YouSaid · the spoken record

Benita Ferrero-Waldner

lines on the record: 123
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2004-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“As you may know, I have been nominated Commissioner of the European Union for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. This function will, of course, keep me in close contact with many Assembly delegates and with the United Nations. I would therefore like to use this opportunity today to thank all colleagues, members of delegations and, in particular, the Secretariat, in which I myself had the honour to work, for the support that has been extended to me and my staff here in New York over the past years. A special and warm expression of gratitude and respect goes to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. To the President of the Assembly, I would like to extend my 30 best wishes for a successful and constructive fifty- ninth session of the General Assembly.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I particularly welcome the Secretary-General's pledge two days ago that he will make the United Nations work to strengthen the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies a priority for the remainder of his tenure. Particularly for smaller and medium sized countries, an international order based on the rule of law is of paramount importance. With this in mind, I would like to announce today that I have launched a discourse on the role and function of the Security Council in strengthening a rules-based international system. As a first step, we will organize in November a panel of international legal experts during International Law Week at Headquarters, which will analyse the increasing law- making tendency of the Security Council. This is my last speech as Austrian Foreign Minister.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In the area of environment and sustainable energy, we have initiated and promoted the Global Forum for Sustainable Energy, which aims at providing access to energy for people in developing countries. We consider issues such as climate change, the decline of biodiversity and other forms of environmental degradation as essential aspects of our comprehensive security agenda. Let me finally highlight an issue which the Secretary-General made a central theme of his address to the General Assembly. The key guarantee for creating and maintaining peace and security in the world has been and will continue to be an international system based on the rule of law. This was the very idea of the founders of the United Nations.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We know that the Secretary-General feels very strongly about the need for speed of action to prevent the most heinous crimes. I share his concerns. The Austrian Government is convinced that it is an essential responsibility of the United Nations and its Member States to address the root causes of conflict. Global poverty, inequality, competition for scarce resources, environmental degradation and the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are among the ingredients that fuel the outbreak of conflicts both within countries and among States. The Austrian Development Policy has placed a particular focus on poverty reduction, maintenance of peace and the protection of the environment. I am pleased to inform the Assembly that Austria has increased its development aid by 35 per cent this year.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We also need to reflect further on how best to ensure respect for human rights during conflict, how to incorporate human rights into preventive policies and how to formulate post-conflict strategies likely to achieve lasting reconciliation and build a firm basis for the rule of law and good governance. In that respect, human rights education is an important element in getting to the root of conflict and breaking the vicious circle of human rights violations. Violence between ethnic groups and religious communities has shaken countries across the globe. In particular, the disregard for the needs and the rights of minorities tends to fuel violent conflict. Our endeavours for the protection of the rights of minorities are still highly needed, not the least to ensure that ethnic cleansing or genocide will never happen again.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The Mine-Ban Convention has become a true example of a successful and effective multilateral approach to address a global problem. I encourage all States to participate at the Nairobi Summit at the highest possible level. As a member of the Human Security Network, we cooperate with others to promote human security in the world. To provide one concrete example, Austria - together with Slovenia and Jordan ó initiated and funded an aid project for traumatized children in Iraq. I am convinced that applying a human security perspective to international problems has the potential of preventing or resolving conflict and promoting peace and development.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“It is the kind of security that all human beings are looking for, among them millions of civilians in all parts of the world affected by armed conflict ó the majority of them women and children ó and 40 million people living with the HIV virus. Human security transcends the concept of hard threats and soft threats. If we see those threats through the prism of the human beings concerned, it becomes clear that for the afflicted individual, all such threats - war, hunger, terrorism or deadly disease - deprive them of their security. 29 Austria is honoured to chair the first Review Conference of States Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine-Ban Convention in Nairobi later this year, where the international community will chart a course for the solution of the landmine problem in the coming years.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Our candidature, announced over five years ago - in 1999 - is based on our willingness to contribute actively and constructively to the maintenance of international peace and security. We fully recognize the heavy responsibility which Security Council membership entails and we are ready to assume it. Over the past 50 years, Austria has sought to contribute effectively to the work of the United Nations, in particular in the fields of peace and security, human rights, development, disarmament and international law. We are a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations and have traditionally been among the largest European troop contributors. Since 1963, over 50,000 Austrians have served in more than 50 United Nations missions worldwide. Security, as we see it, means human security.