THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

STATEMENT TO THE FIFfY -FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED  NATIONS  BY MR ALEXANDER DOWNER, MP, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF

AUSTRALIA, NEW YORK, 30 SEPTEMBER 1996

YOUR EXCELLENCY, Ã¢ÂÂ¢R RAZALI, I W ARML Y CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR  ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THIS ASSEMBLY. AS A CLOSE NEIGHBOUR OF  MALA YSIA, AUSTRALIA WILL CONFIDENTLY RELY ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AND  SOUND JUDGEMENT AS YOU PRESIDE OVER THIS IMPORTANT SESSION OF THE  ASSEMBLY .

I FEEL GREATLY HONOURED TO BE LEADING THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO A

SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FOR THE ARST TIME.

MR PRESIDENT,

A YEAR AGO WHEN THE ASSEMBLY ADOPTED THE DECLARATION ON THE OCCASION

OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, IT MADE AN IMPORT ANT  PROMISE -TO GIVE TO THE 21ST CENTURY A UNITED NATIONS WHICH WOULD  SERVE EFFECTIVELY THE PEOPLES IN WHOSE NAME IT WAS ESTABLISHED.

WE MUST KEEP THIS PROMISE, BUT TO DO SO WE WILL NEED A CLEAR VIEW OF

CONTEMPORARY CIRCUMSTANCES AND THOSE WHICH WE CAN SEE UNFOLDING INTO

THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE LANDSCAPE THAT WAS REVEALED AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR, JUST A

LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS AGO, HAS MANY NEW FEATURES, SOME OF WHICH ARE

STILL NOT CLEAR.

WHAT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, IS THAT WE FACE NEW CHALLENGES AND WE HAVE

NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT FEW OF US WOULD HAVE IMAGINED, FIVE YEARS AGO.

THE MOST COMPELLING OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES IS TO TAKE FUTURE STEPS IN  NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT. THE POSSIBILITY OF T AKlNG SUCH  STEPS IS SURELY A PRINCIPAL OUTCOME OF THE END OF THE COLD WAR.

THIS WAS FIRMLY UNDERLINED LAST TUESDAY WHEN, IN A SINGLE DAY, 67  COUNTRIES SIGNED THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY. THAT  NUMBER, ONLY A WEEK LATER, IS NOW OVER 100.

BUT BEYOND THIS ACHIEVEMENT LIES ANOTHER MAJOR OPPORTUNITY; THIS IS,  TO TURN OUR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL A TIENTION TO ENHANCING HUMAN  SECURITY, IN ALL ITS ASPECTS.

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MR PRESIDENT ,

OUR DYNAMIC TIMES HAVE PRESENTED US WITH NEW PROBLEMS. SUCH PROBLEMS

INCLUDE THE MAJOR NON-MILITARY THREATS TO SECURITY -THE CLANDESTINE  ARMS TRADE AND THE NARCOTICS TRADE; HIV/AIDS; THE NEED TO STABILISE  THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION; AND, MAJOR THREATS TO

THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE ELEMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCH NON-MILITARY THREATS TO  SECURITY ARE THAT: THEY CANNOT BE DEFEATED BY WEAPONS, THEY CROSS  ST ATE BOUNDARIES AND THEY CAN AFFECf WHOLE POPULATIONS.

THESE CHARACTERIS'fICS LEAD TO ONE CENTRAL CONCLUSION, THAT IS, ACTION  ON THESE PROBLEMS MUST BE THE SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION .

MULTILATERAL COOPERATION CAN , DOES, AND MUST TAKE MANY FORMS. BUT ,

THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNIQUE, BECAUSE OF ITS UNIVERSALITY  AND BECAUSE OF THE RULES WE FIND IN THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED

NATIONS.

