Once again, we have
witnessed outrageous acts of terrorism against innocent
people, most recently in Kenya, Iraq and Pakistan.
Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families.
It is the primary responsibility of all Governments
to protect their citizens. A few weeks ago, the world
witnessed the use of chemical weapons in Syria. It
is hard to find words strong enough to express our
condemnation. International law has been violated, war
crimes committed and globally shared values have been
shattered. Those responsible must be held accountable
and should answer to the International Criminal Court.
The devastation inflicted on the Syrian people
must end. A country is in ruins. Innocent lives are lost
every day, more than 6 million people are displaced
and stability in the region is threatened. The Syrian
Government has not lived up to its responsibility
towards its own citizens. It has retaliated with
unabated violence instead of choosing a path of reform,
reconciliation and improved rights for its people. The
crisis calls for firm action to be taken by the international
community. Syria must comply with its international
obligations, and all parties to the conflict must respect
humanitarian and human rights law. We welcome the
adoption of Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) and
call on the Council to ensure that Syria fully meets its
commitments. The Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522,
annex) must also be honoured and a “Geneva II”
conference convened urgently. The tragedy in Syria has
once again underscored the fundamental importance of
international law and order.
Some of the greatest achievements of the United
Nations are in the field of international law. Within these
walls, the history of international relations continues to
be written and brave new steps to be taken. The latest
accomplishment is the adoption of the Arms Trade
Treaty. Iceland is proud to have been the first State to
ratify this landmark treaty. We call on all States — in
particular arms exporters — to do so as well, so that it
enters into force without delay.
In the year 2000, world leaders gathered in this city
and made a historic decision by adopting the Millennium
Declaration. Since then, the Millennium Development
Goals have served us well. For almost 15 years, they
have influenced and guided the development priorities
of nations and organizations. They have increased
awareness of heartbreaking poverty and inspired new
policymaking. The Millennium Development Goals
are indeed central to Iceland’s development policy, and
my Government is firmly committed to shouldering
our responsibility in a globalized world. As new goals
are defined, the focus should remain on eliminating
poverty, achieving gender equality, improving health
and providing education for girls and boys.
The pressure on our ecosystem calls for urgent
action to combat pollution and land degradation, as
well as a balanced consideration of conservation and
the utilization of natural resources. It is a challenge to
ensure food security when land and water resources are
threatened. Our duty is to share experiences and know-
how to restore land and improve land management — to
change deserts into blooming fields.
Furthermore, climate change and disasters such as
the one in Fukushima have taught us that a real energy
transformation is needed. Safe, clean and renewable
energy is the way of the future. Iceland has undergone
a true energy revolution. Today, almost all of our
electricity and heating needs are met with renewable
energy. That success story is a source of a productive
partnership between Iceland and the United Nations,
and now also the World Bank.
Our world is wealthy. That wealth is not only
preserved in the minerals of the Earth, the power of the
rivers and the rich living marine resources. Our greatest
wealth is people — the knowledge, the experiences, the
constant journey of the human mind to explore and
invent new solutions.
Iceland makes use of those assets in its development
cooperation. We are proud to offer the world our
expertise where it can make a real difference — for
the development of geothermal energy, sustainable
fisheries management, the restoration of fertile land
and the promotion of gender equality. More than 2,500
experts from all parts of the world have benefited from
the activities of the four United Nations university
training programmes in Iceland since the first one was
established 35 years ago. Iceland will focus on those
same four topics in the post-2015 process. Let me
emphasize that the process must be conducted in a true
democratic spirit. It must be inclusive and allow for all
Member States to participate.
As I glance around the Assembly Hall, I am
inspired by the history and success of the Organization,
which represents the immense diversity and talent of
humankind, and inspired by the potential for future
positive action that the rich fabric of representatives
from all Member States represents. But success should
not blind our vision or cloud our judgement. The flaws
of the Security Council have been sadly exposed in the
case of Syria. Furthermore, the lack of organizational
reform undermines the credibility of the United Nations.
Much work remains undone in many areas. As
long as people are mistreated for their views, race
or religion, or even cast as outlaws for their sexual
orientation or gender identity, human rights obligations
are not honoured. We are alarmed that recent legislation
in some countries is violating the fundamental
principles of equality and the freedom of expression.
