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Prime Minister Dr Mari Alkatiri addresses the UN General Assembly,
29 September 2003
Your Excellency, Mr. Julian Hunte, President of the General Assembly,
Secretary-General,
Excellencies
First of all, allow me to congratulate Your Excellency Mr. Julian
Robert Hunte for your election to preside over the work of this
session of the General Assembly. We are confident that you will
use, with success, all your experience and wisdom to conduct the
work of this august assembly. I would like to guarantee all the
support and cooperation of my delegation and to wish you success
in your task.
I would also like to congratulate former President, His Honorable
Jan Kavan for the exceptional way in which he presided over the
work of the 57th Session. We are particularly grateful to Mr.
Kavan for having honored us with two visits to our country. On
the first occasion, for the ceremony for the transfer of sovereignty
on 20th May 2002, and the second, in August 2003.
I speak today with a mixture of happiness and sorrow. Happiness,
to address you for the first time in this august plenary in the
capacity of Prime Minister of my young country, after more than
two decades in search of understanding and support for the cause
of my people, many times lobbying for support in the corridors
of this building. But I am also
deeply saddened for having lost, just over a month ago, an old
friend - Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello - an innocent victim of intolerance,
extremism and terrorism.
Our people cried over his death. And here, once again, I would
like to pay tribute to his memory and reiterate our deep solidarity
with his family, friends and colleagues. I would also like to
pay tribute to all those who served for the United Nations who
lost their lives in Baghdad, and other turbulent regions of the
world.
It was under the guidance of Secretary-General H. E. Kofi Annan
and represented in Timor-Leste by Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello,
that exactly one year ago, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
became the 191st member of this Organization. The President of
the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H. E. Xanana Gusmão
and I bore witness to this historic act.
Since that date, our country has experienced significant progress
in the consolidation of our nascent democracy. My government has
presided over the strengthening of the national cohesion and has
given priority to the unequivocal affirmation of the Republic
as a democratic State and founded on the rule of law by taking
normative measures in governance to implement the provisions of
a modern Constitution drafted by the Timorese and adopted by an
assembly democratically elected by the people.
Open Governance is one of the programs of my Government.
Based on the principles of good governance, of inclusion, participation
of the individual and collective responsibility, open governance
was initiated in January of this year. It consists of bringing
the government to the people in the remote areas of the country,
to hear first hand, their priorities, problems and needs as well
as to clarify to the people, the
national development plan, the Government program, available resources
and the challenges ahead. Also, it aims to instill in the population,
greater responsibility and to make them better understand the
necessity for their participation in the reconstruction of the
country, vis a vis the execution of the national plan, the method
of achieving the objectives of economic growth and of the reduction
and eradication of poverty.
In relation to the legislative process, we have prioritized the
adoption of laws for the foundation of the State, above all, to
avoid taking discretionary and subjective measures which are without
any legal foundation. On many occasions, we were faced with the
need to adopt regulations in the everyday economy and the process
of administration.
Hence, more than thirty decrees and laws were respectively adopted
by the Government for approval by the National Parliament. Over
twenty have been promulgated by the President of the Republic
and have entered into force, gradually filling the legal vacuum
in Timor-Leste.
In this manner, we will create an institutional culture of democracy,
giving basis to a democratic State founded on the rule of law
and the principle of good governance.
However, the challenges are enormous.
Of the 900 schools destroyed in 1999, around 700 were rehabilitated
and more than thirty new schools have been constructed. Despite
this, 25% of our children continue without access to education.
Our people have asked for more schools and better teachers. Many
of the 65 sub-districts demand the opening of schools at the secondary
level. Others ask for agricultural, technical or vocational schools.
All to have been done yesterday, not tomorrow or later.
In the tertiary sector, we have a national university with more
than 7000 students. Hundreds of candidates are frustrated that
their expectations to graduate from the national university have
not been met. We now have a proliferation of institutions for
higher learning without the official recognition of the Government.
To deal with this situation, the Government assumed the responsibility
of preparing rules with the view to regulating
tertiary education by defining the parameters for their creation
and existence.
In health, similar challenges are being faced. Much of the infrastructure
has been rehabilitated and many others constructed. But the people
want more assistance and means of support. They ask for more doctors,
more nurses, more midwives, more ambulances and health centers
closer to their villages. The national health policy was adopted
by the Government and is being implemented with a sense of responsibility
and with clear knowledge of the priorities and limitations.
We hope soon to be able to reduce the difficulties in this area
with the cooperation of the People's Republic of China and the
Republic of Cuba in the provision of doctors to operate in the
rural areas.
