The Assembly is
meeting at a time marked by significant challenges. Let
me mention a few which I regard as the most pressing.
The state of the world economy remains fragile,
but slowly we seem to be entering a path towards
economic recovery and, hopefully, sustainable growth.
The security situation in many parts of the world is
improving, but we are witnessing many local conflicts
that endanger the overall regional balance. The conflict
in Syria must come to an end on the basis of a negotiated
political settlement. The danger of a nuclear conflict is
diminishing thanks to the decreasing number of nuclear
warheads and carriers in the possession of the nuclear
Powers. Yet the currently blocked negotiations with the
parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons should be a matter of concern. Fundamental
human rights and freedoms are still at risk in many
countries. The gap between the rich and the poor is
ever widening despite many efforts to alleviate world
hunger and poverty. At the same time, some countries
have managed to reduce the gap.
International cooperation is essential if we want to
address those and other challenges. The United Nations
remains the most suitable body to pool the global
efforts and resources needed for that task. The world
is changing, and its traditional platform must adapt
as well. From the start, we should formulate realistic
plans and procedures. However, their implementation
will not be possible without the necessary political will.
A country’s reputation depends not only on its
size or economic output, but also on its readiness
to actively engage in addressing and meeting the
challenges of the current globalized world. The Czech
Republic, a country with the historical experience of an
undemocratic regime, is ready to share its experience
from its democratic transition process, as well as to
offer its help, resources and know-how to countries
undergoing their own democratic transition.
The year 2013 will mark a turning point for European
economies. The Czech economy is highly dependent on
international trade, and I strongly believe that free and
fair trade is one of the best tools for improving the world
economic situation. The multilateral approach to trade
issues should be revitalized and cooperation within the
World Trade Organization (WTO) reinforced. I sincerely
wish much success to the new WTO leadership.
The United Nations has always played a key
role in defusing armed conflicts between and within
the Member States. Its role in helping to resolve the
conflict in Syria is crucial. The confirmed use of
chemical weapons in Syria is deeply worrying. Any use
of chemical weapons is unacceptable. Whoever gave
the order to initiate the chemical attack has gravely
violated the principle of responsibility to protect the
civilian population. The attack constitutes a war crime
and a crime against humanity, and its perpetrators
should be held accountable before the International
Criminal Court.
The Czech Republic welcomes the decision of
the Executive Council of the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the expeditious
destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, which is now
being adopted in The Hague, and looks forward to the
adoption of a Security Council resolution on the issue
in the coming hours.
The conflict does not have a military solution;
only a negotiated political settlement will re-establish
peace in Syria. The Czech Republic calls on all
parties, especially on the Syrian Government, to fully
implement the 2012 Geneva communiqué (S/2012/523,
annex). The Czech Republic supports and will continue
to support the efforts of the United Nations and the
International Committee of the Red Cross to meet
the growing humanitarian needs in Syria and the
neighbouring countries.
The Czech Republic acknowledges developments
in the transformation process of Myanmar. I strongly
encourage the country’s leaders, in accordance with
their public pronouncements, to actively pursue the
process of amending the national Constitution in order
to improve democratic standards in the country.
As I mentioned earlier, the role of the United Nations
in resolving armed conflicts is indispensable. United
Nations peacekeeping operations are an important
tool for sustainable and durable solutions to violent
conflict worldwide. Having participated in United
Nations operations in recent years in relatively small
numbers, my country, the Czech Republic, is ready
to substantially increase the presence of its military
personnel in peacekeeping operations.
The Czech Republic, a non-nuclear-weapon State,
has always strongly advocated for the unfettered
right to develop, research and use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes. Nevertheless, that right should be
fully exercised only in conjunction with honouring
all non-proliferation obligations. The long-standing
objective of the complete elimination of nuclear
weapons may be achieved only if the non-proliferation
regime meets all demands for its strengthening. The
upcoming meeting of the group of governmental experts
on a fissile material cut-off treaty will be a step in the
right direction. The Czech Republic greatly appreciates
that fact that the international community was finally
able to complete the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations.
I should like to share my view of the role of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Czech
Republic has been actively involved from the very
beginning in the discussions on the formulation of a
new development agenda. We are ready and committed
to take part in its implementation. As formulated by the
Secretary-General in his report (A/68/202), the MDGs
have been the most successful global anti-poverty
push in history and have made a great contribution to
raising public awareness, increasing political will and
mobilizing resources.
Some of the MDG targets have been met already;
some are within close reach. But the results are uneven
among and within countries and there is a lot of
unfinished business. I can assure the Assembly that
my Government remains committed to the MDGs, as
reflected in both our policies and our practical actions.
The future development agenda should build on
the success of the MDGs and bring together diverse
development actors. I would like to support the single
overarching post-2015 framework, which will link
poverty eradication in all its dimensions and the
promotion of sustainable development. I therefore call
for the full integration of all relevant international
processes, which have been separate until now, in
particular the review of the MDGs and the work of
the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Goals.
We have to make sure that the future goals will be
universal for all countries but at the same time remain
realistic, taking into account the actual possibilities of
each country. They must be achievable and measurable.
I appreciate the fact that the report of the High-level
Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda puts
emphasis on inclusive growth and considers the role of
innovation, technology and the private sector actors.
The proposed development goal to secure sustainable
energy is a very good example and should figure among
the future development priorities.
In December, the international community will
commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the
adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The situation of human rights has improved in some
areas. New human rights challenges have emerged.
A great deal of work still lies ahead of us. The Czech
Republic, a member of the Human Rights Council and
the country of Václav Havel, will always defend human
rights wherever they are violated.
In conclusion, I should like to focus on issues
related to the process of reforming the United Nations.
The Czech Republic appreciates the dedicated work
of the Secretary-General, which is transforming the
United Nations into a more effective and accountable
system. Unfortunately, there are not enough means to
fund all initiatives. We all have to do more with less.
I am sure that we will find internal reserves that will
allow the United Nations to achieve the tasks entrusted
to it with greater success. By performing well and
by being responsive to its Member States, the United
Nations will strengthen the political will of its Members
to invest in multilateral forums and thus contribute to
a safer world.