France, 2003

Sergio

Vieira de Mello was the pride of the United Nations.

Murdered on 19 August along with his colleagues, he

will remain in our memories. Let us dedicate this

session to that great servant of the world and of peace.

The United Nations has just emerged from one of

the most serious challenges in its history. Respect for

the Charter and the use of force were at the heart of the

debate. The war, which was launched without the

Security Council's authorization, has undermined the

multilateral system.

Having come to terms with that crisis, our

Organization can now continue to move forward; for it

is above all in this forum the melting pot of the

international order that we must exercise our

responsibilities to the world of today as well as to

future generations.

In an open world no one can live in isolation, no

one can act alone in the name of all and no one can

accept the anarchy of a society without rules. There is

no alternative to the United Nations. But in order to

meet today's challenges, this fundamental choice,

expressed by the Charter, requires a far-reaching

reform of our Organization.

Multilateralism is crucial, because it ensures the

participation of all in the management of world affairs.

It is a guarantee of legitimacy and democracy,

especially when decisions must be made with respect to

the use of force or to the laying down of universal

norms.

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Multilateralism is effective. In Monterrey and

Johannesburg, it allowed us to transcend North-South

confrontation and to open the way to promising

partnerships, in particular with the African continent.

Multilateralism is modern, because it alone makes

it possible to comprehend contemporary problems

globally and in all of their complexity.

First, let me touch on the settlement of conflicts

that threaten international peace and security.

In Iraq, the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis,

who must have sole responsibility for their destiny, is

essential for stability and reconstruction. It is up to the

United Nations to lend its legitimacy to that process. It

is also up to the United Nations to assist with the

gradual transfer of administrative and economic

responsibilities to the Iraqi institutions, according to a

realistic timetable, and to help the Iraqis draft a

constitution and hold general elections.

Finally, it is up to the United Nations to entrust a

mandate to a multinational force, commanded,

naturally, by the main troop contributor that is, the

United States in order to ensure the security of Iraq

and of all those helping to rebuild the country.

Thus the international community and the Iraqi

people, united around a common project, will together

put an end to the tragic decades of that great country's

history.

In the Middle East, ravaged by despair and

hatred, only strong political will on both sides to

implement the law as stipulated by the United Nations

can pave the way for a just and lasting solution.

The international community must restore a

dynamic for peace. It must involve itself in the

implementation of the road map. That should be the

objective of the upcoming meeting of the Quartet, to be

held at the ministerial level. France believes that the

idea of a monitoring mechanism is as relevant as ever,

and that the convening of an international conference is

a goal to be attained as quickly as possible.

Given the present tense situation, France calls on

the parties not to succumb to the temptation of a test of

strength and of a futile radicalization.

Another major challenge is the fight against

international terrorism. This fight is well under way,

under the auspices of the Security Council and within

the context of our treaties. The horror of 11 September

cemented our common resolve. This threat strikes at

the very heart of our democracies and our societies. We

are using force to combat terrorism, but that is not

enough. It will re-emerge again and again if we allow

extremism and fanaticism to flourish if we fail to

realize that it seeks justification in the world's

unresolved conflicts and economic and social

imbalances.

Given the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction, we reject the policy of fait accompli. We

must stand united to guarantee the universality of

treaties and the effectiveness of non-proliferation

regimes. In order to ensure compliance, we must also

develop our means of action. France has proposed the

creation of a permanent corps of inspectors under the

authority of the Security Council. Let us give fresh

impetus to this policy. Let us convene a summit

meeting of the Security Council to outline a true plan

of action of the United Nations against proliferation.

At this time, let us demand that North Korea

completely, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its

military programme. Let us demand that Iran sign and

implement, unconditionally and without delay, a

strengthened nuclear safeguards agreement with the

International Atomic Energy Agency.

Sustainable development poses yet another

challenge, because half of humankind is living in

conditions of insecurity or extreme poverty. Will we be

able to globalize solidarity, as our peoples demand, in

response to the inevitable globalization of the

economy?

