It is a privilege to address the General Assembly on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a Kingdom made up of four autonomous countries — the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Maarten — rooted in both Europe and the Caribbean.
In 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed by representatives of 51 countries. Today, 70 years later, there are three times as many people on the Earth and four times as many Member States, with all the complexities that that entails. And yet, as an international Organization, the United Nations stands proud. In those 70 years, the world has seen great upheavals and shifts in the balance of power. Technological advances have changed our daily lives faster and more dramatically than ever before, and yet, the United Nations endures. We have seen clashes of interests, bitter conflicts and human tragedies, which, indeed, persist today. As we speak, the lives of millions are still dominated by fear, oppression and want. And yet, the United Nations lives on as a legitimate platform for international dialogue where countries can always come together, no matter how great their differences.
The United Nations is more than simply a platform. It is an Organization whose activities help to shape and improve our world. Thanks in part to the United Nations, extreme poverty has been halved, child mortality has been halved, 2.3 billion people have gained access to drinking water, diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis have been beaten back, and peace operations in many areas have brought violent conflicts under control. That is all because of the
work of millions of courageous people in the Member States and the untiring efforts of the staff of the United Nations and its organs, both here in New York and all over the world. So I would like to say to the United Nations: congratulations! I thank it for 70 years of battling against cynicism and fatalism.
For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Nations is and will remain the primary global Organization for peace, justice and development. That is why the Kingdom is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2017-2018 term.
Of course, the world is far from perfect. It is still filled with terrible injustice and human suffering. But we have also made great progress. What would today’s world look like without the United Nations? There can be no doubt that we would be worse off. The Kingdom of the Netherlands feels a close bond with the fundamentals of the United Nations, as laid down in the Charter of the United Nations. We understand the value of diversity and dialogue. This goes hand in hand with the conviction that multilateral cooperation can help us move forward and make the world stronger.
We owe our freedom to other countries. Seventy years ago our allies made enormous sacrifices in liberating the Netherlands. They enabled us to rise again and become a prosperous Kingdom. We will never forget the importance of international solidarity. The world will always be able to count on the Netherlands as a partner for peace, justice and development.
Yet, just as we remain deeply committed, we also believe in being critical when necessary. It is good, on this seventieth anniversary, for the United Nations to look openly and honestly at the results of its efforts, to look at the goals that have not been achieved and at the long and winding path that lies ahead. Our Kingdom is gravely concerned about the lawlessness, terror and contempt for basic human rights that are gaining ground in some areas. Millions of desperate people have been displaced and forced to flee the violence. They are the innocent victims of intolerance and of despicable conduct on the part of tyrants they cannot constrain. Many refugees have been in a desperate situation for too long. The positive effects of years of work on sustainable development are at risk, and this affects us all. We cannot look the other way.
We are all deeply touched by the tragic images of families who have had to leave everything behind in their search for a safe haven. All the world’s nations
must show solidarity in the face of the refugee crisis. The Kingdom of the Netherlands has again increased its contribution to humanitarian assistance, making it one of the largest donors in the world. We call on other nations to follow suit and give additional support to the United Nations, so that it can provide food and shelter to all those who have been forced to flee and give them a chance to rebuild their lives.
It is crucial that we make our joint efforts on peace and security more efficient and effective. The review by the High-level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations is a helpful tool in that regard.
Since the United Nations was founded, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has participated in 63 United Nations or United Nations-mandated missions in more than 30 countries. Those missions have involved more than 125,000 Dutch military and civilian personnel. Earlier this year, I visited the Dutch men and women who are part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. The situation there clearly illustrates how complex the problems in conflict areas often are. You cannot build lasting peace by military means alone. A political solution has to be found. It is equally important to strengthen the institutions that safeguard respect for the rule of law and to remove the underlying causes of conflict.
The lack of decent prospects or equal opportunities drives many young people into the arms of ruthless terrorist organizations. Discrimination and exclusion are the root of much evil in the world. That is why we need a three-dimensional approach: a combination of defence, development and diplomacy, of which the Netherlands has many years of experience. For example, we have made it a top priority to stimulate job creation in Africa and to assist young African entrepreneurs, and we are increasing our support for programmes to promote stability in fragile States.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is proud to be home to the International Court of Justice, the only principal organ of the United Nations located outside New York. The Hague is the place where global peace, justice and security are defended by a range of international organizations, including the International Criminal Court and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
A key feature of a legal order is the absence of impunity. Violence must never be allowed to prevail. Lawlessness must never become the norm. Anyone
who strives for justice will find our Kingdom on their side. Injustice hurts like an open wound. Hundreds of families from 10 countries, including Malaysia, Australia and the Netherlands, still grieve every day for the loved ones they lost in the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 air disaster. They await the results of Security Council resolution 2166 (2014). That resolution is very clear: it demands that those responsible for this incident be held to account and that all States cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability. The Dutch Government will work tirelessly, together with all the countries and organizations concerned, until justice is done with regard to this tragedy.
Peace, justice and development are closely linked. They are a trinity, as tied to each other as the blades on a windmill. To achieve lasting progress, all three are essential. So our Kingdom welcomes the Sustainable Development Goals, which will focus the efforts of the international community over the next 15 years. And we will put our hearts and souls into helping ensure their success.
There is still not enough focus on the positive role that women can play. Even in the harshest and most hopeless circumstances, women often have the strength to go on and to find practical ways to improve the lives of their families and communities. Promoting equal rights and opportunities for women is actually sustainable development in action. Any organization that wants to remain relevant must adapt to new times and circumstances. It is especially important for institutions that stand for shared values and continuity to critically examine their own performance and to ask themselves: “Are our working methods still appropriate?” Without such self-reflection they risk the gradual erosion of their relevance and effectiveness.
For the United Nations and the Security Council this has, after 70 years, become an urgent issue. The Security Council needs to be able to act more boldly in the face of large-scale atrocities. Greater restraint in the use of vetoes would help. We warmly welcome France’s initiative in that regard. The Council’s legitimacy is also under pressure. If part of the global population feels insufficiently represented by it, the Security Council cannot properly fulfil its primary role as a global body for safeguarding peace and security and for resolving conflicts. Africa, in particular, is underrepresented, but the voices of other regions and countries are not being heard enough either. This needs to change.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands believes in the power of empathy and dialogue. It is not always the loudest voices that speak the deepest truths. In fact, it is often the small Member States that show us the way forward. One example is the longtime plea by small island States for a far more active global approach to climate change and marine pollution. They feel the urgency like no other. Fortunately — finally — more and more large countries are developing concrete action plans.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands knows how crucial this is. Three of our countries — Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Maarten — are small island States, and three other Caribbean islands are special municipalities of the Netherlands. With its centuries of water-management experience, the Netherlands is one of the best-protected deltas in the world, investing billions to help mitigate the effects of climate change. That is why we intend to make sure our voice is heard at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris later this year, and we will continue pressing for cleaner oceans.
Our guiding principle is simple — consider the interests of all countries, large and small. Forget might is right. We believe right is might. This also forms the basis of our candidacy for a seat on the Security Council for the 2017-2018 term. We are passionate about serving the entire international community at the United Nations level as a partner for peace, justice and development.
For my wife and me, this has a very personal significance. For seven years I had the honour of being the Chair of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. My wife remains his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. Two years ago, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the centennial celebrations of the Peace Palace in The Hague. He said, “Here in The Hague, you help sustain and expand the rule of law. You bring the rule of law to life.” We took those warm words not merely as a great compliment, but also as an inspirational challenge, a solemn task, which we aim to continue fulfilling, together with all Member States in The Hague, in New York and all over the world.


We meet this day at an important time for the United Nations, 70 years after its foundation. Australia’s representative to the San Francisco Conference in 1945 described the General Assembly as the place where the conscience of the peoples of the world should have its most potent expression. It is appropriate then, here in the General Assembly Hall, to reflect on what the United Nations has achieved and what it needs to achieve for the future.