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Preparatory Committee of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization with respect to nuclear non-proliferation; the work of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization on development cooperation; and the fight against the so-called uncivil society by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, contribute substantially to the international communityís efforts to confront the worldís new security threats. In this spirit of full and honest commitment to the United Nations, I would like to recall that Austria is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the term 2009-2010.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have always strongly supported the principles and purposes of the United Nations, and we remain committed to the goals of the Charter. Austria feels honoured and privileged to host one of the headquarters of the United Nations. This year, we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Vienna International Centre, home to many United Nations institutions.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“It is essential to enlarge and balance the membership of the Security Council, as well as to increase its transparency. In order for all peoples to identify with its decisions, we must ensure that the Security Council is a body that truly reflects the diversity of the world's cultures and regions by an improved representation of regions such as Africa, Asia and Latin America. As you know, Sir, it is my personal vision that, in the longer term, the European Union should also be represented in the Security Council. I pointed out during the general debate last year that that would be the logical consequence of further European integration in the field of common foreign and security policy. The United Nations has been at the centre of Austriaís foreign policy since we became a Member after regaining our full independence in 1955.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In order to be a credible player, the United Nations must be given the necessary institutional framework to enact effective strategies at all stages of a conflict. Austria therefore welcomed the Secretary- Generalís call for reform, in particular his initiative to establish a High-Level Panel of eminent persons to propose specific measures for institutional innovation by the end of the year. I was happy to meet with the members of the Panel when it held its meeting in Austria earlier this year. One item on the Panel's agenda is Security Council reform. Austria, like many other countries, is concerned about the growing gap between the Councilís current composition on the one hand, and the changing political, economic and social reality of the community of nations on the other.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The dramatic situation in Darfur highlights the need for better harmonization of the international efforts of the United Nations, the African Union, the EU, the League of Arab States, the United States and other actors. We will have to examine carefully the results of the current mission to Darfur of the new Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Such missions and mechanisms are indeed the tools that the United Nations needs if it is to effectively address emerging crisis situations. Strengthening the rule of law, human rights, democratic participation and economic development will reduce the chance of conflicts within societies and among States turning violent.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The United Nations continues to play a key role in South-Eastern Europe, especially in Kosovo. We welcome the recent appointment of Mr. Soren Jessen- Petersen as Special Representative for Kosovo. In that regard, within the European Union, the countries of the regional partnership ó the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and my country, Austria ó presented concrete proposals with regard to security, economic development, decentralization and the protection of minorities and of religious sites. We are confident that they can contribute to progress in Kosovo. International and regional efforts are essential if we are to contain and resolve the various conflicts in 28 other regions of the world.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In Vienna, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its Terrorism Prevention Branch make an important contribution by rendering assistance to Member States in implementing national legislation required by Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and in building their national capacity to do so. Austria is convinced that only effective multilateralism based on the rule of law can address the new and complex challenges that the international community faces today. We support the efforts of the Quartet in the Middle East peace process, and we urge Israel and the Palestinians to implement their respective obligations. The road map remains the only way forward towards a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict leading to two States living side by side in peace and security.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“With the emergence of new and complex threats, in particular terrorism in combination with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the international community faces unprecedented challenges for which it has to find legitimate responses. Just recently, we witnessed the horrifying terrorist attack against innocent school children in Beslan. This was only the last of a whole series of heinous attacks in all regions of the world targeted against innocents. Austria is committed to full cooperation with other States and United Nations bodies involved in counter-terrorism and is working to promote the whole range of United Nations action against terrorism.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I should like to begin by congratulating Mr. Jean Ping on his election as President of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly. He may be sure that Austria will fully support him in carrying out his important task. I fully subscribe to the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands on behalf of the European Union, which expressed the position of the European Union regarding the various global and regional challenges we face today. I would like to emphasize a few additional points from our own perspective. Over the past few years we have had to reassess key concepts of our national and international security environment.