YouSaid · the spoken record

Michael Somare

lines on the record: 52
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
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

“The world may not be any safer today than it was when the United Nations was established some 65 years ago, but having been able to avert another world war is ample testimony that the international community has the political will to address tensions and discord in a measured way. The United Nations and the international legal architecture that it has achieved, developed and promoted have played a significant role in that regard, thus underscoring the continuing relevance of this body.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We urge all stakeholders in the Security Council reform agenda to demonstrate courage and leadership so that the composition and workings of the Council can be reformed in ways that are equitable and reflect the current geopolitical and economic realities. Papua New Guinea has previously stated at this Assembly that we believe that the expansion of the membership of the Security Council is logical to allow for representation from certain developed and developing countries. In that regard, I wish to reaffirm Papua New Guinea’s support for Germany and Japan to be included as permanent members in an expanded Security Council. Finally, the inequities that exist in the global trading system today are daunting, but they can be resolved. With genuine partnership, we can and shall overcome them.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As part of our strategy to reduce our carbon footprint, we are now aggressively seeking to develop more hydropower and geothermal sources for our energy requirements. We have also embarked on a major commercialization exercise of our gas reserves to deliver a cleaner energy alternative to the world. Many of us here have recognized the need to reform the United Nations in order to take account of the changed circumstances under which it operates, as well as the new and emerging challenges that it must address. We note and commend the Secretary-General for the ongoing administrative and institutional reforms he is undertaking to improve the efficiency of the United Nations in better serving Member States.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We also applaud the financial commitments and policy initiatives that China announced to assist developing countries to implement the Millennium Development Goals. As for Papua New Guinea, with our colleagues from the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, we have committed ourselves to a programme of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, more commonly known as REDD-plus. As this is the International Year of Biodiversity, let me say that the REDD-plus initiative will assure the protection of important biodiversity. In addition, at the national level Papua New Guinea has adopted an action plan for climate- compatible development and established the Office of Climate Change and Development explicitly to oversee our actions on climate change issues.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The international community has rightly recognized the insidious effects of climate change and agreed to take concerted action under the ambit of the Kyoto Protocol, the Bali Road Map and the Copenhagen Accord to address the issue. Papua New Guinea urges our developed partners to shoulder greater responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for assisting developing countries, particularly small island States, to adapt to climate change and its effects. Resources for adaptation and mitigation measures, particularly those committed in Copenhagen, must be made more readily available to developing countries. We note the initiative announced by Japan last week during the MDG review and look forward to further details of what it constitutes.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Many of our islands, such as the Carterets, and coastal habitats like my own home area of the Murik Lakes are being gradually submerged by rising sea levels. The result is that people living in these areas are becoming environmental refugees. Lowland diseases such as malaria are now occurring in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Unusual weather patterns, such as increased incidences of cyclones, frequent heavy flooding and mudslides, are causing havoc in our economies and exacting untold suffering on our people. All these attendant climate change challenges are taxing the budgetary resources of our countries and undermining our development plans.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The international community must continue to strengthen its cooperation to address this scourge. Nuclear weapons continue to cause anxiety in our security considerations. While some may argue that nuclear weapons are the reason why the world has not fought another world war, my Government believes that these weapons of mass destruction are unnecessary and need to be eliminated. As part of that process, we support efforts to strengthen the mechanisms aimed at the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. 3 10-55128 As for other countries of the Pacific region, climate change is of great concern to Papua New Guinea. We need no scientist to tell us of the negative impact of climate change. We live it and we suffer from it.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The international community needs to do more to address these conflicts, especially the Afghanistan and Iraq issues. The fragile peace and global security environment is further exemplified by the continued presence of Blue Helmets in many parts of world. Papua New Guinea commends the efforts of United Nations peacekeeping forces, many of which have to operate in very trying circumstances. We wish to thank the troop-contributing countries for bearing this onerous responsibility on all our behalves. For our part, I am pleased to announce that my Government has enacted the International Obligations Bill to provide the legal framework for Papua New Guinea’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Acts of terrorism continue and the threat of another terror attack on a scale similar to that of 9/11 remains real.