| STATEMENT BY Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi Minister for Foreign and Political Affairs Of the to the General Debate 58th Session of the General Assembly Please, check against delivery Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Government of the
Mr. President, I also wish to express my appreciation for the fruitful activity and remarkable capacities of former President Jan Kavan. It has been a privilege for us to cooperate with him. I cannot but start my speech by mentioning
the cowardly attacks on the UN Headquarters in On behalf of the Government and people
of In the light of the above, I wish to express the hope that the transitional Government Council, welcomed and supported by the Security Council, may operate efficiently so that Iraq can fully enjoy its right to self-determination, and its own sovereignty, and establish a democratic and representative government, internationally recognised and able to guarantee the conditions necessary for the Country's reconstruction. We also hope that the United Nations may strengthen even further their active humanitarian and civil role in favour of the Iraqi population, so as to contribute to the rebirth of this nation through democracy and development. We hope that all Countries - cooperating in Iraq to improve security and order under the aegis of the United States of America - after assuring a decisive contribution to the liberation of the Country from the previous regime, will reach an understanding with this Organization. To this end, the drafting of a new
Security Council Resolution, ensuing from the ongoing lively debate,
would be a major political and diplomatic achievement. It would definitely
pave the way to democracy and progress in In line with its tradition of solidarity,
and as demonstrated in recent years by supporting humanitarian projects
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, The tragic, painful and unforgettable events of Nearly 60 years ago, at the end of World War II, the creation of the United Nations Organisation testified to the unanimous desire for lasting peace and justice. I believe that it is the responsibility of this Organisation to effectively reflect at the beginning of the Third Millennium the will of the States to fulfill their original commitment and keep the original spirit alive through dialogue, mediation and cooperation. It is with this awareness that Similarly, Terrorism, besides being inspired by fanaticism and fundamentalism, is too often linked to conditions of under-development and injustice. Its victims may in turn become instruments of violence and oppression. However, terrorism can be countered also by actively supporting international cooperation programmes to overcome disparities, poverty, discrimination and prevarication, violation of the rights of individuals and peoples, total lack of opportunities, and therefore hopelessness, mainly for younger generations, the future of mankind. Our joint efforts to restore favourable conditions
for dialogue and mutual acceptance must not be weakened
by the growing concern for persistent serious obstacles to the "Road
Map" for peace in the Furthermore, the success of the globalisation process underway inevitably depends on the achievement of development and peace for all. Within the framework of an efficient global cooperation, the role played
by In 1854, In the field of human rights, the ethics of diversity implies acceptance
of the human condition in its entirety. In this spirit, The important ethical and moral implications of this issue cannot be separated from the purely scientific questions. We hope that the United Nations will continue to struggle for the protection of the fundamental rights of human beings. Always in the field of human rights, Mr President, I wish
to recall that Let me also express our best wishes that the Court, composed by authoritative magistrates, is now able to work in line with the objectives of justice, security and peace lying at its very base. We are confident it will carry on a fruitful work, and always act independently and impartially. All the objectives set forth in the Millennium Declaration could be achieved if additional $50 billion a year were granted in development assistance, while military expenditure at a global level amounts to $850 billion. Therefore, we wish to express our appreciation for the positive results obtained by the UN peace keeping missions in several areas of the world affected by conflicts. Such results should encourage Governments to increase their support in favour of these missions, which promote lasting and sustainable peace, the re-establishment of democracy and rule of law. The Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 will provide a further incentive to reflect on and analyse the living conditions of our populations, paying special attention to children, the elderly and the most vulnerable people in our societies. Indeed, such groups deserve greater consideration on the part of societies. Society must promote effective projects of education to solidarity and adequate interventions. Only a few days ago, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reviewed
the initial report of Mr President, In underlining the validity of the reform programme started by the UN Secretary General, we deem it necessary to carry on the reform of the General Assembly, the most representative body of our Organization. Indeed, it should enjoy greater authority. Hoping that an agreement on the reform of the Security Council will be reached, Mr President, Let me stress once again my Country's appreciation and commitment to the activity carried out by the United Nations and by you personally building a world of peace, solidarity and development. It is in this spirit that this morning I signed three important international instruments: the Convention on the Elimination of any Form of Discrimination against Women, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, recently adopted at the 56th WHO Assembly, and the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolishing the death penalty. We need to continue our action internationally, despite all difficulties and tensions, bearing in mind that our joint efforts are essential to find a solution to the emergencies and concerns of today. Bringing about the necessary changes, we will be able to reconfirm the validity of the basic principles of this Organisation. We will responsibly set the conditions for our future and thus meet the expectations of our peoples and our hearts. While expressing my best wishes to you, Mr
President, to the Secretary General and to all UN officers, as well
as to all member States, I assure you that |