Iceland, 2005

I would like to join those

who have expressed thanks to the Secretary-General

for his efforts in recent years to address the very

serious issues facing the international community.

Iceland had high expectations for the results of

last week’s summit, which were met only partly in its

outcome document (resolution 60/1). Much further

work is needed. While most of the key values in the

Charter were reaffirmed, it is Iceland’s view that

human rights and the accountability of States to their

citizens were insufficiently dealt with.

The United Nations Charter guarantees equality

among nations and provides a basis on which they can

live together as good neighbours. However, the Charter

not only addresses how relations should be conducted

among Governments; it also specifies how

Governments should conduct themselves towards their

peoples. That is what the Secretary-General has called

the accountability of States to their citizens.

Iceland supports the Secretary-General’s strong

statement on the responsibility borne by the

international community in cases of massive human

rights abuses or genocide. The United Nations has

made significant progress in that respect by recognizing

the existence of an international responsibility to protect.

The Security Council and other institutions have thus

been given a clear mandate — indeed, a clear duty —

to act where crimes against humanity are committed.

6

Democracy and respect for universal human

rights are of central importance to security and

development. Iceland supports the establishment of the

United Nations Democracy Fund and will contribute to

it. We are also strongly in favour of reforming the

present human rights machinery. The Commission on

Human Rights is dysfunctional and devoid of

credibility; deliberations on human rights have suffered

accordingly. Moreover, the credibility of the entire

United Nations Organization is threatened. There now

exists a summit mandate to establish a Human Rights

Council, which will be responsible for promoting

universal respect for the protection of all human rights

and fundamental freedoms. For Iceland, the ideal

Human Rights Council would be smaller than the

Commission and would be in session all year so that it

could respond to emergencies. The composition of the

new Council will be fundamental to its effectiveness. It

must not include major human rights abusers.

At the summit, Member States committed

themselves to making every possible effort to conclude

a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Such a convention must unconditionally condemn

terrorism. If it is to be fully effective, it must include a

legal definition of terrorist acts.

Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism, combined

with that of weapons of mass destruction, is not dealt

with in the outcome document, which fails to address

the proliferation of such weapons. Proliferation is a

profound danger which the United Nations cannot

ignore but must confront in a decisive manner.

Iceland welcomes the emphasis placed by the

document on investing in prevention, peacemaking,

peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We welcome in

particular the proposal to create a Peacebuilding

Commission and a Support Office within the

Secretariat. Iceland is willing to take part, along with

other Member States, in ensuring that both are up and

running by the end of the year.

I must express disappointment at the fact that the

group of four proposal for reforming the Security

Council has not yet received the support it deserves.

While not perfect, it remains the most practical basis

for reforming the Council. That approach therefore

continues to have Iceland’s firm support. The Council

must reflect the world as it is and be representative.

Iceland has previously, in this very forum, expressed

its interest in participating actively in the work of the

Council in the years 2009 and 2010.

The Millennium Declaration provides a platform

to address poverty in the developing countries.

Developed countries have committed themselves to

providing the necessary support in the form of official

development assistance. It is no less important for

developing countries to create a transparent and

accountable environment that respects good

governance and the rule of law, in order to attract

domestic and foreign investment, which fosters the

growth of a vibrant private sector. It is also important

for developed and developing countries to ensure a

successful outcome of the current World Trade

Organization negotiations.

The Government of Iceland has acknowledged

the great challenge posed by the Millennium

Development Goals. Accordingly, it will continue

substantially to increase Iceland’s official development

assistance in the coming years.

Iceland is committed to reform of the United

Nations and to finding common ways of dealing with

threats to international security. The outcome

document has serious shortcomings, and the risk

remains that the United Nations could be further

weakened. Member States must ensure that the process

continues and that it will, in the coming weeks and

months, deliver on the fundamental issues at hand in

the interests of peace and prosperity in the world.