Lithuania, 2002

First of all, I would like to

express my thanks to Mr. Han Seung-soo, President of

the previous session of the General Assembly. We

appreciated his skilful guidance and leadership. We

wish you, Sir, as incoming President, a year of

constructive dialogue and fruitful cooperation.

I also would like to take this opportunity to

welcome Switzerland and East Timor, which are

joining the United Nations family. This expansion of

United Nations membership is very important. It is

taking place at a time when the need for global

solidarity and partnership is greater than ever before.

Terrorism threatens global stability and the very basis

of our lives. Our countries must stand united and act

together in order to avert threats to our existence and

secure the future of our children.

My country knows from experience how powerful

and instrumental solidarity can be. Some years ago,

Lithuania and eight other countries of Central and

Eastern Europe formed an informal Vilnius Group,

which has now grown to 10 members, to facilitate their

accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO). Solidarity and mutual support are helping us

to make these aspirations a reality that is within our

grasps. We hope that our countries will soon join the

European Union and NATO, thus reinforcing common

values in the region as well as our common positions

and actions in the face of future challenges and threats.

But political solidarity is not enough. Our

countries have also launched regional initiatives and

taken other concrete steps to increase contributions to

the global campaign against terrorism. In particular, I

would like to mention the conference against

terrorism — a Polish initiative — that was held in

Warsaw last November. Our countries are determined

to act and cooperate further, thus strengthening

European and global security.

In the face of common threats, solidarity must

emerge as a consolidating driving force in global

diplomacy. The tragedy of 11 September was an

experience that reinforced and strengthened our

common resolve to combat and counter terrorism. It

should give us the courage and determination to work

together as an international community in addressing

the roots of terrorism; in responding decisively to non-

compliance with Security Council resolutions and to

gross violations of internationally recognized norms

and behaviour; in fighting terror worldwide; and in

keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands

of terrorists.

It is regrettable, therefore, that a Member of this

great body, the United Nations, does not uphold its

commitments or the underlying principles of this

Organization. The Iraqi regime must allow unrestricted

access to United Nations inspectors so that they can

resume their work. We should exert all possible

pressure to ensure this. Indeed, this is a test case with

respect to the international community's solidarity and

unity.

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Last but not least, I would like to underscore the

importance of international and regional cooperation in

non-proliferation and arms control. It has always been

Lithuania's firm policy to take part in all relevant,

effective and functional multilateral arms control and

confidence-building regimes that are open to us and

that correspond to our national security interests. This

year, Lithuania has applied for membership in the

Treaty on Open Skies. We will also seek to join the

adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in

Europe after it comes into force and is open to all

European democracies.

Each and every State Member of the United

Nations should make a positive contribution to

international security and stability, first and foremost

by respecting the rule of law and the human rights of

its citizens. Good governance is a good starting point

for all of us, irrespective of our cultural diversity or

fundamental differences of history and geography.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who

devoted much time to the planning of this multilateral

institution known as the United Nations, once said,

“We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace;

that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being

of other nations far away.” Thus, the real strength of

our power as an international community continues to

lie in the power of our resolve to deal with the critical

issues.

Yesterday in this great city of New York, we paid

our respects to the victims of 11 September 2001. We

admire the way the American people have gone

through this tragedy, and we support the United States

of America in its efforts to eliminate threats to

international security and human freedom. Let us

debate, talk things out and make full use of diplomatic

measures. But we must be ready to act decisively when

strategic realities demand defence of freedom and

democracy.