Mr. President,
Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Captains Regent of the Republic
of San Marino express their sincere satisfaction with the convening of the Millennium
Summit. Such event sees the participation of the most distinguished representatives of the
International Community which, today more than ever, calls for the affirmation of those
principles at the basis of the peaceful coexistence among peoples, and essential for the
effective implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Since the internationalization and
globalization is by now irreversible, combining respect for the cultural and historical
identity of each people and each individual with the universality of human rights is
fundamental.
Considering the above and in favor
of a multilateral approach, where economic and social development is a shared
responsibility, and threats to peace and international security a common concern, the
United Nations must play a pivotal role and be the most effective instrument of cohesion
and co-operation. To this end, a culture of solidarity and collaboration, which guarantees
a future real development especially for the poor Countries, is of paramount importance.
At the beginning of this new
millennium, fighting poverty and indigence, afflicting a huge number of men and women, is
a moral imperative and demands stronger commitment on the part of the international
community.
Well aware of the need to rethink
the current patterns of development and to reconsider the existing form of international
cooperation, the Captains Regent welcome and fully support the content of the Report of
the Secretary General on the role of the United Nations and on the challenges facing the
international community in the 21" century.
The technological revolution, which
brought about radical changes in the life of the 2& century, shall not provide
industrialized Countries only with development opportunities. On the contrary, as an
instrument of economic and cultural progress, it shall also benefit less advantaged
Countries.
Access to digital technologies can
therefore play an unexpected and fundamental role in the education of people in areas
where traditional infrastructures can hardly be introduced. This new scientific
breakthrough will, in fact, favor closer and intensified relations and ensure developments
in a variety of areas, thus bridging the gap between North and South.
The Republic of San Marino, as a
clear example of solidarity and proud of its 1700 years of history, welcomes and is ready
to support the UN intention to promote and finance projects aimed at fostering the
knowledge and use of information technologies in developing Countries. San Marino wishes
to offer its contribution to the training of groups of young volunteers who shall
guarantee wide access to information technologies by those who, at present, cannot take
advantage of this huge development potential because of their economic and cultural
conditions.
Understandably, the whole of the
international community and ourselves, we are now looking at the beginning of the century
and the millennium with a feeling of hope and concern at the same time.
We do hope that the globalization
process will help free developing countries from hunger and poverty, and excessive foreign
debt, which are crippling their economies and their development. We are confident that
peace will be furthered and protected thanks to more effective action on the part of
international organizations.
Yet we are
deeply concerned with persisting local conflicts and shedding of blood, and ethnic and
religious intolerance, which dramatically re-emerged over the last few years.
Against this
background, the Republic of San Marino has never questioned the central importance of the
human being and the need to protect all fundamental rights, including civil and political
ones.
San Marino
is committed to the International Criminal Court, it has strongly supported the abolition
of death penalty worldwide, and has constantly participated in international solidarity
projects to alleviate the suffering of man women and children.
Mr. President,
The Republic
We represent believes that the United Nations Organization is crucial for the protection
of lofty ideals of peace, justice, and respect for the rights of any single individual,
prompted by the conviction that only through the continued exercise of its moral
authority, the UN can proceed effectively and in a concerted way copying with those global
issues that are a burdensome legacy of the recent past, and a daunting challenge for the
21" century.
Thank you,
Mr. President.
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