Solomon Islands, 1993

Let me extend to

you, Sir, the warm greetings of my Government and the

people of Solomon Islands. We congratulate you on your

election as President of the General Assembly at this forty-

eighth session. Your experience, diplomatic skills and

leadership assure us of a successful and fruitful session.

I also join in the tributes paid to your distinguished

predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev of Bulgaria,

for the excellent manner in which he presided over the

affairs of the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly.

We join, too, in acknowledging and commending the

report (A/48/1) of the Secretary-General of the United

Nations, His Excellency Mr. Boutros-Boutros Ghali, on the

work of the Organization. The report is a comprehensive

catalogue of the achievements of the United Nations, its

strengths and weaknesses, the threats and opportunities the

Organization faces and the challenges it has before it. All

these point to one common truth: there is an undeniable

disparity between idealism and reality, between the mounting

responsibilities of the Organization and its capacity to

achieve pragmatic, focused and specific goals. The gap

between promotion of the ideals of the Charter and

realization of them continues to widen.

Over the last three weeks, we have heard Member

States renewing their support for, and commitment to, this

body. It is clear that the Organization is calling out for our

attention. It needs us all, just as much as we need it;

perhaps it now needs us more than ever before to strengthen

6 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

it and enhance its performance in its delivery of services and

goods to our many peoples around the globe.

Mr. President, your opening statement 22 days ago

concluded with the visionary challenge, "We the peoples -

united for a better world" (A/48/PV.1). In the spirit of a

family of nations, the United Nations will be celebrating this

theme at its fiftieth anniversary in 1995. While Solomon

Islands shares this vision, it counsels against extravagance,

waste and mere symbolistic ceremonials which do not reflect

long-term substantive benefits. To mark the occasion with

serious reflection, education and communication, careful

planning and a wider consultation programme at all levels of

the international community will be essential. Awareness

programmes and activities aimed at promoting the principle

of unity in diversity should be a key to strength and wealth,

both for nations and for the global community. A goal

which can be promoted during the fiftieth-anniversary

celebrations is that of world citizenship, or citizens of planet

Earth.

The basis for this should be very simple: everyone

living on this planet has a responsibility for its sustainable

growth. Everyone must be aware of, and feel concerned at,

the possibility of our destroying the planet. Individuals

make up communities. Communities make up nations.

Nations make up the global community. The global

community lives on this planet.

Citizens of Planet Earth, or world citizenship, is a

unifying vision of a peaceful, prosperous global society.

This emerges from a sense of responsibility and the

acceptance of the oneness of humanity. To embrace this

vision of world citizenship into the twenty-first century,

leaders and Governments must change their attitudes to take

on the greatest challenge facing the world community -

releasing the enormous financial, technical, human and moral

resources required for the sustainable development of our

planet. Can we collectively face this challenge in order to

implement the various components of Agenda 21? The

answer lies in the hands of the people and the nations of the

world. How can we make this theme a reality - a reality not

only for us at this time but also for future generations on

this planet?

I was heartened to hear the President of the United

States, Mr. Bill Clinton, say these words on the first day of

the general debate:

"The United States intends to remain engaged and to

lead." (A/48/PV.4, p. 8)

He also went on to say:

"... we must and will serve as a fulcrum for change and

a pivot point for peace." (ibid.)

The Solomon Islands is currently working with the

United Nations Development Programme on a pilot

programme called "Children of Planet Earth" (COPE).

COPE is an environmental educational-awareness

programme aimed at primary-school children. It will be

incorporated into the school curriculum as a module

compulsory for all children. There will be no pass or fail

grade, but any child who completes the module will get a

United Nations badge or a certificate. The module will

focus on the environment and on sustainable growth, and

national, regional and international perspectives will be built

into it. The Solomon Islands strongly believes that

education with regard to the environment is important and

deserves priority investment. The target group is the

children, because they will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Two weeks ago, His Excellency Shimon Peres, Israeli

Foreign Minister, described war and peace in this way:

"In war, the old bury the young, and in peace, the

young bury the old."

I thought this was quite revealing. It tells of a reality,

a reality which has written a new chapter with a change of

heart. The handshake between Palestine Liberation

Organization leader Mr. Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister

Mr. Rabin on Capitol Hill symbolized a major milestone in

Middle East history. The Solomon Islands welcomes this

great advancement in human relations between these two

nations. It is hoped that the process of creating forgiveness

and trust will pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle

East. I applaud the countries that have pledged financial

assistance or assistance in kind to Palestine.

The forty-eighth session of the General Assembly

opened at the dawn of a new era in South African history.

African National Congress leader Mr. Nelson Mandela,

renowned for his struggle against apartheid, made a moving

statement at this very rostrum requesting the lifting of

economic sanctions against South Africa. To see Mr.

