Vanuatu, 2006

Today, we stand on the

verge of global uncertainty. The international

landscape is scarred by wars, conflict, civil unrest,

epidemics, drought and famine. Poverty and

malnutrition continue to ravage the lives of millions of

the world’s inhabitants.

The very values and fabric on which the United

Nations was founded are being besieged by new ideas

and principles that are undermining the authority of

this body to maintain global peace and security. The

clash of ideologies and of cultural and religious

differences continues to give much food for thought.

The United Nations stands at a crossroads. While it has

the mandate to address those challenges, it remains

paralysed as a result of actions taken by the hegemonic

Powers of today. That is the dilemma confronting the

Organization.

The value of the human person and his or her

right to live in a world that is fair and just seems but a

dream. Ensuring the dignity of one’s right to live with

access to the most basic necessities in life remains our

greatest challenge. We speak so ambitiously of creating

a world that is equitable and just, but the outcomes

have been unimpressive.

The schism between the minority rich and the

majority poor continues to grow. The multitudes of the

disadvantaged are being further marginalized from the

so-called benefits of globalization. Fear has struck

many small countries of the developing world. It is not

the fear that the developing world has no capabilities in

contributing to peace and security, but the fear — the

greatest fear, in fact — that the undemocratic practices

of the major United Nations organs, such as the

Security Council, are causing tension and disarray in

the work of the United Nations.

The disparities in the quality of life between the

haves and the have-nots have grown to be fertile

breeding grounds for new and hostile generations. And

it is here that the phenomenon of terrorism continues to

challenge the frontiers of our imagination. It is perhaps

much clearer today than ever before that there are

reasons for increased resentment in certain parts of the

world.

My Government condemns terrorism in whatever

form or manifestation it assumes, and there is an urgent

need for all the Members of the United Nations to work

together openly in combating those dangerous

developments. The destruction of innocent lives should

not be the means to meeting an end. That is inhumane.

All United Nations Member countries therefore have

the responsibility — a moral and ethical

responsibility — to eradicate that menace from the face

of the Earth.

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Peace cannot be won through injustice, the

practice of double standards, aggression or war. We

cannot be victorious in the fight against terrorism if we

fail to address its root causes. Conversely, it is

incumbent on all Member States to act responsibly to

ensure the implementation of all United Nations

resolutions. Moreover, if we are to have any hope of

building a better future, then peace must sometimes

come at a price.

We must begin to look deeply, honestly and with

open hearts if we are really to understand the world

around us. If there is a question of repressive policies

that influence and dominate the international economic

and political order, then those concerned must take

remedial action. The adoption of the resolution on the

United Nation’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is

therefore a positive step forward.

The central focus on the fight against terrorism

has taken centre stage for some, and the diversion of

resources is jeopardizing the realization of the

Millennium Development Goals and official

development assistance target levels. Accessibility to

the markets of the affluent nations has also restricted

the progress of development in many countries of the

developing world. Major world players must not lose

sight of those goals.

Inter-State relations, mutual understanding and

tolerance begin with respect for the individual. The

dignity of the human person is of the essence in

building equality between all persons. That is one of

the fundamental principles of the United Nations. As

Members of the United Nations, we have all agreed to

embrace those principles and we continue to believe in

those values. Vanuatu joined the United Nations in

1981 because it believed in the Organization. Today, I

stand before the Assembly to again reaffirm faith in the

United Nations, but I agree that changes must take

place to adapt the United Nations system to the

evolution of the international and geopolitical and

economic framework.

Reforms of the various United Nations bodies are

therefore absolutely essential. There must be reform of

the Security Council to ensure that it is democratic and

more representative of the United Nations membership.

The veto power in the Council dilutes all the good

intentions of the majority of the United Nations

membership towards addressing many of the

challenges confronting us today. The underlying

question, though, is: Has the disproportionate use of

the veto power sustained reasonable levels of

international peace and stability?

Cultural and religious differences cannot be seen

to be obstacles in that regard. The United Nations

brought civility and etiquette to the conduct of

relations between States, and central to that are

relations between individuals. The art of statesmanship

has therefore become very critical at this time. Respect

must therefore begin here at the United Nations. When

one world Power speaks here, this Hall is jammed.

Thereafter, the debate becomes routine. That is remiss

of many of us. The annual general debate of the

General Assembly is the only practical occasion at

which almost all leaders are together in one place to

discuss and share views on the development challenges

facing the globe. The United Nations is not about one

or several nations; it is about this family of nations

with the one common objective of maintaining

international peace and security.

Over the past few days, millions around the globe

have monitored the unfolding debate in this noble Hall

of the General Assembly. A war of words has

resounded from this rostrum, exposing an alarming rift

in relations between some super-Powers and the voices

of the developing world. The media have exploited the

situation to scrutinize those events, often ending up

with gross assumptions and conclusions that have only

instilled fear amongst the world’s innocent population.

