Czech Republic, 2003

Let me

congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to

preside over the fifty-eighth session of the General

Assembly, and to wish you every success in your

important position. It is a pleasure to see as President a

representative of Saint Lucia, the smallest country ever

to hold the office. That fact upholds the Charter

principle of the sovereign equality of nations in this

important world body, as well as the desirability of

universal membership in the United Nations, where all

countries, large and small, have something to

contribute.

I also take this opportunity, Sir, to thank your

predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan, for his work and efforts

devoted to the activities of the United Nations

throughout the past year. It was a great honour for the

Czech Republic to preside over the General Assembly

and to use that unique opportunity to further enhance

the United Nations capacity and ability to respond to

current global challenges.

Let me also express my country's deepest

sympathies to all who have lost loved ones in terrorist

attacks, including the attack on the United Nations

building in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of the

Secretary-General's Special Representative in Iraq,

Sergio Vieira de Mello, and a number of his co-

workers. We view that horrible act as an attack against

the principles of freedom, democracy and peace, the

principles on which our Organization is built.

The United Nations effort aimed at the

stabilization, democratization and reconstruction of

Iraq has the full support of my country, and I

appreciate the bold and selfless work done by the staff

of the United Nations. The United Nations plays an

irreplaceable role in that field. We therefore support the

idea of adopting a new Security Council resolution that

would provide a framework for the widest possible

participation of other countries. The Czech Republic

will actively participate in that process, and is

determined to continue its engagement.

The recent terrorist attacks in Iraq and other

regions of the Middle East strengthen our conviction

that the international community must not give in to

terrorist threats. On the contrary, we must combine and

intensify our efforts to combat them. The success of

cooperation between the United Nations, the Coalition

Provisional Authority and Iraqi representatives in

stabilizing the situation in Iraq and handing over the

country's administration to the Iraqi people will be the

essential step in that direction. The Czech Republic

therefore welcomes the establishment of the Governing

Council, the appointment of provisional ministers and

the continued work on drafting a constitution, and is

interested in the speedy creation of a stable

Government in Iraq that will honour its international

commitments and respect human rights and freedoms

and the fundamental principles of democracy. But that

is not something than can happen overnight, as we

know from our own experience. The transition from

dictatorship to a functioning democracy takes some

time.

We believe that progress in the Middle East peace

process based on the road map must be at the centre of

the efforts of the whole international community. We

should not allow extremist and terrorist groups to

dominate its agenda, as recent developments have

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shown. At the same time, we call upon all parties

involved to exercise maximum restraint in taking

actions that may contradict the achievement of a

peaceful political settlement of the crisis, especially

extrajudicial killings and suicide bombings.

The Czech Republic supports activities aimed at

reviving and continuing the implementation of the

peace plan. In their talks, the Quartet and the parties

concerned must take stock of the peace plan and

identify obstacles on the road to peace, as well as

outstanding tasks before the Government of Israel and

the Palestinian Authority. Without proper

implementation, the road map will suffer the same fate

as those of the numerous peace initiatives we have seen

in the past.

The problems of the Middle East are very

complex. My country would like to emphasize three

basic issues in this fragile phase that we consider

crucial for the implementation and success of the road

map for peace, namely, the security aspects of a peace

settlement, the consistent suppression of all

manifestations of terrorism and the consolidation and

strengthening of the position of the Palestinian

Government and its process of reform, including

concrete steps to confront terror and violence.

In our view, tangible changes in the situation on

the ground should be an inseparable part of those

efforts. At the same time, with their vision of their own

independent State, Palestinians should feel that their

economic and humanitarian situation is improving. The

Czech Republic is prepared to assume its share of

responsibility in the efforts to improve the economic

situation of Palestinian autonomous territories at both

the bilateral and multilateral levels.

The restoration of ethnic peace, the strengthening

of stability and economic growth remain the main

objectives of the international community in the crisis

regions of the Balkans. In the present circumstances,

the maintenance of an international presence in the

region is still a necessary prerequisite for the

development of democracy and the strengthening of

peace. The United Nations and other international

organizations must exercise their control function even

more systematically, use their experience in assisting in

the transformation of society, ensure the active

participation of all ethnic groups in the area of

administration, create conditions for the safe return of

refugees, help with development of local economies

and curb organized crime.

I am convinced that Mr. Harri Holkeri, the new

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for

Kosovo, will further contribute to the achievement of

the declared objectives. The transfer of competencies

from the United Nations Interim Administration in

Kosovo to local authorities must, at the same time,

include the transfer of responsibilities for the

achievement of the objectives set by the international

administration and, above all, the creation of

conditions for the safe return of refugees. For the sake

of the functioning of a multi-ethnic society, it is also

necessary to ensure the active participation of all ethnic

groups in the administration of the province.

The Czech Republic supports all international

efforts in the field of disarmament and arms control,

including verification of the non-proliferation of

weapons of mass destruction and their means of

delivery. That process is a long-term priority of Czech

foreign policy. The Czech Republic devotes

considerable attention to the relevant international

treaties and conventions in that regard and takes an

active part in addressing security problems. We are

convinced that it is necessary to promote and

strengthen universal adherence to the three major

multilateral agreements relating to weapons of mass

destruction, namely, the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Chemical

Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin

Weapons Convention. In that connection, we also

support the promotion of an early entry into force of

the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Particular

emphasis should be placed on establishing effective

verification mechanisms, namely, for the Biological

and Toxin Weapons Convention.

