Intervention
at the High Level Meeting on the Launch of the Central Emergency Response Fund
by
H.E. Mrs. Mirjana Mladineo, Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
New York, 9 March 2006
Mr. Secretary General, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen!
Let me start by thanking you and OCHA for organizing this important event. As a contributor to the Fund, as well as a one-time beneficiary of humanitarian assistance, my delegation would like to underline a few points.
We strongly believe that the new Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) constitutes a significant step forward in improving the humanitarian response capacity of the UN system. That is why Croatia actively supported the resolution of the General Assembly adopted on 15 December 2005, which provided for the establishment of the CERF and its launch.
Being a small country that has emerged from conflict, we are very well aware of the importance of humanitarian assistance. That is the reason why, commensurate with our capacities, we have contributed to the Fund and will increasingly continue to do so in the coming years.
We are also aware of the importance of timely and predictable as well as well-coordinated humanitarian assistance at both country and international levels. Therefore, even though we can be proud of the new and strengthened CERF, we need to continue moving forward. We need to constantly improve our response to both natural and man-made disasters since we know that their effect on human lives can be increasingly more devastating. Croatia is ready to contribute in this regard with its experience and financial and human resources.
Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General.
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