on the basis of Security Council resolution 1696 (2006) and relevant decisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Likewise, we call for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1695 (2006) and urge progress in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem.

The United Nations must be endowed with sufficient capacity to enable it to deploy multidimensional peacekeeping operations that are aimed not just at maintaining peace, but also at strengthening the sovereignty of States and building democratic institutions that will guarantee the stability of peace processes. In this context, I would like to point out that yesterday Bulgaria signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Security of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

As a member of NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as a future member of the European Union and as a country that contributes troops to peacekeeping operations, Bulgaria actively promotes effective partnership and cooperation among the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in activities aimed at conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Current cooperation between the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union is an encouraging example of such cooperation, which is already bearing fruit.

My country is actively contributing to long-term security and stability in South-East Europe. We welcome the fact that the Balkans are now seen as a region, not of crisis and conflict, but of cooperation and integration. One convincing example of political cooperation among the countries of that region is the South-East Europe Cooperation Process. Bulgaria is preparing to assume the chairmanship of that Process in mid-2007, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that that structure can support regional cooperation and promote European and Euro-Atlantic integration in that part of Europe.

In addressing our geographic region, I cannot overlook the problem of Kosovo. Reaching a decision on the future status of that province is on the agenda of the international community. Bulgaria is playing a very active role in efforts aimed at creating the atmosphere of trust and openness necessary for the holding of such negotiations. We fully support the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, in his efforts to find a solution, based on the maximum amount of common ground, to which both parties could agree. We call on the international community to let itself be guided by the principles of sustainability, monitoring, regional stability and the European perspective in working out a final decision on the status of Kosovo.

Bulgaria attaches particular importance to the situation in the Middle East. We welcome and support the efforts of the Secretary-General and the Security Council, as well as the key role being played by the European Union in the expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which is called on to ensure peace in southern Lebanon in implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Bulgaria will make its own contribution to the international community's efforts to bring about lasting peace.

We remain convinced that the crisis in Israeli-Palestinian relations would be best resolved by direct negotiations between the countries concerned, based on an absolute rejection of the use of force and with the necessary support of the international community. We support all of the efforts to that end on the part of the Quartet, as presented yesterday here at the United Nations.

Bulgaria greatly appreciates United Nations initiatives relating to the stabilization of the political and constitutional process in Iraq, as well as the principles set out in the International Compact. We will continue to meet our obligations in Iraq in support of national institutions aimed at providing for the security and prosperity of that country.

We support all positive trends towards strengthening the sovereignty of Afghanistan. During the past year, my country doubled its participation in the International Security Assistance Force. We support the Afghanistan Compact adopted at the London Conference a few months ago.

We welcome the adoption of Security Council resolution 1706 (2006), whose implementation will assist in the implementation of the political agreements recently reached on the Sudan. In our view, the international community must take urgent action to address the humanitarian tragedy in Darfur.

Bulgaria, with more than 50 years' experience as an active and responsible Member of our Organization, and which has served three terms in the Security Council and held the presidency of the General Assembly for one year, has submitted its candidacy to the Economic and Social Council for the period 2007-2009. I am convinced that our country's experience and expertise, as well as its commitment to contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of the United Nations, are important reasons to support our candidacy.

Mr. Kalfin (Bulgaria)

We are witnessing and also taking an active part in the implementation of the most important reform since the United Nations was founded. Today more than ever before, the peoples of the world need our Organization to help establish long-lasting peace, prosperity and a better future for new generations. We must succeed in reforming the United Nations so that it can change the world for the better.

The President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Winston Peters, Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.

Mr. Peters (New Zealand)

New Zealand remains unwavering in its support for the United Nations. Our commitment has not changed since we helped found the Organization 61 years ago. This year's events have only reinforced our belief that the world would be substantially worse off without the United Nations.

It would be remiss of me at this time not to pay tribute to Kofi Annan. It is to his vision, determination and courage that we must attribute many of the reforms achieved thus far. Five years ago, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee paid tribute to his efforts on reform. Since then he has continued to work tirelessly for a United Nations that can live up to the hopes that "we the peoples" have invested in it. This is all the more remarkable given that, for much of his stewardship, the United Nations has been confronted with some of the most difficult international crises of its existence.

