The address by H.E. Mr. Branko Crvenkovski, President of the Republic of Macedonia, at the General Debate of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, New York, 24 September 2004

ADDRESS
by
H.E. Mr. Branko Crvenkovski,
President of the Republic of Macedonia,

at the

General Debate of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly

New York, 24 September 2004

Mr. President,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me at the onset to extend my congratulations to Your Excellency, Mr. Jean Ping, on your election as President of this year's 59th General Assembly of the United Nations and express my conviction that this session will be successfully completed under your presiding. Moreover, I avail of this opportunity to congratulate the President of the last 58th General Assembly, H.E. Julian Hunte on his dedication and successful fulfillment of his responsible function.

Last year was extremely challenging both to the world community and to the Untied Nations. In this respect, I would like to commend the Secretary General, Kofi Annan on his efforts and contribution in preserving peace in the world. In his last address he clearly demonstrated once again his dedication to the cause of this organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We certainly all agree that the United Nations continue to be the most relevant global forum treating international peace keeping and security issues. In order to preserve this vital role of the Organization, we also agree on the need to renew and reform its bodies and agendas. In this context, we are looking forward to see the report drafted by the "High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change", created by the UN Secretary General.

When we speak about reforms of the UN Security Council, the Republic of Macedonia considers that it is extremely important to increase the membership in the Security Council, both with permanent and non-permanent seats.

The renewal and strengthening of the role of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is of same relevance. The Republic of Macedonia has presented its candidacy at the elections of ECOSOC that will be held during this session, and we are confident that if elected, with your support, my country will be able to give its utmost contribution in improving the efficiency of this body.

As far as the revitalization of the General Assembly is concerned, we think that we must catch the momentum and implement the dispositions of the revised agenda, and pursue the efforts in making the work of the committees more focused and rationalized.

Distinguished Mr. President,
Unfortunately, this year again, the inhuman acts of terrorism continue to take innocent lives and preoccupy the global public opinion. We were all horrified by the images of human suffering in Madrid, Beslan and elsewhere. In order to enhance the capacity of the international community in this respect, we need a farther consolidation of the global anti terrorist coalition led by the UN and additionally strengthen the cooperation with the regional organizations which have specific mechanisms to fight this global evil.

The Republic of Macedonia will pursue its active cooperation with the Counter-terrorism Committee of the Security Council and give its own contribution to the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1373.

In this respect, I would like to inform that last May the Republic of Macedonia ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International Convention for the suppression of terrorist bombing.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains one of the major threats pending over global peace and security and is closely related to terrorism. We welcome the adoption of the Resolution 1540 on the Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the UN Security Council, whose implementation supplements the existing complex set of instruments and consolidates the role of the Security Council in this area.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The suppression of illicit trade in small and light weapons and full prohibition of anti-infantry mines is also a very important issue, due to the size of the problem and the number of victims they cause. Such activities will immensely contribute to conflict prevention and successful peace keeping and peace building throughout the world, including our region. At the end of last year the Republic of Macedonia conducted a successful action of collecting small and light arms. The action was supported by the UNDP and the activities in this field are on-going.

We expect from the first Review Conference of the member countries of the Ottawa Convention that will be held in Nairobi, to see a summary of results related to the implementation of this extremely important instrument that will pave the way to the creation of a world free of land mines. The Republic of Macedonia destroyed the mine stockpiles and is working on the demining of affected regions. UNMAS together with the ITF helped a lot in these demining activities.

Mr. President,
Unfortunately, violent conflicts have continued this year. The armed conflict in Darfur and the terrible humanitarian tragedy it brought about requires a decisive action. In this regard, we support the UN Security Council resolution and we join the call for further and urgent action on this matter.

The situation in the Middle East continues to keep the world in suspense. We support the efforts of the Quartet to find a solution acceptable to all the sides and we share the conviction that the Road Map is the only way to reach a solution for Palestine and Israel, two neighboring states that will exist in peace.

