I am greatly honoured
to address this forum and to share with the General
Assembly the views of the Republic of Macedonia on
issues of global concern. In the current dynamic, hyper-
connected and changing world, one thing remains
constant — the need for greater predictability, a quality
on which peace, security and stability depend, as well
as global welfare and progress.
Humankind today faces many challenges, of which
two demand our full attention. The first one relates
to the natural world, and the second relates to the
international order. The root of the first challenge is the
human neglect of natural laws. The second challenge
arises from the violation of international law.
Guided by the idea that man is the measure of
all things, humankind has made a wrong calculation.
We are competing in a race for progress and new
discoveries that goes hand in hand with a race for the
unequal exploitation of resources — a race whose only
rule is that there are no rules. Everything is possible
and everything is allowed, including the pollution of
the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that
produces our food.
As humankind, we were selfishly focused on
immediate needs and desires. We forget that natural
resources have been given to us in trust to preserve for
our children. In opposing nature, we are undermining
the foundations of our future. Our citizens, States and
economies have already begun to pay the price. We will
face a period of extreme weather conditions, when it
will become ever more likely that cities will be flooded,
rivers will dry up, crops will fail and the price of food
will increase.
Natural disasters at the global level serve as loud
alarms telling us that climate change is a new reality that
is changing our lives and the lives of future generations.
Recently our region, South-Eastern Europe, was hit by
such a disaster and reminded of that reality.
The Republic of Macedonia is the first country in
our region to have completed its third national report
under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change. We have already defined the next
steps in all key sectors of the economy and society at
the national and local levels for disaster risk reduction
and climate change adaptation by promoting strategies
and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
increase energy efficiency.
We welcome the initiative of the President of
the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, His
Excellency Mr. Sam Kutesa, to take decisive and
concrete measures to remedy two of the world’s great
miseries: increased global poverty and diminished
access to basic resources, including clean water,
education, health care and a clean environment.
Here at the United Nations, we are all one family;
as a family, we should help each other to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals. But we must focus
on two things, that is, reducing global poverty and
ensuring sustainable development.
Next year will be one of great expectations
worldwide, including the expectation that a genuine
synergy involving all the major challenges will finally
be achieved, inter alia, climate change adaptation,
disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
We expect the post-2015 development agenda to include
global, holistic, scientifically grounded, feasible and
legally binding goals aimed at ensuring a safer world
for our descendants. However, we should be aware that
the natural balance is disturbed and that many things
will therefore not be as before. We will need to learn to
live in a changed world.
Just as the challenge posed by nature is a result
of the human neglect of natural laws, the challenge
to the international order arises from the violation of
international law by some countries. I said before that
we are all one United Nations family. And in every
family there are rules of conduct and mutual respect.
Families without such rules are known as dysfunctional
families.
The Republic of Macedonia is strongly committed
to respecting the Charter of the United Nations, which
is one of the primary foundations of the purposes
and principles of international law. The rule of law is
incomplete and impossible without respect for human
rights. As a member of the Human Rights Council, the
Republic of Macedonia is committed, in spirit and with
determination, to protecting and promoting human
rights and the right to human dignity throughout the
world. The Republic of Macedonia has achieved the
highest standards of respect for human rights and the
rights of communities worldwide. That is possible
thanks to the Macedonian model of coexistence as a
model of integration without assimilation, which is
not based on tolerance alone, but rather on respect for
diversity.
In fact, the human rights and human dignity of
Macedonian citizens are being continually denied
by one Member of the United Nations family and a
member of NATO and the European Union. Identity
and language are inseparable parts of our personality,
of freedom of expression, of human rights. Those are
universally accepted principles that should never be
compromised. Respect for human rights, including
the rights to self-identification and human dignity,
represent the highest values of the United Nations and
are among the political criteria for the Republic of
Macedonia’s accession to the European Union.
The country that is blocking my country is
demanding the impossible, namely, that we give up the
Macedonian identity, thereby violating the fundamental
principles of the European Union in order to meet
conditions for membership in it. That would force my
country to violate a rule and betray the global family.
In 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest,
basing its position on international law, my country
refused to change the identity of the Macedonian
people as a precondition for its already well-deserved
membership in NATO. On 17 November 2008, we
launched proceedings against our southern neighbour
under the auspices of the International Court of Justice,
again acting on the basis of international law. On
5 December 2011, on the basis of international law, the
International Court of Justice ruled that the obstruction
of the Republic of Macedonia’s integration in NATO
was illegal and that international commitments had
been violated. For years my country has tolerated
unprincipled and illegal blockades, and we have done
so because of international law — because we believe
that only international law can provide predictability
and certainty on behalf of world order.
