YouSaid · the spoken record

Ursula PLASSNIK

lines on the record: 57
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2008-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“That is the most important responsibility that can be entrusted to a Member of the United Nations. We stand ready to assume that responsibility and ask Members for their support. We pledge to work for common solutions to our common global challenges in a sense of true partnership.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We welcome the High-Level Task Force set up by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which aims to create an international strategy for food security, and we eagerly await the first concrete results. Small and medium-sized countries have a specific interest in an international system based on effective multilateralism and the rule of law. They form the backbone of the United Nations. They can make a difference and act as a driving force on many issues beneficial to the world community. Since joining the United Nations more than 50 years ago, Austria has consistently worked for multilateral solutions to global challenges. Our candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council is one expression of our determination to serve the world Organization.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Vienna is a suitable location to host such an agency, as many of its United Nations offices already deal with energy questions. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger continues to be one of the main challenges of the international community. At the midpoint towards 2015, success in achieving the Millennium Development Goals has been uneven. While many countries have made significant progress in attaining 08-52272 42 some of the Goals, only a few are likely to reach all of them. Urgent and increased efforts by the international community are, therefore, needed. The active contribution towards this global effort is a priority for the Austrian Government. As a matter of urgency we also have to tackle the multiple and complex causes of the current global food crisis.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We need the turbo power of innovation to address global challenges. Climate change is not only responsible for natural disasters but poses what is perhaps the most serious threat to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For some small island States climate change and the resulting sea level rise are threats to their very existence. Austria therefore welcomes the initiative by the Pacific island States for a General Assembly resolution on the threat of climate change to international peace and security. Urgent action towards a global climate agreement by the end of 2009 is the only way forward. We also propose to develop the United Nations Environment Programme into a fully fledged World Environment Organization. Furthermore, we support the creation of a new International Renewable Energy Agency.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me draw the Assembly’s attention to the new partnership we developed and adopted at the Lisbon Summit in December 2007: the Joint Africa-European Union Strategy based on the three aims of peace, security and development. Without peace and security there can be no sustainable development, and there is no security without human security. Human trafficking, drugs, proliferation of weapons, unemployment and crime — they all affect the very cohesion of our societies. In order to better address the challenges faced by Africa, Austria, together with the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community, respectively, recently organized a conference on peace and security in West Africa, in Ouagadougou, and a seminar on peace and development in Southern Africa, in Johannesburg.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Austria has presented a proposal in the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that aims at the comprehensive multilateralization of the nuclear fuel cycle. The goal is a fair system under which all States who wish to receive nuclear fuel for an exclusively peaceful use can do so under equal conditions through the IAEA. With regard to the Iranian nuclear programme, we are convinced that the double-track approach is the best way forward. At the same time, it is indispensable that Iran fully complies with the relevant Security Council resolutions. In this context we commend and strongly support the efforts of the IAEA Director General, Mohamed El Baradei.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Together with her African partners, Austria works for real progress on the destruction of small arms as well as on the fight against the illicit arms trade. We also cooperate in developing suitable legal instruments. Austria is also deeply involved in establishing an international legally binding ban on cluster munitions. The Convention on Cluster Munitions that we adopted in Dublin this year is a milestone in the field of disarmament and humanitarian law. Austria will sign the Convention in Oslo on 3 December 2008. I appeal to all other countries to sign as soon as possible so that this treaty can enter into force swiftly. The need to prevent nuclear proliferation at a time when an increasing number of countries are looking towards nuclear power as a means to produce energy calls for courageous and creative solutions.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Ongoing settlements and expansion, however, put our common vision in question. The two-State solution remains the only possible path towards a peaceful and prosperous Middle East that can provide lasting security to all its inhabitants. I remain convinced that in international relations as inside our own societies, we must always support dialogue. Austria will continue her long-standing commitment to the dialogue of cultures and religions with a clear focus on the contribution of religious leaders, women, young people, the media and educators. With some 500,000 victims each year, small arms and light weapons are today’s real weapons of mass destruction. Africa is the continent most heavily affected by this problem.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Austria welcomes the progress recently achieved in Zimbabwe. We hope that this will become another lasting example of the capacity of Africa for the peaceful resolution of conflicts on its continent. Regional ownership is the best option for success. Austria continues to actively support efforts to bring an end to decades of conflict in the Middle East. Three months ago, we hosted a donor conference in Vienna for the reconstruction of the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon in order to improve the fate of the Palestinian refugees there and to support 41 08-52272 stability, the rule of law and economic development in Lebanon. I commend the Israeli and Palestinian leadership for their commitment to dialogue and negotiations despite repeated efforts by radical forces to undermine the process started in Annapolis nearly a year ago.