IT IS FOR THESE REASONS: THE NATURE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE  BEFORE US; THE PROBLEMS WE FACE; AND, THE UNIQUE ROLE AND CAPABILITY  OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THAT WE MUST KEEP LAST YEAR'S PROMISE OF A

UNITED NATIONS FIT FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

AUSTRALIA'S COMMITMENT

AUSTRALIA 'S PARTICULAR COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS IS FOUNDED ON  THE BELIEF , ARTICULATED AS FAR BACK AS THE 1950S BY THE THEN FOREIGN  MINISTER , RICHARD CASEY, THAT THE UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTS THE  PRACfICAL EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLES OF THE WORLD TO

A IT AIN THE HIGH GOALS TO WHICH THEY ARE PLEDGED THROUGH THE UN

CHARTER -INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, AND THE ECONOMIC AND  SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT OF ALL PEOPLES .

AUSTRALIA HAS CONTRIBUTED READILY TO ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS. WHETHER  BY PAYING ITS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN FULL AND ON TIME, BY  PROVIDING PERSONNEL TO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, OR THROUGH ITS  CONTRffiUTIONS TO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN DETERMINED  TO SEE THE UNITED NATIONS SUCCEED.

I COMMIT AUSTRALIA, TODAY, TO CONTINUING SUCH INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORK  OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE DISARMAMENT CHALLENGE

AT PRESENT A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IN ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT IS

OPEN TO US. IF WE DO NOT TAKE IT SOON, IT WILL CLOSE. LARGE AND

SOPHISTICATED NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL ARSENALS CONTINUE TO EXIST.

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IN A NUMBER OF REGIONS, SUSPICIONS REMAIN CLOSE TO THE SURFACE. THE  RISKS OF THE SPREAD OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE, IN CERTAIN  RESPECTS, INCREASED.

IN AUSTRALIA'S VIEW, TWO TASKS ARE FUNDAMENTAL. FIRST, BUILDING AND  STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS AND,  SECONDLY, DEVELOPING NEW THINKING IN ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT SO

AS TO PUSH THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA FORWARD IN CONSTRUCTIVE AND

REALISTIC WAYS.

TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS WITH INSTITUTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE  UNITED NATIONS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON AT LEAST SIX PRIORITIES .  THESE PRIORITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ARE TO:

MAKE THE NON-PROLn:c:RA TION TREATY (NPT) AND ITS ENHANCED REVIEW  PROCESS OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY;

STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) SAFEGUARDS;

ACHIEVE AN EARLY START FOR THE ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHmITION OF

CHEMICAL WEAPONS;

REACH EARLY AGREEMENT ON EFFECTIVE VERIFICATION MACHINERY FOR THE  BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION;

PURSUE THE GOAL OF A GLOBAL BAN ON ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES IN

CONJUNCTION WITH A GLOBAL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF DE-MINING; AND

TO

ACHIEVE A BAN ON THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIALS FOR NUCLEAR  WEAPONS.

AS WE PURSUE THESE PRIORITIES IN THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM, WE SHOULD  KEEP FIRMLY IN MIND THAT PROGRESS IN REGIONAL SECURITY, PARTICULARLY  IN REGIONS OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION CONCERN, WILL MAKE . A CRUCIAL  CONTRmUTION.

THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY (CTBT) IS OF COURSE THE IMMEDIATE  PRIORITY. ITS ADOPTION BY THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ITS OPENING FOR  SIGNATURE ON 24 SEPTEMBER WERE MAJOR MILESTONES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL  COMMUNITY.

THIS TREATY WAS A PRODUCT OF OUR TIMES. IT FLOWED FROM A LONG AND

COMMONLY HELD GLOBAL CONCERN. ITS DEATH WAS SOMETHING THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SIMPLY COULD NOT ALLOW.

AUSTRALIA WAS, THEREFORE, PREPARED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN BRINGING THE  TREATY TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THE

RESOLUTION DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH OF INTERNATIONAL FEELING AGAINST  NUCLEAR TESTING . THIS TREATY WAS WANTED AND NEEDED, BUT IT HAS ALSO

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HELPED CHANGE THE INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE.

