Finland, 2009

Let me begin by

congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President

of the General Assembly. I assure you of our full

support in your important functions.

As many colleagues have already underlined, the

international climate negotiations are at a crucial stage.

The Copenhagen Conference is a real possibility for

change. We need political determination and solidarity

to reach a new climate agreement that is global,

effective and fair. The responsibility lies with all of

us — industrial countries, emerging economies and

developing countries alike — to take the decisions that

will so profoundly shape the future of humankind.

I thank the Secretary-General for convening the

Summit on Climate Change at the beginning of the

current session of the General Assembly. We had a

good discussion on issues that still need to be

addressed before December. The meeting delivered a

clear message that we are committed to working hard

to seal the deal.

A global climate agreement is a precondition for

comprehensive sustainable development. The poorest

are the most vulnerable when struggling with the

adverse effects of climate change. The new agreement

must include elements of solidarity and international

support in coping with the needs of adaptation. Climate

change will affect especially seriously the lives and

livelihoods of women, but women are also powerful

actors in combating it. We need to ensure their full

participation in the negotiations and in the

implementation of the new agreement.

Gender, food production and climate change are

all interlinked. We know that 70 per cent of the world’s

poor are women and girls. We also know that the

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majority of agricultural labourers are women. If we

really want to combat climate change and avoid a

global food crisis, we need to pay close attention to the

role of women, especially in least developed countries.

While the negative consequences of climate

change are universal, their impact on small island

developing States and countries with low-lying coastal

areas is particularly grave. Those countries are

threatened by the rise of sea levels and by extreme

weather conditions. They need particular attention and

assistance.

In September 2000, we committed ourselves here

to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty

and to reach the Millennium Development Goals. We

reiterated that pledge at the 2005 World Summit. Now,

in 2009, we have to demonstrate our resolve to live up

to that commitment when faced with a contracting

world economy as well.

The solution of the current financial and

economic crisis should be based on the concept of fair

globalization. Our action, while striving to achieve

sustainable economic growth, must address the goal of

decent work for all. It is really essential that we honour

our commitments to development in spite of our budget

constraints.

In the world economy, the tectonic plates are in

motion and new actors are emerging. We need to

develop a new global consensus on business ethics,

integrity and sustainable economic growth. We must

work together so that trust in international financial

institutions can be re-established. Let us make them

more transparent, accountable and sustainable.

I sincerely hope that the Pittsburgh summit of the

Group of 20 will agree on further measures for global

recovery. But we should also make full use of the

United Nations to promote inclusive and equitable

cooperation on issues that are truly global.

While climate change and the global economic

downturn cause problems in many parts of the world,

Africa is the continent that suffers the most. The

international community must remain attentive to

Africa’s needs. I am glad to note that positive

developments have also taken place in Africa. During

this decade, the number of conflicts in Africa has

decreased. The African Union is committed to

strengthening the organization’s capacity in conflict

prevention. Finland is contributing to that important

effort by supporting the build-up of the peace

mediation structures of the African Union.

The latest developments in the Middle East peace

process provide a reason for cautious optimism. It

seems that the parties are willing to take some steps.

Countries outside the region are committed to

supporting those efforts. It is my belief that, with that

broadening consensus, we can reactivate the peace

process soon.

Finland values highly the United Nations Charter

and the central role given to the Security Council. We

actively participate in efforts to make that body more

representative and efficient. Finland is a candidate to

become a non-permanent member of the Security

Council for the period 2013 to 2014. At the same time,

we hope that progress on the Council’s reform can be

made during this session of the General Assembly.

Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and

1820 (2008) on women, peace and security were

important achievements. Their implementation in all

countries and in all situations is urgently needed. The

international colloquium on women’s empowerment,

leadership development and international peace and

security, which was held last March in Monrovia,

adopted a call to action on resolution 1325 (2000) and

a call for action on gender and climate change. As a

follow-up to the colloquium, Finland and Liberia

convened a side event today here at the United

Nations. In a word, it was a success. I hope that the

next success will be in Copenhagen, and that women

will make a contribution to it.

Security Council resolution 1820 (2008) strongly

condemns sexual violence in conflicts. We must treat

systematic rape as a forbidden weapon of war. Victims

of rape and sexual abuse must have access to legal

processes, and rapists must be prosecuted and

condemned. In our view, the appointment of a special

representative of the Secretary-General on women and

armed conflict would enhance the implementation of

those resolutions. We hope that all Member States will

support that proposal. I want to thank Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon for bringing up the question of

violence against women in his opening address to the

General Assembly yesterday.

Civilian populations need protection in conflict

situations. At the United Nations World Summit in

2005, the responsibility to protect was accepted as a

general principle applicable to genocide, crimes against

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humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. Further

efforts are urgently needed to save civilians from

violence.

This morning, the Security Council held a debate

on nuclear security issues. I am sure that we are all

pleased that disarmament is now strongly returning to

the international agenda. I sincerely hope that that will

lead to real progress.

Finally, I would like to underline that we have to

try to find things that unite us — and not things that

divide us — if we want to be midwives of the future

and not guardians of the past. Lasting peace can be

built only through open dialogue between cultural and

religious communities, in our countries and worldwide.

Finland supports all initiatives, such as the Alliance of

Civilizations, to stimulate intercultural communication.

I wish those efforts the best of success in promoting

mutual understanding and peace. I promise that Finland

will support them.