Mr. President,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as President
of the 57th Session of the General Assembly, and for the excellent manner
in which you have been presiding over our deliberations since the beginning
of the Session. With the caliber of leadership you have displayed, added
to your vast experience and wisdom, I have no doubts that our deliberations
will be easily guided to a successful outcome.
Let me also express my delegation's thanks and appreciation to your predecessor,
His Excellency Mr. Han Seung-soo for his efficiency and effectiveness
in conducting the business of the 56th Session of the General Assembly.
I would be remiss if I did not pay homage to our Secretary-General, His
Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for another year of fine stewardship to our
Organisation and to humanity at large. Thanks to his leadership, our Organisation
has been able to cross a number of important frontiers in the year since
we last met.
Lastly, my delegation warmly congratulates East Timor on its full transition
to democracy, its successful conduct of democratic elections, its recent
accession to independence and its subsequent admission into our United
Nations family. Our congratulations also go to the Government and people
of Switzerland on acceding to full membership of the UN, as the 190th
and newest Member State.
Mr. President,
Our session is being convened at a time when the anniversary of the dastardly
September 11 attack on the United States is being observed. We join the
rest of the world including the families of the victims in remembering
those who lost there lives, and pray that the Almighty God grant them
eternal rest. Gambians were among the thousands from many nations of the
world, who were victims of the attack. It only goes to show that terrorism
knows no national boundaries. In commemorating September 11, H.E. President
Jammeh declared a public holiday for people to stay home and pray. We
must therefore harness all our efforts and co-operate effectively to address
this wicked phenomenon and its root causes.
Let me take this opportunity to commend the counter-terrorism Committee
established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) for the good work that
it is doing in enhancing co-operation in the field of counter terrorism.
In the course of this year, The Gambia was able to accede to all the major
treaties relating to terrorism and currently we are in the process of
implementing resolution 1373.
Mr. President,
The year 2002 has been a busy one for us all. First we came here for the
Children's Summit. Then we went off to Monterrey for the World Conference
on Financing for Development. And we just recently concluded our deliberations
on sustainable development in Johannesburg, South Africa. At each one
of these important fora, we were offered the opportunity of rededicating
ourselves to the noble objectives of our Organisation, especially those
that were so strongly evinced at the Millennium Summit and enshrined in
the Millennium Development Goals, which we all espoused. Through our deliberations
at these meetings in the course of this year, we have re-committed ourselves
to striving in a more purposeful and determined manner, to spread and
deepen democracy throughout the world; do better in protecting human rights,
fundamental human freedoms and the rule of law; strengthen our co-operation
in the fight against hunger, poverty and disease; do more to protect the
weak and vulnerable in our respective societies, particularly children,
the aged and the handicapped; and redouble our efforts to sanitise and
preserve the physical and
human ecology and environment. These are some of the important pillars
on which world peace and security are built, and which we must consciously
work toward strengthening, and preserve from crumbling. That is the only
sure way that global security and development, which are at the core of
our Organisation's mandate, can be assured.
We in The Gambia have been doing all we can to stay the course in the
uphill task of nation building under the inspired and dynamic leadership
of His Excellency President Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh. In the area
of good governance I am pleased to inform this august body that with special
reference to the democratisation process, following the much acclaimed
presidential elections held last October, National Assembly elections
were held on the 17th January 2002, and Local Government elections held
on the 25th April 2002. Mindful of the need to cultivate the culture of
democracy and good governance the Government of The Gambia had since developed
and adopted a National Governance Policy and programme. The main components
of the policy framework are:
1. Constitutional Review and Reform of Electoral Processes;
2. Enhancing Parliamentary Structures and Processes;
3. Civic Education;
4. Reform of legal and judicial processes and Constitutional Review;
5. Public Sector Management and administrative Reform; and
6. Decentralisation and Reform of Local Government Systems.
Clearly, governance constitutes an important component of our poverty
reduction strategy.
Mr. President,
Halfway through the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of
Poverty, and in spite of all the commitments we have made over the years
to reduce poverty and accelerate the pace of social and economic development
throughout the world, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening,
and the absolute number of poor people, especially in the developing world,
is increasing. The scourge of poverty is insidious. It contains within
itself, all the elements that militate against its victim's ability to
rise above his or her condition. Therefore, fighting poverty calls for
conscious, deliberate interventions that only the strong can provide to
help the weak, These interventions come, for the most part, in the form
of resource flows. Unfortunately, these have been dwindling over the years,
and in spite of the recent commitments made by the G8 countries in Kananaskis
in support of the new African initiative - the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD), for which we are grateful - overall, the shortfalls
in the fight against poverty are still huge and growing.