WE CAN NOW REASONABLY HOPE AND EXPECT THAT NUCLEAR TESTING WILL NOT

BE PART OF THE FUTURE TO BE FACED BY SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS. AND IN

A WORLD WITH A MIXED HISTORY ON CONTROLLING THE DEVELOPMENT AND

SPREAD OF DESTRUCTIVE WEAPONRY, THAT IS SOMETHING OF WHICH WE CAN ALL

BE PROUD.

THIS TREATY MUST BECOME UNIVERSAL. WE URGE ALL THOSE COUNTRIES  WHICH HAVE NOT YET DONE SO, TO SIGN AND RATIFY THE TREATY AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE SO THAT IT CAN BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THERE IS NO MERIT IN THE ARGUMENT THAT SAYS BECAUSE THERE IS MORE TO

BE DONE IN NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT WE SHOULD, IN SOME

WAY, SCORN OR REJECT A TREATY WHICH BANS ALL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS  FOREVER. .

THIS BAN HAS INTRINSIC VALUE.

WE MUST NOW KEEP UP THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM GENERATED BY THE ADOPTION

OFTHECTBT.

THIS BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND TASK -DEVELOPING NEW IDEAS.

BECAUSE BUILDING INSTITUTIONS AND STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL  INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST ALSO  DEVELOP IMAGINATIVE NEW WAYS OF GUIDING THE WORLD INTO THE NEXT

CENTURY.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED THE CANBERRA COMMISSION ON THE

ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS OF WHETHER A

NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE WORLD IS FEASIBLE AND, IF SO, THE MEASURES WHICH  COULD BE TAKEN TO A IT AIN THAT OBJECTIVE.

I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFIRM THAT THE COMMISSION HAS MORE THAN MET

AUSTRALIA'S EXPECTATIONS. THIS REPORT WILL MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION  TO INTERNATIONAL THINKING AND DISCUSSION ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT. THE  AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE IT FORWARD BY CIRCULATING IT TODAY IN

THIS CHAMBER, WILL PRESENT IT TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TOMORROW AND  INTRODUCE IT TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT IN JANUARY.

THE CANBERRA COMMISSION REPORT RECOMMENDS A POLITICAL COMMITMENT BY

THE NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES TO THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  THIS IS THE FIRST AND CENTRAL REQUIREMENT.

THE REPORT THEN SETS OUT SIX "IMMEDIATE STEPS":

TAKING NUCLEAR FORCES OFF ALERT;

REMOV AL OF WARHEADS FROM DELIVERY VEHICLES;

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ENDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF NON-STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS;

ENDING NUCLEAR TESTING;

INITIATING NEGOTIATIONS TO FURTHER REDUCE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIAN  NUCLEAR ARSENALS; AND

AN AGREEMENT AMONGST THE NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES ON RECIPROCAL NO

FIRST  USE UNDERTAKINGS, AND OF A NON-USE UNDERTAKING BY THEM IN RELATION TO

THE NON-NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES.

THE COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS THREE "REINFORCING STEPS" :

ACTION TO PREVENT FURTHER HORIZONTAL PROLIFERATION ;

DEVELOPING VERIFICATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE  WORLD; AND

THE CESSATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL FOR NUCLEAR  EXPLOSNE PURPOSES.

THE COMMISSION PLACED A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF  EFFECTIVE VERIFICATION IN THE ACHIEVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A  NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE WORLD .

HA VING AT LAST, AFTER 33 YEARS, MET THE CHALLENGE OF CTBT, THE  INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST NOW PUSH ON WITH FURTHER PRACTICAL AND

REALISTIC MEASURES ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT.

AS ALREADY INDICATED, ONE SUCH MEASURE IS THE NEGOTIATION OF A

CONVENTION UNDER WHICII IT WOULD BE AGREED THAT THERE WILL BE NO

FURTHER MANUFACTURING OF WEAPONS-GRADE FISSILE MATERIAL. THIS  CONVENTION SHOULD BE SOUGHT NOW.