New Zealand is committed to multilateralism. This is not some act of faith, but a commitment to a multilateralism that really delivers. We need to be prepared to work diligently for the good of the global community.

The United Nations is passing through a period of challenge to its relevance and effectiveness. It has confronted serious political and security shocks -- fresh hostilities in the Middle East, the tragic and worsening situation in Darfur, and, in our own region, instability in Timor-Leste.

Last year, world leaders agreed to an ambitious reform agenda based on the three pillars of peace and security, development and human rights. Progress has been made, but this is no time to rest. We must press on, for much remains to be done.

The challenge of development has never been higher on the international agenda. Never before has the commitment to eradicating poverty been so critical. But increasing aid levels will not be enough; we must become more effective. We need to make sure that every dollar we spend makes a positive difference. That means addressing the key threats to our success -- poor governance, corruption and gender inequality. We need to secure fairer international trading relationships, and we must work on all of those together.

The theme of this year's general debate is the implementation of a global partnership for development. For New Zealand, collective action is imperative. We need participation, ownership and responsibility from recipient countries. We seek harmonization with larger contributors to align and combine our contributions. We seek partnership with multilateral development agencies in our campaign to eradicate poverty, and we endorse the efforts of the United Nations and those agencies to coordinate better, country by country.

New Zealand, as members are aware, has a relationship with the Pacific that is based on history, culture and economic and social linkages. Our bonds with Pacific States are an important dimension of our other relationships. We want nothing less than educated, healthy, well-governed, economically prosperous and safe communities.

In the Auckland Declaration of 2004, Pacific leaders committed themselves to a "region that is respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values and for its defence and promotion of human rights". These are ambitious goals, and translating them into reality means hard work by all Pacific countries. That is a challenge that New Zealand accepts.

In facing that challenge, we confront economic, environmental, governance, development and security issues. Markets are distant. Climate change is a reality. Political instability does not help. Threats from communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and pandemic influenza must be managed.

The Pacific accounts for almost one quarter of the surface of the world -- an area bigger than Europe and the Middle East combined. Its strategic significance presents opportunity and challenge. New Zealand is determined to seek out the benefits of that significance and guard against the threats, among which I include, sadly, cheque-book diplomacy.

Across the Pacific, we have learned that regional problems require regional solutions. Last year, Pacific Island Forum leaders adopted the Pacific Plan for regional cooperation. Through that plan we will strengthen regional cooperation where it can most make a difference, and we will use it to promote the four goals of the Pacific Islands Forum: sustainable development, economic growth, security and good governance.

At the same time, we do not forget that our regional endeavours depend on strong international frameworks. The Framework Convention on Climate Change is an essential example. Another example is the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement on the conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks.

We are proud of our achievements in regional fisheries management. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, with its headquarters in Pohnpei, manages the region's migratory fish species. We are in the midst of developing new regional arrangements for non-migratory fish stocks.

These mechanisms are central to the region's ability to ensure the sustainable management of its most important natural resources. They are at the leading edge in establishing best-practice management norms.

There have been profound political and security shocks over the past year -- in the Middle East and in Darfur, as well as instability in Timor-Leste -- those and more are testing the United Nations system.

It is a sad reality that the situation in the Middle East has been on the agenda of the United Nations for 60 years, ever since its inception. The lack of sustained political will to see through more than a handful of decisions on the Middle East has undermined confidence. It has contributed to an unstable environment where extremism, injustice and despair flourish.

These issues must be tackled with a new resolve, using the international multilateral system as a tool for peace and progress. The international response to the Security Council's call for an expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shows that the international community can react to conflict and provide basic stabilization. But such responses are doomed to failure unless the underlying political and security issues are addressed. It is therefore imperative to relaunch the Middle East peace process covering all issues, on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Organization's efforts to introduce a United Nations force into Darfur is being cynically thwarted by the Government of the Sudan. That is simply unconscionable. The Government of the Sudan must, in the name of basic humanity, accept the need for a United Nations force as the best chance for the security of the people of Darfur.

