Papua New Guinea, 1998

On behalf of the

people and the Government of Papua New Guinea, I wish

to join previous speakers in congratulating you,

Mr. President, on your election to your important post.

Your unanimous election as President of the General

Assembly shows the esteem in which the international

community holds both you, personally, and your country,

Uruguay. The Papua New Guinea delegation is confident

that you will guide this fifty-third session of the General

Assembly to a successful conclusion.

May I also take this opportunity, through you, to

express my delegationâs sincere appreciation to your

predecessor, the former Foreign Minister of Ukraine,

Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, for his outstanding stewardship

in facilitating the work of the fifty-second session of the

General Assembly.

We would also like to place on record our

appreciation to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat

staff for the care they put into the planning of the affairs

of our Organization.

This is the first occasion on which I have addressed

the General Assembly. The year since I was elected

Prime Minister has been a year of great challenge in

which my Government has been confronted with

problems associated with natural disasters and those that

have resulted from many years of neglect.

The realities of life in the rapidly shrinking world

mean that a partnership must, in practice, be turned into

something practical and viewed in a much broader global

perspective as an element of a worldwide partnership in

managing and, where possible, directing change.

The point is brought home by a series of natural

disasters which have affected Papua New Guinea over the

past year. First came the drought caused by the El Niño

effect, and then followed frosts, which led to severe food

shortages in many different parts of the country. Then

came the tsunami which completely destroyed villages in

the Aitape area of the Sandaun province on the north

coast of the mainland, killing more than 2,100 people,

mainly children and women, and injuring many more. In

between came floods and landslides, which caused death

and destruction in several places. Meanwhile, people

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around Rabaul continue to cope with the effects and try to

rebuild in the aftermath of the 1994 volcanic eruptions.

The drought, in particular, showed that people and

States throughout the world have to be partners in dealing

with the causes of disasters arising from climatic or other

forms of environmental change. The prompt and generous

response to the series of natural disasters by our neighbours

and friends in many different countries showed that they

are truly our partners in dealing with the effects of such

changes.

Like other developing countries, Papua New Guinea

faces the challenge of providing its people with

opportunities to improve both the material standard of

living and the quality of life. My Government has had to

address these multiple changes while dealing with natural

disasters and carrying out a comprehensive programme of

structural adjustment.

In doing so, we are working hard to make sure that

private initiative contributes to public welfare and national

development, as it can and should, by focusing on trimming

the public sector so that State resources are used where

they can be most effective.

The result has been a stable economy with continuing

economic growth. It has been achieved and is being

maintained despite the negative impact on trade and

investment prospects arising from the economic crisis

affecting so many of our East Asian neighbours.

The lesson we draw from the experience is that the

world is truly becoming a global community. The challenge

we face is to develop a global partnership — strong,

focused, and determined enough to manage and, where

possible, to direct change. The lesson has obvious

implications for a world in which some countries

experience “aid fatigue”, while increasing numbers of

people elsewhere fall and remain below the poverty line,

where survival itself is the most pressing issue.

I know that with its small, open economy, my

countryâs development is directly influenced by

developments in world markets for our products. Currently,

my country is suffering from the economic crisis

experienced by our major trading partners, in which we are

forced to undertake significant reform programmes to

protect our economy and our people.

In this regard, we turn our attention to international

financial institutions to help us restructure our economy.

Unfortunately, we have had mixed reactions from them.

Some of them, including the International Monetary Fund

and the Asian Development Bank, have been very

positive in their discussions with us, while others appear

to be slow in responding. This leads me to think that

sometimes some of these organizations are insensitive and

do not appreciate the difficulties and hardships faced by

our people without their help.

This year, despite the El Niño drought and other

natural disasters that devastated my country, Papua New

Guinea, we have continued to become more vigilant to

these challenges and to take remedial measures.

Notwithstanding the hardship our economy is

experiencing because of the international economic crisis,

the value of our currency has consistently been

recovering. For Papua New Guinea to realize and sustain

its current reform programmes, it has to secure external

financial support.

