Zweeds voorzitterschap bij Algemene vergadering Verenigde naties: "Europa wil samenwerken met de rest van de wereld" (en)

Fredrik Reinfeldt speaks on behalf of the EU at the UN General Assembly General Debate on 23 September in New York.

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Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Mr President of the General Assembly,

Mr Secretary-General,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the beginning, there were fifty-one nations. Committed to international peace and security. Sharing the common goal of developing friendly relations among nations. Promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

Today, the fifty-one nations of the first General Assembly have become one-hundred and ninety-two. Today, the General Assembly really is the town hall meeting of the world.

On behalf of the twenty-seven Member States of the European Union, I bring a message of cooperation and partnership. A message that our Union is open to the outside world.

* * *

Globalisation is good. Through globalisation, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty. Information, ideas and inventions. Goods and services. It all moves quickly from one country to another.

We prosper from this. It enlightens us. It helps us understand the ways of other parts of the world.

But at the same time, globalisation means that one nation’s problems will also come knocking at the doors of other nations.

Pandemics, food crises, organized crime. Trafficking in drugs and humans. Terrorism, violent ideologies. No longer limited by borders. No longer only one nation’s problem. And so, we have to manage the risks and threats that follow.

In this work, we need the United Nation’s broad-based legitimacy for international actions and norms to coordinate our efforts. And the United Nations, for its part, has to adapt to stay relevant and to be able to address the issues before us. The European Union wishes to contribute to these efforts.

We welcome the declared wish of the United States to work together with others in multilateral institutions. This opens the door to a promising new era in international cooperation.

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We are facing one of the biggest challenges of our generation. Our world has a fever. And the fever is rising.

In the most vulnerable of the world’s nations the consequences of climate change will be alarming. Starvation, severe flooding and climate migration will be a reality – even if we keep to the two-degree target set by the UN.

No doubt, developed countries will have to lead the fight against climate change. We will have to reduce emissions by twenty-five to forty per cent from 1990 levels to 2020.

But for emissions to peak by no later than 2020 – for them to be reduced by at least fifty per cent by 2050 and continue to decline thereafter – our efforts alone will not be enough.

The developing countries need our help. They need our help to pay the bill that we, through our emissions, have contributed to.

That is why the European Union last week agreed to start discussions on how much climate financing is needed in developing countries. That is why we are taking concrete steps. That is why we are putting one more brick into the negotiations. And we urge other developed countries to do the same.

At the meeting of the leaders of G8 and Major Economies Forum in Italy this summer there was agreement on the two degree target.

Now, we need to see increased commitment. Concrete mid-term targets by developed as well as developing countries.

If we want our children, and their children, to experience nature as we know it; we must act now. And every nation or group of nations has to do its part.

The EU is willing to do its part.

We will reduce our emissions. We will promote low carbon growth, contribute our fair share of financing and support adaptation worldwide. And we will remain committed to playing a leading role in bringing about a global and comprehensive climate agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

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What started out as the pursuit of easy money, unhealthy risk-taking and, in some cases, pure greed, escalated this last year into a financial roller-coaster. The effects on both human security and development have been severe.

The European Union will continue to promote global financial stability and sustainable world recovery.

Firmly committed to taking comprehensive, targeted and coordinated action to support developing countries, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.

Determined to reach a comprehensive agreement of the Doha Round, making sure it contains elements of real value for developing countries, particularly the poorest.

Continuing efforts to lift more people out of poverty in reaching the Millennium Development Goals and to achieve our respective Official Development Assistance targets.

* * *

Human rights are universal. Human rights are indivisible.

The European Union is a voice for human rights. We believe in democracy. We believe in the rule of law.

The European Union will continue to call for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty. In all cases. Under all circumstances.

The European Union will continue to stand up for the empowerment of women and gender equality. Without this, it will be impossible to draw on all those talents that are needed for a nation to move from poverty to development and prosperity.

* * *

To uphold these fundamental values we need security.

We cannot let war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity go unpunished.

Therefore, the work of the International Criminal Court is fully supported by the European Union.

