Fiji, 2005

Fiji extends its warm

congratulations to the Organization on the sixtieth

anniversary of its existence, and to the President, on

his assumption of the presidency of the General

Assembly at its sixtieth session. We wish to express

our confidence in his ability to guide our work during

2005 and 2006.

We also extend our appreciation to his

predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping of the

Gabonese Republic, for his outstanding guidance of the

difficult business of the fifty-ninth session. We also

would like to place on record our appreciation to the

Secretary-General for his tireless efforts and active role

in bringing about an outcome document that should

become the centrepiece that guides our efforts in the

many months to come.

Last week the leaders of our States or

Governments adopted a resolution on the outcome of

their deliberations. The outcome document (resolution

60/1), as anticipated, did not meet the expectations of

everyone; rather, it contained those key elements

essential to addressing the three pillar issues of

security, human rights and development.

What is required of us now is the commitment to

support the implementation plan that will be drawn up

to convert to action what have up to now been merely

hopes and aspirations. We must also undertake to

ensure that the assistance so rendered trickles right

down to the poor, the hungry, the needy and the

hopeless — those that require it the most. Far too often

donations, funds and other forms of assistance are

mired in the bureaucratic process and reduced by

certain percentages, which are then passed off as

so-called administrative charges.

Fiji fully endorses the outcome document, and we

are committed to implement those provisions that we

as a developing nation are required to pursue for

ourselves. The formulation and implementation of the

Fiji national sustainable development strategy,

outlining the visions of our leaders and targeting the

aspirations and objectives of the summit outcome and

the Millennium Development Goals, is paramount. We

are in the process of reforming our public and financial

sector and introducing limited changes in the private

sector. Infrastructure development and improvement

are a priority in light of our occupational health and

safety standards. Marine legislation and regulations are

being reviewed to ensure the safety at sea of both

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passengers and vessels alike, as well as the protection

of our maritime resources such as our continental shelf.

The principle of restorative justice in pursuit of

reconciliation, tolerance and unity is being widely

discussed through a democratic process of

consultations among the public before it is introduced

in Parliament.

Concerning the reform of the United Nations

Secretariat, Fiji subscribes to the thinking that the

Secretary-General should be empowered to enact the

changes he believes best suit the Organization. We

must all help to create a United Nations Organization

that is more efficient and accountable. Accountability

can be achieved by the establishment of the much

discussed Oversight Committee, the modalities and

working methodology of which have to include clear

and transparent terms of reference and a well-balanced

regional representation.

The United Nations must function always with

integrity and urgent concern for the needs of Member

States. Above all we must help the United Nations to

concentrate, as never before, on reducing the shameful

gap between developed and developing countries.

There should be no pause in United Nations

endeavours to establish and maintain international

peace, security and stability. The Secretary-General

and his staff are to be commended for seeking peace

agreements or in trying to prevent disputes from

violently escalating. Peacekeepers from many troop-

contributing countries deployed to conflict zones are

working not only to provide security but also to

disarm, demobilize and reintegrate former fighters, to

permit the safe and sustainable return of refugees and

to strengthen human rights and the rule of law.

We commend the work of the Special

Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and

the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

(UNAMI) in trying to promote an inclusive,

participatory and transparent political transition

process in the country. Fiji is privileged to have our

troops serving in UNAMI to help in the process.

Fiji reaffirms its commitment to the United

Nations. As always, we are for peace and this is the

reason we have sent many of our soldiers and police

officers to serve with United Nations peacekeeping and

peacebuilding forces. Many of our servicemen have

lost their lives, but we have accepted this ultimate

sacrifice as our contribution to the unceasing global

effort for finding peace and security.

Further, while fully appreciating the principle of

the standby force, we are at the same time concerned

by the fact that those nations who are unable to

properly equip their forces are mainly from developing

countries and will therefore be marginalized should no

arrangement be made to assist them in this area. If such

assistance is not forthcoming, then peacekeeping will

be confined to only a select few countries, mainly

developed nations.

Fiji acclaims the proposal for a Peacebuilding

Commission. We will gladly share with the

Commission our own experiences in reconstructing our

country following the civil unrest that almost tore the

nation apart in 2000. We ask reconsideration regarding

the makeup of the Peacebuilding Commission, for

while some of us have served in that sphere longer than

others, the size of certain countries’ contribution gives

them an advantage under the current modalities.

We support the United Nations and other major

groups’ initiatives at establishing partnerships with

regional groups. The South Pacific region has

constantly come together to address common problems

that may beset its members. The Regional

Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands is a

peacekeeping/peacebuilding mission that was mounted

by the region. We would urge the United Nations to

kindly assist in the humanitarian effort to bring this

regional initiative on an even keel.

