Finland, 2000

I will deliver this statement

on behalf of Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, the Minister for

Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The heads of State and Government have just

completed the largest-ever United Nations gathering,

the Millennium Summit. They adopted a forward-

looking and ambitious Millennium Declaration. This,

together with the Secretary-General's report for the

Summit, sets a demanding agenda for the United

Nations for the new millennium. A new spirit was

kindled in the Summit. We need to keep that spirit alive

in the Assembly, which now has the responsibility to

start the implementation of the Millennium

Declaration.

The President of Finland made a statement on the

need for the United Nations to be relevant for the

Member States and their people. I should like to

elaborate on some of her ideas a little further, fully

supporting the statement made by the French Foreign

Minister, Mr. VÈdrine, on behalf of the European

Union.

One of the most inspiring concepts that the

Secretary-General has advocated is the culture of

prevention. If we want the United Nations to be

relevant, we must equip it with the means to be one

step ahead of developments. Successful prevention

requires a profound understanding of underlying

causes. By understanding these causes, we can

establish an early warning system that allows us to act

in time, before the conflicts erupt.

One of the root causes of conflicts is poverty. As

almost half of the world's population still have to make

do with less than $2 dollars a day, and struggle for

existence, conflicts can flare up easily. Poverty is also

an affront to human dignity. Trying to halve the

proportion of people living in extreme poverty requires

common efforts. Democracy and respect for human

rights are important preconditions for all development

and for poverty eradication to be sustained. Without

democratic decision-making, respect for the rule of

law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, gender

equality and good governance, it is unrealistic to

expect sustainable results in poverty reduction.

Demand for respect for human rights will

continue to shape the destiny of humankind in the

future. One of the greatest achievements of the United

Nations has been the codification of a core set of

human rights standards. Governments have the

obligation to implement these standards. The United

Nations is the only global organization primarily

mandated to ensure respect for human rights. It should

devote more attention and resources to the full

realization and enjoyment of these rights universally.

Globalization is not only an unavoidable process

but also something which is on the whole beneficial for

human development. Globalization today is not merely

a continuation of the familiar process of

internationalization of trade, market integration and

growing interdependence. In these processes, we

encounter the phenomenon of quantity changing into

quality. The development of new technologies greatly

multiplies the effects, both positive and negative, of

globalization. I believe that the great majority of the

world's population have benefited from globalization.

Some have certainly made vast profits from it. As such,

this is not to be deplored; but, at the same time, too

many people are losers in the same process. Many

more fear the potential threats and losses they perceive

as negative effects of globalization. Still more are

anxious as to whether global processes are under

control any longer. For these reasons, it is of the utmost

importance for us to be able to face the challenges of

globalization and to counter many of its negative

effects.

The United Nations, the Bretton Woods

institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO),

as well as other international actors, must join forces in

adopting and implementing the common rules needed

to harness the positive power of globalization. Trade

liberalization and trade rules under the auspices of the

WTO should be implemented in such a way that they

benefit all, particularly the poorest, as well as

safeguard our common environment.

One aspect of managing globalization is the need

to enhance stability, transparency and responsible

behaviour in international financial markets. We must

counter disturbances caused, for example, by short-

term speculative capital movements. Initiatives such as

currency transaction taxes, the so-called Tobin tax,

deserve careful consideration. If, as some studies

indicate, such a tax is unworkable, it is all the more

important to propose and adopt other means and

instruments to achieve the same aims.

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One of the most recent challenges is the digital

divide created by the revolution in information and

communication technology. Computerization and

Internet literacy are not an end as such. They should

serve the purposes of development: education, literacy,

health care, empowerment and inclusion. By closing

the digital gap, we help developing countries join the

knowledge-based global economy. In the long run, the

digital revolution has the greatest potential for the

developing countries. Information and communication

technology (ICT) will make technological leap-

frogging possible for developing countries.

