YouSaid · the spoken record

Rosemary Banks

lines on the record: 41
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2008-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“There is a clear need to enhance early warning systems to enable the Council to act in a timely manner. We look forward to the report of the Secretary- General on the responsibility to protect, and we stand ready to help to take that important initiative forward. As we look forward to the year ahead, New Zealand pledges to work actively with others in our collective stewardship of the United Nations. We shall play our part in the continuing, patient process of renewing our Organization and of making it more resilient and responsive.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“New Zealand played an active part in the design of the new Human Rights Council, and we are seeking election to the Council next year, so as to be more closely involved in its work. The newest member of the family of human rights treaties is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which New Zealand ratified this month. We look forward to the first conference of States parties, and to the opportunity the Convention offers to make a real improvement in the lives and human rights of disabled people everywhere. Finally, let me reiterate the importance that New Zealand attaches to the concept of the responsibility to protect. The United Nations, through the Security Council, should be prepared to protect people against ethnic cleansing, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national authorities fail to do so.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The Court has now reached a crucial stage in its development, and it has become clear that the establishment of a global justice system brings with it many challenges. It is of the utmost importance that States rise to those challenges. To fail to do so would be a betrayal of the victims of egregious crimes. New Zealand urges States to make every effort to ensure the independence and success of the Court. The Court needs our full support and cooperation to ensure that individuals responsible for the most serious violations 27 08-53141 of international law are brought to justice without delay. In this sixtieth anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we acknowledge the many international human rights conventions that have arisen out of that unique statement of overriding principles.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“New Zealand has expressed a strong commitment to restoring peace and security in Afghanistan with our assistance, both military and developmental, totalling more than 160 million New Zealand dollars to date. Closer to home, New Zealand welcomes the recent improvement in cross-Strait relations. Cross- Strait stability is vital to the security of the greater Asia-Pacific region. We encourage China and Taiwan to maintain the dialogue which has been established. New Zealand remains a strong supporter of efforts to protect and maintain the international rule of law. To that end, one of the most significant advances in recent times has been the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC). When the ICC was first established, it was widely considered to herald the beginning of a new era in international criminal justice.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The international community will be watching closely to see that all parties fulfil the commitments that they have made to bring about peace, respect for political freedom and human rights and a Government which reflects the will of the people. Let me turn now to the Middle East. New Zealand continues to be strongly supportive of all attempts to find a lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. We share the international community’s vision for a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian State, existing side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel. In Afghanistan, despite political progress, the overall situation is fragile. The international community needs to devote more resources to ending the conflict and to assisting the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to stabilize and rebuild their country.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We support the efforts of the United Nations to sustain a dialogue with the Myanmar Government in order to build foundations for the future. On the African continent, the humanitarian disaster caused by the conflict in Darfur is unacceptable. The targeting of civilians by State and non-State parties, is a flagrant breach of international human rights law. The widespread absence of justice and accountability for such human rights violations and the impunity that this promotes represent major obstacles to improving the human rights situation in Darfur. In the case of Zimbabwe, the recent announcement of a power-sharing agreement offers hope that the long period of violent repression and human rights abuses by the previous Government can be brought to a close.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That was achieved despite assassination attempts on Timor-Leste’s leadership. The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and the International Stabilization Force continue to play a valuable role in helping to maintain security. New Zealand strongly supports the UNMIT mandate and its extension beyond February 2009. Planning for security in the longer term, to ensure appropriately sized and resourced institutions with clearly delineated roles and responsibilities, is also a key issue, and we stand ready to help. Also within our region, the political, economic and human rights situation in Myanmar remains troubling. We urge the Myanmar authorities to achieve national reconciliation through open and constructive dialogue and to respect universal human rights in the country, consistent with international obligations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Leaders also acknowledged that there were long-term issues to be resolved in Fiji and supported a Commonwealth-led independent and inclusive political dialogue process to address them. That will not only create a more conducive environment for elections, but also enable a newly elected Government to engage with key stakeholders to promote national reconciliation. New Zealand urges all United Nations Members to support the steps taken by the Pacific Islands Forum to encourage Fiji to return to democratic and constitutional government as soon as possible. Mr. Nsengimana (Rwanda), Vice-President, took the Chair. Our region is also home to Timor-Leste, a partner and friend of New Zealand. We are pleased to see encouraging progress since last year’s elections, especially the building of institutions and improving governance.