Comoros, 2003

It is a

great pleasure for me to join with others who have

spoken before me in congratulating, on behalf of my

country, the Union of the Comoros, and on my own

behalf, Mr. Julian Hunte on his election to preside over

the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. We are

convinced that, given his wisdom and extensive

experience, he will guide our work to a successful

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outcome. I am very pleased to assure him of the full

cooperation and support of my entire delegation.

I would also like to express appreciation for the

openness demonstrated by his predecessor, His

Excellency Mr. Jan Kavan, throughout the fifty-seventh

session of the General Assembly, over which he

presided with the skill and farsightedness that we all

know so well.

I also pay tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi

Annan, for his dedication to this global Organization a

sentiment that I am sure is shared by all nations.

It goes without saying that the challenges before

us are great, as many changes are taking place in the

world at an ever-increasing rate, requiring renewed

commitment on the part of the United Nations, as well

as a strengthening of its role. Unfortunately, every day

we see evidence of the risks that such changes entail.

In this context my country, the Union of the Comoros,

joins those who have paid tribute to the memory of the

United Nations staff members who fell as a result of

the indiscriminate violence and terrorism in Baghdad,

including the Special Representative of the Secretary-

General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Today more than ever, we should be concerned

about the direction in which the world is heading. The

world is characterized by violence, poverty and despair

despite the fact that science and technology have

never been more advanced and wealth never more

abundant. The division of the world into developed and

developing countries does nothing to assuage our

common fears and uncertainties.

It is true that the countries of the North are,

increasingly, questioning themselves on the subject

terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction. But it must be recognized that the

countries of the South, while asking themselves the

same questions, are also labouring increasingly under

the burden of debt, civil war, insecurity, poverty and

endemic disease. The pursuit of security and harmony

in the world therefore requires a sustained focus on all

countries with a view to achieving a safer, more unified

and more humane world.

Of course, as we see every day, terrorism,

cowardly and indiscriminate, thrives in poverty and

seeks to express itself through violence, exploiting the

weakest links in the global chain. It respects no

boundary, no race and no religion. As His Excellency

George W. Bush, President of the United States of

America, rightly said in his address to the General

Assembly, the victims of terrorism are also to be found

in Bali, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Mombassa,

Nairobi and Baghdad. We must respond, therefore, so

as to ensure that such borderless networks never gain

any respite and so as to prevent cowardice from

holding sway and destroying humanity.

In order to better combat this situation, we must

bring terrorists to justice and commit ourselves

resolutely to the long-term fight against terrorism

itself. In order to do so, we must fight frustration and

injustice and appeal for greater tolerance and for

respect for the right to differ and for the right of every

people to live in dignity.

In suppressing terrorism, however, we must guard

against any tendency to strike a blow against human

rights, and refrain from equating terrorism with certain

religions or regions. Indeed, committing such a grave

mistake could give rise to a vicious circle of hatred,

vengeance and isolationism at the global level. My

country is steadfastly committed to preventing and

combating terrorism in all its forms, and we have set

up the necessary institutional mechanisms to this end.

We appeal for greater technical and logistical support

from the international community to help us to be more

successful in this fight.

All the countries of the world those of the

North and South alike have a shared destiny.

Countries and peoples cannot get along without each

other. Solidarity is a necessity; complementarity is an

obligation. But we must recognize and reaffirm that we

cannot today truly talk about security in a world of

poverty. We cannot talk about peace if we do not

ensure the economic development and well-being of all

peoples. Harmony and democracy cannot reign in the

world if it is rife with inequalities and disparities that

leave entire sectors of the global population in

conditions of uncertainty, precariousness and oblivion.

We have, indeed, forgotten that humankind must

be at the centre of all of our concerns. Unfortunately,

the general feeling of uncertainty the daily fear that

all of us experience vividly brings to mind the fact

that, whatever the social status of particular

individuals, humankind is vulnerable and people need

each other in order to be reassured and to survive.

