First of all, I would like to
align myself with the statement made by the President
of the European Council, Mr. Herman van Rompuy, on
behalf of the European Union (see ).
Denmark appreciates the adoption earlier this year of
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resolution 65/276, giving the European Union (EU) the
opportunity to address the General Assembly at this
juncture of its deliberations. The Lisbon Treaty marks a
new phase of European cooperation that will benefit
the United Nations as well.
The past year has once again demonstrated how
quickly events can unfold and how unexpected crises
can break out in different parts of the world. These
include a violent conflict in Côte d’Ivoire before a
democratically elected president could finally take his
rightful place; devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in
Japan, followed by nuclear contamination; the current
and still more severe humanitarian crisis in the Horn of
Africa; and Pakistan being struck by overwhelming
floods.
There have also been events of historic
proportions that are still unfolding in North Africa and
the Middle East. From Tunisia to Egypt, from Libya to
Syria, from Bahrain to Yemen and beyond, people are
demanding their rights and their freedom. They are
standing up for core human aspirations and values.
They want to shape their own lives, economically and
politically. Theirs is a call for political participation,
for freedom of speech and for the right of peaceful
assembly; a call for dignity, for accountability, for
justice and for jobs. It has sparked hope for a better life
for the people of the region. The international
community, with the United Nations in the lead, has a
strong responsibility to support these historic
aspirations.
The winds of change currently sweeping across
the Middle East and North Africa have confirmed once
again that the desire for freedom, democratic reforms
and respect for human rights is universal. A few days
ago, countries met under the auspices of the Secretary-
General to express their admiration for the courage of
the Libyan people in their struggle to take control of
their own future. Denmark is proud to have supported
the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people and to
have contributed to the protection of the lives of
Libyan civilians.
A few days ago, the Assembly welcomed the
National Transitional Council (NTC) as the
representative of Libya. Being here today with the
NTC in the seat of Libya is tangible evidence of the
progress achieved by the Libyan people in determining
their own destiny. Along with the international
community, Denmark continues to support the
aspirations of the Libyan people. It is encouraging that
the Security Council has now authorized a new United
Nations Mission to support Libyan national efforts.
Developments across the Middle East and North
Africa make it clear that in the twenty-first century,
Governments must be politically accountable, respect
people’s rights and dignity, and deliver economic
opportunities. The only credible response to those
legitimate popular demands is sustainable political and
economic reforms.
Unfortunately, we sometimes witness countries
fail to live up to their responsibility and obligations as
members of the international community. As we speak,
events continue to unfold across the region, including
in Syria. More than 2,600 people in Syria have died
during the popular uprising. We strongly condemn the
violence and the killings of peaceful demonstrators. It
is high time to respect the right of peaceful protesters
and their legitimate demands. To increase the pressure
on the Syrian regime, we have adopted sanctions and
hope others will join us.
Some of the prerequisites for a sustainable
transition to a flourishing democracy are free, fair and
transparent elections, free media, the protection of
minorities, a functioning government and an
independent judiciary that upholds the rule of law.
Democratic change must come from within. It has to be
home-grown and based on local leadership, ownership
and participation. Surely, this does not exclude
international assistance, including from the United
Nations.
Afghanistan has come a long way since the fall of
the Taliban regime. We hope that Afghanistan will take
yet another step in its transition process at the
upcoming Conference in Bonn in December. Moving
towards 2014, the United Nations system, in close
cooperation with the Afghan authorities, will also have
to undertake a thorough review of its activities in
Afghanistan in order to continuously maximize its
contribution to good governance, anti-corruption and
sustainable socio-economic development.
What we see around the world is not only a call
for political reforms; it is also a call for inclusive
economic development, for jobs pure and simple, and
for improved standards of living. And not least, it is a
call from and about youth. Governments will need to
strengthen economic and social reforms, ensuring that
11 11-51687
they generate inclusive growth and shared prosperity
for all and not just for the few and already privileged.
The Millennium Development Goals have
succeeded in galvanizing action, not least in health and
education, and all countries have a joint obligation to
ensure that the goals we agreed in 2000 will actually be
fulfilled by 2015. The development challenge is
pressing in sub-Saharan Africa, a region long marked
by poverty and conflict, but in recent years also
characterized in many countries by strong economic
growth and optimism.