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our Organization must continue to evolve along with the changing demands on it. Momentum needs to be maintained in the modernization of the United Nations. We share the Secretary-General’s vision for that and support his proposals to fix the human resources management system, which he has characterized as dysfunctional. I would now like to turn to the challenges of peace and security around the world, from which our own region is not immune. At the Pacific Islands Forum held in Niue last month, New Zealand and other members of the Pacific Forum community expressed profound disappointment at Fiji’s lack of progress towards restoring democratic government. The Forum communiqué urged the interim regime in Fiji to fulfil 08-53141 26 its promise to hold elections in accordance with Fiji’s existing constitution by March next year.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“New Zealand is significantly stepping up official development assistance (ODA) from 0.27 per cent of gross national income in 2007 to 0.35 per cent by 2010-2011. That 62 per cent increase will take New Zealand aid to over $NZ 600 million. We are acutely aware that the Pacific is the second region after sub-Saharan Africa that is least likely to meet the MDG targets. We are therefore looking to direct our increased ODA there, through a Pacific strategy, which focuses poverty reduction efforts around four key pillars: strengthening governance, achieving broader-based growth and sustainable livelihoods, improving health and education, and reducing vulnerabilities, including to climate change. In these challenging times, we look to the United Nations to deliver effectively for development, for peace and security and on human rights.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“When the food crisis was first in the headlines, the Secretary- General’s High-Level Task Force provided a mechanism for us all to respond. Having contributed nearly $NZ 10 million to date, New Zealand is among those assisting with urgent food security needs and medium-term policy responses. A successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round would alleviate much of the pressure on the demand-supply imbalance. On the development theme of this sixty-third session, New Zealand fully associates with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Global Call to Action Campaign. Support is urgently needed to revitalize collective efforts, including developing and strengthening partnerships between traditional and new donors, the private sector and civil society, and through South-South cooperation. We are set to play our part.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Sixty-three years after its formation, the United Nations remains the world’s central international body. Only here do all countries come together to devise solutions and to forge collective action on global challenges. And these are particularly challenging times. As the Secretary- General and many others have noted, we are facing a global financial crisis, a global energy crisis and a global food crisis. More than ever before, we are an interconnected and interdependent world community. The Charter goals of peace and prosperity require the full support of all United Nations Members. New Zealand was a founding member in 1945, and our commitment to this body is as strong now as it was then. At such a difficult time in the world we need leadership, courage and a recommitment of our resources to tackle the issues before us.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“New Zealand whole-heartedly agrees. We look forward to working closely with the Secretary-General, with you, Mr. President and with other Member States in all of our efforts to build a stronger United Nations for a better world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We want to do our part to help this fledging United Nations organization achieve its full potential as the pre-eminent global human rights body. A human rights issue of particular importance to New Zealand is the death penalty. Adoption of a resolution on a global moratorium on this inhumane form of punishment would represent a historic step towards global efforts to abolish the death penalty. In closing, New Zealand has been a committed and active participant in the United Nations since its formation. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Member States to deliver to the best of our abilities at the United Nations, recognizing the need for faster, more effective action, as well as for a more results- driven Organization that strives to have the highest standards of transparency and professional ethics.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Myanmar regime should be held responsible for the personal safety and treatment of all the people it has detained. We call on the authorities there to stop the violence and to encourage a process of genuine dialogue with pro-democracy leaders and ethnic minorities. New Zealand fully supports United Nations efforts to resolve the immediate and longer term situation in Myanmar. We welcomed the visit to Myanmar of Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari. We fully support continued discussion of the situation of Myanmar in the Security Council with a view to considering what further steps might be taken by the international community. Turning now to human rights, New Zealand will stand for election to the Human Rights Council for 2009 to 2012.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“New Zealand is deeply concerned at the current political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. We welcome the efforts being made to find acceptable solutions to the problems Zimbabwe faces. We sincerely hope that these efforts continue and that solutions can be found that will benefit all Zimbabweans and will enable free and fair elections to be held. New Zealand remains profoundly concerned at the situation in Myanmar. Protestors have been killed, shot at, beaten and arrested. This violent treatment is reprehensible. Engaging in peaceful protests is a fundamental human right. New Zealand, therefore, joins others in calling for the immediate release of those detained in recent weeks, along with the many political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who have been held without trial for much longer periods.