Kingdom of Denmark, 2007

At the Millennium Summit

in 2000, an unprecedented number of world leaders

came together and committed themselves to an

ambitious global agenda for the years ahead. This

agenda was further reinforced at the 2005 World

Summit, where we also adopted the far-reaching

principle of responsibility to protect.

By the very nature of the commitments from the

Millennium Declaration and the World Summit, it was

globally recognized that there can be no development

without security and human rights and vice versa.

We owe it to ourselves and to the world community to

take stock of our progress. How well, then, have we

met this challenge so far?

At the institutional level, there can be no question

that important progress has been achieved, as

witnessed by the establishment of the Central

Emergency Response Fund, the Peacebuilding

Commission and the Human Rights Council. But

institution-building alone will not do. We need to show

the necessary resolve to make these new institutions

effective instruments in the service of the global

community. We have achieved little if we do not

endeavour to ensure that they fulfil their stated

purposes and that they realize their true potential. Our

challenge now is to address the substantive issues and

to do so in earnest.

As we cross the halfway mark towards 2015,

substantial progress has been made at the global level

towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). The results achieved through market-oriented

economic reform in Asia and Latin America over the

past decade prove that eradication of poverty is not an

elusive, unattainable goal.

But, again, there is no room for complacency. A

substantial increase in efforts is still needed, especially

if sub-Saharan Africa is to meet the Millennium

Development Goals by 2015. The facts are quite

simple. If progress in Africa is not accelerated, we will

not live up to our responsibility. Denmark believes that

the time has come to arrange a United Nations summit

focusing on the progress towards the Millennium

Development Goals and on financing for development.

Africa remains at the heart of Danish

development assistance. The Danish Government

firmly believes that development assistance to Africa

should increase. We need to live up to the promise to

double aid for Africa by 2010. Denmark is keeping its

part of the bargain. We are committed to providing 0.8

per cent of our national income in development

assistance. Two thirds of our bilateral assistance will

go to the African continent.

But clearly, development assistance alone is not

enough. Trade and good governance is key to

development. There is no substitute for national

ownership and for national commitment to good

governance or for transparent and liberal trade and

investment regimes that allow developing countries to

benefit from globalization.

It is a key goal for the Danish Government to

promote good governance, democracy and human

rights with no impunity for crimes against humanity

and we will do this through an active foreign policy.

Denmark will seriously do its best to contribute to a

more effective United Nations and to assist countries

that have a strong commitment to development but lack

the necessary resources.

Climate change has undoubtedly become one of

the most urgent global challenges of our times, one

that, by its very definition, must be dealt with on a

truly global level. Climate change will affect the

poorest and the weakest the most. And countries will

have a very different capacity to act. Therefore, we

have to base our joint efforts on the notion of common

but differentiated responsibilities.

Denmark is pleased to host the fifteenth

Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Climate

Change, to be held in December 2009. We have already

commenced the preparations for the conference. Our

ambitions are high. We must reach consensus on an

effective and multilateral post-Kyoto agreement. The

Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is the last

call if the agreement is to enter into force by 2012.

We commend the Secretary-General for his

leadership on this issue. In our view, an inclusive

United Nations-based multilateral approach is crucial if

we are to bring all parties together in responding to the

global climate challenge.

The High-level Event on Climate Change held

here in New York last week was an illustration of this

commitment. I want to echo two essential points made

at the High-level Event that were also taken up by the

Secretary-General in his conclusions. First, I would

note that the Conference of the Parties to take place in

Bali next December represents a crucial cut-off date. If

we are serious about fighting climate change, the

thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention

on Climate Change in Bali must define a clear

timetable for negotiations towards a comprehensive

post-2012 framework. Secondly, I would note that the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC) remains the only legitimate

framework for truly global negotiations on climate

change. It is within the UNFCCC that an ambitious

agreement must be reached to reduce global emissions

and to counter climate change.

Another major global challenge to which

Denmark attaches great importance is to obtain equal

opportunities for women. Here, we also see a crucial

role for an effective United Nations where gender

equality is dealt with in a strengthened and systematic

way, especially at the country level. In our view, no

one should be excluded from contributing to peace,

freedom and development. It is, therefore, of

paramount importance as a judicial, moral and

ethical responsibility that women everywhere have

the same opportunities as men. In the fight against

poverty, it is an absolute necessity. Women must have

equal rights as well as full access to employment, land

and financial resources. Only then can development

assistance realize its true potential and poverty be

alleviated.

Donors must actively support partner countries in

achieving gender equality. In the coming years,

Denmark will have a strong focus on women and their

role in development and conflict resolution setting

goals, earmarking funds and monitoring progress to

ensure that policies create results.

