Palau urges UN to pay closer attention to small island developing states

15 APRIL 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) --- Palau has urged the United Nations (UN) to pay closer attention to the developmental needs of small island developing states.

Palau's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Stuart Beck, told the U.N. that a "vacuum" exists in many small island developing states, particularly Palau.

"The vacuum is caused by the remoteness and isolation of Palau, and by the failure of the institutions of the United Nations to create a compelling presence within Palau's borders," Beck said in his plenary statement at the 86th session of the U.N. General Assembly on 06 April.

Mr Beck said there is a growing sentiment among several Pacific island nations that a U.N. office is needed to help them access the various programmes available to developing countries, and that the lack of such an office discriminates against the smaller countries.

He said despite the vast resources that have been marshalled by the U.N. and the developed countries to attack the problems that have been addressed by the "Report on the Millennium Development Goals, and the Report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change," "there is not one permanent United Nations representative in Palau to interact with the government and with civil society to build the capacity of the state to address the daunting and complicated challenges that confront it."

Mr Beck asked the U.N. to give Palauan citizens access to key international organisations.

"Where does the flag of the United Nations fly in Palau? Nowhere at all," Beck said.

At the same time, he reiterated Palau's strong support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. In his speech, Beck also expressed Palau's sympathies and condolences for the deaths of Pope John Paul II and Prince Rainier III of Monaco...PNS (ENDS)