Iceland, 2007

First, allow me to

congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election. At

the same time, I should like to pay tribute to the work

of your predecessor, Her Excellency Sheikha Haya

Rashed Al-Khalifa.

On this occasion I want to say how much my

country has benefited from the existence of the United

Nations. The universal values enshrined in the United

Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights have given a context and perspective to

our sovereignty and self-determination. Iceland’s story

is testimony to the fact that it is through civilized

coexistence within the community of nations that

societies prosper. Within living memory, Iceland

progressed from being one of the poorest countries in

Europe to one of the most prosperous. We have had the

good fortune to be able to build a Nordic welfare

society on the sustainable harvesting of our natural

resources.

As a small, dynamic State without a military, it is

our natural inclination to look for the peaceful

settlement of disputes within the international

community. Our independence, which we achieved

some 60 years ago, is built on more than our

democratic institutions, fundamentally important

though they are. Our freedom in the widest sense has

been achieved through economic development as well

as the guarantee of human rights and democracy.

In our experience, freedom is complex and

multifaceted. All human rights are universal,

indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. But it is

evident that poverty, inequality and the lack of

economic and social rights can make the exercise of

political and civil rights difficult.

We are now about halfway to our deadline for the

Millennium Development Goals. The year 2015 is

around the corner and we will soon need to deliver on

our promises. There has been some good news: it

seems likely that the goal of halving the number of

people living in extreme poverty by 2015 will be

reached. However, progress on many human

development goals, such as on child mortality, has been

disappointing. Regional challenges remain, particularly

in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It is incumbent

upon those who have the good fortune to be prosperous

to join in solidarity with others to make these rights

available to all. What is more, the security challenges

that we face this century are such that they can only be

addressed together, in solidarity with others. Climate

change is a prime example.

Indeed, the phenomenon of climate change is

already devastating the lives of millions across a broad

swathe of Africa, among many small island States and

widely in Asia. Every region and most countries can

expect to feel the effects of climate change in the near

future. How we address this issue as an international

community is a test of our commitment to the

fundamental values of the United Nations and our

ability to act together in light of our shared

responsibility. The discussions that took place earlier

this week were an important step in identifying means

and measures in this respect, and I thank the Secretary-

General for his initiative. Although climate change is a

global phenomenon, it tends to be the poorest in

developing countries that are hardest hit those that

are least responsible for causing climate change.

Climate change is thus a severe threat to poverty

reduction.

It is important that the international community

treats adaptation to climate change not as a stand-alone

issue but as an integral part of our common efforts to

attain the Millennium Development Goals. A

comprehensive approach is needed if we are to see

results. The Government of Iceland is committed to

showing solidarity with the most vulnerable in

adapting to the effects of climate change.

Iceland regards women’s empowerment and full

participation at all levels as a fundamental issue for the

new millennium. Whether in relation to peace and

security, health, poverty or climate change, the

empowerment of women is the key to success. Women

and men need to be equally represented and listened to

everywhere. I should like to reiterate Iceland’s support

for the recommendations of the High-level Panel on

United Nations System-wide Coherence regarding

gender equality and women’s empowerment. The

current United Nations structure and approach to

gender issues is too fragmented. The excellent work of

the United Nations Development Fund for Women

(UNIFEM) must be built upon and reinforced within

the new structures. We firmly support the

establishment of a new gender entity to strengthen the

performance of the United Nations in this field of

work. Establishing the post of Under-Secretary-

General for gender equality issues should provide

strong leadership and coordination, and it is my hope

that this post will be quickly filled. Gender

mainstreaming has to be addressed throughout the

whole United Nations system in a more systematic

manner. Let us use the current momentum to bring this

process forward at this session of the General

Assembly.

Official development assistance (ODA) plays a

vital role in achieving the Millennium Development

Goals. Let me state clearly that Iceland views these

Goals as common goals. We see development as

mutually beneficial co-operation. Freedom for Iceland

has been built through development and it is a vital

element of freedom for all peoples. Donors need to

deliver on their promises and accelerate their efforts in

increasing development assistance. The Government of

Iceland stands ready to shoulder its responsibility. Our

ODA has doubled over the past four years and we aim

to be among the top ODA contributors. Increased aid

effectiveness is central to development results. The

Government of Iceland believes that the United

Nations should be at the forefront of such efforts. We

support the follow-up of the report of the High-level

Panel on System-wide Coherence (A/61/583), which in

our view will make the United Nations more effective

in delivering results on the ground.

ODA is of course not a panacea. We need to make

progress in international trade negotiations. When I

had the privilege of attending the meeting of the

African Union in Accra this summer, I was made aware

by colleagues of the tremendous potential that African

countries see in closer integration across that continent.

In a globalized world closer regional cooperation and

integration, including trade relations, has, in our

experience, been a step towards a better future, a joint

investment of nation States in their common well-

being.

Iceland pledges full political support to our

common goal of halting global warming. Bearing in

mind that there is now a window of opportunity, which

may close within a decade, the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendation on

halving emissions should be taken seriously. Iceland

has set itself a long-term aspirational goal of reducing

net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 75 per cent by

2050. The Kyoto Protocol provides a basis for effective

action by developed nations, which must lead the way

in controlling emissions. But Kyoto is not universal

and it is not enough. Iceland believes that the Bali

meeting should start a process leading to a

comprehensive climate agreement, ideally to be

concluded in 2009, the year of the summit in

Copenhagen. This agreement would cover the

post-2012 period.