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Despite the best of efforts within the World Trade Organization and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum processes, the international trading environment continues to be characterized by inequalities. Often less visibly but still harmfully, global trade continues to be encumbered by trade protectionist measures. In the area of international peace and security, the world, unfortunately, is no safer today than it was when the United Nations was established. War continues to be waged in Afghanistan. Iraq continues to suffer from regular suicide bombings. The Korean peninsula continues to be a flashpoint in the Asia region, and the Middle East continues to be a hotbed of tension. Likewise, regional conflicts and ethnic tensions continue to erupt in many parts of Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Papua New Guinea is under no illusion that the achievement of the MDGs is a unilateral undertaking. This is a joint undertaking between developed and developing countries, just as it is a cooperative effort between the Government and civil society organizations. It is for this reason that my country is disappointed that MDG 8 on a global partnership for development appears to attract little serious interest from the developed countries. We note that the real value of aid has remained constant and that the Doha Development Round remains an unfinished affair. Also of concern to us is the inability of many developing countries to enjoy equitable treatment from the Bretton Woods institutions. Our efforts to reduce deforestation in tropical rain forest countries, which I will touch on later, have met with the same apathetic response.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“On a wider scale, we urge donor partners to abide by the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action. In the Pacific, we have adopted the Cairns Compact to better coordinate development assistance and to ensure effective delivery. Developed countries also need to raise their official development assistance to 0.7 per cent of their gross national income, in line with their commitments. In line with our commitment towards MDG 3, my Government has submitted proposed legislation to the Papua New Guinea legislature to reserve 22 seats for women in the national Parliament. With respect to MDG 2, we have introduced a universal primary education policy and aim to achieve free primary-level education for all of our children by 2015.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Permanent Representative of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations outlined in detail last week our country’s efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015. Allow me to reiterate some of the main actions we are taking. Papua New Guinea has adapted and localized the MDGs by establishing 15 targets and 67 indicators within our medium-term development strategy for the period 2005 to 2010. We have calibrated our 2011-2015 medium-term development plan and designed our development strategic plan to achieve the MDGs. In addition, we have drafted our 2050 Vision Statement to be consistent with the Millennium Development Goals. Our official development assistance programmes with our donor partners are being gradually realigned to enable Papua New Guinea to eventually meet its MDG targets.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I would add, however, that had the resources promised in 2000 for implementing the MDGs been made available, the assessment sheet for many developing countries would have looked more positive. Papua New Guinea applauds the commitment of $40 billion for poverty alleviation, especially to improve the health of children and women. It is our hope that this will be a new resource envelope and not repackaged old commitments. We have noted the calls for countries to take greater ownership of the implementation of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Papua New Guinea has accepted these challenges. We will continue to do 10-55128 2 all we can to meet the obligations we assumed when we joined others in 2000 to adopt the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The focus at this session of the General Assembly on reviewing the progress on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is most appropriate. The achievement of the eight cross-cutting Goals we set for ourselves would improve the quality of life of all of our peoples. Just last week, we concluded a stocktaking of the progress in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. While the results on the scorecard are mixed, the commitment of Member States to continuing to implement measures to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is unequivocal. Papua New Guinea, like many developing countries, has had measured success. As many noted last week, the global economic crisis has had an adverse bearing on the implementation of the MDGs.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“First of all, let me join other delegations in offering congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss on his election to the post of President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. With your guidance, Sir, my delegation is confident that we can discuss, in the spirit of cooperation, the different global challenges confronting us in order to further the common good of humankind. We are meeting at a time when the world is going through some mixed developments. While, on some parts of the globe, countries are experiencing relative peace, in other parts they are embroiled in armed conflict. While some countries are enjoying economic growth and budget surpluses, others are experiencing economic stagnation or contraction.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We must renew our commitment to and faith in the United Nations and seek to reform it in ways that are reflective of the realities of today. Thirty-two years ago, when I brought my nation to take its seat in the General Assembly, I said, and wish to reaffirm today, that, within the limits of our resources, Papua New Guinea will play an active and positive role in the United Nations. That commitment remains.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The work of the Special Committee on Decolonization remains unfinished. There are still 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories some in the Pacific that have yet to exercise their right to self- determination. The forthcoming referendum in Tokelau demonstrates once again the true spirit of cooperation between Tokelau and New Zealand. We congratulate both Governments and assure the people of Tokelau of our respect for their ultimate decision. In the same vein, we hope that other Administering Powers will follow the example of New Zealand and assist other territories reach a decision of their choice. While our world today provides untold opportunities, we are at the same time faced with many complex challenges.