Greece, 2007

The great challenges and problems, both global and

regional, call for urgent and coherent responses. The

responsibilities and the role of the United Nations in

raising awareness and in providing unity of direction

are now greater and more important. That is exactly

why compliance with United Nations resolutions

should be a top priority for all, including those are

elected to represent the Organization and its agencies.

I should like to congratulate Her Excellency

Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa who was only the

third woman in the history of the United Nations to

occupy the post of President of this Assembly on

her efforts to promote the purpose and principles for

which our Organization was founded.

I should also like to express our appreciation to

the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts to

safeguard international peace and security and for his

keeping alive the authority and role of the Organization

in this area.

Greece fully aligns itself with the statement made

by the Prime Minister of Portugal on behalf of the

European Union. However, we would like to add a few

points about the major issues on our agenda for the

coming period.

The end of the Cold War ushered in a new era in

international relations in which the threat of military

confrontation between the two power blocs dissipated.

However, the world community still faces violent

internal conflicts, civil wars, genocide and other large-

scale atrocities that cause immense destruction and

suffering to millions of people.

And yet, conflicts within and between States are

not the only threat to international peace and security.

New threats and challenges are emerging. Proliferation

of weapons of mass destruction is a serious challenge.

Organized crime and human trafficking constitute

another threat that can have destabilizing effects and

fuel civil wars. Extreme poverty in many parts of the

world, failing States, large-scale humanitarian

disasters, deadly infectious diseases and environmental

degradation and catastrophes have devastating

consequences.

We applaud the Secretary-General’s initiative to

hold a high-level event last week to deal with climate

change, environmental issues being potentially the

greatest threat to our societies. I hope that a global,

sustained and comprehensive approach emerges soon

to help save our planet, our future, our children’s

future.

Controlling and coping with climate change is

one of the greatest environmental and development

challenges. Without swift action to face the problems

arising from these challenges, we all risk paying a high

and bitter price. We should proceed in a timely manner,

through a step-by-step approach, building on national

as well as international capacities in order to address

the causes, mitigate the effects and create synergies

that will allow for specific and measurable results in

the near future. A clear indication of the importance

Greece attaches to the environment is the fact that the

Greek chairmanship of the Human Security Network

has decided to focus on climate change and human

security.

This summer my country suffered enormously

from devastating wildfires. May I take this opportunity,

while addressing the international community, to

express our deep gratitude and thanks to all those

countries and friends who have extended to us their

invaluable support, help and assistance.

Working for peace is not an easy task. The pursuit

of international peace and stability, if it is to be

successful, means that threats have to be addressed in a

comprehensive way and that many conditions have to

be met. Unresolved conflicts have to be energetically

confronted, while, at the same time, we have to deal

with situations of deep-seated injustice, inequality,

ongoing violence, social exclusion, extreme poverty,

famine, illiteracy and cultural misunderstanding.

In addressing the deep-rooted structural problems

that fuel conflicts, peacebuilding must bridge security

and development. Good governance, the rule of law,

strong democratic institutions, respect for human rights

and development assistance are critical components in

reducing today’s conflicts.

Terrorism is undeniably one of the most serious

threats to peace and security, menacing the very

foundation of our democratic societies, and actions to

combat this threat should be in conformity with

international human rights standards and fundamental

freedoms. The adoption of the Global Counter-

Terrorism Strategy by the General Assembly was a

major accomplishment, and its full implementation

should be an absolute priority for Member States. In

this respect, I would like to emphasize the importance

that my country attaches to the conclusion of ongoing

negotiations for the elaboration of a comprehensive

convention against international terrorism; it would be

a valuable addition to the counter-terrorism legal

framework.

In the face of all the threats and challenges that

transcend State borders, we need a more

comprehensive concept of collective security, one

based on respect and justice as requirements for peace

and solidarity as a condition for security, and entailing

a commitment from all to promote sustainable

development. But above all, we need a commitment to

collective political action requiring the strengthening

of the United Nations.

The early, comprehensive and coherent

prevention of conflicts lies at the heart of the United

Nations mandate for the maintenance of international

peace and security. Integrated and long-term strategies

to address the root causes of conflict are necessary. The

United Nations should therefore be strengthened in its

managing, resolving and preventing conflicts and their

recurrence. International regional organizations should

also be effective in this regard, and international

treaties should be respected.

The United Nations was created on the basis of

the resolve of all States that collective action was the

only basis for taking measures to address our common

global problems. We only have common values

enshrined in the United Nations Charter that guide our

efforts and give us direction to unite around what is

just and right freedom, democracy, human rights,

equality, peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect,

multiculturalism, tolerance and open societies, and

dialogue among neighbours, nations, religions and

cultures. Greece’s foreign and security policy is based

precisely on these principles and values. We are

committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the

upholding of international law, including international

humanitarian law, and promoting good neighbourly

relations.

I deeply regret to note that, 33 years after the

Turkish invasion in 1974, the Republic of Cyprus

remains a divided island. Turkey continues to occupy

part of a United Nations and European Union (EU)

Member State with over 40,000 troops, violating

United Nations resolutions and international law. Our

steadfast objective remains the withdrawal of all

occupation troops and the reunification of the island, in

the context of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. To

this end, the relevant United Nations resolutions and

the EU principles and values provide a clear

framework for a comprehensive settlement agreed upon

by the two communities.

