REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Statement

by


H.E. Mr. Boris Trajkovski
President of The Republic of Macedonia

at the
World Summit on Sustainable Development

Johannesburg, South Africa
2nd September 2002



Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen!

Allow me, at the outset, to express our deep gratitude to our host, the Government of South Africa, for the excellent organization of this event.

It is great honour for me to participate in this Summit and to share with all of you, not only few thoughts, but above all the responsibility for a successful outcome of this outstanding gathering.

Mr. President,

We have gathered here, in Johannesburg, on such a fascinating place, not just to express our verbal commitment to preserve the Earth. We owe it to our children and their children. We are here to make a bond, a partnership and to jointly agree on a viable Plan of implementation in order to make the world better place for living.

We live in increasingly interdependent world and therefore we need to act together in solving the most important issues and undertake actions that will bring prosperity for all, especially for the benefit of the citizens in the least developed and developing countries. It goes without saying that the Doha Conference, the Monterrey Summit and the Johannesburg Summit, taken in an interrelated manner, as far as their commitments are concerned, will influence the prospects of globalization as an outstanding process of the today's world. Let us make this Summit, as it is stated in the message of the Danish EU Presidency for its participants, a landmark for a "Global Deal on Sustainable Development".

Mr. President,

The Republic of Macedonia has embarked upon the way to develop a sound National Strategy for Sustainable Development in accordance with the national interest, regional opportunities, principles related to the integration process with the EU as well as the United Nations Millennium goals.

In this respect, based upon the principles of good governance as a prerequisite of a global sustainable development strategy, National Strategy for Sustainable Development, will be directed to:

1. Create adequate public awareness as a set of values and altitudes related to the issue of sustainability;

2. Develop appropriate approach and contents in the educational process that supports generation of knowledge useful in practice;

3. Support organizational adjustment of the public and private organizations along with the principles of sustainability;

4. Provide access to all information related to sustainable development and relevant to developing public awareness on that issue;

5. Create social and legal framework that would stimulate behaviour supportive to sustainable development, promote good governance
at all levels, including democratic values and rule of law;

6. Support economic activities based on reasonable use of natural resource, protection of environment and development and
development of human potentials;

7. Provide appropriate legal and business environment for investments that will be no in collision with the principles of sustainable
development and will enhance international cooperation, providing better access to world markets.

Mr. President,

Sustainable development implies, inter alia, the sensibility to the human needs according to the social status, education, culture, age, gender and so fort. In this sense, the economic and social development and the environmental protection are inter dependable and represent
components of the sustainable development. Democracy, respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms that embrace the right to development, transparent and responsible management of all segments of society, as well as effective participation of the citizens in public life, also represent significant part of sustainable development that addresses society and human kind. Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, protection and reasonable management of natural resources and social justice, are overreaching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development.

Following the Partnership penuries I realized that several representatives stressed the need for: transfer of technology, financial assistance and capacity building and improved market access; debt relief and funds for halting desertification. One can not agree more. It also clearly
demonstrates the interlink age of finance, trade, technology, education, science, capacity building and information for decision making.

This Summit is held in Africa - the continent which definitely deserves our special attention. The African countries need to revise the negative trends, but the international community must help. We should work together this Summit directly to address the African concerns and propose measures for sustainable development.

Mr. President,

My country last year suffered from a conflict, which had negative impact to development of all segments of the society. Peace, security and stability are the most important preconditions for sustainable development.

I want to reaffirm our commitment to the Rio principles and the full implementation of the Agenda 21, as well as to the achievement of the goals agreed at the major UN conferences and international agreements related to the sustainable development. I fully agree within this context with the WEHAB initiative proposed by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan concerning the five themes for particular attention of the Summit: Water, Energy, health, Agriculture and Bio-diversity. This are critical areas for long-term development and at the same time an integral part of a coherent international approach.

In this respect, Macedonia will contribute to the fight the conditions that pose severe threats to sustainable development, such as poverty, environmental degradation, famine, intolerance, violence and armed conflicts, illicit drug problems, organized crime, terrorism, corruption, and endemic, communicable and chronic diseases.

Mr. President,

For the fulfilment of our noble goals there is a need for strong commitment of all governments of the UN member states as well as a sustainable partnership with the private sector and the NGO-s. I fully agree in this regard with Secretary Colin Powell saying that "sustainable development" is a "compelling moral and humanitarian issue".

Let me conclude with the most appropriate slogan I have come across during the proceedings of this Summit. It is very-simple but also more than clear: Words in Action. This is not only the imperative of the day but the best asset for our common future.

Thank you.