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“While, as a global community, we have focused on HIV/AIDS and avian flu, little attention is given to malaria, which remains the biggest killer disease in my country. We therefore thank Mr. Bill Gates for assistance given to research work on malaria in Papua New Guinea. We call upon development partners to support Papua New Guinea and other countries in addressing these challenges. Despite many United Nations resolutions, the conflict in the Middle East remains unresolved. Papua New Guinea appeals to all parties to the conflict, including those Powers that have the capacity to influence a positive outcome, to make the necessary concessions for a peaceful resolution to this long- standing issue. We appeal to all parties to make full use of the dispute-settlement procedures of the United Nations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In Papua New Guinea, my Government has passed HIV/AIDS legislation underpinned by a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy framework. We consider HIV/AIDS to be a development issue and deal with it separately from other health issues. But our experience suggests that national action alone is not enough. A concerted global response is required. HIV/AIDS is a threat that must be addressed on all fronts and by all countries. We thank the United Nations and its related agencies for their efforts in addressing HIV/AIDS. We also thank former President of the United States, Mr. Bill Clinton, for his contribution to this work in my country. Of equal importance are the battles against malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The country’s five-year medium-term development strategy is being reviewed to strengthen its alignment with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Achieving the MDGs by 2015 is a challenge that requires our collective input in its implementation. We call on development partners, including the United Nations, to play a supportive role in implementing and sustaining these activities. That can be done through fair trade opportunities, equitable markets, increased foreign investment, transfer of technology, capacity-building and providing quality overseas development assistance. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a serious threat to social and economic security in many of our countries. Greater efforts must be made to arrest it.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our efforts to develop a more equitable trading order are hampered by the reluctance of our developed partners to open their economies and engage in genuine development discussions. The Doha Round of negotiations are at a critical juncture. We need to collectively ensure that those negotiations are revived so that different trade needs of its members are addressed. Papua New Guinea has moved forward from an export-driven economic growth strategy to a policy of economic consolidation and empowerment. Its core policy objective is to provide every Papua New Guinean equal opportunity to build home, community and country. To achieve this, strong emphasis will be placed on agriculture, which has always been the mainstay of our rural populace. Along with this aim, relevant infrastructure will be built to support that important sector.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Together, and only together, we can grasp the challenges before us and construct a sustainable future. Papua New Guinea supports the ongoing reforms in the United Nations Secretariat. In order to strengthen it to better address some of the key challenges facing the membership, reform should reflect the geopolitical, economic and social realities of today, taking into particular account the different levels of development facing the membership. Above all, the reform must be fair and equitable. Global trade today is uneven and characterized more by unfair trade practices by those already holding decided advantages than by the opportunities it offers to developing countries like Papua New Guinea.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“If we are to defeat this self-inflicted calamity, we must succeed in six key areas: we must construct a shared vision for lower global greenhouse gas concentrations; we must aggressively deepen reduction commitments by industrialized countries; we must create more mechanisms to provide positive incentives for developing countries; we must launch a global framework to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation; we must scale up adaptation financing for future generations; and we must mobilize sufficient and sustainable resources to support positive incentives and adaptation. The science is clear. Our planet is in distress. As co-inhabitants of this world, we all must address the root causes of the problem. To succeed, leadership is required on both sides of the economic divide.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Only after industrialized nations take responsibility for the consequences of their own actions will the pathway become clear for lasting solutions. However, as developing countries, we are willing to contribute equitably towards a sustainable future. During my earlier statements at the high-level event on climate change, I put forward key principles needed to guide future international agreements on climate change after the year 2012. The time for leadership is now.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We strongly endorse the President’s five priority issues of climate change, financing for development, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), countering terrorism, and the United Nations reform agenda. To complement efforts in other forums, Papua New Guinea with other countries of the Pacific region has agreed to pool our limited resources under the Pacific Plan, in order to address, as the basis of our cooperation, many of these same issues, in particular, sustainable development, climatic change and regional integration. Let me turn now to an issue which my country feels strongly about: climate change. To be clear, we are very concerned to see certain industrialized nations attempting to avoid responsibility for their own carbon emissions and shifting the focus to developing nations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The increasing incidence of human atrocities, genocide and war, poverty, terrorism, HIV/AIDS, the resurgence of malaria and tuberculosis, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, drug and human smuggling, environmental degradation and climate change are issues that, we believe, the United Nations is best placed to address. Again we agree with the President that global challenges demand multilateral solutions. The United Nations is the appropriate multilateral forum to take such action. That is why the revitalization of the General Assembly deserves our highest attention. To revitalize the Assembly is also to renew our faith in each other and in our common values and destiny.