First, allow me to
congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election. At
the same time, I should like to pay tribute to the work
of your predecessor, Her Excellency Sheikha Haya
Rashed Al-Khalifa.
On this occasion I want to say how much my
country has benefited from the existence of the United
Nations. The universal values enshrined in the United
Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights have given a context and perspective to
our sovereignty and self-determination. Iceland’s story
is testimony to the fact that it is through civilized
coexistence within the community of nations that
societies prosper. Within living memory, Iceland
progressed from being one of the poorest countries in
Europe to one of the most prosperous. We have had the
good fortune to be able to build a Nordic welfare
society on the sustainable harvesting of our natural
resources.
As a small, dynamic State without a military, it is
our natural inclination to look for the peaceful
settlement of disputes within the international
community. Our independence, which we achieved
some 60 years ago, is built on more than our
democratic institutions, fundamentally important
though they are. Our freedom in the widest sense has
been achieved through economic development as well
as the guarantee of human rights and democracy.
In our experience, freedom is complex and
multifaceted. All human rights are universal,
indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. But it is
evident that poverty, inequality and the lack of
economic and social rights can make the exercise of
political and civil rights difficult.
We are now about halfway to our deadline for the
Millennium Development Goals. The year 2015 is
around the corner and we will soon need to deliver on
our promises. There has been some good news: it
seems likely that the goal of halving the number of
people living in extreme poverty by 2015 will be
reached. However, progress on many human
development goals, such as on child mortality, has been
disappointing. Regional challenges remain, particularly
in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It is incumbent
upon those who have the good fortune to be prosperous
to join in solidarity with others to make these rights
available to all. What is more, the security challenges
that we face this century are such that they can only be
addressed together, in solidarity with others. Climate
change is a prime example.
Indeed, the phenomenon of climate change is
already devastating the lives of millions across a broad
swathe of Africa, among many small island States and
widely in Asia. Every region and most countries can
expect to feel the effects of climate change in the near
future. How we address this issue as an international
community is a test of our commitment to the
fundamental values of the United Nations and our
ability to act together in light of our shared
responsibility. The discussions that took place earlier
this week were an important step in identifying means
and measures in this respect, and I thank the Secretary-
General for his initiative. Although climate change is a
global phenomenon, it tends to be the poorest in
developing countries that are hardest hit those that
are least responsible for causing climate change.
Climate change is thus a severe threat to poverty
reduction.
It is important that the international community
treats adaptation to climate change not as a stand-alone
issue but as an integral part of our common efforts to
attain the Millennium Development Goals. A
comprehensive approach is needed if we are to see
results. The Government of Iceland is committed to
showing solidarity with the most vulnerable in
adapting to the effects of climate change.
Iceland regards women’s empowerment and full
participation at all levels as a fundamental issue for the
new millennium. Whether in relation to peace and
security, health, poverty or climate change, the
empowerment of women is the key to success. Women
and men need to be equally represented and listened to
everywhere. I should like to reiterate Iceland’s support
for the recommendations of the High-level Panel on
United Nations System-wide Coherence regarding
gender equality and women’s empowerment. The
current United Nations structure and approach to
gender issues is too fragmented. The excellent work of
the United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM) must be built upon and reinforced within
the new structures. We firmly support the
establishment of a new gender entity to strengthen the
performance of the United Nations in this field of
work. Establishing the post of Under-Secretary-
General for gender equality issues should provide
strong leadership and coordination, and it is my hope
that this post will be quickly filled. Gender
mainstreaming has to be addressed throughout the
whole United Nations system in a more systematic
manner. Let us use the current momentum to bring this
process forward at this session of the General
Assembly.
Official development assistance (ODA) plays a
vital role in achieving the Millennium Development
Goals. Let me state clearly that Iceland views these
Goals as common goals. We see development as
mutually beneficial co-operation. Freedom for Iceland
has been built through development and it is a vital
element of freedom for all peoples. Donors need to
deliver on their promises and accelerate their efforts in
increasing development assistance. The Government of
Iceland stands ready to shoulder its responsibility. Our
ODA has doubled over the past four years and we aim
to be among the top ODA contributors. Increased aid
effectiveness is central to development results. The
Government of Iceland believes that the United
Nations should be at the forefront of such efforts. We
support the follow-up of the report of the High-level
Panel on System-wide Coherence (A/61/583), which in
our view will make the United Nations more effective
in delivering results on the ground.
ODA is of course not a panacea. We need to make
progress in international trade negotiations. When I
had the privilege of attending the meeting of the
African Union in Accra this summer, I was made aware
by colleagues of the tremendous potential that African
countries see in closer integration across that continent.
In a globalized world closer regional cooperation and
integration, including trade relations, has, in our
experience, been a step towards a better future, a joint
investment of nation States in their common well-
being.
Iceland pledges full political support to our
common goal of halting global warming. Bearing in
mind that there is now a window of opportunity, which
may close within a decade, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendation on
halving emissions should be taken seriously. Iceland
has set itself a long-term aspirational goal of reducing
net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 75 per cent by
2050. The Kyoto Protocol provides a basis for effective
action by developed nations, which must lead the way
in controlling emissions. But Kyoto is not universal
and it is not enough. Iceland believes that the Bali
meeting should start a process leading to a
comprehensive climate agreement, ideally to be
concluded in 2009, the year of the summit in
Copenhagen. This agreement would cover the
post-2012 period.