ANY DISCUSSION OF ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT, IN TODAY'S WORLD,  WHICH FAILED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF LANDMINES WOULD BE SADLY

INCOMPLETE. THESE HIDEOUS AND DIABOLICALLY INEXPENSIVE WEAPONS, MUST  BE BANNED. AUSTRALIA WILL SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT WILL BE MADE AT THIS

ASSEMBL Y TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS THE NEGOTIATION OF AN

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION WITH THAT EFFECT.

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE IN EXCESS OF 100 MILLION OF THESE  MAIMING WEAPONS DISTRIBUTED IN THE SOIL OF TOO MANY COUNTRIES.  DE-MINING MUST PROCEED AT A FAR FASTER RATE THAN HAS BEEN THE CASE IN

THE PAST. THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS TO INCREASING THAT  RATE AND AUSTRALIA HAS, THEREFORE , PROPOSED THAT A TECHNOLOGY WORKING  GROUP BE ESTABLISHED AMONGST INTERESTED AND CAP ABLE COUNTRIES WITH  THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNING THE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR DE-MINING ON A

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FAR LARGER AND QUICKER SCALE.

IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS ACfION, I RECORD WITH  THIS ASSEMBL Y THAT IF THE CURRENT RATE OF DE-MINING IN CAMBODIA WERE  TO BE MAINTAINED, THAT COUNTRY, WHICH HAS STRUGGLED SO HARD TO REPAIR

ITSELF, WOULD NOT BE FREE OF THESE MINES FOR A FURTHER 130 YEARS.  THIS MUST BE UNACCEPTABLE TO ALL. THAT IS WHY THE AUSTRALIAN  GOVERNMENT RECENTLY COMMITTED 2 MILLION TO PRACTICAL DE-MINING  INITIATIVES IN THE WAR RAVAGED FIELDS WITHIN OUR OWN REGION.

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM IS ANOTHER, VIT ALL Y IMPORT ANT, ITEM ON THE  PEACE AND SECURITYÃ¢Â‘ AGENDA. THE THREE KEY ISSUES TO BE TACKLED ARE  EXPANSION, TRANSPARENCY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SANCTIONS REGIMES.

THERE IS GENERAL ACCEPTANCE NOW THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST BE

EXPANDED AND MODERNISED IF IT IS TO MANAGE INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND  SECURITY MORE EFFECfIVEL Y.

ALTHOUGH AUSTRALIA WANTS TO AVOID MAKING THE COUNCIL TOO UNWIELDY,  THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT ITS MEMBERSHIP NEEDS TO REFLECT BETTER  CURRENT GEOPOLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. EXPANDING THE  MEMBERSHIP IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ACHIEVING THIS, AND AUSTRALIA  BELIEVES AN EXPANSION UP TO A TOTAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP OF 25 STATES  WOULD BE REASONABLE.

THIS BRINGS ME TO THE MORE CONTENTIOUS POINT OF PERMANENT AS AGAINST  NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP. AUSTRALIA HAS MADE CLEAR THAT IT SUPPORTS  THE CLAIMS OF JAPAN AND GERMANY TO PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP. THIS IS THE

VERY LEAST THE UNITED NATIONS CAN DO TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR MAJOR- POWER

STATUS AND THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION THEY ARE MAKING TO THE

ORGANISATION.

AUSTRALIA ALSO ADVOCATES PERMANENT SEATS ON THE COUNCIL FOR

UNDER-REPRESENTED REGIONS. AS TO HOW THAT IS ACHIEVED, WE REMAIN  FLEXIBLE. WHETHER THESE SEATS ARE FILLED BY A SINGLE MEMBER, OR  ROTATE AMONG LEADING MEMBER STATES AGREED ON BY REGIONAL GROUPINGS,  NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED FURTHER, PRIMARILY BY THOSE REGIONS CONCERNED.

WE ALSO SEE SCOPE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NON-PERMANENT  MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AGAIN, IN THE INTERESTS OF ENSURING GREATER  BALANCE IN REPRESENTATION.

