The
establishment of the United Nations came about
through the fundamental recognition of our
interdependence as peoples and nations. Canada was
among its founding members, who were inspired at the
time by the need to create an international consensus
for the stability and security of a world ravaged by war,
more than 60 years ago. There is therefore no more
appropriate forum than this one for me, as Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Canada, to reaffirm my country’s
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commitment to collective action, namely, to work
together with all countries to pursue shared objectives
and overcome common challenges.
The global economic and financial crisis, as well
as the global security and environmental threats facing us,
have underscored the extent of that interdependence. We
have placed economic recovery and growth at the top of
our priorities and have taken decisive action in Canada
to mitigate the impact of the crisis on all Canadians.
However, the recovery of Canada’s economy cannot
happen in isolation from economic recovery across the
world. Moreover, protectionism is a common threat to all
of the world’s economies. History has taught us that we
cannot hope to emerge from the current crisis if we
impede global trade in an effort to protect our national
economies. We therefore need vigorous and effective
consultation at the highest levels so that we can work
together to resist the protectionist urge.
Since the establishment of the United Nations,
more than 100,000 Canadians have served in United
Nations missions in Africa, the Americas, the Asia-
Pacific region and the Middle East. Today, thousands
of others — soldiers, police, diplomats, aid workers
and others — are working in support of missions led or
mandated by the United Nations around the world.
Eradicating terrorism in all its forms is the
responsibility both of Canadians and of the United
Nations. Indeed, Canada is committed to combating
terrorism and to ensuring that the perpetrators and
supporters of terrorism are held accountable for their
actions. The Taliban in particular are a threat to global
peace and security. Like the United Nations, Canada is
determined to eradicate that threat.
Our mission in Afghanistan is the most vivid
illustration of Canada’s determination to that end. It also
constitutes our most significant overseas contribution.
Canada’s mission is an efficient, integrated, civilian-
military partnership of approximately 2,800 military
personnel and more than 100 civilians. Those Canadians
are working tirelessly and making great sacrifices in
support of the United Nations-mandated Mission to
reconstitute a stable and secure Afghanistan that is at
last led by Afghans themselves.
In the months ahead, Canada will expect Afghan
political leaders to make progress on key priorities —
from good governance to anti-corruption efforts and
from reconciliation to reconstruction, economic growth
and regional cooperation, so as to promote stability in
their country. As they tackle the many challenges
ahead, they must ensure that their efforts promote,
protect and improve human rights in a concrete
manner, in particular the rights and living conditions of
Afghan women and girls.
Canada is also providing significant assistance to
Haiti, where our contribution will total $555 million
between 2006 and 2011. We aim to promote democracy,
security and economic growth and, above all, to secure a
better future for all of Haiti’s children and young people.
Many other challenges remain. Canada regrets
the deteriorating security situation in southern Sudan,
and we call for the full implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Along the same
lines, we encourage all parties to the Darfur conflict to
end hostilities through the joint mediation of the
United Nations and the African Union. Canada is
determined to contribute to resolving the conflict in the
Sudan. Since 2006, we have disbursed more than
$640 million in support of international efforts to
achieve sustainable peace in that country.
We are all acutely conscious that nuclear
proliferation is a global threat we all face. Canada was
deeply troubled by the recent revelation that Iran has
been building a covert uranium enrichment facility for
several years. We condemn Iran’s continued refusal to
respect Security Council resolutions and International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations. We
therefore call on Iran to allow the IAEA immediate and
unfettered access to all sites, including that facility. We
expect a full investigation.
We hope that talks between Iran and the five
permanent members of the Security Council plus
Germany that are scheduled for 1 October will address
the continued duplicity surrounding Iran’s nuclear
programme. Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada
has been clear in his discussions with President
Obama, Prime Minister Brown, President Sarkozy and
our other allies. Canada will welcome the efforts
deemed necessary to remove what is clearly a threat to
international peace and security.
In that regard, Canada commended President
Obama for having taken the initiative to organize a
summit meeting of the Security Council on the issue of
non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament (see
S/PV.6191). We commit ourselves to working with other
countries to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and
47 09-52592
new terrorist threats. However, finding a diplomatic
solution to those problems will require that we mobilize
political will to ensure that every country adheres to
the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.
(spoke in English)
At this time of the year in my country, the leaves
on the trees are changing colours. That dramatic
display reminds all Canadians of the need to protect
our natural heritage, which is one of the most majestic
in the world. But neither borders nor seasons can stop
the havoc caused by climate change. Canada therefore
remains committed to an ambitious post-2012 global
climate change agreement that is consistent with the
principles and provisions of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and
supports sustainable, low-carbon global growth.
