New Zealand, 2003

The General Assembly

is meeting in the shadow of the tragedy last month in

which United Nations staff were killed or injured in

Baghdad. New Zealand unreservedly condemns such

brutal and calculated acts of terror. The United Nations,

after all, was in Iraq to improve the conditions of Iraqi

people and to assist the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty.

We mourn the loss of all those who perished. In

particular, I pay tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello, who

worked so effectively in the world’s trouble spots,

including Timor-Leste, where New Zealand worked

alongside him and developed huge admiration for his

ability and determination.

This was not the first occasion on which the

employees of the international community have been

targeted, although it was the worst. History suggests

that it will not be the last.

To do its work effectively, the United Nations

must interact with local communities, not operate from

behind barbed wire and concrete barriers. Its

employees are mainly unarmed civilians. We, the States

Members of the United Nations, must do more to

protect those whom we employ to work on our behalf.

Nine years ago New Zealand was at the forefront

in creating the Convention for the Safety of United

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Nations and Associated Personnel. It was opened for

signature in 1995. Regrettably, only one third of the

membership has since become a party to it. We urge all

countries to do so now.

New Zealand believes that the Convention should

be widened to cover all situations where United

Nations and other associated personnel are engaged in

peacekeeping, humanitarian and other assistance-

related activities.

Over the last year we have witnessed terrorist

attacks, including in Casablanca, Riyadh and Jakarta,

as well as in Baghdad.

Next month is the first anniversary of the terrorist

attack in Bali, in which more than 200 people lost their

lives. And two years ago this city itself was the victim

of the 9/11 attacks, which took 3,000 lives.

International terrorism remains the primary threat to

the security and well-being of people across the world.

If we are to defeat terrorism, regional cooperation

is imperative. In the Asia Pacific region, a concerted

response to terrorism is now at the centre of the

Association of South-east Asian Nations Regional

Forum agenda and is becoming increasingly important

in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The Pacific Islands Forum is responding

collectively to security challenges, including terrorism,

transnational crimes and challenges to national

integrity and independence.

An effective campaign against terrorism requires

international collaboration on intelligence, military,

social and economic measures.

New Zealand is aware that while we focus on the

symptoms of terrorism, the international community

must work together to tackle the conditions that foster

it. We welcome the Norwegian initiative to strengthen

analysis of the causes of terrorism. There are simply no

ends that can justify the death and the maiming of

vulnerable and innocent people.

New Zealand has, since 1972, supported the

development of a comprehensive international regime to

outlaw terrorism. I hope that the General Assembly will

be able to move forward on this issue and conclude the

comprehensive and nuclear terrorism conventions.

In combating terrorism, however, we should

avoid undermining the very values we are seeking to

uphold. The fight against terrorism should not become

an excuse to justify actions that do not conform to

international standards of humanity.

New Zealand is the current Chair of the Pacific

Islands Forum, which it hosted last month. Leaders

strongly endorsed the Regional Assistance Mission to

the Solomon Islands — a concrete example of the

region working together to assist one of its members to

restore security, stability and progress to its people.

New Zealand joined with the other members of

the Pacific Islands Forum in responding to a request

from the Solomon Islands Government for police and

military assistance to end the actions of armed

criminals responsible for the deterioration in the social

and economic conditions in the Solomon Islands. A

police-led operation has been working successfully to

restore the rule of law and economic stability.

In failed or weak States, Governments often lack the

capacity or will to exercise territorial control. That can

create a power vacuum for terrorist organizations and

criminals to exploit and maintain safe havens, training

facilities and bases for launching terrorist operations.

The Regional Assistance Mission has gone

exceptionally well to date and has received strong

support from the people of the Solomon Islands. It is a

Pacific solution to a Pacific problem. Cooperation and

commitment by Pacific States to respond to regional

security needs, under the umbrella of the Pacific Islands

Forum, is a model that other regions could adopt.

The statements of support from the Secretary-

General and the Security Council for this regional

action, taken in accordance with the Charter, are

welcome. We would urge the United Nations to assist

where it can the process of rebuilding the social

structure and the economy of that country.

New Zealand is working to enhance and

complement existing security capabilities within the

Pacific region. We are engaged in a number of

activities, including establishing border security

systems and drafting model legislation to address

terrorism and transnational organized crime.

