Samoa, 2002

I congratulate you, Sir,

on your election as President of the General Assembly.

Our annual gatherings in this great Hall serve

well to reaffirm our commitment to the purposes of the

United Nations: the commitment to uphold the

principles of the Charter, to assert fundamental human

rights and freedoms as we seek to improve social and

economic conditions, and to act together in sovereignty

in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The lessons of history require that nations be united in

common effort. There is no other way; not today, in

this interdependent, ever globalizing world. Certainly,

from the perspective of the very small there is no other

way. Indeed, we cannot see how any one country, no

matter what its size and power, can completely fend for

itself.

War and conflict divide nations. They rage in too

many places. Global forces operate to degrade the

environment and spread misery through poverty and

disease and through the illicit trade in arms, drugs and

people. The entire world community is now seriously

challenged by the terrible scourges of HIV/AIDS and

terrorism. Only through cooperation and multilateral

action can we hope to respond, to take

countermeasures, to find solutions and to give

protection to all.

The monstrous terrorist attacks on the United

States on 11 September 2001 were an assault on values

that are fundamental to humanity and to the United

Nations. On behalf of my country, I want to renew to

the people of the United States our feelings of

solidarity and total support. The spirit of the United

States was never in doubt. Tested, it has become more

resolute in its purpose and courage. It is that spirit that

provides global leadership. It is the spirit that unites us

all in the struggle against terrorism.

Let me reaffirm our strong support for Security

Council resolution 1373 (2001) and for the Council's

action to implement it. For its part, Samoa has put in

place appropriate policies and domestic legislation, and

we will review our arrangements as necessary, in

keeping with the work of the Counter-Terrorism

Committee.

Iraq continues to violate Security Council

resolutions. It has done so for a considerable time

far too long. We commend Secretary-General Kofi

Annan for his repeated efforts to encourage

compliance. We think there must be full compliance

with obligations pursuant to Security Council

resolutions: compliance without preconditions, without

delay.

We welcome the broad acknowledgement in the

statements we have heard in this debate that actions

that need to be taken will be taken within the

framework of the United Nations and under the

authority of the Security Council. The news this

morning of the likely return of weapons inspectors is a

positive development, and we hope it is one of

complete seriousness.

Our concern about Iraq reflects in part our very

serious concern about the proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction chemical, biological and nuclear

weapons. Those weapons pose an immediate and major

threat to international peace and security. The

international agreements and systems to control the

development and spread of weapons of mass

destruction, and to eliminate them, must be

strengthened and implemented.

We live in a part of the world where nuclear

weapons have been tested and used. Our fear of the

consequences is real. That is why we have the

Rarotonga Treaty, which declared the South Pacific a

nuclear-weapon-free-zone. We call on States that have

not yet done so to complete the ratification process of

the protocols to the Treaty. And that is why we

continue to object to the transportation of nuclear and

other radioactive material through the waters of our

region.

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We are appalled at the suffering of families and

communities in the Middle East, and we pray for

permanent peace for all. The current situation is a

threat of utmost gravity to international peace and

security. It calls for efforts of highest priority and

urgency to bring an end to the conflict. Security

Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397

(2001) provide the basis for a settlement. Those

resolutions should be implemented.

My delegation strongly supports the Secretary-

General in the ongoing reform of the United Nations.

We have all seen good and positive results. Reform to

make the General Assembly and the Economic and

Social Council more effective must continue. Reform

of the Security Council calls for particular attention.

The issues are sensitive and complex. That is clear.

Yet, it is also clear that the Security Council needs to

reflect the geopolitical realities of our time. It needs to

be properly representative of the international

community of today and to be able to function

effectively and be secure in its authority.

We applaud the entry into force of the Rome

Statute that established the International Criminal

Court. Samoa has now ratified the Statute. The Court

will bring to justice those who commit genocide,

crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is,

therefore, a major achievement and a significant step in

the protection of human rights and in upholding

international humanitarian standards. To that end, the

Court deserves all support to allow it the strength of

universality and the rule of law. We need to ensure that

it is not undermined in any way.

This has been an especially notable year in the

international efforts to realize the Millennium

Development Goals. In March, we achieved the

Monterrey Consensus. Earlier this month, we agreed in

Johannesburg on a Plan to implement sustainable

development in every land. Rightly, the focus is on

halving extreme poverty by 2015. The condition of

utter misery that condemns so many of our fellow

humans worldwide is simply unacceptable. The

outstanding leadership of South Africa ensured the

success of the Johannesburg Summit. We extend to

President Mbeki, to his ministers and to his other

colleagues our warm thanks and congratulations.

In this context, let me also congratulate the

leadership of Africa on the establishment of the

African Union and the creation of the New Partnership

for Africa's Development (NEPAD). We have joined

hands with Africa on other issues, including our

endeavours in the context of cooperation between the

Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the

European Union, and I give assurance of our close

interest and support.

Speaking in Samoa's capacity as Chairman of the

Alliance of Small Island States, let me note our

particular satisfaction with the provisions in the

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation dedicated to the

sustainable development of small island States. We

greatly appreciate the role played by all countries in

finding agreement on those provisions. We look

forward to their continuing support as we move to

prepare for the agreed international meeting in 2004 to

review the Barbados Programme of Action.

Overcoming the well-recognized vulnerability of small

island States, and the exposure of island countries to

the effects of global climate change, natural disasters,

environmental damage and global economic shocks is

fundamental to long-term sustainability in all small

island regions.

Climate change poses immediate and the most

serious of threats for our communities. Largely by the

acts of others, it puts at risk countries like my own that

are least responsible for the causes and least able to

adapt. In Johannesburg, we were greatly heartened by

the declarations from many countries the Russian

Federation, China, India and Canada among them of

their plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This serious

problem deserves no less than this type of global

solidarity and leadership.

As I close, let me welcome Switzerland upon its

having taken up full membership of the United

Nations. Switzerland's role and its contribution to the

Organization are known to all and are well appreciated.

Let me also voice our satisfaction with the

situation in East Timor. It is a success story in every

sense: in the determination of its people and in the

response of the international community. Samoa is

pleased to have been able to contribute to the United

Nations peacekeeping effort in that country; we plan to

continue doing so. Last month, we welcomed East

Timor as an observer to the Pacific Islands Forum. We

look forward to its joining the United Nations soon.