Belize, 2002

On 21 September 1981

Belize joined the community of nations as an

independent country, and we the people of Belize

enthusiastically embraced our role as a partner in the

community of nations.

The United Nations played a pivotal role in

securing Belize's right to self-determination, and, as

we commemorate our independence, we express our

appreciation and continued support for the work of the

Organization.

Since its inception in 1945 our United Nations

has, like all of us, been grappling with the constant

changes in our world. In its imperfection it has endured

the problems of infancy, puberty and adolescence. Each

adjustment provided occasions for learning and

opportunities for growth. No, we have not always

grown for the better; and we have suffered the cost of

our mistakes.

Still the United Nations endured, for the

principles of the Charter will reverberate as loudly

tomorrow as they do today and did yesterday. Our right

to live peaceful and dignified lives holds as true today

as it did in 1945.

Two years ago world leaders assembled here in

New York in an effort to rejuvenate the United Nations.

This resulted in the Millennium Declaration and

brought forth the Millennium Development Goals.

In these instruments we acknowledged the

growing abyss between the few with plenty and the

many with nothing. We made new commitments and

reaffirmed old ones. We renewed yet again our ultimate

goal of the improvement of humanity, a goal which we

undoubtedly hold as sacred.

Since then we have held many meetings and

conferences where we have merely recycled ideas and

visions. Now we must aim for higher standards and

make the case that, as a global community, we are

obligated to account for how we have chosen to

implement the many commitments we have made.

For us implementation is a function of resources;

good governance, both locally and globally; shared

responsibility; and partnerships. The implementation of

the Millennium Declaration can be effective only

through the participation and cooperation of all

relevant stakeholders.

In order to ensure that the process of

implementation is democratized, inclusive, transparent

and accountable, we must act with shared

responsibility and in partnerships of mutual respect and

equality. As we follow the road map for the

implementation of the Millennium Declaration, our

deliberations and, even more so, our commitment to the

Monterrey Consensus and to the Plan of

Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable

Development should result in meaningful change that

will improve the lives of our poorest peoples.

On 5 February 2002, Belize hosted the first-ever

Caribbean Community (CARICOM), System of Central

American Integration (SICA) and Dominican Republic

summit. In the joint declaration issued at the

conclusion of the summit, the Caribbean and Central

American leaders agreed to strengthen their

cooperation and to coordinate actions in areas such as

education, health, poverty elimination, environment,

trade and investment. Shortly our Foreign Ministers

shall conclude a Plan of Action to implement the goals

set out in the declaration.

The present development paradigm requires

dynamic partnerships. Belize intends to play its part in

encouraging closer collaboration and cooperation

between Central America and the Caribbean.

A major hindrance to development is conflict; it

is costly and causes unnecessary pain and suffering,

often to innocent victims. My delegation is concerned

about any notion that violence could be a solution to

conflict. History has taught us that lasting peace can

never be constructed in a climate of vengeance.

In this regard we express our grave concern over

the continuing deterioration of relations in the Middle

East, especially with respect to the Palestinian people.

The escalation of violence in the region demonstrates

the urgent need for the parties to resume peace

negotiations.

The universally endorsed vision of two States,

Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace within

secure and recognized borders, as called for by the

Security Council in resolution 1397 (2002), should be

realized as soon as possible.

We encourage the efforts of the United Nations in

facilitating a peaceful resolution to the question of

Western Sahara and support the Settlement Plan as a

viable political solution to the dispute.

Conflict in its many manifestations finds its

breeding ground in human desperation, frailty and

ignorance. If we can address the needs of the

disaffected and the vulnerable, then we can stamp out

the embers of conflict and increase the potential for

international peace and security. Yes, we must address

those conditions according to our national capacity, but

we cannot go it alone. A multilateral approach is

imperative.

Belize continues to look to the United Nations for

the global enforcement of human rights standards. On 1

July 2002, the international community witnessed the

entry into force of the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court. As a State Party to the

Statute, my Government will abide by its legal

obligations thereunder and will uphold the integrity of

the Court. It is our hope that all peace-loving and law-

abiding nations of the world will become parties to the

Rome Statute so that the universal jurisdiction of the

Court can be realized. The Court presents the hope that

there will be an end to impunity for the perpetrators of

genocide, of other crimes against humanity and of war

crimes. We see this as the start of a new system of

international justice.

At this session of the General Assembly, we will

be witnessing the expansion of the representative

character of the United Nations. We recognize the

tremendous contribution that the Swiss Confederation

has made in international relations, particularly with

respect to human rights and humanitarian issues. Its

decision to become a full member of the United

Nations will greatly enhance our work.

Likewise, we are pleased to welcome the

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to our family of

nations. Its struggle has been long and arduous, and its

admission is a testament to the indispensable role of

the United Nations.

It is our wish that the United Nations be the

forum for the representation of all peoples of the world,

including the 23 million people of the Republic of

China on Taiwan. We must give true meaning to the

principle of universality set forth in the Charter and,

more specifically, to the affirmation therein of our faith

in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth

of the human person, in the equal rights of men and

women and of nations large and small.

With the support of the United Nations, Belize

became an independent nation. Before and after that

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time, we made every effort to resolve the territorial

dispute between Belize and Guatemala, which we had

inherited from colonial times. All previous attempts

had proved futile, but in March 2000, at the start of this

millennium, Guatemala and Belize agreed to initiate a

unique process to resolve the dispute. Each of us

appointed a Facilitator and asked the Secretary-

General of the Organization of American States (OAS)

to be honour witness to the process.

I am happy to be able to announce that, just

yesterday, at OAS headquarters, the Facilitators

presented their proposals for a peaceful and definitive

resolution of the territorial dispute. The proposals must

be submitted by referenda to the peoples of both

countries, and only if accepted by both countries will

they be translated into treaties of settlement that will

bring this age-old dispute to an end and create better

conditions for harmonious cooperation between the two

countries something for which both our peoples

yearn. We fervently hope that that will indeed come to

pass.

An essential aspect of the proposal involves a

development trust fund, and we wish to thank all the

countries that will generously contribute to making

possible the peaceful settlement of a territorial dispute

that has adversely affected relations not only between

the countries involved, but also between the two

subregions to which Belize belongs the Caribbean

and Central America.

Four days from today, our people will assemble

and re-enact the events of our Independence Day. It

will also be a time to renew our commitment to the

principles of justice and liberty, to the right of a people

to self-determination, to the right to development and

to our continued commitment to live in peace with our

neighbours. That is the legacy of the United Nations;

that is our just objective.