The
Bahamas
SSTH
SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
GENERAL
DEBATE
STATEMENT
BY
THE
HONOURABLE JANET G. BOSTWICK
ATTORNEY
GENERAL
MINISTER
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
New
York, 21 September, 2000
THE BAHAMAS DELEGATION
SINCERELY CONGRATULATES YOU ON YOUR ELECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THIS
MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY, AND ASSURES YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR BUREAU, OF OUR FULL
COOPERATION AND SUPPORT.
I WISH ALSO TO COMMEND HIS
EXCELLENCY DR THEO‑-BEN GURIRAB OF NAMIBIA, WHO PRESIDED OVER THE FIFTY-FOURTH
SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE BAHAMAS DELEGATION
ALSO WISHES TO PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE COPRESIDENTS OF THE MILLENNIUM
SUMMIT, HER EXCELLENCY TARJA HALONEN, PRESIDENT OF YOUR COUNTRY, MR PRESIDENT,
AND HIS EXCELLENCY SAM NUJOMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA. THEIR
COMBINED WISDOM AND FOCUSED LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTED IN NO SMALL PART TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT.
THE BAHAMAS IS PLEASED TO
WELCOME TUVALU AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION. TUVALU'S MEMBERSHIP
IS A SIGN OF THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES TO ENJOY AMONGST
NATIONS OF THE WORLD, AS THE BEST HOPE FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE ASPIRATIONS
OF ALL PEOPLES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE APPLAUD
THE SECRETARY GENERAL'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO THE UN. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY
DEMONSTRATED BY HIS BOLD PROPOSALS FOR THE REFORM AND REVITALISATION OF THE
ORGANISATION, WHICH CULMINATED IN THE PRACTICAL, RESPONSIVE AND VISIONARY
MILLENNIUM SUMMIT DECLARATION. THIS DECLARATION WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY AN
UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT.
IN THIS MILLENNIUM
DECLARATION, MR PRESIDENT, WORLD LEADERS, COLLECTIVELY AND SUCCINCTLY, OUTLINED
THE LABYRINTH OF ISSUES ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA FOR WHICH SOLUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL
IN THE 21ST CENTURY. IT IS NOW OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT IT IN GOOD
FAITH. IT CANNOT BE BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THIS UNITED NATIONS.
THE MILLENNIUM
DECLARATION, MR PRESIDENT, PLACED GLOBALISATION HIGH ON THE LIST OF ISSUES
REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION. AS A PROCESS OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT, GLOBALISATION HAS NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED. IT IS A GRIM REALITY,
HOWEVER, THAT FEW HAVE PROFITED, AND SOME, PARTICULARLY SMALLER ECONOMIES, HAVE
BECOME MARGINALIZED AND EVEN MORE VULNERABLE.
FOR MANY OF THE SMALL ISLAND
DEVELOPING STATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, THEIR MAINSTAY INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY
BANANAS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, HAVE COME UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE IN THIS RAPIDLY
GLOBALISING WORLD. MR. PRESIDENT, WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, THE
BAHAMAS HAS ALWAYS COOPERATED, AND WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE, WITH INTERNATIONAL
EFFORTS
WHILE THE BAHAMAS WILL
MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO CORRECT DEFICIENCIES IN OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY,
WE CALL UPON THE FATF AND THE OTHER CONCERNED FINANCIAL AGENCIES ESTABLISHED BY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, TO IMMEDIATELY ADOPT OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES TO
RECOGNIZE WHEN SUCH DEFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, AND TO TAKE THE NECESSARY
ACTION AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.
ADDITIONALLY, IT HAS BEEN
A SOURCE OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO US IN THE BAHAMAS THAT ONE GROUP OF COUNTRIES,
THE OECD, WOULD SEEK TO UNILATERALLY DETERMINE WHAT CONSTITUTES "HARMFUL
TAX COMPETITION" IN RESPECT TO FINANCIAL SERVICES. WE URGE THESE COUNTRIES
TO COOPERATE IN RESOLVING THESE ISSUES ON THE BASIS OF CONSTRUCTIVE
MULTILATERAL DIALOGUE, GIVEN THAT THE PRESSURES APPLIED IN THIS AND OTHER AREAS
NOT ONLY DISRUPT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT COULD WELL LEAD TO THE REVERSAL OF
THE GAINS MADE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
THE INTENSITY OF PROTESTS
IN SEATTLE AND IN WASHINGTON D.C., HAVE MIRRORED THE FRUSTRATION OF MANY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN A GLOBALISATION PROCESS WHICH APPEARS TO BE BIASED
TOWARDS THE RICH AND POWERFUL, AND TO WIDEN THE GAP BETWEEN HAVES AND HAVE
NOTS. YET, MR PRESIDENT, NO COUNTRY CAN OPT OUT OF GLOBALISATION. NOR CAN WE
IGNORE THE CHALLENGE ITS POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES PRESENT FOR PEACE
AND SECURITY. THE UNITED NATIONS' RESOLVE THAT GLOBALISATION MUST BE FULLY
INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE SHOULD BE BUTTRESSED WITH EFFECTIVE ACTION TO ENSURE A
VIBRANT GLOBAL ECONOMIC ORDER, IN WHICH ALL COUNTRIES, LARGE AND SMALL,
DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING, MUTUALLY BENEFIT.
