Poland

Let me start by expressing my respect and gratitude to the President of the General Assembly at its previous session, Mr. Srgjan Kerim, whose active involvement and initiatives have contributed to a broader Assembly agenda and facilitated its work. I wish to extend my congratulations to his successor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. I congratulate you, Sir, on your appointment and wish you fruitful work. The past year has seen many new challenges and problems with which the international community has to deal. In our attempts to respond to these problems and to search for the best solutions we have recognized yet again that different crises cannot be successfully overcome without referring to such universal values as democracy, freedom and solidarity. One of the biggest global challenges at present is the food crisis and its consequences. The decision to make that issue the central theme of this year’s General Assembly session testifies to the special role of the United Nations as a forum for debate focused on major global challenges. Poland appreciates the initiative to juxtapose the debate on the food crisis with discussions about the need to democratize the United Nations, as it is only a democratic and effective United Nations that can face up to the global challenges of eliminating hunger and poverty and ensuring the sustainable development of the poorest nations. That is why we remain certain that the United Nations reform process should continue. One of the fundamentals of the democratic governance of the United Nations is the rule “one State, one vote”. Each State should be given the opportunity to decide in which direction the United Nations will head, and the General Assembly remains the most important forum for such democratic debate. In this context, it is especially important to streamline the decision-making mechanism. We are in favour of accelerating the pace of work on Security Council reform. The number of non-permanent members of the Council should be increased so as to truly reflect today’s world. Let us remember that some of the rules in that regard were laid down in a world that was fundamentally different from today’s. “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”: that principle is enshrined in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose sixtieth anniversary we celebrate this year. As an international community, we bear responsibility for their fulfilment. Fighting against hunger and poverty is among the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has been almost eight years since the international community set them. Despite numerous declarations and commitments we are still short of achieving the Goals. It will be impossible to overcome the current crisis or carry out our development policies unless — 31 08-51839 and I stress this — every country shoulders its individual responsibility, takes concrete steps and assesses the progress made so far. We should make joint efforts to promote a global development programme with the MDGs as its basis. It was in that vein that Poland joined British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in endorsing the call to action on the MDGs. We hope that that statement, which reflects a broad understanding among countries, business representatives, non-governmental organizations and faith groups will contribute to the full attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. We believe that the high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals taking place on 25 September will result in concrete commitments that will be implemented in a timely manner: timeliness is of special importance. As we analyse the causes of the food crisis and try to find effective prescriptions for combating poverty and hunger, we take note of the immense negative impact of climate change on these phenomena. Although the consequences of climate change will be felt globally, it is the poorest who will bear the brunt and who will be hurt the most severely. It goes without saying that, without solidarity, responsibility and enhanced mutual cooperation, developing countries will not be able to fulfil their commitments regarding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and will fail to successfully adapt to climate change. This calls for a certain change of philosophy in our approach, and for much greater effort on the part of the North in favour of the South. What I am saying now is mere short hand: the rich should become much more committed to helping the poor. The United Nations is, if not the sole organization, then definitely the principal organization that can implement these objectives. Poland wants to be an active partner in the international community’s activities to that end. With this in mind, we will be hosting in Poznan in December this year the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. One of the key challenges facing this year’s Conference is to work out solutions and mechanisms that will support and bring about true systemic change in developing countries. It is especially vital to ensure the funding of investments that will help to modernize the economies of those countries and help them reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to climate change. I reiterate that there is no possibility of implementing these objectives without a major change in thinking, especially by the countries that now have the most resources. We hope that this year’s Poznan Conference will lay strong foundations for reaching a new agreement in Copenhagen in December next year. As holder of the presidency of the fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties, Poland will strive to bring the positions of major countries as close as possible so as to ensure maximum progress during the Poznan Conference. We anticipate cooperation and support from our international partners and friends. We greatly appreciate the Secretary-General’s deep commitment to the implementation of these objectives. Introducing new, more climate-friendly technologies should be coupled with enhanced energy security and diversification of energy sources. As we do not yet have mechanisms to guarantee solidarity on the energy crisis among all States members of the European Union — I refer to the European Union but this is also applicable to all other States of the world — the issue of energy security becomes our priority. Poland is following developments in Georgia with concern. We believe that engaging in dialogue and acting in a spirit of solidarity and consistency in implementing energy policy should become a priority for all European States, especially European Union States. It is only in that way that Europe can be assured of energy security, especially at a time of the complete unpredictability of actions of the current main suppliers of energy to Europe. Poland’s concern arises from the abuse by some States, especially one very powerful State, of energy as a tool to achieve political goals in relations with neighbours and with all the other nations that benefit from the supply of energy by that State. Thus it is of fundamental importance to diversify the sources of supply, to introduce transparent rules regulating the energy trade and to extend transport infrastructure, especially by developing alternative routes and energy sources for the European Union, mainly from the Caspian Sea, Central Asia and the Middle East. This could significantly accelerate the development of the States of those areas and enhance their potential as part of global solidarity. 