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The vision of global solidarity, collective security and a global culture of human rights are rooted in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I am grateful to the Secretary-General for his courage and leadership to engage us in an honest, future- oriented debate. The time to act is now. I can again assure the Secretary-General that Austria supports him in that important endeavour.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The signing of the European Union (EU) accession treaty with 10 new prospective members in April of this year is an important contribution to security on our continent. The strategy of EU is also geared towards exporting that peace dividend to new neighbours of the enlarged EU further to the east and to the south-east and in the Mediterranean region. Let me highlight one encouraging event from that region, which I was able to witness from a close vantage point when I visited Belgrade less than two weeks ago. I am talking about the important gesture of President Marović of Serbia and Montenegro and of President Mesić of Croatia, apologizing on behalf of those of their countries' citizens, who had committed acts of violence against one another in recent history.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Over the years and under the guidance of the Secretary-General, Austria has placed great importance on a comprehensive dialogue of cultures and civilizations. This November, I will host a second media seminar on the topic of Cultural diversity: the quest for common moral ground and the public role of the media', exploring how the free media can contribute to cultural understanding and respect. A seminal event in the context of that dialogue was the first-ever conference of European Islamic leaders in Austria, held in June of this year, which adopted a strongly worded declaration in support of tolerance. How can we contribute to stability in the regions of the world? Europe has its own experience with creating a zone of stability and welfare.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Human rights must protect in particular the weak, women and children. As a woman and as Foreign Minister of my country, I have always spoken out in favour of the rights of women and against the frequently terrible infringements of those rights, such as genital mutilation, the stoning of women and the enslaving and trading of women and girls on the sex markets. Those horrendous practices must stop. And there is reason for hope: today is a good day for women's rights. News has reached us that Ms. Armina Lawal was acquitted by the Nigerian court. I am very happy about that outcome. Let us remind ourselves that the all-important fight against terrorism must not entail a lessening of hard-fought-for human rights standards.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I support the notion that we also need to begin a reform of the decision-making process within the World Trade Organization. We must avoid a tendency towards ending multilateralism and towards relying exclusively on bilateralism or regionalism in trade. This year, we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, which confirmed the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of human rights as well as the important nexus among human rights, democracy and development. Human rights disasters that we have witnessed since such as those in Rwanda and Srebrenica must not be allowed to recur. One essential step in that regard is the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which I signed this morning.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development recognized the importance of energy for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Austria welcomes the additional impetus created by the Renewables 2004 Conference. I am also glad that the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership will establish its secretariat in Vienna. Meanwhile, Austria will use the synergies created by these activities to continue its endeavours to build up the capacity of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy, which I launched in 1999. At this point, let me express Austria's disappointment that the Ministerial Meeting in Cancun could not sustain the momentum towards achieving acceptable solutions for fair trade. Such a setback must 37 not repeat itself, not least because trade is an engine for development.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The Network also adopted a strategy for supporting children affected by armed conflict, along with a training curriculum for child rights experts and a compendium of the relevant international child protection standards an effort in which we cooperated closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Olara Otunnu. The Millennium Development Goals have become fundamental benchmarks in our efforts to achieve more inclusive and equitable globalization, and we both developing and developed countries need to strive for their implementation at the global, regional and national levels. In that context, as part of the partnership effort agreed to in Monterrey, I am happy to announce that Austrian official development assistance will be increased by 35 per cent in 2004.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The concept of two States remains the only viable solution. The promise of land for peace must be reactivated to create a basis of trust and respect on which to build. Terrorism destroys such hope. I turn now to what the Secretary-General called soft threats. Here, his report coincides with the goals of my recently concluded presidency of the Human Security Network to strengthen the universal system by forging interregional consensus on issues pertaining to human security. That places the individual human being and his or her protection at the centre of our policies. As a concrete result of my presidency, the ministers of the Network adopted a manual on human rights education. That unique training tool, based on the universality of human rights, is designed for global use and adaptable to target groups.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In Austrian hospitals we provided urgent medical assistance for children in critical condition. Furthermore, Austria participates in the Adopt a Hospital' programme and is about to equip two hospitals in Nazariyah. Together with Slovenia and Jordan, we are preparing the establishment, south of Baghdad, of a centre for war-traumatized children. These are efforts aimed at providing relief for the weakest and most vulnerable members of Iraqi society. In spite of renewed efforts by the international community to revive the Middle East peace process, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has again tragically deteriorated. But current setbacks must not stall the implementation of the road map. Austria continues to strongly support the role and the responsibility of the Quartet.