The global agenda set in the United Nations

conferences and summits in the 1990s addressed many

such basic needs of human life which need common

attention in the process of globalization. Progress was

made on human rights, gender equality, population,

social development, sustainable development, drugs,

environmental issues and many others. In the new

millennium, we must focus on the accelerated

implementation of the plans of action adopted at these

conferences. Still, our agenda keeps growing. Children,

HIV/AIDS, racism and racial discrimination, financing

for development, least developed countries as well as

sustainable development and the environment require

more profound attention from the world community.

Even with these issues, I am afraid that our agenda is

not exhausted. The growing agenda poses valid

demands of coherence on the United Nations system

and its work, as well as on the Member States.

No matter how well we implement the global

agenda and no matter how much we resort to

preventive actions, we have to have improved means to

solve crises and conflicts as peacefully and rapidly as

possible. Finland welcomes the Secretary-General's

initiative to take a critical look at the United Nations

peace operations by a Panel of eminent persons. The

Brahimi report suggests a comprehensive reform of

peace operations. We need a detailed discussion on the

report without delay. There are lessons to be learned

for the United Nations and its Member States. We

should particularly learn from the failures so as not to

repeat them, but we also must learn from successes and

see what works.

We need to address the whole continuum of peace

operations from the standpoint of prevention. It is most

important to try to prevent crises from erupting.

Prevention is an important element during a crisis as

we try to stop its escalation. Prevention continues after

crises in post-conflict peace-building, as we need to

minimize their consequences and their duration, not to

speak of their repetition. Kosovo is a prime example of

this.

I am stating the obvious when I say that the

United Nations needs a rapid-reaction capability,

qualified and experienced personnel to perform the

operations, as well as the money to pay for them. This

would make it easier to address an increased demand

for United Nations peacekeeping.

The critical approach taken in the Brahimi report

should also be extended to other fields and activities of

the United Nations in order to attain efficiency within

the Organization. Reorganization and prioritization

would free both human and financial resources for the

core areas of our responsibilities.

There have been positive developments in some

crises that have long been on the United Nations

agenda. A most encouraging example is the

rapprochement in the Korean peninsula. Finland

welcomes the positive development to bring peace,

stability and reunification to the Korean peninsula and

encourages the two parties to advance the process of

dialogue. Finland also welcomes the withdrawal of

Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in accordance

with Security Council resolution 425 (1978). We hope

this leads to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in

the Middle East.

The nation-building process in East Timor has

started successfully. I hope that the present transition

period will soon lead to full independence for East

Timor. Recent incidents in West Timor against United

Nations personnel, however, jeopardize the progress

and the capabilities of the United Nations system to

help. We also strongly support the Secretary-General's

efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the

Cyprus problem.

Developments in Africa have not been

encouraging. I regret deeply that the safety and security

of United Nations personnel have not been guaranteed

in all United Nations operations, such as that in Sierra

Leone. However, Eritrea and Ethiopia have reached an

agreement and international monitoring can start. I am

happy to announce that Finland will participate in the

United Nations mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The continuum of multidimensional crises must

be prevented, managed and solved with appropriate

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multidimensional means. Addressing them requires

cooperation among different organizations, such as the

United Nations, the European Union, the Organization

for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North

Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization of

African Unity and the Organization of American

States, to mention but a few. The complexity of crises

has shown that no single organization is capable of

dealing with all aspects of a crisis military, civilian

and humanitarian. Sad experiences, for example from

the Balkans, remind us that many weaknesses still exist

in the conflict-prevention and management capabilities

of the international community. A clearer division of

labour between the organizations is needed. They must

concentrate on what they can do best, following the

principle of comparative advantage. Complementarity

and cooperation are the friends, and rivalry the enemy,

of any operation.

Coherent action is needed to address the

situations, bearing in mind the comprehensive concept

of security. I stress the need to enhance our civilian

crisis-management capabilities in all relevant fields.

Complex crises need expertise in the fields of civilian

police, the rule of law, human rights, justice, electoral

assistance, institution-building, economic reconstruction

and rehabilitation, as well as impartial media. As stated

in the Brahimi report, doctrinal shifts and more

thorough strategic planning are needed at the United

Nations to address complex and often intrastate

conflicts.