African countries should not be led to disenchantment by the international
community. The HIPC initiative on debt is, for the most part, still good
only on paper largely speaking. Protectionist policies and heavy subsidies
continue to frustrate our efforts to earn a decent living through production
and trade. And the promises of increased ODA and other forms of assistance
over four United Nations Development Decades have remained largely unfulfilled.
In fact, this session of the General Assembly will look into the implementation
of the United Nations New Agenda for the development of Africa in the
1990s and the main conclusion will be that, by and large, the commitments
made by Africa's development partners have not been met. We missed another
opportunity for the multi-lateral system to work towards poverty eradication
and social and economic development.
With special reference to the plight of LDCs, Mr. President, I would like
to add The Gambia's voice to those of previous Speakers in calling for
a renewed commitment to implementing the Programme of Action for the LDCs
for the Decade 2001-2010. In this connection, we commend the General Assembly
for the decision taken to establish the Office of the High Representative
for the LDCs, landlocked Developing
Countries and Small Island Developing States. We look forward to working
closely with the High Representative.
The recently held Ministerial Meeting of LDCs in Cotonou was indeed timely
and we call on the rest of the International Community to lend their full
support to the LDCs so that we implement fully the decisions taken. We
cannot however, discuss the issue of poverty alleviation without mentioning
the problem of women and children. With regard to our women folk, we need
to focus more on the 12 critical areas of concern laid out in the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action, including gender inequalities. As
for the issues concerning children, we hope that the follow-up summit
held here in New York recently will strengthen us in our resolve to achieve
the noble goals that we have set for ourselves to give our children a
brighter future.
For our part in The Gambia, Mr. President, we have evolved a strong and
focused policy on poverty, which we have articulated in a Programme of
Action for Poverty Alleviation. The strategy is anchored on my Government's
commitment to eradicate poverty in the long term, by increasing incomes
through economic growth and empowering the population with the capacity
for sustainable development. Our fight against poverty stands on five
pillars: the creation of an enabling environment for economic growth and
development; enhancing the productive capacity and social protection of
the poor; improving coverage of basic services; political empowerment
of civil society; and strengthened partnerships with development stakeholders.
My Government is committed to relentlessly pursuing these objectives in
line with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals. And in this,
we shall be counting on the wholehearted support of the international
community.
At this juncture, Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity
to express my Government's most profound gratitude to our principal partners
in development and the Donor Community at large for their active participation
at the sixth Roundtable Donors' Conference for The Gambia held in Geneva
on the 18th and 19th September 2002. We are confident that all the pledges
made will be honoured so that together, in the true spirit of international
solidarity, we implement smoothly and successfully, our National programme
of Action for Poverty Alleviation.
This is all the more urgent considering the fact that during the rainy
season this year, we experienced a long dry spell, initially, resulting
in the poor performance of both crops and livestock.
Mr. President,
It is our hope that all nations of the world will redouble their efforts
to live up to the commitments they made in Rio and, just recently, reaffirmed
in Johannesburg. Even as we search for ways of taking our peoples out
of poverty, we should also be mindful of the need to conserve our natural
environment. Of particular concern to my delegation is the destructive
fishing practices, in the South Atlantic. Despite the adoption of numerous
international instruments to regulate fishing with a view to conserving
fish stocks, unsustainable - and often illegal - fishing continues unabated
in our coastal waters. The unbridled pursuit of profit without due regard
to sustainability and long term food security is the only reason for this
undesirable situation. My delegation therefore calls on all Member States
to co-operate with us to address this serious state of affairs and to
provide us with technical and other forms of assistance to enable all
affected countries better police their waters in order to arrest these
unsustainable and harmful fishing practices.
Mr. President,
The momentum generated in Johannesburg must not be allowed to wither away. It
must be recognised, however, that there can be no meaningful development without
peace and stability. This is why we attach great importance to the issue of
peacekeeping.
Mr. President,
In the field of peacekeeping our Organization continues to score remarkable
successes. We appreciate the efforts of the Security Council to put in place
a rapid response mechanism through which a multi-national force could quickly
be deployed to any part of the world. However there is need to ensure that adequate
resources are made available so that no peacekeeping operation is disrupted
on account of lack of funds, thereby plunging the countries concerned back Into
a vortex of violence. Funding availability is also important to bridge the gap
between peacekeeping and national reconstruction.
