Ivory Coast, 2006

First, Madam, I should like to congratulate you on your

election to the presidency of the General Assembly at

its sixty-first session. Your election is proof of the high

esteem in which the international community holds

your country, Bahrain, and also yourself, whose wealth

of diplomatic experience will help us find the right

solutions to the problems facing this session of the

Assembly. I would also ask you kindly to convey my

delegation’s congratulations to the other members of

the Bureau. You may count on my delegation’s

06-53952 12

unremitting willingness and desire to work with you

for the success of this session. Allow me also to

express to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jan

Eliasson of Sweden, the Ivorian delegation’s gratitude

for his intensive activities during his presidency and

for the quality of the work he accomplished.

I would also like to pay well-deserved tribute to

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and to reiterate my

country’s appreciation for the skill with which he has

discharged his mission at the head of our Organization.

As he prepares to leave his office, I would like to say

how proud my country, a neighbour of Ghana, his

motherland, is for the distinguished way he has guided

the United Nations over the past 10 years. I would like

to express to him once again the sincere gratitude of

the people and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for his

personal commitment to advancing the process of

peace and reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire.

We welcome the Republic of Montenegro, which

has just joined the great family of the United Nations; I

pledge Côte d’Ivoire’s readiness to cooperate with it.

As the General Assembly marked the sixtieth

anniversary of the United Nations, we all expressed our

ambition to reform the Organization. We raised the bar

very high for our objectives in the main areas of United

Nations activity, namely international peace and

security, development and human rights. We decided,

among other things, to create a new mechanism to

restore and consolidate peace in countries devastated

by conflict and war, to adopt strategies to combat

poverty and disease and to act collectively to prevent

genocide and promote human rights. At the sixtieth

session, which recently came to an end, we were able

to achieve significant progress while seeking to

overcome existing differences.

Further tangible progress has been made since

then in many areas, such as counter-terrorism, human

rights, democracy, peacekeeping, humanitarian

intervention and management reform in order to make

the Secretariat more effective and accountable.

With regard to the strengthening of the human

rights machinery, for example, I should like to

welcome our joint commitment to help the Office of

the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights to strengthen its services and to double its

working budget. The creation of the Human Rights

Council, which began its work in Geneva on 19 June

2006, to replace the Commission on Human Rights is

another sign of our common awareness that we need to

set the question of the respect and promotion of human

rights among our priorities. We now have a Human

Rights Council, which must work with determination

and a sense of responsibility, so as to regain respect

and obtain the results expected by all.

As for terrorism, on whose definition everyone

has yet to agree, my delegation welcomes the existence

within our Organization of a structure to coordinate the

fight against terrorism in all its forms and

manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and

for whatever purposes.

Another source of satisfaction is the creation of

the Peacebuilding Commission, which is aimed at

giving assistance to countries emerging from armed

conflict. In this respect, and in the context of creating

the solidarity that should exist within our Organization,

the United Nations and the international community

must continue their efforts to bring lasting peace in

post-conflict periods in countries emerging from war.

They must be involved financially in this process not

only to consolidate this peace but also and above all to

contribute to the economic recovery and sustainable

development of those countries.

In his important — and final — report on the

work of the Organization (A/61/1), introduced to the

Assembly on 19 September 2006 (see ),

Secretary-General Kofi Annan advocates a United

Nations that is able to find solutions in this divided

world so that people can fulfil their common destiny.

In explaining his thinking, he said that we now face a

world whose divisions threaten the very notion of an

international community whereas most of the

challenges require a global response. My delegation

fully shares this affirmation of the Secretary-General.

Finding a global, indeed comprehensive, response to

all the world’s problems in all areas, particularly those

of international peace and security, sustainable

development and fundamental human rights, are the

real objectives of this Organization.

More than half a century after the creation of our

Organization, increasingly serious and complex

problems continue to arise in the world. We have seen

serious violations of international law and a repeated

use of force at the expense of dialogue. We can add to

this poverty, illiteracy, hunger, pandemics, local

conflicts and terrorism, not forgetting natural disasters.