We consider the Additional Protocol to the NPT,

which creates an integral part of the International

Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards system and

strengthens the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to be

a very important element of the verification system.

That is why it is urgent for the States that have not

entered into safeguards agreements with the

International Atomic Energy Agency to do so and to

fulfil their obligations under article III of the Nuclear

Non-Proliferation Treaty. We believe that the

Additional Protocol should be made the standard for all

NPT signatory States.

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The problems associated with the current

conflicts severely affecting civilian populations are

closely connected with the issue of conventional

weapons, especially as regards small arms and light

weapons. The Czech Republic supports the

international community in its efforts to prevent the

illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and

their uncontrolled proliferation.

The Czech Republic very much welcomes the fact

that the international community is increasingly

sensitized to the observance and protection of human

rights. There is a growing body of globally recognized

human rights and most cases of human rights violations

are strongly criticized by the democratic international

community. Nevertheless, it would be too daring to

assume that criticism by the international community

can always mitigate the consequences of a human

rights violation. However, the fact that most entities in

international law lay stress on human rights is

unquestionably a positive aspect. I would therefore like

to take this opportunity on behalf of the Czech

Republic to call for the release of all prisoners of

conscience in various parts of the world, as well as to

call for the observance of their fundamental human

rights.

In the light of recent developments, I consider it

necessary to again mention the Nobel Peace Prize

laureate from Myanmar, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, and

the numerous Cubans who were sentenced to many

years in prison in the political trials of March and April

2003. Those and similar cases only deepen the isolation

of the countries concerned and do not solve the

existing situations.

The Czech Republic remains fully committed to

the United Nations and is aware of the fact that the

United Nations is a universal international organization

that plays an irreplaceable role in the present

globalized world. We support the Millennium

Declaration as the basis for the reform of the entire

United Nations system and as a further step towards the

strengthening of the Organization's authority,

operational capability and effective functioning. We

support in particular the initiatives of the Secretary-

General aimed at improving the management and

administration of the United Nations. Another

important task is to proceed with the revitalization of

the General Assembly, including such areas as the

clustering of agenda items.

The reform of the Security Council represents a

crucial element in the development of international

relations in the new millennium. The Czech Republic

shares the majority view that the composition of the

Council is outdated, that it reflects the realities of the

Second World War rather than those of today and that it

should be adjusted to the current state of affairs. The

present situation is unsustainable and undermines the

legitimacy of the United Nations, and therefore calls

for urgent action. The Czech Republic will continue to

support inevitable reform steps, including the

enlargement of the Council in both categories of

membership. In particular, we support the aspirations

of Germany and Japan for permanent seats, as well as

the allocation of another three new permanent seats for

Africa, Asia and Latin America.

I would also like to take this opportunity to

inform the General Assembly of the decision of the

Government of the Czech Republic Government to

present its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the

Security Council for the period 2008-2009 as our

contribution to safeguarding international peace and

security.

I welcome the President's intention to focus the

Assembly's attention on the implementation of the

outcomes of the United Nations summits and

conferences held during the past decade and on the

United Nations development agenda, including the

Millennium Declaration Goals. The Czech Republic

emphasizes the importance of the implementation of

the Millennium Development Goals as an overarching

platform for specific actions to achieve specific goals

and targets. Actions at the national, regional and

international levels are necessary to fight poverty,

improve access to health services and water, combat

the spread of HIV/AIDS, provide education, bridge the

digital divide and preserve the environment, to name

only a few of our many concerns. At the same time,

efforts to achieve development goals complement

efforts to achieve sustainable development, including

its economic, social and environmental aspects. The

Czech Republic believes that a focus on multilateral

and international cooperation is indispensable to the

success of the United Nations development agenda. We

are therefore prepared to continue to contribute to that

important process.

As regards the strategic document entitled the

New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),

in which, for the first time in their history, African

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States assumed responsibility for their further

development, the Czech Republic is well aware that

support for that document must be translated into

action as soon as possible. An active and constructive

approach should be reflected in all horizontal activities

of the international community. That is why the Czech

Republic regards the principle of good governance as

one of NEPAD's key principles that can substantially

contribute to the establishment of suitable conditions

for the integration of African States into ongoing

globalization processes and to the creation of a

favourable climate for the continent's further

development.

As an acceding country to the European Union,

the Czech Republic is prepared to assume its part in the

implementation of the African policy that is part of the

European Union's Common Foreign and Security

Policy.

In conclusion, let me stress that the challenge

posed by security has likely been the most bitter and

forceful to arise in the global community in the past

two years. In that regard, we face a real test of our will

and ability to cooperate, and in that connection the

United Nations remains an irreplaceable forum for

conflict prevention and a legal platform for the taking

of multilateral steps to preserve the world's security

and peace. In that respect, we very much support the

Secretary-General's call for the strengthening of

multilateralism, as international security cannot be

fully achieved by single States or coalitions dealing

with threats for the rest of the world.

Humankind has not been challenged in such

terms in all of its history. I am not referring solely to

terrorism or nuclear threats, but also to various

epidemics, poverty and the worsening environment,

which are themselves the root causes of conflicts.

Furthermore and we are now witnessing this in

Iraq reactive military actions, both targeted and of

short duration, are part of the solution, but they do not

provide the whole remedy. There is an irreplaceable

role for the world community to play. We, the Member

States of the United Nations community, should

together therefore focus our utmost attention on

efficient measures to make our planet secure and

prosperous for present and future generations.