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“On a different topic, New Zealand is convinced that the humanitarian harm posed by cluster munitions must be addressed urgently. We believe that negotiation of a treaty to deal with the problems caused by cluster mines is well overdue. We will host a meeting on this initiative in February of next year. We are pleased, too, to promote a new initiative at the General Assembly this year calling for action to lower the operational status of nuclear weapons. Maintaining nuclear weapons at a high level of readiness increases the likelihood of these weapons being used, with catastrophic consequences. The humanitarian disaster and conflict in Darfur threaten security in the entire East African region. New Zealand applauds the efforts by Members to establish the new African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Efforts to protect and maintain the international rule of law can only be effective when built on a foundation of international peace and security. Interfaith and intercultural dialogue can help to counter religious extremism by encouraging understanding and respect among different faith communities and cultures. In May, New Zealand hosted two significant gatherings aimed at advancing global response to interfaith and intercultural issues in a practical way. We regard the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations as the key multilateral process among the growing number of international and regional initiatives in this area. With respect to nuclear proliferation, New Zealand welcomes the strong signals that have been sent to North Korea and Iran by the Security Council.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“That decision is entirely for the people of Tokelau. New Zealand will support their decision. Advancement of the rule of law at the national and international levels is essential for the realization of sustained economic growth, development and human rights. New Zealand encourages members to provide their full support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by acceding to the Rome Statute of the ICC. We also call on all United Nations Member States, especially State parties to the Rome Stature, to fully cooperate with the Court in carrying out its current work. Universality and full support are crucial if we are to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of international concern, such as those carried out in Darfur, where International Criminal Court arrest warrants are outstanding.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“That provides a framework for regional responses in times of crisis or when members request assistance exactly the situation in this case. Amid all these challenges, I would like to report on activity being undertaken by Tokelau, the tiny territory 500 kilometres north of Samoa that New Zealand administers. The people of Tokelau, all 1,500 of them on three atolls, have decided that they wish to undertake an act of self-determination to decide whether they wish to change their present status. A vote in February 2006 narrowly missed the threshold set by Tokelau for a change of status. They will again vote on that issue from 20 to 24 October. As members of the Special Committee on Decolonization know, New Zealand supports Tokelau’s right to choose, but has stood back from any wish to determine the direction of any change.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“New Zealand has always been committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter in every respect. In our view, RAMSI is entirely consistent with those purposes and principles. It is a specific example of Chapter VIII of the Charter in operation. To suggest it is contrary to the Charter is in our view wrong. RAMSI was established in response to a formal request from the Solomon Islands. Its presence in the Solomon Islands is sanctioned by treaty and by the domestic law of the Solomon Islands. That was recently reaffirmed by the Solomon Islands Parliament. Moreover, RAMSI stems from the endorsement by Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers of a programme of action under the Forum Leaders’ Biketawa Declaration.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“New Zealand strongly and actively supports the steps that have been taken by the Pacific Islands Forum to encourage an early return to constitutional government in Fiji. We would welcome a firm commitment from the interim administration to work towards elections within the timeframe endorsed by the Forum. Given that commitment, New Zealand would begin to restore a more normal bilateral relationship through which we could cooperate in addressing Fiji’s undoubtedly complex problems. I also want to take this opportunity to address one issue in particular raised in the Solomon Islands statement on Monday (see ). It was suggested, inter alia, that the presence of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), was an “occupation”, and that RAMSI’s operation transgressed Article 52 of the United Nations Charter.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Timorese people, their leaders and the international community have all made a huge effort over the past year to return Timor-Leste to a more secure and stable path. New Zealand has participated in those efforts through our contributions to the International Security Forces and to the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). Timor- Leste will require a sustained commitment from UNMIT. The situation in Fiji continues to be of concern to New Zealand. As a neighbour of Fiji with a long- standing and very close relationship, New Zealand worked hard to avert last December’s coup, including by convening a meeting to mediate between the then Prime Minister and the military commander. We very much regret that this failed to dissuade the coup makers from their illegal and unconstitutional path.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We are keen to work closely with United Nations agencies in the Pacific to achieve positive outcomes for our partners in the areas of human rights, sexual and reproductive heath, HIV/AIDS, child immunization and women’s leadership. A strong, prosperous and stable Pacific is a key foreign policy priority for New Zealand. We place a high priority on fostering solidarity and cooperation in the Pacific to tackle the challenges the region faces in democracy, security and economic development. Around half of New Zealand’s development assistance goes towards the Pacific. New Zealand provides assistance in the region in Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, with each situation calling for a different response.