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S T A T E M E N T B Y
RT. HON. P. J. PATTERSON, Q.C., M.P.
PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA
AT THE
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE SESSION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1995
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MR. PRESIDENT,
FIFTY YEARS AGO, THE UNITED NATIONS WAS FOUNDED TO PROMOTE
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.
COOPERATION AMONG NATIONS.
ITS MISSION WAS TO FOSTER
THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF A SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY WAS
IMMEDIATELY THREATENED BY BITTER AND INTENSE SUPER-POWER RIVALRY.
IT IS PROOF OF ITS RESILIENCE THAT THE U.N. HAS SURVIVED THE COLD
WAR AND PROLONGED PERIODS OF INTERNATIONAL TENSION.
IT HAS CONTRIBUTED CONSTRUCTIVELY TO RESOLVING A PROLIFERATION OF
REGIONAL CONFLICTS AND TACKLING OTHER CRITICAL PROBLEMS WHICH
IMPERIL INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
THERE ARE OTHER STERLING ACHIEVEMENTS WHICH ARE DESERVEDLY A SOURCE
OF PRIDE.
IT HAS PRESIDED OVER THE DECOLONISATION PROCESS, RESULTING IN
PROFOUND GEOPOLITICAL CHANGES. IT HAS FOSTERED A SIGNIFICANT
BROADENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES, THROUGH INNOVATIVE
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES, EMBRACING MANY FIELDS OF
COOPERATION.
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WE IN JAMAICA, WELCOME ITS LATEST PROGENY, THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED
AUTHORITY, WHICH ENABLES US TO EXPLOIT PEACEFULLY THE RESOURCES OF
THE SEABED AS THE COMMON HERITAGE OF MANKIND.
THE U. N. IS BY NO MEANS PERFECT. YET WE SHUDDER EVEN TO
CONTEMPLATE WHAT KIND OF WORLD WOULD HAVE EMERGED WITHOUT IT.
IT HAS BECOME AN INDISPENSABLE INSTRUMENT IN THE SEARCH FOR GLOBAL
DIALOGUE IN THE RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. IT OFFERS THE ONLY HOPE
FOR THE HARMONISATION OF GLOBAL INTERESTS AND FOR DEFUSING THE
COMPLEX ISSUES WHICH OTHERWISE CAN SO EASILY IGNITE.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT THE U.N. IS THE CREATURE OF ITS MEMBERS.
WE MAKE IT WHAT WE WILL. AS MEMBER STATES, IT IS OUR SOLEMN
OBLIGATION TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM WHICH GENERATES LASTING
PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THIS WILL ENTAIL REVITALISATION AND REFORM IN THE STRUCTURE OF U.N.
ORGANS AND THE CONTENT OF THEIR PROGRAMMES.
REFORM OF THE SYSTEM MUST REFLECT THE CURRENT POLITICAL REALITIES.
IT MUST ALSO BE DRIVEN BY THE LEGITIMATE RIGHT OF ALL MEMBER STATES
FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ON THE BASIS OF SOVEREIGN EQUALITY, NO
MATTER WHAT THE SIZE, WEALTH OR POWER.
REVIEWED.
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THE RIGHT OF VETO MUST BE
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WE NEED A BRAND NEW AGENDA NOW.
TRADITIONAL.
THIS MUST GO BEYOND THE
ONE BILLION OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION STILL LANGUISH IN EXTREME
POVERTY.
THE DESPERATION AND FRUSTRATION IN THE DAILY STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
BY SO MANY OFTEN ENDS IN CONFLICTS, STRAINING THE BONDS OF SOCIAL
COHESION AND RESULTING IN HOSTILE AND VIOLENT ERUPTIONS.
THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND ITS ATTENDANT EVILS - HUNGER, MALNUTRITION,
HOMELESSNESS - MUST ENGAGE THE PREOCCUPATION OF THE
ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
WHEREVER THEY OCCUR, THESE PROBLEMS CANNOT BE CONFINED TO THE PLACE
OF ORIGIN. ALL OF US HAVE A STAKE IN THEIR SOLUTION. THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THE HUMAN CONDITION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PLANET
MUST BE THE IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE OF ALL OUR EFFORTS. IF PURELY
HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS WILL NOT SUFFICE, LET US BE GOADED INTO
ACTION BY THE PRACTICAL NEED TO AVOID TURMOIL AND MAINTAIN GLOBAL
STABILITY.
TO RECOGNISE THE LINKAGES IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. THERE IS URGENT
NEED FOR THE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES ON A SCALE COMMENSURATE WITH
THE IMMENSITY OF THE PROBLEM. WE REQUIRE A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP IN
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WHICH THOSE WITH THE MEANS BEAR THEIR FULL SHARE IN A GLOBAL
PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND THEREBY SPARE ANY HUMAN BEING
ANYWHERE FROM THE SCOURGE OF HUNGER, IGNORANCE AND DISEASE.
LET NOT THE OCCASION BE JUST ANOTHER CELEBRATION OF INSTITUTIONAL
ENDURANCE BUT A RE-AFFIRMATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE WILL TO CONFRONT
THE COMPELLING CHALLENGES AS WE FACE THE NEW MILLENNIUM.
OUR PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED.
LET US TODAY RENEW OUR PLEDGE TO CREATE A WORLD OF ENDURING PEACE
AND ABUNDANT PROSPERITY FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RACE.
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