Belgium, 2004

Belgium’s international commitment is rooted in the

conviction that initiatives taken at the global level can

move forward only through dialogue and cooperation.

The careful European building process taught us that.

That is why Belgium firmly believes in the virtues of

multilateralism. We are stronger standing together than

alone. By standing together, we benefit from greater

legitimacy and therefore have better opportunities to

make our voices heard.

The challenges facing the United Nations have

the virtue of being clear. As the Secretary-General has

said, the options that become available to the world

will depend on the answers that we provide. The

Organization’s credibility will continue to be judged by

its effectiveness and its results on the ground. We must

improve and strengthen the United Nations apparatus.

We fully support the Secretary-General’s efforts in this

difficult task. At the same time, we believe that the

United Nations system should better reflect the new

international realities.

The sustained commitment of the United Nations

is required if we are to find a definitive solution to the

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crisis in the Great Lakes region. The conflict there has

already cost millions of lives. We must not fail to

respond; inaction would constitute negligence. While I

do not underestimate the difficulties in this regard, I

am convinced that a solution can be found. I refuse to

believe, therefore, that the stabilization process is

doomed to deadlock or failure. In order to find a

solution, however, the international community must

show that it can make a difference. In that regard, it is

encouraging to note how dedicated the Secretary-

General is to his mission. For its part, Belgium will

continue to appeal to its European Union partners for a

collective and committed involvement in the region.

It is essential that stability and security be fully

established and guaranteed in the Democratic Republic

of the Congo. It is clear that the transition process must

be successful. We in the international community

cannot emphasize enough that political leaders have

the duty to make it succeed. Indeed, there is no

alternative to that process as a means of achieving

peace and development in the region.

Nation-building is impossible as long as impunity

and insecurity exist. In that respect, the restructuring

and the integration of the army are essential, as is the

demobilization and reintegration of former combatants.

Belgium is currently training almost 300 Congolese

soldiers under its Train the Trainers programme.

It is also essential that the International

Committee to Accompany the Transition fully shoulder

its responsibilities. For its part, Belgium is committed

to taking an active part in the implementation of the

declaration adopted by the countries members of that

Committee.

The United Nations Organization Mission in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) is

playing a crucial role, and Belgium attaches great

importance to that. It is not only the credibility of the

United Nations that is at stake here, but — more

important — the future of an entire region. Belgium

therefore supports a better targeted mandate for

MONUC, as well as a strengthening of its means.

With our European partners, we are also

considering the best way of making a joint contribution

to that Mission. It goes without saying that the

elections scheduled for 2005 will be crucial. They will

require substantial human and financial means, to

which Belgium has already decided it will contribute.

With regard to the situation in Rwanda, we offer

our full support to the praiseworthy efforts made to

achieve reconciliation. Normalized relations between

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are

absolutely indispensable and must be based on

collaboration and good-neighbourly relations. This

implies a mutual respect of the borders.

In many regards, the latest developments in

Burundi are encouraging. A constitution has been

adopted, a referendum has been announced and an

electoral commission is in place. Elections are

essential, of course, which is why Belgium has

provided significant financial backing to their

organization. I urge the international community to

specify without delay what resources it is ready to

mobilize for this purpose.

Belgium shares the concerns about the

humanitarian crisis in Darfur. There is no excuse for

the persecution and systematic massacre of thousands

of human beings. Given the scale of the suffering, the

efforts and the progress made thus far remain

insufficient. Belgium therefore insists on the swift

establishment of an international commission of

inquiry.

The situation in Iraq will continue to present a

considerable challenge over the coming months and

even years. I congratulate the United Nations for its

continued support to the Iraqi transition process,

especially given the country’s climate of insecurity.

The population of Iraq, which has already faced so

many ordeals, must finally be able to live in peace. It

is, of course, the Iraqi people who must shoulder the

responsibility of guiding the political process, a

process that must lead to the creation of a new

parliament, a new constitution and a sovereign

Government. This Government must be capable of

ensuring the well-being of its citizens, as well as the

country’s security, with no external assistance. To date,

Belgium has allocated approximately €17 million to

the reconstruction process and we will provide air

transportation for the United Nations Assistance

Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) personnel between Amman

and Baghdad.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

poses a serious threat to world security. The regime of

non-proliferation is jeopardized by an alarming

situation; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

must regain its place within this regime without delay.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran is located in a region full

of tensions, and its security concerns are legitimate.

The international community should therefore take this

into account in its approach to the problem. And the

Iranian authorities must cooperate entirely with the

International Atomic Energy Agency and cease all

activities linked to the enrichment of uranium. By so

doing, Iran will contribute significantly to the

stabilization and prosperity of the region.

The tragedy in Beslan has proved once again that

terrorism attacks blindly. It goes without saying that no

form of terrorism is justifiable. The indignation and

analysis that such acts may provoke can in no way vary

according to the victim, the location, the aggressor or

the circumstances. Appropriate military means and

security measures will remain necessary in order to

fight terrorism, but means other than strictly military

ones are also required. Indeed, the environment in

which terrorism thrives is comprised of ideological,

socio-economic, political and other variables.

This is why I plead for a dialogue between the

West and the Arab and Muslim world, involving not

only political leaders but also spiritual leaders, and not

as a mere exchange of ideas or points of view, but in

order to identify the instruments that could deny such

barbarous acts all legitimacy and raison d’être, with a

view to finally bringing this appalling logic of death to

a halt.