New and fragile States face enormous challenges. Recent unrest in Timor-Leste demonstrates that fact. New Zealand responded quickly to Timor-Leste's needs with a military and police contribution to help restore stability. The regional response has been swift and robust. The United Nations played an important role in facilitating Timor-Leste's independence, and it is clear the United Nations will continue to be involved in Timor-Leste for many years to come. The deployment of a substantial United Nations police force is vital if peace and stability is to be maintained even in the medium term. The nature of the expanded United Nations mission in Timor-Leste reflects the deep and broad engagement required to build a lasting peace. Timor-Leste encapsulates the principle that peace and security cannot be separated from economic development, social reconciliation and the protection of basic human rights. The Security Council's mandate for Timor-Leste endorses that truth.

New Zealand fully supported the renewed focus on human rights at last year's World Summit. We strongly campaigned for the new Human Rights Council, and we worked hard to bring it into being. We have high ambitions for it and will follow its activities closely. It must remain strong, focused and effective. It must be able to deal swiftly with emerging situations of human rights concern, in a balanced way, with scrupulous attention to verifiable facts. It must be aspirational, inspirational and practical. Its working methods must be transparent and inclusive. Above all, there must be genuine political will to make it work.

A few weeks ago, encouraged all the way by energetic non-governmental organizations, Member States agreed on the first new comprehensive human rights instrument of the twenty-first century: a draft convention relating to persons with disabilities. We are proud in New Zealand of the role we played in those negotiations on the text. The draft convention stands to make a real difference to the lives of approximately 650 million of the world's most disadvantaged citizens.

New Zealand is also conscious of the disadvantages faced by indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. We were closely engaged in the lengthy negotiations towards a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. We had hoped that the declaration would be a new standard of achievement for Governments that could be implemented to really improve the lives of indigenous peoples. Therefore, we are disappointed that that was not to be so. The draft declaration that emerged with less than conclusive support from the Human Rights Council is deeply flawed and represents a lost opportunity for the world's indigenous peoples.

At the beginning of his term, the Secretary-General set an important goal for the United Nations: to perfect "the triangle of development, freedom and peace" (A/51/PV.88, p. 13). The Secretary-General's words still ring true today. We have travelled only part of the journey towards that goal. Considering our achievements over the past year, we can be satisfied with progress made in setting up the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. The challenge now is to make those two new bodies truly effective. The welcome adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution 60/288) reminds us of the efforts we must continue to make at regional and national levels.

New Zealand wants to see continuing reform high on the list of priorities for the sixty-first session in order to ensure that the United Nations can be as responsive as possible to the needs of Member States, and efficient in getting the best from the resources available to it.

Sixty years ago, New Zealand had high hopes for the United Nations. In 2006, we still do. New Zealand is a country that engages with the United Nations with no hidden agenda. What we say is what we mean. We engage with no other or hidden agenda. But those that do so pervert and weaken this Organization.

In 2006, at this meeting, New Zealand declares that we will continue to put our efforts behind the principles and policies that will make the United Nations strong.

The President

I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Dora Bakoyannis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.

Ms. Bakoyannis (Greece)

Allow me, Madam, to add my heartiest congratulations to you on being the third woman in the history of the United Nations to be elected President of the General Assembly, particularly at such a critical moment. Your election is an inspiration for women everywhere who are struggling to achieve equality and opportunity. You illustrate the truth that, as Plato wrote 2,400 years ago, any society that does not exploit the talents of its women is wasting half of its resources. I also wish to congratulate and thank your predecessor, my friend and colleague Jan Eliasson, for all he worked so hard to achieve during his term.

While we are recognizing service to the United Nations, we would be remiss if we did not extend our appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I want to express the appreciation of my Government for all his efforts to maintain and strengthen the prestige and moral authority of the Organization.

I would also like to welcome Montenegro to the family of States.

Ms. Bakoyannis (Greece)

Greece fully aligns itself with the statement made by the President of Finland on behalf of the European Union (EU). We would also like to express our views on the major questions that the United Nations will be dealing with in the session that is now opening.

It is just the beginning of the twenty-first century, and the future looks threatening: we see poverty, war, humanitarian crises, refugee flows, terrorism, arms proliferation, human trafficking, drugs, sectarian violence, environmental degradation and natural disasters. In order to understand the full extent of these calamities, we must identify and understand, and then deal with, their roots, which have been formed over the centuries. We have to unite the force of our ideas and resources and mobilize what we have in common -- that is, our humanity. As taught to us by the philosopher Isocrates, the condition for peace is not money, which buys men, or force, which subjugates them; it is the all-encompassing power of goodwill.