Peace and security are indivisible. Disarmament

is a part of comprehensive and integrated action in

preventing conflicts and in promoting a global dialogue

on peace and stability. Arms control agreements,

including the Treaty between the United States of

America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,

remain a cornerstone of international security. The

successful outcome of the Review Conference of the

States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons (NPT) created a new momentum in

nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty must be

ratified by all. We hope for a swift entry into force of

the START II Treaty and we are looking forward to the

commencement of the START III negotiations.

One of the main concerns is the regional arms

race. We need to ensure that the few countries

remaining outside the NPT regime do not develop

weapons of mass destruction. Also, conventional arms,

and in particular anti-personnel landmines, small arms

and light weapons, remain a concern in regional and

internal conflicts. The United Nations Conference on

the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in

All Its Aspects should aim at achieving significant

results in adopting a comprehensive approach

integrating security and development.

Enhanced international action is also needed in

humanitarian demining, particularly in post-conflict

situations where civilian populations continue to be

victims of anti-personnel landmines.

I wish to join the Secretary-General's call on all

States to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court (ICC) at the earliest

possible date. It is important now to build on what has

been achieved in and after the Rome Conference and to

secure the early establishment of the ICC, fully

respecting the integrity of its Statute. More and more

States, including my own, are approaching the stage of

ratification of the Rome Statute. We are confident that,

in the long run, all States will recognize the benefits of

a permanent International Criminal Court.

Terrorism is an evil we must combat decisively

and effectively so that everyone can live and travel

freely in the world without having to fear crime and

kidnappings. We have negotiated 12 major anti-

terrorism conventions within the United Nations

framework that make it clear that terrorist acts are

criminal and can never be justified by any ends. This

obviously also applies to the means used to combat

terrorism.

Finland welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-

General to offer an opportunity to sign any treaty or

convention of which the Secretary-General is the

depositary. In this connection, I should also like to

make reference to the Tampere Convention on the

Provision of Telecommunication Resources for

Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations. As the host

country of the relevant conference, Finland would like

to encourage all States to sign and ratify the

Convention in order to bring it into force as soon as

possible.

The purposes enshrined in the Charter and the

new challenges the United Nations is facing require

unwavering support for the United Nations and for

multilateralism from its Member States. The United

Nations is an expression of the will of its Member

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States to deliberate and act multilaterally. There are

many reasons why multilateralism is the preferred, as

well as perhaps the only sustainable, way to deal with

problems. It involves all the actors that are needed for

the long-term solution of conflicts. It provides the

transparency that modern conflict resolution requires.

It strengthens respect for international law in general.

Last but not least, it diminishes the possibility that

force will be used unnecessarily or disproportionately.

A tendency towards unilateralism would only

reopen old divisions or create new ones. The United

Nations is a stronghold of multilateralism, and it

should be used to safeguard the primacy of multilateral

action. In this respect, we must ensure that the United

Nations is able to act effectively when the need arises.

The role and ability of the Secretary-General must be

enhanced to enable the Organization to act when it is

otherwise threatened with paralysis.

In this context, I want to make it clear that the

crisis management capacity under construction in the

European Union will be at the service of the

international community. It is not intended for

unilateral interventionism. The Union will contribute to

international peace and security in accordance with the

principles of the United Nations Charter and the

principles and objectives of the Organization for

Security and Cooperation in Europe Charter on

European Security.

For this kind of a multilateralism to work, United

Nations finances must be put on a sound, sustainable

and equitable basis. This is crucial for its strength and

credibility. Charter obligations related to the payment

of contributions must be fulfilled by all, on time, in full

and without conditions.

Cooperation between the United Nations,

Governments and non-governmental organizations has

been very successful, and it must be intensified and

facilitated. It has to be extended to cover the whole of

civil society. Present challenges are too heavy for the

United Nations to carry alone. I commend the

Secretary-General for his several initiatives in this

respect. In particular, I would mention his Global

Compact initiative, which seeks to engage corporations

in the promotion of equitable labour standards, respect

for human rights and the protection of the environment.

Cooperation with civil society is a necessity for the

new millennium. Strong partnerships are needed to

meet the challenges posed every day in the present

world. This trend should be strengthened and

encouraged.