Udenrigsminister Per Stig Møllers tale torsdag under generaldebatten på FNs 59. generalforsamling i New York
Vi bringer talen i sin fulde ordlyd, da den traditionelt er udtryk for Danmarks syn på verdens aktuelle stilling og vor plads i den – en slags årlig udenrigspolitisk statusopgørelse
Mr. President,
When we met a year ago, there was widespread concern that we had reached an impasse that threatened to paralyse the UN. I am happy to note that there is evidence that this looming threat of division is receding and is being replaced by a renewed commitment to multilaterallism.
In this spirit, Denmark welcomes the Security Councils unanimous adoption of resolution 1546 on Iraq. The resolution is first and foremost of great significance for the prospects of peace and stability in Iraq and the region. But it is also of great importance for the Security Councils ability to perform its role as the custodian of international peace and security.
The United Nations must play a leading role in the political process and in the reconstruction of Iraq. The wisdom and skills of the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser brought the process forward and we hope that the advisory role of the United Nations will be further enhanced. We urge all Member States to support the interim Iraqi Government in its endeavors to establish peace and security in Iraq.
Mr. President,
2005 will be the year where Member States willingness to work towards a strong, united, and effective United Nations will be tested. The challenge is to develop credible, effective, and comprehensive UN responses to the threats and challenges of the new Millennium.
Be it conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace building. Be it the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Be it respect for human rights and international law. Or last, but certainly not least – be it the enormous challenge of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Denmark strongly supports the Secretary-Generals High-Level Panel and looks forward to its report later this year. The efforts to reform the organisation, including enlarging the membership of the Security Council, must continue if the UN is to meet the new challenges.
Democracy is also a question of representation, and if large parts of the world do not feel represented in the Security Council, there is a risk that they will not feel bound by its decisions. The Security Council must reflect the realities of the world of today – not that of the past.
We live in a world where the distinction between military and non-military threats is increasingly blurred. Most current threats are complex and combine elements of both. Creating synergies between development, political, and security components will be key to the success of the UN. Denmark will endeavour to assist in this process across the full range of UN activities.
Mr. President,
Denmark is a candidate for election to the Security Council during this session of the General Assembly. If elected, the focus of Denmarks tenure in the Security Council will be to seek new and more effective ways of integrating security and development, as well as strengthening international law.
In this connection, I welcome the Secretary Generals important opening statement to this debate in which he outlined the fundamental principles for a world order based on international law.
Mr. President,
Greater coherence is needed in international peace operations. We firmly believe that the UN needs to give civilian crisis management the same priority that is accorded to military crisis management.
More than 40 percent of countries emerging from conflict slide back into conflict. In order to build sustainable peace, much more attention needs to be given to civilian aspects of crisis management. This includes demobilization and reintegration of combatants, as well as social, economic, and legal reconstruction of wartorn societies.
We must make state building a central goal of conflict management and peace building, along-side the provision of basic security. Whatever mechanism we set up, the challenge is to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders. This includes national governments, the UN-secretariat, UN development funds and programmes, the Bretton Woods Institutions, regional organisations and bilateral donors.
In order to improve compliance with Security Council resolutions, the process towards targeted and “smarter” sanctions should be continued. The challenge is twofold:
Firstly, the Security Council must rigorously implement its resolutions, also when they stipulate serious consequences in case of non-compliance.
Secondly, the countries concerned must be given positive incentives to comply with the resolutions.
Mr. President,
Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are serious threats to peace and security and impede progress towards stability and prosperity. Terrorists threaten everyday life and values of millions of innocent individuals. Terrorists must be stopped by hard power and soft power to prevent decades of unrest and terror.
Countering new threats require multi-faceted, integrated responses by the UN and its partners. Success demands synergy, a finely tuned mix of diplomacy, aid, police efforts, intelligence, legal assistance – and if need be – military power. The United Nations must take a leading role in the fight against terrorism, providing both the framework for global efforts and the legitimacy for collective action.
Terror must not lead to isolation – it must not stop globalisation. In the world of today, the huge global disparities in resources have become apparent to everybody. Social and economic exclusion – as well as deficient democracies, the lack of rule of law and respect for human rights – contribute to political radicalisation and religious extremism.
It is a global challenge to ensure that new generations have access to the benefits of globalisation, such as democracy and hope for a better future.
The main responsibility for fighting terrorism lies with individual states. This includes compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions as well as ratification and implementation of the twelve UN Terror Conventions.
Denmark supports efforts to reinvigorate the Counter Terrorism Committee, CTC. We support the efforts to renew and upgrade the offer of technical assistance to countries that need it. The work of the CTC must be better focused and linked with the assistance extended to countries who have the will – but lack the means – to meet the requirements of Security Council resolution 1373.
Just as importantly, we must strengthen international agreements to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Denmark therefore supports Security Council resolution 1540, and looks forward to its full implementation.
Mr. President,
The UN has been instrumental in establishing the core international Human Rights conventions. This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of one of these conventions – the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The importance of the elimination of discrimination and the respect for the right of women to decide freely over their own life – including in matters relating to marriage, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS – is self evident. This main message of the Cairo Programme of Action, adopted 10 years ago, is as relevant today as ever.
With a view to eradicate torture, Denmark calls upon all states to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture so that it may enter into force at an early date.
We are now in the “era of implementation” of the human rights commitments undertaken. As the main body in its field, the Commission on Human Rights has a crucial role to play in this respect and should be further strengthened.
Mr. President,
2005 will be a defining moment for the United Nations. World leaders will meet in New York to take stock of progress in implementation of the Millennium Declaration. This meeting will provide a unique opportunity to break new ground and push ahead the interlinked agenda of peace, security and development, and to follow-up on the recommendations from the High-Level panel.
A key priority for Denmark will be to speed up the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The results so far are not encouraging, particularly not in Africa. Denmark attaches the highest priority to Africas development and wants its situation and prospects high on the agenda for the 2005-summit.
To reach the Goals, an effective partnership will be required between developed and develop-ing countries. The gap between goals and resources must be closed. We are deeply concerned about the inadequacy of the current level of development financing. Further resources are needed as well as better coordination in their allocation.
Last year, Denmark took the lead in making our commitments transparent in a Millenium Development Goals report. A new report will be published next month. We call on others to do the same.
Development efforts and conflict resolution in Africa must go hand in hand. Progress achieved in economic and social development will only be sustainable if we manage to put an end to the conflicts on the African continent. We stand ready to support the significant and sustained efforts undertaken by the Africans themselves in this regard.
There is a need to further strengthen the African Security Architecture in cooperation with the African Union, sub regional African organizations, the UN, the EU and bilateral governments. We also need to strengthen regional approaches of the UN in the field. Denmark stands ready to contribute actively.
Furthermore, recent natural disasters illustrate the importance of dealing with international environmental issues.
Mr. President,
The Secretary-General has shown great leadership in pressing for strengthened and effective multilateralism. And things are slowly starting to come together. Our common voyage is far from over with the 2005 Summit.
The High Level Panels report, renewed focus on post-conflict intervention, and the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals can herald a new age of strong and effective multilateralism, if we collectively raise to the challenges.
The task of this generation is to hand over the world to the next generation in a better shape than we received it.
Denmark will spare no effort in our endeavours to translate this vision into reality.
Kilde: www.um.dk
Læs også Kofi Annans åbningstale til generalforsamlingen, som Per Stig Møller forleden i TV kaldte “så god, at den burde stå i enhver skolebog”. Se i u-landsnyt.dk under dato 21.09.04, “Kofi Annans åbningstale til FNs generalforsamling i New York”.
