I bring
you fraternal greetings from Europe — Europe that is
conscious of its responsibilities and wishes to act;
Europe that is true to its values — democracy and
freedom; Europe that is loyal to its friends, but also
Europe that wishes to speak to the whole world in
service of dialogue and of peace.
At a time when the world is deeply troubled, I
have come to tell you, on behalf of Europe, that in the
midst of so many difficulties the international
community has a political and moral responsibility that
we must shoulder. Let us not forget that if we are
gathered here today, it is because following one of the
most terrible tragedies that humankind has ever known,
there were men and women of good will who were
determined that in the future no one could ever say,
when faced with misfortune: “There is nothing we can
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do.” That is why we are here, because those who went
before us did not renounce their responsibility. Europe
believes that today, our duty is to act and to refuse to
submit.
We can wait no longer. We are beginning to
gauge the tragic consequences of having already
waited too long. We cannot wait to achieve peace, to
end the tragedy in Darfur. We cannot wait to fight
terrorism, to avert the food crisis that condemns so
many human beings to die of hunger. We cannot wait
to prepare for the post-petroleum world, to fight global
warming, to save the oceans, to put an end to monetary,
social and ecological dumping. We cannot wait to bring
ethics to financial capitalism.
For too long we have all been resigned to being
powerless. For too long we have retreated before the
need to give to the globalized world institutions that
will enable it to be regulated.
The world of the twenty-first century cannot be
governed with the institutions of the twentieth century.
We are a century behind. Let today’s major Powers and
the Powers of tomorrow unite to shoulder together the
responsibilities their influence gives them in world
affairs.
To all those who are hesitant, I wish to say that
enlarging the Security Council and the G-8 is not just a
matter of fairness, it is also a question of effectiveness.
We can no longer wait to turn the G-8 into the G14 and
to bring in China, India, South Africa, Mexico and
Brazil. Italy is proposing a major step in that direction
at the next summit, which it will host, and Italy is
right.
Let us act to make our international institutions
more representative, because if they are more
representative they will be stronger, more effective and
more respected. A new world is emerging not only
through all our successes, but also through all the
crises besetting the planet. However, we cannot receive
that new world passively, we must build it.
Let us learn to manage together the most acute
crises that no one, not even the most powerful among
us, can resolve alone. I am convinced that it is the duty
of the heads of State and Government of the countries
most directly concerned to meet before the end of the
year to examine together the lessons of the most
serious financial crisis the world has experienced since
that of the 1930s. Who would understand it if the
world’s major economies should fail to take the time to
meet to discuss what we must do together and the
lessons we must draw from what has happened?
Let us rebuild together a regulated capitalism, in
which entire swathes of financial activity are not left to
the sole judgement of market operators; in which banks
do their job; which is to finance economic development
rather than to fuel speculation; in which rules of
prudence apply to all and serve to avert and soften
shocks instead of exacerbating them; in which the
credit agencies are controlled and punished when
necessary; in which transparency of transactions
replaces such opacity that today it is difficult to
understand what is happening; and in which modes of
remuneration do not drive people to take unreasonable
risks. It is my duty to say that those who jeopardize
people’s savings should be punished and at last face up
to their responsibilities. We will succeed in that on the
condition that we work together.
In our globalized world, the fate of each is linked
to that of all others. The negotiations on climate
change, begun in Bali, will conclude in Copenhagen
next year. Whatever our particular interests, we do not
have the right to fail.
Europe will adopt an unprecedented raft of
measures on energy and climate in December. Europe
does not wish to teach lessons; it wishes to set an
example. Europe also wishes to set the example by
acting to bring about peace. It did so in Georgia. It did
so with the Union for the Mediterranean. Because for
over half a century Europe has undertaken to stop the
endless cycle of war, vengeance and hate that has
periodically taken it to the edge of the precipice, it
does not want war. It does not want a war of
civilizations. It does not want a war of religion. It does
not want a cold war.
Europe wants peace, and because it wants peace
it says to Russia that it wants links of solidarity with
that country, that it wants to build a shared future, and
that it wants to be Russia’s partner. Why not build a
continent-wide common economic space that would
unite Russia and Europe? However, Europe also says
to Russia with the same sincerity that it cannot
compromise on the principle of the sovereignty and
independence of States, their territorial integrity or
respect for international law. Europe’s message to all
States is that it cannot accept the use of force to settle a
dispute.
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Europe says to Iran that it respects that country,
that Iran has the right to civil nuclear energy and that it
will explore all avenues of dialogue. However, it says
to Iran with the same sincerity that it cannot accept a
nuclear-armed Iran that would endanger the peace and
stability of the whole region. Nor can Europe
tolerate — and I say this solemnly — Iran calling for
the destruction of the State of Israel.
Europe says to Israel that it is its friend and that it
will let no one threaten its existence. Europe says to
Israel that it will always be at its side in the fight
against terrorism, but with the same sincerity says to
telling Israel that there will be no peace until there is a
viable Palestinian State with recognized borders.
Europe says to Afghanistan that it will continue
to stand by it and that it will not permit barbarians
allied with Al-Qaida again to take an entire people
hostage and to turn an entire country into a terrorist
base.
Europe says to Somalia that it will help it, with
the support of the United Nations, to combat the
scourge of piracy off its coasts. Until all States join
together to establish a maritime police force, we cannot
allow some hundreds of pirates to threaten the free
passage of ships throughout the world.
Europe says to Africa that it is committed to
co-development, that it wishes to be Africa’s privileged
partner, and that it has a common destiny with Africa
and a profound sense of solidarity. Europe says to
Africa that it has its place among the permanent
members of the Security Council and in the enlarged
G-8. How can one ever hope to settle the great issues
of the world while ignoring Africa, South America or a
large part of Asia? Europe believes in the African
renaissance, which is under way and, first and
foremost, is in the hands of the Africans, particularly
those of African youth, which is the youth of the world.
Essentially, what brings us here together in this
forum, where everyone must listen to the others and
thereby show them a form of respect, is something
more basic even than democracy. What brings us
together is respect for the dignity of all just as they are,
and for diversity of their opinions, cultures and beliefs.
Human dignity is a universal value. What we must
promote everywhere is respect for that diversity, which
is the surest guarantor of peace and human fraternity
and the surest antidote to intolerance, hatred, violence,
obscurantism and fanaticism.
That is what Europe wants: peoples united in
respect, understanding and solidarity; peoples united
throughout the world working together for the great
common cause of safeguarding of humanity. Time is at
a premium; the world cannot wait.