In addition to these challenges, increasing

13 06-53952

globalization imposes demands and responsibilities

that are increasingly burdensome for the international

community. We are living in a world where the media

can come into our homes and make us more aware of

the suffering of others. This forces the world’s

decision-makers to display more justice and equity.

The events of the past few years — particularly

the most recent events in the Middle East — seem once

again to call into question the commitment set out in

the Millennium Declaration to share responsibilities, in

the context of the multilateralism represented by the

United Nations, in order to address the threats to

international peace and security. Those events seem to

have caused deep divisions within the international

community and have raised new questions about the

effectiveness of United Nations action and the

principles that guided its establishment.

It is thus urgent that the General Assembly begin

to have in-depth discussions about the future of

multilateralism. Indeed, my delegation believes that the

concept of multilateralism should reflect a broad

consensus regarding the means to prevent major threats

to international peace and security and responses that

must be made to those threats.

The legitimacy of the United Nations is the

Organization’s main asset. Therefore, that legitimacy

must be reinforced by the confidence of States and of

international public opinion in the capacity of the

United Nations to resolve international problems

through agreed action.

There are positive examples in this area

illustrating that assertion. Indeed, following the attacks

of 11 September 2001, the United Nations

demonstrated that it could act swiftly by establishing a

collective mechanism to combat terrorism. In the area

of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, we have also seen

that the Organization could carry out complex

mandates and tackle the difficult task of stabilizing a

conflict situation and assisting countries in transition

towards peace and democracy. Pertinent examples can

be cited in that regard: Timor-Leste at the time of its

independence, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Those examples demonstrate that authorization to

deploy multinational forces is proving to be the

appropriate tool for calming down — if not

extinguishing — hotbeds of tension. In that connection,

my delegation is grateful to the countries and

organizations that have headed such forces. We remain

aware of their acts of solidarity, and we welcome their

interest in maintaining peace throughout the world.

With regard to weapons of mass destruction and

small arms and light weapons, Côte d’Ivoire agrees

that there is a need to strengthen and complete existing

international legislation. I believe that the United

Nations must broaden its action in this area and adopt

the measures necessary to prevent the proliferation of

these weapons. It must also take unequivocal measures

spelling out the consequences for any State that does

not respect such legislation.

Another new challenge with global consequences

threatens our existence: the phenomenon of terrorism.

Indeed, no one is safe from terrorist attacks. As

stressed by the Secretary-General in his report on the

work of the Organization during the fifty-eighth

session (A/58/1), terrorism continues to pose a major

threat to international peace and security. It must thus

be combated everywhere and tirelessly. While

universal condemnation of terrorism must remain

strong and unwavering, the fight against it must be

carried out within the framework of strict respect for

human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of

law.

Returning to the subject of conflict prevention,

my delegation would like to commend the work begun

by the United Nations through its adoption of

resolution 57/337, which is aimed at integrating that

issue into its areas of action and invites States and

regions to adopt conflict prevention strategies. Specific

activities to establish a structural culture of conflict

prevention at the national, regional and international

levels must be carried out and strengthened.

Moreover, my delegation believes that additional

resources should be devoted to conflict prevention

programmes and projects. A mechanism for

strengthening international cooperation in this area

should be established in countries at risk. Indeed,

history teaches us that disagreements — even

seemingly insignificant ones — can lead to difficult-to-

manage conflicts if they are not contained in time.

Thus, it is important that the Organization’s

interventions be preventive in order to avoid the

dramatic and tragic consequences of such conflicts.

That is in the interests of everyone, and in the interest

of the Organization’s credibility.

Henceforth, it should be a major United Nations

priority to establish a policy of conflict prevention by

06-53952 14

strengthening international dialogue and creating

appropriate mechanisms for conflict settlement.

Constant monitoring of international commitments

should be a part of this new vision of peaceful

coexistence and international harmony.

Côte d’Ivoire has always supported the Secretary-

General’s United Nations reform programme. We

welcome the major progress already made with a view

to making the Organization more active and more

effective. The resolve shown by the Secretary-General

in that regard must also be demonstrated by all

Member States.