In agriculture, more than 60% of the irrigation system has been
repaired and new systems have been built. It is important now
to assist farmers in the best methods of use for their systems
and to make them responsible for the maintenance of these systems
while the remainder is being repaired.
In infrastructure, in general, the repairs and maintenance have
been slow and difficult. There are 6000 kilometers of roads to
be rehabilitated and maintained. Our people demand the opening
of many others. Equally, many bridges are to be reconstructed,
completed or constructed. We propose to have the most vital parts
of these infrastructures to be ready for use by the end of 2005,
this includes all national roads and bridges which will make travel
on these roads viable all year round.
On the other hand, we have the problem of electricity, a sector
which is in deficit. The systems for the production of electricity
have been re-established in all districts and in 55 of the 65
sub districts. Dili, the capital, benefits from the supply of
power 24 hours. In the meantime, it is the policy of my Government
to identify and develop alternative
sources of energy that are more accessible and sustainable. Currently,
we are conducting a feasibility study of the same resources, in
particular, in the area of hydropower.
The access to and the consumption on running water is considerably
limited. Above all, it is undeniable that the number of people
with access to running water is increasing daily more so than
during the period of 1999. In the area of telecommunications,
we have in process the implementation of an ambitious project
overseen by Timor-Leste Telecom through a concession in the build-operate-transfer
system.
At the end of this year, all district capitals will have at their
disposal, fixed telephones and mobile telephones for their communications
whether for domestic or international purposes. Efforts are being
made to develop another telecommunications system capable of reaching
the remotest villages of the country. With the completion and
the installation of the telecommunications system, we will equally
create the technical conditions
for the development of television and radio, delivering the best
service in the media sector, which is free, vibrant and responsible.
Mr. President,
The process of reconstruction has evolved in an environment of
peace and stability. However, I acknowledge that that the key
areas to guarantee the sustainability and credibility of the entire
process like the judicial system, defense and security, still
require substantial assistance and support for some time.
In other sectors of administration, it is necessary to have qualified
people to assist in the development of the capacity of the Timorese,
in particular, in the consolidation of the financial and banking
systems, border control, legislative drafting and in the definition
of the national policy, the promotion of investment and in the
transfer of technologies.
With this in mind, I would like to reiterate that to guarantee
the sustainability of the whole process and to satisfy the two
great expectations;
- Those of our people, for peace, democracy and development and
those of the international community to continue to promote Timor-Leste
as a success story, we must not forget to say:
I. To our people, which we have been doing, to be more patient
but above all, demand for their participation and responsibility.
II. To the international community, we ask for consistency, continued
dynamic partnership and support.
III. To this General Assembly, in particular, we ask that you
endorse the Economic and Social Council's decision to include
Timor-Leste in the list of Least Developed Countries.
Consistent with our history for the struggle for human dignity,
my country ratified a number of important international human
rights treaties. Among them, the International Covenant on the
Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant for the
Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention
Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment. Apart from these treaties previously mentioned,
we have also ratified others equally important, like the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Arms, the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development and Production, Stockpiling and
Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction, the Convention
on the Prohibition for the Use, Stockpiling and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction.
We are conscious that the ratification of these international
instruments creates legal obligations and the Timorese State will
do its utmost to implement these instruments.
With regard to external relations, we continue to develop ties
of friendship and cooperation with our neighbors, namely, Thailand,
Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand and in
particular, with our two closest neighbors, Indonesia and Australia.
As Prime Minister, I have made official or working visits to
Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand,
Mozambique, Angola, Portugal and the People's Republic of China.
At the beginning of this month, a meeting of the Joint Ministerial
Commission Indonesia-Timor-Leste was held with positive outcomes
and with a view to solving a number of residual issues derived
from the recent past, as well as a new cooperation in the areas
of commerce, investment, development, education, health and security.
We hope to finalize the demarcation of our land boundary this
year in order to commence negotiations on our maritime boundaries.
The boundaries, whether land or sea, define the territory of a
country. Within a territory, one can exercise powers of sovereignty
or jurisdiction. For this reason, having as our neighbors, two
big and friendly countries - Indonesia and Australia, Timor-Leste
hopes to see its borders with both countries demarcated and/or
delimited by the end of my Government's mandate. In order for
all the resources that belong to the people of Timor-Leste can
be exploited in a way that is free and sovereign for the benefit
of the present and future generation of Timorese.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
The relationship between Timor-Leste and its neighbors is developing
in a constructive and dynamic manner whether at the bilateral,
trilateral or multilateral level.