The United Nations provides critical services each and every day in many parts of the world. Often this important work goes unnoticed or unappreciated by those not in direct receipt of that support. Australia recognizes the dedicated, often courageous work of the thousands of United Nations personnel in the field who protect vulnerable citizens, deliver vital humanitarian assistance, rebuild damaged societies and support development. The United Nations carries out its work in an increasingly hostile environment.
Today the world faces an unprecedented number of long-running and seemingly intractable conflicts, generating displacement on a massive scale and making humanitarian need more dire than at any time since the Second World War. Terrorism today is a global threat. The magnitude of the development challenge is immense. However, we must acknowledge the remarkable achievement that is the United Nations Charter. The values and aspirations articulated seven decades ago still guide us today.
Australia is proud that, as an active participant at the San Francisco Conference, we crafted a central element of the Charter, Article 56, known as the Australia Pledge. Under that Article, United Nations Members pledge to take action individually and jointly to promote higher standards of living; solutions to international economic, social, health and related problems; and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Australia took that pledge on signing the Charter in 1945. Today I reiterate that pledge.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), adopted unanimously last Friday by the General Assembly, is a manifestation of the
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Australia Pledge and a testament to the fundamental role of the Organization. Only the United Nations could have produced this remarkable result. The Sustainable Development Goals are necessarily ambitious. Let us consider just the first five: to end extreme poverty everywhere; to end hunger; to ensure quality education; to ensure healthy lives; and to achieve gender equality. Should we realize all 17 Goals, we will transform our world for the betterment of humankind.
We must ensure that the remarkable spirit of cooperation displayed during the negotiation process is maintained as we work to turn these ambitious goals into reality. The 2030 Agenda recognizes that economic growth, including through private-sector investment and trade, is central to sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda also recognizes that while official development assistance remains important, it is only one source of financing for development. The 2030 Agenda affirms that it is the quality of assistance that matters, and that true partnerships for development are essential, based on respect and cooperation. That is what Australia seeks to achieve with our friends and neighbours in the Pacific.
Climate change is a challenge for all nations and decisive action is required. We will succeed in reducing global emissions only if there is engagement by the entire United Nations membership. Australia has announced a strong, responsible and achievable post- 2020 contribution to international climate action. We are committed to ensuring the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris at the end of the year is the platform needed to secure a collective approach to the below 2° goal.
There is an inescapable truth. We cannot transform our world unless the place of women within it is transformed. The 2030 Agenda requires us to achieve nothing less than full gender equality. This is not just the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do. It is essential to achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth. Australia has established a $50 million gender equality fund to accelerate support for gender equality in our development programme delivered in our region, the Indian Ocean/Asia-Pacific.
We must step up the fight against the global scourge of violence against women and girls.
Last week the Australian Government announced a new domestic policy, a $100 million women’s safety package, improving front-line support services
and providing educational resources to help change community attitudes to violence and abuse. Similarly, our overseas aid programme helps countries in our region in efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls. The United Nations women, peace and security agenda has changed our collective thinking on the role of women in conflict. We now need to put it into practice. That is why Australia has worked with the United States to produce the first military commanders’ guide for implementing women, peace and security in the field.
A key element of the 2030 Agenda is that peaceful and inclusive societies are essential to achieving sustainable development. Human rights, good governance and open and inclusive institutions are crucial foundations for development. Human rights have been at the very centre of the United Nations over the past 70 years, from the United Nations Charter in 1945 to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
With the rise of terrorist groups like Daesh, the continuing depredations of the North Korean regime, and the persistence of forced labour and other contemporary forms of slavery, the need for the United Nations to prosecute a strong human rights agenda has never been more pressing or urgent. Australia is standing for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2018-2020 term. This is the first time that my country has sought election to that body. I believe that Australia would bring to the Human Rights Council the same principled and practical approach that distinguished our 2013-2014 Security Council term. Should we be elected, our focus would be on empowering women and girls, strengthening governance and democratic institutions, promoting freedom of expression and advancing human rights for all.
Australia would be at the forefront of efforts to hold to account those responsible for human rights abuses and to build more effective preventative and accountability measures. We would be unrelenting in our efforts to secure abolition of the death penalty. Our term on the Human Rights Council would reflect Australia’s inclusive, diverse society and build on the Australian Government’s strong domestic human rights agenda.
There are nations for which the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda, indeed the promises of the United Nations Charter, appear remote or unachievable. The scourge of war continues to tear apart families, communities, countries and entire regions. As a non-permanent
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member of the Security Council, we experienced first- hand the difficulties the Council faces in responding to the crises and conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Mali. Nowhere is the devastation greater than in Iraq and Syria. Daesh is wreaking unspeakable havoc and harm on individuals, families and communities and destroying the world’s cultural heritage in gross violation of international law and against the fundamental concepts of morality. It cannot be allowed to prevail.
Australia is participating in coalition military action to combat Daesh in Iraq and Syria. We are doing so within the framework of the Charter and in a manner consistent with international law. Defeating Daesh requires both military and political action. Reconciliation and inclusive governance in Iraq are the key to reducing Daesh’s appeal and support. We continue to advocate a political solution that can bring an end to the conflict in Syria and we support United Nations Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s efforts towards that end.
We do not believe any transition option should be rejected. All permutations of a political solution should be assessed with clear-eyed realism. Australia is committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms. We are responding to the challenges of violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters, taking on those who would exploit our openness and modern communications to commit violence and promote terror. The humanitarian consequences of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq are devastating. I commend neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, which continue to bear the brunt of the population of displaced persons. Australia has provided $230 million in humanitarian assistance since the start of the conflict.
The massive flows of displaced people across the Middle East and into Europe have stretched response capacities to a breaking point. In this environment, people smugglers will strive to prosper from their dangerous and criminal trade. Australia’s firm response to people smuggling, and continued cooperation with its regional partners, have saved the lives of thousands who would otherwise have succumbed to the false promises of people smugglers. It has also enabled us to give refuge to those most in need. Consistent with our record over decades of resettling permanently thousands of refugees, Australia was pleased to announce recently that we would resettle permanently an additional 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq — registered by
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — particularly those who are unlikely to have a home to which they might return. We also announced $44 million in funding to support 240,000 displaced persons on the borders.
The global humanitarian system is struggling to cope with the escalating demands. The World Humanitarian Summit in May next year must deliver a nimble humanitarian system which responds to different types of humanitarian crises in the most effective fashion. The only long-term solution to these man-made crises is a political one — to bring these conflicts to an end.
Australia’s recent experience as a Security Council member confirmed that the Council’s role is more essential than ever. The Security Council can perform its role only if it has the tools it needs. The role of peacekeeping is fundamental. Yesterday, I joined others in pledging renewed operational support for the United Nations peacekeeping system. Australian airlift was vital to the United Nations early response to the South Sudan crisis. We have now pledged to provide our C-17 Globemasters and C-130 Hercules aircraft to help United Nations peacekeepers respond to crises where and whenever we can in the future.
We recognize that the United Nations needs more tools for peacebuilding to help vulnerable States emerge from crises and prevent them from falling back into violence and disorder. Australia is looking forward to co-chairing with Angola the consultations on the peacebuilding architecture review later this year. We need to strengthen this crucial element of conflict prevention.
Another central lesson from Australia’s term on the Council was that accountability is crucial in preventing cycles of violence. The International Criminal Court has a critical role to play and requires our support. Australia remains determined to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 in July 2014. We owe nothing less to the families of those aboard that fateful flight. We will not let a Russian veto impede the efforts of countries grieving the loss of their citizens and demanding justice for the perpetrators of this atrocity.
All States must uphold their responsibility to protect civilians from the most serious international crimes. Security Council members have a particular responsibility to do so. In that context, we welcome
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proposals to restrain use of the veto where mass atrocity crimes are being committed. Australia’s term on the Security Council in 2013-2014 demonstrated that elected members can play an active and constructive role. I am therefore pleased to announce that Australia is nominating itself to serve again on the Council for the 2029-2030 term.
