Czech Republic, 2013

The Assembly is

meeting at a time marked by significant challenges. Let

me mention a few which I regard as the most pressing.

The state of the world economy remains fragile,

but slowly we seem to be entering a path towards

economic recovery and, hopefully, sustainable growth.

The security situation in many parts of the world is

improving, but we are witnessing many local conflicts

that endanger the overall regional balance. The conflict

in Syria must come to an end on the basis of a negotiated

political settlement. The danger of a nuclear conflict is

diminishing thanks to the decreasing number of nuclear

warheads and carriers in the possession of the nuclear

Powers. Yet the currently blocked negotiations with the

parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons should be a matter of concern. Fundamental

human rights and freedoms are still at risk in many

countries. The gap between the rich and the poor is

ever widening despite many efforts to alleviate world

hunger and poverty. At the same time, some countries

have managed to reduce the gap.

International cooperation is essential if we want to

address those and other challenges. The United Nations

remains the most suitable body to pool the global

efforts and resources needed for that task. The world

is changing, and its traditional platform must adapt

as well. From the start, we should formulate realistic

plans and procedures. However, their implementation

will not be possible without the necessary political will.

A country’s reputation depends not only on its

size or economic output, but also on its readiness

to actively engage in addressing and meeting the

challenges of the current globalized world. The Czech

Republic, a country with the historical experience of an

undemocratic regime, is ready to share its experience

from its democratic transition process, as well as to

offer its help, resources and know-how to countries

undergoing their own democratic transition.

The year 2013 will mark a turning point for European

economies. The Czech economy is highly dependent on

international trade, and I strongly believe that free and

fair trade is one of the best tools for improving the world

economic situation. The multilateral approach to trade

issues should be revitalized and cooperation within the

World Trade Organization (WTO) reinforced. I sincerely

wish much success to the new WTO leadership.

The United Nations has always played a key

role in defusing armed conflicts between and within

the Member States. Its role in helping to resolve the

conflict in Syria is crucial. The confirmed use of

chemical weapons in Syria is deeply worrying. Any use

of chemical weapons is unacceptable. Whoever gave

the order to initiate the chemical attack has gravely

violated the principle of responsibility to protect the

civilian population. The attack constitutes a war crime

and a crime against humanity, and its perpetrators

should be held accountable before the International

Criminal Court.

The Czech Republic welcomes the decision of

the Executive Council of the Organization for the

Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the expeditious

destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, which is now

being adopted in The Hague, and looks forward to the

adoption of a Security Council resolution on the issue

in the coming hours.

The conflict does not have a military solution;

only a negotiated political settlement will re-establish

peace in Syria. The Czech Republic calls on all

parties, especially on the Syrian Government, to fully

implement the 2012 Geneva communiqué (S/2012/523,

annex). The Czech Republic supports and will continue

to support the efforts of the United Nations and the

International Committee of the Red Cross to meet

the growing humanitarian needs in Syria and the

neighbouring countries.

The Czech Republic acknowledges developments

in the transformation process of Myanmar. I strongly

encourage the country’s leaders, in accordance with

their public pronouncements, to actively pursue the

process of amending the national Constitution in order

to improve democratic standards in the country.

As I mentioned earlier, the role of the United Nations

in resolving armed conflicts is indispensable. United

Nations peacekeeping operations are an important

tool for sustainable and durable solutions to violent

conflict worldwide. Having participated in United

Nations operations in recent years in relatively small

numbers, my country, the Czech Republic, is ready

to substantially increase the presence of its military

personnel in peacekeeping operations.

The Czech Republic, a non-nuclear-weapon State,

has always strongly advocated for the unfettered

right to develop, research and use nuclear energy for

peaceful purposes. Nevertheless, that right should be

fully exercised only in conjunction with honouring

all non-proliferation obligations. The long-standing

objective of the complete elimination of nuclear

weapons may be achieved only if the non-proliferation

regime meets all demands for its strengthening. The

upcoming meeting of the group of governmental experts

on a fissile material cut-off treaty will be a step in the

right direction. The Czech Republic greatly appreciates

that fact that the international community was finally

able to complete the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations.

I should like to share my view of the role of the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Czech

Republic has been actively involved from the very

beginning in the discussions on the formulation of a

new development agenda. We are ready and committed

to take part in its implementation. As formulated by the

Secretary-General in his report (A/68/202), the MDGs

have been the most successful global anti-poverty

push in history and have made a great contribution to

raising public awareness, increasing political will and

mobilizing resources.

Some of the MDG targets have been met already;

some are within close reach. But the results are uneven

among and within countries and there is a lot of

unfinished business. I can assure the Assembly that

my Government remains committed to the MDGs, as

reflected in both our policies and our practical actions.

The future development agenda should build on

the success of the MDGs and bring together diverse

development actors. I would like to support the single

overarching post-2015 framework, which will link

poverty eradication in all its dimensions and the

promotion of sustainable development. I therefore call

for the full integration of all relevant international

processes, which have been separate until now, in

particular the review of the MDGs and the work of

the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development

Goals.

We have to make sure that the future goals will be

universal for all countries but at the same time remain

realistic, taking into account the actual possibilities of

each country. They must be achievable and measurable.

I appreciate the fact that the report of the High-level

Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda puts

emphasis on inclusive growth and considers the role of

innovation, technology and the private sector actors.

The proposed development goal to secure sustainable

energy is a very good example and should figure among

the future development priorities.

In December, the international community will

commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the

adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The situation of human rights has improved in some

areas. New human rights challenges have emerged.

A great deal of work still lies ahead of us. The Czech

Republic, a member of the Human Rights Council and

the country of Václav Havel, will always defend human

rights wherever they are violated.

In conclusion, I should like to focus on issues

related to the process of reforming the United Nations.

The Czech Republic appreciates the dedicated work

of the Secretary-General, which is transforming the

United Nations into a more effective and accountable

system. Unfortunately, there are not enough means to

fund all initiatives. We all have to do more with less.

I am sure that we will find internal reserves that will

allow the United Nations to achieve the tasks entrusted

to it with greater success. By performing well and

by being responsive to its Member States, the United

Nations will strengthen the political will of its Members

to invest in multilateral forums and thus contribute to

a safer world.