Portugal, 2007

I have the honour to address this General Assembly on behalf of

the European Union.

I would like to start, Mr. President, by wishing

you all the best in the mandate you are beginning. I

would like you to know that you can count on the firm

support of the European Union (EU) throughout this

General Assembly, certain that you will continue the

excellent work of your predecessor, Ms. Haya Al-

Khalifa, whom I would also like to congratulate.

Since this is the first session of the General

Assembly to be convened since our Secretary-General,

Mr. Ban Ki-moon, assumed office, I also wish to take

this opportunity, on behalf of the EU, to renew our

solid support to him in his leadership of the United

Nations.

In this globalized and interdependent world in

which we live, only strong multilateral institutions can

promote the fundamental values of peace, democracy,

human rights and development. This is why the EU

supports the primacy of the United Nations in

maintaining international peace and security as the

foundation and focal point of our shared ambitions and

concerted efforts. And that is why we adopted effective

multilateralism and a rules-based international order as

the objective of the European security strategy.

Let me make this clear: if the new century has

taught us only one lesson, it is that global challenges

require global responses. What is needed is effective

multilateralism. That is what we are engaged in here at

the United Nations, and that is what we are seeking to

promote in the United Nations. The message that I

wish to leave with members today, on behalf of the EU,

is that they can rely on us to make effective

multilateralism a reality, today.

I propose to begin with what is undoubtedly one

of the greatest objectives that we in the United Nations

have so far set for ourselves, which is to meet the

internationally agreed development goals, including

the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Those

goals are demanding, but they should not discourage

us; on the contrary, they should inspire us to accelerate

our work and enhance its effectiveness in eradicating

poverty, building a true partnership for development,

promoting education for all and decent health standards

and combating climate change.

In that context, I must mention one of the stated

objectives of the European Union: the adoption of a

joint EU-Africa strategy to be endorsed by the second

EU-Africa summit, to be held in Lisbon in December. I

mention that objective because it is a clear sign of our

times: a strategy, defined jointly by Africans and

Europeans, that reflects our commitment to the MDGs

and is in keeping with the activities of both continents’

multilateral institutions. It is an inclusive and

ambitious strategy that reflects the progress made in

Euro-African cooperation in a broad range of areas and

sets standards to be met through shared responses to

the challenges likewise shared by the continents of

Africa and Europe.

Climate change is one of the great global

challenges facing humanity today. It threatens our

prosperity and could undermine our ability to achieve

the MDGs. Here, too, our response must be global and

collective.

I was pleased to take part in the high-level event

on climate change. Its results are encouraging and give

rise to optimism. They clearly show a political will to

move forward. Sustainable development and emission

reductions must go hand in hand; therefore, they are

our shared responsibility. This initiative will add

momentum to the formulation of a post-2012 global

comprehensive agreement on a climate regime. I

believe that we should agree to begin negotiations on

such a regime at the Bali climate change conference, to

be held in December. I wish to make it absolutely clear

that the EU will make every effort to achieve an

ambitious and solid international consensus at the

conference.

Even more important, however, we need

everyone’s support. The EU has already unilaterally

committed itself to cutting its greenhouse gas

emissions by at least 20 per cent. But we want to go

further, and we are prepared to do so. That is why we

announced that, as part of a future global agreement on

climate rules, we would increase that commitment to

30 per cent. Here, I would like to reiterate our call for

global emissions to be reduced by at least 50 per cent

of their 1990 levels by 2050. I believe that by

undertaking those commitments, the EU is sending a

clear signal that it wishes to lead these global efforts.

I also wish to say something about reform of the

institutional framework for United Nations

environmental efforts. The EU firmly believes that

ambitious reform is required if we are to achieve real

change. In that context, the EU is in favour of

transforming the United Nations Environment

Programme into a specialized agency a United

Nations Environment Organization because we

believe it is essential to take heed of international

public opinion.

Sustainable development also involves

respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights

throughout the world. We believe that that is crucial

and that it must remain at the centre of all United

Nations sectoral activities. The General Assembly’s

Third Committee should continue to play a central role

in promoting and protecting human rights throughout

the world. At the present session, the EU will do its

utmost, as it has in the past, to ensure the Committee’s

success.