The challenge is to forge a new global partnership

for change — a partnership in which both developed and

developing countries join together to address the issues

that the global community will face in the twenty-first

century. This partnership will be necessary if the shared

hopes of humanity for peace, justice and a better way of

life are to progress.

I see my Governmentâs foreign policy of partnership

in the Asia-Pacific as a building block for the global

partnership on which the future depends. For developing

countries in particular, there is really no alternative way.

In facing the challenge of improving both the

material standards of living and the quality of life of our

people, we are carrying out comprehensive programmes

of structural adjustment and changing our focus so that

both private and State resources can be directed to social

welfare and national development. Despite the negative

effects of the current global crisis, we are achieving a

stable economy, stabilizing our currency and attracting

investments.

When my Government came into office in July

1997, my priority was the resolution of the nine-year-old

Bougainville conflict, which had caused terrible suffering

and the loss of lives and property. Three factors — the

desire of the men and especially the women of

Bougainville to end the fighting, my desire for a

consensus resolution and the moral and practical support

of Australia and New Zealand — led to a meeting in

12

Burnham, New Zealand, in October 1997 where a truce was

signed.

As an integral part of the truce, my Government

approached our friends in the region to form an unarmed

and neutral regional Truce Monitoring Group. The

Government of the Solomon Islands — which played a

very constructive role in the processes — New Zealand,

Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu provided personnel to the Truce

Monitoring Group, and its presence helped mutual

confidence-building and made people feel safe.

The peace monitoring group that took over on 1 May

this year continues to provide a positive role in maintaining

and consolidating peace. In March this year, I met in

Lincoln, New Zealand, with the main Bougainvillean parties

involved in the conflict, and we agreed that a permanent

and irrevocable ceasefire should take effect from 30 April

1998. Proceeding on a bipartisan-national basis and in close

consultation with all of the major Bougainville parties, I

agreed that the State would approach the Security Council

to endorse the Lincoln Agreement on Peace, Security and

Development on Bougainville. I also requested that the

Council send a small observer mission to monitor and

report on developments.

As the internationally recognized representatives of all

of the people of Papua New Guinea and being proud of

Papua New Guineaâs independence and sovereignty, we

made these requests with mixed feelings, but with

determination made strong by our faith in the cause of

peace.

I am pleased to report that the Security Council

responded positively to our request, and, through the efforts

of other South Pacific Forum missions in New York and

others in close cooperation with the Secretary-General, the

Observer Mission is now on Bougainville, operating side by

side with the personnel of the peacekeeping mission.

As I speak, my Government is making arrangements

for a Bougainville restoration Government to take office

within the framework of our Constitution before the end of

this year. At the same time, the people and leaders of

Bougainville are performing the traditional ceremonies of

reconciliation.

Our partners from Australia, New Zealand, the

European Union, Japan and the United Nations

Development Programme are providing resources for

restoration and development. A number of non-

governmental organizations, including churches, the Red

Cross and Doctors Without Frontiers are also active. My

Government is taking practical steps to strengthen civil

authority by training Bougainvillean policemen to work in

Bougainville.

Having begun the processes of peace in

Bougainville, we must now do everything we can to make

peace work through peaceful means. While the peace

process on Bougainville is still fragile, my Government is

confident that with the support of all Papua New

Guineans and of our neighbours and friends in the

international community, it will continue to gain strength.

As it gains strength, we expect direct international

involvement to become of less importance, decreasing by

agreement as mutual confidence and trust consolidates.

The Bougainville peace process has shown in a practical

and constructive manner how people can seek

reconciliation and forgiveness.

The Security Council, together with the Secretary-

General, have given both moral, and through the Observer

Mission, visible and practical support.

