Spain, 2013

On behalf

of Spain, I would like to congratulate Ambassador Ashe

on his new responsibility as President of the General

Assembly and to convey to him our firm support and

best wishes. His abilities are a guarantee of good work

for the next 12 months. I would also like to thank his

predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremi., for his

effective work during the past year and to wish him

success in his new role.

This General Assembly is the hub of the international

system. In it, we all have the same rights, regardless of

our size, population or economic development. It is the

organ of the United Nations that embodies the sovereign

equality of States. The decisions we take here present

the international community with a body of opinion that

is difficult to rebut. This is the debating Hall of global

legitimacy. We are all permanent members here, and

it is here that multilateralism takes on its full meaning

and effect.

Spain has faith in the United Nations and is firmly

committed to the Organization, because we subscribe

completely to the purposes and principles it embodies.

Our commitment to the United Nations is not mere

rhetoric. Spain is the sixth largest contributor to the

system. That commitment legitimizes our aspiration to

serve the goals of the United Nations in the Security

Council in the 2015-2016 biennium. We shall do so in

the same spirit of dialogue and consensus as on the most

recent previous occasion when the Assembly placed its

trust in Spain. In the 10 years that have passed since

then, my country has continued to demonstrate by its

actions its resolve to faithfully serve the goals of the

United Nations — the maintenance of international

peace and security, the peaceful resolution of conflicts,

international cooperation for development and the

promotion and observance of human rights.

The maintenance of international peace and

security is a prerequisite for the progress of humankind.

Spain believes firmly in the threefold values of peace,

security and development, which is why more than

130,000 Spanish soldiers have served in United Nations

peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions in

every region of the world since 1989. Spanish troops

are currently serving under the blue flag of the United

Nations in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

where since 2006 they have helped to ensure peace and

stability in a country that is located in a particularly

turbulent region.

Spain works to promote disarmament,

non-proliferation and arms control, and it took an active

part in the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations. We have

also participated in various international initiatives

to prevent nuclear terrorism. Spain has suffered the

violence of terrorism and knows that new threats from

non-State factions call for a global response through

international cooperation. We must comprehensively

implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism

Strategy and arrive at a global convention to combat

that menace, which transcends borders. The people of

Spain know from experience that the responsibility for

terrorism lies with the terrorists alone; it is exclusive

to them and non-transferable, whatever its perpetrators

may claim. We should always honour the memory of

the victims, which is key to denying social or moral

legitimacy to terrorism of any kind.

Our commitment to working for peace and security

in the world was made evident this year during the

crisis in Mali. Spain initially supported the African-led

International Support Mission in Mali, and thereafter

the deployment of the United Nations Multidimensional

Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. Spanish troops

in the European Union mission in Mali are training

the country’s armed forces, which are responsible

for ensuring the country’s national sovereignty and

territorial integrity, with full respect for human

rights. Mali is defeating terrorism and has regained

its territorial integrity, an unquestionable success that

we can all be proud of. But it is only the first step.

The return to constitutional order, with the holding of

presidential elections, marks the start of a second phase

of building the open and inclusive institutions that are

essential to Mali’s future. In the long term, we must

continue to support development throughout the Sahel

as the only way to promote security, democracy and

prosperity in the region.

The entire Assembly should welcome the role

played by African organizations in that crisis. Special

recognition is due to the African Union, which celebrates

its fiftieth anniversary this year. Spain has very close

ties with Africa. That continent’s concerns are ours,

too. We participate in the African Union’s summits

and in funding the New Partnership for Africa’s

Development, and we were the first non-African

country to contribute directly to the African Union

Commission’s budget. Spain has launched a strategic

partnership with the Economic Community of West

African States (ECOWAS) and continues to strengthen

its ties with other regional organizations in Africa. We

back up those commitments with genuine support. Over

the past four years, Spain has contributed €100 million

to ECOWAS and the same amount to the African

Development Bank.

For the past two years, we have been witness to

the courageous and determined efforts of Arab peoples

to assert their dignity, consolidate their democratic

systems and exclude those who promote violence and

the violation of fundamental human rights. The road

to democracy is not easy, but there cannot and must

not be any turning back. Democracy has to be an

effort undertaken by all of society, working towards

coexistence and inclusiveness, an effort which is based

on dialogue, tolerance and respect for human rights.

