Austria, 2012

The events of recent

months have illustrated once again the importanceof the United Nations as a multilateral forum for

addressing today’s crises and challenges. The conflicts

in Syria and Mali and the ongoing reform processes in

many parts of the Arab world demonstrate that we can

face such challenges only through concerted action.

In Syria, thousands have lost their lives in their

struggle for freedom and reform owing to crimes

committed by a regime that denies them every basic

human right in order to stay in power. Austria condemns

the systematic human rights violations and bloodshed

in Syria in the strongest possible terms. The more than

27,000 victims and some 2.5 million people in dire

need of humanitarian assistance are a stark reminder

for each and every one of us that it is high time for the

United Nations to finally act. The Security Council, in

particular, must assume its responsibilities in relation

to the ever-worsening situation in the country. Violence

has to stop immediately, and both sides have to engage

in a meaningful dialogue facilitated by Joint Special

Representative Lakhdar Brahimi. There will be no

solution unless President Al-Assad steps aside and

gives way to the forces of reason and reconciliation.

Austria continues to fully support the ongoing

transition processes in the Arab world. We welcome

the efforts undertaken so far to lay the foundations

for more open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We

encourage the newly empowered authorities to fulfil

their mandate for democratic change responsibly. The

aspirations of the people for dignity and freedom must

be satisfied, thereby contributing to peace and stability

in the region.

In that context, let me reiterate my strongest

condemnation of the recent attacks on diplomatic

missions and personnel, especially the murder of

Ambassador Chris Stevens and three of his colleagues

in Benghazi. Violence is never an acceptable response

to the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of

speech. To attack an Embassy and its personnel is not

only contrary to international law but an attack on the

very ideals that the United Nations stands for, namely,

the peaceful cooperation of Member States to build a

better future together.

The still unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict

continues to gravely destabilize the Middle

East. The terms of a negotiated and sustainable

solution — two States with secure and mutually

recognized borders — have been discussed over and

over again and are broadly supported by the people and the international community, and yet we experienced a

complete lack of progress in the last year. We therefore

call on the leadership on both sides to finally assume

their responsibilities and enable a lasting peace and

security to be established for their children and future

generations.

The situation in Mali also continues to be a

matter of grave concern. Austria has been dismayed

by the political turmoil, with its disastrous effects on

the Malian population. Growing insecurity and the

continued deterioration of the humanitarian and human

rights situation call for concerted action. The high-level

meeting held on Wednesday was an important signal

that we are moving in that direction. We fully support

the efforts by the Economic Community of West

African States and the African Union to try to find,

together with the United Nations, a lasting political

solution to the crisis in Mali and the Sahel region as

a whole. Austria will advocate for increased support

from the European Union to contribute to that end.

In the light of the crises and challenges the

international community is facing, Austria welcomes

President Jeremić’s timely choice of theme to highlight

the peaceful settlement of disputes in this year’s

general debate. Prevention is always better — and

cheaper — than a cure. The progress made in Sierra

Leone, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and Myanmar testifies how

successful sustainable mediation efforts can be.

The peaceful settlement of disputes can be achieved

only through open dialogue, based on mutual respect.

Austria has a long-standing tradition of promoting

intercultural and interreligious dialogue. We are proud

to host the fifth Global Forum of the United Nations

Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna. It will take place on

27 and 28 February 2013, under the title “Responsible

Leadership in Diversity and Dialogue”. Austria highly

values the contribution of youth as a transformative

force. Therefore, the day before the Global Forum will

be dedicated to the Alliance of Civilizations youth

event in order to benefit from their views.

In that context, I am also pleased to inform that

the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre

for lnterreligious and Intercultural Dialogue will be

inaugurated on 26 November in Vienna. The Centre,

a joint initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Austria,

will certainly offer a significant contribution to the

promotion of dialogue.

We need to be clear that sustainable peace and

development go hand in hand with respect for human

rights, democracy and the rule of law. These are universal

values that no human being should be denied. We must

not falter until this goal is achieved. In 2011, Austria

was elected to the Human Rights Council. We fully

support the Council and its mechanisms, especially the

universal periodic review. The Council is best placed

to react swiftly in case of human rights emergencies.

Its special sessions on Syria and Libya illustrated that

the international community will not turn a blind eye

on gross human rights violations and indiscriminate

attacks against the civilian population. Human rights

abuses must not go unpunished. Violations must be

thoroughly investigated and perpetrators must be

held accountable before credible judicial institutions,

including the International Criminal Court.

Our membership of the Human Rights Council

is an opportunity to continue working on the key

priorities that Austria pursued during its Security

Council membership in 2009 and 2010: the protection of

civilians, the safety of journalists, the implementation

of resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security,

the freedom of religion and belief, and the protection of

children from violence and abuse.

The High-level Meeting of 24 September was an

important opportunity to renew our commitment to

the rule of law at the national and international levels.

It now needs an adequate follow-up. As chair of the

Group of Friends of the Rule of Law, Austria will

provide concrete proposals for the upcoming report of

the Secretary-General.

The various United Nations headquarters in Vienna

are a hub for promoting peace and security. The work

of the International Atomic Energy Agency is more

relevant than ever. I am pleased that we can now also

draw on additional services from the new office of the

Office for Disarmament Affairs established in Vienna.

Austria is deeply concerned about programmes

for weapons of mass destruction and proliferation

activities in several regions of the world. The creation

of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of

mass destruction in the Middle East is more urgent than

ever. In that respect, let me underline that Iran must

finally give credible evidence for the peaceful nature of

its nuclear programmeme and engage in earnest in the

talks with the European Union three plus one group.

The continued inability to even initiate substantive multilateral disarmament negotiations is unacceptable.

Austria is committed to working with other interested

States to move forward on that crucial issue. I would

like to thank the Secretary-General for his continued

support in that matter.

We need to move beyond a strictly military security

approach that originates from the Cold War period. It

is time to change the discourse on nuclear weapons.

Any use of nuclear weapons would be devastating for

the whole world in its humanitarian and environmental

effects. In the twenty-first century, such an existential

threat to humankind can no longer be handled

exclusively by a few States as a national security matter.

Austria is committed to strengthening and further

developing international law and a humanitarian

approach to advance the global disarmament and

non-proliferation agenda. A lot has been achieved in

the past two decades, as evidenced by the successful

conclusions of the conventions to ban anti-personnel

mines and cluster munitions. We hope that similar

progress can be achieved on the arms trade treaty in the

coming months. Other Member States should join the

emerging consensus on regulating the trade in arms in

a comprehensive manner.

Vienna and its United Nations headquarters also

serve as a platform for the discussion on sustainable

development. We welcome the decision of the Secretary-

General to establish an implementation office for his

Sustainable Energy for All initiative. That will help

to advance this important agenda. Universal access to

energy and the improvement of energy efficiency, along

with a higher share of renewable energy, are goals that

will help bring electricity to the billion and a half people

worldwide lacking access. Equally, it will help control

greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, which

threaten the very existence of many Member States.

This year’s United Nations Conference on

Sustainable Development marked the beginning of a

new era, renewing the prospects for future generations

via the sustainable development goals, as tailored to

the needs of different countries or groups of States

and regions. While implementing those new global

goals, we should not cease our efforts to achieve the

Millennium Development Goals by the target date of

2015.

Austria remains fully committed to an effective

multilateral system. Therefore we will support the

efforts of the President of the Assembly and of the

Secretary-General to further increase the effectiveness

of our Organization in order to better enable us to face

the challenges of our time.