We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us. Equally we should not downplay the opportunities. We remain confident that working together we can realize the enduring promise of the Charter — for Australians, for our region, and for the international community. And now 70 years on, the General Assembly is indeed the place where the conscience of the peoples of the world has its most potent expression.


First of all, I should like to join previous speakers in congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventieth session. I am confident that your able leadership and diplomatic skills will steer our deliberations to a successful conclusion. I assure you of my delegation’s full support and cooperation.
I should also like to commend the outstanding work of your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly.
This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations. This historic occasion affords us the opportunity to reflect on and look back at the achievements of the world Organization. The United Nations was founded to safeguard international peace and security in order to save succeeding generations
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from the scourge of war. The Organization deserves the highest credit for its achievement in preventing the outbreak of another world war of the kind that has plagued us twice in the past. On the other hand, it is confronted with regional conflicts, a rising tide of non-traditional threats and violent extremism. We need to do more to address these challenges, collectively.
There are also achievements in bringing a better life to all. Lifting millions out of poverty, sending millions more children to school, combating deadly diseases, and promoting gender equality and human rights are remarkable milestones in the United Nations journey. The unanimous adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) last week has added to the long list of its achievements.
Still, daunting challenges remain. The colonial legacy with its inherited divisions influences today’s conflicts across the world, depriving many of economic and social development. The rising threats of terrorism and acts of violent extremism need to be addressed decisively. Climate change and environmental degradation are undermining the development and lives of the poor. Inequalities are widening, pushing the poor further behind. The time is now opportune to do soul-searching on the future of the Organization and to strengthen our collective resolve to address the challenges of our time, particularly to advance its priorities, capacity and reform.
Today’s new and emerging challenges are increasingly calling the effectiveness and efficiency of the Organization into question. While the cardinal principles of the Charter of the United Nations remain valid today, the world Organization, which was founded seven decades ago, needs to be reformed in conformity with today’s changing realities and the drastic growth in membership. We believe that the Security Council also has to be reformed to make it more representative, efficient and transparent and to strengthen its capacity to better discharge its responsibilities to maintain international peace and security, as entrusted by the Charter.
As part of the United Nations reform, we set up the Human Rights Council in 2006 to redress the shortcomings of its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights. Yet, human rights issues are increasingly politicized and exploited. The principles of universality, objectivity and non-selectivity are at stake. Myanmar firmly believes that the universal periodic review is the
forum where promotion and protection of human rights can best be addressed with objectivity and impartiality on an equal footing.
The most significant milestone contribution Myanmar has made to the United Nations was providing the Organization with a Secretary-General. He served the Organization from 1961 to 1971 at a difficult time of ideological contention, mistrust and security tensions among nations. He played an important role in enhancing security and expanding the Organization’s work on economic and social development in poor countries. The United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme were also initiated. U Thant believed that the United Nations needed to meet the needs and hopes of people everywhere. That vision is more relevant than ever to the work of the Organization and should guide us beyond the United Nations at 70.
During the tenure of the present Government, Myanmar has moved to raise its profile in the field of disarmament. We started with the signing of the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2013. That was followed by Myanmar’s ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction in December 2014 and of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.
These actions demonstrate Myanmar’s dedicated commitment to the cause of disarmament. Every year Myanmar introduces a resolution on nuclear disarmament that is adopted with the support of a great majority of Member States. The resolution reflects our firm conviction that our world will be more secure and safer without nuclear weapons. As the main sponsor of the resolution, once again we invite all Member States to continue to support the resolution this year.
Peacekeeping has been one of the most effective tools available to the United Nations to assist countries struggling on their difficult path from conflict to peace. Today, the nature of conflicts is changing and becomes increasingly complex. We therefore welcome the Secretary-General’s timely efforts reviewing United Nations peace operations. At the same time, it is of paramount importance not to weaken the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter as well as the
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cardinal principles of traditional peacekeeping of the United Nations.
Fifteen years ago, we gathered here and committed ourselves to fight against poverty. We set ambitious Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and targets. While we have lifted more than 1 billion people out of extreme poverty, some 800 million people are still excessively poor. Myanmar has made notable progress in poverty and hunger reduction, eliminating gender disparity in basic education, reducing the child mortality rate, improving maternal health and advancing a global partnership for development. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development this year will take over the unfinished business of the MDGs. Political commitment, enhanced partnership, the strengthening of capacity and the provision of adequate means of implementation will be keys to success in realizing ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Unilateral economic sanctions imposed on developing countries have a negative impact on their efforts on behalf of their people. They will also hinder the realization of the SDGs. We therefore call for the early lifting of such measures.
The world is experiencing shifting patterns of rainfall and snowfall, rising temperatures and heavy rainstorms. While we envisage a sustainable and resilient planet, scientific agencies agree that human activities are contributing to climate change. This is the time to translate commitments into action and not to argue. It is crucial that the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference reach a meaningful and universal climate change agreement keeping global warming below 2°C. It must also include obligations to provide the least developed countries with adequate and additional financial and technological resources to help address the impacts of climate change.
Migration definitely is not a new phenomenon. Myanmar shares the concerns expressed by many in this Hall about the migratiants in Europe and Asia. Saving lives on the journey, better legal migration policies, creating better opportunities at home and the suppression of people smuggling and trafficking networks are essential to addressing illegal migration everywhere. We strongly believe that economic migration and human trafficking must be urgently addressed in a comprehensive manner.
Let me turn to the state of affairs in my home country, Myanmar. Democratic reforms started in 2011.
The Government is now consolidating firm foundations for democracy. The reforms have widened the democratic space, advanced economic performance and narrowed differences with the non-State armed groups. A new political culture of dialogue has taken root as Myanmar opened its doors to different political forces since the early days of the reforms. Amnesties were granted on several occasions allowing former prisoners to take part in nation-building endeavours. Activists, media people, entrepreneurs and academicians living abroad have returned home. They are working hand in hand with the Government for the common goal of a peaceful and prosperous Myanmar. Unavoidably, there are still challenges typical of a young democracy, but we believe they are not insurmountable.
Economic sector reform has proven successful. Myanmar maintains an average growth rate of 8 per cent gross domestic product in a four-year time frame. Myanmar is aiming at graduating from the least developed countries (LDCs) group at an early date. That is feasible if we can maintain this average annual growth rate over the coming years. The framework for economic and social reforms launched in 2013 for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction is a solid platform for our LDC graduation ambition. One International Monetary Fund evaluation is that economic prospects of Myanmar remain strong.
Myanmar is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country where freedom of religion is guaranteed in its State Constitution. The houses of worship of different faiths stand side by side across the country where different communities share the same neighbourhood. The situation in Rakhine state has changed. The Government has managed not only to prevent any new violence but has also started to promote a culture of peace through interfaith dialogue and talks among communities and their leaders. Peace and stability has been restored.
As I speak, more than 20 different aid organizations are providing humanitarian and other assistance in Rakhine state. We thank the regional and international partners for their kind assistance to humanitarian, resettlement, reintegration and development needs. The Interfaith Friendship Group in Myanmar has a nationwide set-up and is composed of representatives of all faiths. The Group holds monthly meetings and conveys messages of peace and harmony to the public. They also make religious site visits and provide assistance to the needy as necessary. Various civil
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society organizations are also playing their part in bridging different communities.
Peace is a prerequisite for national reconciliation and a cornerstone for building a new democratic society in Myanmar. Democracy will not flourish in the absence of peace. Without peace, economic development will not be sustained. In this strong conviction, President Thein Sein extended an olive branch to armed groups shortly after taking office with the aim of building sustainable and lasting peace in Myanmar.