On a separate though broadly related matter, Papua

New Guinea commends the United Nations on 50 years

of cooperation in international peacekeeping and reaffirms

its commitment to these processes. Papua New Guinea

makes a resolute commitment to the principles and

purposes of the United Nations Charter. In doing so, we

recognize that like any other institution, the United

Nations has limitations. Consistent with our view of the

United Nations as a means of promoting global

cooperation and partnership to meet the challenges of

change in the twenty-first century, Papua New Guinea

continues in its strong belief that its moral values and

organizations offer hope to humanity.

Consistent with our commitment to the United

Nations, my Government is actively engaged in bringing

our national laws, policies and practices into line with the

important declarations and plans of action produced by

the United Nations. We give priority to implementing

United Nations declarations and plans of action to

advance the rights of women and the elimination of child

abuse.

In common with the other Member countries, we

believe that it is timely to bring the United Nations

Charter into line with contemporary reality by eliminating

references to “enemy States”. Papua New Guinea strongly

supports calls for a new Security Council for the new

millennium.

13

As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, we

endorse the Declaration issued by its thirteenth Summit,

held in Durban, South Africa.

The Security Council should be reformed and

expanded. An effective Security Council should be of a size

and composition which matches the enhanced role that the

world expects it to play in coordinating global approaches

and actions directed to deal with the issues we will all face

in the twenty-first century. Consistent with the mutual

respect and equity on which partnership must be based,

Papua New Guinea believes that all permanent members of

the Security Council should have similar privileges and

rights.

Changing the world from a system of relations

between imperial Powers to a partnership between

sovereign States through decolonization is among the

United Nations greatest achievements. The process will not

be completed, as it must be, until the remaining 17

dependent territories have exercised their inalienable right

to self-determination. Neither small size nor remoteness

should be allowed to qualify or limit their rights. The

recently concluded South Pacific Forum, held in Pohnpei in

the Federated States of Micronesia, has confirmed its

support for that right.

As one of the States which has always taken a close

interest in the situation and in the rights of the indigenous

Kanaks of New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea is pleased

to note the progress made in implementing the Matignon

Accords, culminating in the recent Agreement to the

Noumea Accord.

The Noumea Accord will, we believe, provide a sound

basis for the future fulfilment of all legitimate political

aspirations. We urge all parties to honour both its letter and

its spirit. The United Nations should continue to monitor

developments in New Caledonia until implementation is

complete and self-determination has been achieved.

More than 80 per cent of Papua New Guineans live in

rural villages, where they depend directly on the land,

rivers, lakes and sea for their livelihood. Our national

Constitution commits us to use and develop the rich variety

of the countryâs natural resources for the common good and

the benefit of future generations. In doing so, it upholds the

most up-to-date principles of international environmental

law. The same provisions also provide a sound basis for

domestic policy and law-making.

Papua New Guinea has spoken out strongly and

worked actively on a wide range of environmental issues.

Consistent with our record and ongoing commitment, my

Government will shortly be signing and then ratifying the

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change. In line with the

importance we attach to such matters, Papua New Guinea

is party to conventions arising out of the Rio Summit on

environment and development and Agenda 21. My

Government will continue to follow and support the

future work of the Commission, including efforts to

translate and integrate internationally agreed objectives

and standards into domestic laws and programmes of

action.

Like other members of the South Pacific Forum,

Papua New Guinea is firmly committed to the Barbados

Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of

Small Island States. We strongly urge its full

implementation. Together with other States in the region,

we have joined as partners with distant-water-fishing

nations to develop a programme to manage the

sustainable use of tuna stocks in the western and central

Pacific.

The worldâs leading scientists have concluded that

the rise in global temperatures poses serious threats, such

as sea-level rise and an increase in natural catastrophes,

such as the El Niño phenomenon.

Papua New Guinea, together with the small island

States in the Pacific, will continue to stress the urgency

for developed countries to take a strong lead in the

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Kyoto Protocol has paved the way for annex I

countries to fulfil their commitments under the

Convention on Climate Change and the Protocol itself.

We urge those parties to translate their legally binding

targets for the reduction of their emissions into concrete

action. While it is our firm conviction that there must be

a global approach, we cannot support shifting the burden

to developing countries as a precondition for the

ratification of the Protocol.

