Belgium

We live in an increasingly complex world of ever more diverse challenges. Actions taken in isolation are no longer enough. Given such complexity, the United Nations should not only be a bulwark against arbitrary actions in international relations but also, above all, the vehicle for effective responses. I am pleased to note that there is growing consensus on this issue. Climate change was the topic of a recent high- level event. A Security Council summit meeting has just addressed the situation in Africa. In addition to peace and international security, the United Nations must also tackle a wide array of issues. The fight against terrorism, pandemics, human rights, disarmament, migration and the environment are examples of the diverse subjects requiring a multilateral approach. Multilateralism has been reinvigorated, especially in the areas of peacekeeping and security. The current 18 peacekeeping missions and the 100,000 Blue Helmets now in the field clearly attest to that. Belgium has witnessed that evolution up close since becoming a member of the Security Council at the beginning of 2007. We shall continue to strengthen multilateralism in that body. In Africa, working through the United Nations, the international community has been actively engaged in the search for solutions to the issues of Darfur, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire. The efforts of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) have been crucial to re-establishing peace and setting up democratic institutions in that country. Now is not the time to scale back our efforts. The tenuous situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the resumption of fighting in North Kivu pose serious risks to the process of stabilizing the country. They also have tragic humanitarian consequences. Moreover, the scourge of the recruitment of child soldiers takes on new proportions. As pointed out by the Secretary-General, we urgently need a global solution, including a regional dimension that will allow us to make better use of MONUC’s input. While the Congolese authorities are preparing for local elections, which will strengthen democratic culture across the country, they need our full support. Belgium will continue to mobilize the attention of the international community on this important matter. In Sudan, it is imperative that we make progress in our search for a political solution for Darfur. I encourage all parties to take advantage of the Tripoli conference in order to identify the elements of the conflict, such as the distribution of resources and power-sharing, and to establish the foundation for a lasting settlement. We need to speed up the deployment of the peacekeeping force, with the full cooperation of the Sudanese Government. Moreover, we will have to continue to consolidate reconciliation between north and south of the country. Furthermore, the role of regional organizations in managing crises has significantly increased over the past year. The African Union has invested its efforts, both in Somalia and in Darfur, where new ways of cooperation with the United Nations are developing. The hybrid force is an example of this new form of cooperation. As for the European Union, it has supported MONUC’s efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will also contribute to curbing the humanitarian crisis in Chad and in the Central African Republic by sending a military force to support the United Nations missions in the region. Belgium will participate in this effort. The European Union has also developed a close cooperation with the African Union by supporting its efforts in crisis management, while paying close attention to the strengthening of its effectiveness. On the whole, we welcome this regional input and the increasing synergies among the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union. Regarding Kosovo, it is, on the other hand, regrettable that the Security Council was unable last June to assume its responsibility on a matter for which the solution is essential for peace and stability in Europe. I urge both parties to seize this present opportunity to come to a compromise. This is a matter of urgency. The status quo is not an option, as we are all aware. Absent an agreement between the parties, Europe will then have to shoulder its responsibilities. In the Middle East, the international community has mobilized in order to contribute to a solution to the crisis in Lebanon. By extending for one year the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in which Belgium participates with close to 400 troops, it has recognized UNIFIL’s role in the solution of the crisis. But the current political stalemate is alarming. All parties should demonstrate a sense of responsibility. The institutions should be allowed to function normally again, beginning with the election of the president in accordance with the constitutional process, in the assigned timetable and without foreign interference. The latest attack that claimed the lives of member of Parliament Antoine Ghanem and nine other people shows how impunity threatens the stability of the country. The establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is clear evidence of the support that the multilateral system is willing to provide to the fight against this impunity. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, neither the continuation of firing rockets at the Israeli population, nor the deterioration of the living conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, is acceptable. Regular meetings between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders constitute an encouraging development after so many years of misunderstanding and lack of true dialogue. I hope that these steps will be bear fruit at the international meeting slated for before the end of this year. Belgium actively supports any progress in the peace process. The Security Council has recently reinforced the mandate of the United Nations in Iraq. The United Nations can, in fact, play an important role in humanitarian emergency matters, in regional cooperation and in national reconciliation. But its action will depend on the security conditions and will have to be able to rely truly on the support of the international community, the Iraqi Government and the neighbouring countries, as expressed at the 22 September meeting. In dealing with the nuclear issue in Iran, Belgium has, from the outset, supported a multilateral approach. We have to resolutely use the multilateral mechanisms such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Security Council, in order to obtain tangible results. In the past, Iran has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the transparency of its nuclear activities. In order to restore confidence and to make the best use of the objective verification capacities of the IAEA, Iran will have to fully respect the regulations of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol. However, the measures prescribed in Security Council resolutions go beyond those regulations and aim at creating the conditions for restoring international confidence in the Iranian nuclear programme. Complete and immediate compliance with these resolutions by Iran is a condition to resume the dialogue