Building peace and developing democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the Republic of Macedonia appears as part of the multinational troops, remains a challenge facing both the international community and the peoples of these two countries. I would like to stress out the exceptional importance of the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1546, endorsing the restoring of the sovereignty of Iraq and providing the core framework for the political transformation and democratization of the state.

When we speak about Iraq, I would like to appeal and express my sincere hope that the Iraqi authorities will do their utmost in finding the three Macedonian citizens that have disappeared.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Millennium objectives remain the key challenge for the Organization. In September 2005, the Heads of States and Governments from around the world will meet to make a review of what has been done in the realization of the Millennium development goals in the five years following the Millennium Summit Declaration. It is crystal clear that we must take decisive steps if we want to mobilize the political will, the resources and conduct reforms on national and global level in order to fulfill these goals by 2015.

However it is already clear that some regions of the world will find it very difficult to achieve the projected goals. Special attention should be dedicated to Africa where the situation is alarming, while the issue of poverty and hunger eradication, and the problem with AIDS are very serious. The realization of these goals will not be possible unless the international community is ready to take over its share of responsibility in this respect.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Republic of Macedonia puts special emphasis on the importance of an effective respect and promotion of human rights, as one of the pillars of each democratic society. The rule of law and the efficient respect of human rights is the best instrument in preventing conflicts and a prerequisite to peace and prosperity. Today, we are increasingly aware of the need to nurture and respect multiculturalism as a precondition to the development of a secure and harmonized world. In this respect, utmost efforts should be done in mutual approach, understanding and in respecting differences. The Republic of Macedonia is deeply convinced in these principals and follows them strictly in its continued practice.

The United Nations for a half century now have had a key role in the development of international law on human rights. In this context, we welcome current efforts on the harmonization of the draft of the International Convention to Protect the Rights of Disabled Persons.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good neighborly relations are one of the foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Macedonia, as one of the promoters of regional cooperation in South East Europe. I would like to take this opportunity to inform that the Delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, as on previous sessions, will propose the adoption of the Resolution on good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South Eastern Europe by the General Assembly.

The countries from the region in the recent years have achieved a considerable progress, both on domestic level and in developing mutual relations. We are actively cooperating in numerous regional initiatives, and in the framework of the Euro Atlantic integration process. However, despite the considerable progress on the level of stabilization and improved security in the region, all sources of potential instability have not been eliminated. We strongly believe that the process of accelerated integration of the region in the EU and NATO will undermine existing threats on national and regional level.

As an immediate neighboring country, the Republic of Macedonia is following with particular attention the developments in Kosovo. We give full support to the UN policy of "standards before status" whose final goal is to establish a true multiethnic community, improved security, democratization and rule of law. At the same time the Republic of Macedonia offers continued support to the United Nations and other international factors in conducting their responsible mission. We develop a contractual cooperation with UNMIK in different areas in view of resolving concrete issues, relevant to the population. We expect very soon to start the process of demarcation of the border line in the section with Kosovo. Speaking about Kosovo, I would like to emphasize the fact that any decision on the future status must not result with the destabilization of the region.

Distinguished Mr. President,
The Republic of Macedonia is going through a critical stage in the process of fundamental economic and social reforms and transformation of the society towards an accelerated integration in the European Union. The finalization of the implementation of the Framework Agreement, concluded in 2001, is a priority in this process. Most of the legal regulations resulting from the constitutional changes deriving from the Framework Agreement have already been adopted. Nevertheless, one of the main issues pertaining to the decentralization - the territorial reorganization - can represent a challenge in view of the upcoming referendum, as the highest democratic act, giving the possibility to the citizens to express their opinion on the concept offered by the Government.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that the world is facing a range of challenges and threats, but that our experience so far has proven that multilateral approach in overcoming threats over international peace and security has no alternative and that dialogue remains the most valuable and powerful instrument in our endeavors to create a different and safer world.

Thank you