Belarus

The nature of the discussions and decisions taken at the High-level Plenary Meeting has clearly demonstrated that the various problems, challenges and threats we face, however difficult and dangerous they may be, can only be overcome if we work together. The world has changed significantly over the past 10 years, and our capacity to make peoples’ lives in all continents better and safer has been broadened. We have seen the change in international relations. There has been an enhancement of constructive, mutually respectful dialogue between States, and a new global partnership is forming. All the preconditions exist so that at this session we can establish a road map of international cooperation on all strategic issues referred to in the Outcome Document of the Summit. Particular attention should be given to the financial economic sphere, because it is directly linked to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We can achieve those Goals, even in the current situation, if the necessary financial resources, skills and technologies are used to support development. What has been done so far is insufficient. If we analyse the current situation in an objective way, we see that the largest developed countries have spent trillions of dollars on supporting their economies. This has given some results, but the backdrop of this is that it has become clear that providing resources for official development assistance and international technical assistance continues to be below the real needs of developing countries and countries in transition. Developed countries have adopted protectionist measures. There has been price pressure on small and medium countries for many sensitive categories of goods. In such a context, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals cannot be smooth. In general terms, Belarus supports the work of the Group of 20 (G-20) and the Group of Eight (G-8) to overcome the world economic crisis, but we must assume that the major countries in these clubs will first and foremost promote their own interests. The General Assembly must take the necessary measures to improve the economic toolbox of the entire United Nations system. Otherwise our Organization will not be able to play an important role in global economic management and small and medium-sized countries will have no leverage on these processes. First of all, we must continue the process of updating the work and enhancing the potential of the Bretton Woods institutions and increase the role of developing countries and countries with transitional economies in decision-making in their governing bodies. The General Assembly, although it might not be able directly to influence this process, must raise its voice on this issue. We refer here to those bodies where all countries, without exception, can put forward their positions and submit appropriate proposals. In 2005 and 2006, significant efforts were made to improve the work of the Economic and Social Council, converting it from a body that coordinates the work of thematic commissions and committees in the economic and social spheres to a body that adopts political decisions and recommendations in those areas. Some progress has been achieved here, of course; but it is insufficient if we want to reach by 2015 good indicators with regard to implementing the strategic tasks under the Millennium Development Goals. The Economic and Social Council is still the same: it has not become a full-fledged economic organ of the United Nations. We suggest in the remaining five years that the Council should give special attention to each of the Millennium Development Goals and make appropriate recommendations to the General Assembly and to Member States. Belarus, which has submitted its candidature for membership of the Economic and Social Council in 2011, is ready to work actively in this regard. We cannot attain the Millennium Development Goals unless we establish a genuine, strong structure of United Nations operational activities. Here, we welcome the increased intergovernmental dialogue on enhancing coherence in the operations of United Nations agencies and the measures that have been taken to reform the United Nations gender architecture. Besides enhancing the institutions, the financing of bodies that undertake operational activities needs to be improved. In this Hall, we have heard many addresses with regard to the work of the G-8 and the G-20 and their 23 10-55276 initiative to find innovative approaches to financing. We have heard of the intention of the European Union to monitor the Union’s respect for its commitments with regard to official development assistance. We hope that those measures will indeed be implemented. Belarus, like many other delegations in this room, is concerned at the status of the Doha multilateral trade talks, particularly given the recent trends towards a tougher position by developed countries. Developing countries in particular suffer from this, as do medium- income countries. For more than 10 years, talks have been under way on membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) of about 30 States. Is this a normal situation if we are talking about the need to ensure that States move forward on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and a genuinely multilateral trade system? This is genuine discrimination against certain States. Therefore we believe that the rules for WTO membership by these countries should be reviewed and simplified. If we are now serious about United Nations management of global processes, then General Assembly resolutions on the role of international trade in stimulating development should be more targeted towards achieving long-term results. What is most important is to make recommendations on urgent collective measures to establish a multilateral trading system that meets the needs of today’s world. The General Assembly must send an unequivocal political signal to parties