Mauritius, 2010

I congratulate you,

Mr. President, on your election as President of the

General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session, and I thank

your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Ali Treki, for his

excellent stewardship of the Assembly at its sixty-

fourth session. I seize this opportunity to convey to you

the warm greetings of the Honourable

Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of

Mauritius.

We are meeting this year against the backdrop of

the triple blow of food, fuel and financial crises, which

have significantly slowed the social and economic

progress of many, particularly developing, countries.

Although we are now witnessing signs of gradual

recovery, we are nonetheless aware of the fact that the

world is still mired in the consequences of the

recession.

These crises have exposed the deficiencies of the

international financial and governance structure and

made us realize that the pre crisis status quo has to be

challenged, if we are to ensure a better future for our

people. While we acknowledge the pre eminent role

that the Group of 20 is playing in addressing the

financial and economic crisis, the widening and

acceleration of global integration and

interconnectedness dictate the necessity of

democratizing the international economic and financial

decision-making processes in order to ensure that the

future development of our global economy is balanced

and equitable.

It was therefore reassuring to hear the Managing

Director of the International Monetary Fund,

Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, stating last Monday,

“To regain momentum, we need a sense of shared

responsibility among the various actors — the

developing countries themselves, the advanced

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economies and, in part, the international financial

institutions.” (A/65/PV.3)

The statistics are eloquent regarding the negative

impact of the multitude of crises on the progress

achieved on the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). As global economic output has declined, the

ranks of the poor have swelled with the newly poor.

A week ago, from this very rostrum, an

impressive number of world leaders reaffirmed their

commitments to the Millennium Development Goals.

In our drive to enable the less fortunate to lead a

dignified life, it is imperative that we have closer

cooperation and collaboration between Government,

civil society and the private sector, supplemented by

innovative thinking, cutting-edge knowledge and path-

breaking initiatives.

Success in achieving the Millennium

Development Goals is inextricably linked to the

broader agenda of climate change. The effects of

climate change and global warming threaten the very

implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

While climate change is affecting all countries, it is

abundantly clear that the small islands and low-lying

and coastal States are the most affected by its

consequences.

We therefore urge that the small island

developing States be given simplified access to

financing from the $30 billion of fast-start funding

pledged in the Copenhagen Accord and similar access

to the longer-term funds proposed for the Copenhagen

Green Climate Fund. That adaptation funding should

be in the form of grants and not loans.

We hope that the forthcoming Conference of the

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change, to be held in Cancún later this

year, will build on the 2009 Copenhagen Accord to

ultimately arrive at a legally binding agreement on

limits to greenhouse gas emissions based on the

principle of common but differentiated capabilities and

responsibilities and the establishment of mitigation and

adaptation funds. Let us therefore join our efforts and

not miss the opportunity, because a world that is

climate-smart is within reach, if we act now, act

together and act differently.

In its effort to contribute towards the global

momentum to attain a low-carbon future, Mauritius is

implementing the Maurice Ile Durable project, which

aims at protecting the environment and minimizing

dependence on fossil fuels through increased

utilization of renewable energy and a more efficient

use of energy in general.

The High-level Review Meeting on the

implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the

Further Implementation of the Programme of Action

for the Sustainable Development of Small Island

Developing States re emphasized the fact that, owing

to their inherent specificity, small island developing

States should be recognized as a distinct category of

countries and should be granted special treatment,

particularly in accessing official development

assistance and concessionary funding. The present

gross domestic product criterion applied in graduating

least developed countries to middle-income status is

most unfair to small island developing States, since it

does not take into account the unique vulnerabilities of

those States.

The time has come for a shift in how we think of

development. We need to articulate strongly a new

development paradigm, one where developing

countries are part and parcel of the solution to create a

more vibrant world economy in this truly multipolar

world.

We therefore look forward to the successful

conclusion of the Doha Development Round at the

earliest possible date. It is also crucial to close the gaps

in the provision of Aid for Trade so as to support the

building of supply capacity, which lies at the core of

development.

