Fiji, 2003

Mr. President, my Government

and country warmly congratulate you on your

assumption of the Presidency of this fifty-eighth

session of the United Nations General Assembly. In

presiding over the Assembly, Saint Lucia is setting an

historic precedent for small island developing States,

with the able support of its Caribbean Community

(CARICOM) neighbours.

Fiji fully supports your chairmanship. We also

recognize the successful leadership of your

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predecessor, President Jan Kavan of the Czech

Republic.

I wish to express my Government’s deep

condolences to the family of Mr. Vieira de Mello and

of all the victims of the bombing at the United Nations

in Baghdad last month. This was a brutal crime, which

robbed the world of one of its most accomplished

mediators and peacemakers. We hope that at this

session, we can all come together, united, in our

collective determination to rid the world of terrorism.

I come from a part of the globe that is isolated in

the vast South Pacific. But that remoteness does not

separate us from the international perils of the bomb,

the gun and the hijacker. It does not insulate us against

those bent on causing death and destruction to defend

their interests or advance a cause. The fact is that every

country and region is a potential target.

Members of the Pacific Islands Forum are joined

with the United Nations in the search for a new order

of peace and stability. That might seem an impossible

task set against the tensions, the hatreds, the bloodshed

and violence of the times. But, if we abandon it, we sell

out the principles of the United Nations. We betray our

countries, our peoples and generations to come.

Are we so inadequate and lacking in our

understanding and abilities that we are incapable of

coming up with new solutions to stop the spread of

terror? It is not enough to simply strike out at the

perpetrators. We must spend more effort and resources

finding out what turns people towards violence to

achieve a goal. We must tell ourselves that there is a

different way, that the growing culture of violence and

killing is not destined to be a permanent part of our

world.

The United Nations needs to go to the root causes

of this terrible phenomenon, which casts a very dark

and menacing shadow over the first years of the

twenty-first century. In the Pacific, we are

concentrating on security issues, strengthening law and

order and maintaining stability. A number of initiatives

were taken during the last 12 months when our Prime

Minister served as Forum chair.

Foremost among these initiatives was the ground-

breaking decision to send a peace mission to the

Solomon Islands in response to a plea for assistance

from that country. The Solomon Islands had been

wracked for several years by civil unrest, lawlessness

and ethnic conflict. We in Fiji had a sympathetic

appreciation of the difficulties facing those islands

because of our own crisis in 2000. We were more than

happy, therefore, to contribute to a task force to the

Solomon Islands charged with bringing back order and

re-establishing peace. A contingent of our troops,

combined with others from Australia, Papua New

Guinea, Tonga and New Zealand, is now in the

Solomon Islands working with the people there. We are

encouraged by what our own soldiers and their

comrades have been able to do so far to support a

neighbour in distress. Our task is given extra

significance through the close ties we enjoy with the

Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands mission has inevitably

generated some controversy and debate about

Australia’s expanding involvement in our region. But

let the record reflect that we endorse Australia’s

leading role in this intervention on the invitation of the

Solomon Islands Government. One of its notable

aspects is that it is multilateral. It was accomplished

through the Pacific Islands Forum and has the

unanimous support of the members. Beyond this, we

know that the support and encouragement of the

international community and the United Nations

system will remain important, as work to build a

credible law and justice system, an effective

administration and a viable economic base continues.

Recent happenings have brought into question the

value, the relevance and the future of multilateralism.

Our position is that we understood the concerns, which

led the United States to act in the way it did over Iraq.

The date of 11 September 2001 was a shattering ordeal.

It changed history and it changed America.

That said, Fiji declares an unwavering

commitment to the concept of the world community

working together, seeking the common path forward.

We stand by the ideals of a multilateral, cooperative

approach among nations. We welcome the decision by

the United States to now seek United Nations

involvement in Iraq’s reconstruction.

