France, 2006

Lebanon

has again been set ablaze by war, a further

manifestation of the interminable conflict in the Middle

East whose tragedies have, for 60 years now,

punctuated the life of the United Nations.

By endlessly deferring its settlement, this

confrontation has become the epicentre of international

instability, the main source of incomprehension

between the different worlds and an easy alibi for all

forms of terrorism.

This situation is not a foregone conclusion. With

Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), the United

Nations is shouldering its responsibilities. The

unanimous adoption of this resolution has brought the

fighting to an end. France, Europe and Asia have

contributed to the strengthening of United Nations

Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

But the fire is still smouldering. It is now up to

all the parties to work towards the consolidation of

peace and the recovery of Lebanon.

It is now up to Israel to complete the withdrawal

of its forces. It is up to the Lebanese Government to

affirm its sovereignty throughout its territory. And it is

up to the countries in the region to cooperate fully in

order to ensure the success of resolution 1701 (2006),

to cooperate with the United Nations.

In this highly sensitive region where divides

meet, the status quo has become unbearable. Because

the conflict in the Middle East is a threat to global

peace and security, the world has no option but to be

the guarantor of peace. Let us tread off the beaten track

of habit. Let us define a global strategy the key to

which is an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

The parameters for that settlement are well-

known, namely, the secure coexistence of two viable

States, as has already been widely accepted by both

peoples; safe and recognized borders; and a fair

solution for refugees and for Jerusalem. All that still

stands between Israelis and Palestinians and the peace

to which they aspire is the deep-seated, mutual distrust

of two peoples shattered by history and reeling from

their sufferings and ordeals. Let us now stop extremists

from laying down the law! Let us help peoples and

leaders bold enough to seek peace! Like, before them,

Sadat and Begin, Rabin and Arafat! Before this

Assembly, I call on the world to commit itself to

restoring the conditions for confidence.

The Quartet should meet shortly to start preparing

an international conference. I propose that the

conference define in advance the guarantees that we

are prepared to provide to the parties as soon as they

reach an agreement. I also propose that the conference

pave the way for a new future in the Middle East

through a regional framework for collective security,

economic integration and dialogue among cultures.

Building peace means fighting terrorism. It

means preventing proliferation. It means shouldering

the “responsibility to protect” that we enshrined here

last year.

International legality must prevail over the threats

of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In the

crisis with Iran, confidence has been impaired by the

existence of hidden programmes. We have extended

ambitious offers of cooperation to that major country,

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provided it restores confidence by suspending its

contentious activities. Dialogue must prevail. Let us

talk in order to enter into negotiations.

Given the seriousness of what is at stake, the

international community must stand firm and united.

We do not aim to call regimes into question. We aim to

ensure security in accordance with international law

and with due regard for the sovereignty of all

countries.

The “responsibility to protect” — that was what

we affirmed here. In Darfur, millions of people are

threatened. A crime against humanity looms.

Bloodshed and turmoil are about to convulse the very

heart of Africa again.

France entreats the international community to

ward off a further humanitarian catastrophe. I solemnly

call on Sudan to accept the United Nations peace

mission without delay. I call on the International

Criminal Court to bring to justice those responsible for

these crimes.

The time has come for the immense continent of

Africa, with its wealth of peoples and vibrant youth,

which has embarked on the road to growth and reform,

to find, at long last, a destiny worthy of it and of the

cradle of humanity it represents. Humanity must be

united and there must be solidarity among its diverse

peoples. Humanity needs, more than ever, a strong and

respected United Nations, the irreplaceable tool for

shared sovereignty and responsibility.

It is here that universal and sacred human rights

must be defended and protected. With the new Human

Rights Council and the International Criminal Court,

the United Nations returns to this primary vocation. Let

us not disappoint the hopes of all those who love

freedom and justice.

At a time when the world’s wealth is increasing

as never before, the separation between the rich and

poor is becoming intolerable. From its inception, the

United Nations has stood for the moral imperatives of

fairness and solidarity. For this reason France wishes to

submit to the United Nations the idea of innovative

development financing mechanisms such as the

international solidarity levy on airplane tickets, a

modern, pragmatic and experimental response to the

need to fight poverty and pandemics. In this spirit we

will be launching the International Drug Purchase

Facility (UNITAID) initiative this afternoon. Let us

overcome selfishness and dogmatism and give the

generous idea of a world united for human progress a

chance.

Finally, we all know that uncontrolled human

activity is bringing about a sort of slow collective

suicide. Disaster can only be averted if nations can

come together to support jointly agreed commitments.

Let us create a United Nations for the environment, as

the expression of the world’s ecological conscience and

the premier forum in which we take common action for

future generations. France will host an international

conference next year to bring together all those who

want to make progress on this project, which is crucial

to the future of the planet.

For 10 years now, a man has held high the torch

of the United Nations and our universal values. Today,

I wish to pay Kofi Annan the solemn and merited

honour of our profound admiration, of our respect and

of our recognition.

In a few weeks’ time, we will appoint a new

Secretary-General, who will be faced with immense

challenges. He will be able to count on the support of

France, on its unswerving commitment to serving

peace and justice, fraternity and progress.