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“On 18 September 2007, two days after celebrating 32 years of independence, Papua New Guinea convened its eighth National Parliament. This was a result of another successful general election. Democracy is a challenge, but Papua New Guinea continues to thrive under it. My country of more than 800 tribes and languages continues to find in the democratic principles the binding force and unity in diversity in the 32 years of unbroken democracy. Papua New Guinea remains committed to the principles and purposes of the United Nations. We agree with the President that we must continue to work with common purpose to renew, modernize and strengthen this Organization so it can rise to the challenges of the twenty-first century.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I wish to express to Mr. Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, Papua New Guinea’s congratulations on his election. We assure him of my country’s full cooperation during his presidency. We compliment his predecessor, Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, for her stewardship of our work during her tenure, and we wish her well in her future endeavours. I would like to express our support to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his leadership of the United Nations. Let me thank him, in particular, for his courage and strong leadership on the issue of climate change. By the same token, I would also like to thank the staff of the Secretariat and all United Nations agencies who continue to give valuable service to my country, Papua New Guinea.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We support the determination of the United Nations to work towards a global mechanism for natural- disaster preparedness and prevention; the special session of the General Assembly for the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States; and the management of the oceans and seas. Partnership in promoting change is the key to addressing the challenges that the world will face in the twenty-first century. I believe that the challenge for all Member States is to join together to bring about transparency, accountability and good governance as the basic tenets of this Organization, its organs and subsidiary bodies. If this is achieved, the “people first” sentiment of the United Nations Charter will be truly embraced.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We also continue to share the position that appropriate compensatory mechanisms should be established to compensate victims of past nuclear tests and provide compensation for damage resulting from any accidents. In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm that Papua New Guinea is firmly committed to the United Nations Charter; to the reforms initiated by the Secretary-General, especially those relating to the Security Council and the reconfiguration of the regional groups within the United Nations system; and to the United Nations decolonization process and the Nouméa Accord for the Kanak people of New Caledonia.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We also express our support for the other regional nuclear-weapon-free zones in Africa, South- East Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, and also for the proposed new initiatives for Central and South Asia. We call on all nuclear-weapon and threshold States to stop all testing, manufacturing and stockpiling of these weapons and to take steps towards the destruction of all nuclear weapons. Indeed, the same principle should apply to all weapons of mass destruction. The South Pacific Forum members have always maintained that we have a right to ban transboundary movements of radioactive and other hazardous wastes, within and through the region.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We make particular mention of the trend to withhold information from the International Seabed Authority under the guise of “confidentiality”, “proprietary interests”, and “information of a scientifically sensitive nature”: these are merely codes for denying global communities access to information that might allow them to prepare better for disaster prevention and other actions needed to protect the environment. Regarding nuclear issues, Papua New Guinea, consistent with our shared commitment to a stable, peaceful and environmentally safe world, supports the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty. Together with our partners in the South Pacific Forum, we continue to reaffirm our commitment 20 to maintaining the South Pacific region as a nuclear- weapon-free zone.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“They now find themselves caught up in a conflict of interest in which their role as guardians of the global commons is now being overshadowed by their desire to grab the benefits for themselves, with little or no sense of obligation to the world community at large. We have also noted a tendency by countries that have co-sponsored pioneer investors in deep-sea mining to try to avoid their international obligations towards the environment. We are particularly concerned that they have placed the interests of investors above the interests of the global community.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“On the question of the management of the oceans and seas, Papua New Guinea joins others in calling on Member States at this session of the General Assembly to work together on a resolution to establish a consultative process to improve coordination and management of the programmes for the protection of the oceans and seas. At this Assembly session we should formalize this process. We are concerned that at the recent meeting of the Council of the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica, a number of States appeared to be more preoccupied with reducing our potential to prosper from prospecting, exploring and exploiting the deep seabed. The debate in Jamaica clearly reflected that the States with stringent environmental guidelines no longer endorse the principle of a global commons.