Lebanon
has again been set ablaze by war, a further
manifestation of the interminable conflict in the Middle
East whose tragedies have, for 60 years now,
punctuated the life of the United Nations.
By endlessly deferring its settlement, this
confrontation has become the epicentre of international
instability, the main source of incomprehension
between the different worlds and an easy alibi for all
forms of terrorism.
This situation is not a foregone conclusion. With
Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), the United
Nations is shouldering its responsibilities. The
unanimous adoption of this resolution has brought the
fighting to an end. France, Europe and Asia have
contributed to the strengthening of United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
But the fire is still smouldering. It is now up to
all the parties to work towards the consolidation of
peace and the recovery of Lebanon.
It is now up to Israel to complete the withdrawal
of its forces. It is up to the Lebanese Government to
affirm its sovereignty throughout its territory. And it is
up to the countries in the region to cooperate fully in
order to ensure the success of resolution 1701 (2006),
to cooperate with the United Nations.
In this highly sensitive region where divides
meet, the status quo has become unbearable. Because
the conflict in the Middle East is a threat to global
peace and security, the world has no option but to be
the guarantor of peace. Let us tread off the beaten track
of habit. Let us define a global strategy the key to
which is an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.
The parameters for that settlement are well-
known, namely, the secure coexistence of two viable
States, as has already been widely accepted by both
peoples; safe and recognized borders; and a fair
solution for refugees and for Jerusalem. All that still
stands between Israelis and Palestinians and the peace
to which they aspire is the deep-seated, mutual distrust
of two peoples shattered by history and reeling from
their sufferings and ordeals. Let us now stop extremists
from laying down the law! Let us help peoples and
leaders bold enough to seek peace! Like, before them,
Sadat and Begin, Rabin and Arafat! Before this
Assembly, I call on the world to commit itself to
restoring the conditions for confidence.
The Quartet should meet shortly to start preparing
an international conference. I propose that the
conference define in advance the guarantees that we
are prepared to provide to the parties as soon as they
reach an agreement. I also propose that the conference
pave the way for a new future in the Middle East
through a regional framework for collective security,
economic integration and dialogue among cultures.
Building peace means fighting terrorism. It
means preventing proliferation. It means shouldering
the “responsibility to protect” that we enshrined here
last year.
International legality must prevail over the threats
of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In the
crisis with Iran, confidence has been impaired by the
existence of hidden programmes. We have extended
ambitious offers of cooperation to that major country,
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provided it restores confidence by suspending its
contentious activities. Dialogue must prevail. Let us
talk in order to enter into negotiations.
Given the seriousness of what is at stake, the
international community must stand firm and united.
We do not aim to call regimes into question. We aim to
ensure security in accordance with international law
and with due regard for the sovereignty of all
countries.
The “responsibility to protect” — that was what
we affirmed here. In Darfur, millions of people are
threatened. A crime against humanity looms.
Bloodshed and turmoil are about to convulse the very
heart of Africa again.
France entreats the international community to
ward off a further humanitarian catastrophe. I solemnly
call on Sudan to accept the United Nations peace
mission without delay. I call on the International
Criminal Court to bring to justice those responsible for
these crimes.
The time has come for the immense continent of
Africa, with its wealth of peoples and vibrant youth,
which has embarked on the road to growth and reform,
to find, at long last, a destiny worthy of it and of the
cradle of humanity it represents. Humanity must be
united and there must be solidarity among its diverse
peoples. Humanity needs, more than ever, a strong and
respected United Nations, the irreplaceable tool for
shared sovereignty and responsibility.
It is here that universal and sacred human rights
must be defended and protected. With the new Human
Rights Council and the International Criminal Court,
the United Nations returns to this primary vocation. Let
us not disappoint the hopes of all those who love
freedom and justice.
At a time when the world’s wealth is increasing
as never before, the separation between the rich and
poor is becoming intolerable. From its inception, the
United Nations has stood for the moral imperatives of
fairness and solidarity. For this reason France wishes to
submit to the United Nations the idea of innovative
development financing mechanisms such as the
international solidarity levy on airplane tickets, a
modern, pragmatic and experimental response to the
need to fight poverty and pandemics. In this spirit we
will be launching the International Drug Purchase
Facility (UNITAID) initiative this afternoon. Let us
overcome selfishness and dogmatism and give the
generous idea of a world united for human progress a
chance.
Finally, we all know that uncontrolled human
activity is bringing about a sort of slow collective
suicide. Disaster can only be averted if nations can
come together to support jointly agreed commitments.
Let us create a United Nations for the environment, as
the expression of the world’s ecological conscience and
the premier forum in which we take common action for
future generations. France will host an international
conference next year to bring together all those who
want to make progress on this project, which is crucial
to the future of the planet.
For 10 years now, a man has held high the torch
of the United Nations and our universal values. Today,
I wish to pay Kofi Annan the solemn and merited
honour of our profound admiration, of our respect and
of our recognition.
In a few weeks’ time, we will appoint a new
Secretary-General, who will be faced with immense
challenges. He will be able to count on the support of
France, on its unswerving commitment to serving
peace and justice, fraternity and progress.