At the subregional level, Mauritius, in its

capacity as the new chair of the Indian Ocean

Commission, will continue to lay greater emphasis on

the creation of an economic and commercial space, the

implementation of a regional strategy on fisheries and

aquaculture, the promotion of tourism in our region in

traditional and emerging markets, and the development

of a comprehensive regional anti-piracy programme.

A fundamental precondition for socio economic

development can be found in a process of social

inclusiveness, with human rights at its core. As a

member of the United Nations Human Rights Council,

Mauritius is firmly committed to the safeguarding and

protection of human rights, at both the national and the

international levels. In this regard, we unreservedly

condemn the serious human rights violations

committed by warring factions in conflict zones, where

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vulnerable members of the society, particularly women

and children, are being targeted. At the national level, a

truth and reconciliation commission has started the

challenging task of compiling a report on slavery and

indentured labour in Mauritius during the colonial

period.

Mauritius continues to be preoccupied with the

fate of pro democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose

heroic and unbreakable determination and

steadfastness to free her people from years of

subjugation compel all of us who are strong advocates

of democratic values to stand and speak up. Depriving

Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi of the right to stand as a

candidate in the forthcoming general elections

scheduled in November this year is considered by my

delegation as the deprivation of the basic rights of the

people of Myanmar to freely choose the leaders to

whom they wish to entrust the destiny of their country.

Democracy and the rule of law are essential

elements for the development, stability, security and

prosperity of any country. The world has made

significant strides in this respect. Nonetheless, it is

regrettable that conflicts in certain parts of the world

continue to undermine progress. The imperatives of a

globalizing world require the international community

to remain seized of these issues and not to shirk its

responsibilities.

In the Indian Ocean region, Mauritius is

particularly concerned with the current political

impasse prevailing in our neighbouring sisterly

country — Madagascar. We are actively engaged in the

Southern African Development Community (SADC),

the African Union (AU) and the Indian Ocean

Commission, working to assist Madagascar to find a

peaceful solution to the political crisis.

In this regard, we wish to state that we are

supportive of the initiative led by the Coordination

National des Organisations de la Société Civile to

organize an inter Malagasy dialogue in order to find a

solution designed by all Malagasies to the crisis in

Madagascar. And we sincerely hope that the dialogue

will be credible, transparent and include all sections of

Malagasy society in the search for durable peace in the

interest of both the country and the region. Mauritius

has offered its assistance in setting up an SADC liaison

office in Madagascar in order to provide support in

moving the Malagasy-Malagasy dialogue.

Two decades of civil unrest have inflicted untold

miseries and difficulties on the Somali people and

rendered governance of the country almost impossible.

We commend the Intergovernmental Authority on

Development for its efforts to promote peace and

security in Somalia through the Transitional Federal

Government. We believe that the people of Somalia

deserve greater commitment from the international

community towards restoring law and order inside the

country and also towards putting an end to the piracy

problem off the coast of Somalia.

In order to promote a more proactive engagement

of the countries of the region in the fight against

piracy, Mauritius will host the Second Regional

Ministerial Conference on Piracy on 6 and 7 October,

in collaboration with the European Union, the Indian

Ocean Commission and the Common Market for

Eastern and Southern Africa. Mauritius is also

envisaging the possibility of trying piracy suspects

caught in the Indian Ocean in its courts, if the

logistical, infrastructural and financial support of the

international community is adequate.

The current process for talks between Israelis and

Palestinians has given renewed hope for lasting peace

through the creation of an independent sovereign

Palestinian State existing side by side with the State of

Israel within secured and recognized borders.

Mauritius has always supported the legitimate and

inalienable right of the Palestinian people to live in

peace and security in an independent Palestinian State.

We therefore commend President Barack Obama for

his initiatives and leadership in enabling the direct

talks between President Abbas and Prime Minister

Netanyahu.