The current composition of the Security Council,

in both quantitative and qualitative terms, remains a

prisoner of the past and does not reflect the

geopolitical realities of the twenty-first century.

Developing countries — and Africa in particular —

have not yet found their place on the Council.

Therefore, so long as this issue remains unresolved, the

Council’s decisions will continue to be perceived as

reflecting mainly the interests of the countries

benefiting from its current composition. Member

States — particularly the Council’s five permanent

members — must display a spirit of initiative and

openness with regard to this issue, which has been on

the United Nations agenda for more than a decade.

The comprehensive implementation of the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) remains a

fundamental United Nations priority. My delegation is

particularly concerned by the current trends, which

indicate that many developing countries are falling

behind and that, at the current rate, those countries will

not be able to attain the Goals without assistance.

Accomplishing the MDGs requires partnership

and cooperation among all the countries of the world.

In that connection, my delegation would like to urge

the international community to provide the necessary

support to developing countries, particularly the least

developed and most heavily indebted countries. A

sufficient amount of official development assistance

and foreign direct investment would likely enable such

countries to take their place in the process of socio-

economic development.

Therefore, my delegation would like to

congratulate the Secretary-General on his efforts to

undertake reforms to make our institution fully address

the important task of achieving the MDGs. The socio-

economic survival of developing countries is at stake.

My delegation thus encourages the United Nations

system to continue to support the Governments of these

States in their resolve to integrate the Goals into

national and regional development programmes and

strategies. In Africa, for example, the New Partnership

for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) would be an ideal

framework for the achievement of these goals. This is

why NEPAD should be implemented and why our

development partners’ promises should be fulfilled

within the agreed deadline.

Côte d’Ivoire also welcomes the determined

commitment of the Secretary-General to place the

Organization at the service of its Members. Reforms

now under way could very much help to place the

Organization in the forefront of the fight to eliminate

poverty and eradicate HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis

and many other pandemics. This is why my delegation

welcomes the launching of the International Drug

Purchase Facility (UNITAID) on 19 September 2006,

here during the current Assembly and in the presence

of the Secretary-General. This initiative by France,

which has been supported by other countries, such as

Brazil, Chile, the United Kingdom and Norway, will

give the poorest people access to drugs of known

quality, including generic drugs, at the lowest prices

and also to the means of diagnosing AIDS, tuberculosis

and malaria. I am delighted that my country, Côte

d’Ivoire, was one of the first four to establish a tax on

air tickets to help finance the abovementioned fund.

At this stage in my statement, allow me to briefly

mention the socio-political situation in my country,

Côte d’Ivoire. Indeed, since the formation of the

Government of Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny

on 28 December 2005, following the adoption of

Security Council resolution 1633 (2005) on 21 October

2005, the peace and reconciliation process in Côte

d’Ivoire has seen — thanks to the actions of the

Government, the main parties involved in the conflict

and the Ivorian people as a whole — brought tangible

progress in the implementation of the Government’s

road map.

While significant progress has been achieved,

much still remains to be done. In this respect, my

delegation welcomes the invaluable assistance that the

United Nations, the African Union, the Economic

Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the

European Union and friendly countries have all given

to Côte d’Ivoire. My delegation invites them all to

continue to give their support to the Government and

15 06-53952

people of Côte d’Ivoire in their search for a definitive

way out of this crisis, which is unprecedented in the

history of my country.

The future of the West African region and

beyond — that of Africa as a whole — is at stake. We

remain fully confident both in the United Nations and

in the international community.

The legitimacy and credibility of our

Organization, now sixty-one years old, remains intact,

and its actions for the advancement of well-being and

for better living standards on this planet all continue to

be irreplaceable. The new challenges that the

Organization faces, with the help of a multilateral

perspective and a sense of an increased and clearly

understood collective responsibility, should strengthen

its effectiveness. Essential reforms, which it should

embark upon in order to adapt to the new context of

international relations, should enable it to respond

more swiftly and effectively to the legitimate

aspirations of its constituent peoples, who continue to

have complete trust in it.

In sum, the United Nations remains useful, even

today. It could be even stronger tomorrow, if we wish

it.