That undertaking should be embraced by every country,

not just at the political level but also at the social and

economic. To support those processes of democratic

governance, Spain has launched the Masar programme,

aimed at Governments and civil society in North Africa

and the Middle East.

The Assembly is aware that the situation in Syria

has become an intolerable, heartbreaking human

tragedy, as well as a growing threat to regional and

international peace and security. The brutal attack with

sarin gas against civilians in Damascus — confirmed by

the report of the United Nations Mission to Investigate

Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the

Syrian Arab Republic (see A/67/997) — has been

widely condemned in the international community,

which firmly believes that that act must not be repeated

or go unpunished.

The proposal by Russia and the United States that

will allow international control and the subsequent

destruction of all stocks of chemical weapons in Syria

has been applauded by all. It is now necessary for the

Security Council to adopt a resolution to establish

a legally binding prohibition on the use of chemical

weapons in Syria and to ensure their mandatory

destruction. Much rests on that question. As the

Secretary-General remarked, it constitutes a challenge

to international security, one that if not resolved will

represent a collective failure.

Spain firmly believes that only political dialogue

between the parties will put an end to the increasingly

violent conflict, as was highlighted by the report

(A/HRC/24/46) presented to the Human Rights Council.

Therefore, we support the efforts of Mr. Lakhdar

Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the United

Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, to

promote a political transition in Syria.

Spain is confident of the success of the “Geneva

II” conference. In that respect, I reiterate before the

Assembly my call to the parties to demonstrate a

constructive attitude. Spain will continue to bolster

the opposition forces in order to ensure an orderly and

inclusive transition to democracy.

Finally, it is essential to maintain the humanitarian

effort to help reduce the suffering of Syria’s internally

displaced population and that of the refugees in

neighbouring countries.

In a related context, I wish to emphasize that

the Middle East peace process is taking on a new

perspective. Last year, in this very forum, it was

decided by a significant majority to recognize Palestine

as a United Nations Observer State. The current

negotiations are perhaps the last chance to reach a

just, comprehensive and lasting peace for the two

States, Israel and Palestine, to live in peace, security

and prosperity. At this crucial time for the region, the

political leaders concerned, with the support of the

international community, must take the bold decisions

necessary to achieve the historic goal of peace, and

thereby promote stability in the entire region and the

world.

My country is a staunch advocate of dialogue and

the use of peaceful means for the settlement of disputes.

We believe that conflict prevention is one of the main

instruments for ensuring peace and security. Therefore,

we have participated in the Peacebuilding Commission,

the establishment of the Alliance of Civilizations and

the establishment, with Austria and Saudi Arabia, of

the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre

for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue.

We believe in mediation for the peaceful settlement

of disputes. That is why we are a member of the United

Nations Group of Friends of Mediation. Within the

Group, together with Morocco, we have launched the

initiative on mediation in the Mediterranean region,

which has recently started producing results.

The General Assembly has developed a consolidated,

universal legal doctrine on decolonization, which Spain

has endorsed wholeheartedly. Once again, I must submit

to the Assembly the question of Gibraltar, which the

Organization included in 1963 in the list of Non-Self-

Governing Territories awaiting decolonization. The

only such territory remaining in Europe, it affects our

territorial integrity.

Since that date, the United Kingdom has ignored the

mandate of the General Assembly and the commitment

made to Spain in the 1984 Brussels Declaration. That

anachronism continues to inconvenience the citizens of

Gibraltar and the surrounding area. Resting its case on

the legitimacy granted by the universal doctrine of the

General Assembly, Spain once again reiterates its call

to the United Kingdom to resume bilateral dialogue and

regional cooperation.

Western Sahara remains one of the unresolved

issues at the United Nations. Spain supports the search

for a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution,

one that provides for the self-determination of the

people of Western Sahara within the framework of the

United Nations and in accordance with the purposes

and principles of the Charter. Accordingly, Spain fully

endorses the work carried out in that respect by the

Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy.

I would like to highlight the contribution of

Latin America and its regional organizations to

multilateralism. Their constructive input on global

issues, such as the environment and development, is

of fundamental importance. During the forthcoming

Ibero-American Summit in Panama, we will address

global challenges in the political, economic and social

contexts and offer some joint responses.

The General Assembly has declared 2013 the

International Year of Water Cooperation. The human

right to water and sanitation is essential for sustainable

development and the fight against poverty. That is why,

in 2008, Spain set up the Cooperation Fund for Water

and Sanitation, endowed with $1 billion for projects in

Latin America. Moreover, conscious of the strategic

value of water in ensuring peace and security, Spain

and Algeria have planned to launch a water strategy for

the Western Mediterranean.