I TURN NOW TO THE NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN SECURITY COUNCIL

PROCESSES . CONSULTATIVE MECHANISMS HAVE IMPROVED IN RECENT TIMES,  NOT ABLY BETWEEN THE SECRETARIAT AND TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES, BUT  MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. AUSTRALIA IS COMMITTED TO TRYING TO IMPROVE

THE WAY IN WHICH THE SECURITY COUNCIL INTERACTS WITH NON-MEMBERS SO

THAT THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE UNITED

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NATIONS AS A WHOLE.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, TOO, TO BUILD THE COUNCIL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH  REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS. GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN RECORDED TO DATE, BUT  UN AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS SHOULD MEET REGULARLY IN ORDER TO

DEVELOP FURTHER THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES .

THE COUNCIL ALSO HAS AN IMPORT ANT ROLE TO PLAY IN PREVENTING THE

PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND ENHANCING THE  EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME.

AUSTRALIA WANTS TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UN  SANCTIONS, BECAUSE WE RECOGNISE THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S USE OF  COLLECTIVE SANCTIONS CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORT ANT AND, AT TIMES, A  CONTENTIOUS ENFORCEMENT MEASURE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SANCTIONS  REGIMES COULD BE IMPROVED IN THREE WAYS:

CLEARER DRAFTING OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS;

PROVIDING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND REALISTIC TIME FRAMES; AND

THROUGH RELEVANT SANCTIONS COMMITTEES PROVIDING CLEAR INTERPRET A TIVE  GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTATION.

THESE ARE CHANGES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S  DYNAMISM. WE NEED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNCIL

REFLECTS MODERN-DAY CIRCUMSTANCES AND REALITIES.

PEACEKEEPING AND PREVENTIVE APPROACHES

OUR CONTEMPORARY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE OPENED UP NEW NEEDS AND

PROSPECTS  FOR PEACEKEEPING AND PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY.

INITIAL POST-COLD WAR HOPES ABOUT THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SECURITY  COUNCIL HAVE BEEN TEMPERED. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT MANY CONFLICTS

ARE INTRACTABLE. EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT US THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO  REACH AGREEMENT ON SUIT ABLE APPROACHES, AND TO FIND ENOUGH RESOURCES,  PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF PEACEKEEPING .

THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST BE REALISTIC IN THE IMPLEMENT A TION OF ITS  CHARTER RESPONSIBILITIES. IT MUST RESIST PRESSURE TO EMBARK ON  MISSIONS BEFORE IT HAS COMPLETED ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS, DEVELOPED A  FOCUSED SENSE OF THE MISSION'S GOALS, AND AGREED ON A CLEARLY  ARTICULATED MANDATE.

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS IS CONFRONTED WITH MAJOR  CHALLENGES IN SUCH DIVERSE SITUATIONS AS CYPRUS, BURUNDI AND LIBERIA.  AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING PERSONNEL TO THE UN FORCE IN CYPRUS,  FOR EXAMPLE, FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAS BEEN SADDENED BY THE RECENT

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INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE THERE. THE TIME HAS COME TO RESOLVE THIS  SITUATION, WHICH REQUIRES THE ASSISTANCE OF ALL PARTIES.

ONE VER Y IMPORTANT AREA OF REFORM FOR UN PEACEKEEPING IS TO ESTABLISH  AN ENHANCED RAPID REACTION CAPABILITY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROPOSALS  ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE  CANADIAN STUDY, "TOWARDS A RAPID REACTION CAPABILITY FOR THE UNITED  NATIONS", CONTAINS SOME COMMENDABLE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THE  DEVELOPMENT OF A DEPLOYABLE, OPERATIONAL-LEVEL HEADQUARTERS TO  STRENGTHEN PLANNING FOR OPERATIONS.

AUSTRALIA WELCOMES RECENT MOVES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING  OPERATIONS TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING MEASURES AIMED AT IMPROVING THE UN'S  RAPID REACTION CAPABILITY. BUT, IN TAKING THESE MEASURES FORWARD,  THE UN SHOULD CONSULT ADEQUATELY WITH ALL MEMBER STATES.