Fiji is supportive of an enlarged Security Council

membership that reflects current geopolitical realities.

We maintain our support for the inclusion of India and

Japan as permanent members under revised

arrangements.

We look forward to the moment when peace

finally reigns in the Middle East, and we commend all

those countries that are helping with that global cause.

For our Pacific Ocean region, we would like to see the

Korean people find just peace and lasting harmony. On

the future of Taiwan, it is Fiji’s fervent hope that a

resolution through dialogue, conducted in the true

spirit of reconciliation and understanding and devoid of

violence, can be found — one that is agreeable to all

parties and that can last for years to come.

This age of globalization is marked by the

adoption of universal principles governing such

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matters as democracy, human rights, trade and

development. Fiji accepts those precepts; there is no

question about that. But we also say that countries like

ours, undergoing profound transition, should not be

held to unrealistic standards. We need time to evolve,

to adapt and to adhere. Members should not judge us

by what might be appropriate to their standards, but

measure us by the progress we are making towards the

universal ideals and the level of our commitment to

change.

Fiji respects the principle of equality of human

rights. We endorse the proposal for a Human Rights

Council, directly accountable to the General Assembly,

as an improvement upon the present arrangements.

However, in order for the Council to be effective, its

members have to be as widely representative as

possible and should not be subjected to special

reporting requirements.

For Fiji, it is vitally important, as a factor for

long-term stability, that the special interests of the

indigenous people, including their right to ownership

of their natural resources, is protected, and that a

balance between the rights of individuals and

communities is maintained. This has particular

relevance for a multicultural society such as ours. In

this regard, we strongly endorse the intention to bring

to the General Assembly as soon as possible for

adoption a final draft Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples.

To fund the Millennium Development Goals

developing countries ought to have access to markets

and a fair return on their exports. This fact is important

for Fiji and other small vulnerable States; our very

economic survival is dependent upon it. Unrealistic

and inequitable world trade policies simply make it

much harder for our countries to eliminate poverty.

Fiji commends those developed States that are

prepared to assist developing nations in cushioning the

impact of World Trade Organization compliance. We

pay particular tribute to the European Union for its

willingness to assist and call on our European Union

partners to provide adequate long-term support as it

begins to reduce preferential processes for African,

Caribbean and Pacific sugar.

We also would like to express appreciation to our

close neighbours Australia and New Zealand and our

friends in Asia for their support in helping us get better

access to their markets and assistance in other

important areas of development.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a global concern as it

impacts on our ability to achieve the Millennium

Development Goals. A cooperative effort by everyone

remains the only way to control and eradicate the

scourge. Action that integrates prevention, treatment

and the medical and social vulnerability of infected

persons should be our guiding principles.

At the same time we should not minimize the

seriousness of the ravages produced of other infectious

diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Effort

should also be directed at other scourges, such as

extreme poverty and the plight of the disabled.

We can no longer ignore the plight of women and

children who through the years have been subjected to

sexual exploitation and abuse. Last week, Fiji’s Prime

Minister, Laisenia Qarase, signed the two Optional

Protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

the first on the involvement of children in armed

conflict and the second on the sale of children, child

prostitution and child pornography. In addition Fiji

strongly believes that the time is right for stronger

action to be taken to address the issue of young women

who are denied the right to sexual and reproductive

health.

We welcome the decision to hold a 2006 General

Assembly High-level Dialogue on International

Migration and Development. The amount of

remittances from migrant workers has become a rich

source of funds and has raised the standards of living

of families, contributed substantially to the national

economy and provided much needed employment to

the job market. Fiji hopes that the High-level Dialogue

will be the catalyst to enable countries to work in

partnership and agree to a better understanding to

improve the conditions of migrant workers.

Terrorism is a blight on all our horizons. It

respects no borders, and it is neither an acceptable nor

an effective way to advance any cause. Insularity is no

longer a cushion to protect islands which believe

themselves to be further away from the mainstream of

international activities. In trying to fulfil the terms and

conditionalities established by the various terrorism

conventions, more money that can hardly be spared has

to be found to fulfil those obligations. In doing so,

efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals are

stymied and in some instances halted.

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In this regard, a global effort to combat terrorism

has to be instituted to include training, funding,

transparency in the exchange of information and

intelligence, and a pledge to assist when needed.

Fiji will always be in support of all efforts to

reform the United Nations and its initiatives in the

fields of security, human rights and development. Our

efforts will be modest but commensurate with our

abilities.