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In the field of non-proliferation, the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the leadership of Director General Mohamed ElBaradei is essential. Last week's General Conference of IAEA unanimously endorsed the necessity of strengthening the international nuclear safeguards system. Recent issues of compliance concerning Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have again shown the central role of IAEA. One of the most important immediate tasks is the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq. We are convinced that success in the aim of restoring the sovereignty of Iraq as quickly as possible will hardly be feasible without the United Nations playing its part on the basis of a sound, viable and coherent policy. In line with the human security approach, Austria was among the first to offer humanitarian aid.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“What is needed is obvious: the strengthening and universalization of existing disarmament, non-proliferation and export control regimes. As a practical contribution to this cause, Austria has agreed to serve as an immediate central contact for the 109 subscriber States of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. Furthermore, the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty, which I had the honour to open on 3 September, appealed, in its Final Declaration, to all States to sign and ratify that Treaty, in particular to those 12 countries whose ratification is required for the Treaty's entry into force. Let me repeat and support that appeal.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The terror attacks of 11 September 2001, and those against the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad, have one thing in common: they were targeted against civilization as a whole. United Nations leadership is needed more than ever to prevent and combat terrorism globally. In the United Nations system-wide division of labour, the Vienna-based Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Office on Drugs and Crime contributes to counter- terrorism efforts and offers valuable technical assistance to States with regard to signing, ratifying and implementing international conventions and protocols related to terrorism. 36 Another hard threat to international security is the proliferation of arms, in particular the spread of weapons of mass destruction.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“To this end, a security doctrine is being elaborated by High Representative and Secretary General Solana for the European Council. Speaking with one voice also means more common positions in Security Council matters. This logic might one day even lead to the European Union having a seat on the Security Council. Austria sees its national interest best served by the multilateral approach of a strong United Nations system, with the Security Council living up to its responsibility for world peace and with the primacy of international law and the universality of human rights maintained by all. International terrorism is a direct and lethal threat to global and collective security.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The composition of the Security Council is at odds with the geopolitical reality of the twenty-first century. It does not reflect the growing number of United Nations Members or the necessary regional balance. Decision- making is therefore perceived by many as lacking legitimacy. In my view, this discussion is not only about who should be represented in the Security Council, but and this is at least as important about ensuring that the decision-making is in the interests of world peace and global security. In this context the regional groups have to accept their responsibility by coming forward with solutions. As a member of the European Union, which is about to give itself a constitution for the twenty-first century, it is important to note that we are moving gradually towards a genuine common foreign and security policy.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The intense public scrutiny of the Security Council's actions over the past 12 months has opened a window of opportunity for re-launching our efforts to find unity of purpose based on a common security agenda between all nations. In this context, I greatly welcome the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, which makes one thing crystal clear: we face nothing less than the need for a far-reaching overhaul of the United Nations system in order to enhance efficiency and legitimacy. We must respond to this challenge and energetically revive the reform debate. The urgency we are faced with today should render a new attempt more successful. First of all, a priority issue should be the reform of the procedures of the United Nations system.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“This has also been a year of lethal attacks on politicians who courageously stood for a human face for politics. We remember, with sadness, the outstanding leadership qualities and invaluable contributions of Zoran Djindjic and Anna Lindh. We are equally saddened to learn that Ms. Aquila al-Hashimi, member of the Iraqi Governing Council, has succumbed to the wounds she suffered in the recent terrorist attack. What is at stake today is the way in which the United Nations can best shoulder its responsibility for global security and peace and how we as Member States can support the United Nations in this task. Austria, as one of the host countries of the United Nations, feels a sense of responsibility for the future functioning of the Organization.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“A few days ago, the United Nations was again attacked in Baghdad just one month after the United Nations Headquarters was targeted in a devastating terrorist attack. My heartfelt sympathies not only as the Foreign Minister of Austria, but also as a former staff member working here at the Headquarters of the United Nations go to the victims, their loved ones and all colleagues in the United Nations family. Sergio Vieira de Mello and his colleagues died as heroes. As a host country to the United Nations, Austria firmly supports the Secretary-General's call to provide the utmost security for United Nations personnel on missions everywhere in the world. Those United Nations staff members had dedicated their lives to helping the most vulnerable. Today, we are called upon to live up to their cause.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The following quote is from the entrance to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, which I just visited: “To be free is not merely to put off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.””