Mandela and President De Klerk moving towards South

Africa’s first non-racial elections is an immense and

promising change. At last, both leaders have decided to

travel in the same bus of democracy. We too join the rest

Forty-eighth session - 13 October l993 7

of the world in welcoming this first historic step towards

majority rule in South Africa.

The parameters for the global agenda of the United

Nations General Assembly have evolved slowly over the

years. However, not only have agenda items changed from

time to time, but they have increased in number as well.

The issues before the forty-eighth session of the General

Assembly fall into the following broad categories: first,

making and keeping peace; second, arms controls and

disarmament; third, economics and development; fourth,

global resource management; fifth, human rights and other

social issues; sixth, international legal issues; and seventh,

financing and administration of the United Nations.

Each of these broad headings receives a thorough

survey and analysis at every session of the General

Assembly from both the developed and the developing parts

of the globe. Some speakers focus specifically on certain

issues, such as making and keeping peace, or arms control

and disarmament; others draw the General Assembly’s

attention to such matters as economic development, global-

resources management, human rights and other social issues.

The debate so far has been interesting.

A quick overview of what has been said so far from

this rostrum reveals a global picture that is both bright and

gloomy. One truth, articulated by almost every speaker in

the area of world peace and security is that the threat of

conflicts between States has not diminished, even after the

super-Power rivalry has been eroded. Senator Gareth Evans,

the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, captured the

question of world peace and security in a more imperative

way when he addressed this Assembly at its 5th meeting, on

27 September. He referred to the resurgence of

ethno-nationalism, which often takes a violent form, giving

ethnic groups a claim to minority human rights protection as

well as a claim to self-determination.

Speaking on behalf of the European Communities,

Mr. Willy Claes, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for

Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, patrolled the

major trouble spots of the world in a memorandum attached

to his statement. The Solomon Islands appreciates the

efforts of the European Communities in resolving regional

conflicts throughout the world and welcomes its commitment

to world peace and security. The Balkan crisis has become

a cryptic jigsaw puzzle. Human suffering continues.

Peacemakers and peace-keepers have tried, and are still

trying, to find a solution. The Solomon Islands deplores the

atrocities committed and appeals to the nations with ways

and means to bring peace to this region. As peace is being

given a chance in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin

America and the South Pacific regions, so may it be given

a chance in the Balkan region.

In his address to the General Assembly on 28

September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian

Federation referred to the Bosnian conflict and remarked:

"... the key to the settlement of many conflicts has not

yet been found." (Official Records of the General

Assembly, Forty-eight Session, Plenary Meetings, 6th

Meeting, p. 15)

He also said:

"In any case, it is surely time to think of establishing

closer contacts between the United Nations and the

world’s leading religions." (ibid., p. 15)

It appears that there is a missing dimension to the

approaches employed in conflict resolution.

As we consider the growing number of problems

confronting our world, we cannot escape the feeling that the

solutions will not simply be political, economic or social. In

many cases, the problems are so complex and so deep-seated

that we need superhuman help. A new prescription for true

peace must include the development of the spiritual and

pastoral well-being of all peoples around the world.

To this important extent, my Government recognizes,

as its first principle,

"the sovereignty of God as the basis of

righteousness, justice and dignity in the

development of the Solomon Islands and its

people."

We realize that neither the individual nor society can achieve

full potential without the help of Almighty God. If God is

sovereign in the affairs of our world, would we not be wise

to bring Him into the planning process as well as give Him

a place in the resolution of conflicts, whether national,

regional or global?

The question of New Caledonia, in the South Pacific,

has been on the agenda of the United Nations for some

time - but not for much longer, I hope. Solomon Islands

joins its colleagues in the South Pacific region in endorsing

the recent report on New Caledonia of the Ministerial

Committee of the South Pacific Forum. As a member of

8 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

that Committee, I hereby humbly express our appreciation

and gratitude for the cooperation and support of the French

and territorial authorities in facilitating the recent visit of

Ministers to the Territory. My Government also reaffirms

its strong support for the Committee’s recommendations and

renews its firm support for the aspirations and goals of the

people of New Caledonia, including the Kanak community.

We note the progress of the Matignon Accords, and, while

sensitive to the varying and conflicting interpretations and

expectations, we urge all parties to maintain their

commitment to the Matignon process and to the promotion

of economic, political and social development in New

Caledonia.

The United Nations is a strong supporter of peace.

This noble world body has, to date, supported the

reunification of the two Germanys and of the two Koreas.

In this context, reunification means only one thing - the

uniting of people. Unification means peace and coexistence.

Conflicts in areas around the world should be resolved

through dialogue. Thus, we believe that the United Nations

mechanism that was used in the case of Germany and in the

case of the two Koreas should be applied to the situation

involving the Republic of China and the People’s Republic

of China.