Negotiations have been going on to determine the timing and modality for the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The Government, for its part, is fully prepared and patiently waiting for signature. We are hoping to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement in the very near future. We will then continue discussions over the framework for a political dialogue. We appreciate the interest in and support of the international community for our peace process.
The promotion and protection of human rights have always been high on our agenda. Recent reforms in Myanmar have contributed to our people’s ability to better enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, first established in 2011, was reconstituted in line with the Paris Principles following the enactment of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Law in 2014.
Widening the space for people to express their views and opinions has been one of the most visible developments in Myanmar. Greater media freedom has been granted throughout the country by abolishing press censorship and permitting the publication of daily newspapers and weekly journals. Myanmar has also made significant progress in expanding the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
Our signing of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in July 2015 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict on 28 September was clear testimony to rising human rights standards in Myanmar.
Myanmar suffered a devastating natural disaster in late July and August in the wake of Cyclone Komen. The damage inflicted by floods and landslides from torrential rains this year is more intense and widespread than that of cyclone Nargis seven years ago.
We appreciate the kind assistance given to the affected people by friendly countries near and far, the United Nations and the international community.
This year, 2015, is vital for Myanmar as we will hold general elections on 8 November. The forthcoming elections will be transparent, free and fair. As such, the Government is working together with local stakeholders and international partners.
Over the past four and a half years, we have been able to enhance peace, stability and the rule of law and socioeconomic development in the country. Some may not be content with the pace of our reform process. However, it is undeniable that we have been able to create better political and socio-economic conditions, foster national reconciliation through a culture of dialogue, and expand space for civil societies in nation-building.
In closing, it is important to highlight that Myanmar’s democratic reform process is gaining momentum and moving in the right direction. The international community should continue its support to Myanmar in an objective and constructive manner. We shall remain fully committed and relentless in our efforts for peace, democracy and inclusive socio- economic development for the people of Myanmar.


Before I begin, Sir, allow me to express my warmest congratulations to my friend John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, for his excellent statement.
I am pleased to address the Assembly as we embark upon a new phase in our long search for peace, security, development and shared prosperity. At the outset, allow me to express my warm congratulations to Mr. Mogens Lykketoft on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventieth session. I would also like to reiterate our full appreciation for the positive efforts that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has undertaken since assuming his post.
Ever since its founding, our Organization has fully engaged with States, regional organizations and citizens to promote peace and security and to progressively raise standards of living. I therefore salute the long path we have travelled together.
Since becoming a Member of the Organization, on 20 September 1960, my country has made the values and priorities at the heart of the United Nations its own. Togo has striven with great determination to contribute to the triumph of the noble ideals of our Organization. In return, Togo has also received a great deal from the family of the United Nations. The most recent example of that fruitful cooperation goes back to the presidential election of 25 April. We will not forget that, throughout the electoral process, Togo benefited from the multidimensional support and attentive interest of its friends and partners, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations
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Office for West Africa. That solidarity was a source of encouragement to us and provided added impetus for us to make the extra effort that the Togolese people expected of us in order to succeed in the holding of the election. I would like to take this opportunity to express the deep gratitude of the Togolese people for that support.
Today, the Togolese people intend to build fully on that success, thanks in particular to our political reforms, which seek to further strengthen democracy and our ability to work together in the pursuit of progress. In that regard, fully aware of the stakes involved in ensuring peace and security in a just and fair society, Togo plans to make economic and social inclusion the priority in its strategy of national unity. The priority of priorities for Togo is to advance in consolidating the well-being of all its citizens, and thereby be able to play a more active role in the realization of our new post- 2015 development agenda.
Our national priorities for the coming years essentially dovetail with our new commitments under the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its SDGs (resolution 70/1) requires us to do a much better job than we were able to do in the past with the Millennium Development Goals. Even if we did not succeed in achieving all of those Goals within the agreed timetable, today we at least have the benefit of the experience, mistakes and successes of the past, which represent a huge capital on which to draw in order to better address the challenges before us.
At a time when we are deliberating the future of international cooperation, I think that it is crucial for us not to forget the high price that we have just paid in tackling the Ebola virus. Since I was supervising the fight against that disease in the Economic Community of West African States — the epicentre of the outbreaks of that virus — I would like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the States, regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners and non-governmental organizations that mobilized significant resources and assisted the countries most affected in various ways to stem the epidemic. I would also like to salute the heroism of the health-care personnel of various nationalities and communities who never abdicated their responsibilities, even when their lives were in danger. They saved lives and demonstrated our capacity to respond to extreme situations.
Finally, I would to express my sincere condolences for all of those who gave their lives in attempting to save the lives of others. Ebola has claimed lives, destroyed communities and weakened economies. It is responsible for losses of approximately $2 billion in gross domestic product in the three countries affected. Today, Ebola has been weakened but has not been completely conquered. We must all remain vigilant, not only to eradicate the residual hotbeds of that disease but also to rebuild systems that are more resilient to the vulnerabilities and shocks to which we remain exposed. Such crises must not, however, prevent us from staying the course or from keeping our promises to achieve economic growth and social progress. I urge all of our partners to remain active and committed, including those in countries that have so far been spared.
While we can be pleased with the fact that economic growth in Africa has been among the highest in the world in recent years, we must nevertheless note that, at the current pace, Africa will not be able to provide a massive number of jobs for its young people, nor to significantly reduce poverty. The need for accelerated, inclusive economic growth requires structured actions and financing that go far beyond our traditional, financial architecture. For that reason, Togo hopes that, following the Addis Ababa Conference on Financing for Development, the community of donors will spare no effort to assist African countries, more constructively and with fewer restrictions, in their quest to diversify sources of financing and to expand their domestic budgetary space.
In the same vein, at a time when we are seeking more appropriate mechanisms for financing development in Africa, it would be regrettable if cultural values that form the bedrock of African societies were sacrificed. That could jeopardize the results that have already been achieved. In that regard, pressure should no longer be brought to bear on our States to force them to adopt programmes and initiatives that would lead to cultural shocks. As the bishops of Africa said in their common declaration in June, we are concerned by the fact that aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals that are linked to sexual and reproductive health could be made the conditionalities for the granting of resources, as the endorsement of such issues continues to be highly controversial in African societies.
The long and rich experience of the United Nations teaches us that peace and security are at the same time preconditions and elements of development.
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That dual requirement must be fully taken into account in the strategies that we will have to develop to effectively implement the SDGs. Togo, whose economy is largely dependent upon the West African hinterland, knows the true value of security in the African subregion. Combating the terrorist group Boko Haram and all forms of extremism and racism must continue relentlessly, with the help of the international community and in line with the values promoted by the United Nations. The shifts in power in that regard that we have been seeing throughout Africa in recent years do not correspond to any of the fundamental values of our continent. Togo expects to capitalize on what has been achieved through the reform of its defence and security system in order to better tackle new challenges and threats. We can never stress enough how crucial it is to align our policies in the areas of security, the defence of human rights and environmental protection. The environmental dimension of crises and conflicts, the impact of climate change in exacerbating poverty and the repeated threats to human rights during times of war are realities that we cannot conceal if we want to preserve stability in our States over the long term. That is why the Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in December will be the first test of whether or not the sustainable commitments we have just made are sound.
Given the importance of what is at stake, it falls to us to adopt a binding international agreement at that Conference that will improve the lives of millions of people throughout the world by taking the necessary measures to keep climate change below the threshold of a 2°C rise in temperature. In Togo, unfortunately, we are already experiencing the effects of climate change every day, including coastal erosion, which amounts to a 10 to 12 metres annual advance of the sea, threatening our coastal populations. There are therefore immediate risks for the survival of those populations that require more urgent responses and significant investments. It is therefore crucial that future international financing aimed at combating the effects of climate change, and specifically financing that will make its way into the Green Fund, not come through a reduction in traditional official development assistance.