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The follow-up will have to cut through the complexities of the process and to pursue the most pressing issues. Implementation is the key word. This will be best accomplished by sectoral conferences on the major issues involved. Austria appreciates that the Summit has helped convince some major countries to join the ranks of those, such as Austria, that have already ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Before closing, let me express my best wishes for a successful session of the Assembly under Mr. Kavan's guidance and allow me also to thank his predecessor, Mr. Han Seung-soo, for his leadership and his efforts towards strengthening the General Assembly. Having returned deeply impressed from South Africa, let me close by quoting a real hero and a man who stands for his principles while promoting reconciliation — Mr. Nelson Mandela.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Disastrous floods in parts of Central Europe, including my own country, in Asia and the Americas, as well as droughts in other parts of the world just before the start of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, were a painful indication of changes rendering sustainable development even more important. The Summit brought about an action programme and a political declaration, which we welcome, although we would have wished to take some issues even further, such as in the field of renewable energy. I share the view of the Secretary-General that the Summit has instigated global action among a wide range of actors. It has highlighted the relationship between economy, ecology, social issues and development. It has also reaffirmed the Doha and Monterrey compromises.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In my function as President of the Human Security Network, I have also taken the initiative, in the framework of the group of female foreign ministers, to raise the issue of Amina Lawal in a common letter to the Foreign Minister of Nigeria in order to remind Nigeria of its obligations under international human rights law. In the Millennium Declaration, we set clear targets for our combined development efforts as Member States. We all did this in recognition of the priority attached to the fight against poverty and for a better and more equitable world.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In my capacity as Chairperson of that group, I have put the following two issues at the top of our agenda: the needs for a globally shared acquisition of a human rights culture through human rights education and for effectively addressing the terrible plight suffered by an ever-growing number of children in the world exposed to the horrors of armed conflict. The first “human rights city” in Europe, the Austrian city of Graz, will also host next year's ministerial meeting of the Human Security Network. In this context I should also like to express Austria's strong support for the adoption of the draft protocol of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“To that end, I organized an expert seminar on the role of the media in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership in June of this year. This effort is designed to lead, hopefully, to a media code of conduct to emanate from the media themselves in order to create better understanding between the cultures and commonly to project messages shedding a positive light on cultural diversity. As of July of this year, Austria has chaired the Human Security Network, the only interregional grouping in the United Nations framework particularly propelling issues of human security.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I am glad to note that South-Eastern Europe has made substantial progress towards stability generated by various multilateral initiatives, particularly the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the Zagreb process. As an additional instrument for enhancing development in that region, in May of this year the Danube Cooperation Project was launched in Vienna, the aim of which is to make use of the Danube River as an integrative factor connecting the 13 countries of the whole Danube basin. 17 The dialogue among civilizations, which Austria has strongly supported from the beginning, is a new and important tool of diplomacy that should help us drain the breeding grounds of terrorism. In order to take this dialogue from the elites to the general public, we need to cooperate with the media.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“During its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2000, Austria made it a priority to draw the attention of world opinion to the unresolved issues and problems and to the very impressive potential of that region given mutually useful cooperation and good governance. Turning to our own neighbourhood, I want to reiterate the importance Austria attributes to European Union enlargement and our firm commitment to finalizing the ongoing negotiating process towards the end of this year. Austria looks forward to welcoming new members by 2004, thus turning the vision of a united Europe into reality and extending the European zone of peace, stability and welfare to the whole continent and beyond.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The conflict between India and Pakistan over the issue of Kashmir also needs an urgent political solution. The consequences of an escalation could be catastrophic for the region and beyond. In recent weeks, we have been starkly reminded of the fact that Afghanistan, which has been wrested from Taliban and Al Qaeda rule and has had a promising new start with the assistance of the international community, has yet to achieve a lasting peace and stability. The international community should remain committed and has to continue its support of the new Government of Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism and violent fundamentalism in Afghanistan has also highlighted the importance of the whole region of Central Asia.