08-51839 32 I have referred to Georgia in the context of energy security. But the situation in that country is far more serious. Several weeks ago we witnessed an illegal military aggression and the division of the country. That was an aggression against an independent State. Fundamental principles of international law, such as the inviolability of borders and respect for territorial integrity, were breached. Without respect for those principles, the world will be a hotbed of not one but hundreds of conflicts. We cannot allow the relativization of international law. We cannot accept that international law is applicable to the weak but not binding on the strong. If we do, international law will have no positive impact, especially as concerns the principle of territorial integrity. We must not allow the undermining of a principle on the basis of which the United Nations was established 63 years ago in the aftermath of the Second World War as a consequence of the bankruptcy of the League of Nations. That founding principle of the United Nations is the principle of law and of opposition to the unlawful use of force. Not all members come from countries neighbouring Georgia or from countries in or near Europe, but the problem of Georgia is a problem for us all, for every country that is grappling with issues relating to territorial integrity or to stronger neighbours abusing their advantages. The international order should be based on strict compliance with the United Nations Charter by all subjects of international law — first and foremost, by all States. It should be based on common responsibility for the fate of countries incapable of ensuring their own security alone. Those were the motives that guided my response to the Georgian conflict and the actions of the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. The complete implementation of the peace plan, which should also cover the issue of the territorial integrity of Georgia, is a prerequisite for the further discussions about the Caucasus to be held in Geneva in October and a prerequisite for the future of relations between the European Union — of which Poland is the twenty- sixth member — and Russia. Those relations can be correct and mutual only if both sides respect international law in their relations both with each other and with third parties. One expression of Poland’s involvement in international security is its participation in a counter- terrorism coalition in many volatile regions of the world. Today, more than 3,500 Polish troops and police officers are taking part in global peacekeeping and stabilization forces — from Africa to the Balkans, through the Middle East and Asia. Iraq was one such place. Through the five years of its presence in Iraq, Poland has made efforts to help its Iraqi friends and allies to ensure strengthened external and internal security. Its mission, the main stage of which comes to an end this year, has clearly been a success. Iraq today is definitely safer and more stable than a few years ago, despite the doubts expressed in some circles. What remains a challenge, however, is the situation in Afghanistan. We deeply believe that the mission in Afghanistan, in which Poland is also taking an active part, is bound to end in success, not only a military success in the fight against terrorism but also the success of the Afghan nation in improving its day- to-day existence. Military action must also be accompanied by measures to stabilize the Afghan economy, improve the internal security situation and enable Afghanistan to grow more quickly. I should like to believe that this mission will end successfully. The continuing lack of stability in the Middle East is a source of concern for almost — the “almost” is regrettable — every country in the world, including Poland. The lengthy process of building an independent Palestinian State should be completed as soon as possible, for the sake of Palestinians and Israelis alike, both nations being Poland’s friends. We wish the Palestinian people every success in their struggle for an independent State. To Israel, with which we have important historic ties, because many of its citizens come from Poland, we wish successes and peace, a peace much needed by Israel. I note with pleasure that our hopes are being raised by the situation in Lebanon. Poland believes that the elections and the new President will bring the stability and peace for which the Lebanese people have been waiting for 35 years — and even before that the situation was often difficult. We wish the new Lebanese authorities and the nation of Lebanon every success. We will be involved in this part of the world in a spirit of international solidarity and because of our historic ties with the region. The issues I have mentioned cannot be resolved by a single State or a single group of States. Today we 33 08-51839 see clearly that we need joint action by all countries: rich and poor, from both the east and the west. However, in today’s world, where the division into east and west is no longer as important as it was in the past, what we need above all is solidarity between north and south; we must give help to those in need. We need to promote democracy, of course adapting it to the cultural conditions and traditions of a given State, because, regardless of its flaws, there has never in our history been a system more friendly to mankind. We should act jointly and in a spirit of solidarity through effectively operating international structures such as the United Nations and its agencies, which have global reach and an unchallenged position. The Secretary-General rightly says that there should be deeper coordination between the work of the agencies, irrespective of the great successes which the bodies affiliated to the United Nations have scored over recent decades. What is most important, however, is to ensure universal respect for international law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. I hope that when we meet next year during the sixty-fourth session the world will be slightly safer and a little closer to the principles that I have had the honour to refer to in this address.