Solomon Islands recognizes the need for reunification

of the two Chinas through good will and in good faith. We

call on both to hold talks, on equal terms, on the basis of

this important United Nations principle. But the process can

be successful only if this world body considers the

exceptional situation of the Republic of China on Taiwan in

the international context, based on the principle of

universality of membership and in accordance with the

established model of parallel representation of divided

countries at the United Nations.

Solomon Islands fully recognizes and strongly supports

the wish of the people of the Republic of China to rejoin the

United Nations. As a small, friendly nation with a

population of only about 300,000, Solomon Islands firmly

believes that the desire of the 21 million people of the

Republic of China in Taiwan for their own representation in

this world body is reasonable and justified. We are sure that

the international community would benefit from the positive

contribution that the Republic of China is capable of making

to this Organization. Our own country has benefited, in the

past 10 years, from the economic development and

technological progress that the people of the Republic of

China have secured through achieving for their country such

a high position in the league of the industrialized nations.

Solomon Islands therefore supports the call from other

Member States for the establishment of an ad hoc committee

to examine the question of the Republic of China rejoining

the United Nations.

The mere existence of weapons of mass destruction

poses a big threat to global peace and security. However,

even more worrying is the potential proliferation of nuclear,

chemical, biological and ballistic missiles - the danger of

their falling into the wrong hands. We applaud the countries

that have taken positive steps towards the elimination of

these weapons. We also welcome the Secretary-General’s

report on new dimensions of arms regulation and

disarmament in the post-cold-war era. We believe in the

integration of arms-regulation efforts into the broader

structure of international peace and security, the

globalization of arms control and of the disarmament process

and the revitalization of arms control. We strongly propose

that the arms-control and disarmament agenda clearly reflect

the realities of the post-cold-war era. This is the challenge

for the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly.

Turning to nuclear testing in our region, I must say that

our continuing desire and concern is to ensure that the South

Pacific region remains a nuclear-free zone and a zone free

of all types of radioactive waste. Solomon Islands therefore

maintains its support for further suspension of nuclear testing

in our region. We warmly welcome the decisions of the

United States, Russia and France to extend their testing

moratoriums. In this vein, owing to recent developments,

we call upon China and the United Kingdom seriously to

consider declaring similar moratoriums.

Solomon Islands is gravely concerned about the

dumping of radioactive and other waste at sea. We therefore

urge the States parties to the London Dumping Convention

of 1972, when they adopt amendments in November this

year, to continue their active support for a total ban on such

dumping.

The shipment of plutonium, with the danger that it

poses to the fragile marine ecosystem of the South Pacific,

is a matter of major concern to the Governments of the

region. The highest international safety and security

standards must be adhered to. Any nation engaging in this

business must satisfactorily address all possible

contingencies.

There is a clear message in statements issued by States

members of the Group of 77. It points to the increasing

connection between environmental concerns and

developmental issues, to the delicate balance between the

environment and development, between population and

Forty-eighth session - 13 October l993 9

development, and between good government and

development.

Member countries of the South Pacific Forum were

well represented at the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil, in June 1992. A principal outcome of the Rio

Conference is Agenda 21 - an action plan for the 1990s and

the twenty-first century. It sets forth strategies and

integrated-programme measures to halt and reverse the

effects of environmental degradation and to promote

environmentally sound and sustainable development in all

countries.

Once again Solomon Islands reaffirms its strong

commitment to sustainable development. We believe that

sound environmental practices constitute an integral part of

the development process. Thus, all development activities

pursued must be both economically and ecologically sound.

The collective voice of small island developing States is

heard through the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

which share unique circumstances, vulnerabilities and

limitations. These include their small size and relative

geographic remoteness, a narrow range of resources, severe

population stress, sometimes minimal renewable fresh water

resources, and high degrees of endemism. These pressures

and limitations underscore the need for careful and

sustainable management of resources to sustain future

generations. This point was highlighted in our country’s

statement last year.

Solomon Islands, like its other South Pacific

neighbours, continues to rely heavily, and in some cases

totally, on the sea, the land, the rivers, the forests and the air

around us for its livelihood and survival. Solomon Islands

therefore attaches great importance to environmental issues

and accords high priority to collective efforts in the United

Nations Conference on Environment and Development

follow-up activities and the implementation of Agenda 21,

including other, associated principles and conventions.

Solomon Islands is a party to the Port Vila Declaration on

Population and Sustainable Development. We therefore

continue to support preparations for the forthcoming two

major Conferences in 1994 - the Barbados Global

Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island

Developing States and the Cairo World Conference on

Population and Development.