Thanks to the work of the United Nations, there

is broad awareness of the crucial importance of the

fight against climate change, which is a direct and

immediate priority. Next year will be the year of the

small island developing States and will provide an

excellent opportunity to jointly address the problems

they face. Their efforts to adapt to climate change and

to mitigate its harmful effects must be supported, as

they produce the least pollution yet suffer the most

from its consequences.

As a nation, Spain acts in solidarity and has

made every effort to promote the achievement of

the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has

channelled its solidarity through the multilateral

system of the United Nations in the belief that that

system guarantees the principle of neutrality in the

allocation of funds to effectively achieve the ultimate

goal, namely, the eradication of poverty.

In 2007, Spain, together with the United Nations

Development Programme, established the MDG

Achievement Fund, which has had a real impact on

the lives of 20 million people through more than

130 programmes in 50 countries, disbursing almost

$1 billion. The evaluation of the Fund, which concludes

its activities this year, will be a key reference both for

analysing compliance with the MDGs and for developing

the post-2015 development agenda. The preparation of

that agenda is the central theme of this session of the

General Assembly. For Spain, the post-2015 agenda

should be focused on truly sustainable development,

should be universal and should acknowledge the

importance of transparent institutions in achieving

inclusive growth.

We must therefore clearly define the sustainable

development goals in order to complete the process

that began in Rio de Janeiro last year. However, it must

not be forgotten that only a little more than two years

remain to achieve the MDGs. While we can be pleased

with the progress made in many areas, there is still a

long way to go.

As the Spanish economy starts to grow again, we

will significantly support these efforts with generous,

intelligent and effective investment in development

cooperation.

My country’s solidarity can also be seen in terms of

humanitarian aid, for which Spain is the world’s eighth

largest donor. The United Nations is able to respond

to humanitarian crises in West Africa and the Sahel

faster and more effectively, thanks to the World Food

Programme humanitarian aid storage and distribution

centre that we built in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Spain has always been a crossroads of cultures,

religions and traditions. Ours is an open, pluralistic

and tolerant country that respects and integrates the

diversity that comes with globalization. The protection

and promotion of human rights is a responsibility of the

institutions to which all citizens must contribute. Spain

was the third country in the world to ratify the Optional

Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights, and I urge other States to

do likewise.

We also take a special interest in promoting the

rights of persons with disabilities. That is why we

joined the Philippines in co-facilitating the outcome

document of the High-level Meeting on the Realization

of the Millenium Development Goals for Persons with

Disabilities (resolution 68/3), which took place just a

few days ago. I am proud to say that in recognition of

that commitment, Spain has been awarded the Franklin

D. Roosevelt International Disability Rights Award,

which Her Majesty Queen Sofia accepted a few days

ago in this very city.

We will also continue to support the work of

UN-Women, as we have since its inception. Equality

between women and men, the full participation of

women in all areas, and efforts to end violence against

women and girls are indispensable for true development

and constitute a priority for Spain, both nationally and

internationally.

Our commitment to multilateralism is inseparable

from our desire for a decisive and efficient United

Nations. That is why this session of the General

Assembly must tackle the issue of Security Council

reform, which can be achieved only through the

broadest possible consensus founded on the principles

of accountability, transparency and cooperation, with a

view to enhancing the legitimacy of and support for the

Council’s actions.

It is also necessary to bring the Organization

into line with its means and to rationalize resources

so that, together, we may achieve more with less. We

therefore give our unconditional support to the progress

being made towards system-wide consistency and the

“Delivering as one” initiative, to which Spain is the

leading contributor. At the same time, the universal

character of the United Nations means that we must

preserve its multilingualism.

In 2005, Spain announced its candidacy to become a

non-permanent member of the Security Council for the

2015-2016 biennium. My speech today has underlined

the main reasons why I believe that Spain has shown, not

with mere words but with concrete actions, its readiness

to serve the United Nations in the Security Council,

with the same commitment to dialogue and solidarity

that we have shown since joining the Organization. We

have but a single objective: to uphold human dignity.

All our efforts in favour of peace, freedom, democracy,

justice, human rights and sustainable development are

directed towards that goal. Spain knows that its efforts

to uphold human dignity will bear greater fruit through

the United Nations, just as the General Assembly may

be sure that, in this endeavour, it can count on Spain.