Making a difference in that respect will require

leadership from all parties. Without addressing the role

of women, we will never manage to halve extreme

poverty by 2015. And our efforts to support the rights

and empowerment of women must be complemented

by a targeted effort to promote sexual and reproductive

health and rights.

As we stand here today, we face more global

challenges than ever before. The world faces many

unresolved conflicts, not least in Africa. We need to

stay focused and to enhance the Organization’s

capacity in conflict prevention, conflict management

and peacebuilding.

A strong United Nations is required to cope with

the global challenges of today and tomorrow. Only a

strong and effective United Nations can show the

necessary political leadership with regard to

development, humanitarian crisis and conflicts.

In the Sudan, we have an obligation to help the

people of Darfur achieve peace through the restoration

of stability. The killings, violence and atrocities must

end. This has taken far too long. There is now finally

some progress in the attempts to find a solution to the

conflict in Darfur, and we have a responsibility to

ensure that it is implemented. Denmark actively

supports the African Union-United Nations Hybrid

Operation in Darfur as well as the resumed political

process. It raises real hope for improvement in the

deplorable situation on the ground and in the prospects

for a long-term political solution. As part of this

process, we must implement the arrest warrants of the

International Criminal Court and bring perpetrators of

crime to justice.

Afghanistan must be one of the top priorities of

the international community and of the United Nations.

It is important to maintain broad consensus among all

international partners regarding the need to carry

through what we have started. To that end, we need the

United Nations to play a stronger role in Afghanistan.

A coordinated engagement civilian as well as

military is a precondition for success. The United

Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

must use its full potential to coordinate the

international efforts and as a counterpart to the

Afghans. And UNAMA should be present in each and

every province, including in the south.

In Kosovo, only a solution to the final-status

issue will ensure stability and prosperity in the region.

We share the opinion of the Secretary-General that the

status quo is not sustainable. We hope for results in the

new negotiations. As stated by the presidency of the

European Union (EU), the EU will live up to its

particular responsibility and participate actively in the

collective effort to bring the parties closer together.

The goal is to obtain a comprehensive political solution

that will lead to a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo.

We also believe that the United Nations continues

to be an international focal point for our common

efforts in the fight against terrorism. Last year’s

adoption by the General Assembly of the United

Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was of

crucial importance. It underlined the firm commitment

of the international community to stand united against

those who wish to threaten international peace and

security. The next step should be to finalize the

negotiations on a draft comprehensive convention on

international terrorism. That would send another strong

political signal of our unity. Adoption of the

convention would be a worthy achievement of the

sixty-second session of the General Assembly.

Finally, let me say a few words on United Nations

reform and the institutional challenge for the

Organization. The starting point is clear: to ensure the

necessary reforms of the United Nations, there is no

substitute for strong political will on the part of

individual Member States.

Reforms of United Nations operational activities

are taking shape. However, much work remains to be

done if the recommendations of the High-level Panel

are to be followed and if the United Nations is truly to

deliver as one. It is of paramount importance to make

the United Nations more focused and effective at the

country level. Experiences from the pilot countries are

encouraging and should inspire further action.

The Organization’s governance structures also

require further reform. The General Assembly should

keep its focus on decision-making regarding important

matters and leave detailed management to managers.

The Security Council would benefit from reform that

makes it more representative. Denmark is therefore

encouraged by the new momentum in discussions on

Security Council reform.

But, first and foremost, strengthening the United

Nations requires an understanding that the United

Nations cannot do everything for everyone at the same

time. We need to agree on a common vision and on

priorities for the Organization. We need to take a step

back from the day-to-day agenda and focus on the role

that a strong United Nations could play in the future

which points towards strengthening the United Nations

in relation to three of its unique features.

The first feature is conflict resolution and

prevention as undertaken by the Security Council, the

General Assembly and the good offices of the

Secretary-General, as well as through United Nations

peacekeeping efforts.

The second feature is strengthening of the

capacity of the United Nations system to assist

countries in the early phases of recovery following

conflicts, or countries with very weak institutions.

Here, the United Nations has a key role to play. We

should help to build stronger bridges from

peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance to

peacebuilding, reconstruction and development. We

should help to build up States and to ensure that weak

States do not fall back into conflict or chaos. The

Peacebuilding Commission will be essential in this

regard.

Thirdly and finally, in the area of international

norm-setting, where the United Nations has already

shaped the international agenda for action, one of the

goals should be to enhance the role played by the

Organization in ensuring respect for human rights. As

Members of the United Nations, we have taken on the

shared responsibility of protecting those in the most

vulnerable situations, not least children.

What is needed now is to follow through and to

catalyse action. That is no small task, even for a strong

United Nations.