I would first of all like to
congratulate Ambassador Al-Nasser on assuming the
presidency of the General Assembly.
The twentieth anniversary this year of the
restoration of Estonia’s independence, not surprisingly,
coincides with our twentieth year of membership in the
United Nations and our participation in the General
Assembly. Given where we were then, in 1991 — a
poor and beleaguered country, brutalized by a half-
century of thuggish Soviet, then Nazi, and then again
Soviet occupation — our transformation in one
generation to a modern, technologically cutting-edge
European democracy is a testament to what a
committed people can do. It is, as well, a challenge to
those who find excuses for not implementing
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democracy, for not eliminating corruption and for
continuing to brutalize their citizens.
Today, 20 years after the bumbling coup and
ensuing crumbling of that rusty edifice of
totalitarianism, the Soviet Union, we again smell in the
air the hope of liberty and democracy — this time in
the Middle East and North Africa. Again people have
come together and said, “Enough!” — of the lies, the
corruption and the 3 a.m. knock on the door by the
dull-brained goons of the secret police. People want to
be able to speak their minds and to run their own lives,
free of harassment, or worse, by the authorities. In a
word, people want democracy. They want, too, the
foundations of democracy: respect for human rights,
the rule of law and the freedom of speech and
assembly.
With those hopes in the hearts of so many people
in this year of otherwise dismal and tawdry news,
Estonia welcomes — indeed wholeheartedly
encourages — the United Nations to move forward on
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s decision to focus
during his second term on democracy and human
rights. Estonia welcomes that decision because,
frankly, the results of the democracy movements of a
generation ago have not even come close to what we
hoped for at the time. Most of the people who lived
under undemocratic rule two decades ago continue to
do so today. Of what was the Soviet Union then, only
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have earned the
designation “free” in Freedom House’s annual report
card on the rule of law, respect for fundamental
freedoms and free and fair elections. That, I submit, is
a poor result.
Each country and each situation is of course
different. No textbook rules can tell us how to make
democracy work or how to build a prosperous society.
A few basic tenets and lessons, however, hold across
nations, experiences and cultures. The United Nations
own Universal Declaration of Human Rights — a
document everyone here is obliged to adhere to —
after all, is based on the premise of common truths held
by all.
Democracy, as I said, is not only about voting and
free and fair elections, vital though they are for any
free and democratic society. Respect for human rights
and the rule of law constitute the cornerstones of an
open society. If one cannot speak their mind or be
guaranteed a fair trial if arrested, it matters little that
they can go to the polling booth. Rights and freedoms
belong to each and every person. They are not the
privilege of a select few with the money, the guns or
the power.
For Estonia, it is of fundamental importance that
the North African and Middle Eastern revolutions have
been popular reactions to sustained violations of
human rights, corruption and injustice. The revolutions
confirm the universal aspiration to realize one’s human
rights. They show once again, as throughout history,
that people naturally want to be free from fear and
repression. Notice I said people, not “men”. As long
ago as 2,500 years ago, Aristotle noted that where “the
state of women is bad, almost half of human life is
spoilt”. This is no less true today and will remain so.
The ongoing revolutions could not have occurred and
cannot succeed without women.
It is a profound source of concern to Estonia to
notice that, while women are welcome to protest
against corrupt regimes, they are not always welcome
to participate in the political process. Estonia therefore
places great hopes on the United Nations new gender
entity, UN-Women, and will continue to insist that the
United Nations as a whole do its part globally by
standing up for women’s rights. We also expect that
UN-Women will play an active role in helping to take
the principles of Security Council resolution 1325
(2000) on women and peace and security from paper to
reality.
For as long as we have lived as a free nation,
Estonia has always protected and promoted human
rights and fundamental freedoms at home and abroad.
Our candidature to the Human Rights Council is a
logical consequence of our work, but it is certainly not
the culmination as we continue to live up to our
national and international obligations.
Once again, ongoing events underline the need
for us to focus on the protection of civilians from
atrocities. Even in the democratic part of my continent,
the political project we today call the European Union
was a reaction to mass murder and war. The very
history of Europe motivates us to take preventive steps
to avoid any repetition of such crimes. Therefore, it is
vital that we develop common practices and the
capacity to implement the principle of the
responsibility to protect. Protecting civilians from
atrocities, dear colleagues, is not just about protection.
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It also means bringing the perpetrators of crimes and
atrocities against civilians to justice.
International law, in particular the International
Criminal Court, and the understanding that justice will
be done, no matter how long it takes, are the tools we
possess to prevent the worst human rights violations.
The rule of law and respect for international law are
what will help ravaged and victimized societies to
regain their dignity and rebuild their communities. The
common efforts of the international community, the
International Criminal Court and its States parties
remain a priority for my country.
