Sweden, 2002

Let me begin by

congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President.

All speakers in this debate have reflected on the

year that has passed since 11 September 2001. It has

been a very dramatic year, and it is time for the

international community to draw some conclusions

from it. One thing is clear: the United Nations

responded quickly and resolutely to the terrorist acts

against the United States. The United Nations acted

with speed and determination to counter that threat to

global security.

For me, that is yet further proof that the United

Nations is, indeed, indispensable. We all know what

the terrorists want: to hurt open societies, to replace

cooperation with confrontation and to bring down

democracy. But we can never let the terrorists prevail

in their ambition. Nor can we tolerate the suppression

of political opposition or the persecution of religious or

ethnic minorities under the guise of combating

terrorism. In fact, it is by ensuring global respect for

international law, human rights and social justice that

we take away much of the fertile ground of terrorism.

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The struggle against terrorism proves once again

that multilateral action and a global response are the

only sustainable means to meet common challenges.

Fighting terrorism and building peace require

global cooperation. The Secretary-General said last

week that when States decide to use force to deal with

broader threats to international peace and security, there is

no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the

United Nations. That is true also in the case of Iraq. The

defiance of Iraq in the face of the Security Council must

come to an end. At the heart of the issue lies the question

of weapons of mass destruction. They are weapons that

can bring suffering and death to millions of people,

including those far away from Iraq.

We want to be sure that Iraq fulfils its obligation

to halt all programmes for developing such weapons.

We also want to make sure that any weapons of mass

destruction that may already have been developed are

now destroyed. That is the task of the United Nations

weapons inspectors. I welcome the announcement that

Iraq is willing to let the inspectors return, without

conditions. This time Iraq has to cooperate fully with

the United Nations. That will also be the right way to

go to achieve the suspension of the sanctions.

If that does not happen, however, and if Iraq's

defiance continues, as the Secretary-General said, the

Security Council must face its responsibilities. That

could be a very delicate decision for the Council; it

would need to weigh the risks of various options. But

the credibility of the United Nations requires that Iraq

be made to fulfil its obligations.

Sustainable development requires global

cooperation. Throughout the world, poverty and

oppression can be exploited by extremists and can give

rise to conflict and war. Global cooperation is needed

to prevent that from happening. International security

and regional stability require the building of

democracy, respect for human rights, poverty

eradication and sustainable development.

Globalization makes it clear that social

responsibility is required not only of Governments, but

also of companies and individuals — in short, of all of us.

Ecological sustainability is the basis for human

survival. Development and the environment are

interlinked. In Johannesburg, our nations made a

commitment to translate into reality the Rio vision —

the mutually supportive integration of environmental

and development goals.

The launch of the Doha development agenda

opens the way for an equitable and responsive global

trading system. New global partnerships have changed

the way we look at patterns of production, consumption

and sustainable development, but the goals we have set

must be achieved. At Monterrey our common

responsibility was confirmed. Strong and efficient

institutions are needed at the local, regional and

international levels to carry out these commitments. We

need coherence and consistency. We need ownership.

One of the most serious new threats to security is

HIV/AIDS. Efforts to achieve sustainable development

will be in vain if we fail in our fight against HIV/AIDS

and other diseases that still hold entire populations to

ransom. When the fundamental structures of societies are

crumbling due to the devastating effects of epidemics, we

must recognize that as a threat to global security.

The Millennium Declaration is our reference

guide. Sweden fully supports the Secretary-General's

initiative to launch a strategy for the successful

attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Reaching those goals would in itself be the best way to

prevent violent conflict. Behind the immediate

symptoms of conflict, we often find deep-rooted

structural causes.

Even now, however, much more can be achieved

if diplomatic, economic and military means are used in

a coordinated way. Regional organizations, in

cooperation with the United Nations, have an important

role to play, and the implementation of the Secretary-

General's report (A/55/985) on the prevention of armed

conflict is crucial in this respect.

Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires

global cooperation. There is an urgent need to put an

end to the occupation and to the spiral of terrorist acts,

violence and confrontation that have caused so much

suffering and bloodshed in the Middle East.

I deeply regret the two recent terrorist attacks in

Israel. I strongly urge both parties not to let the peace

process be held hostage by extremists.

The future of the region depends on a peaceful,

sustainable and just solution being reached, based on

international law and the relevant United Nations

resolutions. One way to achieve this is presented in the

road map recently adopted by the European Union,

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building on the proposal from the Arab League meeting

in Beirut. The road map includes the holding of

elections in the Palestinian territories in January 2003,

aiming at the establishment of a peaceful and

democratic Palestinian State in 2005. The rights of

Israel and Palestine to security and statehood cannot be

secured by military means. They can be secured only

by negotiation.

