Somalia, 2007

It is indeed an honour for

me to extend to Mr. Kerim the sincere congratulations

of the Government of Somalia upon his election to the

presidency of the General Assembly. His tenure comes

at a crucial period for the international community as

tensions and instability have surfaced and the United

Nations has also embarked on a series of world-

changing reforms. My delegation is confident that he

will rise to the challenges and steer this body

competently during the sixty-second session.

Fitting tribute is also due to his predecessor,

Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, for her sterling

guidance and exemplary way of steering the

proceedings of the sixty-first session of the General

Assembly during some of the most trying times for the

United Nations.

Permit me also to express on behalf of the

Transitional Federal Government of Somalia my

sincere felicitations to the new Secretary-General, Mr.

Ban Ki-moon, who has had a distinguished career in

international diplomacy and who brings that extensive

experience to the United Nations. Those skills will be

crucial in his new assignment. We are confident that he

will be a beacon of hope in keeping the United Nations

ideal alive during the years ahead.

May I also take this opportunity to congratulate

Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro on her appointment to the High

Office of Deputy Secretary-General.

The President returned to the Chair.

One of the major principles of the United Nations

Charter is to maintain peace and security, and to that

end to take effective measures for the prevention and

removal of breaches to world peace and security. It is

in that conviction that I appear before this body to

underscore the concerns of the Federal Government of

Somalia on political and security matters related to the

roles that should be assumed by the international

community.

Regrettably, we feel that our major efforts in

nation-building and State-institution development have

met with an unreceptive response and reticence of an

inexplicable nature. Collective action by this world

body has been more consistent and vigorous, until very

recently, in coming to the rescue of nations in dire need

of help. A case in point concerning that

incomprehensible attitude is the long-delayed adoption

of a resolution on the timely deployment of a

peacekeeping mission in Somalia. If that stand

continues, it will reveal only a lack of commitment and

indirect acquiescence to prolonging the agony of the

Somali people. We call upon the United Nations to

come out without delay in support of the deployment

of the multinational forces.

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia

has diligently embarked on implementing the tasks

mandated by our Charter before the end of the

transitional period in 2009. Those include, among other

things, securing democratic transformation, putting in

place permanent constitutional legality, establishing a

multi-party democratic society, and setting up regional

autonomous administrations. The federal institutions in

charge of that arduous task are working hard to provide

the nation with a federal constitution that upholds those

fundamental obligations, thus signalling a new era of

tranquillity for the Somali people.

The efforts of the Federal Government

culminated in the convening of a peace and national

reconciliation conference in Somalia this year,

indicating that national consciousness is regenerating

within our society and a self-healing process has

begun.

Despite disruptive intimidations by terrorist

elements that tried to hijack the proceedings, the

conference came to a successful conclusion.

Representatives of all walks of life in the Somali

community attended the conference and dealt with

issues of concern in every aspect. In that regard, we

pay special tribute to the helping hand of the Ethiopian

forces and the Uganda-led African Union Mission in

Somalia, which effectively dealt with the terrorists,

who are gradually fading away.

Here, I wish to underscore that peace, security

and the well-being and prosperity of individuals and

nations alike are at stake in the fight against terrorism.

It is our view that the only viable response to terrorism

is a collective response of all nations, and it is for that

reason that the United Nations system has a pivotal

role to play and vital contributions to make in many

aspects of counter-terrorism, from promoting the rule

of law and effective criminal justice systems to

ensuring that countries have the means to counter

terrorism. No other institution has the means to unify

nations in the fight against that evil, and there is no

better venue for nations to forge their protective

measures.

Our efforts aimed at nation-building, restoring

peace and stability, conflict resolution, reconstruction

and rehabilitation cannot have the expected impact

unless the required funding resources and the needed

equipment and supplies are made available as the days

of institutional disharmony are replaced by an immense

aspiration to rebuild the country. We therefore reiterate

our repeated calls for a pledging conference, and

appeal to the donor community to show serious

commitment to organizing and convening an

international donor conference, in coordination with

the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

Another area that cries out for speedy action is

the humanitarian needs in Somalia. As members are all

aware, the protracted civil war and persistent

fragmented conflicts over the past two decades have

been exacerbated by natural disasters that have not

only devastated public and private institutions, but

have also torn the socio-economic fabric of society and

contributed to grave humanitarian crises. We appeal to

the world community to make generous contributions

and to work closely with the Somali authorities to

ensure that humanitarian access is provided to the most

vulnerable populations. Meeting those humanitarian

needs will ultimately provide a strong foundation from

which recovery, reconstruction and development can

emerge in the future.

This historical moment requires bold initiatives

on the part of the President of the General Assembly,

who, in tandem with the Secretary-General, is called

upon to provide the vision and strength of conviction

necessary to carry the United Nations forward to face

the myriad challenges to the Organization. We are

confident that, by working together closely, we can and

shall meet the challenges ahead.