Spain

I begin by congratulating the President on his election to preside over this principal organ in which we all strive to achieve the purposes of the United Nations. I also wish the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the greatest possible success in carrying out his mission of promoting peace and progress around the world with the same effectiveness as he demonstrated throughout his first mandate. I also warmly congratulate the representatives of the new State of South Sudan, which has joined the United Nations family during the current session. The economic and financial crisis continues to be a cause of serious concern for the entire world; its consequences are seen in many different fields. The capacity of the international community to take action to address any type of crisis, and to do so in a timely manner, is limited. This restrains the fight against poverty and puts at risk the implementation of sustainable development policies, which are needed now more than ever. Spain, together with its European Union partners, is taking difficult decisions in order to tackle the crisis. However, beyond the actions taken at the regional and national levels, it is essential to undertake a 11-51378 12 coordinated global response. The United Nations system is an important part of the solution to the crisis. Women’s equality is a fundamental human right, based upon the concept of equality among all human beings. Advancing women’s full and equal access to the labour market, as well as to the political and social world, is not only ethically imperative, but an essential measure to overcome the crisis. Since 1 January, the United Nations has been able to count on an instrument to assist Member States to achieve that goal: UN-Women. Its Executive Director, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, will boost this effort. I assure her of Spain’s full support. We will be at the side of all women who fight for freedom and equality. Over the past few months we have witnessed episodes of rebellion in which peoples have fought against the tyranny of rulers who denied basic human rights, as well as the dignity and value of human beings, preventing people from participating in their countries’ political life and from making use of their resources and opportunities. We celebrate the success of the popular movements in Tunisia and Egypt and we join the efforts of the international community to support and strengthen the political transition processes in both countries, led by their own peoples. The Libyan people will also be able to enjoy freedom and live in democracy after decades of dictatorship and months of conflict. We have welcomed the Libyan representatives in the General Assembly, with the satisfaction of knowing that the United Nations, by implementing its principles, has remained at the side of the Libyan people. We now have the obligation to continue to help the Libyan people in the reconciliation and reconstruction processes. We are ready to do so, and we will do it under the guidance of the United Nations, following the pace set by the Libyans themselves. Unfortunately, the international community continues to witness with indignation the brutal repression of civilian demonstrators by the Syrian authorities. I firmly condemn those actions once again, and reiterate the need for the international community to take measures to stop the repression. The Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan revolutions, the Syrian uprising and the acceleration of the reform processes in Morocco and Jordan are part of a profound transformation of the Arab world, with significant consequences for the region and for the international community as a whole. The legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people to enjoy freedom cannot be left out of this wave of change. The Arab-Israeli conflict has been with the United Nations almost since the Organization’s founding. This session may be remembered as the one in which the General Assembly granted Palestine the status of observer State. Spain could support such a decision, for a number of reasons. First, the international community recognizes that a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires the existence of two States, Israeli and Palestinian, living side by side in peace and security. Secondly, after more than 60 years of conflict, the international community should send a clear signal to the Palestinians underlining that its commitment in favour of the creation of the Palestinian State is deep and unambiguous. Thirdly, in the year in which the Arab Spring changed realities in the Arab world — and, indeed, in the world at large — the just, legitimate and long- standing aspiration of the Palestinians to live in dignity in their own State, free from occupation and its accompanying suffering, deserves a clear response from the international community, a response that can no longer be postponed. This new step could be conceived as a stage towards the legitimate objective of Palestine’s becoming a Member State of the United Nations with full rights. Effective, sustainable peace can only be achieved through negotiations between the parties. Spain believes that the Palestinians could find in this new status a stimulus for the prompt resumption of negotiations. Precisely because that is the shared goal of the parties and the international community, such a situation should not be used for actions incompatible with the spirit of negotiations. Israel should also contribute to this spirit by refraining from measures that prejudge the final status. Spain is coordinating its position with its European Union partners. I am grateful for the efforts of the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, to reactivate the negotiations, in a way acceptable to all 13 11-51378 European Union member States, and the declaration of the Quartet, which Spain assesses very positively. Spain’s engagement with the Palestinian people and their struggle against occupation is long-standing and known to everyone. Spain has always given political, economic and moral support to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians. On the other hand, the historical relations between Spain and the Jewish people date back many centuries. Spain’s historical identity cannot be understood without its Arab and Jewish heritage. I wish to underscore Spain’s commitment to Israel with regard to the endeavour to create a homeland for the Jewish people. Since its founding, Israel has experienced a number of wars and has suffered from terrorism against its civilian population. For Spain, the security of this young State born out of an ancient people is essential. The best way to preserve that State is through a peace treaty that, among other things, provides for the establishment of a Palestinian State along the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps and with Jerusalem as a shared capital. The security of Israel and Palestine will require effective guarantees in the future peace agreement, including possible international participation, should the parties request it. The future peace agreement should look to the future, turning its back on the painful years of conflict. Therefore, Israel and Palestine have to be certain that claims originating from the conflict will be overcome with their signature of the peace agreement. In addition, the solution to the painful tragedy of the Palestinian refugees must be a just one agreed by all the parties concerned, while allowing the preservation of Israel’s current character. The Palestinian State will be, in this regard as well, a key element for the final resolution of the conflict. Some voices have raised concerns that the new democracies may be home to political groups with radical or extremist ideologies. Democracy is an open and fair system of political participation that must also be able to defend itself against possible threats. Fortunately, we can count on instruments that may contribute to preventing such situations. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which promotes intercultural dialogue and cooperation, is a clear example. The Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean, developed within the Alliance framework, may help, through youth programmes and campaigns to raise awareness, to diffuse democratic values and respect for human rights, always in coexistence with those of local cultures. We have to prevent Al-Qaida’s terrorism from being reinforced in the Sahel region through the release of uncontrolled weapons. The international community must be united in the fight against this curse that represents a scourge to countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the same irrational and cruel way as that in which it struck New York, Bali, Madrid, London, Mumbai, Moscow and many other places over the past decade. The United Nations itself recently suffered the consequences of a terrible terrorist attack in Abuja, adding to those previously endured in Baghdad and Algiers, among others. Once again, I extend our condolences to the Secretary-General, and express our solidarity with the victims and their families, as well as with the hard-working members of staff of the United Nations. The tenth anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in the city of New York took place a few days ago. We have lived through a bloody decade since the attack, in spite of the determined fight of the international community against terrorism. I firmly believe in, and reaffirm, the need to strengthen international cooperation in order to prevent and fight terrorism. Every country must assume the obligation to address this universal scourge. That is why Spain joined, from the beginning, the initiative regarding the Global Counterterrorism Forum. The Forum was launched just a few days ago. We firmly support United Nations initiatives within the framework of its Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as the efforts of the Security Council and of the Secretariat to rationalize the existing structures in order to reach the goals that we have set in this area. Spain is especially sensitive with regard to the victims of terrorism. Unfairly forgotten at times, they cannot be mentioned only as a rhetoric tool. Rather, there should be an effective commitment to give them recognition, remember them and provide them the assistance and support that they deserve. That is how 11-51378 14 we have understood the position of victims in Spain, and we have passed legislation on the issue, giving us one of the most advanced and efficient models in the world in assisting the victims of terrorism. Spain follows very closely the dynamism of a region with strong links with Spain — Latin America. The strength of the Latin American economy is essential to overcome the crisis and to create a new international economic governance. That is why enhancing and consolidating a broad dialogue with Latin America is crucial. The dialogue should include the big issues on the global agenda, such as the design of an ambitious and innovative international financial architecture, as well as the response to climate change, energy, security and migration. Latin America’s regional integration has been an engine fuelling its growth and improving understanding. Spain has always wished to support this process in the framework of the Ibero-American Summits. Other regions of the world also deserve special attention because of the tragic situations of their populations as a result of drought and other endemic problems. The situation in the Horn of Africa is intolerable. We are contributing to alleviating the famine in Somalia, in coordination with other donors and United Nations agencies. However, humanitarian aid, despite being a priority, is only a first step towards development. We still have a long way to go in many parts of the world. I therefore reaffirm Spain’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. The fight against poverty is a fundamental objective of my country’s aid and cooperation for development policy. The challenge of the Millennium Development Goals should encourage us to redouble our efforts to achieve them within the deadline that has been set. However, in order to realize the Goals and to provide a future for generations to come, we must make the most of meetings such as the one to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, where the intention is to forge a new paradigm that should allow us to combine the Millennium Development Goals with environmental sustainability. It is also important to take advantage of the momentum created by the Cancún Conference in 2010 on the climate change negotiating process. We will continue to contribute to the process constructively, together with our European Union partners, at the upcoming Durban Conference. The financial crisis affecting the global economy cannot be an excuse to avoid our commitments. On the contrary, it should encourage us to fulfil them. That is why Spain believes in supporting the development of innovative financing instruments — in other words, the development of mechanisms through which to mobilize mid-term and long-term additional financial resources. That should be done in a way that is stable and predictable, as well as being complementary to official development aid, which should be maintained, come what may. Spain currently chairs the leading Pilot Group on innovative financing for development, of which we have great hopes. Spain’s support for, and participation in, the activities of the Organization relating to the maintenance of peace and security in diverse parts of the world also demonstrates our commitment to the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations. Almost 1,200 Spaniards actively participate today in United Nations peacekeeping operations, with an especially prominent presence in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a mission essential to maintaining stability in the south of the country, as well as to helping its economic development. I thank the Secretary-General for participating in the inauguration of the United Nations base in Quart de Poblet, Valencia, thus recognizing Spain’s commitment to the United Nations. The construction of the base, which Spain provided to the United Nations, will, as the Secretary-General said, facilitate the work of the Organization, enhance the reliability of its communications and considerably improve the safety and security of staff in the field. Spain is very proud of its participation in United Nations operations. We intend to maintain a firm, active, permanent commitment to the Organization and its purposes. In line with that commitment, Spain announced in 2005 its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the biennium 2015- 2016. We hope that, with the support of Member States, we shall have a seat on the Council and in that position continue working for the preservation of 15 11-51378 international security and stability. At the same time, we will strive to promote development and human rights as fundamental pillars of lasting peace. A year ago, Libyan, Egyptian and Tunisian men and women witnessed the Assembly meeting while they were still under the oppression of dictatorial regimes. Today they own their future. They have fought for it. The international community has protected and supported them. They, on their part, have given us hope. We can now hope that change is possible. There is no insurmountable challenge. We are today certain that the international community, guided by the United Nations, is on the path of peace and freedom.