There are two years left
until the deadline for achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals. It is therefore time to review what
we have succeeded in achieving and set the guidelines
for the work that remains.
Development is a global challenge. Every
contribution that is made, every experience that we
share and every lesson that we have learned is very
important for all of us. By sharing we set the stage for
learning from each other — and not only from our own
mistakes. In today’s world, every country has the right
to choose a path that best suits its experience, culture
and needs, as long as it does not infringe upon the rights
of others and guarantees human rights and freedoms.
The international community has an obligation to
offer support based on the principles of ownership and
empowerment so that those choices may be realized.
Development cannot be imposed; it must be
promoted. But it is not only about development. It is
about free choice, democracy and fundamental rights,
each of which is key to the success of the Millennium
Development Goals and the post-2015 development
agenda.
Today we live in the twenty-first century, but there
are still those who want to enforce a specific course
of development on others, using economic pressure,
energy levers or cybertools, by distorted information
or threats. It is true that internationally approved
sanctions send a message to those who are producing
weapons and not jobs, who violate human rights and
use national resources to satisfy individual interests
and not those of their society as a whole. But the use of
economic, energy or information tools to show power
or set up zones of influence is unjustifiable, especially
for the future.
The twenty-first century should be the age of
solidarity, equality and sustainable development. It
cannot be an age of the flaunting of power, zero-sum
games or buffer zones. Those times are over. Any attempt
to return to those times impedes the development of the
modern world. But, regrettably, power games still exist.
I would like to share my country’s and region’s
experience with the Assembly. In the past two decades,
the Baltic States have been rapidly transformed. Complex
and painful economic, political and social reforms
have boosted economic growth, social well-being and
political stability. After rebuilding our statehood two
decades ago and with the help, advice and experience
of the international community, our nations have today
become donors and have a lot of experience to share
with those who are going through transformations
similar to the ones we have experienced.
Inner resolve and consensus are very important.
However, a favourable external climate and
international support are also needed, especially for
small countries that depend on larger players for their
trade, transportation or energy links.
In two months’ time, in Vilnius, several Eastern
European countries intend to confirm their commitment
to completing the painful but much-needed reforms
for economic growth, political stability and social
harmony. For many years, those countries worked
hard to reach national agreement on reforms, their
scope and direction. They learned from their mistakes
and mobilized resources to build their own futures.
They chose to build modern States of the twenty-first
century — open, transparent and collaborative, not
dominating.
It was not easy for those countries to decide which
course to take. Their choice would have been made easier
if their free will had been respected and their decision
supported in good faith, and with encouragement by
those who could provide such support. Instead, they
are now facing trade restrictions, bans on goods, the
manipulation of energy prices, the use of pressure and
open disrespect displayed in information forums.
The countries of the European Union Eastern
Partnership are not the only ones experiencing such
problems. Even Lithuania, which holds the presidency
of the Council of the European Union and has
successfully consolidated its course of development, is
under similar pressure. Barriers to travel, unreasonable
delays in cargo transportation, the milk wars — those
are just a few very recent controversial examples. For
nations, the decision is really difficult to make when free
choice means being threatened with gas-price increases
and blocked trade, instead of receiving support and
advice. Under such pressure, it is hard to implement
reforms that empower members of society and open up
opportunities to engage in the state-building process.
The post-2015 development agenda must provide
instruments that empower States to seek development,
based on free will and their individual needs. There is no
place for forced choices, open threats or demonstrations
of power. The international community, especially the
United Nations, should empower States to realize such
self-determination. I urge us all to give the matter our
very careful attention.