By our example we have demonstrated in principle
how other countries should respect international law.
Even the International Court of Justice, in an almost
unanimous decision, concluded that we had acted
correctly. Despite that, the Republic of Macedonia
is ready for a mutually acceptable solution under the
framework provided by United Nations resolutions, the
Interim Accord and the judgment of the International
Court of Justice. The issue of identity has never been
part of that framework, because identity can neither be
discussed nor negotiated. I therefore urge the United
Nations and the competent authorities to become
engaged and to devote maximum attention to finding
mutually acceptable solutions within the framework of
international law.
Two years ago, I was at the General Assembly (see
A/67/PV.12) and remember well that the session was
preceded by the High-level Meeting on the Rule of
Law at the National and International Levels (see A/67/
PV.3). The General Assembly debated the Secretary-
General’s report (A/66/749) entitled “Delivering justice:
programme of action to strengthen the rule of law at
the national and international levels”. Two years have
passed, and we are still debating. We are still waiting
for rulings of the International Court of Justice to be
respected.
Our southern neighbour continues daily to violate
international law. It continues to violate the various
1993 United Nations resolutions on the subject, as
well as the 1995 Interim Accord. It also still ignores
the ruling of the highest legal authority in the world.
But that ruling does not apply only to the State that
blocks us, the ruling applies, erga omnes, to all member
States of the international organizations that still block
our membership. Every blockade in our European
and Euro-Atlantic integration process undermines the
international legal order. By tolerating the blockades,
a dangerous precedent is created, one of mutual
blocking and blackmailing that is motivated by narrow
national interests at the expense of the collective
interests of the European Union and NATO. Hence,
dysfunctional families are created that do not respect
the rules of conduct. Disrespect for the highest legal
authorities implies an erosion of the culture of respect
for international law in the world. Such an erosion
suspends the rule of law and leaves room for anarchy.
For years, we have pertinently pointed out that,
if someone pollutes the spring, then its flow and the
entire watershed will also be contaminated. If someone
questions basic human rights — the right to human
dignity and the right to self-identification — then
the rest of international law will also be challenged.
We have warned of the violation of international law
in the case of the Republic of Macedonia, but others
have rarely listened. Today, the price we pay is higher.
Everyone calls upon international law when others are
expected to respect it, but they ignore it when they
themselves must respect it. We do not want to follow
the example of those who break the law, because we are
aware of the consequences.
If we remove one link, one factor or one participant
from an ecosystem, that can cause instability and
unpredictability in its functioning. We live in a
world and an age of global interdependence, a
global ecosystem. When a State fails to comply with
international commitments, it encourages others to do
the same. Today we are witnessing the consequences
of such behaviour. Under the conditions of an impaired
international legal system, the world has been rapidly
sinking into the dark areas of anarchic international
relations.
The world order is in a latent crisis. The processes of
global interdependence and subnational fragmentation
have transformed our previous perceptions of the
world. In less than a decade, we have experienced two
major changes. The terrorist attacks of 11 September
2001 shook the global political and security order, and
the collapse of Lehman Brothers on 15 September 2008
struck the global economic order. The only remaining
order of the world we used to know is the international
legal order. However, the legal system has been
challenged as well.
The Republic of Macedonia sees its future in
NATO and the European Union. With its expansion
policy, the European Union has long served as a beacon
lighting the path for the States of East and South-East
Europe towards the more advanced European family.
We were recently informed that this beacon will go out
of service in the next five years. If it does, there will be
the danger of shipwreck. The region of South-Eastern
Europe remains vulnerable. I want to send a message
to partners in the European Union that by postponing
its enlargement, the EU has been creating a vacuum in
what has been historically the most porous geopolitical
space. Sooner or later, that vacuum will be filled.
That is why we need as soon as possible to integrate
all the Balkan countries within the European Union.
While the membership card is not that important for us,
the necessary membership criteria and standards are
important. In our case, the European Union’s beacon has
grown dim because of its toleration of a devaluation of
international law, human rights and the right to human
dignity, which provide the essential fuel that powers the
beacon. In losing its light, the European Union is losing
what has been most valuable — its power to motivate
States to strive for even higher values, standards and
criteria.
I also want to send a clear message to my region
that in these circumstances, now is the time for Balkan
countries to demonstrate maximum solidarity and
unity in achieving shared goals — cooperation on such
issues as integration, our economies, infrastructure,
energy, environmental protection, terrorism and the
suppression of organized crime. We must resist and
jointly address those shared challenges. In a world that
is rapidly changing, the need for greater predictability
in international relations remains. Only international
law can offer the reliability and predictability on which
world peace and the progress of our countries depend.
International law is the only barrier that protects us
from a disaster within the international order, and
international law has been constantly breached.