In the Pacific, the Nasonini Declaration on

regional security, adopted last year in Fiji, is a

keystone of joint strategy. It followed the earlier

Honiara Declaration on Law Enforcement Cooperation,

aimed at countering transnational and organized crime.

The Forum countries will give higher priority to

implementing legislative provisions to improve our

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capacity for dealing with law enforcement and security

challenges. Underpinning this is an Australian

commitment, also approved by the Forum, to spend

approximately $15 million over three years, to

strengthen regional police forces. New Zealand has,

additionally, agreed to put in $2 million. This important

project is to be based in Fiji. A regional academy will

provide training for about 900 police officers annually

from Forum countries.

Fiji has been taking part in United Nations

peacekeeping operations since 1978. This has come at

a price. But, to us, serving world peace with our

soldiers demonstrates that even the smallest States can

play their part in minimizing and preventing conflicts.

Currently, 635 Fiji personnel are on active duty in

United Nations missions, apart from 123 soldiers and

15 police in the Solomon Islands. Our commitment to

United Nations peacekeeping has not changed. It is a

vital part of our foreign policy.

Fiji stresses the importance of strengthening

multilateral treaties and conventions on disarmament

and non-proliferation. Our country is one of those that

want to see an effective global strategy for the control

of small arms and light weapons.

During our Prime Minister’s chairmanship of the

Pacific Islands Forum, there was a deepening of the

South Pacific region’s engagement with development

partners and international organizations. Heads of

Government from member States enhanced their ties

with France and Japan. They met in Tahiti with

President Chirac and discussed many topics of common

concern.

At a summit with Prime Minister Koizumi in

Okinawa, they were able to reach and agreement on the

outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable

Development, the Millennium Development Goals and

our own regional priorities, as a further basis for future

collaboration.

The Pacific Islands Forum now has 12 dialogue

partners, including the United States, Canada, France,

the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan,

China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and

Taiwan.

China — the emerging giant in world affairs and

trade — has a steadily growing presence in our region.

Its involvement and support for our economic and

social development is welcome. We see definite scope

for trade, investment, cultural and tourism links. China,

many commentators believe, already has the world’s

second largest economy. Its present aid programme is

significant and we expect it to grow substantially as

bilateral relationships grow stronger.

At the same time, we place great value on our

trade and commerce with Taiwan and value its

assistance to our development. We look forward to the

day when China and Taiwan peacefully resolve their

long-standing differences.

We also welcome Japan’s role and presence in the

Pacific Islands region. Japan is an economic

powerhouse and its increased role and contribution in

promoting international security and development

should be recognized by all Member States in allowing

Japan a special place in the United Nations Security

Council.

I am pleased to report that in Fiji and the region,

there is more coordination in the effort to curb

HIV/AIDS, the most terrible disease of our era.

Although we have so far escaped the worst effects of

HIV/AIDS, it is a real danger in the islands.

We expect to make substantial progress in our

fight against this affliction, with support from Japan

and France and an allocation from the Global Fund to

Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. A programme

financed by Australia provides $12.5 million for the

regional campaign. Our Government will also make a

larger HIV/AIDS allocation in next year’s budget.

HIV/AIDS screening was recently at the centre of

discussion in Fiji, when a suggestion was made for

obligatory testing. Such a move was regarded by our

Human Rights Commission as a rights violation. We

must weigh the Commission’s views carefully against

the competing call for radical response to a national

threat.

The Fiji Human Rights Commission is a product

of our Constitution and its comprehensive bill of rights.

The Commission is implementing a public education

campaign to overcome a lack of awareness on rights

issues. It also monitors Government and statutory

authorities so that laws and policies conform to

international human rights principles and the

requirements of the Constitution. These generally

reflect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

adopted by this Assembly in 1948.

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As a former colony, Fiji is a late-starter in

promoting human rights and civil liberties. Our

Government’s strategic plan to 2005 expresses very

clearly where we stand. The plan was endorsed by a

national economic summit and by Parliament. Please

allow me to quote briefly from the plan:

“The guarantee of fundamental rights and

freedoms for every citizen of Fiji and their equal

protection under the law ... is an essential part of

our vision for a peaceful Fiji. A feeling of

personal security and of group security comes

about when people have confidence that breaches

of rights and freedoms will be dealt with

impartially and speedily”.