Global governance in the maintenance of

international peace and security will remain incomplete

until we achieve a comprehensive reform of the United

Nations Security Council — a reformed Security

Council that meets and responds to the geopolitical

realities of the twenty-first century. In this respect,

Mauritius fully supports the Common African Position,

as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte

Declaration. We reiterate our support for India, the

largest democracy, obtaining a permanent seat in a

reformed Security Council. We also support the

rightful aspiration of Latin America and the Caribbean

for a permanent seat in the Council.

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We have in no uncertain terms drawn the

attention of this body every year to the fact that

Mauritius has sovereignty over the Chagos

Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The Chagos

Archipelago was illegally excised by the United

Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to our

independence. This dismemberment was done in

blatant violation of General Assembly resolutions 1514

(XV) of 14 December 1960 and 2066 (XX) of

16 December 1965. We have raised the issue of the

sovereignty of Mauritius over the Archipelago with

successive British Governments and initially pursued

the matter as a friendly dispute. In view of the lack of

progress, we suggested that the issue be addressed in

bilateral talks. Although the process of bilateral talks

was initiated in January 2009, the issue of our

sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago has yet to be

addressed.

We are deeply concerned that the British

Government decided on 1 April 2010 to unilaterally

declare a marine protected area around the Chagos

Archipelago — our territory — allegedly to protect the

marine environment. The unilateral establishment of

this marine protected area infringes the sovereignty of

Mauritius over the Archipelago and constitutes a

serious impediment to the eventual resettlement there

of its former inhabitants and other Mauritians, as any

economic activity in the protected zone would be

precluded. The Government of Mauritius has decided

not to recognize the existence of the so called marine

protected area.

The illegal excision of the Chagos Archipelago

from the territory of Mauritius has indeed a tragic

human dimension. All the inhabitants of the

Archipelago were at that time forced by the British

authorities to abruptly leave their homes there, in total

disregard for their human rights. Most of them were

moved to the main island of Mauritius. The

Government of Mauritius is sensitive to and fully

supportive of the plight of the displaced inhabitants of

the Chagos Archipelago and to their desire to resettle

in their birthplace there.

Mauritius greatly appreciates the unflinching and

unanimous support it has consistently received from

the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement for

the assertion of its sovereignty over the Chagos

Archipelago. The last AU Summit held in Kampala last

July and the last Non-Aligned Movement Summit held

in July 2008 in Sharm el-Sheikh both reaffirmed that

the Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, forms an

integral part of the territory of the Republic of

Mauritius. They also called upon the United Kingdom

to expeditiously put an end to its unlawful occupation

of the Chagos Archipelago with a view to enabling

Mauritius to effectively exercise its sovereignty over it.

We urge the United Kingdom once again to take

the necessary steps for the unconditional return of the

Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, to

Mauritius without further delay. In our annual

statement, we also reaffirmed the sovereignty of

Mauritius over Tromelin Island. The Governments of

Mauritius and France reached an agreement earlier this

year on the co management of the island and its

maritime zones without prejudice to the sovereignty of

Mauritius over Tromelin. This is considered to be a

first and positive step towards the resolution of the

sovereignty issue. The Republic of Mauritius is a crucible of

civilizations and cultures. We are proud to be a haven

of peace, where people of various backgrounds and

traditions live together in harmony. The people of

Mauritius are inspired by the philosophy of

multiculturalism and consider their diversity to be a

rich human resource. Based on the vision expressed in

our motto, “Unity, equality and modernity”, we have

committed to place humanity at the centre of all

development in our pluralistic society — a society

based on diversity, respect for cultural individuality,

non-discrimination and sharing common values.

The United Nations is the pre-eminent forum for

intercultural dialogue. My country will fully play its

part in the combined global effort for all human beings

to enjoy the consideration and respect that are their

birthright.

Finally, I should like to reaffirm Mauritius’

unwavering faith in the United Nations in the

maintenance of international peace, security and

development.