Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin, on behalf of the Indonesian delegation, by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the chairmanship of this Special Session of the General Assembly. I am confident that given your well-known diplomatic skills and expertise that this meeting will be brought to a successful conclusion. I, along with other participating states, would like to assure you of my assistance in any way possible to discharge your challenging tasks.

Let me also state that my delegation shares with the previous speakers in the importance they attach to this Special Session devoted to reviewing the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. The meeting's importance is further underscored by the fact that the world is on the threshold of a new millennium with a broad spectrum of new challenges and opportunities.

I would now like to highlight some of the issues and concerns that Indonesia considers to be key for reorienting their population policies and strategies into the broader framework of the ICPD. First, is that of the full integration of population concerns into development strategies, planning, decision-making and resources allocations, at all levels and across all regions of the world. In this regard, though several developing countries have made progress, due to adverse socio-political conditions in many of them, they have not yet been able to achieve this objective. In Indonesia, we consider ourselves fortunate since our country is in the midst of fundamental changes and reforms, that present us with opportunities to further accelerate people-centred development. This situation has helped us to better include the integration of population concerns into development. In keeping with that spirit we are now seeking to accommodate the greater involvement of women, non-governmental organizations, community groups and private foundations in which we should help to further promote our objective of fully integrating population concerns into our overall national development.

Second, in closely following the debate on reproductive health, we believe that, rather than concentrating solely on demographic objectives, we should emphasize the importance of human and family development and of the need to change attitudes towards reproduction and client-centered provisions of high quality family planning information and services. In this context, governments should pay more attention to the special needs of adolescent reproductive health. My delegation, would thus like to re-emphasize the importance of principles as enshrined in both Chapter II and the chapeau of Chapter VII of the ICPD's Programme of Action.

Third, since Indonesia was severely hit by the recent financial crisis, which resulted in the dramatic reduction of its dynamic growth and development, it became critically important that we seek international assistance. Our success in implementing the ICPD commitments has been drastically diverted by the crisis. However, I am of the firm believe that with our strong conviction and commitment, coupled with a wide range constructive participation of all relevant actors and with the support of the international communities, we will be able to achieve our common objectives as sets out in the ICPD. With this in mind we truly appreciate the draft presented by the Chairman on the key actions for further implementing the ICPD's Programme of Action. In the draft it was unanimously acknowledged that the developed countries should provide funds to off-set the problems of the developing countries arising from the crisis, and, thereby enabling them to better implement the Programme of Action. In this connection, we firmly believe in the need for a comprehensive and enduring solution to the foreign debt problems of those countries mostly-affected by the economic crisis, including debt swaps for population and development programmes. For its part, Indonesia stands ready to fulfil its commitments. By the same token, however, we expect the international community to fulfil theirs by appropriating the necessary funding. Without the mobilization of such resources it is unlikely that any meaningful progress can be registered in the implementation of the Programme of Action. I might add in this connection that poverty is a major constraint in the path for implementing the Programme of Action. On the other hand the alleviation of poverty is directly correlated to success in population stabilization and in raising the quality of life.

Fourth, Indonesia would like to express its concern over the tendency in some quarters to use this forum to revisit the functions of the United Nations bodies dealing with population matters, especially in the issue of reproductive health. Such an approach is indeed required for the post-cold war international scene which had ushered in a series of new challenges. And the situation has become even more tenuous with the complexities of the new millennium on our doorstep. At the same time, while we recognize the need to revisit this issue for the purpose of strengthening the WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and other related bodies and their leadership role, we must also be aware that such a delicate question is beyond the mandate of this Session. Rather, we consider it more advisable that the question should be addressed in a more comprehensive manner nd in a broader context under the framework of the United Nations' reforms.

Fifth, of no less importance are the conditions supportive of the implementation of the conference's Programme of Action (ICPD-POA). My delegation strongly believes that the programmes for this purpose should be implemented to the best of our ability. Thus, it is important that, capacity building, the transfer of knowledge, know-how and technology, in particular contraceptive production as well as research and information, among others, should be vigorously pursued. In this way the member states, especially the developing countries will be enabled to fully implement their population and development programmes as mandated by the ICPD. In this regard, Mr. President I would like to reiterate Indonesia's offer to share its significant experience in this field with other developing countries within the purview of South-South Cooperation through our International Training Programme in Population and Reproductive Health.

Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that the ICPD was entrusted with a task of unprecedented importance. To achieve the successful implementation of the ICPD and its POA however, would require partnership of all sides, governments and the private sector, developed and developing countries alike as well as that of all relevant international organizations. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to call on all participating countries to ensure that they do not allow this unique opportunity to evade them, or to pass them by without achieving any concrete results. For, if we are unable to achieve positive results, there is a real danger that the repercussions and consequences for future generations of humankind will be severe and devastating.

Thank you, Mr. President.