Madagascar, 2003

The United Nations is at a crossroads. The fifty-eighth

session of the General Assembly is taking place at a

critical time in the history of the Organization.

However, that moment could also be decisive for the

future of the Organization. Recent developments on the

international scene represent a call to action that

compels us to review its organization and rules so that

it may serve all nations.

Your election, Mr. President, to the presidency of

the principal body of the United Nations will contribute

to the achievement of those objectives. I would also

like to pay tribute to Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan

for his dedication to the cause of international peace

and security and for his ongoing desire to achieve the

common good of mankind.

International peace and security continue to be

dangerously precarious as internal conflicts and

confrontations between States proliferate in many

regions of the world. We believe that the refusal to

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implement obligations imposed upon States under

international law and the violation of the provisions of

the Charter are two areas of grave concern to us. Never

since its creation has the Organization been confronted

with so many situations and divergent views seriously

threatening the attainment of its goals. Unity and

cohesion among the members of the Security Council

are essential in order to strengthen the credibility of the

United Nations and the confidence of Member States

and to ensure that organ's effectiveness, as it is the

organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance

of international peace and security.

Let me mention the struggle against terrorism,

which no longer hesitates to attack our Organization.

On this issue, Madagascar is truly at one with the

international community in its struggle against that

scourge. Accordingly, we have ratified the 12 existing

international conventions to combat terrorism. We take

this opportunity to pay heartfelt tribute to the late

Sergio Vieira de Mello, our Representative in Iraq.

The creativity and courage of our Secretary-

General in shouldering his responsibilities and

commitments to peace and security, in a spirit of

solidarity, deserve the support of all. We endorse the

recommendations contained in his report aimed at

strengthening the United Nations. We hope to see

changes in our Organization that would place greater

emphasis on the importance of the General Assembly

as the principal deliberative and decision-making organ

and on rendering the Security Council more

representative and more transparent.

Such reforms are necessary in order to protect the

sovereignty of smaller nations. They are indispensable,

for the common interests of the peoples of the world

should have no platform other than the General

Assembly. We support the proposals made by Mr.

Couchepin, President of the Swiss Federation, to forge

a new vision of security by increasingly involving

individuals in the deliberative process.

A strong United Nations will be able to find

solutions for integrating economic and social questions

into the framework of the peace and security of peoples.

The economic and social situation in the world

remains a source of great concern. The beneficial

impact of global economic growth has circumvented

our island, as it has done with other countries in Africa.

In the course of this past decade, major United Nations

conferences have pinpointed strategies and established

objectives to achieve sustainable human development.

But we still need to mobilize the necessary resources to

implement, together, the declarations we all adopted

declarations which kindled so much hope in our

peoples, who are languishing in dire poverty.

The Millennium Declaration set deadlines for a

number of common objectives for all Member States.

Such goals are achievable, but they remain to be

attained. The new form of international cooperation

based on partnerships between the public and private

sectors offers us this opportunity, particularly since this

is a mutually advantageous relationship.

The Economic and Social Council, in the

Declaration it adopted on 2 July last, emphasizes the

importance of partnerships at the national and

international levels with a view to promoting

cooperation among various sectors. The Economic and

Social Council solemnly committed itself to facilitating

and supporting the creation of alliances between

Governments, donors, non-governmental organizations,

civil society, decentralized communities and the private

sector in order to promote integrated rural

development. Our country is very pleased at having

been elected to preside over the United Nations Public-

Private Alliance for Rural Development and at having

been chosen as the first pilot country.

Madagascar, like most African countries, has not

benefited from the world economic expansion. More

than 70 per cent of the population of Madagascar still

lives below the poverty line. Fifty per cent of the

population has no access to drinking water, and, as a

result, 50,000 children die annually. I am not going to

pass judgement here, but I an convinced that a

fundamental dilemma exists: the past does not loom as

large in other parts of the world as it does in Africa. In

Africa, the past is part and parcel of the structure of

society and of people's mindsets.

At the same time, we are confronted with the

challenges of the policies, values, economic trends and

technology of the twenty-first century. Africa is

suffering from major gaps in this respect, more than

other continents. To bridge such gaps is not an easy

process. Whatever the case may be, Africa must take

up the challenges of the future and undertake the

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implementation of good governance and of a rapid and

sustainable economic development.

Today's Madagascar is a different country. It is

aiming to establish a true democracy based on the rule

of law and on respect for international law. Good

governance, the rule of law, the combat against

corruption, decentralization, participation of the

population and the support of the private sector are its

pillars. Restoring the confidence of economic players,

establishing conducive and secure conditions for

business and sharing responsibilities are key, with the

State playing the role of facilitator. These are the main

underpinnings of our economic activities.

Let us not forget that the key to success is the

right approach. In order to encourage investments,

various laws have been enacted in order to reduce

import taxes and duties on capital goods. At present

foreign investors can own real estate.

Furthermore, agreements to protect investments

have been signed or are being prepared. We are

extremely grateful for the efforts undertaken by

national and international donors. Personally speaking,

I know that it is not easy to collect the necessary funds

for poor countries when the world economy itself is

showing signs of weakness.

I am convinced that the efforts of African

countries designed to improve their cooperation in the

context of the African Union, the New Partnership for

Africa's Development, the Common Market for Eastern

and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African

Development Community (SADC), the Indian Ocean

Rim and other organizations will lead to the expected

results.

But this is not enough. Madagascar is opening up,

and I dare to hope that other countries will also follow

suit. But the world itself is not opening up, as was seen

at Cancun. Why then can we not use as an example the

European expansion process? This may be difficult and

costly, but the outcome is promising and the procedures

are already known.

Will the international community and the African

countries find a common vision for the future of

Africa? Personally, I believe that it is high time that the

major Powers took steps towards a more equitable

partnership. We receive credits, grants, experts and

programmes, but what do we read in the international

press every day? That Africa is a forgotten continent.

Unfortunately, this is true. We are far away from the

strategic spheres of the think tanks, of the heads of

State of the major Powers, and of the chief executive

officers of large corporations. In other words, Africa

remains the victim of marginalization.

Does the international community have

confidence in the future of Africa? Is it not true that it

is urgent to develop a different outlook for our

continent?

We have this confidence. Our objectives are clear,

but our capacities are still low. We need assistance in

the area of capacity enhancement in order to attain the

objectives we have set for ourselves. We are ready to

work tirelessly; we are ready for change, ready for

openness. However, we would like to have more

support, greater openness and especially a different

outlook and a new vision for our own continent in this

concert of nations.