We are in this Hall today as the highest
representatives of our countries in the world family. I am
confident that most members of the General Assembly
agree with those conclusions. But the question is, how
many of us are willing to take action to change things.
I wish that we were not in a situation where we could
simply debate and draw conclusions over and over again.
It is high time that we start with actions. This is the last
call. We should ask ourselves whether the natural order
has an alternative and what that might be. Our failure to
comply with natural laws has led to accelerated climate
change — to more floods, earthquakes and fires. The
failure to comply with international law has contributed
to increased anarchy in international relations and
interventions against those who have flooded, burned
and destroyed the natural order today.
Not long ago, in August, the sixth United Nations
Alliance of Civilizations Forum, held in Bali, focused
on unity in diversity. While the world has been talking
about unity in diversity, radical extremists have become
united in their intentions to destroy those who differ. As
we speak, millions of faithful believers around the world
feel the pain caused by narrow-minded individuals and
groups imbued with religious fundamentalism. As we
speak, the systematic destruction of individuals and
communities is occurring. As we speak, hundreds of
thousands are being persecuted. Their homes have
been devastated, their temples destroyed and their past
erased, and their future is in question.
Recognizing that terrorism cannot and should not
be identified with any religion, nation or civilization,
we strongly condemn mass atrocities committed by
anyone anywhere. We commend yesterday’s debate in
the Security Council (see S/PV.7272). What we need
are urgent measures. The Republic of Macedonia has
already taken the first steps. Recently, we adopted
amendments to the criminal code regarding foreign
fighters, who are a real threat to the entire region.
Everything that is happening in the crisis hotspots
reflects on Europe, which has its own crisis hotspot
now in Ukraine.
It is sad that in the twenty-first century we have
witnessed tragedies in the Middle East and North
Africa. It is sad that this is happening in Europe, in
a year that has been declared an international year of
peace. It is obvious that, on the centenary of the First
World War, the lessons of the past have not yet been
learned.
The majority of victims of the Ukraine crisis are
innocent civilians. There have also been material losses.
The Republic of Macedonia supports all efforts aimed
at restoring peace and stability in that country. I am
convinced that political dialogue and diplomacy will
enable Ukraine to address the challenges and regain its
path towards a prosperous future for its citizens.
The world is facing serious challenges, including
natural disasters and political issues — both of which
mask double standards. Double standards generate
issues that introduce equations with many unknowns,
leading to a world where the only thing we are certain
of is that the future of our children is uncertain.
Only respect for international law will ensure greater
certainty, thereby helping to avoid storms in our
dynamic world.
The Republic of Macedonia supports the reform
of the Security Council as a significant part of the
overall reform of the United Nations. It is a complex
and sensitive process. We agree with the proposal to
negotiate the actual text. At the same time, we stress
that the text must receive maximum support from the
membership and ensure respect for international law
and international commitments and rules. Such reform
must provide greater predictability in the world. As
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the opening
of the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly,
“We shall have neither peace nor development without
respect for human rights and the rule of law” (A/67/PV.6,
p. 3). Only international law provides the opportunity
to solve the equation and thus to plan the future, based
on security, stability and peace.
Young people continue to be the main victims of
double standards and violations of the norms of national
and international law by prior and current generations,
as well as of natural disasters. They breathe the polluted
air, drink the polluted water and eat food grown in
contaminated soil. They will become the victims of
systems of injustice unless we do something to change
that.
In 2003, we initiated the first Forum of the Dialogue
among Civilizations, which was held in Ohrid under
the leadership of former President Trajkovski. The
Dialogue among Civilizations, both chronologically
and in essence, predated the United Nations Alliance
of Civilizations, which was formed in 2005 at the
initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey.
Indeed, only through dialogue will we join together in
an alliance of civilizations. The Brdo-Brijuni Process
Meeting was recently held with the participation of
the German Chancellor, Her Excellency Mrs. Merkel.
An entire chapter of the joint declaration is devoted
to youth. As President of the Republic of Macedonia,
it will be my honour to organize, together with the
Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova, the
upcoming Dialogue among Civilizations in 2015, which
will be entirely dedicated to youth.
In the year when we are marking the centenary of
the First World War, we recall the positive experiences
of Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer in
establishing the Franco-German Youth Office in 1963.
That experience of cooperation among young people
should be applied in establishing an office for young
Europeans from all the countries of South-Eastern
Europe, transforming our region into a Europeanized
Balkans. We call on the leaders to devote greater time
and attention and invest in youth. We cannot change
our past, but we can, by changing the present, change
the past of the generations to come. That is why it is
necessary to educate young people about the importance
of dialogue, which involves respect and the acceptance
of diversity.