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“For that reason Austria supports the tireless efforts of the Secretary-General to bring about the speedy, unfettered and unconditional return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq, along with full compliance with the obligations contained in all relevant Security Council resolutions. Austria welcomes the statement of President George Bush seeking broad international and multilateral support and cooperation with the Security Council on the issue of how to deal with the threat emanating from regimes that support terror or seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Only the Security Council can provide the legitimacy we need. At the same time, it is evident that the Security Council itself has to take responsibility for ensuring full compliance with its resolutions in order to maintain world peace.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“While continuing to respect the elected leadership of the Palestinian people the European Union has expressed its readiness to give all necessary and possible support to the reform process of the Palestinian Authority. Austria participates actively in those efforts. Austria is also deeply concerned that human suffering in the conflict has attained unacceptable levels, be it as a result of terror or of countermeasures. The Middle East has also garnered the attention of the international community in the context of the danger of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The growing tensions result from the continued non-compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions on the part of Iraq. The potential threat of weapons of mass destruction endangering world peace through such policies should not and cannot be tolerated.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Austria seconds the idea of an early international conference with the support of the Quartet and interested countries of the region aimed at finding solutions to the political issues such as the final borders of the two States, the final status of Jerusalem and the question of refugees. Austria considers the newly designed road map of the European Union towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State in the next three years to be a good basis for achieving a final and comprehensive settlement of the conflict in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), taking into consideration the Arab peace plan adopted in Beirut as well.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I therefore call upon the Member States to support that position. It is also important to remind ourselves that the fight against terrorism cannot be fought with soldiers and policemen alone; we also need to fight the root causes: the abject levels of poverty, inequality, 16 injustice, the lack of sustainable development and of good governance. When it comes to dangers for world security, we also have to focus on unresolved and perilous regional conflicts, such as in the Middle East. What is needed is an effort to speedily arrive at a political solution providing for two States, Israel and Palestine, within secure and recognized borders.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“To promote that goal, Austria hosted a symposium on combating international terrorism at the Vienna International Centre in June of this year, which highlighted the capacity of the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) to provide efficient technical assistance to Member States in their fight against terrorism. Austria will make an additional million euros available for the strengthening of the ODCCP. I am glad to note that Secretary-General Kofi Annan shares our view on the importance of the Vienna-based United Nations units, as expressed in his report on the need to strengthen the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Secretariat. The report of Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism published earlier this week comes to the same conclusion.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Combating terrorism requires a global effort and a comprehensive approach: prevention and the protection of the security of our countries and of the basic values of freedom and human rights, as well as coercive measures as a last resort. We must, however, base our decisions and actions on international law. The Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) under the very able leadership of Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, is at the core of the United Nations coordinating role. We must ensure that all States join and can join those efforts.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Let me reiterate the sympathy of the Austrian people for the victims of 11 September 2001. Austria has shown strong solidarity from the first hour after the attacks and has acted in unison with her European partners and the United Nations to combat terrorism — a resolve that remains strong and will continue to do so. As a former staff member of the United Nations, I wish to convey my country's sincere gratitude to the many dedicated people who are in the service of the United Nations in New York and at the other headquarters in Vienna and Geneva, as well as out there in the field, for their efforts on behalf of the international community in its fight against terror.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)