Latvia, 2009

I wish to begin by

congratulating the President on his assumption of the

presidency at this session of the General Assembly. I

pledge Latvia’s full support to him.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of a

unique peaceful demonstration, namely, the Baltic

Way. On 23 August 1989, more than 1 million people

joined hands in a 600-kilometre-long human chain

across the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and

Lithuania. That event was dedicated to the fiftieth

anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between

the Stalinist Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The Pact

was another mile marker leading to the Second World

War and the occupation of the three Baltic States.

The Baltic Way served as a powerful symbol of

the drive for democracy and freedom in our three

States. The importance of the Baltic Way was so

substantial that the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization added it to the

Memory of the World Register. The message of the

Baltic Way is very clear, namely, that if people and

countries truly commit to a common goal, and if they

join their efforts, even the most difficult challenge can

be met successfully.

A look at today’s world reveals that never before

has international cooperation been so important. Never

before have we faced such a multitude of simultaneous

critical challenges of global significance. Many phrases

have been coined to describe the most severe problems:

the “three Es” crisis, for energy, economy and

environment, and the “three Fs” crisis, for finance,

food and fuel. But no matter what name we use we

must remember that those global issues require urgent

and concerted action at the global level.

Since we met here last year, the financial crisis

has turned into a global economic crisis. It has struck

the world with its full strength. Consequences are

being felt by every State and by every economy. They

have an effect on international policy and make us

reconsider domestic policies as well. Latvia has

undertaken painful but necessary adjustments to the

downturn. We have learned our lessons. I am confident

that our economy and the entire global economic

system will come out of the crisis stronger than before.

Current realities are serving to underline the

values of inclusiveness, tolerance and compassion, not

only domestically but also in the international arena. It

is self-evident that we can tackle the challenges only

by joint efforts. We should use the crisis as a catalyst

for looking beyond our individual gains. We should

therefore use it to look at how we can promote an open

international trade system. We hope for the prompt

conclusion of the long-overdue round of talks on the

Doha Development Agenda.

Development is hard in times of crisis.

Developing countries are particularly severely affected

by its negative effects. We are well aware of the risk of

jeopardizing what has been done in achieving the

Millennium Development Goals. We must not give up.

Latvia is honouring its commitments to achieving the

Millennium Development Goals.

Climate change is a global challenge that needs to

be tackled at the global level. The United Nations

Summit on Climate Change has demonstrated that it is

important to reach a comprehensive and fair agreement

on future global climate policy at the Copenhagen

Conference, to be held in December of this year. Such

an agreement should follow the principle of common

but differentiated responsibilities. Every country

should contribute according to its capabilities, but the

political will of every nation is what matters most.

The stability and security situation in a number of

countries and regions of the world is of particular

concern to the global community. Afghanistan is

certainly one of them. The holding of presidential

elections in a fragile security situation was a

significant achievement by the Afghan people. It is

crucial to pursue balanced international involvement in

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Afghanistan, which should include both a civilian

surge and military efforts. We must continue our

assistance to Afghanistan and other countries in the

region in order to prevent the threat of festering

terrorism. It is important to understand that the value

of local knowledge of the situation and of regional

involvement cannot be overestimated. We remain

committed to the rebuilding process in Afghanistan

while paying special attention to upgrading its

infrastructure and strengthening its economy. Latvia

has contributed both military and civilian assistance to

the development of Afghanistan.

Achieving peace in the Middle East is another

issue that remains at the top of the international

agenda. The two-State idea will become a reality only

when the Israeli Government sincerely works to make

it one. It will become a sustainable reality only when

Palestinian leaders settle their own differences in the

interests of their people. This year, Latvia provided a

rehabilitation programme for 18 Palestinian boys and

girls. They came to Latvia to participate in our

rehabilitation programme for traumatized children

from the Gaza Strip. Those children came to overcome

the psychological impact of the conflict they

experienced earlier this year.

Latvia would like to reiterate its firm support for

the security and stability of Georgia, which must be

based on full respect for the principles of

independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as

recognized by international law. The security situation

in and around Georgia is still very fragile. We regret

that the Security Council failed to agree on the

continuation of the United Nations Observer Mission

in Georgia. Unfortunately, despite all the efforts by the

international community, the Organization for Security

and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was forced to close

its Mission in Georgia.