THE BAHAMAS IS NOW AN
OBSERVER IN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION, AND WILL MOVE PURPOSEFULLY TOWARDS
FULL MEMBERSHIP. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE THIS COURSE OF ACTION BECAUSE WE INTEND
TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE WTO PROCESSES. THESE PROCESSES SHOULD, AND MUST,
MAKE GLOBALISATION AND TRADE LIBERALISATION INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE INSTRUMENTS
FOR DEVELOPMENT. MR PRESIDENT, WE MADE THIS COMMITMENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN
THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT.
MR PRESIDENT, THERE IS ANOTHER
COMMITMENT IN THE MILLENNIUM DECLARATION THAT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS), LIKE THE BAHAMAS AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY. THE MILLENNIUM DECLARATION REAFFIRMS THE UNITED
NATIONS' RESOLVE TO ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE SIDS, BY IMPLEMENTING
BOTH THE BARBADOS PLAN OF ACTION, AND THE OUTCOME OF THE TWENTY-‑SECOND
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THIS PLAN. IT DID SO IN RECOGNITION
OF
MR PRESIDENT, I WISH TO
RE EMPHASISE HERE THAT THE CALL IN THE BARBADOS PLAN IS FOR ACTION. IN
LINE WITH THE MILLENNIUM DECLARATION AND THEIR OWN NATIONAL EFFORTS, THE SIDS
NOW EXPECT ACTION, THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS GLOBAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES AND A VULNERABILITY INDEX; SUCH INITIATIVE MUST TAKE FULLY INTO
ACCOUNT THE SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL OF SIDS. FOR CARICOM
SMALL STATES, WE ALSO HOPE TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT FOR AN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT
APPROACH TO THE CARIBBEAN SEA ADVANCED.
WE WOULD ALSO, IN THIS
UNITED NATIONS, URGE OUR PARTNERS IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD NOT TO CONTINUE TO PUT
OUR COUNTRIES AT RISK, BY TRANSHIPPING NUCLEAR AND HAZARDOUS WASTES THROUGH THE
CARIBBEAN SEA. WE REITERATE THIS APPEAL, IN THE FACE OF RECENT EVIDENCE THAT
SUGGESTS THAT THE HIGHLY PROFESSED SAFETY MEASURES TOUTED BY THE NUCLEAR POWER
INDUSTRY, ARE QUESTIONABLE.
MR PRESIDENT, IN THE
MILLENNIUM DECLARATION, WORLD LEADERS COMMITTED TO OVERCOMING MANY SEEMINGLY
INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS, FOR WHICH EFFECTIVE RESPONSES CAN ONLY BE OF A GLOBAL
NATURE. THE WORLD'S DRUG PROBLEM, AND THE TRAFFICKING IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT
WEAPONS, ARE ISSUES FOR WHICH THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY URGENTLY NEEDS RESULTS.
WHILE THESE TWIN EVILS ARE, IN OUR VIEW, CLOSELY LINKED, EVERY INDICATION IS
THAT THE TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS IS TAKING ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. THE
INTRODUCTION OF FIREARMS INTO ORDINARY, NON DRUG RELATED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, AND EVEN DOMESTIC CONFLICTS, IS PERHAPS THE GREATEST SINGLE THREAT TO
PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE BAHAMAS TODAY.
THE BAHAMAS, THEREFORE,
LOOKS FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE ILLICIT TRADE IN
SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE
COMMITMENTS MADE IN OUR MILLENNIUM DECLARATION WILL MOTIVATE US TO GRASP THIS
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR CONCERTED ACTION. WE URGE, ESPECIALLY, DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES IN WHICH FIREARMS ARE MANUFACTURED TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO
PREVENT ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING.
MR PRESIDENT, IN THE MILLENNIUM
DECLARATION, WORLD LEADERS COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY,
HUNGER AND DISEASE, AND TO MAKING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT A REALITY FOR ALL.
THIS COMMITMENT COMPELS US TO ACT ON SEVERAL FRONTS TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES.
WE MUST FOR EXAMPLE, REACH AGREEMENT TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE HIGH LEVEL
INTERNATIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL EVENT ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, TO'BE
HELD IN 2001.
MR PRESIDENT, OUR
COMMITMENT MEANS THAT WE MUST ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES BENEFIT NOT
JUST THE FEW, BUT ALL MANKIND. WE MUST WORK MORE ASSIDUOUSLY TOWARDS THE
ELIMINATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, AND
THE TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE MUST ENSURE EQUAL RIGHTS OF MEN AND
WOMEN, TO BRING DOWN BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT. FOR COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE
BAHAMAS, FORCED TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF SUSTAINED ILLEGAL MIGRATION, THE UN MUST
ADDRESS, COLLECTIVELY, NOT ONLY THE CHALLENGES OF MIGRATION FLOWS WORLDWIDE,
BUT ALSO THE REPREHENSIBLE PRACTICE OF ALIEN SMUGGLING. WE MUST ACHIEVE A
COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.