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The world's leading scientists have concluded that the rise in global temperatures poses serious threats, including sea-level rise and an increase in natural catastrophes such as the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. The greatest challenge for the United Nations is to strengthen the global community's capacity to respond promptly and effectively to natural disasters. The devastation caused by the recent earthquakes in Taiwan and Turkey and by the floods in the United States and in the Bahamas resulting from hurricane Floyd makes it all the more imperative for the international community to take positive action.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“At the same time, however, it is our fervent hope that in the interests of the long-term security and stability of the region, the leaders and the people of East Timor will also make peace with their neighbours. It is important for them to acknowledge the fact that it was the Government of Indonesia that made it possible for the people to exercise their right to self-determination. We are firmly committed to the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, including issues of climate change and the consequent effects of rising sea levels. We strongly urge its full implementation. My Government will continue to follow and support the future work on these issues, including the special session of the General Assembly on small island developing States to be held on 27 and 28 September 1999.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Although since the ballot there have been deaths, massive destruction of property and the undemocratic and forced displacement of people by the militias and certain members of the Indonesian military who did not accept the results, we are pleased that this has changed after the recent announcement by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, B. J. Habibie, reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Alatas yesterday. Democracy is all about the will of the majority. It is not about unanimity, nor is it about enforced application of rules by a minority. We are also pleased that the Government of Indonesia was able to recognise its obligations — not only as a party to the 5 May Agreement, but also as a Member of the United Nations — to permit the deployment of a Security Council-sanctioned multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We acknowledge that the United Nations Decade for Decolonization will come to an end next year. We urge the administering Powers and the members of the Special 19 Committee to work together to develop a new programme of action for the year 2000 and beyond. On East Timor, my Government welcomed the agreement between the Republic of Indonesia, the Portuguese Republic and the United Nations on 5 May 1999, which enabled the United Nations to organize the ballot on 30 August. The overwhelming 98.6 per cent turnout at the ballot and the 78.2 per cent vote in favour of independence are very clear. My Government calls on all parties to respect the results of the United Nations-supervised ballot and the wishes of the East Timorese people.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The process, however, will not be complete until the remaining 17 non-self-governing territories have exercised their inalienable right to self-determination and/or achieved self-government and, where appropriate, independence. Neither small size nor remoteness should be allowed to qualify or limit this inalienable right. On the regional front, Papua New Guinea is pleased to note the progress made in implementing the Matignon Accords, culminating in the recent agreement contained in the Noumea Accord, which confirms the way forward for the exercise of the right of self-determination by the people of New Caledonia, especially the indigenous Kanak people. The Noumea Accord will, we believe, provide a sound basis for the future fulfilment of all legitimate political aspirations. We urge all parties to honour both its letter and spirit.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The reforms of the Organization would not be complete without the reconfiguration of the regional groupings within the United Nations structure. My Government believes that an effective Security Council should be composed of a representative from each subregion of the world. In this regard, due consideration should be given to current realities, especially to the geographical location of each Member State. For example, in the reformulation Australia and New Zealand should be considered as part of the South Pacific subregion of the Asian group. The reforms in the Security Council should therefore take account of this change. Changing the world, through decolonization, from a system of relations between imperial powers and the colonized to a partnership between sovereign States is among the United Nations greatest achievements.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, my delegation reaffirms the position that the Security Council should be reformed and expanded in both categories, taking into account today's realities. My delegation believes the numbers in the Council should reflect the increased United Nations membership, and therefore I concur with the majority of Member States who have advocated a Security Council of the new millennium consisting of 26 or more members. Papua New Guinea believes that all permanent members of the Security Council, including new permanent members, should have similar privileges and rights. The use of the veto power should be done away with, or curtailed and applied only to Chapter VII issues. The working methods of the Council should be more transparent.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In 1975, when I addressed this forum from this podium at the time of our admission to the United Nations, I committed Papua New Guinea to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Now, some 24 years later, we recognize that like any other institution, the United Nations has limitations. We believe that after 50 years the time is right to review the Charter, taking into account today's realities. The Charter should be a document that puts the people of the world on centre stage, and at the same time it must recognize that the Governments are here to represent them as well as to serve them. In this respect, there cannot be any distinction as to colour, creed, race, sex or religious persuasion. My delegation welcomes the Secretary-General's current and ongoing reform programme.