I would like to take this opportunity to recall that the economic, security and environmental challenges connected with the seas and oceans will be addressed during the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in
Africa, which Togo will have the privilege of hosting next year. At that Summit, we hope to be able to adopt effective measures and make decisions that will enable us to work together so that the oceans and seas remain a major asset for the development of Africa.
After 70 years of peacekeeping operations, we must acknowledge that such operations are no longer sufficient to ensure the effectiveness of our actions when faced with the changing nature of crises and conflicts. It is for that reason that we must constantly innovate in order to adapt our responses to the current security challenges. In that regard, my country, which has always participated in peacekeeping missions, welcomes the report (A/70/95) of the High-level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, which was established by the Secretary-General to assess peacekeeping operations. Its recommendations should receive our full attention. My country also welcomes the holding, two days ago, of the summit meeting on peacekeeping operations, organized by a group of States at the initiative of the United States of America. That meeting sought to make more resources available for peacekeeping operations.
The magnitude of the challenges we are facing today requires that we constantly renew our commitment to the original purposes of the United Nations. It is our duty to preserve, in times of war and in times of peace, human dignity and to build a world based on the promotion and protection of human rights.
In that regard, I would like to pay well-deserved tribute to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which recently closed its office in Togo after having helped the Government, national institutions and civil society strengthen their capacities in the area of the protection and promotion of human rights. The eight years of cooperation that have just come to an end enabled Togo to make significant progress in the area of human rights. We intend to relentlessly pursue our efforts in that area, because we are firmly convinced that a society in which the rights of the individual are protected and guaranteed has all the cards it needs to achieve its promises of development and prosperity. It is my strong desire that the multifaceted cooperation that has mobilized us in the great United Nations family can continue to be strengthened in all the areas in which it can enable human beings to progress more easily in solidarity and in sharing.
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With that, I wish a happy birthday to the United Nations, our common Organization, and renew my wishes for success in its future actions. Above all, I express the hope that the years to come can give us an opportunity to preserve and strengthen our collective commitment to the ideals of peace, security and sustainable development.


I congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session and assure you of Uganda’s support. We are confident that you will lead the Assembly effectively and successfully. I would also like to express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Sam Kutesa for his leadership of the Assembly at its sixty- ninth session. I also pay tribute to the Secretary- General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his personal dedication and commitment to the work of the United Nations.
The theme for this session, “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security and human rights”, is a very pertinent one. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 22, verses 37-38, the Bile tell us to “Love God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbour as you
love yourself”. Yesterday, while chairing the United Nations Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I quoted that portion of the Bible. Given the fact that the United Nations has been in existence for the past 70 years, one would have imagined that those fundamental rules of Christianity, which are also found in other religions, would have been clear to every member of the human family. Yet, unfortunately, that has not been the case.
Until recently, the human race has been divided between a small group of affluent and prosperous societies on the one hand and a large number of underdeveloped societies on the other. The underdeveloped societies have been in that condition partly because of endogenous factors and also partly because of exogenous factors. We do not have the time to lay out those two sets of factors that were responsible for that dichotomy in the human race between the developed and underdeveloped societies on the same planet in the same age.
Yet, as if by a miracle, during the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly, the Member States finally agreed on the all-important SDGs — 17 of them. The convergence of analysis and solutions, of diagnosis and prescription, is a landmark in the history of humankind. It means that the international community now agrees with us in Uganda, we who have for long identified 10 strategic bottlenecks that have held Africa back from undergoing the necessary transformation to become first-world societies.
Unlike past prescriptions that entailed mainly philanthropy and aid and spoke of social goals without talking of economic goals, and so forth, the SDGs that we adopted the other day (see resolution 70/1) talk about industrialization and added value, trade, investments and human-resource development in addition to the previously proposed remedies. Above all, the SDGs proclaim in bold letters the concept of universal prosperity for all societies, for the first time in human history. While it is amazing that such enlightened self- interest has taken so long to dawn on all of us, the old saying that “better late than never” appropriately comes to mind in this case.
This convergence of diagnosis and prescription regarding global issues will, above all, assist in prioritizing the use of scarce resources, especially those under the control of international agencies. The tug-of-war as to what is more important, electricity or education, now comes to an end. It is clear that both, and more, are the sine qua non of socioeconomic transformation. Moreover, the use of the word “transformation” in the SDGs is most revealing. That is what we have been urging our partners to adopt instead of vague phrases like “sustainable development”.
Sustainable development without the resultant transformation is like talking of quantitative growth without qualitative change. We have been pointing out that that is not what happens in nature. The healthy quantitative expansion of, for instance, a foetus in the womb of the mother should always result, after a due period of time, into the foetus metamorphosing into a baby who now breathes through the nose and feeds through the mouth instead of relying on the umbilical cord.
Similarly, societies must grow not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. African societies, for instance, must grow from the pre-capitalist modes of production and from being producers of raw materials to middle-class and skilled working-class societies. I salute our own Honourable Sam Kutesa, who played a leading role in that historic effort at the level of the United Nations.
On the issue of global peace, our experience in Uganda has been to go back to the Bible, which teaches that whatever a man sows, that is what he reaps. If you sow the pseudo-ideology of sectarianism, bad governance, corruption, flunkeyism, and so forth, you will harvest insecurity and the stunted growth of the
State pillars, including the armed forces. Uganda is a country that has had a lot of problems, including losing 800,000 people between 1966 and 1986, who were killed extrajudicially by the various regimes.
We have never, however, appealed for external help in dealing with the security problems of our country. We have always emphasized building our own capacity at the earliest opportunity. That has served us well. Uganda today has capable security forces that have ushered in peace throughout the whole country, for the first time in the past 500 years.
Our advice to the United Nations system is therefore that, while it may be unavoidable to rely on external armies in dealing with particularly ugly situations, one should be wary of groups that seek external sponsorship instead of relying on their own internal energies and groups that seek to be puppets of external actors. Some very limited external solidarity may be necessary when oppressed people are fighting for survival and emancipation, if you are dealing with authentic patriotic groups.
However, the United Nations system will not add any value if it is lured into situations where it is supporting puppets who have no legitimacy in the various respective situations or who are pursuing one pseudo-ideology or another. In that case the United Nations becomes part of the problem, not part of the solution.


The seventieth anniversary of the United Nations is a good opportunity to reflect on the state of the Organization. For most of us, the United Nations has been one of the key international realities of our lives. It has been at the heart of what has shaped us in the significant developments of the post-Second World War era. But as we all know, it is not perfect. A lot can be said about the shortcomings of the United Nations. They are many and some are serious. But there are things this Organization can do that no other international body can. And it remains the key reference point for States when there is a problem. That is why New Zealand fought so hard for its current seat on the Security Council. We sought election because the Council is the primary body for the maintenance of international peace and security.
New Zealand is a small country at the bottom of the world. Despite being far from many of the world’s trouble spots, we are not immune to their consequences. This time last year, I pressed the case for New Zealand’s election to the Security Council. I would like to thank Member States for their faith in us. In the past nine months we have striven to repay them. Much of the debate in this Hall this week has been about where the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, has not performed. The conflicts and human suffering in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and a long list of other countries show how far we are from achieving the aspirations of our founders and of today’s Members. So, too, does the lack of progress in bringing peace to the Middle East.
Since we have been on the Council, we have found it as hard as many of those here warned. The Council’s agenda is lengthy and contentious. The dynamics within it are difficult. When Council members work together, as they did over the recent agreement on Iran’s nuclear capability, they can still deliver on the Council’s role as it is set out in the Charter of the United Nations. The Iran deal was a notable bright spot this year. Although it was negotiated in Vienna, only the Council had the power to implement it. New Zealand is proud that this occurred during our presidency of the Council in July. Now, the deal has to be implemented and its example followed. That is because this important agreement must become the basis for something wider — a fundamental resetting of relationships and a foundation for the resolution of other regional conflicts.
