This sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly is taking
place in a global context full of challenges, testing the
efficiency of the current international system. Greece
remains fully engaged with the objectives of the United
Nations, whose universal ideals have never failed to
inspire us.
I should like to take this opportunity to emphasize
my country’s alignment with the positions of the
European Union presented by the President of the
European Council in his statement (see A/69/PV.9).
We reiterate our support for efforts to reform the
Organization, including the Security Council, so that
the United Nations can better adapt to the ongoing
changes of our age and strengthen its operational
nature and effectiveness in the exercise of preventive
diplomacy.
Among the challenges at the global level is
obviously that of climate change, which is an absolute
priority. A new universal agreement, legally binding
on all, is essential. Transition towards a new model of
green economy with a low carbon footprint must be
accelerated. Greece believes that the Climate Summit
held this week offered a unique opportunity to intensify
the efforts to achieve such a universal agreement.
The Greek presidency of the Council of the
European Union (EU), during the first half of 2014,
sought to stress the importance of sustainable
development. A significant joint statement was adopted
in the framework of the ministerial meeting of the
European Union with African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries that was held in Nairobi last June.
The Ebola virus epidemic has become a genuine
threat to global peace and security with its serious
social, economic and humanitarian repercussions. An
international strategy is necessary to contain the virus
and to avoid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis
that would precipitate the collapse of the health-care
system and, eventually, of the social fabric of the States
affected. Therefore we welcome the decision of the
Secretary-General to establish the new mission, the
United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response,
and we pledge that Greece will offer its full support to
any initiative taken in order to combat the epidemic.
The current complex security challenges require us
to unite our forces, both internationally and regionally.
Greece supports the strengthening of cooperation
between the European Union and the United Nations
in crisis management, particularly by implementing the
action plan on United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The world is facing a series of unprecedented
crises in the Middle East and in North Africa, as well
as the eastern area of the European Union. Of course,
in the face of such multiple crises, a consistent and
global comprehensive strategy is required. Certainly,
from this standpoint the role of the United Nations,
especially the Security Council, is the deciding factor.
That is the only way that we will be able to deal with
the critical dilemma confronting us now, the dilemma
between democracy and security. But if there is to be
democracy, there must be a State that is functioning
and does not dissolve, as well as minimal security
conditions.
The Ukrainian crisis seriously affects security
and stability in Europe. We are concerned by the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine,
and we support the territorial integrity, independence
and sovereignty of Ukraine.
(spoke in English)
We support the 5 September Minsk agreement,
the full implementation of which can contribute to the
resolution of the crisis through diplomatic and political
means. The key is the achievement of an inclusive
solution.
Regarding security concerns in our neighbourhood,
we welcome the adoption in Egypt of the 26 August
Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire agreement, which we
hope will pave the way to relaunching the political
process aimed at establishing a durable peace, which is
obviously a prerequisite for a comprehensive solution
allowing two States, Israel and Palestine, to coexist in
security.
The Secretary-General’s newly appointed Special
Envoy for Syria must continue efforts to ensure the
effective relaunching of the Geneva II political process.
That is all the more imperative given the barbaric
actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham
(ISIS) and other jihadist groups in Syria and the Iraqi-
Syrian border regions. Foreign fighters joining jihadist
terrorist organizations are a serious threat to regional
and global security. As a member of the international
alliance against ISIS and extreme jihadists, Greece
fully supports the new Security Council resolution
2178 (2014), on how the international community must
act against ISIS and potential foreign fighters. In that
regard, I wish to make special reference to the grave
humanitarian situation and increasing refugee pressure
on countries of the region, including Greece.
Military means alone cannot eliminate the jihadist
threat. We must also promote an inclusive process of
reconciliation and national dialogue in Iraq to counter
that threat to the country’s national unity and territorial
integrity. We remain seriously concerned at the
displacement of civilians, and we strongly condemn the
systematic persecution of Christians and other religious
communities.
The region’s stability is also under threat from the
ongoing violence in Libya. We strongly support the
United Nations coordination of relevant international
efforts. We therefore welcome the appointment of the
Secretary-General’s new Special Representative.
Deeply concerned at the life-threatening conditions
journalists are increasingly confronting and the
censorship and persecution the media are facing,
Greece co-sponsored last year’s resolution 68/163, on
the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. We
are now co-sponsoring this year’s draft resolution on
the protection of journalists.
During its European presidency in the first half of
2014, Greece emphasized Western Balkan integration
into the European Union. That objective requires
implementation of internal reforms in accordance with
EU standards and the promotion of good-neighbourly
relations through regional cooperation, reconciliation
and effective confrontation of the sources of nationalism.
We welcome the significant progress so far in the EU-
facilitated Belgrade-Pristina talks. We hope that the
two sides will continue their constructive discussions
in a spirit of compromise.
With respect to the issue of the name of the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece fully
respects the process directed by the Secretary-General
through his Personal Envoy, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, and
always participates constructively and with goodwill.
Greece has already taken considerable steps. We are
awaiting corresponding steps from the other side. We
propose a mutually acceptable compound name, with
a geographical qualifier before the word “Macedonia”,
for all uses and purposes, internally and internationally,
erga omnes.
Greece supports the European and Euro-Atlantic
perspective of that neighbouring country and has long
been among the top foreign direct investors there. Its
European and Euro-Atlantic perspective hinges not on
the name or on Greece, but on respect for the general
criteria in place for all accession-candidate countries.
It hinges on issues of democracy, rule of law, respect
for human rights, harmonious inter-ethnic relations and
freedom of the press. As the relevant European Council
conclusions say, tangible steps need to be taken on
those issues.
This past summer marked the fortieth anniversary
of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and the international
community continues to confront the ongoing illegal
military occupation of the territory of a United Nations
and European Union member State. Greece fully
supports the dialogue between the leaders of the two
communities within the framework of the February
2014 joint communiqué and the initiatives of President
Anastasiades for confidence-building measures that
can create new momentum on the island.
A just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem
must be in accordance with the relevant Security Council
resolutions, the high-level agreements, the February
2014 joint communiqué and the European acquis. The
Cypriot people must express their agreement to such
a solution through a referendum. We also attach great
importance to maintaining the mandate, level and
concept of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in
Cyprus and to the Secretary-General’s good offices
mission. We welcome the appointment of Mr. Eide as
his new Special Adviser on Cyprus.
A just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue and
respect for international law, especially the international
law of the sea, are two critical factors on which the
full development of Greek-Turkish relations depends.
These relations have great potential, and are critical to
the stability of the wider region as they are relations
between two NATO member States, while Greece also
supports Turkey’s European perspective.
Challenging times require demanding choices.
The United Nations is in a position to tackle the new
challenges, as it has so often done in the past, provided
we all share the same vision and, most importantly, the
necessary political will.