YouSaid · the spoken record

Leo A. Falcam

lines on the record: 52
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2001-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We are reassured that the spirit and principles of the United Nations will guide leaders as they strive to prevent future outbreaks of violence while seeking to relieve current suffering. My delegation is proud of its contributions during our first 10 years of membership and pledges to do its utmost to continue to advance the goals of the United Nations for the betterment of all people throughout the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Like some others we have faced, it is not of our own making, and it is not something that we can overcome by ourselves. The Kyoto Protocol, as it has been hammered out in Marrakesh, provides a necessary mechanism with which most nations can begin to attack global warming. I congratulate the negotiators on their significant, even historic, accomplishment. The emission cuts agreed to, however, amount to only a small first step. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the sincere condolences of the people of the Federated States of Micronesia to those in all regions of the world who are suffering today from violence, poverty, terrorism and the violation of human rights. We pray for a peaceful end to the current conflicts raging throughout many regions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I do not mean to ignore the initial economic hardships these changes might entail; we understand them all too well. In the last five years, the Federated States of Micronesia has taken unprecedented measures to reduce the size of its public sector, far and away the largest employer in my country. These moves were vastly unpopular politically. Still, they were necessary and have put us on the right footing for a sustainable economic future. Similarly, longer-term economic benefits and competitive advantage can be gained by those nations that adopt a progressive climate change strategy. We Micronesians are a proud people. Throughout the centuries, we have endured seemingly insurmountable difficulties. The threat from climate change is only the latest of these.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the past 10 years we have seen some progress in the form of the Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, thanks to the tireless efforts of many delegations and good will on the part of Governments. However, a change in the position of several key signatories to the Protocol, which are also among the world’s largest generators of greenhouse gases, undermines the success of the recent Bonn and Marrakesh talks, and has created a great deal of concern on the part of all low-lying island States. We warmly applaud those countries that have stood by their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 4 We call upon those that have not to find the political will to take the actions that are, after all, in their own long-term best interests.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We are encouraged by the new attention paid to these issues at the recent conference in Bonn, and we welcome the constructive outcomes of the conference just completed in Marrakesh with regard to such important issues as the enforcement of compliance. We and all other parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed nine years ago, were motivated by the “precautionary principle”, whereby the lack of airtight scientific certainty could not be the basis for inaction. Today, virtually no uncertainty remains as to the reality of the main problem. Yet we are dismayed to see that in the media and elsewhere a handful of “greenhouse gas sceptics” are often still given a podium equal to that given to the distinguished scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Already, our region has seen the beginnings of the movement of its peoples as a result of the rise in sea level caused by global warming. This year, Tuvalu, one of our similarly situated neighbours in the region, announced that it had begun examining relocation options. Unfortunately, its initial results were not encouraging, as there is no uniform willingness among more fortunate countries to provide a haven for these first “climate change refugees”. Undoubtedly, it will be the outlying atolls of the Federated States of Micronesia, home to about half of our population, that are among the next to join the people of Tuvalu if current trends continue. These developments point with new urgency to the need for constructive discussion of adaptation strategies and funding for small island developing States.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“All share one common denominator — since the dawn of time, our people’s livelihood has been tied to the sea. Even on our high islands, such as Pohnpei and Kosrae, the vast majority of the population on all islands lives in the coastal plain. On most islands, the possibility of moving to higher ground does not exist. The distinguished scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have confirmed that the climate is changing and that human activities are playing a significant part in the warming of our planet. Credible scientific evidence suggests that the magnitude of the impact of that warming may be greater than even the most extreme estimates just 10 years ago. Indeed, it may already be too late to save my country and many others like it worldwide.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“While my nation grapples with the entire spectrum of transnational problems, such as drug trafficking and other aspects of international criminal activity, there is one threat that has our special attention. I am speaking, of course, about the accelerated rise in sea level caused by global climate change. We now know that the production of greenhouse gases by human activity plays a prominent role. It is this global issue that threatens my country’s future as no other. The Federated States of Micronesia contributes only in an infinitesimal way to the problem of human- induced climate change; yet we are among the “front- line” States that must deal with its impacts. We are comprised of a geologically diverse range of islands, from low-level coral atolls to mountainous volcanic outcrops.