Kiribati, 2003

Allow me at the outset to

offer Mr. Julian Hunte my warm congratulations on his

election as President. We are confident that he will

guide our deliberations during this fifty-eighth session

to a productive conclusion. Let me also express my

deep appreciation to his predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan,

for his effective guidance of the work of the Assembly

at its fifty-seventh session.

Four years ago Kiribati joined the United Nations

as one of its youngest Member States. Our membership

of the United Nations was an affirmation of our faith in

and support for the noble principles enshrined in the

United Nations Charter.

Since then, events have occurred to test the

resolve of this Organization. Indeed, the United

Nations has faced many challenges. The recent brutal

and calculated attack on United Nations personnel in

Baghdad, which resulted in a tragic loss of life and

many injuries, are to be condemned. We mourn the loss

of the Secretary-General’s senior representative, Sergio

Vieira de Mello, and the others who perished in the

attacks.

Kiribati commends the Secretary-General for his

unwavering determination to ensure that the United

Nations continues to perform the role we expect of it in

the international arena.

We have followed with increasing alarm the

globalization of terror. No longer can we in the Pacific

claim immunity from terrorism. The consequences of

terrorist acts are abhorrent. Kiribati condemns

terrorism and all acts of terror directed against innocent

people. We cannot condone acts of terror, regardless of

their purported objective.

Even though we have not been, and may never be,

directly subjected to horrors such as that of 11

September 2001 and the terrorist acts in Riyadh,

Jakarta and Baghdad, we realize that terrorism knows

no boundaries or limitations. It is a crime against

humanity and against the international community as a

whole, and we must therefore work collectively to

defeat it. To do so will require an international

response backed by concerted regional and national

efforts.

At the international level, Kiribati fully supports

the relevant Security Council resolutions against

terrorism. The Pacific Islands Forum is actively

addressing security issues at the regional level. Despite

financial constraints, Kiribati is pleased to have

contributed, within the framework of the 2000

Biketawa Declaration, police personnel to the Regional

Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. My

Government decided to contribute to that initiative

because of our firm belief in the strength of regional

cooperation. The Regional Assistance Mission to the

Solomon Islands is a clear demonstration of the ability

of Pacific Island Forum member countries to respond

swiftly and cooperatively to requests from fellow

member countries for support in restoring law and

order.

While Kiribati appreciates the recognition of this

regional initiative by the United Nations, we hope and

urge that further assistance will be forthcoming to

strengthen and ensure the success of this undertaking.

At the national level, Kiribati has introduced

various bills and taken other measures as part of its

effort to address security challenges. This is an

ongoing process that will progress at a pace dictated by

our financial situation, personnel and other constraints.

We are confident that, given our commitment, and with

appropriate assistance from the international

community, we will in time achieve our goals.

Kiribati supports the idea that terrorism must be

eliminated. We must all fight against those who reject

dialogue as a means of securing their objectives and

instead resort to terror. We would like to associate

ourselves with the many speakers who advocate that

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we exercise restraint. We must ensure that in our fight

against terrorism we continue to uphold the principles

that are the cornerstones of this esteemed body — the

principles that we cherish and in which we firmly

believe.

Kiribati fully supports efforts to address the

security challenges facing the world today. We are,

however, mindful that the magnitude of the security

challenges facing Member States differs.

In the case of Kiribati there are many challenges

and problems that threaten our people and country.

Kiribati is one of the least developed countries and is

also a small island developing State located in the

middle of the Pacific ocean. Our remoteness and

insularity, narrow economic base, small population and

high population growth rate are factors that we have to

accept.

Being a small island developing States poses

many challenges to national efforts in terms of

sustainable development and beneficial integration into

the world economy. These unique characteristics

warrant special consideration for sustained and

enhanced cooperation from development partners.

Kiribati has benefited, and continues to benefit,

from the various programmes offered through the many

United Nations agencies. In acknowledging with

gratitude the support extended by the United Nations in

this regard, I would also like to record our appreciation

to our development partners for their continuing

support for our efforts at increasing and enhancing the

equitable distribution of development benefits to our

peoples.

We realize that a lot more needs to be done.

Kiribati has a vast exclusive economic zone rich in

fisheries and marine resources. We are actively

promoting the sustainable exploitation of these

resources, and consider the establishment of an onshore

fish processing facility to be an appropriate

development.

Kiribati comprises low-lying coral atolls and is

therefore very vulnerable to climate change, climate

variability and sea-level rise. This is an issue of high

priority for us, as it is for other low-lying countries. It

is also an issue that requires an international response.

Political commitment and a high level of cooperation

by the international community are called for in

addressing this challenge.

There is a need for immediate reductions in and

limits on greenhouse gas emissions to bring them into

line with the objective of the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change. We call

upon the major emitters of greenhouse gases to ratify

the Kyoto Protocol in a timely manner.

We recognize the need to develop and implement

appropriate adaptation response measures, and call for

support in this respect from international sources,

including the Global Environment Facility.

International support will similarly be required in

the joint implementation of the vulnerability and

adaptation Pacific type 2 initiatives, launched last year

at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

We look forward to the 2004 international

meeting to be held in Mauritius. This will provide a

valuable opportunity to the international community to

take stock of what has happened since Rio and

Barbados. We certainly hope that Mauritius will

provide a road map of concrete and practical actions,

which are required to achieve the objectives of the

Programme of Action. While we accept primary

responsibility for our own development, we also realize

that the achievement of such aspirations will be beyond

our reach if we have to work alone. We require the

assistance of our partners in development.

These have been turbulent times for the United

Nations. Recent events have brought to the fore the

need for the United Nations to adapt. The rapidly

changing global environment in which the United

Nations operates demands adaptations if the

Organization is to continue to be of relevance to

Member States.

Kiribati joins previous speakers in welcoming the

reform initiatives outlined by the Secretary-General.

We realize that Member States must direct and actively

support the adaptation process. The direction and

support thus accorded to the United Nations will enable

it to become more responsive to the aspirations of its

Member States and those of the communities and

peoples they represent.

Kiribati fully supports the view that the United

Nations and its major organs should be more

representative and more democratic in order to reflect

the expanded membership of the Organization. The

rules so appropriate to situations in the 1940s cannot be

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applied practically and effectively in the twenty-first

century.

To conclude, we are faced with new challenges.

We must commit ourselves to tackling these emerging

challenges meaningfully. We must therefore be ready to

introduce and accept changes appropriate to our times.