Estonia, 2009

Over the past year, I, like many

others in this Hall, have spoken about the effect of the

current global financial crisis on our people and the

need for an effective national or international response.

Although the crisis is closely related to issues such as

peace and security, human rights, development and

many other matters of common concern, we cannot let

it cast a shadow over all the global challenges that we

currently face.

Today, a year after the collapse of the financial

markets, cyclical indicators point to economic

stabilization. The crisis is not over, however, and the

need to restore confidence and repair the financial

system remains. Moreover, each of us should make an

effort to refrain from raising new barriers and avoid

laying the foundations for new global imbalances in

the longer run.

In combating climate change, we have finally

understood the magnitude of our task and I would like

to thank the Secretary-General for hosting the Summit

on Climate Change a few days ago. We are not running

a 100-metre sprint, but rather a marathon, where one

must maintain speed. If we manage to stay on track we

all shall be winners in the end. But time is running out.

Melting glaciers, frequent and abnormally large

hurricanes, floods and heat waves — this is not the

planet that we want to leave to our children.

Global and united efforts are needed to reach a

comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 climate

agreement in Copenhagen this December. I call upon

all countries to set binding goals to share the burden.

Responsibility must be proportional to the harm that is

caused. I am convinced that applying the “polluter-

pays” principle would motivate the biggest polluters to

multiply their efforts and would therefore have the

greatest effect.

Green energy production, renewable energy,

energy efficiency and diversification of energy

sources — all these contribute not only to sustainable

environmental and economic development but also to

our security, as we will become less dependent on

exhaustible fossil fuels.

As an essential part of cutting greenhouse gas

emissions, we foresee a wider use of renewable energy

in Estonia, particularly biomass and wind energy. By

the end of the year, an Estonian Energy and Climate

Agency will be established to help consumers cut

energy expenditures and support building energy-

efficient homes. This is but one example of how an

ambitious climate policy can be used to trigger new

growth in the economy.

To uphold the core of the United Nations Charter,

we must remain committed to providing the United

Nations with sufficient resources to fulfil its unique

role in contributing to international security.

Compliance with the basic principles enshrined in the

Charter, including the obligation of all Members to

refrain from the threat or use of force against the

territorial integrity or political independence of any

State, must remain the fundamental basis of the United

Nations agenda. The United Nations should remain

engaged in areas of tension where it can make a

contribution.

My delegation takes this opportunity to reiterate

its firm support for the security and stability of

Georgia, based on full respect for the principles of

independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I follow with deep concern the situation in

Afghanistan. It is essential that the election process

deliver results that are legitimate in the eyes of the

Afghans. The future of Afghanistan lies in the hands of

the Afghan people; we, the international community,

can only help. By consolidating the efforts of the new

Government and the international community, lasting

progress can and should be achieved. Estonia is one of

the countries that have steadily increased their military

and civilian contribution to Afghanistan.

I am convinced that the bolstered role and greater

visibility of the United Nations throughout the country

has a positive impact on the coordination of

development activities that in turn will attract more

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non-governmental organizations and other international

organizations to the area.

Besides conflicts between and inside States, new

and asymmetrical cross-border threats have also

emerged: the threat from the Internet, for example.

Cyber threats not only endanger vital information

technology systems but they endanger entire

communities. Concurrently with the rapid development

of computer technology we are witnessing alarming

signs of more sinister developments: cyber attacks are

growing more complex and are increasing in

frequency. Consequently, major cooperative efforts by

both the governmental and the private sectors are

required to develop more effective response

capabilities.

This growing global concern demands both a

better coordinated international approach and an

enhanced legal domestic framework, including steps to

criminalize malevolent cyber acts. Our long-term aim

should be the creation of a universal cyber culture — a

universally accessible, secure and safe environment for

all.

Regarding humanitarian affairs, our task is

equally challenging. Global ecological instability,

political and military conflicts, combined with

economic instability and population growth, are

expected to increase humanitarian needs considerably

and require that our efforts be multiplied in the future.

We must stand ready to provide a more predictable,

equitable and consistently effective response to

humanitarian crises. The growing needs require an

increase in the amount of assistance, in coordination

and in the range of donors.

True, we all have economic concerns at the

moment, but it is vital to keep our commitments to

providing humanitarian relief. Today’s short-sighted

financial decisions or fading political will may in the

end become far more expensive and entail severe long-

term consequences.

I would like to commend the excellent work done

by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

Affairs and Member States in making the coordination

among humanitarian workers more efficient and

implementing the cluster system. The launch of the

Central Emergency Response Fund three years ago has

also proven a justified effort in providing more rapid

and equitable response allocations to disaster-affected

areas. As Estonia, together with Ireland, currently

co-chairs the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative,

we urge all donors to apply the principles of good

humanitarian donorship to make humanitarian aid more

needs-based and its financing more flexible.

As a sign of the priority we give to global

humanitarian issues, Estonia this year holds a vice-

presidency of the Economic and Social Council and

has been leading humanitarian discussions in that body.

I am concerned that in many humanitarian situations,

especially in conflict situations, adherence to

humanitarian principles has become selective,

hindering safe and timely access to victims. I fully

concur with Under-Secretary-General John Holmes

that this is not an ideological luxury but a practical

necessity to help ensure timely access as well as the

safety and security of humanitarian staff.

It goes without saying that expectations are

higher during trying times, and therefore the United

Nations actions in carrying out its objectives have

increasingly come under scrutiny. Yet, how is the

Organization to live up to those high expectations

when the United Nations is struggling to reform itself?

Over the past years, Member States have undertaken

considerable efforts to improve the United Nations

system, while one important element, Security Council

reform, still remains pending. While recognizing that

the reform process is complex, we must also realize

that there will be severe consequences if the process

remains incomplete.

Regarding another reform area — gender

reform — considerable progress that is also relevant to

achieving the Millennium Development Goals has been

made recently. No security, development or human

rights-related goal can be achieved without the full

participation of women. Estonia has been a dedicated

supporter of the United Nations funds and programmes

that foster gender equality. It is our common obligation

to ensure that reform becomes a reality without delay.

Facing the first financial crisis of the twenty-first

century and the accelerating global warming process,

we see the necessity for a united response growing.

This is why we, the leaders of all nations, once again

have gathered here this week: to remind ourselves to

keep our eyes on the horizon of peace and prosperity

and to make sure that we are in the same boat.