This has been a truly
remarkable week, remarkable for the leadership shown
by the Secretary-General on climate change, the new
policies of President Obama, which he so eloquently
set out before us, the constructive responses to those
initiatives from many parts of the world and the
historic meeting of the Security Council, which
committed itself to a world without nuclear weapons.
We have all witnessed something new and different: a
genuine opportunity for a real renaissance of
multilateralism.
There is a real chance to turn the United Nations
once again into what was originally envisaged in the
Charter: not just a forum for discussion, but a place for
action, the central focal point of the efforts of the
international community to find common solutions to
common challenges. It will depend on each and every
Member of the Organization to make sure that this
21 09-52592
historic opportunity is seized. Cooperation is not a
mere option, but an indispensable necessity, if we want
to succeed.
Together, we must build a world based on
predictable and equitable rules applicable to every
Member, big or small, strong or weak. Adherence to
the rule of law and the principles of the Charter is
critical to conflict prevention, stability and sustainable
long-term development.
A year ago, Member States entrusted my country
with a seat on the Security Council for the years 2009-
2010. We take that responsibility very seriously.
One important focus of our work in the Council is
to improve the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
Despite significant progress, armed conflicts continue
to darken the lives of men, women and children in
many parts of the world.
Austria has been working actively with others on
expanding the monitoring and reporting of serious
violations of children’s rights. Austria fully supports
Security Council resolution 1820 (2008) and the
follow-up resolution to be adopted next week as a
decisive response by the international community to
sexual violence in conflict situations. At the same time,
Austria attaches great importance to the participation
of women in the promotion of peace and security.
Women must have a voice in every peace process
throughout the world.
But many challenges remain. How can we
improve the protection of civilians on the ground, in
particular in situations in which the Council has
provided peacekeeping operations with a clear
protection mandate? How can we ensure better
compliance by parties to conflict with their obligations
under international humanitarian law — for instance,
to allow full access for humanitarian assistance? We
will therefore use our Security Council presidency in
November to identify concrete measures to improve the
protection of civilians. In order to do so, I invite all
partners to join me in an open debate on 13 November.
I am pleased that the Secretary-General has agreed to
participate.
In recent years, several peacekeeping missions —
such as the United Nations Organization Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo — have been
mandated by the Council to ensure the physical
protection of the civilian population.
Its role of providing protection to refugees and
internally displaced persons was a strong factor in
Austria’s decision to contribute troops to the European
Union and United Nations Missions in Chad and the
Central African Republic. Austria has also contributed
to the United Nations study analysing experience in the
implementation of such protection mandates in peace
operations. We thus hope to contribute to the overall
efforts to reform United Nations peacekeeping. Our
aim must be to have more effective and better-
resourced peacekeeping missions that are in a position
to implement their mandates in a credible and
consistent manner.
To achieve sustainable peace, security and
development, peacekeeping must be complemented by
the rebuilding of functioning institutions, particularly
in the judiciary and the security sector. In that context,
we commend the efforts of the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime in combating corruption,
organized crime and drug trafficking.
The Peacebuilding Commission is a new form of
partnership between countries emerging from conflict,
donors and main providers of personnel to United
Nations missions to ensure that support is tailored to
specific local needs. Austria is committed to the work
of the Peacebuilding Commission, and has recently
joined the country-specific configuration for Sierra
Leone, a model case for successful peacebuilding.
Sustainable peace can be achieved only when a
society also addresses its past. The establishment of
effective justice and reconciliation mechanisms at the
national level is crucial to end impunity and to ensure
the rights of victims. Such efforts can be
complemented by international criminal justice
mechanisms, such as the ad hoc tribunals and the
International Criminal Court.
Peace, security and stability are preconditions for
sustainable development. Eradicating extreme poverty
and hunger continues to be one of the main challenges
facing the international community. Achieving the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is far from
assured. In view of the global financial crisis,
increased efforts by the international community are
urgently needed. Austria will contribute its share to
that global endeavour.
