Iceland, 2002

Allow me at the

outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the

presidency of the General Assembly. I am confident

that you will guide us wisely through the complex tasks

ahead.

I would also like to use this opportunity to

welcome Switzerland, our long-time friend and partner

in the European Free Trade Association, to the United

Nations. Furthermore, I would like to express our

satisfaction that East Timor will be joining the United

Nations later this month. The independence of East

Timor is one more example of how, in the end, the

purposes and principles of the United Nations prevail.

The vicious and deliberately organized terrorist

attacks against the United States on 11 September of

last year have had global implications. The necessity to

fight terrorism and the international commitment and

determination to do so have dominated the

international arena in the past year. Iceland reaffirms

its commitment to cooperate with the United Nations

and its Member States, as well as with other relevant

international organizations, in the fight against

terrorism. To that end, we stress the importance for

States to ratify and implement all the relevant legal

instruments that together contribute to uprooting that

menace.

We should aim at concluding the draft comprehensive

convention against terrorism during this session of the

General Assembly.

On such important issues as peace and stability, it

is often difficult to reach decisions and agree on

resolutions here in the United Nations, let alone to

ensure that they are implemented. Full implementation

of all relevant Security Council resolutions is

imperative. It is therefore very encouraging to see that

during this session of the General Assembly, we have

witnessed that the emerging consensus on how to deal

with defiance of Security Council resolutions seems to

be having tangible results. Only yesterday, the Iraqi

Government informed the United Nations that Iraq has

decided to cooperate fully with the Organization and to

give weapons inspectors unconditional access to the

country. This is certainly a positive sign, but deeds will

have to follow.

In a recent visit to the Middle East, my belief was

confirmed that there must be a much stronger

involvement of the international community in the

Middle East and involvement of third parties in the

efforts to resolve the dispute there. In this regard,

Iceland fully supports the efforts of the Quartet, as well

as the Saudi proposals. Negotiations on a political

settlement must resume; they must not be held hostage

to the situation on the ground. Only a comprehensive

peace agreement dealing with all aspects of the dispute

will guarantee security and prosperity for both Israelis

and Palestinians.

The occupation of the Palestinian territories must

end, in line with Security Council resolutions 242

(1967) and 338 (1973). Iceland strongly supports the

two-States solution. Israel and Palestine must live side

by side in peace within secure and recognised borders.

Until a peace agreement has been reached, both

parties have to play by certain rules. The sanctity of the

lives of innocent civilians has to be respected under all

circumstances. This means that the Palestinian

Authority must reform itself to deal effectively with

terror and pave the way for the establishment of a

democratic and accountable Palestinian State. Israel

also has to respect international humanitarian law in

the occupied Palestinian territories, including East

Jerusalem. The circumstances on the ground have to

change for the better. Otherwise, there is a real danger

that the worsening of the economic situation in the

occupied Palestinian territories could lead to a

humanitarian disaster.

Iceland strongly welcomes the entry into force of

the Rome Statute establishing the International

Criminal Court (ICC). We urge all States that have not

already done so to ratify or accede to the Statute with

the aim of achieving universality in the fight against

impunity for the most serious international crimes.

The ICC certainly is one of the major

accomplishments of the international community in

strengthening the international legal system. Some

10

concerns have been voiced with regard to the possible

abuse of the Rome Statute. These concerns should be

carefully studied with an open mind and without

prejudice to the effective functioning of the ICC.

Constant vigilance is needed to ensure respect for

human rights and humanitarian law. Our continuous

efforts to combat terrorism must not result in any form

of human rights violations. All measures taken must be

in accordance with international law.

Allow me to dwell on human rights issues

affecting women and children. Unfortunately, women's

rights are sometimes viewed as a purely social issue

rather than a human rights issue. More often than not,

women are the prime victims of conflicts. Yet their

right to participate on an equal footing in peace

negotiations and decision-making processes is still not

recognized. Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) is

meant to change this, and its provisions must be

implemented and respected.

While progress has been made towards greater

gender equality, the situation in many countries is still

dire. Trafficking in women has increased, not least in

Europe. The resumption of ancient methods of

punishment of women in some parts of the world is

appalling. Lack of education, information and health

care, as well as sexual exploitation, makes women

particularly vulnerable to the growing malice of

HIV/AIDS.

The well-being of children is our responsibility.

All over the world, millions of children suffer because

of poverty. They are cruelly exploited as child soldiers

or labourers. They do not enjoy their right to education

and are deprived of the decent life they are entitled to.

Iceland therefore welcomed the special session on

children held last spring. The participation of children

themselves was especially successful. We need to listen

to our children and make every effort to implement the

declaration and plan of action of the special session, as

well as the international Convention on the Rights of

the Child.

Sustainable development has become an integral

part of policies and strategies of local and national

governments, international organizations, businesses

and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

Despite impressive progress made in many fields

during the past decade, especially with regard to the

environment, millions of people still live in poverty

and see little hope of escaping it. It is essential that

poorer countries be allowed to enjoy the benefits of

their comparative advantages and to put their human

resources to work. Trade liberalization and free

commerce would be a major contribution to promoting

equitable and sustainable growth for the benefit of

poorer countries.

At the World Summit on Sustainable

Development in Johannesburg, world leaders

succeeded in generating commitments for action. This

is a major accomplishment. It is now up to each and

every one of us to see to it that these commitments are

implemented.

At the Summit, Iceland declared its willingness to

increase its bilateral development assistance by

providing training in the sustainable management of

living marine resources and the use of renewable

energy resources. A huge step forward in the

development and utilization of renewable, clean energy

resources is necessary in order to fulfil the

commitments laid down in the Kyoto Protocol.

Sustainable management and utilization of all living

marine resources is essential for food security and

hunger alleviation.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the

Sea is without doubt one of the greatest achievements

of this Organization. For a country like Iceland, which

is overwhelmingly dependent on the sustainable

utilization of living marine resources, the Convention

is of paramount importance. In our view, it is highly

appropriate that the General Assembly will devote two

days during its fifty-seventh session for

commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the

opening for signature of the Convention on the Law of

the Sea.

The Convention on the Law of the Sea has gained

universal participation, and all the three institutions

established by it are functioning in an effective manner.

We welcome the entry into force last December of the

related Agreement on the Conservation and

Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly

Migratory Fish Stocks. It is imperative that both the

Convention and the Agreement be ratified by those

States that have not done so, that they be fully

implemented and that their integrity be preserved.

In the Millennium Declaration we resolved to

strengthen the United Nations system in order to make

it more effective. In this context the revitalization of

the General Assembly is important. Reform measures

such as the clustering of agenda items and, most

recently, the election in advance of the President and

Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly and the

Chairpersons of the Main Committees, are steps in the

right direction. However, we must strive to deepen the

reforms on the basis of the Millennium Declaration.

In many crisis situations in this past year, as so

often before, the Security Council has proven effective

and fulfilled a task satisfactorily. However, we must

not forget that the reform of the Security Council

remains an issue that needs to be resolved. The

Council's efficiency in coping with the serious issues

on its agenda must be further secured by making

necessary changes and adjustments with regard to its

composition and working methods.

It is essential that the membership of the Council

fairly reflect the whole membership of the United

Nations. It is also important to further enhance the

transparency in the decision-making process. In order

to move the reform work forward, all Member States

must show flexibility and willingness to compromise.

We continue to face serious threats to

international peace and stability. The best way to

preserve the peace and work for prosperity and

democracy in the world is to be steadfast in working in

full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations

and the resolutions of its organs. No nation shall be

allowed to destroy this common endeavour.