Safeguarding human rights requires global

cooperation. Addressing this issue, I wish to begin by

paying tribute to Mrs. Mary Robinson, the outgoing

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Through her strong commitment, she has had an

impact. She has made a difference, and we are grateful

to her. I warmly welcome her successor, Mr. Sergio

Vieira de Mello, and assure him of our continued

cooperation and support.

All human beings are born free and equal in

dignity and in rights. Still, vast numbers of women,

men and children all over the world are deprived of

their declared, inherent and universal human rights.

Harassment, torture and killings take place daily,

including through abhorrent practices such as genital

mutilation and stoning. Sometimes the reason for a

person's being abused is his or her gender, religion,

beliefs, sexual orientation, or the fact that he or she is

disabled. We have a duty to act against discrimination.

The principles of non-discrimination and diversity are

fundamental to a humane and decent society. The

sovereignty of States must never be used as a shield

behind which violations of human rights take place.

The General Assembly has taken the first step to

establish an international convention to promote and

protect the rights and dignity of persons with

disabilities. This is a very welcome development.

The Secretary-General's report (A/57/169) on

how to eliminate violence against women and girls

committed in the name of honour is another significant

contribution. Legal, protective and other preventive

measures for women and girls at risk should be

addressed in a concerted manner.

Human rights are often spoken about, but we also

need to put power behind the words. The creation of the

International Criminal Court is a remarkable achievement

in the progressive development of international law. Its

fundamental purpose is to eliminate impunity for crimes

against humanity, genocide and war crimes. We all need

to carefully safeguard the integrity of the Rome Statute so

that its object and purpose will not be undermined. The

rights of every individual must be respected, and every

individual, irrespective of nationality or position in

society, must be held responsible for his or her actions.

Disarmament of weapons of mass destruction

requires global cooperation. International, as well as

national, security depends on strong multilateral

frameworks. Our task is to implement and reinforce the

important international conventions banning or

regulating weapons of mass destruction. A verification

regime is necessary to strengthen the Biological and

Toxin Weapons Convention. Failure to reach concrete

progress at the Review Conference in November will

have serious consequences.

The Chemical Weapons Convention provides for

the destruction of a whole category of weapons of mass

destruction. That is true disarmament, and it should be

implemented in a full and timely manner. The

Convention will be reviewed in April of next year, for

the first time in its young history.

Implementing the agreements made at the Non-

Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conferences is of

fundamental importance. That is particularly true for

the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon

States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear

arsenals, and 12 other steps towards accomplishing that

goal. As part of the New Agenda Coalition, Sweden will

continue to contribute to this process.

The disarmament process should also encompass

non-strategic nuclear weapons, as confirmed at the last

NPT Review Conference. It is vital that the

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty enter into

force. I call upon all States to adhere to that Treaty.

The Conference on Disarmament must start

substantive work when it resumes its session early next

year. It is unacceptable that a few countries continue to

block progress. Sweden, Algeria, Belgium, Chile and

Colombia recently presented a proposal for a

programme of work that takes into consideration the

interests of all parties. I urge China and the United

States to actively work for a solution.

The challenges ahead of us are neither fewer than

last year nor smaller in magnitude. To face them, we need

a modern and more efficient United Nations. A modern

United Nations requires a Security Council that reflects

the realities of today's international relations. We need to

intensify efforts to achieve comprehensive reform of the

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Security Council. That issue has been discussed for many

years, with little success. In the end, it is a question of

the credibility and legitimacy of the Organization.

Sweden favours enlargement of the Security

Council to make room for increased representation of

Member States, not least developing States. We would

like to see such a reform have the broadest possible

support. If this entailed, as a first step, an enlargement

limited to non-permanent members, while not

excluding new permanent members at a later stage,

Sweden would support such a solution. An immediate

increase would better reflect the realities of today's

international community and the growing number of

Member States.

Let me finish by greeting Switzerland, one of the

host countries of the United Nations and warmly

welcoming it as a full Member of the United Nations.

Shortly, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, a

country where this Organization has been deeply and

positively involved, will also become a new member of

the United Nations family. I see significance in this. I

see proof that joint and integrated efforts by the

international community can produce remarkable

results. It fills me with hope that the United Nations

has, in fact, entered this millennium with vigour and

determination.

I am convinced that the United Nations is on the

right track. Through joint efforts by all of us, the

United Nations will continue to be a beacon of hope for

humanity in the twenty-first century.