The second trilateral ministerial meeting between Timor-Leste,
Australia and Indonesia was held at the end of August in Adelaide,
Australia, at which the respective ministers for Foreign Affairs,
explored ideas with a view to strengthening the trilateral relations.
Recently, on the 27th of September, the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs of seven countries, of the Southwest Pacific Dialogue,
of which Timor-Leste is a member, met in New York on the margins
of the General Assembly.
Timor-Leste enjoys special observer status in the Pacific Forum
and has participated as a guest in ASEAN.
Timor-Leste is a full member of the Community of Portuguese Speaking
Countries, the African Caribbean and Pacific-European Union, the
World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank,
and various specialized United Nations agencies.
The fight against terrorism, organized crime, traffic in humans,
drugs and the traffic in illegal arms is on the top of the agenda,
regionally and in Timor-Leste. We shall make all efforts to contribute
to the eradication of these ills which are becoming more an epidemic
with the development of new technology.
Timor-Leste is a country in Southeast Asia and, at the same time,
linked to the Pacific, by geography, history and culture. Our
people are proud to be part of this great geographical region
of Asia and Oceania, rich in history, culture and civilization,
comprising more than one fifth of humanity. We are deeply grateful
to all our Asian brothers, namely, Japan, the People's Republic
of China, the Republic of Korea, Philippines, India, Malaysia,
Singapore and Thailand, who have responded without failure, to
our appeal for assistance in a major or modest scale, depending
on the capacity and experience of each country.
I have just concluded a visit to the People's Republic of China.
And within weeks, we will receive, in my country, the Prime Minister
of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohammed. In December, we will be honored
with a visit from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.
We continue to strengthen our relations with other countries
in Southeast Asia, in particular, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
We regret that the process of dialogue and national reconciliation
in Myanmar is at a standstill. Timor-Leste associates itself with
the concerns and disappointments of our friends in ASEAN and we
join our voice with the international community to appeal for
the immediate release of Mrs. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and all those
others detained, and for the resumption of talks, reconciliation
and democratization.
My Government takes note of the commitments undertaken by General
Khin Nyuit, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar in his speech
of 30th August 2003. We shall not ignore or belittle these undertakings
which point to the road towards the reconvening of a National
Convention, the drafting of a constitution and the realization
of free elections for the national legislature (Pyithu Hluttawa).
All parties involved must have the courage to make the necessary
concessions with the view to a national reconciliation.
We would like to express our deep concern in relation to the
abandonment of the Non-Proliferation Treaty on the part of North
Korea and by its stated intention to produce nuclear weapons.
North Korea has as its neighbors, three countries, which over
the years have demonstrated friendship and solidarity. None of
these three countries presents any threat to its security and
sovereignty, thus not justifying, the production of nuclear
weapons. The world must move towards a global agreement for the
destruction of nuclear weapons and not for the increase, proliferation,
manufacture and use of these weapons.
The real security of North Korea, resides in a policy of friendship
and cooperation with its immediate neighbors, in economic development,
with dynamic commercial relations with the rest of the world,
which will result in a reduction of expenditure in defense and
increased investment on economic and social development for the
well-being of its people.
Mr. President,
Timor-Leste is a small country with a small population. Nonetheless,
it remains touched by two oceans and linked to two continents.
Historically, we were for five centuries, the only Portuguese
colony in the region, and during a quarter of a century, a territory
occupied by Indonesia.
More than 90% of the population of my country is Catholic, as
well as two minority religions, Protestant and Islam.
History determined our difference. Geography conferred on us
a condition for converging and relating. We remain different and
within this difference, we find our identity and sense of openness
and tolerance. We know that we have something to give but also,
much to receive.
I'm a Muslim, of Arabic descent and I'm the Prime Minister of
a country with a Catholic majority. Our tiny Muslim community
lives in peace and tranquility integrated into the society in
general without losing our identity and without feeling alienated
or discriminated. The Timorese Catholic leadership has been exemplary
in preaching respect and tolerance in relation to all religious
faiths, constantly searching for dialogue and collaboration, participation
and mutual respect.
My country does not intend to offer itself as the example or
model for tolerance, mutual respect and co-existence between the
religions.
I speak of our experience only to say that in this world of hate
and violence, intolerance and extremism, there are some oases
of tolerance, peace and tranquility which deserve to be the source
of our new energy.
Fanatics and extremists have always existed over the centuries
and no region in the world or civilization can claim exclusivity
to virtue and truth. In this globalized world, there is no place
for racial, cultural and much less religious superiority. Extremists
and terrorists have existed throughout history. The fundamental
difference is that the terrorists of today benefit from globalization
and make use of modern technology as a means of achieving their
own objectives.
