Mr.
Chairman
Distinguished Heads of Government of the Pacific Islands
Forum
Secretary-General Urwin,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As clearly
underscored in the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
that I just presented on his behalf, the United Nations
values the continuing partnership and collaboration with
your organization.
At the
outset, allow me to thank you for your gracious invitation
to the United Nations to take part in this year's Pacific
Islands Forum Summit in this charming nation of Samoa. We
thank the government and people of this beautiful island
nation for their warm reception and hospitality.
I would
like to begin by paying high tribute to the laudable cooperation
that has been established among the sixteen member states
of the Pacific Islands Forum. The uniqueness of this collaboration
is easily discernible. It has been enhancing cooperative
development, thereby creating an atmosphere that is conducive
to better understanding and fostering, as a result, peace
and stability in the region. For small island developing
states, regional cooperation becomes particularly meaningful
because of development programming difficulties associated
with their smallness and remoteness.
I do
especially welcome the opportunity to speak to you regarding
the upcoming United Nations International Meeting for the
ten-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action for
the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). I do this also
in my capacity as the Secretary-General of the International
Meeting to be held in Mauritius next January. I believe
that all the members of the Forum are keenly interested
in this major event for developing island nations.
As you
would already be aware, following the postponement by the
host government, the General Assembly has now approved the
new dates of the International Meeting from 10 to
14 January 2005 in Mauritius. The last two days, that is,
13 and 14 January, will be the high level segment. Two days
of informal consultations are also proposed on 8 and 9 January,
in case the need arises. A civil society forum will be organized
in Mauritius immediately prior to these dates. A good number
of side events are also expected to mark the occasion.
A considerable
amount of work has already gone into the preparations
for the International Meeting -- both organizational
and substantive. Negotiations on the outcome document are
still going on in New York under the guidance of Ambassador
Don MacKay, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the
United Nations, who has been designated as the Facilitator.
A third round of informal consultations will be held in
New York on 7, 8 and 11 October 2004. It is our hope that
the draft of the Strategy Paper will make significant headway
prior to reaching Mauritius.
I have
been urging member-states to conclude their negotiations
on the outcome document for the Mauritius meeting during
the upcoming round in October. At the same time, we need
to be realistic enough to expect that a few issues could
be carried over to Mauritius where a final political guidance
from leaders would be necessary. Another outcome of the
International Meeting in the shape of a Political Declaration
will be initiated, according to general practice, by the
host country during the conference.
With
regard to the outcomes of the International Meeting,
many SIDS have expressed that such outcomes be practical
and respond to the real challenges to the sustainable development
of the SIDS that seem to be growing each year. Nothing could
be more desirable. The outcomes should be implementable,
and for that we need to prioritize the concrete actions
to be undertaken in the coming years in favor of the Small
Island Developing States, and to set in place an effective
implementation mechanism.
I firmly
believe that the goodwill of the international community,
which SIDS enjoy in general, should be duly manifested in
the Mauritius outcome --- through the whole-hearted and
enthusiastic support of all development partners. Let me
reiterate the point that I have been emphasizing all along.
An outcome document of any major conference may be comprehensive
in terms of issues covered, but if it does not have the
full and real commitment of development partners --- when
it comes to implementation, it may simply remain a consensus
on paper.
As the
experience of the last decade has shown us, since it is
difficult to implement all the fourteen priorities outlined
in Barbados at the same time, it is important to prioritize
immediate and pressing issues and put them on top of the
agenda for the next few years. To emphasize my point, I
refer to this as prioritization of priorities. Issues
like HIV/AIDS, security concerns, communications, trade
opportunities and market access, climate change and renewable
energy should receive special attention.
Let
me also emphasize that this approach will not compromise
the priorities of the Barbados Programme of Action. It is
but a strategy to achieve the maximum possible international
support to undertake what is urgently needed, on the basis
of genuine international consensus. The slowness in the
implementation process of Barbados must be addressed at
Mauritius.
With
regard to the level and extent of participation at
the International Meeting, let me say that the General Assembly
has urged that representation be at the highest possible
level (58/213). As the Secretary-General of the International
Meeting I have emphasized the need for member-states and
the United Nations and other organizations, to be represented
at the highest levels of government in Mauritius. Secretary-General
Mr. Kofi Annan has also recently written to all Heads of
State or Government requesting their participation at the
highest level. We appreciate very much your decision last
year in Auckland encouraging the Forum members to participate
at "the highest level" in Mauritius. In view of
the change of the dates of the Barbados + 10 meeting, a
reiteration of that decision in Apia would ensure highest
level participation.
I take
this opportunity to inform you that we will be able to meet
the objective of financing two delegates from each of the
SIDS. In respect of your region, I appreciate the contributions
made by Australia and New Zealand for this purpose.
As far
as my Office - the Office of the UN High Representative
- is concerned, it will be closely engaged in advocacy and
mobilization of international support for the implementation
of the outcomes of Mauritius.
When
it comes to monitoring, I have been advocating a more dynamic
approach. This implies that monitoring goes beyond simple
stocktaking and a cursory analysis of programme implementation
at a particular point in time. Monitoring should lead to
needed adjustments to the designated mechanism for follow
up, addressing of resource requirements and new initiatives
that would give a further impetus to implementation.
For
a more dynamic, and if I may say, purposeful monitoring,
it is my view that the intergovernmental regional organizations,
like the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community,
and the Indian Ocean Commission should play a wider role
in the implementation of Barbados and Mauritius. I feel
that such regional organizations are also much better placed
to initiate activities in the region. They definitely have
a better knowledge of their regions, its resources and capacities,
and the regional players involved. With the backing and
support of the United Nations system, regional organizations
like yours can play a greater role in both monitoring and
implementation of the priorities articulated in Mauritius.
My preliminary discussions with intergovernmental regional
organizations have encouraged me to believe that they would
also welcome such a greater involvement of their organizations
in the implementation process in the coming years.
Let
me conclude by thanking you again for your kind invitation.
It is indeed an honor for me to represent the United Nations
Secretary-General. I wish you all the very best in your
deliberations and look forward to your participation and
leadership at the Mauritius International Meeting.
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