At the recent South Pacific Forum meeting, our

Government, together with other heads of the South

Pacific region, confirmed our support for the South

Pacific Environmental Programme and the Forum

Fisheries Agency (FFA) as a key sector. The FFA

programme will ensure the maintenance of sustainable

fisheries in the region as well as enhance the economic

14

security of coastal States, particularly those economies

which are highly dependent on this one resource.

This is the International Year of the Ocean. Papua

New Guinea will work actively with other South Pacific

Missions in New York to commemorate this Year, with

particular emphasis on the sustainable use of resources

derived from the oceans.

With its recent share of national disasters, some of

which have taken the ultimate human toll, Papua New

Guinea is concerned about climate change, rising sea levels

and the urgent need to reduce carbon and other emissions

in the atmosphere. Having experienced natural disasters at

first hand, I would say that the greatest challenge for the

United Nations is to strengthen the global communityâs

capacity to respond promptly and effectively to natural

disasters. I am sure that my friends from China and

Bangladesh, where large areas have recently been

devastated by floods, would agree. Papua New Guinea

strongly supports the renewal of the International Decade

for Natural Disaster Reduction and preparedness and the

Yokohama Strategy adopted in 1993.

Consistent with our shared commitment to a stable,

peaceful and environmentally safe world, my Government

supports the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive

Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We support efforts to ban

transboundary movements of radioactive and other

hazardous wastes in and through our region and to ensure

that damage arising from nuclear explosions is adequately

compensated.

Together with our partners in the South Pacific Forum,

we recently reaffirmed our determination to maintain the

South Pacific as a nuclear-free zone. We also expressed our

support for the other regional nuclear-free zones, in Africa,

South-East Asia and the Latin American and Caribbean

region, and the proposed new initiative in Central and

South Asia. Like people and Governments throughout the

world, we in the South Pacific were seriously concerned

about the series of nuclear weapons tests conducted by

India and Pakistan. The best course of action would be not

only to stop testing now but also to destroy all nuclear

weapons. Papua New Guinea believes that the same should

apply to all weapons of mass destruction in other parts of

the world.

Encouraged at the positive signs of progress towards

resolving conflicts and securing peace in several areas of

tension and concern in Asia and Africa, Papua New Guinea

nonetheless remains anxious over recent developments

affecting Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the

Congo, Eritrea and Ethiopia. We are heartened by the

efforts made by the Organization of African Unity to

restore peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

Also, we support the initiative of President Nelson

Mandela of South Africa to revive a common vision for

peace in Africa.

Consistent with our commitment to peaceful

dialogue between nations, Papua New Guinea condemns

those who employ terrorism against innocent people,

including women and children. Diplomacy is the means

by which States join together as partners and cooperate in

bringing about changes to promote peace, development

and justice for people both in principle and, even more

importantly, in practice. It is therefore vital that diplomats

be able to live and work safely, free from the threat of

terrorism, such as that practised against American

diplomats in Africa.

In this connection, following recent events on our

common border with Indonesia, my Government would

like to make clear its strong and consistent recognition of

the sovereignty of Indonesia, including Irian Jaya, and the

continuing mutual respect in all aspects of our

relationship.

In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm Papua New

Guineaâs commitments to the United Nations Charter; to

the inalienable rights of the independent territories to self-

determination, noting the Matignon and Noumea accords

for the Kanak people of New Caledonia; the declaration

to advance the rights of women and eliminate child abuse;

to our determination to maintain global natural disaster

preparedness; to work actively in commemorating the

Year of the Ocean; to the ratification of the Kyoto

Protocol on global warming; and to the Barbados

Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of

Small Island States.

Partnership in promoting change is the key to

addressing the challenges that the world will face in the

twenty-first century. I believe the challenge for the

Member States is to join together to change this

Organization for the better so that it will serve as an

effective basis for partnership, to address and resolve the

issues that lie ahead.