AUSTRALIA IS ALSO KEEN TO SEE THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOP THE  PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY AGENDA, AND IT WELCOMES THE GREATER RESOURCES  THE UN SECRETARIAT NOW DEVOTES TO SUCH ACfIVITY. THE SECURITY  COUNCIL, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL, AS WELL AS REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND AGENCIES,  HAVE IMPORT ANT ROLES TO PLAY IN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY. AUSTRALIA  SUPPORTS GREATER USE OF CHAPTER VI OF THE CHARTER ON THE PACIFIC

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. ARTICLE 33 IS PARTICULARLY IMPORT ANT. THE  SECURITY COUNCIL CAN USE IT TO UNDERTAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE, BY  CALLING ON DISPUTING PARTIES TO SEEK A SOLUTION USING NEGOTIATION,  MEDIATION AND OTHER PEACEFUL MEANS.

NON-MILITARY THREATS TO SECURITY

AS INDICATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS STATEMENT, ONE OF THE CHIEF  OUTCOMES OF THE END OF THE COLD WAR MUST SURELY BE AN INCREASE IN OUR

ABILITY TO TURN A WA Y FROM MILITARY CONCERNS, TO GIVE A GREATER DEGREE

OF ATTENTION TO THREATS TO THE SECURITY OF INDIVIDUALS AS DISTINCT  FROM THOSE THREATS TO THE SECURITY OF STATES WHICH HAVE DOMINATED OUR

THINKING IN THE PAST, IMPORT ANT AND BASIC THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN AND

REMAIN.

IN TODAY'S WORLD AND IN THE WORLD WE SEE UNFOLDING INTO THE 21ST

CENTURY THE SECURITY OF FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IS THREATENED IN WAYS NO

LESS IMMEDIATE THAN THE THREAT OF THE GUN.

I HAVE IN MIND NARCOTICS, HIV/AIDS, AND MAJOR THREATS TO THE  ENVIRONMENT. THESE THREATS CANNOT BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY BY  STATES ACTING ALONE. SOMETIMES THEY REQUIRE NEW INTERNATIONAL LAW,  BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY THEY REQUIRE POLITICAL WILL TO DEFEAT THEM AND  TO FOSTER COOPERATION AMONGST NATIONS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM  EFFECTIVENESS  OF ACTION .

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THE UNITED NATIONS IS THE IDEAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO DEVELOP SUCH

COOPERATION. IT IS HERE THAT THE WORLD IS REPRESENTED. WE HAVE

HERE A TRADITION OF DEBATE, OF DISCUSSION, OF IDENTIFICATION OF  PROBLEMS AND OF CONSENSUS. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE LAW, WHEN IT

IS NECESSARY. ABOVE ALL, WE HAVE PLEDGED OURSELVES TO DEFENDING AND

PROVIDING A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING TO THE PEOPLES WE REPRESENT.

THERE IS ALSO A REGIONAL ROLE, AND IN THAT CONTEXT, AUSTRALIA WAS

PLEASED TO HAVE PROMOTED THE CONCEPT OF A REGIONAL HIV/AIDS

MINISTERS' MEETING AT THIS YEAR'S ASEAN POST-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE.

AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE 21ST CENTURY, IT WILL BE CRUCIAL TO THE

EXECUTION OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY

UNITED NATIONS WHrcH IS DEVOTED TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AIMED  AT DEFEATING THE M.:\JOR NON-MILITARY THREATS TO THE SECURITY OF THE  HUMAN FAMILY. THESE THREATS ARE TRAGICALLY EVIDENT TO US TODAY.

THEY WILL ONLY BECOME LARGER IF WE DO NOT AGREE, NOW, TO BEGIN

COOPERATIVE ACTION TO DEFEAT THEM.

HISTORY WILL SURELY JUDGE OUR GENERATION HARSHLY IF HAVING IDENTIFIED  THE PROBLEMS OF HUMAN SECURITY, WE FAIL FOR LACK OF WILL, TO ADDRESS

THEIR SOLUTIONS.

