Belgium, 2001

I have

the honour today to speak on behalf of the European

Union, which wishes, through you, Sir, to congratulate

the President on his election. That election testifies to

the esteem of the international community for his

person and his country. I commend the speed of action

and efficiency that you have shown in the face of the

tragic events of 11 September, in adapting the agenda

for the work of this Assembly.

I would also like to associate with this tribute the

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

Mr. Secretary-General, your re-election had already

drawn attention to the unanimous appreciation of the

Member States for your exceptional qualities as a

manager, politician and humanist. The Nobel

Committee paid an even wider tribute by awarding you

the Nobel Peace Prize. The United Nations itself, here

at your side, was also a recipient of this message of

hope from a world in a state of shock, appealing to the

United Nations to remain at the centre of the

international community’s action for peace and

development.

It was the fundamental values constituting the

foundation of the United Nations that were attacked in

so cowardly a manner right here in New York on 11

September, when our host country, several thousands of

its citizens and nationals of over 60 countries were the

37

victims of a barbaric act of aggression for which no

justification can be accepted.

That attack, by its enormity, has opened our eyes

to the worldwide threat that terrorism has become. It is

our open, democratic, tolerant and multicultural

societies that were attacked through the United States.

The terrorist threat must be hunted down in each of our

countries, in our various regional organizations and, at

the world level, through the United Nations.

The European Union has most categorically

condemned the 11 September attacks, and the fight

against terrorism is now, more than ever before, one of

our top objectives. The Union has declared its total

solidarity with the United States. It has reaffirmed its

unreserved support for the military action undertaken

in the name of legitimate self-defence, in conformity

with the Charter of the United Nations and Security

Council resolution 1368 (2001).

On 21 September, an Extraordinary European

Council adopted an action plan for an unprecedented

campaign against terrorism. This plan contains a

number of specific measures intended to enhance

judicial and police cooperation, including the

introduction of a European arrest warrant. It also

includes measures to put an end to the financing of

terrorism and to improve air security. The European

Council acknowledged that the fight against terrorism

requires greater participation by the Union in the

efforts of the international community to prevent and

stabilize regional conflicts. By developing the

Common Foreign and Security Policy and bringing the

European Security and Defence Policy into operation

as soon as possible, the Union will be at its most

effective.

At the global level also, fresh impetus must be

provided to the fight against terrorism. Naturally, the

United Nations has a central role to play in developing

a coordinated and diversified strategy. We warmly

welcome the major steps that have already been taken

to that end. The most remarkable of these was the

adoption of resolution 1373 (2001) by the Security

Council on 28 September. The European Union and its

member States are already committed to rapid

enactment of the measures needed for its

implementation. We call upon all countries to

cooperate actively with the follow-up system set up by

the Security Council, and we reiterate our readiness to

provide aid in that connection to any countries that

may have technical difficulties in meeting the

requirements.

It is also essential that all States ratify without

delay the 12 conventions on combating terrorism and

apply all of their provisions. The International

Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of

Terrorism is a decisive aspect of international action

and needs to be speedily signed and ratified.

Lastly, the European Union welcomes the recent

progress made in negotiating a comprehensive

convention on international terrorism, on the basis of a

draft submitted by India. The remaining difficulties

must now be dealt with as soon as possible so that this

instrument can be ready for signing early next year.

The efforts we are making to combat terrorism

must also form part of overall efforts to build a better

world, a world in which human dignity is sacrosanct, in

which human rights and fundamental freedoms are

fully respected.

The promotion and protection of human rights

and an attachment to the principles of democracy and

the rule of law are essential components of the

European Union’s Common Foreign and Security

Policy and of its development, cooperation and

external relations. The European Union will actively

pursue its work on consolidating human rights and

fundamental freedoms, with particular insistence on the

universal, indivisible and interdependent nature of all

human rights. It will continue to support efforts by the

Secretary-General to integrate human rights into

United Nations activities at all levels and in all forums,

and to cooperate with all United Nations human rights

machinery.

