Sweden, 1996

The world of today is faced

with a paradox. While our global interdependence is

growing and threats to our societies require globally

coordinated efforts, countries look inwards to their own

regions. But regional cooperation should never be made

a pretext for ignoring the outside world. It should open

itself to the world. It should be a building block for truly

global solidarity.

We need a vision of a global neighbourhood, a

global ethic and a global citizenship based on equality,

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tolerance and solidarity. The globalization of our societies

is irreversible. We need to cooperate to deal with its

consequences.

We have the instrument: the United Nations. At 50,

the United Nations is the subject of criticism and lack of

confidence. The experience of political setbacks in Somalia,

Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia is not quickly forgotten.

As in Bosnia, alternatives to the United Nations are sought

to deal with pressing international issues.

But the tasks of the United Nations have not been

made easier by Member States’ refusing to give it adequate

resources. Many Members, including some major Powers,

still do not pay their contributions to the United Nations

fully or on time. It is a shame that the Secretary-General

has to devote much of his time to pleading with Member

States to fulfil their financial obligations.

Of course, the United Nations has its shortcomings. It

suffers from bureaucracy and resistance to change. There

are inefficiencies, but there are also success stories. We

must not forget how United Nations operations helped build

peaceful societies in Cambodia, El Salvador and

Mozambique, nor how United Nations humanitarian actions

have saved lives and alleviated suffering in Somalia,

Rwanda, Burundi, the former Yugoslavia and other crisis

areas.

For security in a broad sense, we need a global

Organization. We need the United Nations as a meeting

place. We need the United Nations as a guardian of

international norms and principles. We need the United

Nations to prevent conflicts and to find peaceful solutions

when violence erupts. We need the United Nations to cope

with global threats to human security. We need the United

Nations as a safeguard against environmental threats and in

favour of sustainable development. We need the United

Nations to promote democracy and human rights. We need

the United Nations as a focal point for global solidarity.

To realize this vision, we need a strong United

Nations. Present inefficiencies have to be dealt with

vigorously. Reform does not automatically equal down-

sizing. In some fields, we may even have to expand the

Organization. But resources should not be wasted.

Confidence in the Organization demands financial

discipline. A revitalized United Nations means a more

focused and more determined United Nations.

We need a United Nations that does not abandon its

position as the principal instrument for maintaining

international peace and security, a United Nations which

is capable of acting rapidly with adequate means and

resources. Today, I join with 15 other Heads of State and

Government in a statement in support of renewing

multilateralism. Without political leadership, the necessary

changes cannot be made.

My Government, the Swedish Government, sees the

following steps as immediately required. First, United

Nations Members must make a commitment to global

multilateral cooperation. Secondly, payment must be made

of assessed contributions to the United Nations in full,

unconditionally and on time. Thirdly, there must be a

commitment to strengthen and renew the United Nations,

including a time-frame for comprehensive reform.

Fourthly, a commitment to the United Nations as an

instrument for sustainable economic and social

development is necessary. Fifthly, we must adopt an

integrated approach to security in view of long-term

threats to our societies. Sixthly, there must be a

commitment to early action to prevent conflict and man-

made disasters. Finally, there is need for an agreement to

develop the capacity of regional organizations to act in

cooperation with the United Nations.

The Swedish Government is committed to a strong

and effective United Nations and we are ready to

contribute to this objective. Therefore, Sweden seeks a

seat on the Security Council for the 1997-1998 period.

Our candidature has been launched with the full support

of the other Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland

and Norway.

Members of the Security Council have a particular

responsibility for international peace and security. It is

essential that small and medium-size countries serve on

the Council as well. The principle of rotation of non-

permanent seats is important to us, for we have not

served on the Council for the past 20 years.

If elected to the Council, Sweden would continue to

pursue openness and transparency. The links between the

Council and the United Nations membership at large must

be strengthened.

Sweden would take independent positions, upholding

the principles of international law. The primacy of

international and humanitarian law is a pillar of our

foreign policy. Sweden would contribute to a more

efficient United Nations role in the new generation of

peace-keeping, including better coordination between the

civilian and military aspects of such operations. We

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would also work for clearer mandates for United Nations

operations.