There is no “silver bullet” solution to the problem
of global warming. The issue of deforestation,
especially the rain forests, must be addressed. The role
of new technology is crucial, particularly in regard to
alternative, sustainable and clean sources of energy. In
the field of geothermal energy, where Iceland has
considerable experience, there is wide scope for
development. New technology must not, however,
exacerbate the very serious problems we already face.
It is, for example, a matter of grave concern that
increases in the production of biomass-based energy
sources could be raising food prices. New sources of
renewable energy must also adhere strictly to long-
term environmental demands. This is particularly
relevant to the planned build-up of nuclear energy
reactors. The creativity and research capabilities of
universities, the commitment and inclusiveness of non-
governmental organizations and the drive of business
and industry must be activated in a broad and
consistent effort. Governments cannot do this alone.
Iceland regards human security, as formulated for
example by the 2005 World Summit, to be of
fundamental political and conceptual importance when
it comes to discussing and deciding on action
concerning peace and security. A key instrument for
ensuring human security is Security Council resolution
1325 (2000), which needs to be thoroughly
implemented. Millions of individuals experience
assaults on their personal security. I am thinking of the
brutality inflicted by some Governments on their own
people and by terrorists or irregular forces on civilians.
In this context allow me to express deep concern
over events in Myanmar where the democratically
elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in
detention for years and where the peaceful expression
of political dissent is at present being brutally
repressed.
I am thinking of the attacks on the providers of
humanitarian aid in many conflict regions. I am
thinking of the failure of authorities around the world
to ensure the protection of women and children from
violence and trafficking. In this context I should also
like to encourage other Member States to support the
draft resolution on a moratorium on the use of the
death penalty.
I wish to express appreciation for the efforts of
the United Nations Secretary-General, the African
Union Commission Chairman, and the Security
Council in finding a way forward towards alleviating
the suffering of the people of Darfur. There is however
still much to be done.
Crucial discussions are currently in progress to
solve the decades-long situation in the Middle East. It
is clear to me that most people in Israel and Palestine
yearn for peace. Indeed, opinion polls bear this out. In
particular, women from both sides voice their distress
at the long-term effects of continued conflict on their
children, who are the future of this region. The talks in
progress at the moment, with the support of the
Quartet, the efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,
and, most important, the efforts of the Israeli and
Palestinian Governments, give some hope. I encourage
political leaders to ensure that the will for peace among
a great many people on both sides is reflected in the
political process. This requires political courage and
true leadership. It requires restraint when restraint is
most difficult. It requires a determination to outflank
the spoilers on both sides who wish to sacrifice the real
prospects for a peaceful and fulfilling life for millions
to the distant mirage of some unattainable utopia. Final
status issues, which are critical to the Palestinians and
the Israelis, must be on the agenda for the peace
conference that the President of the United States has
proposed. The outcome must give both sides a clear
view of a realistic and acceptable future for their
children. Meanwhile, all who have it in their power,
bear a responsibility to do their utmost to ensure the
humanitarian needs of the civilian population.
Jordan and Syria, neighbouring States of Iraq,
have made generous provision for hundreds of
thousands of refugees from Iraq. Iceland is determined
to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi
people and has pledged funds to the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for
the provision of schooling for Iraqi children in Jordan.
We also stand firmly behind United Nations-mandated
efforts to assist in the stabilization and rebuilding of
the country.
Clearly a major threat to human security as well
as State security is the proliferation of arms. Iceland
regrets the current situation in the fields of arms
control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Despite
sustained efforts by the majority of Member States
over a number of years, only limited progress has been
made, some of it outside the United Nations
framework. Our failures in this area pose a constant
threat to peace and security. Now is the time to renew
our efforts. The conclusion of an arms trade treaty
would certainly be a significant achievement. A
number of projects launched by the United Nations
Summit of 2005 have made steady progress, including
the establishment of the Human Rights Council and of
the Peacebuilding Commission. The 2005 World
Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1) also gave the
General Assembly the task of reforming the Security
Council. The momentum for completing this work
must be maintained so that the Security Council can be
more representative of our world at the beginning of
the twenty-first century. This would entail an increase
in the number of elected and permanent seats.
Iceland has been an active and committed
Member of the United Nations since 1946. In the light
of the principle of rotation and the importance of all
Member States sharing in the responsibility of serving
on the Security Council, we announced in 2000 our
first-time candidacy for a seat for the period 2009-2010
with elections to be held next autumn. This
candidature, which is actively supported by the other
Nordic States Denmark, Finland, Norway and
Sweden reflects Iceland’s firm commitment to play
an active role in cooperation with others in addressing
the most pressing security threats of the twenty-first
century. As a Nordic country we stand for a long
tradition of active commitment to the United Nations
and to the best interests of the whole. The Nordics have
a reputation for being bridge-builders trusted
mediators in complex situations. Iceland seeks to
shoulder the responsibility to exercise with fairness
and firmness the role of a Security Council member.