Kingdom of Denmark, 2011

First of all, I would like to

align myself with the statement made by the President

of the European Council, Mr. Herman van Rompuy, on

behalf of the European Union (see ).

Denmark appreciates the adoption earlier this year of

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resolution 65/276, giving the European Union (EU) the

opportunity to address the General Assembly at this

juncture of its deliberations. The Lisbon Treaty marks a

new phase of European cooperation that will benefit

the United Nations as well.

The past year has once again demonstrated how

quickly events can unfold and how unexpected crises

can break out in different parts of the world. These

include a violent conflict in Côte d’Ivoire before a

democratically elected president could finally take his

rightful place; devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in

Japan, followed by nuclear contamination; the current

and still more severe humanitarian crisis in the Horn of

Africa; and Pakistan being struck by overwhelming

floods.

There have also been events of historic

proportions that are still unfolding in North Africa and

the Middle East. From Tunisia to Egypt, from Libya to

Syria, from Bahrain to Yemen and beyond, people are

demanding their rights and their freedom. They are

standing up for core human aspirations and values.

They want to shape their own lives, economically and

politically. Theirs is a call for political participation,

for freedom of speech and for the right of peaceful

assembly; a call for dignity, for accountability, for

justice and for jobs. It has sparked hope for a better life

for the people of the region. The international

community, with the United Nations in the lead, has a

strong responsibility to support these historic

aspirations.

The winds of change currently sweeping across

the Middle East and North Africa have confirmed once

again that the desire for freedom, democratic reforms

and respect for human rights is universal. A few days

ago, countries met under the auspices of the Secretary-

General to express their admiration for the courage of

the Libyan people in their struggle to take control of

their own future. Denmark is proud to have supported

the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people and to

have contributed to the protection of the lives of

Libyan civilians.

A few days ago, the Assembly welcomed the

National Transitional Council (NTC) as the

representative of Libya. Being here today with the

NTC in the seat of Libya is tangible evidence of the

progress achieved by the Libyan people in determining

their own destiny. Along with the international

community, Denmark continues to support the

aspirations of the Libyan people. It is encouraging that

the Security Council has now authorized a new United

Nations Mission to support Libyan national efforts.

Developments across the Middle East and North

Africa make it clear that in the twenty-first century,

Governments must be politically accountable, respect

people’s rights and dignity, and deliver economic

opportunities. The only credible response to those

legitimate popular demands is sustainable political and

economic reforms.

Unfortunately, we sometimes witness countries

fail to live up to their responsibility and obligations as

members of the international community. As we speak,

events continue to unfold across the region, including

in Syria. More than 2,600 people in Syria have died

during the popular uprising. We strongly condemn the

violence and the killings of peaceful demonstrators. It

is high time to respect the right of peaceful protesters

and their legitimate demands. To increase the pressure

on the Syrian regime, we have adopted sanctions and

hope others will join us.

Some of the prerequisites for a sustainable

transition to a flourishing democracy are free, fair and

transparent elections, free media, the protection of

minorities, a functioning government and an

independent judiciary that upholds the rule of law.

Democratic change must come from within. It has to be

home-grown and based on local leadership, ownership

and participation. Surely, this does not exclude

international assistance, including from the United

Nations.

Afghanistan has come a long way since the fall of

the Taliban regime. We hope that Afghanistan will take

yet another step in its transition process at the

upcoming Conference in Bonn in December. Moving

towards 2014, the United Nations system, in close

cooperation with the Afghan authorities, will also have

to undertake a thorough review of its activities in

Afghanistan in order to continuously maximize its

contribution to good governance, anti-corruption and

sustainable socio-economic development.

What we see around the world is not only a call

for political reforms; it is also a call for inclusive

economic development, for jobs pure and simple, and

for improved standards of living. And not least, it is a

call from and about youth. Governments will need to

strengthen economic and social reforms, ensuring that

11 11-51687

they generate inclusive growth and shared prosperity

for all and not just for the few and already privileged.

The Millennium Development Goals have

succeeded in galvanizing action, not least in health and

education, and all countries have a joint obligation to

ensure that the goals we agreed in 2000 will actually be

fulfilled by 2015. The development challenge is

pressing in sub-Saharan Africa, a region long marked

by poverty and conflict, but in recent years also

characterized in many countries by strong economic

growth and optimism.