It is absolute rhetoric and unacceptable to define different
civilizations and religions as a target. The fundamental reason
for violence in this world is the inequality in development and
more so, the injustice of the international economic order.
The target of these extremists and Islamic terrorists is not
the west, its culture and dominant religions. It should be stated
that the west is a target as a consequence of the global order.
We witness a new reality. The agenda of the extremists is primarily
the toppling of the moderate and elite regimes, and the imposition
of theocratic systems in which the universal values substantiated
by a democratic State is put into question and considered contrary
to their views. It would be the return to the middle Ages, with
the Islamic
extremists determining the destiny of their citizens.
The fight against extremism, fanaticism and terrorism must be
done on all fronts. One of these is the military front, but this
must be seriously thought through and executed, always with much
prudence and clarity. The other is the political, economic and
social front.
The fight against poverty and exclusion must be integrated in
our global strategy in the war against terrorism. Necessary is
the intensification of dialogue between the religions and civilizations.
But this dialogue must not limit itself to the big summits of
leaders, which sometimes are removed from the reality of each
country or region.
The dialogue must, above all, be at the level of the small communities,
schools and universities, a process which must be for the long
term, to eliminate myths, falsehoods, taboos and misconceptions
which change the true character of the people and the religion.
We must also have the courage to question old paradigms.
My Government congratulates the people of Iraq for the end of
one of the bloodiest dictatorships in our history. The people
of Timor-Leste know too well the significance of dictatorships.
To be free of it, we sacrificed hundreds of thousands of our children
in an unequal struggle for decades.
During our struggle for independence and democracy, we always
believed that our efforts should be focused towards the re-establishment
of international legality in our country and demanding the responsibility
of the United Nations and the international community to respect
the Charter and United Nations resolutions on Timor-Leste.
My Government defends that the central role of the United Nations
must be respected by all countries, in particular those with the
means and resources available to strengthen the role of our organization.
Concerning the situation in Iraq, it is urgent for the re-establishment
of the international legality in that country, the only legitimate
road to promote the act for the transfer of sovereignty to the
people of Iraq is through the handing over of powers to their
democratically elected representatives.
In the process of transition and reconstruction in Iraq, we believe
that the Arab League must be a privileged partner of the United
Nations. Being a regional organization representing more than
200 million people professing mostly the same religion, speaking
the same language, and being of the same cultural and historical
origin, it must not be ignored nor bypassed when its own interests
and that of the region are at stake.
My country is a good example of a partnership which can develop
when the United Nations and its obvious natural role in the solving
of conflicts and the mobilization of international consensus,
is recognized.
In my country, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General,
our brother, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, is Asian and Hindu. His Deputy
is also Asian of Japanese nationality of Buddhist faith. The commander
of the peacekeeping force, General Khairuddin Mat Yusof of Malaysia,
is a Muslim.
The United Nations peacekeepers in my country have served or
are serving contingents from Jordan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal,
South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore. They
have served with professionalism and dedication, side by side
with contingents from other nationalities like Australia, New
Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Kenya, and Mozambique.
Each process is unique and has its own dimensions and characteristics
but our positive experience is possible in other places and can
serve as a reference point in Iraq.
I must make mention here of two issues related to the Middle
East. Firstly, Palestine. We express our deep disappointment that
the process has regressed and at the escalation of violence in
that part of the world. We feel encouraged by the presentation
of the "Road Map" and we hope that this "Road Map"
can assist in accelerating the process to peace.
We would like to reiterate our support for the "road map"
and reaffirm our position of the right of the people of Palestine
to self determination and independence and the establishment of
an independent and sovereign State.
In this conflict of half a century which has caused the death
of thousands of innocent victims, Palestinians and Israelis, it
is less important to argue over who holds the truth and who does
not. These two great peoples, combatants and depositaries of much
wisdom must have the courage and humility of the greats to, once
and for all, bury the past and to build an alternative for peace
and prosperity. Revenge and retaliation, intolerance and violence,
are not roads to the solution to the conflict, rather for its
deterioration.
We appeal to all parties of this bloody conflict to observe a
cessation of all types of violence, to resume dialogue, and to
respect with vigor, the road map agreed with the Quartet.
With respect to Western Sahara, the Arabic and Muslim people
of the former Spanish territory of Western Sahara continue to
wait with patience, for the realization of the referendum for
self determination as agreed to by all parties in 1994.
We appeal to this General Assembly, the Secretary-General of
the United Nations, the Security Council, the Arab League and
the African Union, to encourage both parties to return to direct
dialogue with a view to establishing a definitive date for the
realization of the referendum for self determination in the territory
of Western Sahara.