All those efforts will be in vain if we are unable
to protect our planet. Climate change is a fundamental
threat to humankind, aggravating poverty, hunger,
09-52592 22
environmental degradation and insecurity, and thus
seriously threatening the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. The United Nations
Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen
in December must decide on concrete actions to curb
climate change on the basis of mutual trust and strong
international cooperation.
Climate and energy measures can also be an
important part of our response to the current economic
crisis. Investments in green technologies and
sustainable, affordable and stable energy supplies will
benefit both the economy and the climate.
The Security Council summit on nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament held earlier this
week issued a strong call for a world free of nuclear
weapons. For that vision to become reality, we need
progress on several fronts.
Austria, as Co-Chair, together with Costa Rica, of
the 2007 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into
Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
and co-leader of the process for the past two years, is
proud to have contributed to bringing the Treaty closer
to entering into force.
As current Chair of the Conference on
Disarmament in Geneva, Austria is working hard to
translate the recent positive momentum into substantial
progress, especially on a verifiable fissile material cut-
off treaty.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must be
reinforced. The Review Conference of Parties to the
Treaty to be held next year will have to agree on a
package of measures and procedures that address the
key issues, but most of all it will need to build trust and
confidence.
Let me continue with three short remarks on
conventional disarmament.
First, I appeal to all States to make a success of
the Second Review Conference of the Ottawa
Landmines Ban Convention, to be held in Colombia in
December, and, in particular, to ensure improved
assistance to victims.
Secondly, I welcome the growing support for the
Convention on Cluster Munitions, which Austria
ratified in April. We appeal to all other States to sign
and ratify it as soon as possible.
Thirdly, we must counter the illegal proliferation
of small arms and light weapons. An arms trade treaty
would be an important step in that regard. Hoping to
contribute to speedy negotiations, Austria will host an
international conference in Vienna in February next
year.
With regard to the Iranian nuclear programme, it
is indispensable that Iran fully comply with all relevant
Security Council resolutions and closely cooperate
with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The
most recent announcement by the Government of Iran
concerning an additional enrichment facility is
discouraging and further increases our concern.
As an important regional actor, Iran has the
responsibility to contribute to peace and security in the
area. The time has now come for Iran to finally enter
into a constructive dialogue with the international
community. Iran should therefore grasp the hand
extended by its international partners and engage in
genuine and serious negotiations. The debates during
this week have clearly shown that the world will not
accept an Iran armed with nuclear weapons.
Let me also underline that Austria firmly rejects
the unacceptable remarks made by President
Ahmadinejad during his speech on Wednesday. We
reject any abuse of the United Nations General
Assembly as a platform for intolerance, anti-Semitism,
and racial hatred.
Mr. Grauls (Belgium), Vice-President took the
Chair.
Regarding the Middle East, we saw this week’s
summit between President Obama, Prime Minister
Netanyahu and President Abbas as a sign of hope. We
appeal to the parties to remove any remaining obstacles
to the early resumption of negotiations.
After decades of hostility and violence, time has
come to move decisively forward. Israel’s right to exist
in security and peace and the realization of the rights
of the Palestinian people to their own State are not
mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they are both
crucial elements of a comprehensive and just solution.
Austria will continue to help establish the
economic foundation and the institutional
infrastructure of a future Palestine State. It will also,
within the framework of the European Union,
contribute to the efforts to promote a dynamic and
results-oriented peace process.
23 09-52592
International cooperation and dialogue are the
basis for sustainable peace and development. Only by
closely working together will we be able to
successfully address the many challenges of today’s
globalized world. We therefore appreciate President
Treki’s initiative to make the need for dialogue a main
theme of this week’s debate. Situated in the heart of
Europe, and for most of its history at the crossroads of
different cultures, religions and political systems,
Austria has developed a practice of constructive
dialogue as the host country of one of the seats of the
United Nations for the past three decades.
I have made it one of my foreign policy priorities
to position Austria even more firmly as a platform for
peace and dialogue. We stand ready to host
international negotiations and provide our services, as
we did most recently for the informal talks on Western
Sahara. Austria can be counted on to be a partner in
translating the words, ideas and initiatives of this week
into concrete action.