National ownership and clear political

commitments remain the keys to success. But for many

of the poorest countries, development cooperation

continues to be an important tool and a catalyst in their

efforts to ensure that the poorest people will also be

able to enjoy the full potential of globalization.

Denmark is doing its part to assist, based on a sound

track record in international development cooperation.

We are one of only five countries which at present

fulfil the internationally agreed development goal of

delivering at least 0.7 per cent of gross national

product as development assistance. We would like to

welcome others to this “point-seven” club.

We shall not succeed, however, without focusing

in particular on countries affected by conflict or

fragility. We especially look to the United Nations to

coordinate efforts in those countries. That is where the

United Nations can make a real difference.

The advancement of women’s equality and the

empowerment of women are important aspects of this

process. We welcome the creation of UN-Women and

look forward to working closely with that new entity in

the area of gender mainstreaming. No less important is

the issue of sexual and reproductive health and the

rights of women.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio de Janeiro in

June 2012, presents a unique opportunity to revitalize

the discussion and understanding of sustainable

development. Rio+20 will be an opportunity to put

sustainable development at the top of the global

development agenda.

Denmark welcomes the focus on green economy

and the institutional framework for sustainable

development. Transitioning to a green economy is

necessary if the world is to cope with the multiple

challenges of resource scarcity, poverty eradication and

climate change. Economic growth will be crucial in the

decades ahead, but it will have to be green. Today,

1.4 billion people are without access to modern sources

of energy. Universal access to energy will contribute to

lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty.

Poland and Denmark, as part of the EU trio

presidency for 2011 and 2012, are working jointly to

strengthen the green growth agenda and contribute to

the global objective of sustainable development, in

accordance with the trio presidency programme. Next

month, Denmark will host the first Global Green

Growth Forum in Copenhagen. The Forum will lend

new momentum to public-private cooperation on

concrete initiatives that will inspire regulatory

interventions, remove key barriers and identify

opportunities and solutions for a renewed push to

advance green growth globally.

Earlier this year, we witnessed the birth of a new

State as we welcomed the 193rd Member of the United

Nations. The Republic of South Sudan is the fulfilment

of the democratically expressed will to self-

determination by the overwhelming majority of the

South Sudanese people. We congratulate the people of

South Sudan on their historic achievement.

The Palestinian cause and quest for statehood are

high on the agenda here in New York, and rightly so.

The present regional context reminds us all, including

the two parties, that direct political peace negotiations

must now be resumed. Within a specific time frame,

they must produce a lasting peace and an end to

conflict based on the two-State solution, with both

States living side by side in peace and security.

Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate

the Secretary-General on his appointment to a second

five-year term. We have all been inspired by his tireless

efforts in the field of peace and security and human

rights and by his strong leadership on climate change

and sustainable development. At a time when the

United Nations is ever more relevant, Denmark lends

its full support to the Secretary-General and to his

stewardship of the Organization. The challenges we

face call for international resolve and for joint action.

In the Secretary-General’s own words, “We need

results that people can see and touch, results that

change lives and make a difference” (A/65/PV.101,

p. 9). That is why we turn to the United Nations.

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That is the end of my prepared statement, but I

am aware that I am the last speaker in the general

debate of the sixty-sixth session of the General

Assembly. Let me therefore also take this opportunity

on my own behalf — and I am sure also on behalf of

speakers before me — to thank the conference service

staff and the interpreters for their tireless efforts and

long working days, which have facilitated this unique

international debate.

The exchange of views that we have during the

general debate allows each and every one of us a

privileged glimpse into the positions, the values and

the political priorities of all 193 Member States. The

debate provides a strong and clear indication of what

issues really engage Governments. It demonstrates

what parts of the very broad United Nations agenda

each and every Government is most preoccupied with,

what their concerns are and which outcomes and

solutions they seek. From this debate, we get a unique

and straight look into the soul of global politics. It

helps us understand each other, including when we

disagree, and it informs our work together in the

Assembly in the months to come.

So we may congratulate each other on a job well

done, now at the end of the debate, but it is only the

beginning. The true value of this debate will be seen

only later, and it will depend on all of us coming

together to find common ground and workable

solutions.