Peters Speech To United Nations
Madame President
New Zealand remains unwavering in its support for the United Nations. Our commitment has not changed since we helped
found this organization 61 years ago. Events of this past year have only reinforced our belief that the world would be
substantially worse without the United Nations.
It would be remiss at this time not to pay tribute to Kofi Annan. It is to his vision, determination and courage that we
must attribute many of the reforms achieved thus far. Five years ago, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the
Nobel Committee paid tribute to his efforts on reform.
Since then he has continued to work tirelessly for a United Nations that can live up to the hopes that 'we the peoples'
have invested in it.
This is all the more remarkable in that for much of his stewardship the United Nations has been confronted with some of
the most difficult international crises of its existence.
New Zealand is committed to multilateralism. This is not some act of faith - but to multilateralism that really
delivers. We need to be prepared to work diligently for the good of the global community.
The United Nations is passing through a period of challenge to its relevance and effectiveness. It has confronted
serious political and security shocks: fresh hostilities in the Middle East, the tragic and worsening situation in
Darfur, and in our own region, instability in Timor-Leste.
Last year, world leaders agreed to an ambitious reform agenda based on the three pillars of peace and security,
development, and human rights. Progress has been made but this is no time to rest. We must press on for much remains to
be done.
Development
The challenge of development has never been higher on the international agenda. Never before has the commitment to
eradicating poverty been so critical.
But increasing aid levels will not be enough. We must become more effective.
We need to make sure that every dollar we spend makes a positive difference.
That means addressing the key threats to our success: poor governance, corruption, and gender inequality. We need to
secure fairer international trading relationships. And we must work on these together.
The theme of this year's General Debate is implementing a global partnership for development.
For New Zealand, collective action is imperative.
• We need participation, ownership and responsibility from recipient countries;
• We seek harmonization with larger contributors to align and combine our contributions;
• We seek partnership with multilateral development agencies in our campaign to eradicate poverty, and;
• We endorse the efforts of United Nations agencies to coordinate better, country by country.
New Zealand and the Pacific
New Zealand's relationship with the Pacific is based in history, culture, and economic and social linkages. Our bonds
with Pacific states are an important dimension of our other relationships. We want nothing less than educated, healthy,
well-governed, economically prosperous and safe societies.
In the Auckland declaration of 2004, Pacific leaders committed themselves to a "region that is respected for the quality
of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values and for its
defence and promotion of human rights".
These are ambitious goals. Translating them into reality means hard work by all Pacific countries. This is a challenge
we accept.
In facing this challenge, we confront economic, environmental, governance, development and security issues. Markets are
distant. Climate change is a reality. Political instability does not help. Threats from communicable diseases like
HIV/AIDS or pandemic influenza must be managed.
The Pacific accounts for almost one quarter of the surface of the world - an area bigger than Europe and the Middle East
combined. Its strategic significance presents opportunity and challenge.
New Zealand is determined to seek out the benefits of that significance and guard against the threats, among which I
include chequebook diplomacy.
Across the Pacific, we have learned that regional problems require regional solutions. Last year, Pacific Island Forum
leaders adopted the Pacific Plan for regional cooperation.
Through this Plan we will strengthen regional cooperation where it can most make a difference. And we will use it to
promote the four goals of the Pacific Islands Forum of sustainable development, economic growth, security, and good
governance.
At the same time, we do not forget that our regional endeavours depend on strong international frameworks. The Framework
Convention on Climate Change is an essential example.
Another example is the United Nations Agreement for Conservation and Management of Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish
stocks.
We are proud of our achievements in regional fisheries management. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission,
with its headquarters in Pohnpei, manages the region's migratory fish species. We are in the midst of developing new
regional arrangements for non-migratory fish stocks.
These mechanisms are central to the region's ability to ensure the sustainable management of its most important natural
resources. They are at the leading edge in establishing best practice management norms.
Peace and Security
There have been profound political and security shocks over the past year - in the Middle East, in Darfur, instability
in Timor-Leste - that are testing the UN system.