My Government is closely following the situation in Guinea-Bissau.
While deploring the occurrence of a military coup that toppled
the elected President, we are relieved that there was no loss
of blood and life.
My government supports the holding of new elections with a view
to the restoration of a constitutional democratic order, and if
possible, within the framework of the United Nations and the Community
of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), to gather the necessary
support to bring peace, stable government and economic recovery.
We regret the breakdown in talks at the last round of the World
Trade Organization in Cancun. The industrialized nations must
understand that the international and commercial systems must
be corrected.
It is neither ethical nor moral that the rich countries preach
democracy and human rights and the dogma of a free market when
at the same time they practice protectionist policies which condemn
hundreds of millions of human beings to perpetual poverty and
dependency.
It is less ethical when they intend to teach the rules of the
free market yet at the same time subsidize with billions of dollars,
their farmers, making the products of our countries which has
a greater comparative advantage, each time, less competitive.
None of the member countries of the G-8 and only four of the
Western European countries has met the appeal of the United Nations
to the rich countries to dedicate at least 0.7% of their GDP to
assist in development. Others are decreasing this assistance reducing
it a meaningless percentage of their GDP
If we are attentive to the fact that the total ODA is merely
US$50 billion and that the rich nations spend around $300 billion
in subsidies for their farmers and livestock breeders, we ask,
"How can they speak about a free market and the millennium
development goals, the reduction of poverty, education and health
for all, when they continue to subsidize their agricultural products
where ours are capable of having comparative advantages and being
more competitive?"
Timor-Leste has benefited from international solidarity and we
are grateful for this. But we must not remain silent to the injustices
and anti-economic policies which impoverish the rest of the world.
We appeal for re-negotiation and debt relief for the poor and
indebted countries, but we also defend that debt relief must be
proportional to the measures taken by each country in adopting
strategies for sustainable development focusing on the eradication
of poverty with increases in expenditure in public health, education,
reduction of expenditure in military, strengthening of democratic
institutions, promotion of human rights, independence of the judiciary.
These are conditions which are indispensable for peace and prosperity.
In conclusion, Mr. President, Excellencies,
I would like to touch on the theme of the reform of the United
Nations. The creation of this institution was the result of a
collective experience of our humanity, victim of the largest scourge
in our history. We congratulate the creators for their vision
but we are conscious that the institution reflects the reality
of that period. With merely 51 members in 1945 and viewed at that
time as a club for the rich and powerful, a "white man's
club", the United Nations today is a real global institution
with 191 members.
The recent experience of Iraq provoked a new debate on the necessity
for the structural reform of our institution beginning with the
Security Council which more and more is being called on to provide
opinions and intervene in many regions of the world. We support
the increase in the number of permanent members of the Security
Council to reflect the actual demographic reality and the new
equilibrium in the world. In the minds and in the mouths of many,
a few questions are frequently being asked, for example "Is
it just that the Western Group has three permanent seats in the
Security Council, Asia has only one, Africa and Latin America
has none? Is it possible that India, the largest democracy in
the world with more than one billion inhabitants, does not have
the same status as others? Is it possible that Brazil, the 9th
economy in the world, the biggest in Latin America, crossroads
of the races and civilizations, and Iberian/Latin American, African
and indigenous people do not have status as a permanent member
of the Security Council?" Throughout its history, Brazil
showed prudence and balance in the conduct of its external politics,
an active and constructive engagement in the regional and international
stage and always a voice of moderation and dialogue.
There are certain procedures which may be understandable in the
period of the Cold War. But today it must give way to the principles
of democratic decision making that are acceptable and universally
practiced.
We also support that the duration of the mandate of each of the
non- permanent members must be reduced to between six months and
one year. This will give opportunity to the 191 members of our
organization to serve in this organ. Besides, a reduction of the
period will allow those less privileged to feel the desire to
invest their human and financial resources to serve in the Security
Council.
The reform and democratization of a number of organs of our organization
is necessary and urgent. The errors and failures of the past whereby
the Security Council was powerless and indifferent to human tragedies
should compel us to have the courage to accept a fair share of
the decision making which affect us all.
Let the big, rich and powerful know that humility is the greatest
virtue. Leadership means to know how to dialogue, persuade, construct
alliances, and consensus. The challenges are ahead. The threats
are many. We have the resources of 191 countries represented in
this huge organization. To respond to these challenges and threats,
we must unite; build bridges of consensus and active cooperation.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Allow me to conclude by saying that the future belongs to the
optimists. We are here today because we are in favor of optimism.
That is why, the struggle must continue.
Thank you.
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