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We understand fully the need to reschedule it and are gratified that the Assembly has decided to hold this session next May in order to give the issues of children and youth the prominence they deserve. On a related note, I am pleased to report that the Federated States of Micronesia has begun the process of evaluation with a view to signing and ratifying the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Given the monumental pace of change, it is not surprising that in some respects the United Nations itself has been unable to keep pace with developments. We are appreciative of ongoing reform efforts, but we would encourage redoubled efforts on remaining matters that cry out for attention, such as the reconstitution of the Security Council.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the 30 years of its existence, the Pacific Islands Forum has played a pivotal role in maintaining the peace and security of our region. It has also contributed to notable progress on a broad slate of economic and social issues. I was pleased to participate in the recent meeting of the Forum and can express my country’s full support for this year’s communiqué, which has been issued as a document of this session of the General Assembly. 3 As a nation with one of the youngest populations in the world, the issues of children and youth are of utmost concern to us. We therefore commend the decision to hold the special session of the General Assembly on children.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Traditional conflicts remain and, most troubling, many old animosities have spilled over into open hostilities. This serves to underscore the importance of United Nations initiatives, such as this year’s World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which recently concluded in Durban, South Africa. After many years of overall peace and tranquillity, our region of the Pacific islands has recently seen a few long-standing conflicts erupt into violence of disturbing proportions. We applaud the efforts of the United Nations aimed at arriving at peaceful settlements, and the Federated States of Micronesia lends its full support to ongoing measures designed to keep the peace. In the Pacific, one of the most effective means to that end has always been the Pacific Islands Forum.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We will continue to work with our colleagues within the Group of 77 and China to further poverty reduction measures and to improve the standard of living of all humankind. The historic isolation of the Federated States of Micronesia has sheltered us from the scourge of many communicable diseases, such as AIDS. Our integration with the world community has brought about change here as well. In this past year my country experienced its first domestic case of HIV infection. This is minor in comparison to the experience of those countries that have been devastated by the disease, but it is cause for concern, nonetheless, in a country of little more than 100,000 people. We wholeheartedly support United Nations initiatives in this regard, such as the recently concluded General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“There are far more noteworthy new initiatives than I have time to mention here. But please allow me to highlight a few of them. While the effects of some grave threats to the Federated States of Micronesia will gradually manifest themselves over the coming decades, my nation is currently grappling with an ongoing and immediate concern: poverty. I am not speaking of the poverty of hunger and unchecked disease, but of the all-too- common developing world condition that has resulted from the persistent failure of all nations to achieve equal and equitable sharing of the world’s bounties. Unfortunately, we are not alone, but this provides little solace. We applaud the United Nations as it continues its heroic work to reduce poverty and to bring a better standard of living to all peoples of the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the past 10 years, our membership in the United Nations has opened up new horizons, new partnerships and a new understanding of peoples. We also note our appreciation for the special knowledge we have gained through our interactions with all of you here in this forum and elsewhere in the United Nations system. In the past 10 years, the world, like Micronesia itself, has changed at a pace heretofore unknown. Although we may celebrate some victories in conflict prevention, clearly, other grave challenges remain, and new threats to international peace and security have emerged. We are encouraged at seeing the United Nations assert its leadership in combating these problems. The past year has brought an ambitious slate of new United Nations initiatives to enhance the well- being of peoples throughout the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In those 10 years, my nation and the world at large have undergone unprecedented change. With the assistance of the United Nations system, the Micronesian people have worked tirelessly to forge our own identity at the international level. Fifteen years ago, we entered into a relationship of Free Association with the United States of America. It is a relationship largely unprecedented in international relations. This arrangement was subject to great scrutiny by the United Nations, which ultimately approved the end of our status as a United Nations Trust Territory. It is testimony to the efforts of this body and the United Nations system that I stand before you today as the representative of a nation — an equal in the community of nations. For hundreds of years, our culture was isolated from the rest of the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Part of winning this battle is to demonstrate the commitment and capacity of this body to carry on with the great work of the Charter and on all sides. Thus, in addition to other actions that are being taken to confront the current crisis, I call upon all Member States to ratify and bring into force as soon as possible the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, which was adopted by a resolution of the General Assembly on 9 December 1999. I signed this important Convention yesterday on behalf of the Federated States of Micronesia, and I anticipate its prompt ratification by our Congress. 2 I take pleasure in saying that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Federated States of Micronesia’s membership in the United Nations.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“On behalf of my people, please allow me to reiterate our deepest and most sincere condolences to the Government of the United States and to the victims and their families from all over the world. Our resolve to combat international terrorism is unwavering. My country will stand ready to assist in any way it can in order to help bring those responsible for these heinous acts to justice and to ease the suffering of those affected by their actions. The recently completed special debate on terrorism by this body makes it clear that we are all brothers in this fight, with a shared determination to do what it takes to eradicate this blight on civilization. But, despite the great sadness in all our hearts over the recent and ongoing events, the regular work of this body cannot be derailed.