Norway, 2001

First, I would like to

congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the

presidency of the General Assembly.

For more than half a century, the United Nations

has helped to settle conflicts and restore peace. We

must reinforce these efforts and focus our work.

For more than half a century, the United Nations

has worked to promote human rights and economic and

social development. We must continue to invest in

human dignity.

For more than half a century, the United Nations

has given millions of people hope for a better future.

Such hope has never been more important than it is

today.

The Nobel Peace Prize could not have been

awarded to more deserving candidates than Secretary-

General Kofi Annan and the United Nations. Let me

once again extend my heartfelt congratulations.

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The terrorist attacks on 11 September were not

only directed at innocent people. They were directed at

the very values on which the United Nations is based.

We stand united in our condemnation of these

attacks, in our call for international cooperation to

prevent and eradicate terrorism and to bring the guilty

to justice. We will fight terrorism by all appropriate

means: political, diplomatic, legal, financial and

military.

Norway pledges its full support to the broad

global coalition against terrorism. We are part of the

Atlantic Alliance. We fully support the United States in

defending itself against international terrorism. We are

implementing the provisions of Security Council

resolution 1373 (2001) by taking concrete steps to dry

up the financial resources of terrorist networks.

The Taliban regime has refused to adhere to

mandatory Security Council decisions. It is harbouring

and supporting terrorists, in blunt contravention of

Council resolutions. The Taliban are refusing to

cooperate with the international community in our

common efforts to eradicate international terrorism.

The use of military force is therefore the only option

left.

The military operations in Afghanistan are aimed

at the terrorists and those who harbour them. They are

not aimed at innocent civilians or at Afghanistan as a

country. They are aimed at a group of extremists who

are exploiting a world religion for their own evil

purposes.

Afghanistan has suffered misrule and war for

decades. While the immediate task is to end terrorism

and provide humanitarian support to those in need, we

must work in parallel for a political solution. This is

primarily the responsibility of the Afghan people

themselves, but the international community must

assist. The United Nations must have a leading role.

Planning and preparations must start now. We strongly

support the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special

Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, to

help lay the foundation for a broad-based and lasting

political solution.

We must ensure that the Afghans receive

humanitarian assistance both inside Afghanistan and in

neighbouring countries. But while seeking to meet

immediate needs, we must also focus on the longer-

term assistance that will be necessary to rebuild this

war-torn society. We must improve respect for human

rights and help the Afghan people, in particular

women, who have suffered so terribly under Taliban

rule. These are issues that Norway will focus on during

its chairmanship of the Afghanistan Support Group

next year. Only through coordinated efforts can we

contribute to security and development in Afghanistan.

A year ago, peace between the Israelis and the

Palestinians appeared to be at hand. Today, the hope for

peace and security has given way to disillusion, despair

and the murder of civilians.

We are convinced that the only way out of the

current stalemate is through the full implementation of

the recommendations in the Mitchell report, which

have been endorsed by both parties and by the

international community.

First of all, there must be an immediate end to the

violence. Terrorism must be stopped. The cycle of

violent action and reaction must be broken. Political

leaders on both sides must do everything in their power

to halt the violence and reduce the tension.

Secondly, confidence-building measures must be

implemented simultaneously. Trust must be rebuilt step

by step, since without it there can be no real dialogue

or negotiation. The Mitchell report lists several steps

for restoring trust. Given the high level of hostility and

mistrust, the timing and sequence of these steps are

crucial. Decisions must be made now.

Thirdly, the parties must find a way back to the

negotiating table. A halt to the violence, the resumption

of security cooperation and steps to restore trust cannot

be sustained for long without serious negotiations to

resolve the underlying causes of the conflict.

Norway will continue to support efforts to bring

about a peaceful resolution of the conflict. As Chair of

the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, we stand ready to

work with other donors to help restore the economic

and social infrastructure in the Palestinian areas.

The bulk of the conflicts dealt with by the

Security Council are found on the African continent.

As a member of the Security Council, Norway is

determined to do what it can to promote long-term

peace and stability in Africa. Most of the conflicts in

Africa clearly demonstrate the close links between

peace, good governance and development. The root

causes of many of these conflicts are poverty and lack

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of development, but also violations of human rights

and disrespect for basic democratic principles.

Norway stands ready to assist in building a sound

foundation for good governance and development in

Africa. The developments in Burundi are encouraging,

although we recognize that the peace process is still

very fragile. The deployment of a multinational

security force, on the initiative of South Africa, will,

hopefully, improve the situation in Burundi. Norway is

ready to support this initiative.

The United Nations is our foremost tool for

solving global problems. We should recall that

combating terrorism has not removed any of the

challenges that were on the global agenda prior to

11 September. Nor has it become less pressing to

effectively address these challenges. We must not let

the cruelty of terrorists divert attention from the

ambitious goals we set for ourselves during the

Millennium Summit.

Meeting those objectives must remain right at the

top of our agenda, along with our common fight against

terrorism. If the United Nations is to be effective in

pursuing these tasks, we must all commit ourselves and

provide the necessary resources and financial support.

As political leaders, we must show steadfast

determination. We will have to make difficult choices

and hard decisions, sometimes with painful

consequences. But the alternative is even more pain

and suffering.

This is true in our common fight against

international terrorism. This is true in our struggle to

end poverty, eliminate infectious diseases and uphold

respect for human rights and the rule of law. This is

true if we are to make the United Nations our primary

tool for safeguarding our common security.