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Recent events in Georgia are a stark reminder that the scourge of war still haunts our European neighbourhood. The European Union is ready to work together with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the United Nations so that Georgia can return to peace, all internally displaced people can return safely and a lasting solution based on full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia is found. I also call upon the Security Council to decide on a timely prolongation of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia. As for the Western Balkans, I am heartened that we are moving from the crisis management phase to the integration phase. Today, thanks to the stabilizing role of the EU, the peoples of the Western Balkans enjoy peace. Their future lies in the European Union.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Last year, the Women Leaders Network called on the Secretary-General to appoint more women to leadership positions in the United Nations, in particular in mediation and peacebuilding. I am pleased that the Secretary-General has since entrusted a number of outstanding women with key positions both at Headquarters and in the field, and I encourage him to continue this policy. With regard to Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, the European Union (EU) policy of targeted support for women in and through peace missions could be extended to other regional organizations such as the African Union. To assess the practical results of resolution 1325 (2000), I propose a thorough review process on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 2010.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Worldwide, women are the politically and socially most relevant emerging power of the twenty-first century. Their contribution must be valued publicly, their participation encouraged, their potential fully used. There are countless success stories of women leaders who make a difference in their communities as businesswomen, mothers, teachers, farmers, workers, peacemakers and lawmakers. At the same time, we hear appalling reports from around the world of discrimination and violence against women. How can we speak of human rights for women as long as one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten or abused? It is the responsibility of each and every Government to act on this. The United Nations must take the lead by setting clear targets and establishing a network to share best practices in combating violence against women.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Today, international criminal justice, as dispensed by the International Criminal Court as well as by the special tribunals established by the Security Council, has become a major tool for bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nowadays, some speak about the “peace — justice dilemma”. I personally remain convinced that peace and justice are complementary objectives, both are equally essential. There can be no lasting peace without justice, and international justice will serve its purpose most fully and effectively if it helps societies advance reconciliation and overcome the wounds of the past. As women and children are often the most vulnerable in our societies, they deserve our special attention in this context. No country, no society can succeed without recognizing the contribution of women.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Three weeks ago, 130 human rights experts and practitioners from around the world came together in Vienna 15 years after the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993. They formulated recommendations on how to overcome the gap between human rights standards and the reality of their implementation on the ground. Those recommendations have been submitted to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, and I hope they will contribute to the deliberations on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December. One of the basic threats to the rule of law is impunity.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“At the global level, that needs to be done in the framework of an effective world organization that enjoys the trust of States and Governments but also of societies and individual citizens. A just and effective international order needs to be based on rules equally applicable to every member, big or small, strong or weak. Respect for the rule of law is indispensable if we want to prevent conflicts and promote peace and sustainable development. Austria has therefore consistently promoted efforts to develop international relations based on the principles of the 08-52272 40 Charter of the United Nations and all the other instruments that form our international legal system.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“These days, on our television screens, images of thousands of parents concerned about the health of their babies and children remind us of what lies at the very heart of our work — building a better future for the coming generations, at home as well as here in the United Nations. Armed conflict, climate change, poverty, hunger and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are the bleak challenges we face today, together with new global challenges such as increasing food and energy prices and financial turbulence. A sense of shared responsibility and true partnership based on equality are the key qualities that must guide our efforts to meet these challenges. All inhabitants of the global village have the right as well as the duty to contribute to the well-being of our community.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We hope that the Members of the United Nations will entrust Austria with that responsibility, which we stand ready to shoulder in a spirit of true partnership.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our peoples expect from their leadership nothing less than a life in dignity, but above all a life in freedom from fear and in freedom from want. If we are truly committed to human security, it is essential that we make every effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals by determined, concerted action to eradicate poverty and hunger, to promote equality between men and women and to protect our planet’s resources. The Austrian Government has made it an explicit priority to actively live up to the rising challenges. Based on our long-standing engagement for the principles and values of the United Nations, I pledge that Austria will be a responsible and reliable partner as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the term 2009-2010.