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, Sir, on your election. My Government hails the selection of a leader with such esteemed qualifications, and we are confident you will lead the work of this body with the same high competence and spirit as did your distinguished predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland. We also share the pride felt by every Member of this body in the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations Organization and to its highly admired Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. We take great satisfaction in his re-election to another term, especially in this critical period. Words cannot describe the horror of my people at the tragic event which unfolded here in New York, in Washington and other locations in September — and the one yesterday.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is the Charter of the United Nations, a visionary document that has guided our troubled world through the faltering steps of increasing multilateral awareness, and today provides a format for our very survival. God grant that we will have the political will to sustain it.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Of necessity, therefore, I must leave much to the work of our representatives in the Committees here and in other United Nations organs throughout the year. I wish, however, to plead with this body for a universal awakening to the single most important reality of our lives today. This reality is that all our interests become more closely linked with each passing generation. We are all responsible for turning back the consequences of our past selfish behaviour. The destruction of war, the improper stewardship of our natural resources and the pollution of our living space are looming global disasters. Combined, they will overwhelm the Earth's population unless we find common ground and take action. That common ground exists. It exists here. It does not ask us to surrender our nationhood or our cultures.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the framework for action in this area. We thus have existing structures; there is no need to create new institutions. We believe that the size of the task will require continuing effort on an annual basis, so that an ongoing working-group format within the context of preparations for each annual General Assembly will be more rewarding than a large, one-time conference. Above all, the process must seek the widest possible input, drawing upon expertise at the regional level, and providing assistance to ensure the participation of developing countries, especially small island States. In these brief moments it is not possible to express all our views on all the matters we deem important.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Nowhere is there a better example of the need for comprehensive security in the modern sense, extending beyond military considerations and also including economic, social and environmental security. This leads me to the present need for proper stewardship of the oceans and seas throughout the world. 18 This subject was recently discussed in depth by the Commission on Sustainable Development, and it is on our agenda at this session. I want to emphasize that the Federated States of Micronesia solidly supports the positions expressed by the Alliance of Small Island States on this subject. We believe that oceans and seas present a special, even crucial, case for international cooperation and coordination, and that the General Assembly is the appropriate body to provide this oversight. Indeed, it was mandated to do so by Agenda 21.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“But it should not be forgotten that we Pacific islanders are custodians of some of the world's greatest untapped wealth. In the coming millennium, our region is certain to play a greater role than ever before in meeting the needs of the rest of the world for food and mineral resources. If these resources are to be conserved in the proper way and harvested in a sustainable manner, the peoples of the Pacific islands must be dealt with fairly, and on a basis of partnership with the developed world. And the time to start is now. The growing global involvement with and reliance upon the tremendous resource base in our region must rest on a foundation of regional security.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“However, leadership should not become domination, and it should not leave the developing world marginalized. I therefore emphasize the need for a restructured Security Council. I also visualize a General Assembly that remains in the forefront of global decision-making, for real outcomes on real issues. Being from a Pacific island nation, I naturally have particular concerns about our region. Without demeaning in any way the considerable attention that we do receive, I must say that the Pacific islands region often takes a back seat in the councils of the greater Powers, which are prone to include only the Pacific rim countries among their primary concerns. This can be understood, given our small populations and land masses, which only underscore our remoteness in the vast Pacific Ocean.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The plain fact is that the openness of the most powerful nations to accept rational and realistic change in the Security Council is a key indicator of the future of global multilateral relations in general, and of this Organization in particular. The impact of success with this issue would be felt in positive ways throughout the United Nations Organization, and it would stimulate renewed confidence in the Charter. That result alone is badly needed and should itself inspire greater effort to overcome the difficulties ahead. It would be unrealistic to ignore the inevitability of the fact that larger, more powerful nations will most often take the lead in the United Nations. In fact, they should do so as a matter of responsibility; they possess the resources and the capacity.