Nowhere is the resetting of relationships needed more than in Syria. Syria has been torn apart by internal divisions and a leader prepared to wage war on his own people to cling to power. External actors, from within the region and beyond, have tried to tilt the balance in pursuit of their own interests. And as the country descended into lawlessness, the evil nightmare that is the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which first took hold in Syria, spread death and terror in the region and beyond. ISIL’s warped ideology and unprecedented use of social media to export its twisted message is a threat to all of us, even a country as distant as New Zealand.
That is why New Zealand has joined the international coalition against ISIL. We are doing what we can to help the victims of the Syrian conflict and combat the scourge of ISIL. New Zealand’s armed forces are helping the Government of Iraq to train its soldiers to
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defend its people. In response to the humanitarian crisis we are helping to fund programmes in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to assist their efforts to support thousands of displaced refugees. Like many other countries, we are implementing an emergency Syrian refugee resettlement programme.
None of that gets to the root of the problems in Syria. All Council members carry responsibility for ending the misery in Syria and beyond. The consequences of inaction are not theoretical. The human toll is real — a 3-year-old boy dead, washed up on a Turkish beach; hundreds of thousands killed and millions forced to flee their homes. We cannot ignore the huddled travellers in the railway stations of Europe or the reality of refugees scratching out a meagre existence in camps and makeshift homes in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. More than 160 leaders have shown up in New York this week to mark the enduring importance of the United Nations over the past 70 years. Yet we do so against the backdrop of the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.
Every one of us sees the harrowing images daily. At the same time we see the consequences of the Security Council’s failure to act over the past four years. It is time for the Council to step up. It is time for it to stop talking about what is right and do what is right. It is time for the Council to do the job for which it was created. It is time for its members to set aside their vested interests and historical alliances in order to stop the violence and end the suffering. It is time for the Council to do its duty by those who have lost their lives and loved ones and the millions who have been displaced. We cannot afford to let the Council go from an institution with failures to a failed institution.
There must be a political solution to the conflict in Syria. And it must come soon. It should address all issues and involve all relevant actors, from within the region and beyond. The question is not Al-Assad or ISIL. Both need to be dealt with. A workable political solution will not be a perfect one. Indeed, it is a classic case of the perfect being the enemy of the good. It will require international cooperation and compromise, on all sides.
The Council also needs to engage in making progress on the Middle East peace process. Since being elected to the Council, New Zealand has made clear its view that the status quo is unsustainable. It puts at risk the achievement of the two-State solution that we all know is the best hope for a lasting peace. That is a
matter of urgency and another critical issue on which the Security Council should lead. We are told that the conditions are not right on the ground and that the parties are not ready, but we should not let conditions on the ground dictate our actions, if our actions can help bring a solution.
We stood for the Council because we believe small States have a positive contribution to make, and we wanted to provide a voice for those who go unheard too often. It was for that latter reason that we arranged the first open debate on the peace and security challenges of small island developing States during our presidency in July (see S/PV.7499). We were heartened by the level of participation of both those States and the broader membership.
The challenge for a small elected member to have its voice heard and its views taken into account is considerable. Part of the problem is structural. That the five permanent members of the Council have the right of veto creates an extraordinary power imbalance. That imbalance is exacerbated by their practices of prenegotiating outcomes before engaging with the 10 elected members and of taking no action when one of the five does not agree. That experience has reaffirmed to us that New Zealand was right to oppose the right of veto when the Charter of the United Nations was being drafted.
It is still our view that the right of veto is a constraint on the effectiveness of the Council and realizing the aspirations of the States Members of the United Nations. For that reason, New Zealand supports the two proposals being put forward this year — by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group of countries and by France and Mexico — to limit the use of the veto in mass atrocity situations. The fact that two permanent members are supportive represents progress, but part of the problem is also behavioural. The permanent members have become used to exercising power and are protective of their privileged position. They presume to control the Council’s agenda and to determine its processes. Despite that, we are doing what we can to ensure that the elected members have the information and the opportunity to contribute effectively to Council decision-making. And, in turn, that it makes effective decisions.
We want to contribute to a Council that is genuinely focused on finding practical solutions to political problems and not on preserving the status quo. We are well aware that the conflicts on the Council’s agenda
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are complex and not easily solved, but we are realistic in our expectations of what can be achieved. New Zealand believes that the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security has a responsibility to find solutions to the world’s most pressing crises.
Only the United Nations and its agencies have the capacity to focus world attention across a range of issues. That was demonstrated last week with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. We sincerely hope that the Conference of the Parties will be similarly successful in Paris in December, with the adoption of a meaningful agreement on climate change.
Healthy and productive oceans are a key requirement for a sustainable future. I was pleased to announce earlier this week the creation of a marine sanctuary around New Zealand’s Kermadec Islands. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will comprise 620,000 square kilometres of ocean in one of the most pristine and special environments on Earth. The Sanctuary will be one of the world’s largest and most significant fully protected marine areas. It will cover an area twice the size of our land mass and better protect the habitats of a huge array of sea creatures.
New Zealand is committed to managing our oceans responsibly, and we are working with our Pacific neighbours to do the same. We have committed $1 billion in development assistance to the Pacific, focused on, among other things, helping support sustainable fisheries management. Our aid is focused on our region and in areas where we know we can get real results for real people, improving livelihoods and creating opportunities. Many Governments around the world are doing the same, and we are proud to play our part.
As I prepare to leave New York, I do so proud of the contribution that New Zealand has made to the sustainable development of our oceans. I leave proud of the contribution New Zealand is making on the Security Council and proud of the values and principles that underpin the country I lead. I also leave dispirited by the Security Council’s failure to help not only the people of Syria, but those in so many other countries. The collective effort of the Security Council, supported by the broader membership, could make a real difference.
I think all of us who have been here over the past week know that collective action must start somewhere. It should start at the United Nations.


I should like to express to the President the warm salutations of the people of Egypt. At the outset, I wish to congratulate him, and his friendly country, Denmark, on his assumption of the presidency at the current session of the General Assembly. I express my appreciation to his predecessor, the Foreign Minister of our brotherly country Uganda, for his exceptional efforts during his presidency at the previous session.
I should also like to commend the constructive role played by the Secretary-General and his ceaseless efforts to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, which has served as the constitutional bedrock and framework of reference for international relations for 70 years.
A few weeks ago, Egypt and the world witnessed the inauguration of the new Suez Canal, an achievement that will have a major impact in a number of economic fields, including transportation, trade and services. It is also a statement of Egypt’s capability and the determination of its people to work diligently to overcome challenges and obstacles. I do not intend to dwell on the particulars today, with which I am sure members are familiar. What I wish to highlight is the significance of what we in Egypt have achieved. The new Canal is not only Egypt’s gift to the world, it represents hope and the ability to transform that hope into tangible reality, with the promise of a new direction, through hard work.
Members may agree with me that hope, that most important attribute, has provided the motive force that has consistently driven individuals and peoples to search for a better tomorrow. When hope is coupled with hard work and commitment, it becomes a beacon of light
that can dispel the darkness of despair, a darkness that today lingers over the Middle East. Hope and hard work are the example that Egypt offers to its neighbours in Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean by way of a helping hand in overcoming the challenges of the present and illuminating the path towards the future.
It is our belief in Egypt that the Middle East and the world at large are living through perilous times and are in dire need of a model that offers new prospects for the younger generations, providing them with opportunities for a brighter future. They must be shown that with diligent work they can participate in crafting this future.
It is against this background that I announce Egypt’s intention to launch, in conjunction with the United Nations and its Member States and with the broad participation of the young people of all nations, an initiative called Hope and Action for a New Direction, or HAND according to the English acronym. This is the hand that Egypt extends as part of its contribution to defeating the extremists and the ideas they seek to spread. The initiative will employ proactive measures rather than relying on resistance alone. This is in contrast to the counter-terrorism efforts so far, which have consisted solely of defensive reactions aimed at preserving the status quo. In parallel with those efforts, we must seek ways of keeping our young people safe from extremists and false ideas and of channelling their productive energies and capabilities into building the future that will soon be their own.
