| ADDRESS BY H.E. MR. ORIS TRAJKOVSKI
I am greatly honored to address this distinguished gathering of the world's leaders at the UN, a truly unique global organization, deeply engaged in promotion of human values and international peace and stability. I would like to thank Mr. Jan Kavan for his important contribution in the past year as President of the fifty-seventh session and to congratulate Mr. Julian Robert Hunte, on his election to the post of President of the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly and I wish him every success in executing this very responsible function. On behalf of all citizens of my country, the Republic of Macedonia, I would like to pay special tribute to the UN and its Secretary General, Mr. Annan who delivered an indeed inspiring speech yesterday, for their relentless dedication and efforts in pursuing the righteous cause to protect human rights and freedoms and to safeguard prosperity and security in the world. We certainly do remember a great person, Mr. Sergio
Viera de Mello who paid the highest price
for pursuing the noble role of the UN in Ladies and Gentlemen, Reforming the UN, particularly its Security Council and revitalizing the GA are of crucial importance to all of us. My government firmly believes in the need of pursuing these goals in a consistent and more efficient way. The The World Summit on the Information Society to be held in Geneva this year and in Tunis 2005, along with two other Summits, held last year-Financing for Development in Monterrey-Mexico and Sustainable Development in Johannesburg-can be regarded, in the context of globalization and the overall -development process, as landmarks of a new approach in dealing with the challenges of today's world. Within the aforementioned framework, it is essential to fully implement the Millennium Declaration, as a key document for peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity. The most serious contemporary threat for humanity is identified and visible. It is the evil of terrorism. The fight against terrorism was and must remain our highest priority. In this regard, it would be immensely helpful to make a commitment to reach a consensus in relation to the remaining disputed points in the process of drafting Conventions on international and nuclear terrorism. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Facing the challenge of the year 2001, we found a way out by signing the Framework agreement that brought vital democratic processes back to the institutions and re-established and reaffirmed democratic procedures for addressing internal problems of any kind. Today, I am very proud to say that I came here, in the same mood as three years ago when I took part in the Millennium Summit, full of optimism, and truly convinced that after a hard work done, strategic issues of our future have been solved, once and for all, upon a broad political, social and interethnic consensus. Progress towards a real and authentic integration of all ethnic communities in the state structures is significant, and it has roots in our centuries-long model and tradition of multiculturalism and interethnic co-existence. Ladies and Gentlemen, In order to contribute in a constructive way to the more positive picture
of the region and productive cooperation among the nations, the A month ago in Ohrid,
we held a very successful regional forum, "Dialogue among civilizations"
attended by numerous heads of state, other leaders and scholars from
all over the world who spoke
very openly about the importance of having cultural interchange as a
permanent basis for the promotion of continuous dialogue and cohabitation
between the people and the states. In the message adopted at the forum,
all participants agreed that a thorough and continuous commitment would
be needed by all to genuinely transform our
region and to discharge once and for all this "powder keg"
of The Ladies and Gentlemen, In the Balkans, we see the collaboration and mutual respect emerging even between yesterday's enemies and opposing factions. We witness the gradual, but steady reconciliation of the nations. And, last but not least, important regional initiatives for free trade, trade facilitation and building infrastructure are connecting businesses and binding up people in a productive way, which help to raise awareness about our common future. My country, the
We do believe that the greatness of countries is not dependent upon the size of their armies and number of weapons they possess, but upon the commitment and dedication of their citizens in regard to the noble ideas of humanity and legacy of our civilization. In this tremendous task to preserve our common treasury and to create a better world for the generations to come, we are more than willing to participate, because we are all equal to each other, while contributing to the common aim. Mr. President, We are deeply
concerned with the escalation in violence in the On disarmament matters, having in mind our immediate concerns over the problem with small arms and light weapons, the Republic of Macedonia was an advocate of strong international action towards preventing, combating and eradicating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, since this poses a serious threat not only to the security and stability of my country, but also for the broader region. We welcome the conclusions of the Biennial Meeting on implementing the 2001 UN Programme of Action to combat illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, held in July 2003, that progress had been made worldwide within barely two years of adopting the Programme of Action. For the African countries the main priority at this moment is the fight against HIV/AIDS - a pandemic which is taking a devastating toll on the African population. The international community must work hand in hand with the African Governments in defeating this deadly disease. Africa
must work also very hard to achieve the strategic goals of New Partnership
for Mr. President, I sincerely believe that we will find a common language on how to strengthen our organization and maintain its mission of peace, prosperity, economic and social justice and human rights. Thank you. |