to the upcoming Cancún talks on developing a new post-Kyoto international agreement on limiting emissions of greenhouse gases. This year we have seen that the measures that have been taken have been inadequate. The virtual absence of targeted collective measures by the international community could lead to irreversible consequences. If States are ready to demonstrate genuine partnership in order to avoid the worst-case scenario, then the General Assembly must adopt a resolution on the problem of climate change and offer relevant recommendations and proposals before the 29 November opening of the sixteenth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is time to end competing ambitions with regard to climate change. Belarus has direct experience of the low level of cooperation between countries and the level of their respect for each other’s interests. This has meant that our attempts to adopt the most stringent voluntary quantitative limits under the Kyoto Protocol, and thus to make our contribution to the common goal of protecting the climate, have so far been unsuccessful. Belarus’s amendment to Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol has not yet entered into force. Closely related to protection of the climate is the issue of a reliable system of global energy security and the development of so-called green economies. Many States already have considerable experience in establishing sustainable, low-carbon economies. Many States still do not have clean technology, and this puts a brake on their development. Of course, neither the United Nations system nor any other international organization can immediately resolve this problem on its own. Establishing a promising international mechanism of cooperation in order to enhance access to cutting-edge energy technologies, including technology for new and renewable energy sources, is possible only on the basis of a genuine partnership, with leadership from the United Nations and from States that have been most successful in developing green economies. Belarus has already made a significant contribution to establishing such partnerships. We have established an international laboratory for renewable sources of energy based at the Energy Institute at the National Academy of Sciences. This is first and foremost a platform for exchanging experiences with regard to renewable energy. This is no less important than addressing the climatic conditions in our countries; it will provide an experimental basis for developing and testing effective uses of green technologies. Without any doubt this will make a significant contribution to developing global renewable energy. We can only imagine how much progress the international community would make if each State in the world would, within its means, contribute resources to the development of renewable energy, aimed not only at its own domestic needs but also at exchanging experiences with foreign colleagues. The MDG Summit confirmed the need for the international community to find longer-term solutions to problems. By following such an approach, States Members of the United Nations will, as the Secretary- General has said, be able to provide a better future for all. Achieving this was the aim of the declaration by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus on establishing a partnership with young people to protect 10-55276 24 them from social decline; the theme of this partnership is helping future generations prosper. The theme of young people is not new in itself, and it has often been discussed in various forums. But implementing this idea would enable us to take a qualitative step forward in establishing a reliable basis for sustainable human development. We are convinced that Member States will support the Belarus initiative to convene a thematic General Assembly debate on supporting talented young people and protecting the coming generation from social decline. In April next year we will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. In the varied spectrum of contemporary challenges and threats the issue of Chernobyl has unfortunately become a low priority. But the objective situation is that the consequences of that massive man-made disaster are still being felt, which means that implementing the United Nations 10-year plan for recovery and long- term development of the affected regions is still an urgent task. That is not just of concern to Belarus, Russia and Ukraine; the successful mitigation of the consequences of Chernobyl is in the interests of the entire international community. Given that situation, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine intend to prepare a draft resolution on enhancing international cooperation and coordination of efforts in order to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. That is intended to further intensify measures to implement a plan of action and draw the attention of the international community to the memorial events planned for 2011 in the capitals of the States most affected by the Chernobyl disaster. We call for support for that draft resolution on Chernobyl in the General Assembly and for the traditional solidarity with the most affected countries. This year the Republic of Belarus for the first time became a participant in and donor to United Nations peacekeeping operations. That again demonstrates that Belarus not only shares the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter but is making a tangible contribution to strengthening international peace and security. In conclusion, allow me to assure the Assembly that our country will continue to play its part in enhancing the authority and increasing the institutional capacity of the United Nations. Given its universal nature, the United Nations should guard and enhance its paramount role in the global management of peace processes, improve people’s lives and protect them from the threats and challenges of our unstable times.