North Macedonia, 2010

It is a privilege and a

great honour for me today to address this unique forum

where great and small, powerful and less powerful

nations speak with one voice; a forum we undoubtedly

expect to result in dialogue and leadership in order to

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deal with the challenges to peace and security, hunger

and development, human rights and climate change.

Success will be possible only by overcoming

individual interests. I am convinced that today more

than ever, each of us individually and all of us together

have reasons to turn our words into actions.

Let me first congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss on his

election as the President of the General Assembly at its

sixty-fifth session and assure him of my delegation’s

readiness to cooperate during his term. I also

congratulate the former President, Mr. Treki, on

successfully presiding over the Assembly at its sixty-

fourth session. At the same time I would like to take

this opportunity to acknowledge the engagement and

the efforts made by the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban

Ki-moon, to strengthen the role of our Organization.

At the outset, I would like to say a few words on

the consequences of the global financial and economic

crisis, and I will refer in particular to the role of the

United Nations in this context.

The global economic and financial crisis

threatened to reverse the progress made in achieving

the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and

efforts to attain peace in all regions. I think that all we

Member States and the United Nations system in

general successfully dealt with it. Timely, joint and

adequate solutions were found to many of the

problems. Processes were initiated to mitigate the

effects of the crisis and to face possible future crises.

Actions were taken to help the most affected,

according to the agreed action plans and with

appropriate support and cooperation, often resulting in

successful outcomes. Let us not forget that economic,

financial and social security is a foundation on which

sustainable development, national and global security

and prosperity rest.

Five years remain before the deadline for the

implementation and realization of the Millennium

Development Goals. That objective is still before us —

an objective we must not give up on achieving now,

despite the decelerated pace of implementation. We are

all aware of the high stakes and potential benefits. I

welcome the outcome of the High-level Plenary

Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals held

last week, when we all pledged to strengthen our

efforts to attain the ultimate goal.

The Republic of Macedonia, as before, remains

strongly committed to achieving the Goals, as reflected

at the national level in the Government’s strategy for

economic and sustainable development and in national

legislation, which is adapted to the current obligations

deriving from international treaties and agreements.

On the other hand, global climate change is both

a serious threat to our planet and survival. Frequent

natural disasters and humanitarian catastrophes have

made it clear that nature reacts to the irresponsible

attitude that humankind has adopted towards it.

However, the struggle to preserve nature must not only

be a matter of declarations; it must enjoy global

leadership and be visible in every small town, every

State, and the strict observance and development of

national strategies. Successful formulas must be

transformed into in a common global struggle to

preserve our way of life, side by side with the needs of

the planet.

The Republic of Macedonia stands ready to

contribute adequately to the global efforts. Many

initiatives have been undertaken. We are truly focused

on the best possible weapons in this struggle:

awareness-raising and education on and a culture of

reducing the use of electricity by using alternative

energy sources and reductions in harmful emissions. As

a party to the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change for over a decade, my country has

worked actively to achieve the Convention’s

objectives.

Unfortunately, the world still does not live in the

desired peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, every day

we continue to witness disturbances to peace and

security in certain regions in the world, both in old and

frozen conflicts and in the emergence of new tensions

in several regions in the world. If the fundamental

institutional goal and essential objective of this

Organization is to spare humanity from suffering, wars

and conflicts, then we should ask ourselves whether

our efforts have been sufficient to secure peace and

prosperity. The answer is no, neither globally nor

regionally.

The consequences of the global financial and

economic crisis and the slow pace of implementation

of the MDGs have had a serious impact on the essence

of conflicts, often because of a lack of democratic

processes and rule of law in certain areas. Only by

promoting peace, human rights and the rule of law

through dialogue and tolerance can we make the world

a just and fair place to live in.

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In the context of what I have just said, I welcome

the relevance of this session’s theme, which should

help create effective responses to global crises and

restore the role of the United Nations in global

governance. The genuine vision of the founders of the

United Nations should be restored. They have left us a

legacy.

The Republic of Macedonia strongly supports the

joint efforts to improve the overall coherence of the

United Nations system. I believe that we all agree that

it was and remains necessary to redefine the

functioning of the United Nations system in order to

respond to the demands and priorities of the Member

States in the best and most effective manner possible.

We should create a highly functional global governance

organization that has no overlapping of mandates, but

achieves maximal effect through an appropriate and

transparent use of existing resources.

Since gaining independence, the Republic of

Macedonia has been fully committed to substantial

reforms in all areas aimed at promoting democracy and

improving the standards of living of its citizens, based

on historical traditions of respect for multiethnic

coexistence, dialogue and mutual understanding.

Our achievements in this context have been

validated and internationally recognized. Therefore, the

Republic of Macedonia rightfully expects a date to be

set to begin negotiations on its accession to the

European Union (EU) and an invitation to join NATO.

We have enforced the necessary reforms to join NATO,

we have been an EU membership candidate country for

five years, and last year we received a positive

recommendation to start negotiations with the EU.

Unfortunately, our citizens have not yet felt the full

benefits of that. And yet, the reforms that brought us to

the front doors of these organizations were not at all

easy. In addition, my country is actively committed to

regional cooperation and to building good-neighbourly

relations. Macedonia accepts and promotes dialogue as

the only mechanism for overcoming all outstanding

issues in the region.

The Republic of Macedonia has directed all its

available capacities and resources towards

implementing our top strategic foreign policy goals:

integration into the EU and NATO membership. I

would like to remind the Assembly that, 15 years ago

here in New York, the Interim Accord was signed with

our southern neighbour, whereby Greece agreed not to

obstruct my country’s membership of and integration

into international and regional organizations.

Nevertheless, I must note that my country is still

waiting at the doors of these two organizations due to

the actions of our southern neighbour, which are

contrary to the obligations under the 1995 Interim

Accord.

The Republic of Macedonia is fully committed to

the process of resolving its differences with Greece

within the framework of the mechanism established by

United Nations resolutions. Our name is at stake, as is

our right to self-identification and human dignity. We

have done our utmost to nurture close and friendly

relations with our neighbour Greece and its people. A

solution will be reached only if the United Nations

Charter, the relevant resolutions and international law

and its principles, on which the international order

rests, are respected.

The Republic of Macedonia and its citizens

deserve to enjoy the benefits of NATO membership and

to start EU accession negotiations.

Yesterday, here at the United Nations, I had a

meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, which sought

to build a climate of mutual trust and understanding. I

hope that, as two neighbouring countries that have

lived and will live with one another, we will be able to

find a mutually acceptable solution. It will be a big

step not only for us but also towards fulfilling our

common vision for the whole region.

I must say that I am encouraged by the situation

in our region. The more intensive communication and

cooperation efforts are, the better understanding and

respect will be. By accepting dialogue as the only way

to overcome inherited problems and open issues, we

create a new climate. Proof of this was the second

Balkan Leaders Forum, which was held here in New

York City a couple of days ago. Slowly but surely, the

Balkans is restoring its impaired dignity. The Balkans

again aspires to become part of the European space,

where European values, European criteria and

European principles will be respected. The Balkans has

been, is and will be Europe.

Let me conclude with the statement that the

Republic of Macedonia believes in the United Nations

and the postulates upon which it rests. I believe that the

United Nations can maintain the stability of

international order and relations and successfully meet

current and future global challenges. The Republic of

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Macedonia stands ready to further provide its

constructive contribution to the implementation and

realization of these goals.