Norway, 2002

Yesterday we stood

united in remembrance of all those who lost their lives

a year ago. The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001

were an attack on us all. We, the States Members of the

United Nations made this clear a year ago in this Hall.

Today we stand united in unwavering determination in

the struggle against international terrorism and in the

fight for the values, ideals and human rights that this

great Organization is founded upon.

To succeed in our fight against terrorism, we must

meet three crucial priorities. First of all, as terrorism is

a global threat, our response must be global and

comprehensive. To succeed, the global coalition to

combat international terrorism must be maintained and

further strengthened. We must continue our common

efforts to prevent and eradicate terrorism, and to bring

the perpetrators to justice. We must deny the terrorists

access to weapons of mass destruction. We must

continue to fight terrorism with all necessary means

political, diplomatic, legal, financial and military. We

must ensure that we are fighting terrorism on our own

terms, upholding the values, the rights and the

freedoms that the terrorists so despise.

Secondly, we must strengthen our common efforts

to maintain peace and security. A multilateral approach

to global challenges requires relevant and effective

institutions. Effective multilateralism calls for a strong

United Nations and effective regional organizations.

Norway stands fully behind efforts to strengthen the

United Nations.

Thirdly, we must focus on root causes. I call on

all Member States to fight extremism and fanaticism, to

protect and promote human rights, to resolve conflicts

and to eradicate poverty. That is why to invest in

development is to invest in peace.

The Millennium Declaration set out the precise

objectives to which we all are committed. We cannot

afford to fail. Development must be built on a global

partnership, in which all partners have clear

responsibilities.

At the World Summit on Sustainable

Development, held in Johannesburg a week ago, we

reaffirmed our commitment to the Rio principles and

agreements, to the Millennium Goals, to Doha and to

Monterrey. Together these agreements and declarations

have given us a platform for renewed efforts towards

our common goal of sustainable development. The

Summit in Johannesburg also demonstrated that

promoting development and protecting the environment

must go hand in hand. Now it is up to us to make it all

happen. Making it happen requires that we commit to

precise and ambitious aims within the most pressing

areas of concern. We tried to do so in Johannesburg,

especially in the areas of water, energy, health,

agriculture and biodiversity.

Making it happen requires investment in people:

education, respect for human rights, the empowerment

of women, and the empowerment of the poor. We need

more equitable sharing of wealth within and among

nations.

Making it happen requires courageous and

enlightened leadership. Good governance is

indispensable for sustainable development.

Making it happen requires strong international

institutions, both to monitor and to act on behalf of us

all.

Last but not least, making it happen requires

financial resources. I urge the leaders of industrialized

countries to make speedy progress towards the 0.7 per

cent target for official development assistance. Norway

intends to increase development assistance to 1 per

cent of its gross domestic product by 2005.

The cycle of violence in the Middle East must be

broken. We must all help to bring the conflict out of its

deadlock. Israel has a legitimate right to self-defence,

but a human disaster is unfolding before our eyes in the

Palestinian areas. I urge the Palestinians to deal

effectively with the terror. The terrorist attacks must

end. I urge the Government of Israel to recommit itself

to the political process while halting military

operations and withdrawing its forces. Only a political

process aiming at an independent Palestinian State and

security for Israel can lead to peace.

As the country holding the chairmanship of the

Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, Norway is working with

other donors to help rebuild economic and social

infrastructure, while ensuring reforms in the

Palestinian areas through our work in the established

Task Force on Palestinian Reform.

We must continue our assistance in the years to

come in the troubled and war-torn country of

Afghanistan. We condemn the recent attacks against

the lawfully appointed leaders of Afghanistan. The

fight against the remaining groups of terrorists must

continue. I pledge Norway's continued support to

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Afghanistan. As the country holding the chairmanship

of the Afghan Support Group, we have focused on the

need for both humanitarian assistance and long-term

reconstruction aid. A sustained international presence

is essential. Winter is approaching, and as many as 6

million people are threatened with famine. We must

also ensure the protection of human rights, in particular

the rights of girls and women.

Iraq must address the unresolved disarmament

issues in accordance with Security Council resolutions.

This means immediate and unconditional cooperation

with United Nations weapons inspectors. It is up to the

Iraqi leadership to allay international fears and to prove

that Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction.

It is up to Saddam Hussein to step out of isolation

and bring Iraq back into the world community. Political

and diplomatic efforts to achieve these goals have not

yet been exhausted. Iraq must immediately comply

with United Nations demands. The responsibility for

non-compliance lies with Iraq alone. Further action by

the international community must be rooted in the

United Nations.

The international community must stay fully

engaged in resolving the conflicts that still prevail in

many parts of Africa. Parties to armed conflicts must

continue to show political will and ensure that

diplomatic progress is translated into real results on the

ground, including in the Great Lakes region. Too many

have suffered for too long from armed conflict.

In the peace process between Ethiopia and

Eritrea, we have seen that progress is possible when the

parties and the United Nations work closely together.

The search for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa

must also focus on resolving the conflicts in Somalia

and Sudan.

Over the years, Norway has been actively

involved as a facilitator in the settlement process of a

number of armed conflicts. In Sri Lanka, we have

witnessed significant progress over the past few

months. A ceasefire agreement between the

Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

came into force at the end of February. The agreement

has laid the foundation for direct political negotiations,

which will begin in Thailand next week.

Norway is strongly committed to the protection

and promotion of human rights. Human rights are the

platform for enabling people to choose and to develop

their full potential. Respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, openness and

democracy are values and principles we share.

However, common values and principles are of little

value if they do not lead to concrete results to the

benefit of the individual.

Many of the problems we are facing are directly

related to the fact that the very human rights and values

we have all committed ourselves to are not being lived

up to. This we see in Burma, and in other countries as

well. As leaders, we have a responsibility to protect our

citizens. We must focus on human security and

protection from violence. Civilians are targeted or used

as instruments of intimidation and terror. Women and

children are increasingly vulnerable. Relief workers

and others who volunteer to help people in need are

subject to deliberate attacks and acts of violence. Our

commitment to human security means that we must

effectively apply international humanitarian law.

The entry into force of the Statute of the

International Criminal Court is unprecedented. The

Court represents a decisive step towards the end of

impunity for the most serious crimes against humanity.

We need an independent, effective and credible Court.

We must work together to promote wide adherence to

the Rome Statute. The goal must be a universally

accepted International Criminal Court, so that no

perpetrator of mass killings or other crimes against

humanity and can feel safe.

Our resolve to promote social development,

economic growth, democracy and human rights is the

strongest means we have at our disposal in the fight

against poverty and injustice, as well as in the long-

term struggle to eradicate terrorism. We must use the

full spectrum of means and measures to secure

democracy and opportunity for every person on this

planet. Only then can we hope to create a world in

which there will be no more horrendous acts of

violence, extreme aggression and terrorism.

The multilateral system of cooperation can only

be as strong and assertive as Governments want it to

be. We have a common responsibility to make it strong.

We cannot think collectively and then act alone. Nor

can we think in isolation and expect to act effectively

together. That is why we need a strong United Nations.