But the insecurity that causes so much anxiety

throughout the world and makes it seem so fragile has

9

a number of different sources. We are entitled to ask, as

we consider the current situation, if it was wise in the

past to have brought together almost by force

people of various nationalities, given that nothing was

done to foster a common desire among them to live

together.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that

there are inter-ethnic problems and friction between

nationalities in many States throughout the world, and

that these are a source of instability and insecurity.

That shows the seriousness of lack of respect for the

differences and even the character of each people in the

world's harmonious development.

Countries and peoples throughout the world are

searching for their integrity, their sovereignty and their

identity. Most often, of course, that generates threats to

peace and security. The same causes produce the same

effects everywhere. My country, the Union of the

Comoros today still a victim of its colonial past

is very eloquent testimony to that. But there are similar

cases, particularly in China, in Morocco, in Palestine

and in other regions. Under those conditions, the

Comorian State is experiencing as might be the case

for any other country all the difficulties of achieving

real development in its desire to consolidate democracy.

Today, democracy and respect for human rights

are requirements that must be respected by every

country. It is universally established that democracy is

the most appropriate remedy to overcome the pain of

countries and of peoples. But it is also established that,

whatever the remedy, the dose must be prescribed

according to the patient's age and physical state, and

obviously one must always bear in mind the possible

side effects. So we must help every country to move at

its own pace on the path of democracy, while bearing

in mind each people's history and traditions.

The dialogue of cultures openness towards the

other must be a permanent inspiration in the

commitment to a peaceful and responsible international

life. Multilateralism which is the guarantee of

participation by every nation in the world's progress

must be safeguarded and strengthened. Therefore, we

support the proposals of the Secretary-General, Mr.

Kofi Annan, for a restructuring of the Organization so

that it will be effective and can meet current

challenges. In that way, the moral authority of the

United Nations will be gradually restored and

maintained. As for the Security Council the body

charged with maintaining peace and security it must

be reformed and its role must be fine-tuned. That is an

essential condition for ensuring the success of its

diverse missions.

In its development, the world if it is to be

harmonious and stable must concern itself with and

bear in mind the most vulnerable regions and the most

disadvantaged countries. Among those, the small island

States deserve particular attention so that we can bridge

the development gap inherent to their geographical

situation. Only economic development and thus real

solidarity between rich and poor countries will

guarantee stability and peace in the world. Thus will

democracy and the rule of law be consolidated and

strengthened.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development

an ambitious project conceived in Africa by

Africans for Africans must be a reality that is

supported by and profitable for all. Debt which is a

true burden and is truly stifling developing economies

must be circumscribed and overcome to liberate the

countries of the South and to give them the capacity for

real involvement in global wealth creation. But, in

order to support the survival and emergence of our

economies, we must also put an end to agricultural

product subsidies in the countries of the North and let

the market have free reign. Our countries seek and

need support so that they can emerge from economic

marginalization. Our assets and our potential deserve to

be valued. Our efforts must be encouraged.

My country, which believes in Africa's ability to

take charge of itself, is facing its future with

determination and responsibility. I do not believe it is

useful to return to the ups and downs that have marked

my country's historical development particularly the

past few years, characterized by a secessionist crisis

with tragic consequences. Today, I welcome the new-

found normality and the significant progress achieved.

We owe that success to Comorian wisdom, to the

national conscience and to the multiform assistance of

all our bilateral and multilateral partners. Today, we

must still establish the Assemblies. But the Comorians

are convinced that only real economic development can

guarantee national cohesion and ensure a secure future.

The international community's support is needed

more than ever before. I thank our partner countries

and organizations, particularly the Republic of South

Africa and the African Union, which have always had

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confidence in the Comorian people and stand by them

in their resolve to achieve stability and well-being for

every citizen. Together, we have an opportunity to

guarantee a more just and more humane world. The

international system's weaknesses, the blindness and

the deafness, and the ill-fated and suicidal networks

must be overcome, allowing the emergence of an

international conscience, the guarantee of unity, peace

and solidarity. The world needs each of us, every

country and every difference, to guarantee its future.

Let us commit ourselves, all together, with resolve and

determination.