Mr. President,
The determination with which we have dealt with threats to peace has paid handsome
dividends in the period since we last met. This is why, Mr. President, we welcome
the great efforts made to put out the theatres of conflict in Africa, notably,
in Sierra Leone, the DRC, and Angola.
With regard to the Sudan, my Government applauds the signing of the Machacos
Protocol between the Government and the SPLA. We hope and pray that the process
now started would finally bring to an end this protracted conflict.
And while we may rightly commend ourselves for these achievements, we must not
rest on our oars. There are still some significant areas of uncertainty and
volatility in our own West African sub-region that we need to address. It requires
a relentless effort.
In our capacity as co-coordinator of the Group of friends of Guinea-Bissau,
here at the United Nations, we are calling on the rest of the international
community to provide more assistance to this Sister country. In this way, the
democratisation process will be consolidated and the country's economic performance
enhanced.
We must bear in mind that ending hostilities is one thing and getting the system
on the right path to social and economic development of the type that would
eliminate the causes of conflict, quite another. In like manner, a successful
transition into a democratic dispensation does not necessarily, in and of itself,
usher in peace and security. In many of the countries where conflicts have ended,
political stability remains fragile, and uncertainty and instability prevail.
In these countries, there is need to go beyond the immediacy of the political
requirements for consolidating peace, to address governance in its broadest
sense, including its economic and financial aspects, as well as the capacities
required for strengthening it. And this is the emerging challenge for the international
community. We must devise mechanisms for follow-through into peace-building
and be ready to provide the resources to progressively restore confidence and
strength among those at the frontline.
Mr. President,
President Yahya A.J.J. Jannneh, the Government and people of The Gambia are
fully committed to the search for peace and the resolution of conflicts everywhere,
but particularly so in our immediate subregion. That is why, we not only open
our doors to our neighbours in distress, hosting many refugees, but we also
work actively with them as well as with other members of the International Community
including the Secretary General
and his able team to remove misunderstandings that could easily lead to the
flare up of conflict.
Mr. President,
The situation in the Middle East still remains a matter of grave concern to
my delegation. The Security Council must show more leadership in the efforts
of the international community to contain and resolve the serious tensions between
Israel and Palestine, which pose a grave threat to the stability of the nations
in the region and the peace of the whole world. It is unacceptable for the world
to stand back and watch as helpless civilians are attacked in refugee camps
or are killed or maimed by suicide bombers. The suffering of innocent people
in the Middle East must be brought to an end immediately.
My delegation strongly urges therefore that all the relevant UN resolutions
on Palestine and the Middle East notably, Resolution 242 and 338 be complied
with without any further delay. We also fully support those who have called
for the recognition of the State of Israel by all nations as well as the creation
and the recognition by all, of a State of Palestine.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, there are still some unresolved issues. The situation
between Iraq and Kuwait has still not been fully resolved. And we are still
seeking a satisfactory resolution of the question of the Kuwaiti prisoners of
war and missing persons, as well as the return of the Kuwaiti national archives.
Within Iraq itself, we in the Gambia have always called for the alleviation
of the suffering of the innocent Iraqi people. With regard to the other unfinished
business of weapons inspections, my delegation applauds the decision of the
Government of Iraq to invite the UN weapons Inspectors to return to Iraq to
resume their work. We have always upheld the view that parties to any dispute
should allow the United Nations to assume its responsibility unhindered in our
common quest for amicable closure to situations of conflict. We therefore note
with satisfaction the important statement by President Bush recognising the
central role of the United Nations and calling on the latter to assume its responsibility.
But let us also remember that we - all of us, nations big and small, rich and
poor, constitute the United Nations. It can only be what we the member states
want it to be. The choice is ours.
Mr. President,
In South Asia, we cannot be indifferent to the prevailing situation between
India and Pakistan. These are two great countries with which The Gambia has
always enjoyed excellent relations. We are therefore calling on them, out of
this friendship, to exercise restraint at all times and to withdraw their troops
away from their respective borders.
Mr. President,
After years of hard work and tough negotiations, we finally succeeded in establishing
the International Criminal Court with the entry into force of the Rome Statute.
We salute the tireless efforts of all those who contributed in one way or another
to this huge success. It is our fervent hope that the Court, with the active
collaboration of all like-minded states, will act as an effective instrument
in the fight against international crimes of all sorts and by extension, extinguish
the culture of impunity.
