Canada, 2009

The

establishment of the United Nations came about

through the fundamental recognition of our

interdependence as peoples and nations. Canada was

among its founding members, who were inspired at the

time by the need to create an international consensus

for the stability and security of a world ravaged by war,

more than 60 years ago. There is therefore no more

appropriate forum than this one for me, as Minister for

Foreign Affairs of Canada, to reaffirm my country’s

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commitment to collective action, namely, to work

together with all countries to pursue shared objectives

and overcome common challenges.

The global economic and financial crisis, as well

as the global security and environmental threats facing us,

have underscored the extent of that interdependence. We

have placed economic recovery and growth at the top of

our priorities and have taken decisive action in Canada

to mitigate the impact of the crisis on all Canadians.

However, the recovery of Canada’s economy cannot

happen in isolation from economic recovery across the

world. Moreover, protectionism is a common threat to all

of the world’s economies. History has taught us that we

cannot hope to emerge from the current crisis if we

impede global trade in an effort to protect our national

economies. We therefore need vigorous and effective

consultation at the highest levels so that we can work

together to resist the protectionist urge.

Since the establishment of the United Nations,

more than 100,000 Canadians have served in United

Nations missions in Africa, the Americas, the Asia-

Pacific region and the Middle East. Today, thousands

of others — soldiers, police, diplomats, aid workers

and others — are working in support of missions led or

mandated by the United Nations around the world.

Eradicating terrorism in all its forms is the

responsibility both of Canadians and of the United

Nations. Indeed, Canada is committed to combating

terrorism and to ensuring that the perpetrators and

supporters of terrorism are held accountable for their

actions. The Taliban in particular are a threat to global

peace and security. Like the United Nations, Canada is

determined to eradicate that threat.

Our mission in Afghanistan is the most vivid

illustration of Canada’s determination to that end. It also

constitutes our most significant overseas contribution.

Canada’s mission is an efficient, integrated, civilian-

military partnership of approximately 2,800 military

personnel and more than 100 civilians. Those Canadians

are working tirelessly and making great sacrifices in

support of the United Nations-mandated Mission to

reconstitute a stable and secure Afghanistan that is at

last led by Afghans themselves.

In the months ahead, Canada will expect Afghan

political leaders to make progress on key priorities —

from good governance to anti-corruption efforts and

from reconciliation to reconstruction, economic growth

and regional cooperation, so as to promote stability in

their country. As they tackle the many challenges

ahead, they must ensure that their efforts promote,

protect and improve human rights in a concrete

manner, in particular the rights and living conditions of

Afghan women and girls.

Canada is also providing significant assistance to

Haiti, where our contribution will total $555 million

between 2006 and 2011. We aim to promote democracy,

security and economic growth and, above all, to secure a

better future for all of Haiti’s children and young people.

Many other challenges remain. Canada regrets

the deteriorating security situation in southern Sudan,

and we call for the full implementation of the

Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Along the same

lines, we encourage all parties to the Darfur conflict to

end hostilities through the joint mediation of the

United Nations and the African Union. Canada is

determined to contribute to resolving the conflict in the

Sudan. Since 2006, we have disbursed more than

$640 million in support of international efforts to

achieve sustainable peace in that country.

We are all acutely conscious that nuclear

proliferation is a global threat we all face. Canada was

deeply troubled by the recent revelation that Iran has

been building a covert uranium enrichment facility for

several years. We condemn Iran’s continued refusal to

respect Security Council resolutions and International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations. We

therefore call on Iran to allow the IAEA immediate and

unfettered access to all sites, including that facility. We

expect a full investigation.

We hope that talks between Iran and the five

permanent members of the Security Council plus

Germany that are scheduled for 1 October will address

the continued duplicity surrounding Iran’s nuclear

programme. Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada

has been clear in his discussions with President

Obama, Prime Minister Brown, President Sarkozy and

our other allies. Canada will welcome the efforts

deemed necessary to remove what is clearly a threat to

international peace and security.

In that regard, Canada commended President

Obama for having taken the initiative to organize a

summit meeting of the Security Council on the issue of

non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament (see

S/PV.6191). We commit ourselves to working with other

countries to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and

47 09-52592

new terrorist threats. However, finding a diplomatic

solution to those problems will require that we mobilize

political will to ensure that every country adheres to

the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.

(spoke in English)

At this time of the year in my country, the leaves

on the trees are changing colours. That dramatic

display reminds all Canadians of the need to protect

our natural heritage, which is one of the most majestic

in the world. But neither borders nor seasons can stop

the havoc caused by climate change. Canada therefore

remains committed to an ambitious post-2012 global

climate change agreement that is consistent with the

principles and provisions of the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change and

supports sustainable, low-carbon global growth.