National ownership and clear political
commitments remain the keys to success. But for many
of the poorest countries, development cooperation
continues to be an important tool and a catalyst in their
efforts to ensure that the poorest people will also be
able to enjoy the full potential of globalization.
Denmark is doing its part to assist, based on a sound
track record in international development cooperation.
We are one of only five countries which at present
fulfil the internationally agreed development goal of
delivering at least 0.7 per cent of gross national
product as development assistance. We would like to
welcome others to this “point-seven” club.
We shall not succeed, however, without focusing
in particular on countries affected by conflict or
fragility. We especially look to the United Nations to
coordinate efforts in those countries. That is where the
United Nations can make a real difference.
The advancement of women’s equality and the
empowerment of women are important aspects of this
process. We welcome the creation of UN-Women and
look forward to working closely with that new entity in
the area of gender mainstreaming. No less important is
the issue of sexual and reproductive health and the
rights of women.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio de Janeiro in
June 2012, presents a unique opportunity to revitalize
the discussion and understanding of sustainable
development. Rio+20 will be an opportunity to put
sustainable development at the top of the global
development agenda.
Denmark welcomes the focus on green economy
and the institutional framework for sustainable
development. Transitioning to a green economy is
necessary if the world is to cope with the multiple
challenges of resource scarcity, poverty eradication and
climate change. Economic growth will be crucial in the
decades ahead, but it will have to be green. Today,
1.4 billion people are without access to modern sources
of energy. Universal access to energy will contribute to
lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty.
Poland and Denmark, as part of the EU trio
presidency for 2011 and 2012, are working jointly to
strengthen the green growth agenda and contribute to
the global objective of sustainable development, in
accordance with the trio presidency programme. Next
month, Denmark will host the first Global Green
Growth Forum in Copenhagen. The Forum will lend
new momentum to public-private cooperation on
concrete initiatives that will inspire regulatory
interventions, remove key barriers and identify
opportunities and solutions for a renewed push to
advance green growth globally.
Earlier this year, we witnessed the birth of a new
State as we welcomed the 193rd Member of the United
Nations. The Republic of South Sudan is the fulfilment
of the democratically expressed will to self-
determination by the overwhelming majority of the
South Sudanese people. We congratulate the people of
South Sudan on their historic achievement.
The Palestinian cause and quest for statehood are
high on the agenda here in New York, and rightly so.
The present regional context reminds us all, including
the two parties, that direct political peace negotiations
must now be resumed. Within a specific time frame,
they must produce a lasting peace and an end to
conflict based on the two-State solution, with both
States living side by side in peace and security.
Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate
the Secretary-General on his appointment to a second
five-year term. We have all been inspired by his tireless
efforts in the field of peace and security and human
rights and by his strong leadership on climate change
and sustainable development. At a time when the
United Nations is ever more relevant, Denmark lends
its full support to the Secretary-General and to his
stewardship of the Organization. The challenges we
face call for international resolve and for joint action.
In the Secretary-General’s own words, “We need
results that people can see and touch, results that
change lives and make a difference” (A/65/PV.101,
p. 9). That is why we turn to the United Nations.
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That is the end of my prepared statement, but I
am aware that I am the last speaker in the general
debate of the sixty-sixth session of the General
Assembly. Let me therefore also take this opportunity
on my own behalf — and I am sure also on behalf of
speakers before me — to thank the conference service
staff and the interpreters for their tireless efforts and
long working days, which have facilitated this unique
international debate.
The exchange of views that we have during the
general debate allows each and every one of us a
privileged glimpse into the positions, the values and
the political priorities of all 193 Member States. The
debate provides a strong and clear indication of what
issues really engage Governments. It demonstrates
what parts of the very broad United Nations agenda
each and every Government is most preoccupied with,
what their concerns are and which outcomes and
solutions they seek. From this debate, we get a unique
and straight look into the soul of global politics. It
helps us understand each other, including when we
disagree, and it informs our work together in the
Assembly in the months to come.
So we may congratulate each other on a job well
done, now at the end of the debate, but it is only the
beginning. The true value of this debate will be seen
only later, and it will depend on all of us coming
together to find common ground and workable
solutions.