The European Union welcomes the imminent

establishment of the much-awaited International

Criminal Court. The Union sees this as being of

paramount importance and urges all States that have

not yet done so to accede to the Rome Statute as soon

as possible. More than ever before, we need a universal

and permanent court capable of sanctioning the most

serious violations of international humanitarian law

and human rights, thereby contributing to peace and

security in the world. It is vital that the United Nations

give effective support to the establishment of the

Court.

Following the tragedy of 11 September, the

special session of the General Assembly on the 10-year

38

review of the World Summit for Children had to be

postponed. However, until it is held, we need to keep

up the momentum developed in the preparatory

discussions. We must continue to integrate the specific

dimension of the child into our actions and strive to

ensure that every child’s life is free from terror, the

horrors of war, abuse and exploitation, hunger and

poverty.

The European Union is resolved to continue the

fight against all forms of discrimination and violence

against women, and to ensure that all countries take

strong measures to apply the Convention on the

Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against

Women. Women must be able to enjoy their human

rights in full, on an equal footing with men. Girls must

have the same opportunities as boys, particularly in

education and access to social services. The European

Union insists also that there be equal rights to property,

credit facilities and social services, including

reproductive health services. It is in the interest of

everyone that women be able to participate fully in

economic and political life at all levels.

The Union stresses the importance of

implementing Security Council resolution 1325 (2000)

and the special attention that must be given to the

participation and full association of women on an equal

footing in all efforts aimed at maintaining and

promoting peace and security.

We must also vigorously pursue the crucial fight

against racist and discriminatory tendencies and

intolerance, which are daily realities throughout the

world. The World Conference against Racism, Racial

Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

has, I believe, shown us the way forward. It has also

enabled us to advance our ways of thinking about the

causes and origins of racism and, above all, to view our

past in a new way. What matters now is that we find

the will to close the darkest chapters of our history so

that we can build a new relationship based on mutual

respect, solidarity and partnership.

The terrible humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is

gripping the attention of the international community

just as much as the political, diplomatic, military and

economic aspects of the situation in that country. This

is the first time that the international community has

adopted such a global approach to an armed conflict.

We are convinced that this is the best — if not the

only — way to ensure effective resolution of the crisis.

The coordination of aid efforts, primarily on the ground

and as part of the range of actions undertaken by the

United Nations, remains essential.

Emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is an

absolute priority for the European Union, which has

undertaken to mobilize an aid package of over 320

million euros as soon as possible. The Union expresses

its concern about the difficulties of access, as well as of

delivering humanitarian assistance, in Afghanistan. It

supports the efforts of the United Nations specialized

agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross

and all humanitarian organizations in seeking practical

and flexible solutions. It also calls on the countries of

the region to facilitate, by all possible means,

humanitarian operations to deal with new influxes of

Afghan refugees.

The European Union recognizes the vital role of

the United Nations in the search for a peace plan for

Afghanistan. It intends to support the initiatives of the

Secretary-General and his Special Representative and

to make a constructive contribution, with regard to

both the search for an internal political solution and to

a plan for rebuilding the country. The Union also

stresses the importance of the regional dimension of

the stabilization of Afghanistan.

We must make adequate contributions to the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs so

as to ensure that it can function efficiently. The

European Union attaches particular importance to aid

to persons displaced within their countries. We

therefore welcome the fact that a unit has been

established within the Secretariat to cater to their

specific needs. Following the recent attacks against

humanitarian aid personnel, the European Union can

only call once again for the strengthening of

arrangements, particularly those of a legal and financial

nature, for guaranteeing the safety and security of

humanitarian aid workers and United Nations workers

in general.

Now more than ever, disarmament and non-

proliferation constitute the cornerstone of any peace

and security structure, and must therefore be subject to

binding multilateral norms. It is against that

background that we wish to strengthen the non-

proliferation regime, promote the rapid entry into force

of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and

reinforce the biological and toxin weapons Convention.