We cannot allow anyone to, by threat or use of force, act against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The rules of international law apply equally to all states, large and small.

The European Union stands ready to continue working with the United Nations in peacekeeping and peace building. We also conduct our own peacekeeping efforts – often in close cooperation with the UN. The transfers of responsibilities in Chad and in Kosovo are examples of this.

Twenty years after the end of the cold war, peace and security is still threatened by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; by the fact that these weapons risk falling into the wrong hands.

We strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to renounce nuclear weapons and we stand ready to engage in this matter.

We also welcome the Global Nuclear Security Summit which will take place next year.

* * *

Europe and Africa are close. In geography – but also through globalisation and via strong partnership.

The European Union provides support to Africa when needed: Our naval operation, Atalanta, off the coast of Somalia, protects vessels delivering humanitarian aid, as well as providing support to AMISOM. We have for many years cooperated with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We speak out on injustice on the African continent: The use of sexual violence as a weapon of intimidation and terror is appalling. The attacks on women and girls in Eastern Congo and other places are unacceptable. To protect we must empower. And so, to empower women in conflict situations, Security Council resolutions 1325 and 1820 have to be implemented.

We wish to see a free, democratic and prosperous Africa: This is especially true in the case of Zimbabwe. The Global Political Agreement and the formation of the Government of National Unity was an important step forward.

However, implementing the agreement requires commitment. It requires a spirit of cooperation. In this matter, much remains to be done.

* * *

Europe is a union of many cultures. Our openness to the world around us is evident in the fact that Christians, Jews and Muslims, those who believe in God and those who do not, can live side by side in mutual respect.

The European Union wishes to enhance its interaction with the Muslim world. Through the Alliance of Civilisations. Through cooperation in education and development. By providing opportunities for the young.

In this way, we can create an environment that will allow us to focus on what we have in common rather than on our perceived differences.

Afghan children show the same curiosity as children all over the world, including my own. Longing for knowledge, wanting to take part, full of excitement over what life has to offer.

In order to invest in the future of Afghanistan – in order to invest in human development – we can not let their light be shut out.

As a friend of the people of Afghanistan, the European Union is committed to assisting them in stabilizing, democratizing and developing their country. Education, also for young girls and women, is indispensable.

In the years ahead, we need to do more to ensure that this is the way forward for Afghanistan.

As a partner of Pakistan, we know that what happens in Pakistan not only influences the Pakistanis, but the development of the region as a whole. Therefore, it is crucial to continue assisting Pakistan in its efforts to develop the rule of law and to build a more stable, more democratic society.

As a friend of the people of Israel, we tell the Israeli Government to reach out for peace. To end occupation. To respect international law. To work for a two state solution. To immediately end all settlement activities on occupied land, including in East Jerusalem. And to end the isolation of Gaza.

As a friend of the Palestinians, we expect them to stop all violent acts against Israel. To continue to build viable state institutions. To develop democracy and the rule of law. We will both continue to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority and assist in capacity building on the ground.

In this matter, the European Union fully supports the United States’ efforts. To resume peace negotiations and to stand ready to actively contribute to their success.

The future of both Israel and Palestine lies in cooperation.

As a friend of the people of Iran, we are concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation and the violent crackdown of popular protests. The Iranian nuclear issue represents a major challenge to international peace and security, to regional stability and to the non-proliferation regime. Iran must regain the trust of the international community, comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and contribute to peace in the Middle East.

As a friend of the people of Burma/Myanmar, we will tell the military leaders: only democracy and human rights can bring peace and stability to the people you say you represent.

* * *

Mr President,

The Swedish statesman and former UN Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, once said: “The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.”

This was true then and it is true today.

The people of the world need to know that uniting nations is not a work of the past, but of the future. Carried forward by shared values and by mutual respect. Ever more relevant with increased globalisation.

In this common endeavour the European Union will remain a reliable partner. For security, for development and for human rights.

Always contributing actively to improving and strengthening the United Nations.

Always continuing to refine the instruments needed to deal with opportunities and threats alike.

Always willing to do its part in helping to create a better world to live in for future generations, everywhere.

Thank you Mr President.