God has bestowed on humankind the gift of the mind, thereby enabling us to find Him. The fact that we can use this mind to make choices is the ultimate proof that our differences and diversities are a product of divine will, which does not accept that human beings should be devoid of purpose. Before that simple, palpable truth, all the arguments made by extremists of all religions and creeds fall apart, particularly arguments made by those who claim to have a monopoly over interpreting Islam. They forget that what they preach is nothing more than their own prejudiced interpretation of religion, which negates the truth of Islam’s tolerance, justice and mercy. Their rejection of the right of others to differ is a rejection of the Creator’s will. In reality, their goals are worldly and insidious, and they seek to recruit and indoctrinate followers and isolate them from any opportunity to acquire a genuine understanding of religion.
But more than 1.5 billion Muslims have refused to subscribe to the views of this small minority, which claims to speak on their behalf and which seeks through violence and extremism to marginalize and silence all those who oppose their designs. The whole world should realize this. I feel the distress of every Muslim who suffers from discrimination and prejudice solely because of belonging to this great religion. Such discrimination is doubtless viewed by the forces of extremism as an unprecedented triumph, as one of their primary goals is to create the widest possible gulf between Muslims and the rest of the world.
Allow me then to pose this question: How many Muslims must fall victim to the abominations of terrorism and extremism before the world recognizes that we all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, are at war with the same enemy? That we face the same threat? How much blood must be spilled in countries exposed to terrorism before the international community awakens to the reality of this scourge, which Egypt is now confronting as a front-line Islamic country? When will the international community acknowledge that there is no alternative to solidarity between all peoples to defeat this evil, wherever it exists?
We all witnessed the downward spiral of Libya when the forces of extremism made their presence known through actions that contradicted the principles of Islam and humanity. The slaughter of Egyptians on the coast of Libya was the result of complacency in confronting the expansion of extremists in defiance of the will of the Libyan people, tolerating their exclusivist tendencies and allowing them to hold hostage the destiny of Libya and its people.
Egypt’s deep concern for Libya’s future, security and stability were the main driving force behind our support for United Nations efforts to reach a peaceful settlement. This support played a significant role in achieving the Libyan political agreement, the Skhirat Agreement, which should be considered a milestone. From this point onwards, the international community should consolidate its efforts and strengthen its support for the parties to the Agreement with a view to rebuilding the Libyan State, empowering it effectively to combat terrorism and enhancing its capacity to defeat the terrorists before they can establish a base from which to target Libya’s neighbours and extend their influence. In this context I should like to emphasize the importance of continuing to foster an environment that is conducive to increased participation among Libyans who believe
in a modern State, in parallel with an unflagging effort to eradicate terrorism.
In Syria, too, we have all observed how extremists have exploited the legitimate aspirations of the people and have dragged this brotherly nation into a chaos designed only to further their own interests. In fact, conflicts have erupted between extremist organizations themselves in the struggle over the spoils. Today, Syria is being torn apart. It is facing a major humanitarian crisis, and the ambitions of regional parties have been exposed. In response to this dire situation, Egypt has called on the Syrian national parties to meet in Cairo to formulate a clear-cut plan for the interim period, as agreed in Geneva. That would provide a common ground for all Syrians to build a democratic Syria, with sovereignty over the entirety of its territory, and in a manner that would preserve the State and its institutions and protect its diversity and national identify. The Syrian national parties are invited today to participate meaningfully in all efforts to negotiate a political resolution to the crisis that reflects the aspirations of the Syrian people.
Egypt’s political and military support for Yemen and its participation in the steps taken by the coalition of States in support of the legitimate Government were in response to Yemen’s request. They also arise from our sense of the need to protect Arab national security in the face of external attempts to intervene in an Arab country’s domestic affairs, as well as our commitment to preserving Yemen’s unity, independence and territorial integrity. Egypt urges the international community to exert the necessary efforts to resume the transitional political process, in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanisms as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Egypt is closely following the latest developments in Iraq, and we hope that the reforms implemented by the Government will contribute to restoring cohesion between the people of Iraq and advancing national reconciliation.
As Egypt has previously emphasized, the increasing plight of refugees fleeing from armed conflicts reaffirms the need to work towards resolving these conflicts and confronting the scourge of terrorism, which is a major aggravating factor. It necessitates creating channels for legal immigration and facilitating transportation, as well as linking international migration and development.
Egypt is host to an ever-increasing number of refugees, who share with their Egyptian brethren the social, education and health services provided by the State, in spite of the economic burden that this represents. Egypt hopes that the solutions to this crisis will be found, both in the short run to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of refugees and in the long run through overcoming the fundamental causes of this crisis.
The situations I have described point to the existing and ever-growing threat posed by terrorist organizations, which exploit political crises to achieve their objectives. It is incumbent on me, as President of Egypt, a country that is surrounded by such confrontations, to forewarn of the dangers that the expansion of this threat pose to other crises and regions, at the forefront of which is Palestine.
The question of Palestine is a just cause. Resolving the Middle East conflict and empowering the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to an independent State within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, will effectively eliminate one of the most important factors underlying the region’s instability and used as a dangerous pretext to justify extremism and terrorism. Members will doubtless agree with me that it is imperative to end this conflict promptly, so that the nations of the region may focus on building their future together in order to achieve prosperity and build a better future for coming generations. The ongoing events in Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque demonstrate that achieving peace continues to face hurdles and challenges and that all of our efforts are required in the search for a definitive solution.
We in Egypt realize the importance of other factors, in addition to defeating terrorism and extremism, in efforts to achieve stability and comprehensive development. The Egyptian uprising and its call for change was an expression of our awareness of the need to build a modern nation, with all its components. We are aware that so far we have taken only a few steps and that the path is long. We are committed to following that path to the end, no matter the challenges we face.
This year, Egypt will hold parliamentary elections, in conformity with the road map for the future. The people’s representatives can then exercise their oversight and legislative responsibilities during the upcoming phase. That phase will witness, God willing, the further
realization of the Egyptian people’s aspirations for freedom, dignity and social justice. In this context, it is essential for me to highlight that the Government launched in March its sustainable development strategy, known as Vision 2030, in parallel with the international community’s pursuit of an ambitious post- 2015 development agenda.
We hope that this development agenda will take into consideration the importance of our common but differentiated responsibilities in confronting the global challenges based on a disparity in capacities and resources, as well as the diversity of our cultures. Development is a fundamental human right. To facilitate and promote that right, particularly in developing countries and in Africa, is a joint responsibility and top priority particularly for the developed world.
The vision Egypt is proposing is the continuation of a long journey, one which began with human history itself. Throughout this journey, Egyptians have continuously innovated. They have welcomed all those who have passed through their land; hence their contribution to human culture remains significant to this day. Currently, as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the coming two years, Egypt aspires to enhance its participation and to consolidate international peace and stability. The confidence placed in Egypt by Member States will not be regretted. Egypt is aware of the responsibilities it is about to shoulder at this critical juncture and will endeavour to reflect the interests of Africa, the Arab region and the entire world. It will seek to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the values that unite human beings and civilizations.
The banks of the River Nile witnessed the establishment of the first building blocks of human civilization. Egypt remained for many centuries a centre of knowledge and art and a beacon of light for other countries and nations. In spite of the difficulties and setbacks endured by Egypt at other times, today the Egyptian people long to make history once again. I am confident that, with God’s help, the Egyptian people will be able to achieve their highest aspirations for themselves, their country, their region and the whole world. Long live Egypt!


It is indeed an honour for me to address this organ of the United Nations in my capacity as Prime Minister of Saint
Kitts and Nevis, a privilege of service bestowed on me following our people’s historic victory at the polls in February of this year. I take pleasure in sharing the perspectives of the Government and people of Saint Kitts and Nevis on matters that are before the General Assembly at its seventieth session.