We must also combat the proliferation of ballistic

39

missiles and the illicit trade in light weapons and

continue to work for the complete elimination of anti-

personnel mines.

With regard to peacekeeping, the United Nations

has shown in the past year that it is better equipped and

better organized than it has been in recent times. By

way of example, I should like to mention the

operations in East Timor, Eritrea and Sierra Leone.

Progress has thus already been made on the ground in

implementing the recommendations of the Brahimi

report. But much remains to be done, and the European

Union will continue to provide its active support for

improving the capabilities of the Department of

Peacekeeping Operations and advocating that the

Organization be given the resources that it needs to

enable it effectively to discharge its increasingly

complex responsibilities.

A comprehensive and long-term approach is

required in order to resolve differences of opinion,

consolidate peace and prevent a resurgence of conflict.

The European Union, which is currently establishing

its own military and civil crisis-management capability,

is actively engaged in strengthening its cooperation

with the United Nations and other international

organizations in the area of conflict prevention, crisis

management, humanitarian aid, post-conflict

reconstruction and long-term development.

The Balkans, a region so close to the countries of

the European Union, remains at the centre of the

Union’s external activities. We resolutely maintain our

commitment to contribute to building a region of

security, prosperity and democracy there, where multi-

ethnic societies can be free to flourish. Progress has

been remarkable and encouraging, but unfortunately in

many cases the situation remains fragile. The

international community must remain vigilant and must

not let extremists, of whatever kind, use violence to

destroy the stabilization work already carried out.

The situation in the Middle East is worsening.

The lack of any political perspective naturally

encourages continued confrontation and plays into the

hands of extremists. Defiance, fear and resentment

radicalize people’s mindsets. The European Union calls

on Israelis and Palestinians, while there is still time,

immediately to resume the peace process, without

preconditions, on the basis of the Mitchell report. It

calls on the Israeli authorities to immediately withdraw

their forces from Palestinian-administered areas. It

calls on the Palestinian Authority to do its utmost to

arrest those responsible for violence against Israel.

It is necessary to preserve what has been achieved

so far in the peace process: the principles of the Madrid

Conference, in particular the principle of land for

peace, as well as Security Council resolutions 242

(1967) and 338 (1973) and the agreements signed by

the parties, which have already led to real results on the

ground and to progress on the basis of earlier

negotiations. The European Union calls on both parties

to do their utmost in the political, security, economic

and social areas in order to get back to the negotiating

table, without preconditions, with the objective of

realizing the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the

region, as set out at the Madrid Conference of 1991.

For the Palestinians, the establishment of a viable

democratic State and an end to the occupation of their

territory is essential. The Israelis must have the right to

live in peace and security within internationally

recognized borders. The European Union also recalls

that the search for a comprehensive and lasting peace

in the region requires due account to be taken of the

Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese aspects of the

conflict. The same principles should apply in the

resolution of those situations.

It is primarily for the parties themselves to try to

find peace through negotiating all elements relating to

permanent status. This will include finding a viable and

just solution to the particularly complex issues of

Jerusalem and the refugees, as well as those of the

economic support for the Palestinian people.

The European Union, in close cooperation with

the United States of America and the other partners

involved, reaffirms its willingness to work for a final

settlement to the conflict. We believe that it is now a

matter of urgency to develop an initiative to strongly

urge the parties to resume their political dialogue.

The European Union finds the status quo in

Cyprus unacceptable. We express our disappointment

at the unjustified decision of the Turkish side to decline

the Secretary-General’s invitation to pursue talks. We

continue to support the Secretary-General’s endeavours

towards a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the

Cyprus question in accordance with the relevant

Security Council resolutions.

The scale of the tragedies on the African

continent demands resolute action on our part, at all

levels, to address the direct structural causes of those

40

conflicts. Conflicts in Africa have become increasingly

complex and their cross-border effects increasingly

destructive. The crises in the Great Lakes region of

West Africa, in Zimbabwe and in the Horn of Africa

require increased vigilance on the part of the

Organization. Those crises also show the need for a

comprehensive and integrated international approach.