Greece has consistently welcomed the United

Nations initiatives for finding a just and viable solution

to the Cyprus question. In this vein, we strongly

support the rapid implementation of the 8 July 2006

agreement, which was reached under United Nations

auspices. We shall continue to do everything possible

to assist the two communities to find an agreed

solution, not least because it would significantly

enhance the development of friendship and cooperation

between Greece and Turkey. We strongly urge Turkey

to demonstrate the necessary will and flexibility

towards this direction.

Our foreign policy is based on the principles of

international law and the United Nations Charter. It is

in this spirit that we approach our relations with

neighbouring Turkey. Greece has taken specific steps

and initiatives to continue broadening and

strengthening our cooperation with Turkey in all fields.

Lately, it has grown even further in the economic field,

but also in the energy sector. We believe that a

democratic Turkey with a clear European orientation, a

Turkey that meets the European criteria and

requirements set out in the negotiating framework with

the European Union, can be a factor for stability in our

part of the world. That is why we support Turkey’s

European aspirations. Turkey, however, must

concretely demonstrate its unequivocal commitment to

the principles of good neighbourly relations and

peaceful settlement of disputes with all its neighbours.

In any case, from the outset Greece has repeatedly

stated that Turkey’s full compliance should lead to full

membership.

Good neighbourly relations are the cornerstone

upon which the countries of South-East Europe must

build a common European future of peace, stability and

prosperity. The European perspective of the countries

of our region has been a strategic choice for Greece.

Our vision is to transform our neighbourhood into a

region that is like the rest of Europe an area of

peace, democracy and prosperity. As the oldest member

of the EU and NATO in the region, my country works

intensively and constructively to create the necessary

conditions of good neighbourliness, mutual

understanding and stability in the Balkans.

Enhancing regional cooperation, establishing

good neighbourly relations and finding mutually

acceptable solutions to outstanding issues with

neighbouring countries are fundamental prerequisites

for further integration of the aspirant countries of

South-East Europe into the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Provocative acts and statements with irredentist

connotations are incompatible with United Nations

principles and common European values. They poison

the necessary climate of understanding between our

peoples, and they are contrary to the European concept.

In this context, Security Council resolutions 817

(1993) and 845 (1993), calling for a mutually

acceptable solution to the name issue of the former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, need to be respected

in practice by all.

Our efforts to secure a truly European future for

the Balkans will remain inconclusive if we fail to reach

a viable and sustainable settlement for Kosovo’s future

status. We remain convinced that this goal can be met

only if, first, effective compromises between the two

parties are achieved in the course of the ongoing

negotiations and, secondly, if the settlement is

legitimized through a Security Council resolution. In

any case, this is par excellence a European problem,

and the role of the European Union in this issue is

essential.

I cannot think of any conflict that has held the

unwavering attention of so many for so long as the one

in the Middle East. We are all aware of the

multifaceted challenges that we face in this part of the

world. And we all agree that the nature of these

challenges is such that they affect not only the peoples

of the region, but the entire international community.

Despite the variances that we observe among us, there

is one crucial element that is common to all, and that is

the need to achieve a just and lasting peace in the

Middle East based on a two-State solution that will

guarantee security, mutual respect and a fair future for

all. This is our common goal, and Greece is deeply

committed to it.

The progress Africa has been making in recent

years is both substantial and undeniable. It is

characterized by economic growth, crisis management

and a will for conflict prevention. The United Nations,

deeply involved in peacekeeping and providing

developmental assistance, has found in the African

Union and the African regional organizations a vital

partner for the success of this process. Partnership

between the United Nations and the African Union, as

well as the African regional organizations, could well

be the key to successfully overcoming the challenges

facing Africa today. In this context, we welcome the

creation of the joint African Union/United Nations

Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), which, by

combining forces of the United Nations and of the

African Union, shows the way to the future for Darfur

and for the continent as a whole.

International development cooperation is one of

the priorities of Greek foreign policy. Our national

development agency, Hellenic Aid, implements the

United Nations Millennium Development Goals in the

framework set out by the European Union and the

principles followed by the Development Assistance

Committee of the Organisation for Economic

Cooperation and Development, while focusing on our

cultural heritage. Our humanitarian and development

projects in 46 countries aim at combating poverty,

disease, malnutrition, lack of access to drinking water,

and dealing with the consequences of natural disasters

and conflict situations, while safeguarding the

protection of human rights. We strive to address the

root causes of illegal immigration, human trafficking

and terrorism, since enforcement measures alone are

not enough to address those problems. In 2005, Greece

allocated $384.22 million to finance actions to the

benefit of our partner countries in the developing

world. In Africa, development assistance, ranging from

humanitarian aid to HIV/AIDS care and refugee

programmes, was offered to almost 20 African States.

On all the issues I have referred to, my country is

committed to assisting the United Nations and to

cooperating with all individual Member States in order

to achieve peace and prosperity for all peoples of the

world.