There is no “silver bullet” solution to the problem

of global warming. The issue of deforestation,

especially the rain forests, must be addressed. The role

of new technology is crucial, particularly in regard to

alternative, sustainable and clean sources of energy. In

the field of geothermal energy, where Iceland has

considerable experience, there is wide scope for

development. New technology must not, however,

exacerbate the very serious problems we already face.

It is, for example, a matter of grave concern that

increases in the production of biomass-based energy

sources could be raising food prices. New sources of

renewable energy must also adhere strictly to long-

term environmental demands. This is particularly

relevant to the planned build-up of nuclear energy

reactors. The creativity and research capabilities of

universities, the commitment and inclusiveness of non-

governmental organizations and the drive of business

and industry must be activated in a broad and

consistent effort. Governments cannot do this alone.

Iceland regards human security, as formulated for

example by the 2005 World Summit, to be of

fundamental political and conceptual importance when

it comes to discussing and deciding on action

concerning peace and security. A key instrument for

ensuring human security is Security Council resolution

1325 (2000), which needs to be thoroughly

implemented. Millions of individuals experience

assaults on their personal security. I am thinking of the

brutality inflicted by some Governments on their own

people and by terrorists or irregular forces on civilians.

In this context allow me to express deep concern

over events in Myanmar where the democratically

elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in

detention for years and where the peaceful expression

of political dissent is at present being brutally

repressed.

I am thinking of the attacks on the providers of

humanitarian aid in many conflict regions. I am

thinking of the failure of authorities around the world

to ensure the protection of women and children from

violence and trafficking. In this context I should also

like to encourage other Member States to support the

draft resolution on a moratorium on the use of the

death penalty.

I wish to express appreciation for the efforts of

the United Nations Secretary-General, the African

Union Commission Chairman, and the Security

Council in finding a way forward towards alleviating

the suffering of the people of Darfur. There is however

still much to be done.

Crucial discussions are currently in progress to

solve the decades-long situation in the Middle East. It

is clear to me that most people in Israel and Palestine

yearn for peace. Indeed, opinion polls bear this out. In

particular, women from both sides voice their distress

at the long-term effects of continued conflict on their

children, who are the future of this region. The talks in

progress at the moment, with the support of the

Quartet, the efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,

and, most important, the efforts of the Israeli and

Palestinian Governments, give some hope. I encourage

political leaders to ensure that the will for peace among

a great many people on both sides is reflected in the

political process. This requires political courage and

true leadership. It requires restraint when restraint is

most difficult. It requires a determination to outflank

the spoilers on both sides who wish to sacrifice the real

prospects for a peaceful and fulfilling life for millions

to the distant mirage of some unattainable utopia. Final

status issues, which are critical to the Palestinians and

the Israelis, must be on the agenda for the peace

conference that the President of the United States has

proposed. The outcome must give both sides a clear

view of a realistic and acceptable future for their

children. Meanwhile, all who have it in their power,

bear a responsibility to do their utmost to ensure the

humanitarian needs of the civilian population.

Jordan and Syria, neighbouring States of Iraq,

have made generous provision for hundreds of

thousands of refugees from Iraq. Iceland is determined

to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi

people and has pledged funds to the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for

the provision of schooling for Iraqi children in Jordan.

We also stand firmly behind United Nations-mandated

efforts to assist in the stabilization and rebuilding of

the country.

Clearly a major threat to human security as well

as State security is the proliferation of arms. Iceland

regrets the current situation in the fields of arms

control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Despite

sustained efforts by the majority of Member States

over a number of years, only limited progress has been

made, some of it outside the United Nations

framework. Our failures in this area pose a constant

threat to peace and security. Now is the time to renew

our efforts. The conclusion of an arms trade treaty

would certainly be a significant achievement. A

number of projects launched by the United Nations

Summit of 2005 have made steady progress, including

the establishment of the Human Rights Council and of

the Peacebuilding Commission. The 2005 World

Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1) also gave the

General Assembly the task of reforming the Security

Council. The momentum for completing this work

must be maintained so that the Security Council can be

more representative of our world at the beginning of

the twenty-first century. This would entail an increase

in the number of elected and permanent seats.

Iceland has been an active and committed

Member of the United Nations since 1946. In the light

of the principle of rotation and the importance of all

Member States sharing in the responsibility of serving

on the Security Council, we announced in 2000 our

first-time candidacy for a seat for the period 2009-2010

with elections to be held next autumn. This

candidature, which is actively supported by the other

Nordic States Denmark, Finland, Norway and

Sweden reflects Iceland’s firm commitment to play

an active role in cooperation with others in addressing

the most pressing security threats of the twenty-first

century. As a Nordic country we stand for a long

tradition of active commitment to the United Nations

and to the best interests of the whole. The Nordics have

a reputation for being bridge-builders trusted

mediators in complex situations. Iceland seeks to

shoulder the responsibility to exercise with fairness

and firmness the role of a Security Council member.