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“There is a perception that, despite the formal application of the rules, the substantive participation of developing countries in dealing with world problems is in reality waning rather than increasing. This does not bode well for the future of international relations. As the trend towards globalization continues to strengthen, this body as a whole will need to be more involved in making important decisions — not a permanent 5, not a G-7, but a “G-188”. Probably the single most urgently needed reform is the enlargement of the Security Council. Naturally, such an important step must not be taken in haste, but by this time we should be closer to finding an acceptable formulation.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The great achievements of those who have come before us in the last 54 years must be honoured by our unshakable determination to take the United Nations seriously into the next millennium as the single most effective multilateral instrument for the betterment of humankind. If the United Nations is to maintain and even improve its capacity to deal with major issues and improve the lot of disadvantaged peoples, I respectfully suggest that there is a need for broader incorporation of developing countries in the decision-making process. More and more, it seems, a relatively small group of developed countries are seen on the front lines here and in other related international bodies.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In order to maintain and improve the responsiveness of the United Nations in a world of increasing demands and challenges, it is necessary that we continually evolve and adapt effectively in our pursuit of the ideals of the Charter of this Organization. Only in this way can we keep the Organization on a positive course and faithfully translate the mandates of the Charter into terms of continuing relevance. This is the attitude with which we must approach reform. It is not a consequence of inadequacy, which the word “reform” may suggest, but, rather, it is a positive and evolutionary process. This is easily said, but, as we all know, it is very difficult to put into practice. Even so, we must not allow that high degree of difficulty to plunge us into frustration and defeat.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We sometimes hear that perhaps the Organization has outlived its usefulness and has inadequate capacity to deal with global crises in the areas of security, social justice and the environment. Some are said to feel that other, more sharply focused bodies would be better suited to dealing with the anticipated crises of the new millennium. 17 Without question, the effective responsiveness of this Organization is constantly being challenged. But this is not a sign of failure, nor of a lack of capacity. Neither does it suggest that we need another instrument. It is, rather, an indication of the growing interconnectedness of the global community, and of the growing inclination among nations to find and recognize their common interests and to work together to advance global peace and harmony.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It has been, and continues to be, a demanding experience, but inasmuch as we have learned about others, we are also learning more about ourselves and moving towards greater maturity as a nation. We have also developed a deep appreciation for the often unheralded but vital work of translating global problems into solutions that is pursued faithfully by the thousands of administrative and diplomatic members of the United Nations family. It is difficult to conceive of a future in which the nations of our ever-shrinking planet will not have a forum such as this — the United Nations. Yet one cannot help but be uneasy on hearing whispers of discouragement as the United Nations is challenged by issues that seem to grow in number and complexity.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“As small-island countries, we must individually and collectively commit ourselves to staying the course once we have seen it and possess the means to navigate it. Without that commitment, our sails will never fill and we will remain adrift on a journey that can only come to a sad end. As a new member of the international community, we have been faced with the need to rapidly become familiar with the dynamics of multilateral interaction within the United Nations system while at the same time trying to acquire a practical working knowledge of the various simultaneous processes. But there is no apprenticeship here at the United Nations. From the outset, it has been our full responsibility to participate, on a basis of equality, in the ongoing work of numerous bodies directly integral to the United Nations or related to it.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We feel fortunate in this regard and in how the principle of sustainability is fully integral to our activities, for, while we are deeply appreciative of the concerns that other nations have shown for the difficulties faced by small island States like ourselves, and while we remain anxious for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, we realize that the action referred to must be, first and foremost, our own. We ourselves must be very serious not only in recognizing our special development obstacles but in instituting and carrying out programmes to overcome them in a sustainable way. And this must be done, not as a temporary, short-term or even medium- term proposition, but as a way of life for generations to come. No amount of outside assistance can provide sustainable development.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Since 1991, when the Federated States of Micronesia was admitted to membership in this body, we have experienced — from the viewpoint of a developing country and particularly as a small island developing State — a truly unique decade in multilateral relations. We emerged on the international scene just in time to become a part of the movement that radically changed previous notions about development, namely the Rio process. The timing could not have been better for us. Just as we took up the task of formulating our own agenda for the future of our island nation, the world as a whole came to recognize that the issues of environment and development are not opposed but, rather, are intertwined. We thus incorporated into our development planning from the outset a mandate not just for development, but for sustainable development.