|
Minister of Legal Affairs
addresses United Nations
NEW YORK –
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Justin L.
Simon today delivered Antigua and Barbuda’s address to the United
Nations. Simon opened his address by extending farewell wishes to
Secretary General Kofi Annan, who will demit office at the end of
the year.
“I wish to convey the
appreciation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to Mr. Kofi
Annan for his many years of service to the United Nations and for
his overall dedication to the pursuit of world peace and
development,” Simon told the Assembly. “On behalf of the Government
and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I pay tribute to his indomitable
courage over the past ten years,” he added.
Simon’s address came
during the general debate among world leaders and their
representatives, which starts off the sixty-first (61st)
regular session of the general assembly, under the theme “Global
Partnerships for Development.”
Touching on the
issues most important to Antigua and Barbuda, Simon said, “Antigua
and Barbuda joins this community of nations in
underscoring the importance of social and economic development,
basic human rights and their importance to the maintenance of
international peace and security, mutual respect, and lasting
goodwill among nations.” He also underscored the importance of the
multilateral framework that the UN provides for the peaceful and
diplomatic resolution of disputes as well as to affecting
development in small and vulnerable countries.
Calling the UN’s
development agenda “ambitious, noble, worthy and necessary,” Simon
told the gathering of leaders that if the international community
were to accomplish the goals they have set in the specified
timeframes, it would be a testament to the greatness of humanity.
With respect to
international trade, Minister Simon told the Assembly that developed
countries do not deliver on their commitments, but instead continue
to support systemic imbalances in the international trading system.
“Antigua and Barbuda, in spite of its limited resources and its
highly vulnerable economy has embarked upon a strategy of economic
diversification guided by the rules and regulations of the World
Trade Organization. Yet, even as we play by the rules, the unfair
trading practices of some of our international partners threaten to
diminish the modest economic gains that we have made in recent
times,” he added.
On the politically
charged issue of United Nations reform, including reform of the UN
Security Council, the Minister of Legal Affairs said, “My government
and people support any process of reform of the United Nations that
will enhance the level of representation in all its principal
organs, increase its effectiveness, and improve its legitimacy. It
should be more democratic in its representation, more reflective of
modern-day geopolitical realities.”
The Minister also
reminded the international community that Antigua and Barbuda is a
highly vulnerable small-island state, and that a revitalization of
development agencies should pay particular attention to the
vulnerability of small states.
The Minister also
sited Antigua and Barbuda’s compliance with a number of UN-mandated
anti-terrorism treaties. “Terrorism breathes insecurity and places a
severe financial burden even on countries and communities far
removed from the actual terrorist act. We join others in encouraging
the members of the United Nations to continue to deal
comprehensively with the threat of terrorism by all means necessary,
including the promotion of and respect for religious, cultural and
ethnic tolerance,” Simon said.
Simon’s address to
the United Nations capped off his three-day visit to New York,
during which he represented Antigua and Barbuda at a meeting of the
Caricom Council on Foreign Relations (COFCOR) and a meeting of the
COFCOR with United States Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice.
-- end -- |