Here, I should like to say to the members of the

General Assembly that the EU is following closely the

situation in Myanmar. We express our solidarity with

the people of that country and call on its authorities to

respect human rights. In particular, we call on them to

refrain from using any form of violence against people

who are engaged in peaceful protest. The authorities

must endeavour to promote a genuine process of

political reconciliation, because that is what democracy

and respect for human rights require.

I wish to reaffirm the EU’s long-standing

opposition to the death penalty and to reiterate once

again our appeal for its total abolition throughout the

world. In that regard, the EU will, together with

countries from every region of the world, formulate a

draft resolution on a universal moratorium on, and

abolition of, the death penalty.

Effective multilateralism also requires a

concerted response to the ever-widening range of

threats to international peace and security.

We welcome the establishment of the African

Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur so

that we can jointly contribute to the political resolution

of that conflict, which has had tragic humanitarian

consequences in the Sudan and the entire region. In

order to address those consequences, the European

Union reaffirms its support for the deployment of a

multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and the

northern Central African Republic and welcomes the

opening of political talks on Darfur, which will take

place in Libya on 27 October.

But peace and security are also a challenge in

Europe. We share the opinion of the Secretary-General

that the status quo in Kosovo is not sustainable. For

that reason, the European Union supports and

participates actively in the ongoing efforts of the

international community, namely those of the Troika,

to bring the parties closer together and obtain a

comprehensive political solution that will lead to a

democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and will

contribute to the consolidation of stability and

prosperity in that part of Europe: the Balkans. We urge

both parties to engage constructively and creatively in

that process. The European Union stands ready to play

a significant role in the implementation of a future

status settlement at the end of the negotiations.

The reactivation of the Middle East peace process

remains a priority for the international community. We

have to act quickly, because the door is open at the

moment, but it will not stay open for long. The

European Union, as a member of the Quartet, reiterates

its commitment to reaching a just, comprehensive and

lasting solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict. That can

happen only through the creation of an independent,

democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by

side with Israel in peace and security.

The stabilization of Lebanon will also contribute

to the stabilization of the Middle East. Resolving the

present political crisis requires a special commitment

and dialogue by Lebanon’s leaders and the countries of

the region. For its part, the European Union is

committed to ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty,

independence, unity and territorial integrity.

In the same manner, the European Union

continues to support the promotion of peace, stability

and prosperity in Afghanistan and the wider region.

All terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable,

regardless of their motivation, their form or their

manifestation. We must therefore make resolute efforts

to counter terrorism, but that must be done in

accordance with our obligations under international

law, while fully respecting human rights and

fundamental freedoms, the protection of which are

essential in tackling the threat of terrorism.

I wish to say a word, from the standpoint of

Europe, about the Alliance of Civilizations. It is an

important and timely initiative that seeks to strengthen

dialogue among peoples, cultures and religions. The

European Union supports the appointment of former

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio to the post of

High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations

and welcomes his action plan. I would also like to take

this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of the

Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, for

which we ask for everyone’s support.

For centuries, international trade has been the

main means of bringing different cultures and peoples

together. That is why we also call for the earliest

possible agreement in the World Trade Organization’s

Doha Development Round. This month will be

absolutely crucial for the Doha Development Agenda.

Therefore, it is vital for all key members to show a

spirit of compromise and constructiveness and the

genuine will to commit to a fair and balanced

agreement that can bring greater wealth for all.

Peace must be consolidated; failing this, it can be

no more than the interval between wars. One of the

newest Members of the United Nations is an example

of that. I am referring to Timor-Leste, which, thanks to

the efforts and commitment of the international

community to consolidate the foundations of its

statehood, its democracy and its development, recently

successfully held its first independently organized

elections. But, notwithstanding that success which

is enormous the presence of all players continues to

be required, to ensure the country’s political, economic

and social stability.

We believe and wish to make it clear, here,

beyond all doubt that the only possible response to the

challenges of our times lies in effective multilateralism

based on the United Nations system. For that reason we

remain committed to the reform of its main bodies in

order to enhance the Organization’s representivity,

transparency and effectiveness.

Political will is needed in order to adapt our

international system to the challenges we face today.

The General Assembly and the Secretary-General can

rely on the European Union to help turn that political

will into action. The response to those challenges lies

in active and effective multilateralism. For all of us, it

lies in the United Nations and in support for the

Organization. That is the final message I wish to

convey to the General Assembly on behalf of the

European Union.