The United Nations is a unique forum, the place where, as individuals and as nations, we offer the best of ourselves. We need this Organization to be strong and productive. We draw from it the strength that frees us from mistrust to overcome conflicts, the strength that allows us to move forwards towards greater understanding and tolerance.

Terrorism is the scourge of our times. It is a blind evil that takes no account of our religion, our race or our gender. This danger must be confronted collectively. It is neither possible nor desirable to confront it alone. We will firmly support the efforts undertaken by the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee, and we are prepared to provide it with all necessary assistance. Finally, we would like to support the counter-terrorism policy that the Secretary-General will soon be presenting to the General Assembly. The best way to confront terrorism is to promote peace, tolerance, the acceptance of others and, above all, development: no longer to abandon anyone by the wayside and to give everyone the opportunity to access what is essential for life.

In the light of what I have said, and bearing in mind the General Assembly's main theme for this year -- to create a global partnership for development -- this is both timely and appropriate. Translating this vision into fact must happen at the global level, and for this we need significant participation by all countries in the economic and financial decision-making process. The International Monetary Fund's recent decision to increase the voting rights of countries such as China and India is an important step in the right direction.

The news coming from the Doha round, however, is not encouraging. The clock is ticking; and each day it becomes even more important for all parties to put their shoulders to the wheel to reach an agreement, with the objective of creating an effective multilateral trading system. The winners will be the developing countries -- but also the developed countries.

Equally important is the need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in line with the agenda established by heads of State or Government at the Summits of 2000 and 2005. Among our objectives, clearly, is to reach the critical threshold of 0.7 per cent of gross national income to be allocated for official development assistance to the countries most seriously affected by economic difficulties. That is the keystone of a global partnership for development, which we are committed to forging as soon as possible.

Developing countries, for their part, need to follow sensible economic policies. They need to undertaken reforms that will encourage growth, and they need to finally improve governance by creating institutions that are accountable and operate with complete transparency. It is only together, through collective action, that we will be able to correct the inequalities that are at the root of many of the conflicts in the world.

Allow me to stress in this respect that Africa must be the highest of our priorities. We must pay heed to the dormant conflicts in West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa if we want to avoid the kinds of crises being played out in the Sudan and other countries on the continent. The African Union is best placed to put an end to these conflicts, and we must help it by finding lasting solutions to the problems that make life so cruel in very many of these regions.

Another urgent need is to act effectively and speedily to put an end to the suffering of the populations of these countries, so that we no longer see babies dying of AIDS when a few dollars' worth of medicines can save them.

Ms. Bakoyannis (Greece)

The tensions in the Middle East demand equal attention. The Middle East is the region that will test the mettle of this Organization as a force for peace in the immediate future. If we fail in that test, all of us stand to pay a heavy price. During the past several months, we all witnessed unforgettable images of suffering and destruction in that part of the world.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the root of most problems in the region, and it is obvious that it should be at the top of the list of our priorities if peace and stability are to return to that area. The Road Map offers the strategic plan for a solution based on the principle of land for peace, especially since basic elements of it are well known and generally accepted by the international community. The Road Map is in essence a performance-driven guide to a settlement based on all relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and on the conclusions of the Madrid Conference and the Beirut Arab Summit. We must all make every effort to see that they are implemented.

On Lebanon, strict implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) provides the blueprint for resolving the basic problems that led to the recent crisis. We understand the difficulties before us, but we must push ahead resolutely, because determination and tenacity are essential to tackling long-standing issues in volatile regions.

The continued violence and instability in Iraq are a cause of great concern for all of us. It is critical that every possible effort be made to bring order and unity to that troubled country. Deaths, especially of civilians, have reached terrifying levels, with no end in sight to the slaughter. All who have any influence with the warring factions in Iraq must try to make them see what pain and suffering they have inflicted on their own people and what yet worse horrors they will unleash on their land if they continue to drift towards a devastating civil war.