I quote further:

“... Respect for the rights of others is a

critical component of our freedoms guaranteed

under the constitution. It is essential for peaceful

existence in our multi-cultural society”.

I emphasize these points because sometimes there

are attempts to depict Fiji as a land where rights are

habitually abused. Propaganda against our country has

been circulated in some quarters here at the United

Nations.

Much of this stems from opposition to our

affirmative action policies designed to end social and

economic inequalities. These are based on principles

well-established internationally and are provided for in

our Constitution.

It is self-evident that a country cannot grow in

justice, harmony and prosperity when more than half of

its population — in this case the indigenous Fijians —

are largely outside the economy looking in.

All right-thinking people will agree that it is just

and fair that this should be changed. But we constantly

stress that this is not about taking from one group to

give to another. It is about making the economy grow

so that there is enough wealth to be shared equitably

among our population. We want to give the Fijians a

chance to catch up and compete in business and

commerce.

Let it be noted that we have brought in laws to

help the disadvantaged of all communities. This is a

constitutional obligation. No one is being left out. That

is the commitment we have made to our own

population, and we now make to the international

community.

Disparities and inequalities go to the very heart of

the dispute which brought about the collapse of the

Cancún talks. The failure of the talks underscores the

deep differences which separate the poor countries

from the rich in the battle to reform international trade.

We acknowledge the ideal of free trade, but the stark

reality is that there are many dangerous pitfalls for

nations whose economies are weak and vulnerable.

It will be a long time before most developing

States are ready to compete on that so-called level

playing field. To them it is not level at all. Bring the

barriers down completely and the full might of first-

world commercial power will descend. What will that

do to home-grown and emerging industries in poorer

countries?

For the time being, countries like ours need

preferences and special access for our economic

survival. Think of it as a form of affirmative action to

reduce that yawning chasm between the rich North and

the poverty-stricken South. We now need to urgently

consider where the World Trade Organization goes

from here, and what can be done to salvage the

wreckage of Cancún.

About three and-a-half years ago, my country

came very close to anarchy. We had an armed

insurrection, hostage-taking and violence. The

Government of the day was overthrown. It was a time

of extreme crisis for Fiji.

Now, I can stand before this Assembly to tell you

that our nation is being reborn. Order and stability were

restored and the first steps taken on a continuing

journey of reconciliation. We had peaceful, democratic

elections. Our Government is on a mission to build a

Fiji where peace, multi-racial harmony and prosperity

will always reign.

Our economic policy is to create more

employment and wealth through high growth. We have

increased Government investment in infrastructure and

made a concerted and, to this point, successful effort to

attract greater volumes of private capital. Many of the

indicators are positive — apart from those relating to

our sugar industry. This year, we expect to achieve an

overall growth rate of more than five per cent.

This remarkable recovery could not have been

achieved without the encouragement and support of

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many friends of Fiji in the international community,

and especially here at the United Nations.

I pay tribute to the role of the United Nations

Development Programme, the World Health

Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization,

the United Nations Population Fund, the United

Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and

the International Labour Organization. The ILO is

making a particularly valuable contribution at the

moment with a plan to accelerate job creation.

To conclude, the “special case” of the small

island developing States is calling for a “special

response” of the global community, in further

advancing our sustainable development efforts. The

ten-year comprehensive review of the Barbados

Programme of Action in Mauritius next year will

provide the avenue for our development partners to

make further commitments to our cause. Fiji is urging

the international community to contribute to the

success of this meeting.

Mr. President and fellow delegates, the United

Nations is currently experiencing considerable strain

and division, but it is for all of us to ensure that this

Organization comes through the period of difficulty,

strengthened and regenerated. The world needs the

United Nations and what it stands for.