San Marino, 2002

On behalf of the

Government of the Republic of San Marino, I wish first

to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Jan Kavan on his

election as President of the fifty-seventh session of the

General Assembly. I am convinced that his experience,

professional skills and dynamism will contribute to the

success of our work. I also wish to thank Dr. Han

Seung-soo for having presided over the General

Assembly in one of the most difficult and delicate

moments of our recent history.

Inevitably, this session of the General Assembly

is still suffering the consequences of a deep, indelible

wound that, a little more than a year ago, was inflicted

on the whole of humanity, on the people who

contributed to creating this civilization and, in

particular, on a great and friendly nation, whose role

has always been crucial to the future of our planet.

Feelings of pain and fright, but also rebellion, are

still vivid in the minds of each and every one of us.

The firm and absolute condemnation of what happened

last year in September remains unchanged and has been

further strengthened by the determination to spare no

effort in combating and if possible defeating the

dreadful threat of terrorism, which is still present.

However, San Marino is convinced that fighting

terrorism exclusively through military, political and

economic actions is not enough. We must ask ourselves

why terrorism comes about and develops, why

fundamentalism and fanaticism exist, why some

individuals who proclaim to fight for the liberation of

the oppressed become instruments of death. We may

have found an answer, and that is why we keep on

repeating in all forums, that as long as the world is

stricken by hunger, poverty, underdevelopment,

inequality, oppression, ignorance and violations of

human rights and fundamental freedoms, there will be

no solution to all the political, economic and social

situations that are inexorably degenerating, which we

continue to witness with a growing feeling of anguish,

uncertainty and instability for a whole generation, for

the whole of mankind.

With that in mind, San Marino has fully

supported the initiatives and the procedures established

by the Security Council to stem the expansion of

terrorism. The Republic I represent has met in a timely

manner the requirements set forth by the Counter-

Terrorism Committee established by the Security

Council itself. In the same way, a number of legislative

and financial measures on anti-terrorism adopted by

San Marino Parliament and Government are evidence

of our will to proceed with the ratification of the

relevant international Conventions and of the intention

to pass a special law to counter terrorism and its

financing.

We also believe that dialogue and tolerance

among all peoples of the world are further instruments

to combat terrorism and fundamentalism. That calls not

only for effective political action, but also for a new

culture to develop within peoples, where diversity

becomes a universal heritage, and leads to unity rather

than division, helps eliminate, rather than worsen,

disparities, brings different cultures, religions and

traditions closer together, rather than turning them into

instruments of incomprehension and confrontation.

It is a disgrace that a solution to the ongoing

conflict and violence in the Middle East seems out of

reach. Terrorist attacks and military reprisals further

exacerbate hatred and revenge, undermining any

possibility of promoting negotiations and dialogue on

the basis of mutual respect and protecting human rights

and fundamental freedoms. San Marino is deeply

concerned about the worsening situation in this area

and strongly condemns the spiral of violence plaguing

that region and indiscriminately causing victims every

day, mainly among civilians, especially women and

children.

Israel has the legitimate right to exist within its

own borders and to defend and protect its own

population. Palestinians have the same legitimate right,

to live on their own land and the right to self-

determination within their own State. Therefore, we

deem it imperative that both parties respect the rules of

international law and fully comply with all United

Nations resolutions. Most recently, tensions have

escalated further because of the possibility of a war

against Iraq in order to remove its President, Saddam

Hussein.

The Republic of San Marino can certainly neither

tolerate nor accept that the world be held hostage by

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unscrupulous dictators who are absolutely unreliable

and who are probably willing and able to jeopardize

international security. Yet, any action, including

military intervention as a last resort, would in any case

require the consensus and authorization of the United

Nations.

The international scene is marked on many fronts

by dread and insecurity. Nonetheless, San Marino

follows with interest and supports the intensive activity

that the United Nations is conducting to tackle a

number of issues with the ultimate goal of attaining a

more civilized, equitable, humane society fit for

humankind.

We followed with great attention the major

conferences that the United Nations promoted and

organized in 2002, especially those on children, the

ageing and sustainable development.

