UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Statement by Dr Mr Tim McIvor
Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand
on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Items 50 and 60:Follow-up to the Millennium Summit and major UN economic and social conferences
New York
5 May 2004
Mr President, it is always a pleasure to take the floor in this forum on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as I do today.
The draft resolution before us deals with a subject that, increasingly, is the focus of critical attention from all delegations, namely: what are we actually doing to give effect to the objectives and aspirations of the Millennium Summit and to implement the commitments made in the major UN conferences and summits in the economic and social fields? The draft is the culmination of protracted consultations and negotiations in which many – though not all - delegations have participated. Throughout that process, and in other forums, our three delegations - and, indeed, many others - have consistently emphasised several points:
• In our view, it is essential that the proposed high-level meeting in 2005 focus squarely on the question of implementation and not seek to revisit previously agreed outcomes. It is our understanding from the consultations and from statements that delegations have made elsewhere and at other times, that no delegation disagrees with this.
• We also believe that the proposed event would provide an important occasion for delegations to reaffirm previously agreed commitments.
• Moreover, the review should, as the resolution notes, be comprehensive and should not presume a more specific focus on selected issues.
Mr President, next year is a milestone in the history of the United Nations. A stocktake of progress towards the objectives and commitments we have set ourselves should not just occur in the abstract. Rather, as the Organisation nears its 60th anniversary, we should also ask whether the structures and tools currently at our disposal are what we need in the 21st Century to achieve our goals. We trust that next year's event will take account of the findings and conclusions of the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and other relevant processes under way.
Mr President, we have a unique opportunity next year. We have one chance to assemble the highest levels of government to consider these important matters. We must get it right, and we have little time to plan. While we retain concerns about the current text, and the way in which it has evolved, we are ready to join a consensus because of the importance of the subject. With that in mind, we must ensure that our preparations are thorough and that all delegations are able to participate fully in them. We look forward to working with you in the coming months as you conduct your open-ended consultations.