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“With the welcome admission to this body of three more of our number, we are now numerous enough in this forum to assert forcefully that we wish no further invasion to place our peoples at risk, irrespective of the reasons others may have for choosing to disregard our concerns. I have by no means touched on every topic of concern that is to be discussed at the next Forum meeting. Following that meeting, as I stated earlier, the complete Communiqué will be submitted to this body, and I commend it to all delegations. The views I have expressed on behalf of the South Pacific Forum are, of course, fully embraced by my country, the Federated States of Micronesia. I would like now to address other issues, speaking only for my own small island developing State.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We are further encouraged by the decision of the three shipping States to provide information on the shipping routes of the two ships carrying the fuel, consistent with 16 the rigorous safety and security obligations with which they must comply under the international conventions governing transport of nuclear materials, including the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials. We, the Forum countries, earnestly hope to make some inroads, not only in the immediate situation but, more importantly, in the long run, into the ethical consciences of the developed nations. Since time immemorial they have regarded our region as a convenient area for any kind of dangerous or undesirable activity that serves their interests at home.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Putting this disregard for the sovereign interests of Forum countries to one side for a moment, the Pacific Ocean is a vital breadbasket for the entire planet: any accident will have serious and adverse implications far beyond our shores for generations to come. Forum countries have derived some encouragement from the decision by France, Japan and the United Kingdom to consult with Forum members regarding safety and compensation arrangements for the most recent shipment of mixed oxide fuel from Europe to Japan.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Forum nations have consistently expressed their concerns on this issue, especially about liability and compensation arrangements in the event of an accident. From 16 to 17 September this year, discussions took place in Suva between the legal experts of the Forum countries and the representatives of France, Japan and the United Kingdom concerning trans- shipments of nuclear materials through the region. This meeting was arranged by the Forum secretariat, in line with the 1998 Forum Communiqué. We are encouraged by this development and strongly urge the representatives of the three shipping States to demonstrate their readiness to explore innovative ways to address the concerns of Forum members: there is more at stake than the well- being and comfort of the larger populations in the North.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“But for us, as well as for many others, we ask that these limitations should not be disregarded by larger countries and organizations in the management of the international agenda. Once again, we express sincere appreciation for the support of donors that have made our participation possible. In addition, we would emphasize the importance of applying a coordinated approach to scheduling in order to facilitate the participation of small delegations that would not wish to be marginalized by overlapping meetings on topics of critical concern to us. Finally, another topic of concern for the Forum at the next annual meeting will be the continuing shipment by industrialized Powers of plutonium and radioactive wastes through our region.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Republic of the Marshall Islands recently hosted an important workshop on the Clean Development Mechanism that was attended by more than 40 countries, and in June, Australia and the Forum secretariat hosted a workshop in Nadi. We are severely hampered, however, by the shortage of personnel and financial resources to maintain continuous participation in the host of ongoing activities. The United Nations and bilateral donors have been very generous in supporting our attendance at conferences, but the time demands on our short-staffed officials at home and abroad can be overwhelming, considering other growing concerns such as biodiversity, the oceans and coral reefs. I know that this problem is by no means unique to Forum island countries, nor even to small developing countries as a group.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We are very grateful for the considerable extent to which our pleas have been taken into account, but while we may flatter ourselves that we have served, in a way, as a voice of conscience for the Framework Convention on Climate Change, we wish also to make positive contributions to its implementation. Thus, the emphasis of all Forum members now is to assure that we do our part to participate in and to advance the considerable amount of work that must be done. The South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme continues to serve our governments as a useful focal point and to provide valuable expertise. Forum countries have long been active in working to understand the potential of the Clean Development Mechanism for the region.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Even though our spirits are bolstered by the encouragement of our annex I Forum partners Australia and New Zealand, the 14 Forum small island States grow weary of calling attention to our special vulnerability to climate change and to our status on the front line of potential worldwide catastrophe. I would sincerely hope that by now a great majority of people, not only in the United Nations system but from all across the globe, have a strong mental picture of the helpless situation of low-lying islands and coastlines in the face of rising seas.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Unless all countries align themselves with the Convention’s purposes and take urgent collective action, we could find ourselves here at the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly, without being any closer to meaningful implementation of the Convention. By that time, leaders would be expressing regret over a steadily growing list of climate-related disasters and watching the pile of sandbags along the FDR Drive outside as the tidal surges along the East River grow stronger. By that time, of course, most island nations in the Forum would have disappeared and we would have failed utterly. Discussing emission reductions would be a hollow gesture by then.