Croatia, 2008

I would like first to

congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his

assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly

at its sixty-third session, as well as to thank Mr. Srgjan

Kerim for the excellent work he did during his

presidency of the General Assembly in the preceding

year.

As we gather here once again to address the most

significant issues on the global agenda, the General

Assembly opening session reminds us of our shared

vision of the United Nations as the embodiment of a

family of nations.

It reminds us of the constant need for an effective

multilateral effort to address global challenges, and to

maintain and build peace in a range of conflict zones

and post-conflict societies, searching for solutions

within the rule-based international order, through the

promotion of freedom, democracy, development and

respect for human rights.

It also gives us the opportunity to take stock of

our achievements, as well as to redouble our

commitment to world peace and progress.

This is a commitment that Croatia and its people

accepted even before our independence: a commitment

to strengthen international cooperation through

effective multilateral organizations for advancing

peace and security, facilitating development and

combating poverty, protecting our environment,

eradicating diseases and promoting public health.

As a renewal of that commitment, we celebrate

this year the 120th anniversary of the birth of the

famous Croat, Dr. Andrija Štampar, a founding father

of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the first

President of the WHO Assembly. In his inaugural

speech in 1948, Dr. Štampar clearly stated that the

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Organization should become a pioneer of world peace

and promote understanding among nations.

Dr. Štampar’s words are also true for the broader

family of United Nations institutions. His words are a

testimony to the lasting commitment of Croatia and its

people to the promotion of peace through international

cooperation.

Since our independence, Croatia’s leaders have

come every year before this Assembly to renew this

solemn commitment. Even in the most difficult of

times, when our own existence was in peril and

collective security guarantees vanished, we still came

to New York to express Croatia’s adherence to the

values enshrined in the Charter.

Croatia has come a long way since those testing

days of struggle. Yet our determination in pursuing the

Charter principles has remained intact.

We have developed a stable democracy and a

growing economy, but we have not forgotten those

brave men and women who struggled for and achieved

our independence, as well as those men and women of

goodwill who, under the flag of the United Nations,

assisted us in our time of need.

With that conviction and determination, with that

sincere sense of gratitude and a genuine vocation for

cooperation, I come today before the Assembly to

share with it Croatia’s views on the most pressing and

relevant issues for our international community.

On this occasion, though, Croatia is for the first

time in a position to address these issues from a

different angle — that of an elected member of the

Security Council. Membership of the Security Council

is not only a great honour for Croatia, but also a great

responsibility we have been preparing for in recent

years.

(spoke in French)

Over the past decade, Croatia has completed a

transformative journey that may without exaggeration

be described as impressive. Since the war-torn early

1990s it has emerged as an anchor of stability, security

and cooperation in South-East Europe.

Croatia is today at the doorstep of the European

Union. We are determined to conclude the accession

negotiations in 2009, thus completing a demanding

process of profound political, economic and social

reforms.

Our European vocation has guided us in the

testing period of our transition, and it will continue to

guide us once Croatia becomes a full member of the

European Union.

(spoke in English)

We attach equal importance to our membership of

the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and

we look forward to the celebration of our accession to

the alliance at the next summit in spring 2009, which

will also mark NATO’s sixtieth anniversary.

Through reforms, we have successfully turned

our country from a consumer to a net contributor to

international peace and security. Today, Croatian forces

are engaged in 13 United Nations peacekeeping

operations in four different continents. Our men and

women in uniform also serve in the NATO-led

operation in Afghanistan and the European Union

operation in Chad, in accordance with the relevant

Security Council resolutions.

In all these conflict areas, our service men and

women have proved their dedication and

professionalism. However, probably their most

valuable contribution is their ability to share with the

local population Croatia’s own experience in

overcoming the consequences of war and taking the

road of reconciliation, cooperation and development.

As a member of the Security Council, Croatia

will continue to work as a responsible and dedicated

partner in the common effort to maintain and build

peace through the promotion of human rights and

democracy, the fight for the eradication of poverty and

injustice, and the advancement of effective

multilateralism.

In this Croatia will be guided by a sense of

responsibility, solidarity and good faith. We hold that

effective multilateral action, including with regional

organizations, is our best guarantee in safeguarding

these values.

While we see progress in advancing these values

in some troubled areas of our world, such as

Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, we have also

witnessed other conflicts arising, such as in Georgia.

In this respect, we welcome the six-point

agreement brokered by the European Union presidency

and President Sarkozy in August, as well as the

implementing agreement from September.

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We are also aware that the failure to address these

issues in a multilateral context of cooperation could

lead us into old paradigms of confrontation. At the

same time, the lack of audacity to confront them could

endanger the democratic gains obtained with the end of

the cold war. These gains should be preserved, as they

themselves derive from the fundamental principles

emanating from the Charter.

We should not forget that the United Nations

stands for the common fundamental values of freedom,

equality, solidarity, tolerance and respect for human

rights. In this regard, the suffering of the people of the

Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and the suffering of the

people in Somalia and Myanmar are also stark

reminders of the gap between the goals this

Organization has set and the realities on the ground.

My country welcomes joint international efforts

to address the question of flagrant violations of

international humanitarian law and human rights

through established international mechanisms and

institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC provides a vital recourse to justice in

situations where national Governments cannot or will

not address these issues themselves.