The twenty-seventh special session of the General

Assembly on Children agreed that in order to

implement the principles enshrined in the Convention

on the Rights of the Child, it is imperative to attain

three major objectives: to guarantee children a decent

standard of living in a safe environment in which they

can grow up and develop physically, mentally and

emotionally in a healthy manner; to ensure that they

can complete at least primary school; and to provide

adolescents with the opportunity to strengthen their

individual capacities in a safe environment, so that they

will be able to fully participate in and contribute to the

society in which they live. San Marino shares those

priorities and has adopted a number of legislative,

social and cultural initiatives to implement those

fundamental principles.

My country also welcomes the activities carried

out by the international community which, on the

occasion of the Second World Assembly on Ageing

held last April in Madrid, adopted a political

declaration and a new plan of action to safeguard the

interests and needs of the elderly, a population group

which has so far probably been neglected although it

will considerably increase in number over the next few

years.

San Marino attaches great importance to the

significant changes brought about by the Assembly in

the methods used to face and solve the problems of the

ageing population, while seeking to eradicate

stereotypes and prejudices. We have a feeling that in so

doing, the international community has laid down the

foundations for a future plan of action that will ensure

for all human beings wellness, health and security in

the last years of their lives.

Also within the framework of the United Nations,

although it had different objectives, the recent World

Summit on Sustainable Development held in

Johannesburg, South Africa was also of great

importance. San Marino is aware that the economic

growth of the most developed nations must go hand in

hand with economic growth at the global level.

Globalization, however, cannot be imposed. On the

contrary, it must be conceived as an opportunity for all

States and populations. It must facilitate access to

markets for developing countries and promote targeted

investments that take social and environmental

considerations into account. At the same time, we have

to build confidence and foster economic well-being to

achieve the integration which we all deem to be

essential. Such integration is also a precondition for the

protection of both the environment and cultural

diversity.

I would like to recall that the Statute of the

International Criminal Court entered into force on 1

July, 2002. With that formal achievement, the

community of States made a great leap forward in the

progress of international law, the Court being not only

a judicial institution created to prosecute genocide and

crimes against humanity, but also clear evidence of the

will existing at an international level to avoid granting

impunity — as is too often the case — to perpetrators

of atrocious and intolerable crimes against peoples or

individuals.

As well, because of the role of guarantor assigned

to that institution, the Republic of San Marino

participated in the celebration of the fourth anniversary

of the Court on 17 July, 2002 and was the first State in

Europe to ratify its Statute. Furthermore, my

Government believes that the International Criminal

Court does not in any way endanger the international

peacekeeping forces. On the contrary, the Court further

guarantees their protection through the articles of its

Statute. For that reason, my country hopes that the

International Criminal Court will be joined and

supported by as many countries as possible, and that

practical solutions will be found that do not alter the

Statute of Rome but that guarantee the continuity of

peace operations.

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On this occasion, on behalf of the Government of

San Marino I feel it is my duty to reaffirm the

importance and the key role played by the General

Assembly as the main decision-making and

representative body. Unquestionably, the functions of

the General Assembly and the effectiveness of its

decisions need strengthening. Moreover, the General

Assembly should intensify its co-operation with the

other United Nations bodies, primarily with the

Security Council. A working group to which San

Marino has also contributed ideas and proposals has

been studying Security Council reform for eight years.

All Members probably know that San Marino has long

taken a stance in favour of an increase in the number of

non-permanent members on the Security Council,

while it agrees neither with an increase in permanent

seats nor with the extension of the right of veto. We

consider that this would have a positive effect on many

activities of the United Nations and therefore that it

would be beneficial to relations among and between

States; it is something which is now sorely needed.

I wish to conclude by reasserting that the only

way to overcome the consequences of the painful

events that we have recently experienced is to pool our

efforts and to work together, honestly and actively, in

order to start a virtuous cycle in which the objectives

of civil and tolerant coexistence among peoples and

nations are universally shared, supported and pursued;

in which the values of solidarity, respect for human life

and dignity dismantle the barriers of selfishness and

oppression; and in which democracy and freedom from

all constraints and needs become effective.

These are the same objectives that a small State

called the Republic of San Marino, which I have the

honour to represent here today in the most authoritative

and prestigious international Organization, has sought

to achieve over 17 centuries of history in a consistent,

persistent but also humble manner.