While focusing on the pertinent issues of the
present, we must not shy away from addressing the
unresolved issues of the recent past. Afghanistan is one
of those. Establishing lasting security there remains a
key objective for Estonia. To reach that objective, we
must focus on assisting Afghan efforts to further
develop good governance and the rule of law. Along
with human rights, these are the crucial elements of a
sustainable society. We believe that we must all remain
committed as long as is necessary to reach this goal. To
that end, Estonia will continue to support the access of
Afghans, in particular women and children, to health
care and education through its development
cooperation projects.
Georgia is another country that continues to
require our attention. The 2008 war ended with the
violation of Georgian territorial integrity, which is a
fundamental violation of international law that remains
unresolved to this day. The fundamental principles of
international law must be followed by all members of
the international community and not just the small,
who have no other recourse. Additionally, we should
continue to support the Geneva talks. The United
Nations involvement is of the utmost importance and
must continue in the future.
Here today in the United Nations, our attention is
also focused on Israel and Palestine. A viable two-State
solution must take into consideration the legitimate
concerns of both sides for their well-being, safety and
prosperity.
Another security- and human rights-related topic
is the Internet, especially these days, when it has come
to play such an important role in democratization by
enabling political discussion and mobilizing popular
movements. The Internet has grown beyond all
expectations since people began to use it regularly
some 20 years ago. Its global, ipso facto cross-border
nature allows users the world over to access
information and ideas, to communicate with each other
and to learn. Estonia firmly believes that States should
ensure that their people can freely seek, receive and
impart information and ideas and have access to the
Internet. In fact, Estonia believes that, in this
technological age, unimpeded access to the Internet is a
human right.
A transparent Government and administration, a
liberal economic environment and a strong educational
system all have contributed to Estonia’s success.
Estonia’s development over the past 20 years is proof
that information and communications technology can
be a springboard to success for all States. We are quite
willing to continue to share our experience, especially
in increasing transparency and openness in
Government, with other countries.
The Internet, however, poses many dangers as
well. Increasingly disruptive cyberthreats and attacks
that can seriously harm entire communities and,
indeed, cause harm to countless individuals, are a new
danger that we face. The large-scale cyberattacks
against Estonia in 2007 created a new awareness
among our people. The steps Estonia has taken towards
a more secure Internet, however, do not restrict our
people’s freedoms. In fact, Freedom House’s global
assessment of Freedom on the Net 2011 rated Estonia
as the freest in the world, demonstrating that a proper
balance between rights and security can be found
without compromising either.
We also bear responsibility for the environment
we live in. It was no accident that the democratic
revolutions of Central and Eastern Europe were
accompanied, and indeed often instigated, by
environmental movements. Citizens had become fed up
with the totalitarian system’s abuse of nature and
disregard for human beings. Ignoring the state of its
citizens’ health and surroundings, the totalitarian State
exposed itself to be what it was — a self-serving clique
hell-bent on maintaining its power, no matter what the
cost to its people, no matter what pain and suffering
ensued.
Today, the challenge we face is global. It is
climate change. Estonia’s 2010 national security
concept states that climate change is also a security
issue and can have a destabilizing effect. Estonia
already has decided to contribute to the fast-track
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financing of efforts to combat climate change. We
believe that sustainable development and the green
economy need a global approach, as exemplified by
preparations for the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development next year.
One already evident consequence of climate
change is an increase in the number of people who
need clean water and food. Estonia will continue to
increase its contribution to the United Nations
humanitarian system.
While the world’s humanitarian needs grow, we
require increased coordination and strict scrutiny of the
real needs of aid recipients. As donor Governments, we
are doubly accountable, first to those who require
assistance; but we are also accountable to our
taxpayers for the effective use of every Euro cent. If
our taxpayers believe that Government is spending tax
money unwisely or ineffectively, they will vote for a
Government that cares less for foreign assistance
expenditures. In these days of ever greater financial
difficulty in donor countries themselves, this is not an
observation to be ignored.
The many times I have addressed the General
Assembly, I have deliberated on the nature of the
United Nations and the need for reform. The United
Nations needs to change as the world around us
changes. System-wide coherence, delivering as one,
and revitalization of the General Assembly are steps in
the right direction.
We welcome these changes, yet at the same time
Estonia sincerely hopes that the same spirit will prevail
in reform of the Security Council. If nations are not
given a fair and equitable voice, proportional and
appropriate to its role in today’s world — not the world
of 1945 — we will find that the Organization has ever
less credibility. I propose that we adopt a new attitude
of openness to new developments in order to make sure
that the United Nations as a whole can better deliver on
the undoubtedly important issues for which it is
responsible.
In conclusion, let me say that history did not end
20 years ago with the re-emergence of democratic
nations in Central and Eastern Europe. Nor will history
end with the Arab Spring. Democracy, freedom, human
rights, the rule of law and sustainable development all
require constant and consistent support and protection.
The world faces challenges, new and old. We face
them daily. Today, as we commemorate the victims of
the 9/11 terrorist attack ten years ago here in New
York, we recognize how much the world has changed
since the United Nations was founded 66 years ago. We
must address and act upon these new challenges. It is
we, the United Nations, who need to keep pace with
changes and developments in the world we live in to
protect and promote universal values across the globe.