It is a sad reality that the situation in the Middle East has been on the agenda of the United Nations for 60 years,
since its formation.
The lack of sustained political will to see through more than a handful of decisions on the Middle East has undermined
confidence. It has contributed to an unstable environment where extremism, injustice and despair flourish.
These issues must be tackled with new resolve, using the international, multilateral system as a tool for peace and
progress. The international response to the Security Council's call for an expanded United Nations International Force
in Lebanon shows that the international community can react to conflict and provide basic stabilisation.
But such responses are doomed to failure unless the underlying political and security issues are addressed. It is
imperative to relaunch the Middle East Peace process covering all issues, on the basis of the relevant Security Council
resolutions.
The United Nations' attempt to introduce a UN force into Darfur is being cynically thwarted by the government of Sudan.
This is unconscionable.
The government of Sudan must, in the name of basic humanity, accept the need for a United Nations force as the best
chance for the security of the people of Darfur.
Timor-Leste
New and fragile states face enormous challenges. Recent unrest in Timor-Leste demonstrates this fact.
New Zealand responded quickly to Timor's needs with a military and police contribution to help restore stability. The
regional response has been swift and robust.
The United Nations played an important role in facilitating Timor's independence, and it is clear the United Nations
will continue to be involved for many years to come.
The deployment of a substantial UN police force is vital if peace and stability is to be maintained even in the medium
term. But the nature of the expanded UN mission in Timor-Leste reflects the deep and broad engagement required to build
a lasting peace.
Timor encapsulates the principle that peace and security cannot be separated from economic development, social
reconciliation and the protection of basic human rights. The Security Council's mandate for Timor-Leste endorses that
truth.
Human Rights
New Zealand fully supported the renewed focus on human rights at last year's World Summit. We strongly campaigned for
the new Human Rights Council and worked hard to bring it into being. We have high ambitions for it and will follow its
activities closely.
It must remain strong, focused and effective. It must be able to deal swiftly with emerging situations of human rights
concern, in a balanced way, with scrupulous attention to verifiable facts.
It must be aspirational, inspirational and practical. Its working methods must be transparent and inclusive. Above all
there must be genuine political will to make it work.
Disabilities Convention
A few weeks ago Member States, encouraged all the way by energetic non government organizations, agreed on the first new
comprehensive human rights instrument of the 21st century, the Convention relating to those with disabilities.
We are proud of the role that New Zealand played in this negotiation.
The Convention stands to make a real difference in the lives of the approximately 650 million of the world's most
disadvantaged citizens.
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
New Zealand is conscious of the disadvantages faced by indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. We engaged closely
in the lengthy negotiations towards the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We had hoped that this Declaration would be a new standard of achievement for governments, that could be implemented and
that could really improve the lives of indigenous peoples. We are disappointed that this was not to be.
The Declaration that emerged with less than conclusive support from the Human Rights Council is deeply flawed and
represents a lost opportunity for the world's indigenous peoples.
Reform - a rolling process
At the beginning of his term, the Secretary-General set an important goal for the United Nations. This was to perfect
"the triangle of development, freedom, and peace". His words still ring true. We have travelled only part of the journey
toward that goal.
Considering our achievements over the last year, we can be satisfied with progress made in setting up the Human Rights
Council and the Peace-building Commission. The challenge now is to make these two new bodies truly effective.
The welcome adoption of a counter-terrorism strategy reminds us of the efforts we must continue to make at regional and
national levels.
New Zealand wants to see continuing reform high on the list of priorities for this 61st session to ensure that the
United Nations can be as responsive as possible to the needs of Member States, and efficient in getting the best from
the resources available to it.
Sixty years ago, New Zealand had high hopes for the United Nations. In 2006, we still do. New Zealand is a country that
engages with the United Nations with no hidden agenda. Those who do so pervert and weaken this organisation.
We will continue to put our efforts behind the principles and policies that will make the United Nations strong.
Thank you.
Ends