Lithuania, 2013

There are two years left

until the deadline for achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals. It is therefore time to review what

we have succeeded in achieving and set the guidelines

for the work that remains.

Development is a global challenge. Every

contribution that is made, every experience that we

share and every lesson that we have learned is very

important for all of us. By sharing we set the stage for

learning from each other — and not only from our own

mistakes. In today’s world, every country has the right

to choose a path that best suits its experience, culture

and needs, as long as it does not infringe upon the rights

of others and guarantees human rights and freedoms.

The international community has an obligation to

offer support based on the principles of ownership and

empowerment so that those choices may be realized.

Development cannot be imposed; it must be

promoted. But it is not only about development. It is

about free choice, democracy and fundamental rights,

each of which is key to the success of the Millennium

Development Goals and the post-2015 development

agenda.

Today we live in the twenty-first century, but there

are still those who want to enforce a specific course

of development on others, using economic pressure,

energy levers or cybertools, by distorted information

or threats. It is true that internationally approved

sanctions send a message to those who are producing

weapons and not jobs, who violate human rights and

use national resources to satisfy individual interests

and not those of their society as a whole. But the use of

economic, energy or information tools to show power

or set up zones of influence is unjustifiable, especially

for the future.

The twenty-first century should be the age of

solidarity, equality and sustainable development. It

cannot be an age of the flaunting of power, zero-sum

games or buffer zones. Those times are over. Any attempt

to return to those times impedes the development of the

modern world. But, regrettably, power games still exist.

I would like to share my country’s and region’s

experience with the Assembly. In the past two decades,

the Baltic States have been rapidly transformed. Complex

and painful economic, political and social reforms

have boosted economic growth, social well-being and

political stability. After rebuilding our statehood two

decades ago and with the help, advice and experience

of the international community, our nations have today

become donors and have a lot of experience to share

with those who are going through transformations

similar to the ones we have experienced.

Inner resolve and consensus are very important.

However, a favourable external climate and

international support are also needed, especially for

small countries that depend on larger players for their

trade, transportation or energy links.

In two months’ time, in Vilnius, several Eastern

European countries intend to confirm their commitment

to completing the painful but much-needed reforms

for economic growth, political stability and social

harmony. For many years, those countries worked

hard to reach national agreement on reforms, their

scope and direction. They learned from their mistakes

and mobilized resources to build their own futures.

They chose to build modern States of the twenty-first

century — open, transparent and collaborative, not

dominating.

It was not easy for those countries to decide which

course to take. Their choice would have been made easier

if their free will had been respected and their decision

supported in good faith, and with encouragement by

those who could provide such support. Instead, they

are now facing trade restrictions, bans on goods, the

manipulation of energy prices, the use of pressure and

open disrespect displayed in information forums.

The countries of the European Union Eastern

Partnership are not the only ones experiencing such

problems. Even Lithuania, which holds the presidency

of the Council of the European Union and has

successfully consolidated its course of development, is

under similar pressure. Barriers to travel, unreasonable

delays in cargo transportation, the milk wars — those

are just a few very recent controversial examples. For

nations, the decision is really difficult to make when free

choice means being threatened with gas-price increases

and blocked trade, instead of receiving support and

advice. Under such pressure, it is hard to implement

reforms that empower members of society and open up

opportunities to engage in the state-building process.

The post-2015 development agenda must provide

instruments that empower States to seek development,

based on free will and their individual needs. There is no

place for forced choices, open threats or demonstrations

of power. The international community, especially the

United Nations, should empower States to realize such

self-determination. I urge us all to give the matter our

very careful attention.