Solomon Islands is one of the few countries in the

South Pacific that now has a national environment

management strategy endorsed by the Government. That

strategy is now in the implementation phase, in which

priority areas for action at the national level have been

identified.

Human-induced climate change and its subsequent

effect of sea-level rise is perhaps the most intractable threat

to human well-being and the survival of many species on

Earth. The South Pacific is no exception. Solomon Islands

is a signatory of the Framework Convention on Climate

Change and will soon complete the necessary requirements

for its ratification. The formalities for the ratification of the

Montreal Protocol are under way. We warmly welcome the

speedy action of the United Nations in establishing a

Commission on Sustainable Development and, in particular,

we welcome the acceptance of the South Pacific Forum

secretariat as a special representative to the Commission and

the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

(SPREP) as an observer in the Commission.

Solomon Islands applauds the initiative taken by the

Government of Papua New Guinea in putting forward,

through the United Nations system, the agenda item on

opportunity and participation. The adverse economic

changes in recent years have created difficult circumstances

for many small countries. There is a need to identify

options in order to make possible participation by

Governments and peoples of developing countries on an

equal footing. Solomon Islands welcomes the proposal in

the Papua New Guinea initiative for the establishment of a

panel of experts to study and recommend ways of increasing

opportunity and participation for developing countries.

Speaking about Papua New Guinea, I should like to

convey Solomon Islands’ profound appreciation to the

United Nations for the goodwill mission it sent last year to

discuss the problems we had encountered at the border

between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. I am

happy to report that the new Solomon Islands Government,

through its six-point initiative, is working constructively with

its neighbour, Papua New Guinea, to find a lasting peaceful

solution to the problems at our border.

Proper management and good fishing practices are

essential for the sustainable use of marine living resources.

The major income earner of Solomon Islands is fisheries.

Solomon Islands supports the United Nations Convention on

the Law of the Sea. Preparations for its ratification are

being considered. The Solomon Islands Government

strongly supports the work of the Forum Fisheries Agency

(FFA) and appeals to distant-water fishing nations to

cooperate with the management and conservation measures

stipulated by that Agency.

10 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

The new Government of Solomon Islands has just

officially launched its blueprint document entitled,

"Statement of Policies". The Government’s philosophy of

where and how to steer the country over the next four years

is laid out in this document. The Government is embarking

on a major programme of economic and social reforms

aimed at attaining sustainable development. The ministries

responsible are currently discussing and putting together a

programme of structural adjustment. The programme

emphasizes the sustainable management of natural resources,

public-sector reforms and the promotion of private-sector

development. It devotes particular attention to the sizes and

costs of institutions, and outlines proposals for the

redeployment of resources to areas of production and need.

The preparation of this programme is expected to be

completed by November 1993.

While this exercise is considered to be a long-term

viable undertaking, it is necessary to seek external

assistance. The Government of Solomon Islands is fully

committed to this long-overdue reform, but appeals to

international financial institutions and donors to provide

financial assistance and advice.

On human rights, the Solomon Islands Government

fully supports the Vienna Declaration and Programme of

Action which were the outcome of the World Conference on

Human Rights held from 14 to 25 June 1993. Fundamental

rights and freedoms of the individual are listed in chapter II,

sections 3 to 19 of our national Constitution. We condemn

any violation of human rights anywhere in the world. We

also join the rest of the world in the promotion of human

rights and support those who have spoken in favour of the

establishment of a post of high commissioner for human

rights. Such a post would indeed be a worthwhile

investment.

Solomon Islands also salutes the work and courage of

those countries that contribute troops and humanitarian

assistance to trouble-spots all over the world. We pray for

the souls of those who have died in the field. We strongly

deplore the actions of those who have committed atrocities

against peace-keepers, Red Cross workers and associated

personnel. Solomon Islands therefore strongly supports New

Zealand’s initiative in requesting the inscription on the

General Assembly’s agenda of the critical item on the safety

of personnel in United Nations peace-keeping operations.

The United Nations Charter has now been physically

reduced to a pocket-sized booklet, but the demands the

nations of the world place on this global Organization

outstrip the limits of its capabilities and the resources at its

disposal. Perhaps this is a positive sign - a justification of

the need for its continuing existence.

A few more flags have been added at the United

Nations this year. We warmly welcome the new Members

of the United Nations family and congratulate their

Governments and peoples on taking this courageous step.

In 1945 the founders of the United Nations saw the

need to set up this body. Today, we are challenged in no

uncertain terms to ensure that the work that was begun 48

years ago continues, to keep the Organization alive, relevant,

meaningful and cost effective. It is the only hope for world

peace and security and for the promotion of democracy,

development and global-resource management. Member

States request the Organization to be accountable, and so we

Member States too must return to it our individual due

responsibilities.

May the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations bring

a new dawn to human relations between all peoples around

the world.