Romania, 2007

Allow me to begin by

expressing my sincere appreciation and congratulations

to you, Mr. President, upon your election to the

presidency of the United Nations General Assembly at

its sixty-second session and to wish you full success in

this challenging endeavour. At the same time, I should

like to extend my appreciation to Her Excellency

Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa for her excellent

work as President at the sixty-first session. Romania

fully subscribes to the statement delivered by His

Excellency José Socrates, the Prime Minister of

Portugal, on behalf of the European Union. I would

also like to add some reflections on the interests of my

country. Romania remains firmly attached to its

engagement in favour of efficient multilateralism on all

three pillars of United Nations activity peace and

security, human rights and sustainable development.

Romania wishes to be an active participant in all

ongoing reform processes according to the guidelines

we accepted in the Millennium Summit Outcome. It

seems there is a quasi-consensus on the principle of the

enlargement of the Security Council but not yet on the

practical ways in which this could take place. We all

know that this is because the structural reform of a

principal organ has profound political implications. It

seems also that there is little disagreement on the

general principle that the Security Council should

reflect the geopolitical configuration of the present-day

world. We believe that the comprehensive solution

offered by an intermediary stage should be regarded

positively, precisely because at this stage it is general

enough to allow everybody to see that the new

configuration would come closer to one’s aim. Let us

see if it stands the test of substantive negotiations.

Nevertheless, negotiations on the enlargement of the

Security Council should not prevent progress and

decisions being made on other dimensions, namely,

improving the working methods of the Security

Council, particularly on the issue of the transparency

of Security Council activity and the possibility of

limiting veto use. Finally, with 23 members the Eastern

European Group should be entitled to at least one

additional seat in the Security Council in any formula

to be agreed upon. It should also be re-emphasized

that, despite being the most dynamically growing

regional group within the United Nations General

Assembly, the Eastern European presence in

managerial positions in the United Nations Secretariat

and in United Nations bodies is still minimal.

Romania follows with particular attention the

latest developments in Kosovo. The solution for the

status of the province of Kosovo needs to be in line

with the international law in force. We welcome the

efforts of the Troika to facilitate the negotiations

between the two parties. The direct talks that were held

today here in New York represent a positive evolution,

and similar meetings should be organized in the

months to come. Direct negotiations between Belgrade

and Pristina will contribute to reaching a genuine

compromise that will support the stability of the

Western Balkans and the European perspective of this

region.

In Iraq positive developments in the area of

institution building, interfaith reconciliation and

security must be consolidated through regional and

international support. The new Security Council

resolution 1770 (2007) represents a broad United

Nations mandate to provide assistance for development

and reconstruction and mediation for political dialogue

at the national and regional levels. We welcome the

ministerial meeting on Iraq on 22 September last,

chaired by the Prime Minister of Iraq and the United

Nations Secretary-General. We believe that the efforts

of the international community with regard to Iraq will

bear fruit. Romania is present on the ground and stands

with the people and Government of Iraq.

Preventing and combating terrorism require

effective multilateralism, based on the norms of

international law. We must meet the threat of

international terrorism with concerted action. Global

action against terrorism requires measures to disrupt

groups involved in terrorist activities through

international cooperation. Our efforts to combat

terrorism must be unrelenting but they must respect

fundamental human rights and freedoms. Combating

terrorism must also take account of the social and

economic roots of terrorism. No country can ensure its

security alone. Romania supports efforts undertaken by

international, regional and subregional organizations to

build up international solidarity against terrorism in

accordance with international law, and it cooperates

bilaterally with other countries to prevent and combat

this scourge.

The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remains the

pillar for the international legal system in the area of

nuclear non-proliferation. It is also an essential

instrument for promoting international peace and

security. Despite all the difficulties in recent years, the

NPT is still relevant and significant. The balance

between rights and duties enshrined in the Treaty is

essential for the stability of the international system.

The maintenance of the fundamental principles of the

Treaty on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and

international cooperation, as well as guarantees to

observe non-proliferation requirements, are essential.

Romania places a great deal of importance on

developing nuclear energy and promoting its peaceful

use in areas such as medicine, industry, agriculture and

in other areas of public usefulness. Romania also

agrees with the idea that adopting nuclear energy as an

ecologically sound alternative source of energy in the

context of implementing the Kyoto Protocol is an

important choice.

The international community must give priority

attention to the threat of the proliferation of weapons

of mass destruction and access by terrorists to these

types of weapons. My country does not neglect

problems related to conventional weapons and firmly

supports the need to start structured consideration of

the question of a future international legal instrument

on the weapons trade.

Romania is participating actively in peacekeeping

operations by providing military observers, staff

officers, guards and police officers to 10 peacekeeping

operations in four continents Haiti, Congo, Ethiopia

and Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nepal,

Timor-Leste, Georgia and Kosovo. Romania is also

participating in peace operations in the Western

Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Blue Helmets deserve the gratitude of host

countries and of the international community. We

believe that in setting up multinational forces under the

auspices of the United Nations we should take account

of the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the

country where the Blue Helmets are deployed.

Romania, now a member of the European Union,

evolved under the political idea that democracy, human

rights and the rule of law are essential for the

development of our societies. That is why we would

like to commit to supporting, in an imaginative

fashion, human rights, democracy, tolerance and

diplomacy as a means for settling all disputes, as well

as dialogue between cultures and civilizations. It is

worthwhile recalling that Bucharest hosted the

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

(OSCE) High-Level Conference on Combating

Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and

Understanding in June 2007. That Conference was an

opportunity to highlight the need to react at the

political and institutional levels to combat all forms of

intolerance and discrimination in order to guarantee

respect for human rights and to ensure that every

citizen feels protected by the law and has concrete

proof of the solidarity of others when his or her rights

are flouted.

