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President Urusemal Speaks before the High-level Plenary of the 60^th UN General Assembly

New York (FSM Permanent Mission to the UN): September 16, 2005 - President Joseph J. Urusemal attended the High-level Plenary of the 60^th United Nations General Assembly, held in New York from 14 - 16 September 2005. The Conference was held to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the United Nations and to review the progress of the Millennium Developing Goals (MDG) laid out by world leaders in 2000.

In addressing the high-level plenary of approximately 170 Heads of States and Governments, President Urusemal referred to the world leaders commitment to the UN Millennium Declaration in 2000 and the MDGs as the relevant basis of achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, he called to attention "the daunting challenges posed by extreme weather events" as impediments especially for small islands developing states such as the Federated States of Micronesia to achieving the MDGs and pursue sustainable development.

He called to initiate negotiations to develop a more inclusive international framework for climate change, and encourage the international community to approach the concept of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' not as a license to pollute but as mandate to preserve the Mother Earth.

In his statement, President Urusemal also appealed to those countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to do so without delay. He also called for those donor countries that have not achieved the agreed goals of official development assistance to make every effort to do so, while he reiterated the support for the Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action as endorsed by the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

President Urusemal also expressed on behalf on the FSM Government and its people, sympathies and condolences to the people and the Government of the United States for the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina. While in New York, President Urusemal also met with the Honorable Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization and Ambassador Rosenblatt and officials of the American Jewish Community.