The capacity of the United Nations to command and

control large-scale peace-keeping and humanitarian

operations should be secured. We need an Organization

capable of coordinating the various aspects of peace

operations, including political peacemaking, military peace-

keeping, long-term peace-building and humanitarian efforts.

In our national planning for participation in future

peace operations, my Government is taking steps to

integrate the training of military and civilian personnel in

order to facilitate coordination in the field. We invite other

countries to such training in Sweden.

Sweden believes that the sanctions instrument has to

be refined. It is an important instrument for helping to

preclude the use of armed force. But ways must be found

to avoid the suffering of innocent civilians and to alleviate

the consequences of sanctions for third parties. This is

essential for the credibility and efficiency of the sanctions

instrument.

The United Nations represents the moral authority of

the world community. It has a vital role in seeing to it that

war crimes do not go unpunished. The Tribunals for the

former Yugoslavia and Rwanda should be given the

necessary support. The message must be clear. Civilians

must be protected in all armed conflicts, whether internal or

international. It should never be possible to live out

criminal perversions, to murder, torture or rape with

impunity. A permanent international criminal court should

be established in the year to come.

The financial crisis and the non-payment of assessed

contributions to the United Nations must not be used as an

instrument to precipitate reforms, nor should they be an

excuse not to start urgent reforms. The possibility of using

alternative sources of financing needs to be explored

further. They could be used on a voluntary basis and serve

to finance special needs outside the regular United Nations

budget.

The financing of global development cooperation is a

critical issue that goes beyond the present financial crisis of

the United Nations. The willingness to pay is decreasing.

Development assistance is at its lowest level in decades.

Only four countries — Sweden among them — fulfil the

United Nations 0.7 per cent aid target. In our own case, we

maintain this commitment despite a very difficult financial

situation.

Negotiated replenishment of multilateral

development funds is not being honoured. The financing

of global cooperation is a long-term issue that requires a

long-term solution.

The globalization of our economies, our politics and

our daily lives calls for cooperation. This has been clearly

illustrated in the report of the Commission on Global

Governance. Industrialized and developing countries will

realize that we have common interests, not least in

meeting the threats to our common future, the

environment. Further efforts must also be made to resolve

the debt crisis for the poorest and most heavily indebted

countries.

We have a joint interest in open borders and free

trade, which create growth and wealth. A difficult

obstacle to such a development is the worldwide increase

in organized crime. In my own region around the Baltic

Sea, the Heads of Government have decided to elaborate

a common plan of action to combat cross-border crime.

I believe that this session of the General Assembly

should send a strong political signal that intensified global

efforts are also needed in this area. What is needed is

increased exchange of information, judicial cooperation

and closer cooperation in training, inter alia, through

Interpol.

Another global threat is the proliferation of arms,

both conventional arms and those designed for mass

destruction. For decades, Sweden has been in the

forefront in the struggle against nuclear arms. The entry

into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

is essential. It would be a historic step towards the

elimination of nuclear arms. I welcome the report of the

Canberra Commission. It is a timely and valuable

contribution to this endeavour.

Anti-personnel landmines are a threat to

development, to reconstruction and to human dignity in

many parts of the world. Mines do not discriminate

between an invading soldier and a child at play. They

totally ignore cease-fires and political settlements.

It is imperative that we move towards a global ban

on these killers. Stockpiles should be destroyed. Sweden,

for its part, will take such a unilateral step. All countries

must adhere to the stricter legal regime that has been

agreed for landmines, and much larger resources should

be directed to humanitarian mine clearance. My

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Government is prepared to make its substantial contribution

to this end.

Multilateral cooperation is indispensable for dealing

with the crucial issues of survival facing us on the

threshold of the next millennium. We have a common

responsibility to give to the next generation the tools for

such cooperation. True security is global.

Sweden contributes actively to cooperation and

security in our Baltic neighbourhood and in Europe. Our

firm support for peace and development in the Middle East,

in southern Africa, in Asia and in Central America is well

known. True to our traditions and our vision, we continue

to stand up for cooperation and security in our global

neighbourhood.