Mr. President,
Turning now to the issue of sanctions, my delegation firmly believes that the
time has now come for us to review the procedure being used to impose them on
countries and individuals. The Permanent Members of the Security Council who
determine who should be placed on a sanctions or travel ban list, do not usually
provide evidence either to the individual concerned or to his government, to
justify their decision. We have come to see that in many cases, this decision
is based on speculation or conjecture and that the individuals in question really
did not deserve to be punished and humiliated. Thus far, most of the governments
have been very co-operative and, while repeatedly requesting to no avail, that
evidence of wrong-doing be made known to them, have nonetheless gone along with
the rest of the international community in respecting the decision taken by
the Council. Some of these Governments - mine included - are getting to the
point of exasperation, and have resolved that, unless the evidence being requested
of the Security Council is provided, they will refuse to comply with any ban
or sanctions imposed on their nationals. We sometimes wonder whether someone
out there doesn't have a hidden agenda. As sovereign nations, we demand more
transparency before acquiescing to our nationals being punished for wrongdoings
we have not been shown they have committed. The United Nations Security Council
must not be a bully.
Mr. President,
In like manner, the multifaceted sanctions imposed on Cuba are still in place
despite numerous resolutions calling for their lifting. A window of opportunity
now exists for them to be finally set aside. It is in nobody's interest to continue
to pursue policies against Cuba that have lost their appeal.
Mr. President,
Sabres are rattling on one side of the Taiwan Strait in the face of 23 million
souls, for merely claiming their god-given right to be recognised as a political,
economic and social entity. The Republic of China on Taiwan is today, the only
country on earth that is not represented in the United Nations, contrary to
the main guiding principle of the United Nations - the principle of universality.
Article Four of the Charter invites "all peace-loving states" to become
members of the Organisation. The people of Taiwan have demonstrated over the
years that, not only are they peace-loving, but also they can contribute to
all the objectives of the United Nations in the fields of global security, financial
stability, culture, industrial and technological growth and sustainable development.
Taiwan is not an insignificant player in the world production and trade arena.
It is the world's 16th largest economy. It is equally highly developed in the
field of scientific and medical research.
In recognition of its importance as a trading nation, it was recently admitted
into the WTO. Logic demands that for the very same reason it should also be
admitted into the WHO, in recognition of its importance as a highly sophisticated
and developed health entity; into UNESCO, because of its exceptionally high
standing as a scientific and cultural entity; into UNIDO because of its most
advanced industrial and technological development; into UNICEF because of its
highly developed child development policies and programmes; into FAO, MAD and
WFP because of its extremely well developed agriculture and its importance as
a food producer; into UNDP because of its huge ODA to developing countries for
capacity building and poverty alleviation; in short, into all branches of the
United Nations family, because of the tremendous contributions it could make
to the ideals and programmes of the UN.
Taiwan is a vibrant democracy with high ratings for human rights, press freedom
and the observance of the rights of the individual. It could contribute immensely
to global security and the fight against terrorism. It is therefore baffling
that this highly developed, friendly, and peace-loving nation has been barred
from membership of the United Nations for purely political reasons. My Government
will not rest until this injustice is undone and the Republic of China on Taiwan
is granted its rightful place among the comity of nations.
Still in the same region, with regard to the Korean Peninsula, Mr. President,
my delegation would like to reiterate once again our unflinching support for
all the efforts geared towards peaceful unification.
Finally, Mr. President,
My delegation believes that the General Assembly needs to be strengthened so
that it could play an even greater role in our quest for a just and equitable
world order. We welcome the moves being made to reform this important organ
of the UN in ways that would render it more effective in discharging its mandate.
This is particularly true of the UNSC. We in the Gambia will continue to add
our voice to the clamour for the Security Council to be reformed in order to
make it more democratic and more in tune with the realities of and requirements
for global security in the 21st century. The credibility and relevance of the
Council now depends on the reforms that we all have been calling for. The developing
countries must be allowed a much more effective participation in this powerful
organ of the United Nations. Africa should have a minimum of two permanent seats.
In conclusion, Mr. President, we urge all nations, great and small, to work
relentlessly towards preserving the ideals for which our organisation was set
up. We should all eschew behaviours that undermine the objectives of the United
Nations and frustrate its efforts. Multilateralism is the only hope left to
mankind for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of international
peace and security. Let us cherish and nurture it. Multilateralism will thrive
only if there is mist and confidence among all the actors. But, a system that
repeatedly frustrates and lets down one portion of its membership will malfunction
and eventually become ineffective and irrelevant. We must therefore all do more
to ensure that such a fate does not befall our Organization.
I thank you for your attention.