As a result, this year we lost two important

international instruments for promoting stability and

peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia. Latvia strongly

believes that the international community should

continue to look for a solution. We should work to

secure a full and effective United Nations and OSCE

presence in Georgia, including in Abkhazia and South

Ossetia. Meanwhile, it is ever more important to

strengthen the only remaining international mission,

namely, the European Union Monitoring Mission in

Georgia, which has convincingly proven its pivotal role

in stabilizing the situation on the ground. We would

also like to stress the importance of the resolution on

the status of internally displaced persons and refugees

from the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South

Ossetia. The resolution is an important show of

commitment to fundamental humanitarian principles.

Choosing leadership is the right and the

responsibility of the people. We recently witnessed the

post-electoral crisis in Iran. We are concerned about

the deteriorating human rights situation and the violent

crackdowns there. If the Iranian Government seeks

recognition as the representative of its people, it should

respect human rights. If the Iranian Government seeks

the respect of the international community, it should

comply with the relevant resolutions of the Security

Council. By doing so, Iran could become a genuine

contributor to peace and stability in the whole region.

Latvia has been steadfast in the global efforts to

combat the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction. We are sure that the 2010 Review

Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will be an

important milestone in that process. Latvia is

convinced that it will promote the aims of

non-proliferation, disarmament and the use of nuclear

energy for exclusively peaceful purposes.

This fall we will celebrate the sixtieth

anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions. The

character of armed conflict is constantly changing, and

new challenges, such as terrorism, arise. Still, the

Geneva Conventions remain the bedrock of

international humanitarian law. Unfortunately, the

political will to fully implement the Conventions

remains insufficient. Violations of the provisions of the

Conventions and the norms of human rights law still

occur.

Latvia therefore strongly supports the

International Criminal Court. It is a mechanism

designed to fight impunity and to promote compliance

with the norms of international law. Latvia commends

the work of the Court. We also call on all States to

fully cooperate with it.

Mr. Gomes (Guinea-Bissau), Vice-President, took

the Chair.

The concept of the responsibility to protect was

agreed upon at the 2005 World Summit. Latvia

supports that concept. It is important to work towards

its implementation. It would help us to create a world

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order where inactivity in the face of mass atrocities

becomes a thing of the past.

Three years ago, the General Assembly decided

to establish the Human Rights Council. The Council

has already achieved some results. The Universal

Periodic Review mechanism is one of its most notable

successes. However, we believe that that process can

be further improved to avoid abuse of its shortcomings

in methodology and practice. The Human Rights

Council will undergo a review in 2011. We believe that

the Council can become even more credible, as well as

an effective body for the promotion and protection of

human rights.

Latvia has a long-standing commitment and

experience with promoting human rights. We are ready

to share our experience in that area with the

international community. Latvia has therefore put

forward its candidacy for the Human Rights Council

for the year 2014.

Latvia has always supported the strengthening of

the United Nations. The reform of the Security

Council, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and

legitimacy of its work, is an important part of the

overall reform of the United Nations. The composition

of the Security Council must reflect the realities and

dynamics of today’s world. Latvia welcomes the

beginning of intergovernmental negotiations on

Security Council reform. We also emphasize the

importance of continued progress in that area.

We note with concern that, at a time of global

recession, the United Nations budget is increasing

considerably. It is important to prioritize activities and

to continue the reform of the United Nations. We

would also like to see more transparency and budgetary

discipline in the process of budget planning and

implementation.

Latvia is a candidate for next year’s elections to

the Economic and Social Council. We are willing to

share our experience in addressing global challenges,

such as sustainable development, poverty eradication,

the implementation of good governance and the rule of

law, fundamental freedoms and environmental stability.

Latvia is already building up its expertise on the

functional commissions and activities related to the

mandate of the Council. We are an active participant in

the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Commission

on Science and Technology for Development, the

Statistical Commission, and the Commission on

Sustainable Development.

The United Nations is the only truly universal

forum for dialogue and action. All States, big and

small, have the responsibility to contribute to the

fruitful work of the United Nations. Let me assure the

President that Latvia is ready to work closely with him

and all Member States to make the sixty-fourth session

of the General Assembly a successful one.