Belgium, 2009

Nothing is created without men; nothing lasts without

institutions. Those words of Jean Monnet, one of the

founders of the European Union, remain as true as

ever. Security, climate change and some effects of

globalization are challenges that all our countries face.

That is why a global approach, with the United Nations

playing a central role, is needed. But the United

Nations must earn that central role. As President

Barack Obama said here (see ), we cannot

complain, on the one hand, about the so-called

unilateral action of the United States while at the same

time expecting it alone to solve all the world’s

problems.

In that spirit I would call for a new multilateral

commitment, as the reform of international institutions

is crucial in order to enhance their legitimacy,

representativeness and capacity for action. Nothing is

created without men; nothing lasts without institutions.

From now on, those institutions should work

efficiently, starting with the United Nations. It is

essential to move ahead rapidly on the reform of the

Security Council and of the functioning of the General

Assembly.

Indeed, there is an urgent need to improve the

efficiency of our own operations. A glance at the

organizational chart of the United Nations allows us to

see not only the overlaps but also the gaps in the

system. It is out of commitment to the Charter of the

United Nations that Belgium, one of the founding

Members, strongly appeals for more rigour and

transparency in the management and budget of the

United Nations in order to better use its limited

resources.

In addition to the fragmentation of the United

Nations system, two other trends reveal the need for

enhanced multilateral commitment. The first is the

multitude of regional and subregional organizations

almost everywhere in the world. It is true that this

multitude enhances international cooperation, but

regional and international organizations sometimes

lack harmonization. Better cooperation should

henceforth allow the optimal use of the resources of

all.

The second trend can be summed up by the words

“imperfect multilateralism”. Countries get together on

an informal basis to discuss international issues, for

example — and this is very pertinent — the economic

and financial crisis. These informal groups may,

particularly at first, expedite the decision-making of

international multilateral organizations, but they cannot

replace those organizations themselves because

multilateralism cannot be exclusive. Rather, it should

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be inclusive and transparent. Nothing can last without

institutions, but even the best organized institutions

cannot function in the absence of inspiration and

human will. Even the best organized institutions are

powerless when men prevent them from working.

The economic and financial crisis has been given

a great deal of attention, which is only natural. The

crisis most severely affects developing countries. It is

now more important than ever that donor countries

meet their official development assistance objectives of

0.7 per cent of the gross national product. Belgium

plans to achieve that goal in 2010.

The worst international disorder is violence

between States and within States. Within some States,

violence continues to kill, maim and rape millions of

people. The worst international disorder is reflected in

the wars, civil conflicts, inter-ethnic fighting and harsh

repression that deprive millions of people of a decent

existence. This is our first and foremost challenge

because without peace and security there is no

development, let alone sustainable development.

Without peace and security, there can be no fair

distribution of the wealth of our Earth.

As stipulated in the preamble of the Constitution

of UNESCO,

“since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the

minds of men that the defences of peace must be

constructed”.

Indeed, conflict prevention begins with the banishment

of all hate speech attacking the dignity of human

beings, nations and communities, or the right of States

to exist. Far too often, we have witnessed bloodbaths

provoked by incitement to hatred. Such speech has no

place in this Hall or in this Organization, whose

primary mission is precisely to promote peace and

security through constructive cooperation.

To function efficiently, our multilateral

institutions need leaders and representatives of States

who share basic approaches established on the core

belief in the unique dignity of each human being.

National sovereignty implies responsibility. That is

why Belgium wholeheartedly supports the principle of

the responsibility to protect. The principle requires

Governments to safeguard their citizens against

genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes

against humanity. Incidentally, Belgium would like to

thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his excellent

report on this topic (A/63/677) and fully supports his

efforts in this area.

It is civilians, and women and children in

particular, who are often the primary victims of

violence and of indescribable and unacceptable

suffering. Indeed, women constitute half of the world’s

population, but too often we forget that human rights

also fully apply to them. In situations of war and

violence, women are frequently twofold victims

because of the sexual violence inflicted upon them. My

country is therefore determined to pursue its action

against sexual violence and any kind of violence

against children.

Wars are caused by men, not by weapons.

Nonetheless, the arms control issue has to be high on

the international agenda. That is why Belgium

welcomes the meeting of the Security Council at the

highest level on the subject of non-proliferation and

nuclear disarmament (S/PV.6191). That meeting was

undoubtedly a highlight of this week. Resolution

1887 (2009), adopted yesterday, represents, in our

opinion, a milestone for a world free of weapons of

mass destruction.

However, unfortunately, the latest news from Iran

seems to be heading in the opposite direction. My

country therefore endorses the very urgent call on Iran

and North Korea to cooperate with the international

community and respect the Security Council

resolutions that pertain to them. If they do not, they

will be ostracized by the international community.

At the same time, the fight against the

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction should

not make us overlook conventional weapons, which

currently kill on a massive scale. In particular, I refer

here to anti-personnel landmines. The Convention that

prohibits these weapons entered into force in 1999, and

Belgium hopes that it will be strengthened at the

Review Conference scheduled to take place in

Cartagena, Colombia, in early December. With respect

to that Convention, Belgium, along with Thailand, will

head the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and

Socio-Economic Reintegration. Furthermore, Belgium

has spared no effort to push for the conclusion of the

Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Human rights in all their aspects are a major

concern for Belgium. That is why my country plays an

active role as a member of the Human Rights Council.

In that regard, I would like to thank the members of the

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Council that entrusted my country, Belgium, with the

responsibility and honour to preside over that

important institution. That trust is, in my view, a

recognition of our commitment.

Finally, human rights also concern the rights of

future generations. We do not own this Earth; we have

it on loan from our children. Today more than ever,

that heritage is threatened, and that is why

environmental protection should be our main shared

concern and priority. The Climate Change Conference

scheduled for late 2009 in Copenhagen is an

opportunity that cannot be squandered. We need to

make specific and binding commitments there. I

believe that the European Union has shown the way

with its ambitious package of measures adopted in late

2008.

Institutions cannot function without the input of

men. Therefore, those who undermine the performance

of these institutions should be held accountable. That is

why Belgium has been particularly active in the fight

against impunity. An international legal order is

required, but it can function only if it is upheld by

States governed by the rule of law. I therefore reaffirm

the need for common positions that are essential for a

world that is safer, fairer and more prosperous. In the

words of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan,

“There is no long-term security without

development. There is no development without

security. And no society can long remain secure,

or prosperous, without respect for human rights

and the rule of law.” (Press release

SG/SM/10425)

Strengthening the rule of law at the national and

international levels is more vital than ever for

achieving a more equitable form of globalization.

I will conclude with these words. Peace and

security, sustainable development, and a fair

distribution of the wealth of the Earth are the essential,

global challenges that we face. To meet these

challenges, we need solid international institutions, but

institutional multilateralism is not enough. We also

need a multilateralism of minds, and men and women

of conviction to carry it forward.

This will, belief and ambition motivate my

country, a founding Member of the United Nations, to

offer the candidacy for the presidency of the General

Assembly at its sixty-fifth session of our compatriot

Louis Michel, former Minister for Foreign affairs of

Belgium and former European Commissioner in charge

of Development and Humanitarian Aid. We are

convinced that the strength of his conviction and

dedication will unite us further. It is indeed only when

the men and women who take the floor here are fired

by a shared vision of human rights, peace and

development that our institutions will be able to deliver

what we need: collective results rather than individual

achievements.