I believe that the international community needs

to give deeper consideration to some sensitive issues in

order to adopt appropriate measures. I am thinking

about the need to ensure that the rights of children are

protected, and that is why Romania supports the

establishment of the post of Special Representative of

the Secretary-General to combat violence against

children.

My Government pays particular attention to

action taken by the Human Rights Council, especially

since from last June to mid-2008 the chairmanship of

this new institution is held by Romania. The

institutional structure of this organization is almost

complete. What we have achieved is a compromise.

The new Council is not the irreproachable body that we

had imagined, but it needs to be used, because

promotion of respect for human rights is a battle we

must wage relentlessly. The General Assembly’s

approval of the report of the Human Rights Council,

which also includes the institutional package adopted

halfway through this year, will certainly help us meet

this goal. This new institution must put to greater use

its calling, which is to increase awareness of and

respect for human rights and to strengthen those rights

worldwide. It must also ensure that States honour their

commitments. Romania reiterates its confidence in the

capacity of the Human Rights Council to become a

sound and credible example in the institutional system

devoted to protecting human rights.

Democracy is a global process. Twenty-five years

ago, less than one third of the States worldwide could

be deemed to be true democracies. Now that

percentage has increased considerably and represents

the standard. We believe that progress in the principles

of democracy and human rights in political decisions

represents a victory for us all. With the common efforts

of member States, a considerable number of resolutions

and declarations on various aspects related to

democracy have been adopted. For example, in 2000

the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution

2000/47, “Promoting and consolidating democracy”,

introduced by my country.

The resolution brought together, for the first time

in a single coherent document, the principles, values

and practices that represent a framework for actions

taken by governments to promote democracy.

Of course there are close ties between democracy

and respecting human rights. That is the primary

message that Romania and other sponsors wanted to

transmit through resolutions on pursuing dialogue on

measures to promote and consolidate democracy,

democracy and human rights, and reinforcing the role

of regional, subregional and other mechanisms and

organizations to promote and consolidate democracy.

All those resolutions were adopted.

We are also very pleased to see that the

Community of Democracies has now become an active

group committed to promoting the values and standards

of democracy. We are prepared to work with other

delegations that are members of the working group in

the Community of Democracies. Romania recently

took on the task of coordinating the group in

anticipation of the next ministerial conference, to be

held in Bamako.

As a Member of the United Nations that benefits

from constant and sound economic growth, Romania

will join the group of donor countries by the end of this

year. Official development assistance designed as a

gradual and progressive commitment will now be a key

part of our foreign policy and an expression of our

international solidarity with countries in transition or

developing countries. We already have a national

strategy, an institutional structure and a budget with a

line item for official development assistance. Above

all, we have unswerving political commitment. We will

look closely at all options for providing voluntary

contributions through the United Nations system in

setting our initial priorities.

On climate change, the United Nations clearly

has a key role to play in assisting regions devastated by

natural catastrophes. We are fully aware of the

staggering impact of climate change on human beings.

Let us recall the words of Immanuel Kant, who said

that “Two things fill the mind with ever new and

increasing admiration and awe: the starry heavens

above me and the moral law within me”. Let moral law

and reason prevail so that we can preserve the starry

sky. It is likely that the general degree of freedom has

never attained such a high level in the history of

mankind as it has in our day. If we are freer, more

informed and more aware than our forefathers, we also

have a greater responsibility to care for our

environment. This year, Romania, like other countries,

has suffered the consequences of climate change

extremely hot temperatures and drought followed by

torrential rains and flooding. Political leaders must

support the formulation of a new legal instrument.

They must support scientific research in order to

reduce the world economy’s dependence on fossil fuels

and to stimulate the discovery of new technologies.

In 1990, Romania began political and economic

action towards sustainable development and a

sustainable economy. Thus, in 1994 Romania ratified

the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change and in 2001 the Kyoto Protocol. Given these

almost unprecedented phenomena, we need to

consolidate regional and European capacity to act. To

that end, the relevant Romanian institutions have

considered holding a high-level regional meeting to

discuss policies in response to global warming, in

particular action and support mechanisms with regard

to problems related to drought. This initiative will be

concentrated on Central Europe and South-East

Europe.

Romania places particular importance to the

dialogue among cultures and religions. We believe this

has become essential for meeting today’s global

challenges. My country is rich in cultural diversity. It

lies at the crossroads of cultures and civilizations and

is fully engaged in international and regional initiatives

to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue. The

third European Ecumenical Assembly, which was held

at the beginning of September at Sibiu, Romania the

European Capital of Culture for 2007 is a clear

recent example of our culture of dialogue.

Today’s world is constantly changing and

requires increased cooperation within the international

community. That is why we welcome the joint

activities of the United Nations and the International

Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). From 25 to

29 September 2006, that forum met in Bucharest,

Romania. As host country for the eleventh Summit, our

country chaired the Conference of Heads of

Francophone State or Government, as well as the

Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie. In playing

this double role we felt it our duty to be very actively

involved not only in institutional reform but also in

furthering cooperation among French speakers.

Despite criticism, deserved or not, the United

Nations is still a necessary organization without which

the international community would lose its way.

Economic globalization and the information society are

strengthening, not weakening, the universal calling, the

legitimacy and the moral authority of this

Organization. But it is up to us, the Member States, to

serve the Organization beyond our narrow or fleeting

interests.