We agree on the objectives. We are bound by the

Millennium Goals. But, in order to attain those goals,

strong political impetus remains necessary. I propose

that heads of State and Government meet in New York

in 2005 for a preliminary progress review. I hope that

this session of the General Assembly will confirm the

determination of States to overcome the failure of

Cancun and to ensure the success of the Doha

Development Round.

In order to carry out the missions entrusted to it

and to remedy its blatant shortcomings, the United

Nations must evolve. Three watchwords, I believe,

must guide us: democracy, authority, effectiveness.

Thanks to the Secretary-General, progress has been

made, and new avenues are opening up. It is now up to

States to move forward without further ado and to put

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an end to the adverse consequences of the stalemate

over reforms.

The United Nations is suffering from the current

weakness of the General Assembly. And yet, it is here

that a debate should be organized and a consensus

crafted regarding solutions to major problems. A

culture of confrontation must give way to a culture of

action aimed at achieving our common goals, which we

should determine together.

The primary responsibility for the maintenance of

peace and security rests with the Security Council. It is

therefore essential to its legitimacy that its composition

reflect the state of the world. It must be expanded to

include new permanent members, because the presence

of major countries is necessary. France, naturally, is

thinking of Germany and of Japan, but also of some

leading countries of Asia, Africa and America. We also

need new elected members, to make the Council even

more representative. With the decisive impetus of the

five permanent members, we all need to resume

discussions, mindful of the general interest.

Such reform should be accompanied by a

strengthening of the Council's authority. It is the

Council that should set the bounds with respect to the

use of force. No one can claim the right to use force

unilaterally and preventively. Conversely, in the face of

mounting threats, States must be assured that the

Council has at its disposal the appropriate means of

evaluation and of collective action, and that it has the

will to act.

We all are very committed to the sovereignty of

States. But its scope can and should be limited in the

case of serious violations of human rights and of

humanitarian law. The Security Council is taking steps

in that direction, and France supports this development.

Meanwhile, crimes against humanity are being

suppressed more effectively with the establishment of

the International Criminal Court, whose jurisdiction is

universal. This historic step forward must be

accompanied by a strengthening of the Office of the

High Commissioner for Human Rights, under a

commission equipped to discharge its duties and its

mission.

We now realize that globalization demands

stronger economic, social and environmental

governance. To that end, France proposes the creation

of a new political forum representative of the present

economic state of today's world in all its diversity.

That council would be responsible for providing the

necessary impetus to international institutions, for

improving their coordination and for anticipating and

tackling global problems more effectively.

Effectiveness also depends on increased financial

resources. France calls for two changes.

First, the trend towards increasing voluntary

contributions at the expense of mandatory

contributions must be reversed. Failing that, we will

end up with a pick-and-choose United Nations, which

is an outdated vision and a harmful one.

Secondly, we need to make progress in

mobilizing funds for development and development

assistance. France wants to meet the official

development assistance target of 0.7 per cent by the

year 2012. But this effort, together with that of the

European Union, will obviously not suffice to release

the necessary funds needed to finance the Millennium

Goals each year. France therefore supports the

innovative concept of an international financial facility.

I would also like us to give pragmatic, speedy

consideration to international solidarity levies, a kind

of tax on the wealth generated by globalization and

given over to development.

To advance on these issues, I completely approve

of the Secretary-General's intention to gather around

him a committee of independent wise men and women

responsible for submitting proposals.

Against the risk of a world without order

delivered up to violence, let us work to establish the

rule of international law. Against the injustice and

suffering of a world of widening inequalities even

though it has never been so rich let us choose

solidarity. Against the chaos of a world shaken by

ecological disasters, let us call for a sharing of

responsibility around a United Nations environmental

organization. Against the barbarity of a world in which

fundamental rights are all too often held up to ridicule,

where the integrity of mankind is under threat, where

indigenous peoples the heirs to an irreplaceable

heritage vanish amid silence and indifference, let us

uphold the demands of ethics. Against the peril of a

clash of civilizations, finally, let us insist on the equal

dignity of cultures, respect for diversity and the value

of dialogue.

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With the Charter adopted in the name of the

Peoples of the United Nations, the founders proclaimed

their faith in these ideals. Let us seek to be worthy of

them. Let us establish the United Nations at the heart

of this planetary democracy that is so vital in our day

and age.