My delegation is pleased that the focus of the general debate, “The United Nations at 70: a new commitment to action”, will shed special light on the Sustainable Development Goals, which form the basis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). We are in full agreement with the Assembly that the new partnerships for sustainable development will be at the centre of the work of the United Nations until the year 2030. We are optimistic that the post-2015 development agenda, when taken in conjunction with the recently adopted Addis Ababa Action Agenda and a forward-looking and responsible outcome at the Paris Climate Change Conference in December, represents a courageous step forward for humankind that, if fully implemented, will yield the kind of future that our children and grandchildren deserve.
So onward with action — the action that is required to create decent jobs for our people, build schools for our children, deliver quality health care for all and provide affordable homes to our working mothers and fathers. Be assured that Saint Kitts and Nevis stands committed to the process of implementation, which of course must include a robust, systematic and effective monitoring and review process.
Climate change is of utmost importance for us. It must never be placed on the proverbial back burner. I dare submit that for small island developing States (SIDS), like Saint Kitts and Nevis, it remains an existential threat. Our economic, social and environmental well- being is threatened by natural disasters, including devastating floods and persistent droughts, by sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification. Those acts of nature have the capacity to undermine our economic growth, threaten food security and bring hardships on our people. The challenge to our vital tourism industry is unsettling, and the loss of entire coastal communities is devastating to our islands. The current situation in Dominica represents what islands face when dealing with climate change. We call on the international community to do more to help small island developing States adapt and adjust. We would like consideration
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to be given not just to climate change adaptation and mitigation, but also to disaster response, recovery and insurance.
When we speak of adaptation to climate change and the wider issue of disaster-risk mitigation, it is incumbent on us to underscore the significant financial burden that is placed on national budgets by projects designed to build resilience and increase our chances of survival in the face of climate events. Access to global funding mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund is of critical importance to us. For too long we have been hamstrung by complex application procedures that have prevented us from accessing the vital funds needed to enable us to achieve sustainable development. We appreciate the recent decision by the Green Climate Fund Board to aim for a floor of 50 per cent of the adaptation allocation for particularly vulnerable countries. We also appreciate the importance placed on filling capacity gaps in assessing and managing climate finance. Access to finance, if it is to be meaningful, must be simplified and it must be timely.
My delegation welcomes the establishment of the SIDS DOCK facility for sustainable energy, which will serve as a clearing house for the implementation of climate-related projects in small island developing States. We acknowledge the assistance provided by our partners in development. We are convinced that working closely with our partners to build effective and meaningful partnerships will accelerate the pathway to achieving sustainable development in all its dimensions.
Saint Kitts and Nevis has emerged as a leader in renewable energy development in the Caribbean. Even now, our country has a mix of wind and solar power in our energy grid. By 2016, we shall add a waste-to-energy programme and by 2018 we shall add geothermal energy on the island of Nevis. We are working assiduously to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and so reduce our carbon footprint. In that ambitious agenda, I thank all our international partners who have lent their technical assistance and expertise in advancing the renewable energy trust in my country.
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is fully committed to social equity, justice, people’s empowerment, good governance, transparency and, of course, prosperity for all. We are a people’s Government, born out of the desire to put the development of our people first. We therefore are hoping to build broader constituencies of support on several fronts to address the problem of crime.
At home, we instituted a six-point plan in our fight to reduce violent crime, in particular. We are investing in new equipment and training to support our law enforcement professionals in the prevention, detection and solving of crimes. We are working hard to build a new professional culture among and between our law enforcement agencies. We are encouraged by new statistics pointing to a decline in major crimes in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, while accepting at the same time that much more still needs to be done.
Our Government is determined to aggressively confront the issues of crime. We will work on multiple tracks, including working to empower families and communities through education, skills development initiatives and civic programmes. We will work in schools, with non-governmental organizations, with our religious leaders and with the youths themselves, especially those most likely to become targets or perpetrators of criminal behaviour. We will offer them alternatives and opportunities for personal growth, decent work and constructive engagement in our society. It is a challenge to which we are committed and which we have to win.
However, if small States are to overcome the challenges posed and exacerbated by transnational criminal activities, we must work in partnership. We need the support of gun-producing countries to restrict the movement of illegal guns, light weapons and ammunition. Those who produce firearms must do more to stop them from reaching our shores. We must share information and improve access to opportunities, education and employment, because sustainable development is not achievable in an environment of crime and violence. Prosperity must be built brick by brick, day by day, and is realizable solely in the context of peaceful and safe societies.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, like the rest of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has consistently lent its voice to the clarion call for greater attention to the harmful impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on our main resource: our human capital. We continue to wrestle with the high incidence of diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in our country and, indeed, throughout the CARICOM region. We wish to reiterate our call for a stronger global response in combating NCDs in developing countries like ours. We remain hopeful that the inclusion of NCDs in the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the targets and indicators at the
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national level will reverse the high incidence of NCDs at the national, regional and global levels. The famous adage “A nation’s health is a nation’s wealth” resonates well with us. We therefore urge the United Nations system to play a leading role in that regard through its specialized agencies and regional offices.
We are pleased with the work of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and our Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS in CARICOM, and we call for continued global solidarity in that endeavour. My own country is on track to achieve zero mother- to-child transmission by the end of 2015, and we are committed to the aim of making CARICOM the first region in the world to end AIDS by 2030.
My Government is pleased to draw the international community’s attention to the invaluable contribution by the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan in the areas of international cooperation, health, technology and peace and security. We live in an age when global partnership is a prerequisite for solving complex problems at the international level. The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is proud to announce that a relationship established more than three decades ago has yielded benefits in every area of sustainable development. Such a level of engagement between a developing country and its partner in development is indeed a model fit for consideration by small States such as ours in their quest to achieve sustainable development.
As we looked for models and arrangements that would advance our global agenda, we found pragmatic, beneficial value in our PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela in support of poverty alleviation and social cohesion. Venezuela, under President Chávez and now under President Maduro, must be commended for showing the world that there can be a better and more helpful way to drive the development agenda. Saint Kitts and Nevis is of course cognizant of the territorial issues that exist between Venezuela and our fellow CARICOM member State of Guyana. We expect the leaders of Venezuela and Guyana to resolve their issues peacefully and in accordance with international law. My Government stands willing to assist alongside CARICOM in resolving those very challenging issues.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is indeed pleased by the recent decision of the Governments of Cuba and the United States of America to re-establish diplomatic relations, a solution that CARICOM has long advocated. It is an opportune time for us to usher in a new era of regional
partnership and cooperation. My own country has benefited substantially from capacity-building in the areas of education and health thanks to our partnership with Cuba. We applaud several prescriptions outlined in the address of President Castro to the Assembly (see A/70/PV.14) that call for better arrangements for Caribbean countries and for special and differential treatment.
We concur that the issue of reparation must be seen in the broader context of the evil of slavery and its lingering negative impact on the development of the Caribbean. Reparation has to be considered a pathway to addressing the continuing disadvantages that slavery has inflicted on our economies and societies.
As part of our development agenda, Saint Kitts and Nevis will work daily to ensure that every citizen has access to high-quality health care, a twenty-first-century education, decent work and an improved quality of life consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. We remain eager to work within the United Nations system, but the United Nations must be re-energized, retooled and refocused to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. In fact, we want to see a United Nations strengthened and reflective of the reality of our world, the needs of its membership and the wishes of our diverse and swelling populations.
In Saint Kitts and Nevis, we are building a modern, responsible and responsive society, rooted in democracy and the rule of law. We are optimistic that in the months and years ahead, the United Nations and its specialized agencies will be more robust, nimble, modern and responsive in order to complement our work and be better able to prevent crises in ways that effectively improve lives. Through such commitments and actions we will transform our beloved Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United Nations and indeed the world. God bless the country and people of Saint Kitts and Nevis.