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We welcome the newly established initiatives in the Economic and Social Council the Annual Ministerial Review and the Development Cooperation Forum as practical ways to share information about what is working and where we can improve our efforts at country level. New Zealand is also committed to improving system-wide coherence at the United Nations in the fields of development, humanitarian issues and the environment. We attach particular importance to working for a strengthened, coherent, gender architecture and towards effective gender mainstreaming across all United Nations entities. New Zealand welcomes the completion of the United Nations Pacific-based development agencies’ strategic framework for the Pacific.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“An emissions trading scheme will be established from 1 January 2008 and will form the cornerstone of our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will, over time, cover all sectors and all gases. We have also identified a number of longer-term domestic goals, which will move New Zealand down the path to carbon neutrality. They will provide benefits, including healthier homes, cleaner air and improved public transport. While climate change is certainly a challenge for us all, it is also an opportunity to move towards a more sustainable world. With regard to the Millennium Development Goals, we recognize that having passed the halfway point to 2015, the international community needs to step up its efforts to achieve them. At the same time, there is scope for the United Nations development system to be strengthened.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The United Nations climate change conference in Bali in December will be a fresh opportunity to re-energize our efforts in addressing climate change. New Zealand wants to see a Bali road map emerge in December to set us on the course for an effective future response. New Zealand welcomes the momentum that is being generated by other high-level meetings in the lead-up to Bali, including the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Declaration. Last week’s high-level event deserves special mention. We congratulate the Secretary-General for his efforts in cultivating the political goodwill that will be vital if we are to reach agreement in Bali. Taking action as an international community also means taking action domestically. In recent weeks, New Zealand has announced a number of domestic measures to address climate change.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“As we meet for the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, we look again to the United Nations as the global forum to address the challenges which affect us all. Climate change is serious and urgent, as many have said in this Hall. We welcome that it has been the theme of our general debate this year. The science is clear. Climate change is real and will impact on all parts of the world. To meet the global challenge of climate change, there must be widespread and effective international action. It will be important to get all economies onto low carbon pathways over time. Market mechanisms will have a significant role to play. Individual countries will face different challenges. Different national circumstances must be taken into account.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The implementation period ahead gives us a second chance to make good on those moments when we allowed agreements to slip through our fingers. We put our trust in our President to set up the structures for ongoing work and to be the catalyst to motivate and energize us. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the much valued contribution that former President Ping made over the last year, and we thank him.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The outcome document calls for early reform of the Security Council, and the General Assembly is to review progress on this issue by the end of the year. New Zealand continues to believe that the Security Council needs to be more effective and more representative for the twenty-first century, although we have no illusions about the difficulties of reaching agreement on this. We should in the meantime renew our efforts to improve the working methods of the Security Council. For those many Member States who rarely, if ever, occupy a non-permanent seat on the Council, there should be other ways to participate in Council decisions and contribute to discussions. We, as Member States, have shown in finalizing the summit outcome a mixture of courage and creativity on the one hand and of stubbornness and hesitation on the other.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Our ability to strengthen the United Nations across the board in development, security and human rights will be enhanced by implementing summit undertakings on Secretariat and management reform. We need particularly to improve the managerial effectiveness and accountability of the Secretary- General. He should be given, as he has requested, the tools that he needs to manage the Secretariat. We strongly support the review of all budgetary and human resource rules and regulations and the review of mandates. We support also the increased focus on ensuring ethical conduct on the part of all United Nations personnel. We believe a system-wide code of ethics and an independent ethics office would facilitate that. New Zealand also welcomes the commitment to strengthening the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Over the next weeks we must redouble our efforts to translate that broad support into specifics on what the Council will look like and on its mandate. We shall look to the President to set a work programme that will aim for agreement on the details. Our second human rights priority for the sixtieth session is to see negotiations completed on the draft convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The constructive and collegial spirit of delegations in the Ad Hoc Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities has been extraordinary. New Zealand is confident that it will be possible to conclude the negotiations in 2006 if the Ad Hoc Committee is enabled to meet for three weeks next January.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We call on all Member States to contribute constructively to this process, so that we can reach agreement on a protocol and demonstrate our full support for the work of United Nations personnel in the field. New Zealand welcomes the emphasis on human rights in the outcome document. That the budget of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is to be doubled and her Office strengthened is an overdue recognition of the gap between expectations of delivery and resourcing. While progress has been made through the summit decision to establish a Human Rights Council, we regret that the opportunity was lost to reach agreement on details of the Council’s mandate and operation, despite the support of a great majority of Members for such a package. A small minority cannot be allowed to veto the establishment of the Council.