Mr. President,

I am pleased to speak in support of the draft resolution contained in document A/49/L.62/Rev.1, entitled “Cooperation Between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community.”

A small nation, particularly, a small island nation, faces problems which, when faced by that nation alone, may prove insurmountable. However, when faced by a regional community of nations with similar experiences, histories, goals and close ties, these problems become more manageable.

Indeed, the strengthening of regional organizations is critical to the effective implementation of the objectives of the United Nations in a time when streamlining and cost-effectiveness are of primary concern.

The heads of Government of the Caribbean Community have expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation and coordination between their secretariat and the Secretariat of the United Nations. The resolution therefore invites the Secretary- General of the United Nations to take the necessary measures in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats in order to increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their common objectives. The goals of the Caribbean Community and those of the United Nations are parallel, and the implementation of closer ties between the two will be very fruitful for all concerned.

The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, as a member of a Pacific regional intergovernmental organization similar to the Caribbean Community, fully supports maximizing the utilization by the United Nations of existing regional intergovernmental organizations in all aspects of its work. The South Pacific Forum, in recognition of the need for closer links with the United Nations, sought and obtained U.N. observer member status in September of this year.

What this resolution seeks should be a matter of course and should be standardized for the working relationship between the United Nations and existing regional intergovernmental organizations. Such regional intergovernmental organizations have a special role in the implementation efforts of the United Nations. This has been pointed out time and again by policy planners, in the academic literature, and also at important United Nations conferences, such as the 1992 Earth Summit and the 1994 Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Chapter XI of the Barbados Programme of Action recognizes the key role of regional organizations in facilitating efficient and effective execution of projects and in preventing duplication of efforts. Prudent utilization of limited resources is an ever-present concern to small states, such as the members of the Caribbean Community.

For these reasons, Mr. President, my Government is pleased to cosponsor this resolution and encourages all member states to support it.

Thank you.