Marshall Islands, 2013

It is my honour to convey to

the Assembly the warm greeting of “Yokwe” from the

Government and people of the Republic of the Marshall

Islands.

Every September, world leaders take to the stage

of the General Assembly to broadcast our common

concerns. But I am concerned that this poetic ritual too

often hides the problem of political will. In January, the

Secretary-General outlined two key political priorities

for leaders: addressing climate change risks and the

growing insecurity within Syria. As autumn sets in, it

is evident that efforts are falling short.

This year, leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum

expressed strong concern about the use of chemical

weapons by the Syrian Government and called for

leadership on the part of the members of the Security

Council to resolve that threat. While I am optimistic

about recent diplomatic developments, the common

international voice may come too little and too late for

what could have already been prevented. That is only

one example of a growing list of the tragic human costs

of inaction. How many more mistakes will the world

make in distant conference rooms? For how long can we

turn a blind eye to realities and headlines?

Pacific nations are now dedicated to changing

the pace. This month, Pacific Islands Forum leaders

adopted the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership.

Although many of our States are small, the common

responsibility to act falls on all Governments and

persons, no matter how different we are.

The Marshall Islands is well on track to achieve

the complete solarization of our outer islands — a goal

we are meeting with assistance from Japan’s Pacific

Environment Community funds and from the European

Union, Taiwan, Italy, France and other donor partners.

The entire region is also aggressively cutting its

emissions through the Pacific New Energy Drive. The

message to our partners, the world’s largest emitters, is

clear. If we can do it, they can too. Climate change is

a risk that demands direct political ownership, and it is

high time that other leaders stand alongside the Pacific

in showing the statesmanship so urgently needed.

Simply repeating well-worn negotiation slogans has not

got the world anywhere. It is time for new solutions. I

strongly urge my fellow leaders to engage eye to eye

at the Secretary-General’s climate summit next year.

Never has the need for true statesmanship been as dire.

Global efforts on climate change are falling short,

and low-lying island nations, such as mine, are already

paying the earliest costs of what is fast becoming a

global crisis. In every sense, the world must build for

future risks, and we are still setting course based on

current conditions, as is often the case. It is the seas

that are rising — not the islands that are sinking. I will

not concede my own land or my nation; nor will I rest

until my fellow world leaders have signed on to act, not

just out of economic convenience, but out of a common

responsibility of all to strive for upward momentum.

Our Pacific legacy is not as small island States,

but as large ocean nations. We are stewards of what

is a truly global resource — our oceans and fisheries.

Even a casual glance at a map reveals a world of deep

and vast blue, and not only scientists but our own local

communities see change in our waters. Local and global

ocean impacts affect not only every region, but also

global food security. I join with other Pacific leaders in

urging dedicated treatment of the oceans as a post-2015

United Nations sustainable development goal.

Pacific nations, including the States parties to the

Nauru Agreement, are leading the world in changing

fishing practice. We are not only leading the world in

advancing sustainable fisheries, but at the same time

boosting our own economic growth. Perhaps no other

effort or region is such a strong textbook example of

sustainable development in action. But for all of the

expressed plenary sympathies and common international

responsibility, existing legal commitments to safeguard

fisheries all too often fall victim to the short-term

trade interests of our partners. We Pacific leaders

will sacrifice neither our resources nor our growth or

livelihood for quick returns; our future generations are

not for sale. The threat of harmful fisheries sanctions

from distant fishing nations — perhaps as punishment

for our conservation efforts — is hardly a helping hand

either to our regional development or to international

food security.

Next year’s international meeting on small island

States and development partnerships, to be held in

Samoa, will offer our political partners a moment for

careful reflection. Is the global thirst for rare earth

minerals beneath our waves and is the hunger for

our vast fisheries so great as to outstrip our rightful

economic development and our conservation efforts?

Perhaps it is high time that island leaders set forward

our island vision of partnership and collaborate

accordingly. We cannot forge progress through political

will alone. Here, Pacific Islands Forum leaders have

forged a ground-breaking mutual dialogue to enhance

and improve effective United Nations partnerships in

our region. Those are not isolated words; already, the

United Nations, together with our bilateral partners, is

playing a valuable role in working with the Marshall

Islands to recover from a climate-driven drought and

other coastal flooding emergencies.

But we need not wait for disasters. In every sector

of basic development and environmental efforts, our

door is open for increased collaboration among the

United Nations, our regional resources and bilateral

partners. The statements of sympathy in the plenary are

all too often not translated into effective, island-tailored

results. Our in-country United Nations presence still

has a long way to go in truly delivering as one and

better addressing pressing threats. I encourage a direct

discussion between the United Nations and our region

on practical efforts to enhance in-country effectiveness

and collaboration. No one people or nation should be

passed over.

Even as the United Nations enters into a new

discussion in setting the stage for the post-2015

development agenda, improved progress towards the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) remains

no less a priority. I would also like to recognize the

contributions that Taiwan has made in helping my

country in efforts to achieve the MDGs.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have, for the first

time, recognized the role of the United Nations in

authorizing nuclear-weapon testing during the Cold

War and welcomed the recommendations of the

United Nations Special Rapporteur’s recent report

(A/HRC/21/48/Add.1). Nuclear testing in the Marshall

Islands is no mere historical event, but an international

legacy that will stay with us for generations. While the

bulk of the unmet responsibilities still rest with our

historical Administering Power, the United States, the

United Nations can, for its part, no longer ignore its

own role during the Trusteeship era.

I am strongly encouraged by the Secretary-

General’s commitment to addressing the ongoing

impacts of nuclear testing in the Pacific and look

forward to practical steps in that regard.

My Government is gratified to note

that — with solid international support and cross-

strait cooperation — the Republic of China on Taiwan

has increased its meaningful participation in United

Nations specialized agencies and mechanisms. We will

continue to encourage positive interaction between the

two sides of the Taiwan Strait in the international arena.

Too often, despite our own aspirations, we struggle

to move inches when urgency demands miles. We wish

to inform the Secretary-General that our political will

stands ready and that our hands are extended for a

durable partnership.