Moldova, 2003

Allow me at the outset

to congratulate the Honourable Julian Hunte on the

occasion of his election to the important position of

President, at the fifty-eighth session, of the General

Assembly — the most representative and prestigious

organization in the world. I am convinced that his

election is recognition of both the achievements of the

country he represents and his personal merits.

Allow me also to express my gratitude to Mr. Jan

Kavan for the responsibility he showed in carrying out

his duties as President at the previous session.

I also must point out the remarkable role played

by the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, in

enhancing the authority and efficiency of the United

Nations, particularly in the context of the dramatic

events that the international community faced during

the past few years. For the entire world, the United

Nations was and continues to be an organization

serving the noble ideals of peace, equality and

economic prosperity of the peoples on our planet.

The international community has undertaken

enormous efforts to ensure that phenomena alien to the

spirit and aspirations of the contemporary world such

as poverty, oppression, terrorism and the dangers of

ecological disaster are perceived as reasons for general

concern that have in turn led to mobilization of all

nations’ forces. We are aware of how the international

community has gone beyond adopting emotive

humanitarian declarations to establish institutions and

organizations that are not only actively analysing

various problems, but are also working to correct

economic, social and political developments, wherever

they occur.

Global threats are being given a global rebuff,

and the chaos of destruction is ever more strongly

opposed by integrated ethics and new technology for

structuring international relations based on

supranational values of human civilization, the

universality of the principles of democracy, civil

freedoms and life itself.

The epochal Millennium Summit and the summits

held at Rome, Monterrey, Doha and Johannesburg

marked the foreshadowing of a new system of global

priorities aimed at preventing and neutralizing possible

threats. Clearly, that system is leaving less and less

room for resolving the individual problems of

sovereign States and is increasingly opening the way

for making use of international mechanisms to that end.

That system, which has been increasingly gaining in

modern politics, is now determining the new context of

the relationship between States and international

institutions, excluding the dependent attitude of trivial

profiting assumed by national elites towards

international assistance and requiring a responsible and

decisive approach to the issue of reforming our own

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economies and establishing modern social and political

standards.

Undoubtedly, we are currently entering a century

of integration, an era in which traditional inter-State

barriers are coming down. Yet, it is an era in which the

local interests of some countries may in fact lead to

benefits for the entire community. Therefore, it is

extremely important to be aware that the current stage

of globalization will not disappoint us, only if, on the

way to integration — the integration of values and

standards — the initiative for taking the first step

belongs to the States themselves. That is a task that in

principle is new for all us — heads of State and

politicians.

It is not gratuitous that I began my speech with

these considerations. I did so at the outset because only

such an approach can provide for the success of the

State I represent to significant extent.

Moldova embarked on the path of independent

development 12 years ago. The chronic Transnistrian

problem, de-industrialization and economic recession,

poverty, nationalism and separatism served for a

decade as the calling card of our country.

The “first step” policy is being implemented in

Moldova in two areas of the utmost importance. First,

there is the problem of the Transnistrian settlement. We

are aware of the fundamental character of the motives

that are at the core of this 10-year-old conflict. As the

primary way to resolve these contradictions, we have

proposed that a new State constitution be drafted and

adopted through joint efforts. In the draft that currently

is being elaborated, we are insisting on giving up the

status of unitary State, which does not take into

account the profound specific characteristics of the

Transnistrian region. We are laying as the basis of the

new State draft the principles of the federative

organization of our country, which take into

consideration the long-term interests of all the regions

of Moldova.

In eliminating the effects of the nationalistic

hysteria characteristic of the early 1990s, which

divided both the society and the country, Moldova has

declared itself determined to build a harmonious multi-

ethnic society, based on principles of ethnic and

linguistic liberalism and pluralism. I believe that it is

precisely this policy that corresponds to those

integrationist trends that are replacing isolationism and

secessionism.

Unity in diversity — that is the principle of our

policy today, and that is the motto of the Moldovan

chairmanship in the Council of Europe. We are firmly

convinced that only those transformations will be able

to serve as the proper basis for resolving both the

domestic problems of the Moldovan State and the

problems concerning regional security.

In the second place, the Republic of Moldova has

proclaimed the path of European integration a priority

national strategy of the State. We are well aware of

how difficult that path is, and of the responsibility it

requires, but at the same time we firmly state that it

represents first and foremost an internal political and

economic option for Moldova. We know that this

option requires effective and comprehensive

consolidation of the market economy institutions,

further advancement of democratic reforms and the

development of civil society and the social sphere. Yet

however difficult the task before us may be, we hope

that in time our decision will lead to the establishment

of a national consensus.

Peace and security on our planet may constitute

the guarantee that all States will adopt a joint position

regarding the acknowledgement of modern social,

economic, political and legal standards. It is clear that

there is no other way. Humankind is currently more

vulnerable than ever to crises and disasters of every

scope and degree. That is why civilization today does

not have, and should not have, any local problems; nor

does it, or should it, have any dark corners where, as in

a hothouse, terrorism, repression and defiant disdain

for the opinion of the international community can

flourish.

In developing such a position, the most important

role lies with the Security Council. In that context, I

express my support for the idea of making the Security

Council more representative. The Republic of Moldova

stands for a reasonable increase in the number of

permanent and non-permanent members in the Security

Council, which would further ensure the principle of

equal geographic representation and would reflect the

interests of all regional groups. Fully aware of the

difficulty of reaching consensus on that issue, I call

upon all Members of the United Nations to make every

effort to adopt a definitive decision to that end.

The Republic of Moldova also supports the idea

of restoring the role of the General Assembly as the

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most important, representative and deliberative body of

the United Nations. Along the same lines, I think there

is a need to consolidate further the capacity of the

Economic and Social Council as the coordinator of

United Nations funds and programmes. I am sure that

the further development of United Nations institutions

and structures will be the best proof of the viability of

the principles of the Organization, its growing prestige

and its leading role in the world. I express the hope that

the United Nations will know how to place itself at the

vanguard of current positive developments.

I am firmly convinced that the proceedings of the

fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly will take

place in a spirit of sincere cooperation and solidarity,

so that the representatives of all States will make

sustained efforts to achieve the noble goals of peace,

stability and prosperity.