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was an historic moment for the United Nations and one that demonstrated the breadth and depth of political will to end impunity and to secure the rule of law. 20 The absence of any reference to a commitment to end impunity or of any acknowledgement of the International Criminal Court’s central contribution to this goal is one of several telling silences in our summit outcome. We are particularly pleased that leaders have recognized the need to conclude, during this session, negotiations on the draft protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. This will be a major priority for New Zealand.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“One of the most far-reaching achievements of the summit, as many countries have acknowledged, is our collective acceptance that there is a responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We must now all be prepared to assist the United Nations in establishing the early warning capability referred to in our outcome document. It is vital that, when the need arises, we give effect to our resolve and follow the principles we have agreed upon. In this context, New Zealand wishes to reaffirm its commitment to ending impunity for those responsible for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Our leaders have spoken with one voice and unequivocally to condemn all forms of terrorism. We must build on this and honour our undertaking to conclude negotiations on the comprehensive convention on international terrorism at this session. New Zealand will continue to work closely with our friends in the Pacific region to improve our collective abilities to identify, prevent or respond to terrorist threats. Consolidating reporting requirements created by Security Council resolutions would, we believe, be one step towards enhancing the counter-terrorism programme of the United Nations. We think it very important that Member States should now support the Secretary-General’s counter-terrorism strategy.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“New Zealand welcomes the decision to establish a Peacebuilding Commission to help break the cycle of conflict by better coordinating long-term international recovery efforts and ensuring sustained political attention to those who need it. We must now move swiftly to get the Commission up and running by December this year. We look to the General Assembly President to take a lead in holding consultations to achieve this. The core elements of the framework have already been discussed at length and in detail. With good will and determination, we can surely arrive at agreement within the next few weeks on a package. This should ensure balanced membership and flexible reporting arrangements. We would caution against raising the bar for assistance too high, and we hope that all States in need of help will be able to approach the Commission.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“This year New Zealand has increased its development assistance by 23 per cent. Our official development assistance (ODA) programme has a focus on poverty elimination, with a core, but not exclusive, focus on the Pacific. We strive to address aid effectiveness, the particular problems faced by small island developing States, HIV/AIDS, the empowerment of women, sexual and reproductive health and rights, education for all, sustainable development and trade access. On trade, we look forward to an ambitious outcome across all aspects of the Doha Development Agenda, including in agriculture, improved market access, the elimination of export subsidies and substantial reductions in trade distorting domestic support. Improving the coherence of trade policies and development initiatives remains a critical element in achieving the MDGs.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“But we are encouraged by the many significant advances, including recognition of the need for more and better aid, establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission, a doubling of resources for the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the recognition of our shared “responsibility to protect”. We have as our theme for the General Assembly implementation of our summit undertakings. We share accountability for getting the job done. I shall confine my comments here to the results of the summit. New Zealand is pleased with the Summit Outcome as it relates to development. It represents a shared commitment by all Member States to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and recognizes the important partnership between developed and developing countries in the effective use of aid.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Our task this sixtieth anniversary is twofold: first, to recommit ourselves as Member States to the enduring vision and values of the Charter and, 19 secondly, to retool the United Nations machinery to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. The Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1) provides the blueprint for the way forward. New Zealand would have liked more progress in a number of areas, such as more detailed agreement on the establishment of the Human Rights Council and more authority to the Secretary-General to manage resources in return for greater accountability. We deeply regret the failure to endorse further disarmament and non-proliferation measures.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Sixty years ago, Prime Minister Peter Fraser of New Zealand told representatives to the San Francisco Conference that its sole aim should be “the setting up of a world organization that will really work, and that will be the background for an orderly progress towards security, prosperity and happiness for all the people of all nations”. The new organization would only work, he said, if its members were determined to stand by their commitments and principles. Today the essential concept of the United Nations remains robust. We can be justly proud of its achievements in many areas including humanitarian assistance, development and peacekeeping. But we have collectively underperformed in others, sometimes with tragic results.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)