DEVELOPMENT

ANOTHER GREAT REQUIREMENT OF OUR TIMES IS THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF

PEOPLE AND TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT.

MUCH HAS BEEN DONE THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS AGENCIES TO

ADV ANCE THE DEVELOPMENT CAUSE. THEY HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL TO THE

EMERGENCE OF A MULTILATERAL APPROACH IN WHICH INSTITUTIONS WITH

SPECIAL COMPETENCE LIKE THE SPECIALISED AGENCIES, THE INTERNATIONAL  MONET ARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK, TOGETHER WITH POLICY DELIBERATIVE

BODIES SUCH AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL

COUNCIL, HAVE COMPLEMENTARY ROLES TO PLAY.

DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ECONOMIC GROWTH, HOWEVER. THERE

IS ALSO THE NEED FOR: INTERNAL STABILITY, SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL  MANAGEMENT, A VIGOROUS CIVIL SOCIETY AND A LIVELY DEMOCRACY. THE

UNITED NATIONS IS UNIQUELY PLACED TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON HOW TO

ADV ANCE THESE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

IN THIS CONTEXT, AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE CONSTRUCTIVE OUTCOMES  ACHIEVED AT THE NINTH UN CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCT AD)

MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE HELD IN MID RAND , SOUTH AFRICA, EARLIER THIS  YEAR. THE DECISIONS TAKEN THERE SHOULD HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  BENEFIT FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES OF ECONOMIC GLOBALISATION.

WE ALSO UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT,  TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS AND PROVIDING TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN STIMULATING

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SUCH DEVELOPMENT IS THE ONLY ENDURING  FOUNDA nON OF INDEPENDENCE AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING.

IT IS IN AFRICA THAT THESE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES ARE MOST STARK.  RICH IN PROMISE YET WEARIED BY EMERGENCIES, AFRICA STANDS TODAY AT A  DECISIVE JUNCTURE IN ITS HISTORY.

AFRICAN LEADERS SEIZED THE MOMENT WITH THE ORGANISA nON OF AFRICAN  UNITY'S 1995 CAIRO AGENDA FOR ACTION, IN WHICH THEY CALLED FOR  IMMEDIATE ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR WHICH AN  INTERNA nONAL CONSENSUS NOW EXISTS. THE UNITED NATIONS RESPONDED THIS  YEAR WITH THE LAUNCH OF A 10-YEAR, US5 BILLION, UN SYSTEM-WIDE  SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON AFRICA.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE SPECIAL INITIATIVE AS A  CONCRETE DEMONSTRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S CONCERN  WITH  AFRICA. THE INTERN A TIONAL COMMUNITY CANNOT ALLOW DISEASE, POVERTY,  WAR AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT TO BECOME ENTRENCHED IN THE 53 NATIONS -

ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF UN MEMBER STATES -WHICH MAKE UP THE AFRICAN

CONTINENT.

THE WORLD MUST CONTINUE TO SEEK WAYS TO BREAK THE POVERTY CYCLE IN

AFRICA SO THAT ITS POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS REALISED.  SUST AINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO OVERCOME POVERTY,  DISEASE, AND CONFLICT.

THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM NEEDS TO GIVE GREATER FOCUS AND IMPETUS TO

THE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT IN AFRICA.

HUMAN RIGHTS DIPLOMACY

I NOW TURN TO THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE IMPORT ANT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FOR TWO MAIN  REASONS. FIRST, POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND MAJOR CONFLICT CAN RESULT  WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BREACHED OR ARE UNDER THREAT AND, SECONDLY,

THE FREEDOM AND DIGNITY OF INDIVIDUALS IS, IN ITSELF, A FUNDAMENTAL  V ALUE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AIMS FOR PRACTICAL OUTCOMES THAT WILL

IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUAL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE RECOGNISE  THE IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION, BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT .

IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DIPLOMACY, AUSTRALIA'S APPROACH TO  THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ALSO ENCOMPASSES DEVELOPMENT  COOPERATION.