The international community must retain an

ongoing commitment to Afghanistan, where President

Karzai’s Government continues to face significant

challenges. Improving security outside Kabul will be a

crucial element in bringing political stability to

Afghanistan.

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It is in the interests of us all to assist in the

restoration of Afghanistan — not only for the well-

being of the Afghan people, but also so that terrorists

cannot operate freely within its borders.

Earlier this week, New Zealand assumed

leadership of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in

Bamian Province. I am pleased that we could

demonstrate support for the Afghanistan Transitional

Government in this way.

The shared nightmare of all States is that

weapons of mass destruction or the materials from

which they can be constructed will find their way into

the terrorist arsenal. The possibility of nuclear weapons

in the hands of terrorists is a worst-case scenario with

horrific implications. We must do everything we can to

prevent this from happening.

The possible acquisition of nuclear weapons by

terrorist groups increases as the numbers and types of

these weapons, and the States that possess them,

continue to expand. For these and other reasons the

elimination of these weapons is vital.

New Zealand calls on all countries to commit and

to adhere to multilateral disarmament and arms control

treaties.

North Korea’s proclaimed nuclear weapons

programme is a major concern. We urge North Korea to

resume its cooperation with the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA) and its commitment to the

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The current

multilateral dialogue process is a positive way forward.

We commend China for facilitating this.

Iran, too, must heed the strong message of the

international community and take the urgent steps

required to restore confidence that its nuclear

intentions are peaceful.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is equally

about nuclear disarmament. The commitment given by

the nuclear-weapon States to give up their nuclear

weapons, reaffirmed unequivocally at the NPT Review

Conference in 2000, must be honoured.

The nuclear Powers have a particular responsibility

in this respect. They must lead by example against

proliferation. Meaningful steps toward permanent

disarmament would add to their moral authority in

demanding that others must not develop nuclear

weapons capability.

The invasion of Iraq has had a profound impact

on this Organization. We regret that differences of view

could not be resolved in the Security Council.

The reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration of its

sovereignty and the rebuilding of political and social

structures to guarantee the Iraqi people a better life are

now the critical issues. We welcome initiatives to push

forward the political and constitutional process.

The passage of Security Council resolutions 1483

(2003) and 1500 (2003) recognizes the vital role of the

United Nations and the need for the international

community to be fully engaged in reconstruction

efforts. While responsibility for security must

inevitably rest with coalition forces, multilateralism

offers the best prospect and the greatest legitimacy for

the process of transition back to Iraqi self-rule.

New Zealand has announced substantial

contributions to reconstruction and humanitarian relief

work. These include the deployment of a New Zealand

Defence Force light engineer group to work on

humanitarian and reconstruction tasks alongside a

United Kingdom engineer regiment in southern Iraq.

We have helped with demining operations and have

made contributions through United Nations agencies,

the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-

governmental organizations.

New Zealand continues to view the United

Nations as the best hope we have to collectively pursue

the principles enshrined in the Charter. The strength of

the United Nation is that it brings all countries of the

world together on an equal footing to address common

problems. Millions of people around the world have had

their lives improved by the actions of the United Nations.

East Timor is but one recent example of its effectiveness

when it is supported by a common will to act.

At the same time, we all recognize the need to

reform the Organization. In opening this session, the

Secretary-General called on us to consider whether the

rules and instruments of this multilateral institution

continue to serve us well. We have been discussing the

reform of the Security Council for more than a decade

now. It is time to make an institution designed in an

earlier age, for a smaller number of nations more

representative and responsive to the 191 current

Members of the United Nations. We welcome the

establishment of a panel to address key issues

fundamental to the Organization’s future role. Member

States will need to put aside self-interest and

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differences to reach agreement on the panel’s findings

and to translate those into action.

Fifty-eight years ago, the United Nations was

created in the aftermath of the death and devastation

that had resulted from two world wars. The vision of

its founders was that of an organization that would

establish rules to govern international behaviour, with

procedures to enforce them through collective action. The

United Nations was bestowed with a unique legitimacy

and unique authority to resolve conflict. Whatever its

shortcomings, it remains an indispensable organization.

The challenge before us is to create the structures

and provide the political will that will enable it to

deliver the peaceful, just and prosperous world that is

the hope and expectation of humanity.