Now, is that the right message of hope we are giving to

our peoples, who have faith in the United Nations? Is

the United Nations not the beacon of hope for all

humanity?

Confrontation must be resolved through tactful

diplomacy and negotiation consistent with the purposes

and principles of the United Nations Charter and

established international law. In that spirit, we also

appeal to those concerned to exercise great restraint

and to have the wisdom and responsibility to ensure

above all that any action they take serves that purpose,

which must be in the interest of future global justice,

peace and security. Any retreat from multilateralism

will result only in increased tension and aggression.

Again, mutual dialogue through appropriate

mechanisms is absolutely critical at this very delicate

time.

On the question of the Middle East, both Israel

and Palestine have the right to live side by side in

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peaceful coexistence as independent and sovereign

States. The international community must be realistic

about the future. Let us allow justice, security and

long-lasting peace to prevail for both the Israeli people

and the Palestinians.

Recently, Vanuatu was recognized by the Happy

Planet Index, published by the British-based New

Economics Foundation, as the happiest place on Earth.

We are proud to have been placed so high amongst all

countries of the world, but we have been careful not to

be carried away, and so often it is that island paradox

that conceals the diverse development challenges that

small island countries of the Pacific, such as Vanuatu,

face in today’s world of globalization.

Last week, during the High-Level Meeting on the

Midterm Comprehensive Global Review of the

Implementation of the Programme of Action for the

Least Developed Countries, I spoke of the many

challenges facing my country in the implementation of

the Brussels Programme of Action. Vanuatu has been

showing positive signs of gradual economic growth.

However, in the light of our vulnerability to natural

disasters, exogenous market demand and supply price

fluctuations and their adverse impacts on the three

most important sectors contributing to our gross

domestic product, we consider this an inappropriate

time to include Vanuatu in the list of countries eligible

for graduation.

Furthermore, while the current methods used to

measure the three main thresholds for graduation are

dependent on statistical variables, it is commonly

understood that statistical data for countries in the

Pacific — including Vanuatu — contain major

discrepancies. Therefore, relying solely on such data to

determine Vanuatu’s achievements in relation to the

thresholds would yield inaccurate results.

Very soon, the General Assembly will be

considering countries recommended for inclusion in

the list of countries eligible for graduation. That list

includes Vanuatu. Our arguments for exclusion from

the list are well founded and based on practical

realities. My Government considers as premature the

recommendation by the Committee for Development

Policy to include Vanuatu on the list. We therefore call

upon Members of the United Nations to understand and

support Vanuatu’s case.

As a responsible United Nations Member,

Vanuatu is also contributing towards international

peace and security. Vanuatu peacekeepers have

participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions

in Bosnia and East Timor, and we currently have

peacekeepers stationed in the Congo, Haiti, Côte

d’Ivoire and the Sudan. Vanuatu has also participated

in regional peacekeeping missions in Bougainville and

Solomon Islands. Those efforts illustrate Vanuatu’s

resolve to engage in peacekeeping and peacebuilding

in both the regional and international contexts.

With regard to the question of the environment —

in particular global warming and climate change — my

Government strongly aligns itself with other small

island States in urging the international community to

reduce emissions. The failure of major emitters to sign

the Kyoto Protocol is a major disappointment.

The Charter of the United Nations espouses the

principles that continue to guide the Organization’s

efforts in the process of self-determination. It calls for

recognition of and respect for the fundamental rights of

peoples and territories still under colonial rule. We

must not lose sight of that goal. The United Nations

must make renewed efforts where it has failed to allow

justice to prevail for those peoples who continue to be

denied their inalienable right to freedom and

democracy. We must relegate that dark legacy to the

past.

Determining how to bring more cohesiveness and

unity to this great community of nations has now

become a much more formidable challenge. I affirm

my support for the challenging exercise before us. Our

Almighty Creator entrusted us, the human race, with

the safeguarding of a great asset, the Earth. It is

incumbent on us to make the most of that opportunity.

The world’s destiny is in our hands. In that spirit, I

extend my congratulations to Montenegro on its

admission as the 192nd Member of the United Nations.

Before closing, I would like to acknowledge the

support of our development partners — in particular

Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, the People’s

Republic of China, the United States of America and

the European Union — as well as the various United

Nations bodies that are strongly supporting the

development of Vanuatu. I also extend our appreciation

to India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia

for their continuous support within the framework of

South-South cooperation. In addition, my Government

is encouraged by the initiative and the kind gesture of

Venezuela in committing $2 million to the Pacific

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islands through the work programme of the United

Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Those

are positive developments that together are

complementing the leadership role being played by my

Government in its development path.

In closing, I take this final opportunity to pay our

respects to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for

his outstanding stewardship of the United Nations. His

wisdom has ensured that the United Nations will retain

its credibility and its relevance. During periods of

turbulence and uncertainty, he has been relentless in

the pursuit of his belief in United Nations reform. My

Government salutes him for his distinguished service

to the United Nations. We wish him all the best in his

future endeavours.