I have the honour to address this General Assembly on behalf of
the European Union.
I would like to start, Mr. President, by wishing
you all the best in the mandate you are beginning. I
would like you to know that you can count on the firm
support of the European Union (EU) throughout this
General Assembly, certain that you will continue the
excellent work of your predecessor, Ms. Haya Al-
Khalifa, whom I would also like to congratulate.
Since this is the first session of the General
Assembly to be convened since our Secretary-General,
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, assumed office, I also wish to take
this opportunity, on behalf of the EU, to renew our
solid support to him in his leadership of the United
Nations.
In this globalized and interdependent world in
which we live, only strong multilateral institutions can
promote the fundamental values of peace, democracy,
human rights and development. This is why the EU
supports the primacy of the United Nations in
maintaining international peace and security as the
foundation and focal point of our shared ambitions and
concerted efforts. And that is why we adopted effective
multilateralism and a rules-based international order as
the objective of the European security strategy.
Let me make this clear: if the new century has
taught us only one lesson, it is that global challenges
require global responses. What is needed is effective
multilateralism. That is what we are engaged in here at
the United Nations, and that is what we are seeking to
promote in the United Nations. The message that I
wish to leave with members today, on behalf of the EU,
is that they can rely on us to make effective
multilateralism a reality, today.
I propose to begin with what is undoubtedly one
of the greatest objectives that we in the United Nations
have so far set for ourselves, which is to meet the
internationally agreed development goals, including
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Those
goals are demanding, but they should not discourage
us; on the contrary, they should inspire us to accelerate
our work and enhance its effectiveness in eradicating
poverty, building a true partnership for development,
promoting education for all and decent health standards
and combating climate change.
In that context, I must mention one of the stated
objectives of the European Union: the adoption of a
joint EU-Africa strategy to be endorsed by the second
EU-Africa summit, to be held in Lisbon in December. I
mention that objective because it is a clear sign of our
times: a strategy, defined jointly by Africans and
Europeans, that reflects our commitment to the MDGs
and is in keeping with the activities of both continents’
multilateral institutions. It is an inclusive and
ambitious strategy that reflects the progress made in
Euro-African cooperation in a broad range of areas and
sets standards to be met through shared responses to
the challenges likewise shared by the continents of
Africa and Europe.
Climate change is one of the great global
challenges facing humanity today. It threatens our
prosperity and could undermine our ability to achieve
the MDGs. Here, too, our response must be global and
collective.
I was pleased to take part in the high-level event
on climate change. Its results are encouraging and give
rise to optimism. They clearly show a political will to
move forward. Sustainable development and emission
reductions must go hand in hand; therefore, they are
our shared responsibility. This initiative will add
momentum to the formulation of a post-2012 global
comprehensive agreement on a climate regime. I
believe that we should agree to begin negotiations on
such a regime at the Bali climate change conference, to
be held in December. I wish to make it absolutely clear
that the EU will make every effort to achieve an
ambitious and solid international consensus at the
conference.
Even more important, however, we need
everyone’s support. The EU has already unilaterally
committed itself to cutting its greenhouse gas
emissions by at least 20 per cent. But we want to go
further, and we are prepared to do so. That is why we
announced that, as part of a future global agreement on
climate rules, we would increase that commitment to
30 per cent. Here, I would like to reiterate our call for
global emissions to be reduced by at least 50 per cent
of their 1990 levels by 2050. I believe that by
undertaking those commitments, the EU is sending a
clear signal that it wishes to lead these global efforts.
I also wish to say something about reform of the
institutional framework for United Nations
environmental efforts. The EU firmly believes that
ambitious reform is required if we are to achieve real
change. In that context, the EU is in favour of
transforming the United Nations Environment
Programme into a specialized agency a United
Nations Environment Organization because we
believe it is essential to take heed of international
public opinion.
Sustainable development also involves
respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights
throughout the world. We believe that that is crucial
and that it must remain at the centre of all United
Nations sectoral activities. The General Assembly’s
Third Committee should continue to play a central role
in promoting and protecting human rights throughout
the world. At the present session, the EU will do its
utmost, as it has in the past, to ensure the Committee’s
success.