that had to be interrupted in 2005. The credibility of the Security Council is also at stake. In Asia, the mission of good offices of the Secretary-General has made it possible for us to follow closely the situation in Myanmar. The latest demonstrations show the determination of the population and should finally incite the Government to initiate an inclusive dialogue with a view to restoring democracy in Myanmar. Use of violence will not be tolerated. Beyond crisis resolution, progress has also been made in the area of peacebuilding. The international community must remain vigilant. The cost of leaving a country too quickly is always higher than investing in peacebuilding. The true success of the Peacebuilding Commission will be judged by the long-term stability of the countries currently on its agenda, namely, Burundi and Sierra Leone. The recent adoption of concrete recommendations following the deterioration of the political situation in Burundi illustrates its increasing capacity to react quickly to events that could jeopardize the stabilization of the countries with which it is dealing. In Burundi, the dialogue must definitely be pursued in order to solve the political stalemate, which impedes the normal functioning of the State’s institutions. Every effort must be made in order to bring the Forces nationales de libération (FNL) back to constructive negotiations with the Government as soon as possible. Three of the most recent and expensive peacekeeping operations have been deployed in countries where conflicts were fuelled by the illegal exploitation of natural resources, namely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone. That clearly illustrates the urgent need to develop mechanisms that break the link between the illegal exploitation of natural resources and conflict. This issue was the central theme of our presidency of the Security Council last June. We identified several courses of action. For example, we must reinforce the capacity of the Secretariat to deal with such issues; define more precisely, as necessary, the mandates of peacekeeping operations; cause the sanctions committees to operate in a more targeted manner; and consolidate the methods of the work of experts groups. In the coming months, it is our intention to pursue our efforts in these areas, which relate to both security and development. We hope that we can rely on the support of Member States. Our attention to crisis management and peacebuilding must not diminish the importance that we accord to preventive diplomacy. I welcome the initiatives of the Secretary-General in this area, such as strengthening United Nations mediation capacities and upgrading the mandates concerning prevention of genocide and mass atrocities and concerning responsibility to protect. We also have to make this concept operational. Conflict affects civilian populations long after the end of hostilities. The prevention of conflict should not overlook human security. That is why our country is working to promote an international instrument on cluster bombs; that is why it supports negotiations on a treaty on arms trafficking, and that is also why we are pursuing action against the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Crisis prevention also entails development. Everyone should have the opportunity to choose his or her way in life with dignity. The alternative is frustration that often leads only to violence. The Millennium Development Goals and the fight against poverty therefore remain a major challenge. In this context, Belgium pays special attention to good governance. Last March, in cooperation with the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development, we organized in Brussels an international conference on good governance and the fight against corruption. That conference illustrated the potential in this area — triangular partnerships among donor countries, recipient countries and the private sector — which needs to be explored, including within the United Nations. Poverty also forces many migrants to leave their country, having no other choice. In July 2007, Belgium organized, in the presence of the Secretary-General, the first Global Forum on Migration and Development. That was a new opportunity to demonstrate our firm multilateral commitment. It emerged that legal migration can be an opportunity for both the countries of origin and the countries of destination. In addition, with good cooperation between the countries involved, development can also foster migration by choice rather than by necessity. Belgium will contribute to the follow-up of this initiative with the Philippines, which will organize the second Global Forum in 2008. Human rights are one of the pillars of our collective security. We must ensure respect for those rights under all circumstances. That is why in 2005 we emphasized the need for in-depth reform of the former Commission on Human Rights. At this stage, however, I regretfully note that the new Human Rights Council does not meet our expectations. An institutional agreement that was reached between the members of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June came at the expense of difficult concessions. The capacity of the Council to react promptly to human rights violations will thus be compromised. Multilateralism is back. Nevertheless, it is only a method, not an end in itself, and this method can be disappointing if it does not bring results. We therefore need an instrument that will animate multilateralism and adapt the United Nations to the current environment. Achieving our common objectives depends on developing a modern organization that is well adapted, well equipped and well managed. We will therefore need to consolidate the bases for a responsible and professional Secretariat. System-wide coherence in the United Nations is also indispensable from this standpoint. In order to foster coherence of development activities by the United Nations in the field, the current reform effort has as its main objective to reinforce its efficiency for the benefit of developing countries. After years of discussion, it is unfortunate that we have not been able to make progress on the indispensable reform of the Security Council. We undoubtedly need a new working method that would allow us to get the technical working group out of New York, where it is bogged down, and to involve the capitals and the political levels more. I therefore suggest appointing a high-level special envoy for Security Council reform, who would be responsible for leading these consultations and for presenting us with a proposal. As far as I am concerned, my clear preference goes to a formula that would consist initially of an addition of new, semi-permanent seats, without modifying the current balance between permanent and non-permanent members. Later on, permanent members would accept to give up their right of veto. The United Nations must serve the general interest of the community of Member States, as well as of the populations they represent. The United Nations will succeed only if those States manage to transcend the sum of their particular interests. It is the shared responsibility of each of us to display the necessary vision in order to put our Organization in the service of the common good.