MR PRESIDENT, ADDRESSING
THE UNFOLDING HUMAN TRAGEDY OF HIV/AIDS IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FRONT ON WHICH THE
MILLENNIUM DECLARATION CHARGES US TO WORK. THE PERNICIOUS EFFECT OF THIS
DISEASE, PARTICULARLY ON THE ECONOMICALLY PRODUCTIVE SECTORS OF SOCIETY, HAS
HAD DEVASTATING IMPACT ON FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS GLOBALLY. HOWEVER,
THE MAJOR BURDEN AIDS PRESENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, HAS BEEN
MOST PROFOUNDLY FELT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHERE IT THREATENS TO LIMIT AND
REVERSE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. ADEQUATE RESOURCES MUST BE PROVIDED TO CONFRONT
HIV/AIDS, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA. IN THIS REGARD, THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY ITS NECESSARY ROLE.
THE BAHAMAS WELCOMED THE
RECENTLY CONVENED CONFERENCE IN BARBADOS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WORLD BANK,
UN/AIDS PAHO/WHO, THE UNDP, CARICOM AND CIDA, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER HIGH LEVEL
CARIBBEAN HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR POLICYMAKERS. THE
BAHAMAS IS COMMITTED TO DOING ITS PART IN ADDRESSING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND
HAS OFFERED ITSELF AS A REGIONAL CENTRE TO ASSIST IN COMBATING THIS HIV/AIDS
PANDEMIC.
MR PRESIDENT, THE AGENDA
SET FOR THE UNITED NATIONS BY WORLD LEADERS IS A FORMIDABLE ONE. FORGIVE ME
IF I RESTATE THE OBVIOUS-THE SECRETARY GENERAL CANNOT CARRY OUT THE CRUCIAL
MANDATES WE OURSELVES HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM, UNLESS AND UNTIL HE IS ASSURED
OF ADEQUATE AND PREDICTABLE RESOURCES ON A TIMELY BASIS. AT THE SAME TIME,
THE QUOTAS FROM WHICH THE ORGANISATION RECEIVES ITS RESOURCES MUST BE ASSESSED
IN A FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND EQUITABLE MANNER. ONLY IN THIS WAY WILL WE BE ABLE
TO GIVE RENEWED IMPETUS TO THE VIBRANT PROCESS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY
REFORM CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. MR PRESIDENT, BY SO DOING, WE WILL ALSO BREAK THE
CYCLE OF THE ORGANISATION'S INABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE MANDATES THAT WE OURSELVES
HAVE COLLECTIVELY SET.
FURTHER, MR PRESIDENT, WE
MUST ARREST THE PROCESS WHEREBY MANY ISSUES, INCLUDING SOME OF CRITICAL CONCERN
TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, HAVE BEEN MOVED OUT OF THE AMBIT OF THIS UNIVERSAL
ORGANISATION, INTO NARROWER, SPECIAL INTEREST ORGANISATIONS. THESE ORGANISATIONS
HARMONISE AND SEEK THE INTEREST OF THEIR MEMBER STATES. THEREFORE, THE DECISIONS
THEY TAKE
MR PRESIDENT, MAY I RAISE ONE MORE SERIOUS CONCERN
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE, THE DEDICATED MEN
AND WOMEN WHO ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL OUTREACH. IN THIS
RESPECT, WE EXTEND OUR PROFOUND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE STAFF
MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT ATTACK ON THE UN OFFICE
IN WEST TIMOR. WE ALSO JOIN OTHER DELEGATIONS IN CONDEMNING THIS ATTACK, AND IN
URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF INDONESIA TO SPARE NO EFFORT IN BRINGING THOSE
RESPONSIBLE TO JUSTICE. WE ALSO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE UN
REFUGEE WORKER KILLED IN AN ATTACK IN GUINEA. MR PRESIDENT, IN SITUATIONS SUCH
AS THESE, WE MUST SHOW THAT WE CAN MEET THE CONCERNS OF OUR PEOPLES AND OUR
WORLD.
MR PRESIDENT, THROUGH THE
HISTORIC MILLENNIUM DECLARATION, HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMED THEIR
FAITH IN THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS CHARTER, AS INDISPENSABLE FOUNDATIONS FOR A
MORE PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS AND JUST WORLD. THEY ALSO EMPHASISED THAT THE UNITED
NATIONS IS THE PREEMINENT GLOBAL ORGANISATION, AND HAS A CENTRAL ROLE IN
SETTING AND ACTING UPON THE GLOBAL AGENDA.
HEADS OF STATE AND
GOVERNMENT EQUALLY PROVIDED US WITH A CONCISE, FOCUSSED AND REALISTIC BLUEPRINT
FOR ACTION BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THEY HAVE CHARGED THE
SECRETARY GENERAL TO KEEP A SCORECARD, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WILL DETERMINE IF
WE HAVE BEEN TRUE AND HONOURABLE CUSTODIANS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. IT
IS IMPERATIVE FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE INDIVIDUALLY, AND THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS, THAT WE CAN LEAVE FOR SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS THE KIND OF WORLD
ENVISIONED IN THE CHARTER.
THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT