YouSaid · the spoken record

Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata

lines on the record: 26
first: 2002-09-24
most recent: 2003-09-24
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

“I continue to support the call for reforming the Council by expanding the number of permanent and non- permanent members. In like terms, I support the call of the Assembly President for a proactive and action- oriented General Assembly. Let us hope that between this session of the General Assembly and the next, something concrete emerges.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Tonga continues to fully support the work of the Security Council and the call for the full implementation of its resolutions to ensure lasting peace in arenas of conflict. In the Middle East, the peaceful and lasting coexistence of two States living side by side within secure and recognized borders will continue to be elusive until the cycle of violence ends and there is a return to constructive dialogue. Iraq is a sharp backdrop for the United Nations. One of the lessons of 11 September 2001 and Iraq is not just that our Organization is in need of reform but that reform is urgently and desperately required. As I stated in my Millennium General Assembly address three years ago, the Security Council needs reform. Otherwise we shall be dealing with today's realities by means of mechanisms of yesteryear.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“RAMSI has enabled the Government to address urgent and varied concerns such as formulating new measures to deal with the enormous economic and developmental challenges they now face. That endeavour, endorsed by the 16 Pacific Islands Forum member States, is testament to what can be done by a region to bring about peace in its part of the world. Each Pacific Islands Forum member State has contributed to RAMSI in accordance with its own capacity. Taken together with Australian and New Zealand resources and command, it is producing 12 pleasing results. It is not the first such regional effort in the field of security. Small might too readily be considered by some to be beautiful, but we, too, play our role in many fields of cooperation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“That complements our own national strategies and programmes to combat those scourges. Earlier this year, my Government took the necessary legislative, administrative and preventive measures to protect against the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). I commend the untiring work of the World Health Organization (WHO) in its committed efforts to address and combat that public health threat. I also commend the recent adoption by the WHO Assembly of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which, as of yesterday, has Tonga as one of its signatories. I was pleased to have been requested by the Government of the Solomon Islands and by other PIF Foreign Ministers to contribute Tongan troops and police personnel to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to restore law and order.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I am pleased that the second informal meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement recently resulted in a framework to enable the concrete implementation of Part VII of the Agreement with particular attention to small island developing States and their aspirations for fisheries. In that respect, we urge other Member States to become a party to that important Agreement As emphasized during the special high-level meeting on Monday, 22 September, HIV/AIDS remains a devastating developmental and public health challenge for us all, particularly for small and remote island communities. Tonga welcomes the work of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the funding it has recently approved to assist Tonga and other countries in the region.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It was an encouraging sign and created a solid foundation for further dialogue and future partnership on developmental issues. I look forward to participating in the next summit meeting in Paris. As a developing ocean State, we remain interested in ongoing developments in oceans affairs and the law of the sea. As I have mentioned earlier, Tonga has become party to all United Nations conventions on terrorism including those that are maritime-related. We continue to value the work and decisions this year of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority and the work and role of the United Nations Informal Consultative Process at its fourth meeting.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“An example of that is our attempt to improve our air transport services and international aviation links to combat what has been described as the tyranny of distance' in our region, by becoming the most recent party to the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transport. Regional activities which bear upon our sustainable development efforts include the Japan- Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PALM) Summit 2003 between Pacific Islands Forum member States, including Tonga, and Japan, where mutual developmental issues are discussed and considered. I commend Japan for its ongoing commitment to Tonga and the region through that process, and I look forward to the fruitful results of the Okinawa Initiative. I also commend the initiative and recent visit to the Pacific this year of President Chirac of France.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“That chapter refers specifically, among other things, to the ten-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action that is to take place in Mauritius in 2004. Indeed, Sir, under your presidency in particular, Tonga hopes that this is one signpost that will give further impetus to the achievements in Johannesburg last year, as well as to the national efforts and endeavours of SIDS in achieving sustainable development. We will continue to refine our priority and capacity needs to take greater advantage of available financial and technological support.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The ongoing assistance of our traditional development partners and other organizations such as the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat have been a boon in this regard. Last year, I referred to the signposts that line the developmental path: the Millennium Summit, Doha, Monterrey and Johannesburg. Together with the 11 outcomes of other United Nations summit and conferences, they have inspired hope and vision for our collective developmental aspirations. While recent events in Cancun might not be encouraging, they have served to emphasize that implementing those signposts will be critical and decisive. That is a timely reminder, as small island developing States (SIDS) proceed towards implementing chapter VII of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Tonga continues to support the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and has, to date, submitted all the necessary country reports requested of it. I am grateful to the CTC and the Security Council for their patience. After careful study of the United Nations conventions on terrorism, Tonga is now a party to all 12 instruments, but merely becoming parties to these instruments will not suffice. Concrete steps will continue to be needed for small countries like mine to fully and meaningfully implement those obligations. We have strengthened our legislative framework and taken other measures in order to give domestic effect to such obligations. We continue to participate in national and regional activities designed to assist countries such as Tonga implement viable counter-terrorism measures.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Sergio Vieira de Mello and too many others before him, who have fallen in the line of duty while embodying the United Nations commitment to, and ultimate sacrifice for, a peaceful and better world. For its part, my Government will carefully study and examine the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. Attacks such as that of 11 September 2001 and those that befell the United Nations compound in Baghdad will continue to serve as stirring reminders to us all of the need for ever present vigilance and strength to combat terrorism. Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) continues to be the beacon that guides the activities of my Government to develop and enhance appropriate measures in order to strengthen our compliance.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I congratulate you, Sir, upon your assumption of this high office. I also wish to extend my sincere gratitude to your worthy predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan, for his dedicated and committed tenure as president. I commend the resolute leadership of our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, during these challenging and uncertain times. It is a timely reminder of the dedication and commitment to the Charter required of us all as Member States. Tonga wishes to extend its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Secretary-General, the Organization and all affected delegations for the tragic loss of life in the attacks of 19 August and this past week on the United Nations compound in Baghdad. We recall the courage of Mr.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Finally, with respect to pertinent regional issues, Tonga endorses the views expressed in both the Nadi Declaration, contained in document A/56/1015, and the Suva Communiqué, that will be contained in document A/57/331. They are the respective outcomes of the third Summit of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Heads of State and Government, held in Nadi, Fiji, in July 2002, and of the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders held in Suva, Fiji, in August 2002.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Tonga fully supports the work of the Security Council and, like other speakers before me, calls for the full implementation of all of its resolutions to ensure an enduring peace in arenas of conflict and to lift the veil of doubt where such doubt could lead to conflict. In one such arena, we join the call for an end to violence, a return to the negotiating table and the building of confidence so as to realize the coexistence of two States, side by side in secure and recognized borders. Tonga also supports efforts to streamline the work of the General Assembly so that it can play the pivotal and focused role we desire. In like terms, we support the call for reform of the Security Council, in which the number of both permanent and non-permanent seats 8 would be increased to accord with and respond to today's realities.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Such efforts must be characterized by partnership and inclusion in the ICT process, so that all developing States in every region can benefit. The United Nations role of bridging, coordinating and integrating activities is therefore crucial. In that respect, we urge continued support for the Small Island Developing States Information Network (SIDSNet) and for efforts to strengthen its capacity to support and assist small island developing States. We welcome the fruitful outcome earlier this year of the General Assembly special session on children. While we recognize the promise it holds for the welfare and well-being of all children, like the outcome of the recent special session on HIV/AIDS, commitments must progress beyond rhetoric into concrete action.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I am deeply grateful to those Governments, organizations and agencies, as well as to non-governmental organizations and churches, for their valued assistance in our time of crisis. Two weeks after the cyclone, nature, having wrought such devastating winds, caused more favourable weather to prevail, which greatly helped the replanting phases of recovery. We expect a resurgence of the critical agricultural, tourism and fisheries sectors by the end of the year. While information and communications technology (ICT) remains the way to go, we continue with our own efforts to bridge the digital divide and take maximum advantage of the digital revolution. To do so will require joint efforts in tandem with the international community and the United Nations, particularly through the efforts of the United Nations ICT Task Force as one avenue.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“On 30 and 31 December 2001, tropical cyclone Waka traversed the northern group of Tonga with a wind velocity in excess of 100 miles an hour and resulted in substantial and horrific damage to those islands. To be sure, the damage was estimated at over 140 million Tongan dollars, but thankfully there was no loss of life. The inevitable and difficult task of relief, recovery and reconstruction was compounded by the geographic distance from the capital of the northern group and the sheer scale of the damage sustained. Luckily, action by traditional donor Governments and our neighbours within the region, territorial governments, regional and international organizations, such as the Pacific Islands Forum and specific United Nations agencies, was swift and generous and provided much-needed assistance to my Government.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Tonga continues to support the development of an appropriate environmental vulnerability index for small island developing States and commends the continuing work of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission in that regard. It is our belief that, with the participation of States, such an index has the potential to provide accurate indicators of vulnerability to which small islands in particular are exposed, such as natural disasters, climate change and sea level rise. As such, Tonga welcomes the commitment by certain Annex I countries under the Kyoto Protocol made during the Johannesburg Summit to ratify the Protocol and the further opportunities for progress that such positive action presents.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Our region has further endorsed a first-ever regional oceans policy that elaborates some guiding principles that should serve as a template for countries like Tonga to consider using to developing national ocean policies that strengthen coordination and complementarity in our ocean-related activities. One activity that continues to give rise to deep concern is the transshipment of radioactive material through the waters of our region. In this regard, while we might understand the needs and requirements of those States that engage in this activity, it is just as important that the necessary framework for prior notice, consent, safety and compensation for countries like Tonga not be ignored.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Tonga continues to value the work and decisions taken this year of the Meeting of States Parties to the United Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority and the third meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. We look forward to an important milestone 7 later this year: the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. I hope that Member States will consider the upcoming anniversary as an opportune time to become a party to the Convention.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We are pleased that the United Nations fish stocks Agreement has entered into force and welcome the informal meeting of States parties that took place here in New York recently. In this respect, we urge other Member States to become party to that important Agreement. Within this context, we also continue to welcome the preparations under way for giving effect to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The Convention is a testament to our commitment to conserving and sustainably managing a critically important resource. As such, we continue to urge the distant water fishing nations with a real fisheries interest in our region to make every effort to become a party to the Convention.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In that regard, Tonga looks forward to the 10-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action in 2004 as a further signpost in the developmental path that will give impetus to what was achieved in Johannesburg. In preparing for that review, Tonga will continue its national efforts to refine and identify areas for specific priority capacity-building needs, as well as opportunities to take increased advantage of financial and technological support. As a developing ocean State, we are encouraged by the particular commitments in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation on fish stocks and fishing practices. The implementation of those time-bound commitments requires responsibility and good faith from all parties so as to ensure that States like mine obtain their fair share of their vastest and most bountiful resource.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“These names epitomize the vision and the as yet unfulfilled promise of our collective development aspirations in this era of globalization. In that regard, I commend President Fox and the people of Mexico for their sterling efforts earlier this year. It was pleasing that consensus prevailed on critical thematic issues of particular import to developing countries, and we look forward to the opportunities that Monterrey will afford. I further commend President Mbeki and the people of South Africa for their wonderful achievement earlier this month. I am particularly pleased that the Johannesburg Summit gave prominence and profile in the Plan of Implementation to the sustainable development of small island developing States.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“A number of key Government agencies, including civil aviation, immigration, police, finance and customs agencies, have already adopted measures, including financial and rapid reaction security measures, to tighten the security aspect of the resolution. Obviously, the sustained assistance of developed countries in our region has been very useful in our endeavours. It is our earnest hope that our required country report will be before the Counter-Terrorism Committee by the year's end. In this respect, I am grateful to the Committee and to the Security Council for their patience. Since I last addressed this Assembly, at the Millennium Summit, there have been further signposts to add to the developmental path. These are signposts so readily identifiable as Doha, Monterrey and, now, Johannesburg.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Tonga very much looks forward to working with both of them as fully-fledged States Members of the Organization. While 11 September 2001 will for all of us be ever present, it is fitting that we pause to remember those who fell in the line of duty and those other loved ones who perished on that terrible day. Those horrific events should serve to inspire us to rededicate ourselves and galvanize our collective efforts to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. My Government continues to formulate measures in compliance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). These measures have both national and regional dimensions, and a number of workshops have been held in the Pacific region during the year to ensure that Pacific island countries formulate viable counter-terrorism measures and to assist them to do so.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As I offer you my congratulations upon your assumption of your high office, Mr. President, I must also praise your 6 predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Han Seung-soo, for a truly exemplary term as President, which was marked at the outset by the Nobel Peace Prize for the Organization and which closed with the promise of the recently concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development. Together with the continuing leadership of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the support of the Organization's Member States, I look forward to that tradition of excellence and achievement continuing under your presidency, Sir. I add my voice to the chorus within this Assembly warmly welcoming the Swiss Confederation to our fold and congratulating East Timor on its forthcoming accession to membership.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)