Here, I should like to say to the members of the
General Assembly that the EU is following closely the
situation in Myanmar. We express our solidarity with
the people of that country and call on its authorities to
respect human rights. In particular, we call on them to
refrain from using any form of violence against people
who are engaged in peaceful protest. The authorities
must endeavour to promote a genuine process of
political reconciliation, because that is what democracy
and respect for human rights require.
I wish to reaffirm the EU’s long-standing
opposition to the death penalty and to reiterate once
again our appeal for its total abolition throughout the
world. In that regard, the EU will, together with
countries from every region of the world, formulate a
draft resolution on a universal moratorium on, and
abolition of, the death penalty.
Effective multilateralism also requires a
concerted response to the ever-widening range of
threats to international peace and security.
We welcome the establishment of the African
Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur so
that we can jointly contribute to the political resolution
of that conflict, which has had tragic humanitarian
consequences in the Sudan and the entire region. In
order to address those consequences, the European
Union reaffirms its support for the deployment of a
multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and the
northern Central African Republic and welcomes the
opening of political talks on Darfur, which will take
place in Libya on 27 October.
But peace and security are also a challenge in
Europe. We share the opinion of the Secretary-General
that the status quo in Kosovo is not sustainable. For
that reason, the European Union supports and
participates actively in the ongoing efforts of the
international community, namely those of the Troika,
to bring the parties closer together and obtain a
comprehensive political solution that will lead to a
democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and will
contribute to the consolidation of stability and
prosperity in that part of Europe: the Balkans. We urge
both parties to engage constructively and creatively in
that process. The European Union stands ready to play
a significant role in the implementation of a future
status settlement at the end of the negotiations.
The reactivation of the Middle East peace process
remains a priority for the international community. We
have to act quickly, because the door is open at the
moment, but it will not stay open for long. The
European Union, as a member of the Quartet, reiterates
its commitment to reaching a just, comprehensive and
lasting solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict. That can
happen only through the creation of an independent,
democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by
side with Israel in peace and security.
The stabilization of Lebanon will also contribute
to the stabilization of the Middle East. Resolving the
present political crisis requires a special commitment
and dialogue by Lebanon’s leaders and the countries of
the region. For its part, the European Union is
committed to ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty,
independence, unity and territorial integrity.
In the same manner, the European Union
continues to support the promotion of peace, stability
and prosperity in Afghanistan and the wider region.
All terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable,
regardless of their motivation, their form or their
manifestation. We must therefore make resolute efforts
to counter terrorism, but that must be done in
accordance with our obligations under international
law, while fully respecting human rights and
fundamental freedoms, the protection of which are
essential in tackling the threat of terrorism.
I wish to say a word, from the standpoint of
Europe, about the Alliance of Civilizations. It is an
important and timely initiative that seeks to strengthen
dialogue among peoples, cultures and religions. The
European Union supports the appointment of former
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio to the post of
High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations
and welcomes his action plan. I would also like to take
this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of the
Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, for
which we ask for everyone’s support.
For centuries, international trade has been the
main means of bringing different cultures and peoples
together. That is why we also call for the earliest
possible agreement in the World Trade Organization’s
Doha Development Round. This month will be
absolutely crucial for the Doha Development Agenda.
Therefore, it is vital for all key members to show a
spirit of compromise and constructiveness and the
genuine will to commit to a fair and balanced
agreement that can bring greater wealth for all.
Peace must be consolidated; failing this, it can be
no more than the interval between wars. One of the
newest Members of the United Nations is an example
of that. I am referring to Timor-Leste, which, thanks to
the efforts and commitment of the international
community to consolidate the foundations of its
statehood, its democracy and its development, recently
successfully held its first independently organized
elections. But, notwithstanding that success which
is enormous the presence of all players continues to
be required, to ensure the country’s political, economic
and social stability.
We believe and wish to make it clear, here,
beyond all doubt that the only possible response to the
challenges of our times lies in effective multilateralism
based on the United Nations system. For that reason we
remain committed to the reform of its main bodies in
order to enhance the Organization’s representivity,
transparency and effectiveness.
Political will is needed in order to adapt our
international system to the challenges we face today.
The General Assembly and the Secretary-General can
rely on the European Union to help turn that political
will into action. The response to those challenges lies
in active and effective multilateralism. For all of us, it
lies in the United Nations and in support for the
Organization. That is the final message I wish to
convey to the General Assembly on behalf of the
European Union.