We are committed to taking domestic actions to
reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per
cent from 2006 levels by the year 2020, and by 60 to
70 per cent by 2050. Canada is a world leader in the
development of clean technologies to combat climate
change, including carbon capture and storage. We seek
to establish a new global partnership that will advance
the development and deployment of those technologies.
Canada joined other countries at the L’Aquila
meeting of the Group of Eight (G-8) and at the Major
Economies Forum in affirming the broad scientific
view that the increase in global average temperature
above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed two
degrees Celsius.
This global phenomenon needs a global response.
That is why Canada wants to see all emitters be part of
this international effort. We congratulate the Secretary-
General for convening his productive Climate Change
Summit, as well as for assuming the leadership that
naturally falls to the United Nations in this area. All
major economies will be required to meet this global
challenge. This must be reflected in the context of a
fair, equitable and effective agreement at Copenhagen
in December.
Adaptation to the impacts of climate change is an
important issue for all countries. It must be a core
element of a post-2012 climate change regime if we are
to build resilience to climate change impacts. Canada
has contributed significantly to a number of initiatives,
including the World Bank’s Pilot Program for Climate
Resilience. We continue to support international action
that strengthens the capacity of the poorest and most
vulnerable to adapt to a changing climate.
As an Arctic State and Power, Canada is proud of
its long-standing sovereignty over that increasingly
promising territory. Canada also recognizes the important
responsibility that we have to Northerners and to the
sustainable development and environmental protection of
the region. Cooperation with our Arctic neighbours and
the peaceful pursuit of our interests has underpinned
and will continue to underpin Canada’s arctic foreign
policy and to guide our actions in the region. Through
our bilateral and multilateral engagement — whether at
the United Nations and the Arctic Council or in
working with our Arctic partners — Canada will continue
to show leadership on such Arctic issues as shipping, oil
and gas and contaminants and biodiversity.
Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, 61 years ago, Canada has worked
vigorously to strengthen the United Nations human
rights machinery to ensure the credibility and integrity
of fair and balanced mechanisms to promote human
rights and fundamental freedoms. Human rights are an
important part of Canadian foreign policy and our
relations with Member States. During our recently
completed term on the Human Rights Council, Canada
worked to make it a forum for constructive international
dialogue. We will continue to work towards building an
efficient, responsive and credible Human Rights
Council that is true to its founding principles. Canada
will also continue to promote respect for basic human
rights and the freedom of expression and association.
And we will continue to advocate for those unjustly
detained in the world’s most abusive regimes.
Finding the political will to translate our values into
actions and ensuring that we continue to hold to account
those who would violate basic human rights is in the
interest of all Member States. Supporting those who
are making sincere efforts to advance the human rights
of their populations is also one of our collective
objectives.
Canada is meeting its international commitments.
We are on track to double our international assistance
to $5 billion by 2010. We have also already met our
commitment to double aid to Africa between 2003 and
2009. Canada will also continue to provide
humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict
and natural disasters.
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Through Canada’s chairmanship of the Sierra
Leone country-specific configuration of the
Peacebuilding Commission, we are working to bridge
the gap between humanitarian assistance and long-term
development. As Chair of the G-8 in 2010, Canada will
place emphasis on making the G-8 more accountable
and effective. Accountability means fulfilling our
commitments. Effectiveness is about strengthening our
partnerships, including with the United Nations, to
tackle challenges such as the fragility of States and
nuclear non-proliferation. Canada will also co-host the
summit of the Group of 20 (G-20) in June 2010, along
with our good friend the Republic of Korea.
Our priority will remain economic recovery and
building the foundation for sustainable growth,
including for the most vulnerable. Earlier this week,
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a concrete
and innovative contribution to that effort. Building on
our previous G-20 commitments, Canada will provide
the African Development Bank with approximately
$2.6 billion in additional lending room. That will assist
the Bank in responding quickly to the demands of its
borrowing members while it continues its poverty
reduction efforts.
I would urge representatives not to let the
dizzying succession of major events addressed here
cause them to lose sight of the importance of reforming
the Security Council. The Council is our most powerful
means of collective action. But we can, and indeed we
must, make it more effective, more accessible and more
flexible — more adapted, in fact, to the challenges and
opportunities of the broader international community.
Canada has long supported efforts to make the
Security Council more responsive to today’s security
challenges and more representative of the world’s
regions, in particular Africa, which has been
historically underrepresented. Any real reform must
lead to increased transparency and accountability. That
will not be achieved by extending the privileges of a
few to a few more, but through democratically elected
access to the Security Council and through more
consultation with and openness to the wider
membership of the United Nations.
In conclusion, this small reminder of the
responsibility we all bear for our citizens’ economic,
environmental and nuclear security can leave us
perplexed or even worried. But what we must never
forget is that, in this seemingly uneven battle, we have
in our arsenal the most effective weapons ever devised
by humankind, namely, freedom, democracy, human
rights and the rule of law.