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In the event that the Bougainville parties are unable to resolve the constitutional arrangements before the end of this year, we hope that at the appropriate time the Security Council will agree to an extension of the mandate of the United Nations mission on Bougainville. I pay tribute to all United Nations Member States, and especially to those current and immediate past members of the Security Council, for responding positively and for their continued support for a peaceful resolution of our Bougainville crisis. Consistent with our commitment to peaceful dialogue between nations, Papua New Guinea condemns those who employ terrorism against innocent people and who finance, recruit, train and deploy terrorists and mercenaries.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We are also grateful that the Security Council found it possible to answer our request to send an observer mission to ensure that the parties involved in the peace process continue to honour the Lincoln Agreement. We note the reference to Bougainville in the Secretary- General's report on the work of the Organization. As peace continues to be consolidated on the ground, so the role and size of the neutral regional Peace Monitoring Group can be expected to change. Re- establishment of police, courts and correctional services will provide important supports and benchmarks for progress towards lasting peace on the island.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“I see my Government's foreign policy of partnership in the Asia-Pacific region as a building block for the global partnership on which the future of my people depends. There is really no other alternative. On peacemaking and peacekeeping, the Bougainville conflict involves substantial commitments of personnel and funds by the Government of Papua New Guinea, by neighbouring countries and by the United Nations. My Government acknowledges and is deeply grateful for the constructive role played by Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as by the United Nations Development Programme and a number of non-governmental organizations including churches and 18 the Red Cross.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In this regard, we turn to international financial institutions to help us restructure our economy. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank have been very positive in their responses to our policies, especially my Government's recent mini-budget last month. I held bilateral discussions with friends such as Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand two weeks ago during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Council ministerial meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. They indicated their support for the current structural adjustment programmes my Government has introduced. For Papua New Guinea to realize and sustain its current reform programmes, it has to secure external financial support.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In doing so, we are working hard to make sure that a strong and efficient private sector can contribute to public welfare and national development. By the same token we are also reviewing the size and effectiveness of the public sector to make it more responsive to the desires and aspirations of our people. The results, together with other measures we have adopted, will, we hope, stabilize the economy, thereby stimulating economic growth. The signs are very encouraging. I know that as a small open economy, my country's development is directly influenced by global factors, including world market prices for our products. Currently, my country is suffering from the economic crisis experienced by our major trading partners in Asia, and we are forced to undertake significant reform programmes to protect our economy and our people.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“When my Government came into office on 14 July this year, it had five main priorities. These are: restoring integrity to the institutions of the State; stabilizing the exchange rate of our currency, the kina, and containing inflation and reestablishing constructive dialogue with Papua New Guinea's development partners; restoring stability to the national budget, focusing on fewer and more important priority areas and advancing the privatization of some of our public institutions for a fair run; creating better conditions for the private sector by removing barriers to investment growth; and continuing the Bougainville peace process. My Government has addressed these challenges, including a comprehensive programme of structural adjustment through the mini-budget recently adopted by Parliament.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“This experience, together with my country's location and its close relations with other countries in the region, defines my Government's foreign policy focus on partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. This point has been brought home by a series of natural disasters which have affected Papua New Guinea over the last 10 years. There have been 30 of them in that decade. The droughts, floods, bush fires, cyclones, frosts, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides have shown that peoples and States throughout the world have to be partners in dealing with the causes and consequences of such disasters, and must manifest preparedness to take responsive and remedial measures. There must be a global partnership in developing appropriate mechanisms for disaster prevention and disaster reduction.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“This is an Organization in which smallness in terms of population or size should not be a handicap. I am confident that the work of the United Nations will only be enhanced through the sharing of the particular experiences and knowledge that these three new Members will bring. It has only been a little over two months since the new Government, of which I am a part, was elected to office in my country. But this time has been hectic and very challenging. The Government has been confronted with problems inherited from previous Governments over the last 23 years of our independence and especially over the last two years. These have been compounded by other problems associated with the recent downturn in the global economy, with the economic crisis in the Asia-Pacific region and with natural disasters, all of which we have little control over.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)