We are committed to taking domestic actions to

reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per

cent from 2006 levels by the year 2020, and by 60 to

70 per cent by 2050. Canada is a world leader in the

development of clean technologies to combat climate

change, including carbon capture and storage. We seek

to establish a new global partnership that will advance

the development and deployment of those technologies.

Canada joined other countries at the L’Aquila

meeting of the Group of Eight (G-8) and at the Major

Economies Forum in affirming the broad scientific

view that the increase in global average temperature

above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed two

degrees Celsius.

This global phenomenon needs a global response.

That is why Canada wants to see all emitters be part of

this international effort. We congratulate the Secretary-

General for convening his productive Climate Change

Summit, as well as for assuming the leadership that

naturally falls to the United Nations in this area. All

major economies will be required to meet this global

challenge. This must be reflected in the context of a

fair, equitable and effective agreement at Copenhagen

in December.

Adaptation to the impacts of climate change is an

important issue for all countries. It must be a core

element of a post-2012 climate change regime if we are

to build resilience to climate change impacts. Canada

has contributed significantly to a number of initiatives,

including the World Bank’s Pilot Program for Climate

Resilience. We continue to support international action

that strengthens the capacity of the poorest and most

vulnerable to adapt to a changing climate.

As an Arctic State and Power, Canada is proud of

its long-standing sovereignty over that increasingly

promising territory. Canada also recognizes the important

responsibility that we have to Northerners and to the

sustainable development and environmental protection of

the region. Cooperation with our Arctic neighbours and

the peaceful pursuit of our interests has underpinned

and will continue to underpin Canada’s arctic foreign

policy and to guide our actions in the region. Through

our bilateral and multilateral engagement — whether at

the United Nations and the Arctic Council or in

working with our Arctic partners — Canada will continue

to show leadership on such Arctic issues as shipping, oil

and gas and contaminants and biodiversity.

Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights, 61 years ago, Canada has worked

vigorously to strengthen the United Nations human

rights machinery to ensure the credibility and integrity

of fair and balanced mechanisms to promote human

rights and fundamental freedoms. Human rights are an

important part of Canadian foreign policy and our

relations with Member States. During our recently

completed term on the Human Rights Council, Canada

worked to make it a forum for constructive international

dialogue. We will continue to work towards building an

efficient, responsive and credible Human Rights

Council that is true to its founding principles. Canada

will also continue to promote respect for basic human

rights and the freedom of expression and association.

And we will continue to advocate for those unjustly

detained in the world’s most abusive regimes.

Finding the political will to translate our values into

actions and ensuring that we continue to hold to account

those who would violate basic human rights is in the

interest of all Member States. Supporting those who

are making sincere efforts to advance the human rights

of their populations is also one of our collective

objectives.

Canada is meeting its international commitments.

We are on track to double our international assistance

to $5 billion by 2010. We have also already met our

commitment to double aid to Africa between 2003 and

2009. Canada will also continue to provide

humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict

and natural disasters.

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Through Canada’s chairmanship of the Sierra

Leone country-specific configuration of the

Peacebuilding Commission, we are working to bridge

the gap between humanitarian assistance and long-term

development. As Chair of the G-8 in 2010, Canada will

place emphasis on making the G-8 more accountable

and effective. Accountability means fulfilling our

commitments. Effectiveness is about strengthening our

partnerships, including with the United Nations, to

tackle challenges such as the fragility of States and

nuclear non-proliferation. Canada will also co-host the

summit of the Group of 20 (G-20) in June 2010, along

with our good friend the Republic of Korea.

Our priority will remain economic recovery and

building the foundation for sustainable growth,

including for the most vulnerable. Earlier this week,

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a concrete

and innovative contribution to that effort. Building on

our previous G-20 commitments, Canada will provide

the African Development Bank with approximately

$2.6 billion in additional lending room. That will assist

the Bank in responding quickly to the demands of its

borrowing members while it continues its poverty

reduction efforts.

I would urge representatives not to let the

dizzying succession of major events addressed here

cause them to lose sight of the importance of reforming

the Security Council. The Council is our most powerful

means of collective action. But we can, and indeed we

must, make it more effective, more accessible and more

flexible — more adapted, in fact, to the challenges and

opportunities of the broader international community.

Canada has long supported efforts to make the

Security Council more responsive to today’s security

challenges and more representative of the world’s

regions, in particular Africa, which has been

historically underrepresented. Any real reform must

lead to increased transparency and accountability. That

will not be achieved by extending the privileges of a

few to a few more, but through democratically elected

access to the Security Council and through more

consultation with and openness to the wider

membership of the United Nations.

In conclusion, this small reminder of the

responsibility we all bear for our citizens’ economic,

environmental and nuclear security can leave us

perplexed or even worried. But what we must never

forget is that, in this seemingly uneven battle, we have

in our arsenal the most effective weapons ever devised

by humankind, namely, freedom, democracy, human

rights and the rule of law.