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“From record-setting droughts to killer floods, hurricanes and typhoons, the effects of sea- level rise are already taking a toll on small island States. Unfortunately, even as scientific evidence of climate change has become impossible to ignore, the parties to the Convention have yet to go very far towards getting the Kyoto process under way. The political will of the Governments of the parties simply does not match the technical dedication of delegates to pursuing solutions at the numerous meetings that are taking place on this subject. 15 After attending the Conference of the Parties to the Convention last year in Buenos Aires, I came away with the impression that without a real sense of urgency the Convention might choke on its own complexity, to the delight of the minority that opposes it.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It seemed that with the successful negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s nations had finally recognized the need to begin taking action, on the basis of legally binding commitments, to achieve specified targets and timetables. Forum members were also relieved by the recognition that small island developing States have particular needs for assistance with adapting to the effects of climate change. We welcomed the formulation of specific tools, such as the Clean Development Mechanism, which promise to be useful in enabling island countries to do their part in combating combat climate change, within the framework and parameters of our own national circumstances. There is of course no time to be lost. People everywhere are experiencing the sometimes disastrous effects of climate change.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Only by encompassing social and environmental factors within its assessments will the international community be able to achieve equity when addressing the special circumstances and needs of small island developing countries. We appreciate the continuing discussion of this matter by the Commission on Sustainable Development, including at its most recent session, and call for tangible action by the year 2000. In last year’s general debate, the Forum expressed renewed hopes for the United Nations process to combat anthropogenic global warming, sea-level rise and other adverse effects of global climate change. We took a measure of pride that our group, which includes both Annex I and developing countries, found common ground at the political level to call for effective action, despite the widely differing circumstances of member States.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Forum members feel that the advancement of this collective, regional Plan is a constructive response to the mandate for regional action expressed in the Barbados Programme. In the context of overall economic development planning and assistance and of social and ecological concerns, Forum members continue to maintain a keen interest in having the United Nations adopt a vulnerability index. The existing criteria for determining eligibility for concessional aid and trade treatment and for critical classifications such as least developed country status are purely macroeconomic, without any consideration of the environmental and natural risks we face, as a region, on a daily basis. Regional work has already begun under the South Pacific Geoscience Commission on developing an environmental vulnerability index.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Forum countries have maintained close involvement with the preparatory process for the special session, and appreciate the strong focus on the concerns of small island developing States in the work of United Nations bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development. We look forward to outcomes from the special session that will bring a new and stronger focus on our needs in the pursuit of sustainable development, and step up the pace of measures to implement the Barbados Programme of Action. The common need for accelerated and sustainable economic development remains a major focus among the Forum member countries; in fact, the Forum itself has for some time been implementing what is known as the Forum Economic Action Plan. The Plan attempts to address regional concerns, which are echoed in the Barbados Programme of Action.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“As the meeting this year will take place after the conclusion of the general debate, a request for inclusion of the Forum Communiqué from the Palau meeting will be made at a later date. Last year, at their meeting in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, all 16 Forum leaders reaffirmed their endorsement of the Barbados Programme of Action 14 for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. The leaders saw the Programme of Action as a comprehensive framework with great potential for the region, and commended implementation efforts already under way at the national and regional levels. In this regard, Forum leaders strongly supported the General Assembly initiative to hold, next week, the special session to review progress under the Barbados Programme of Action.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Much work has been done to assist these smaller members in their pursuit of sustainable development. Such initiatives are reflected in proposals by the Forum’s Ministers of economics, for extensive economic reforms. Recently, Forum trade Ministers made ground-breaking recommendations on trade initiatives which include the establishment of a Pacific free trade area consistent with the rules and standards of the World Trade Organization. These recommendations will be considered by the Forum heads of Government at their annual meeting in Palau next month. Past practice has been for the formal statement from each annual meeting, known as the Forum Communiqué, to be offered for inclusion as a document of the General Assembly.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The South Pacific Forum is a unique organization centred on the Heads of Government of 16 Pacific nations which share a very special part of the world: the vast expanses of ocean and islands in the central and western Pacific, both north and south of the Equator. Forum member countries vary greatly in land area, ocean area, population, resource endowment, economic development, social structures, language and culture. However, we all share a common bond as Forum members and have established consensus positions, which transcend our diversity, on a wide range of issues. We have also agreed to work together in pursuit of regional stability and towards the well-being of our people. Fourteen of these Forum members are small island developing States.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)