Finland, 1994

Let me begin by

congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency

of the General Assembly at this forty-ninth session. I am

confident that with your long and intimate knowledge of the

United Nations we shall come to a successful conclusion of

this session.

Since we met a year ago, the world has witnessed both

positive and negative developments. The latter deserve the

particular attention of this Assembly. Nevertheless, let me

begin by referring to some of the positive ones.

One major development is the progress that has been

made toward peace in the Middle East. The seemingly

impossible is turning into reality. The United Nations must

now be available to the parties concerned in the search for

a comprehensive settlement in the region. It must also

assist in the process of peace building and reconstruction.

The Government of Finland welcomes the return of

South Africa to the General Assembly, now with the

credentials of a free, democratic and non-racial Member

State. South Africa has the full potential of becoming a

stabilizing political and economic force in Africa. It has

already made a positive contribution to world security by

abolishing, under international verification, its nuclear-

weapons programme.

In the immediate vicinity of Finland, the withdrawal

of Russian troops from Estonia and Latvia has put an end

to one of the painful legacies of the Second World War. I

am confident that the remaining problems in the relations

between the Baltic States and Russia will be solved in the

same spirit as that which helped resolve the issues of troop

withdrawals.

My Government also welcomes the cease-fire in

Northern Ireland declared by the Irish Republican Army.

We hope that this will facilitate an early and lasting

solution acceptable to all.

There are also encouraging signs in the world

economy, particularly regarding the multilateral trade

system. It is now urgent to implement the results of the

Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and

Trade, including the establishment of the World Trade

Organization. Other issues on the trade agenda, such as

trade and environment, also need to be addressed.

These positive developments to which I have

referred have one thing in common: they would not have

been possible without courageous leadership. They

illustrate the fact that patient and visionary leadership is

necessary in solving problems facing the international

community.

Turning now to negative developments, there are still

many conflicts that neither the parties concerned nor the

international community have been willing or able to

solve. The abhorrent tragedies in the former Yugoslavia,

Rwanda and Somalia have caused suffering to millions of

innocent people. They are frightening examples of our

inability to act when national leadership fails and

intra-State conflicts threaten international peace and

security.

The Security Council has the primary responsibility

for the maintenance of international peace and security,

but it cannot - nor should it - act as a substitute for the

Member States or their Governments. It is a dangerous

and fallacious impression that the United Nations could or

should always step in to rectify irresponsible actions and

policies, nor can it be expected to be present forever in

conflict areas. It is also obvious that the United Nations

will never be in a position to dispose of enough resources

to meet all demands.

We must seek new ways and approaches. We must

be able to prevent fires before they start. Too often,

conflicts erupt because of a lack of preventive action and

misperceived faith in the readiness and the ability of the

United Nations to step in. It is clear that preventive

measures should be given a greater role in the

Organization’s work on conflict resolution.

In the present United Nations peace-keeping system,

political oversight, planning and military command and

control need to be improved and the budgetary system

streamlined. Moreover, we are increasingly challenged by

complex emergencies, which include political, military

and humanitarian concerns. These cannot be addressed

through traditional peace-keeping efforts alone. They

require a comprehensive approach and sustained efforts

by the States concerned, as well as the assistance of

regional arrangements and organizations.

Today, economic, social and humanitarian problems

can be discussed without the veil of ideology. We can

now address issues such as poverty, population, social

justice and human rights without engaging in a contest of

competing social systems. The linkage of world peace

18

with economic and social development, with the rule of law

and respect for the rights of the individual, is now

increasingly accepted. The concept of security has

widened. It now comprises not only military and political

factors but also, inter alia, the human aspect and the needs

of the individual as well.

We have taken important decisions at Rio on

environment, at Vienna on human rights and at Cairo on

population policies. Next year we shall meet at

Copenhagen for the World Summit for Social Development

and in Beijing to enhance the empowerment of women. In

1996 the second Habitat Conference will convene at

Istanbul. Those conferences should lead to a better

understanding, and ultimately acceptance, of the new

concept of sustainable human development. The Secretary-

General’s Agenda for Development should complement the

process, and outline the role of the United Nations in the

larger context of improved global governance.

In this wider perspective the promotion and protection

of human rights is crucial. The results of the World

Conference on Human Rights held at Vienna must be put

into practice. I am convinced that the High Commissioner

for Human Rights will ensure that the promotion of human

rights is included as an integral part of all activities of the

United Nations.

In 1992 the Security Council, unanimously and at the

highest political level, stated that the proliferation of

weapons of mass destruction constituted a threat to

international peace and security. The Council thus affirmed

the fundamental norm first established by the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) a quarter of

a century ago. The almost universal adherence to the NPT

demonstrates that the world now shares a common interest

in its continued existence. Finland believes, as do many

other States parties, that the existence of the NPT must be

secured through its indefinite and unconditional extension

next year.

I have referred to the challenges to the United Nations.

Perhaps the greatest concern today is the lack of

commitment to the Organization by many of its Member

States. Without the full commitment of all of us, the

United Nations cannot assume its role as a centre for

international conciliation and cooperation. This is

demonstrated by the financial situation of the Organization,

which is very critical. Member States - and I refer

particularly to those which face no constraints on their

capacity to pay - must change their attitudes and pay

forthwith and in full their assessed contributions and their

arrears. Otherwise, this Organization will not be able to

function.

Finland has always paid its contributions in full and

on time. So have some others, but regrettably few. Now

we must all accept a strict budgetary and financial

discipline. Breaches of this discipline must be sanctioned.

Payment of interest on arrears should become standard

practice and should be enforced. At the same time, of

course, we must demand that the United Nations pursue

its ongoing administrative and financial reforms.

As the United Nations embarks on its second

half-century, the circumstances are essentially different

from those which prevailed for most of the first 50 years.

It is therefore important to reshape our Organization to

meet the challenges of tomorrow, not those of yesterday.

The work done on the reform of the Security

Council during the forty-eighth session of the General

Assembly was very useful. We need now to continue

that work and to arrive at conclusions acceptable to all.

We need to ensure the continued efficiency of the

Security Council, while making its composition better

reflect today’s realities, such as the increasing

responsibility, inter alia, of Germany and Japan, in world

affairs.

As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of our

Organization, we should build on the solid foundation of

the Charter. Our priorities should be to focus on

prevention and peace-building in securing peace and

stability, and also on sustainable human development in

order to bring about security at the individual level; and

to restructure our Organization to achieve better global

governance.

These priorities should guide our joint efforts as we

approach the next millennium - "United for a Better

World".