We gave an enthusiastic welcome to the launch of the

New African Initiative at the Lusaka summit of the

Organization of African Unity. The European Union

has stated its willingness to respond and has already

entered into a dialogue at the highest level with the

African Union.

At the Millennium Summit, we pledged together

to attain a set of development objectives. That is an

ambitious project which involves, inter alia, good

governance in each country and at the international

level. The Union underlines the need for strengthened

partnership between rich countries and poor countries

to achieve the development objectives of the

Millennium Declaration. That partnership entails

obligations and joint but varied efforts on the part of all

countries.

First of all, we must make every effort to

eradicate poverty. New, concrete commitments were

made at the third United Nations Conference on Least

Developed Countries, held at Brussels last May. The

European Union committed itself to untying aid, to

opening up its markets through the “everything but

arms” initiative and to the full financing of the Heavily

Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative. It is

now a question of finalizing the follow-up mechanisms

of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed

Countries. The European Union will also continue to

give priority to the development of Africa.

Two major international conferences will give us

an opportunity to take up the challenges and achieve

the principal objectives of the Millennium Declaration.

At the International Conference on Financing for

Development, to be held next March at Monterrey,

Mexico, we shall focus on improving cooperation

among all development actors, and on using resources

more effectively and better mobilizing them.

At the World Summit on Sustainable

Development, to be held at Johannesburg in October

2002, we wish to promote the sustainable use and

management and the protection of the natural resources

that are the underpinning of economic and social

development. We wish also to integrate action on the

environment and poverty, to ensure that globalization

serves the needs of sustainable development, and to

promote better ways of managing public affairs and

participation. The European Union would like to

explore with its partners the possibility of achieving at

the Summit a global pact on sustainable development.

Such a pact should contain commitments both from

Governments and from other actors. A global pact

should lead to concrete action to improve the

implementation of sustainable development policies.

We hope that United Nations Member States will

without delay commit themselves to be represented at

Monterrey and at Johannesburg at the highest possible

political level.

The United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change was one of the major results of the

1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development. We welcome the progress made at Bonn

and at Marrakesh, and we undertake speedily to ratify

the Kyoto Protocol.

We have also just reached an intergovernmental

consensus at the highest level on the strategy needed to

halt the appalling global AIDS pandemic. That was a

major step forward, but the urgent and tragic nature of

the problem demand greater ambition. We will actively

contribute to the creation of the new Global Fund to

combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and we

will play an active role in all the other processes that

emerged from last June’s special session so that the

Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS is put into

practice through concrete measures.

Among other challenges, the demographic

changes that lie ahead are of particular interest to the

European Union. The second World Assembly on

Ageing, to be held at Madrid in April 2002, will be an

opportunity for us to work together to build a society

for all ages.

The Millennium Summit enabled us to tackle, at

the highest level, the major challenges facing the world

community. We must now turn our attention to the

process of following up the Declaration adopted by

heads of State or Government with all due regard for

the lofty and balanced aims of that cardinal text. For

that, we need reliable data and depend on the existing

follow-up machinery and processes and on the

concerted efforts of the various actors in the

41

international community who can help us to achieve

those objectives.

We must also continue reform of the United

Nations system as a whole, including the specialized

agencies and the operational funds and programmes.

The strengthening of the Security Council and its

comprehensive reform in all its aspects should be

pursued with determination. If we want a Security

Council capable of responding even more effectively to

the major challenges of the moment, we must intensify

our efforts.

Looking beyond the tremendous and growing

complexity of our actions at the international level, our

debate should highlight this basic truth: if we want to

build a world made more peaceful by respect for the

law, solidarity and tolerance, we must strengthen our

cohesiveness in the face of the new challenges before

us, and also step up our efforts to promote human

rights, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable

development.

In this forum of the United Nations, we reply to

the messengers of destruction with our common ideal,

which will be stronger than hatred and division among

mankind. That edifice, whose foundations are set in our

spirits and in our hearts, will be unassailable.