The responsibility to change that and to ensure the
protection and promotion of human rights rests with us
politicians. By speaking from this rostrum, each and
every one of us pledges to uphold those common values
of the United Nations.
The promotion of gender equality and the
empowerment of women is another urgent task. In
2015, we will celebrate the twentieth anniversary
of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in
Beijing. We call on all Member States to renew efforts
to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action. Iceland has been advocating for celebrating the
anniversary through a 12-month campaign, focusing
on each of the 12 themes of Beijing. We note that
UN Women is planning its strategy along those lines.
A prominent element in the Beijing Declaration is
the importance of the active engagement of women for
democratic development. The women of the Arab world
have given that objective a powerful new meaning in
the past three years. Women assumed their rightful
place and have called on their leaders to show real
leadership. They call for respect for human rights and
the equal treatment of women and men. They call for
the freedom to express their views and to determine
their own future through democratic processes.
It is regrettable that developments in the region have
been overshadowed by political discord and continued
violence. We deplore the loss of lives and condemn all
violence. We also call on the Governments in the region
to demonstrate their commitment to democracy with
concrete actions.
The developments in the Middle East cannot be
separated from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As
United States President Obama said, the Palestinian
people have a right to live with security and dignity
in their own sovereign State. Israel’s security depends
upon the realization of a Palestinian State, and stability
will be served only through a two-State solution and
a secure Israel. We welcome the renewed peace talks
between the State of Israel and the State of Palestine
and applaud United States Secretary Kerry for his
commitment in that regard. We must respect the right
of the Palestinian people to self-determination as well
as Israel’s right to exist in peace with its neighbours.
But time is running out.
The continuing settlement activities, in violation
of international law, threaten to make the two-State
solution impossible. Therefore, the Government of
Israel must end all settlements in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem. We denounce the oppressive
policies of Hamas and condemn the indiscriminate
rocket fire from Gaza. We also call upon Israel to end
the blockade of the territory.
Respect for international law is fundamental
for relations between States. If differences arise, we
should always seek agreements through consultations,
negotiations or other means for peaceful resolution.
The principle of the rule of law, which is among the
founding principles of the United Nations, is vital to us
all — big nations and small.
One international agreement that Iceland holds in
high regard is the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea. It was a great achievement when that
important Convention was adopted 30 years ago, and
it has proved its relevance by the test of time. The
Law of the Sea Convention demonstrates how the
international order can best work and prescribes how
differences should be settled through peaceful means.
The Convention provides a basis for sound resource
management. However, meeting that objective is
difficult for many States. The international community
should do much more to support developing countries
to better conserve and utilize their resources and reform
their management policies. As a steadfast advocate
of the Convention, Iceland is firmly committed to its
provisions. We protest in the strongest terms when
stakeholders resort to threats of coercive measures
when differences arise.
Icelanders know better than anyone that the health
of the ocean and its resources must be preserved. It
is fundamental for our existence and livelihood. The
conservation, sound management and sustainable use of
natural resources are principles that we follow strictly
in our policies. We are sincere and serious in living
up to the responsibility that comes with safeguarding
the riches of the Earth. For the same reason, the eight
Arctic States have developed productive regional
cooperation. As the world witnesses the rapid changes
in the Arctic, we who live in that corner of the world
know how urgent it is to act and plan for the future.
The delicate environment must be protected, economic
opportunities developed and the needs of the people
who live in the Arctic respected.
As caretakers of the Arctic, we take our global
duty very seriously. It was therefore a great pleasure
and an honour for me to host the Secretary-General in
Iceland last summer. During his visit, I demonstrated to
him how the global impact of climate change melts the
glaciers in the north. Following our trip to the central
highlands, the Secretary-General observed that we had
not only seen the ice disappear, we had also heard the
most powerful sound of ice melting away.
During his stay, the Secretary-General gave us
Icelanders an insight into the work of the United
Nations — how, every single day, the United Nations
is making a difference in the lives of countless
people around the world, helping refugees, providing
humanitarian assistance and saving the lives of
children. The United Nations is a force for good in the
world. Together we can make a real difference; united
we protect the environment, preserve peace and save
lives. The more united we are, the better the world will
become.