How
can we shape development policy that is of benefit to
all? The per capita gross domestic product of
Switzerland is 130 times higher than that of a country
such as Mozambique. Why do the poorest countries
benefit so little from globalization, and what can we do
to change this? One-quarter of the world’s population
consumes three-quarters of the available raw materials.
How can we ensure that nearly 7 billion individuals
have enough water, food and energy at affordable
prices? And what happened to equity and social justice
in the twenty-first century?
It is up to us together to find the answers to these
questions. That will require us to have a sense of
responsibility and to be ready to reflect together on
norms, values and priorities.
More than any other international organization,
the United Nations has the potential and the necessary
11-50692 50
conditions to support States in these efforts. Since its
founding, the United Nations has developed into a
dense institutional network. International governance
remains fragmented and inefficient. Governance
structures need to be strengthened if the United
Nations is to succeed as the driving force towards
sustainable development.
Events in the Arab world have been a reminder
that democracy and sustainable development go hand
in hand. Indeed, it was ultimately the lack of political
freedom, combined with injustice and a lack of
economic prospects, that unleashed the fundamental
changes that have so surprised us. Many nations are
facing difficult changes today and the fact that
relations among States and between the region and the
rest of the world need to be based on new principles.
This is a challenge to the countries themselves and to
the new social groups driving the change: youth,
women, the emerging middle classes and civil society
as a whole. But it is also a challenge to the countries
and Governments of the region, as well as for us all as
Members of the United Nations.
We must do our best to ensure that effective aid is
provided quickly to the victims of unrest and violence.
We must ensure that security and the rule of law are
strengthened. We must contribute to inclusive political
dialogue, promoting national reconciliation and
legitimate efforts to create new constitutions. We must
extend the authority of State institutions and restore
public services. We must help to protect the human
rights of all and support transitional justice. We must
also support immediate economic recovery measures.
Only through such a wide-ranging programme, backed
by an international community in which each member
is ready to make a constructive contribution, will it be
possible to create more favourable conditions for
sustainable development.
I note with regret that the spirit of optimism
borne of the Arab Spring has not breathed new life into
the Middle East peace process. We remember the
words of President Obama before the General
Assembly a year ago well — words that encouraged us
to hope for change. For a few minutes, we dreamed
together of
“the young girl in Gaza who wants to have no
ceiling on her dreams or the young boy in Sderot
who wants to sleep without the nightmare of
rocket fire” (A/65/PV.11, p. 12).
We entertained the hope that, together with Palestine
and Israel, we could succeed in reaching an agreement
that would allow us to welcome a new Member to the
United Nations — a sovereign and independent
Palestine, living side by side in peace with Israel.
Somberly, we note instead that the past year has
been a year of deadlock with no progress but
stagnation, and even a hardening of positions. For
more than 60 years, the international community has
failed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The
so-called peace process has replaced peace. In order to
return peace to the centre of the stage, influential
people on both sides have attempted to implement a
tangible and lasting vision. We gave them our support
and facilitated a model agreement. The Geneva
initiative is today a consolidated, detailed proposal
compatible with internationally accepted parameters,
including the Arab Peace Initiative. It remains at the
disposal of the decision-makers, as well as of the
populations whose right it is to demand peace.
Preventing future wars was the goal of the
founding of the United Nations. Today, it remains
among the noblest objectives of this Organization. The
past two decades have shown that the international
community has every interest in finding ways to
strengthen its efforts in the area of mediation. Indeed,
it is in a negotiated solution rather than military victory
that a lasting solution will be found for the majority of
conflicts.
The Security Council plays an important role in
the prevention of conflicts. Switzerland would
welcome a stronger and more lasting commitment to
preventive diplomacy on the part of the Security
Council. If the Security Council is to be able to make a
worthwhile contribution to peace and security, it must
adapt to new realities and reflect the new political
balance of power of the twenty-first century. I should
also like it to be more transparent and open and to
fulfil its duty of remaining accountable to the Member
States.
Ultimately, the decisions of the Security Council
have a direct impact on all States in ways that are
legally binding. That is why Switzerland advocates,
along with its partners in the so-called small five
group, improvement of the Council’s working methods.
The small five’s proposals are practical and concrete.
They can be implemented immediately without any
need to amend the United Nations Charter.
51 11-50692
However, the United Nations will be truly
strengthened only if those countries that rightly insist
on having greater participation also show themselves
ready to accept greater responsibility for the
Organization’s proper functioning and its financial
situation.
The United Nations is unique in being the only
Organization that offers all the countries of the world
the opportunity to join together to address the whole
range of international challenges to peace and security,
ranging from the protection of human rights to
sustainable development. Switzerland is ready to
contribute, and we look forward to working together
with the new President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, whom I congratulate
on his election and offer the full support of my country
during this sixty-sixth session of the Assembly.