AUSTRALIA STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG AND  INDEPENDENT  NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, AUSTRALIA PROVIDED

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR A WORKSHOP OF ASIA PACIFIC NATIONAL HUMAN  RlGHTS INSTITUTIONS WHICH AGREED TO ESTABLISH AN INFORMAL FORUM TO  WORK FOR THE STRENGTHENING AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH

INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION. AUSTRALIA HAS ALSO PROVIDED FINANCIAL  SUPPORT TO THE UN FOR THE CREATION OF A POSITION OF SPECIAL ADVISER  TO THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON NA nONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

INSTITUTIONS.

UNITED NATIONS REFORM

FINALLY, IT IS IMPORT ANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF REFORM OF THE UNITED  NATIONS.

~UCH WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING ABOUT GREATER EFFICIENCY

AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE UN AND ITS SPECIALISED AGENCIES.

WHILE AUSTRALIA APPLAUDS THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF THE GENERAL

ASSEMBL Y WORKING GROUPS WHICH WERE SET UP IN 1995, MEMBER STATES MUST

NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT, TO ACHIEVE REAL CHANGE, THE GROUPS  HA VE TO COME UP WITH REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE  RECOMMENDA nONS MUST IN TURN LEAD TO PRACTICAL AND MEASURABLE  OUTCOMES.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WORK OF THE GROUPS IS FOCUSED AND THAT THEIR

MOMENTUM IS RESTORED SO THAT EARLY AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES CAN BE

ACHIEVED. WE MUST ALL COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS END AND TO BRINGING

ABOUT STRUCTURED CHANGE WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS.

IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL THAT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE UN BE  REPAIRED.

AUSTRALIA BELIEVES THAT ALL MEMBERS SHOULD PAY THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN  FULL AND ON TIME. WE, THEREFORE, WELCOME RECENT MOVES BY SOME

COUNTRIES TO PAY THEIR ARREARS.

IT IS TIME TO ESTABLISH A REVISED SCALE OF ASSESSED CONTRIBUTIONS  WHICH MORE FAlRL Y REFLECTS WHAT GOVERNMENTS CAN PAY. THE CURRENT

MINIMUM PAYMENT IS TOO HIGH FOR MANY SMALL-ECONOMY COUNTRIES AND

AUSTRALIA WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REDUCED OR EVEN REMOVED.

THESE ARE THE REFORMS WHICH AUSTRALIA BELIEVES ARE NECESSARY TO EQUIP  THE UNITED NATIONS FOR ITS ROLE IN THE 21ST CENTURY .

MR PRESIDENT,

IT IS IN THIS OVERALL CONTEXT, THAT AUSTRALIA IS DEEPLY COMMIITED TO  CONTRIBUTING TO THE UN'S GOAL OF MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND  SECURITY IN AN ACTIVE WAY. SERVING A TERM AS A NON-PERMANENT MEMBER  OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL DURING 1997-98 WOULD ENABLE AUSTRALIA TO MAKE  A SUBSTANTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THAT GOAL AND TO WORK FOR A MORE

"

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EFFECfIVE. MODERNISED AND TRANSPARENT COUNCIL. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE  ASKED FOR THE SUPPORT OF MEMBER STATES AT THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD A

FEW WEEKS FROM NOW.

CONCLUSION

LET ME CONCLUDE BY SUMMING UP WHAT I HAVE SAID TODAY .

THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNIQUE AND NEEDED BUT IT MUST PURSUE AND WORK

ON THE BASIS OF A RELEVANT AGENDA.

THIS IS THE CENTRAL POINT. THE UNITED NATIONS MUST BE PUT TO WORK ON

THE AGENDA OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TACKLE THE KEY CHALLENGES WHICH FACE

THE UNITED NATIONS. ONLY A SUST AINED. COOPERATIVE EFFORT AMONG ALL  MEMBER STATES WILL BRING SUCCESS.

AUSTRALIA WILL MAKE THAT EFFORT .