Our own region, the Balkans, was once known as history's cauldron. We endured a century of bitter ethnic, religious and ideological conflicts, up to very recent times. We are moving rapidly, however, to disown that label for the sake of our own peoples and of the new Europe we are building. Some trouble spots remain, but we are trying to deal with them in a new spirit of cooperation and tolerance.

Kosovo is one issue that still needs attention. The status talks are under way, and we hope that they will produce a viable settlement that will strengthen the security and stability of the entire region. Right now, this appears difficult. To overcome the impasse will require patient and careful diplomacy. Our goal in reaching a viable long-term solution should not be compromised by setting an artificial deadline.

I deeply regret the fact that the Cyprus problem remains unresolved. For all 32 years of the military occupation of one third of the territory of Cyprus by well over 40,000 Turkish troops, Greece has strongly supported every United Nations initiative aimed at the achievement of a comprehensive solution. We are committed to doing everything possible to achieve a just and viable solution, on the basis of the pertinent Security Council resolutions and of EU principles and values. We strive for a bizonal, bicommunal federation that will bring peace and prosperity to the island. Our goal remains a solution agreed between the two communities without arbitration and tight timetables, to be approved subsequently by referendums. To those efforts we are prepared to lend our wholehearted support.

Greece's foreign and security policy is based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, especially those relating to the peaceful settlement of disputes and good-neighbourly relations. This basic framework is also reflected in my country's continuing efforts to further improve relations with Turkey and to consolidate mutual understanding and cooperation. For our part, we are trying to overcome the remaining difficulties and are continuing to take initiatives to widen and deepen cooperation in all fields so that the relationship with Turkey becomes a win-win situation for both countries. In this context, we are hopeful that Turkey will reciprocate so that our countries can solidify good-neighbourly relations.

European integration is the bright promise on the horizon for the entire region of South-Eastern Europe -- a future which will encompass greater cooperation and interaction among all the countries in the area and at long last heal the wounds of the past century.

We live in a troubled world, and the United Nations is always enmeshed in the worst of the troubles so that it sometimes seems that it is not accomplishing much. We must not forget, however, the conflicts it has resolved, the misery it has diminished, the suffering it has relieved and the pain it has eased all over the world in its brief lifetime.

"Man feeds on dreams of hope", Aeschylus wrote. For men, women and children everywhere, the United Nations remains the best hope there is.

The President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.

Mr. Yeo (Singapore)

I join other countries in congratulating you, Madam, on your assumption of the presidency. We in Singapore pledge our full support to you.

The recent war in Lebanon had no clear victor. Israel succeeded in removing the immediate threat across the border, but could not wipe out Hizbollah. Hizbollah claimed victory, having survived Israeli air bombardments and ground action, even though enormous damage was inflicted on Lebanon. On both sides, innocent people have suffered greatly. Whether the present ceasefire can become a lasting peace depends on many factors, not least the ability of the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to maintain the buffer in southern Lebanon. But one thing is clear: without the eventual intervention of the United Nations, the fighting would have continued and more lives would have been lost.

The Middle East is going through the throes of change. In Palestine, there is no escaping a two-State solution. However, defining the precise boundaries of that solution is a grinding process which will take time. No one can achieve all his demands; no party can insist on absolute security. A new balance is being established between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere in the region. This will also take time. In many countries, there is tension between those who are impatient for change and those who believe that discontinuity will lead to chaos and anarchy. As long as there is more despair than hope, terrorist organizations will be able to find fresh recruits. What happens in the Middle East affects the entire world. No country is insulated, and certainly not from the terrorist threat or from high energy prices.

No grand solution is possible. The end of the cold war marked the end of an era when the major Powers could settle the terms among themselves over the heads of lesser countries. It was not that long ago -- but it seems so strange today -- that a cold peace could have been maintained for decades by each side pointing tens of thousands of nuclear missiles at the other. Technology has changed the rules. Warfare has now become asymmetric. Cruise missiles and submarines cannot solve the problem of suicide bombers. And those who manipulate these terrorists might well take positions in global financial markets to benefit from the havoc that they create.

In a sense, technology has globalized the world and broken it into smaller pieces. Empires have broken up. New countries have been born. In large countries, power has devolved downwards and regions have become more assertive. It has become a messier world, which presents new challenges to global governance. Improving global governance from above sometimes seems like an impossible task. Take the reform of the United Nations, for example: despite all the efforts made and the fine speeches delivered, the results have been quite modest.