Human rights and the rule of law are essential

building blocks for a more peaceful, just and

prosperous world. This year we are marking the

sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights. As a member of the Security Council,

my country is dedicated to advancing these rights to

those most vulnerable in conflict: civilians, notably

women and children.

We are pleased that this year the Council adopted

a strong and action-oriented resolution addressing the

disturbing practice of sexual violence as a method of

warfare.

We also continue to work on advancing the cause

of preventing children becoming part of armed

conflicts, believing that the realities on the ground

require stronger Council involvement. For this and

many other reasons, Croatia has decided to present its

candidature for membership in the Human Rights

Council for the period 2010-2013.

We live in a world that has significantly redefined

the traditional notion of threats to international peace

and security. In an increasingly interconnected world,

global threats are taking many forms.

Terrorism, poverty, disease, climate change,

environmental degradation and rising food prices

command that we work together, as only a common

vision and collective action, implemented in the spirit

of solidarity and responsibility, can counter these

challenges.

Terrorism attempts to undermine the core values

of the modern world and poses a serious challenge to

our security, the basic principles of democratic

societies and the rights and freedoms of our citizens.

Terrorist acts are criminal in nature and cannot be

justified under any circumstances. Croatia appreciates

and fully supports all efforts in the global struggle

against terrorism, within the United Nations system

and beyond.

Since the beginning of this year, my country has

been chairing the Security Council Counter-Terrorism

Committee, which was established in the immediate

aftermath of the devastating terrorist attacks against the

United States and the whole democratic world on

11 September 2001. We have assumed this

responsibility with the utmost seriousness and are

working towards moving the Committee forward by

focusing on concrete results and achieving realistic

objectives.

I would also like to reiterate the importance

Croatia attaches to the Global Counter-Terrorism

Strategy as one of the primary international documents

in the global fight against terrorism. Croatia is also

active on the regional level, presiding over the

Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER)

within the Council of Europe.

In overcoming global threats and challenges,

initiatives such as the Alliance of Civilizations can also

act as a stimulus, augmenting mutual respect,

understanding and cooperation among States and

peoples across cultures and religions. As the Alliance’s

main goal is to counter intolerance, religious

fundamentalism and extremism, Croatia is pleased to

be a part of this ever-growing group.

Our dialogue and cooperation should also be

directed with more emphasis at combating poverty and

establishing a global partnership for development. In

this regard, my country welcomes the Secretary-

General’s leadership in calling for action to make

progress for the poorest of the poor, the so-called

bottom billion.

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We also believe that it is essential for

Governments to support the delivery of commitments

made, with the aim of getting the Millennium

Development Goals back on track. Specific

arrangements between donor and recipient countries on

the implementation of the Millennium Development

Goals should be put into action through a human-

centred approach to the key themes of the Goals, or

more precisely health and education, the environment

and the eradication of poverty.

In this sense, we recognize the importance of

mobilizing financial resources for development, as well

as their effective use in developing countries. The

Monterrey Consensus remains the foundation of the

global partnership for development, and Croatia

believes in a positive outcome of the review conference

to take place in Doha later this year. In this context,

Croatia will honour the obligations and figures

established pursuant to its status as a candidate for

membership in the European Union.

Through its transition process Croatia has

emerged from being a recipient country to being a

country whose own experience and resources have

enabled it to become an international donor. As a

contributor to various United Nations funds and

programmes, Croatia has confirmed its capability to

support the activities of the United Nations in

numerous fields, and will continue to do so through

sharing our experiences and assisting those in need.

However, while Croatia increases its contribution

to global progress and takes a more assertive role in the

international arena, it also remains active in, and

committed to, fostering stability in South-East Europe.

Our membership in the Security Council and our

advanced phase of integration in the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union

has not led us to turn our back on our neighbours. On

the contrary, it has enabled us to redouble our efforts in

preserving stability and maximizing the benefits of

peace.

Through initiatives such as the establishment of

the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC),

headquartered in Sarajevo and with a top Croatian

diplomat, Mr. Hido Biscevic, as its first Secretary

General, we have actively contributed to regional

stability.

However, there is still unfinished business in our

neighbouring region. Let me mention one example:

Bosnia and Herzegovina. The foundations for stability

in that country reside in respect for equal rights for all

three constituent and sovereign people: Croats,

Bosniaks and Serbs.

The Republic of Croatia stands ready, along with

the international community, to support and assist

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as all the other

countries in the region, through an active policy of

cooperation.

Such cooperation paves the way for long-standing

security and prosperity in South-East Europe. And in

that way Croatia will continue to back the Euro-

Atlantic aspirations of all its neighbours. In that way

my country will renew its determination to foster

peace, democracy and tolerance, thus honouring our

commitment to the Charter.

Last April, in this very Hall, His Holiness Pope

Benedict XVI reminded us that:

“The founding principles of the Organization —

the desire for peace, the quest for justice, respect

for the dignity of the person, humanitarian

cooperation and assistance — express the just

aspirations of the human spirit and constitute the

ideals which should underpin international

relations.” (A/62/PV.95, p. 3)

We should always remember these ideals as we

continue to work together on exploiting the full

potential of the United Nations in creating a more

peaceful, prosperous and democratic world.