The near-collapse of the Doha talks is another example of how difficult it is to effect change from the top down. When the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was formed in 1948, there were only 23 members. Today, the World Trade Organization has 149 members. No country or group of countries seems able or willing to take the lead in brokering a compromise. We must hope that Director-General Pascal Lamy will succeed in his heroic efforts to rescue the Doha development round from failure.

There are other areas in which global action is needed, but is insufficient. All of us worry about global climate change, but how can there be consensus when the costs and benefits are distributed so unevenly and the major polluters are unwilling to accept responsibility? We hear dire warnings from the World Health Organization about a global flu pandemic, yet our collective response is so feeble.

While we should never give up hope on global initiatives, we should be realistic, because achieving global consensus in a multipolar world is, to say the least, challenging. When Governments have to win elections, they are more likely to respond to short-term political needs than to worry about long-term global concerns. We can often do more at the regional level: at the regional level, the stakes are clearer to our constituencies and the need for action is easier to explain. The Charter recognizes the role that regional arrangements can play in helping the United Nations to achieve its objectives.

In a globalized world with porous borders, regional cooperation can often bring quick benefits. We need only consider, for example, the simple act of reopening, three months ago, after 44 years, the Nathu La pass in the Himalayas between China and India. Immediately, on both sides of the pass, ordinary people benefited from trade and travel. New problems will arise, of course, but they can be managed.

All over the world now, regional initiatives are proliferating. Many overlap. Some are modest in their objectives, providing forums for public and private sector leaders to meet and consult. Others are more ambitious, creating regional free-trade areas or fostering joint efforts against problems like drug trafficking and terrorism. Many of these regional initiatives are open and inclusive, and should be encouraged. Those which are superfluous will gradually wither away. Some can make significant contributions to global governance and reduce the burdens borne by the big Powers. International organizations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme should work with them, strengthen their capabilities and encourage mutual learning. These initiatives create a habit of cooperation among neighbouring countries and reduce misunderstanding.

In Asia, the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has not only been beneficial to the 10 countries of South-East Asia; it has also helped to create a larger architecture of cooperation. Founded 39 years ago, in 1967, when the war in Indo-China was raging, ASEAN began as a grouping to promote what then-President Suharto of Indonesia called "regional resilience". The original five non-communist countries of ASEAN -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore -- were determined to keep the peace among ourselves and concentrate on economic development. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984 after it became independent. With the end of the cold war, peace returned to Indochina and ASEAN gradually expanded to include the newer member States of Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, to become what it is today: a community of 10.

In 1992, the countries of ASEAN decided to establish a free trade area in stages. For trade in goods, we have largely attained our objectives. For investment and services, we still have some way to go. But there is considerable political will to press on and make the whole of ASEAN one economic space. Already, ASEAN as a grouping plays a major role in international trade, accounting for some 6 per cent of total world trade.

The re-emergence of China and India as major Powers presents us with opportunities as well as challenges. ASEAN's trade with both is growing rapidly. But they are also a competitive challenge to us.

When the leaders of ASEAN met in Bali three years ago, they took a major decision: to establish an ASEAN Community by 2020 with three main pillars -- security, economic cooperation and cultural cooperation. To create such a community, an ASEAN charter will be drawn up next year to provide the legal basis for our future integration. It will include provisions for dispute settlement by independent panels.

The European Union is an inspiration to us in ASEAN. Two months ago, the European Commission hosted members of an ASEAN eminent persons group and generously offered advice and assistance. While ASEAN integration will never be as deep or as broad as that of the European Union, there is much that we can learn from the European experience.

For ASEAN to prosper, it is important that we maintain good relations with all the major Powers. For many years now, ASEAN has promoted good relations with our dialogue partners, including the United States, the European Union, Russia, China, Japan and India. With strong growth in global trade, ASEAN has negotiated or is in the process of negotiating free trade agreements with China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and closer economic partnerships with the United States and the European Union. We have a simple strategy, which is to give all of them a strong stake in our unity and in our development. Strategically, some of the most important sea lanes pass through ASEAN waters. About a third of global trade, half of global oil trade and 80 per cent