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We expect that meeting to advance the peace process substantially and sustainably by addressing the core issues, and we stand ready to assist in preparatory and follow-up activities. The people of the entire Middle East region are thirsty for a new perspective of hope. In 2008 we will celebrate a landmark in the promotion and protection of human rights: the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its immutable foundation, the universality of fundamental rights. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. It is therefore not acceptable that human rights be revitalized or diminished in relation to geography or other factors. There is no doubt that women must enjoy the same universal rights, wherever they live and whatever their culture, creed or religion.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Religious leaders must also take a clear stance in condemning and fighting practices not related to religion, such as so-called honour killings or female genital mutilation. Austria firmly supports the current bilateral and international efforts that are taking place to renew the dialogue between Israel and its Arab neighbours. We hope that the meetings between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas will create the basis for implementing the two-State solution: Israel and a Palestinian State living as neighbours in peace and security. We appreciate the efforts by the United States for an international meeting later this year to assist the parties in their quest for a just solution.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I am encouraged by the Secretary- General’s support on this matter and the recent nomination of three women Deputy Special Representatives: for Liberia, the Sudan and Lebanon. It is also up to us, the Member States, to nominate more women for such positions. No conflict is too complex or too deep to durably resist dialogue. The absence of dialogue breeds misperceptions and sometimes even opens space for violence. Austria has long-standing experience in promoting dialogue among civilizations, religions and cultures, and we will continue our activities in that field with vigour. We must actively combat attempts to hijack religion for other purposes anywhere in our global village.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The international organizations concerned, including the European Union, must spare no effort towards that end. It is also our continued obligation under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), which referred to the specific contribution the European Union can make to the stability of Kosovo as well as the entire Balkan region. Women around the world are ready to bear a key responsibility in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. But women also need to be given a fair share of positions in international mediation and peacebuilding efforts. Not so long ago, there was not a single woman among the 54 United Nations Special Representatives and Envoys to conflict and post- conflict regions.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We therefore welcome the ongoing efforts to alleviate this plight, including in neighbouring States. We Europeans cannot credibly call upon other regions of the world to assume their regional responsibilities if we remain unable to cope with the challenges on our own continent, and in particular the Kosovo issue. We need to resolve the last open status issue in the Western Balkans now. We therefore fully support the ongoing efforts of the Kosovo Troika and encourage Belgrade and Pristina to energetically make use of that negotiating space. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, President Ahtisaari, has provided us with a clear sense of direction. We Europeans want each and every person in Kosovo to live in dignity, freedom and security.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“To this end, Burkina Faso and Austria will co-host a conference in Ouagadougou in November on how to create sustainable peace. The meeting will unite participants from countries of the Economic Community of West African States and Europe in an endeavour to provide a common input to the Lisbon summit by furthering policies of good- neighbourliness, the rule of law and good governance; by fighting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons; by creating employment for young people; and by actively promoting the education of girls. Together with the United Nations, the African Union is currently breaking new ground with the preparations for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The human suffering we witness in the region sometimes goes beyond imagination.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Smaller and medium-sized Member States like Austria understandably have a profound attachment to the rule of law. For us, respect for the rule of law is a matter not of choice but of necessity. Together with many other like-minded countries, we will continue promoting the rule of law and will give strong support to the newly established Rule of Law Assistance Unit. Austria believes in the power of partnership, where equality, mutual trust and respect for diversity overcome the crude logic of power. From our experience, effective global partnership best builds on both regional partnerships and regional ownership. Austria is thus committed to developing a new relationship among equals between the European Union and the African Union, at the forthcoming European Union-Africa summit in Lisbon.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Agency would guarantee adequate fuel supply to those who fulfil strict non-proliferation criteria through an international nuclear fuel bank. This would help to dissuade tensions and make new national enrichment facilities superfluous. At present, the Iranian nuclear programme for many reasons is deeply upsetting for the entire international community, not just for some of us. Iran should take these concerns very seriously. It is clearly up to Iran to dispel any shadow of doubt over the nature of its programme by providing undisputable proof to the world’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, now. Like many others, we strongly support Director General ElBaradei’s appeal for a double time-out and urge Iran to heed this call. Our engagement for peace and security is rooted in the firm belief that right must prevail over might.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The world is turning nuclear, whether we like it or not. This in itself is regrettable for countries like Austria which have renounced nuclear energy altogether because we believe it is a dangerous and non-sustainable source of energy. Inevitably, the rise of nuclear power across the globe will lead to more and more tensions with regard to the nature whether for energy purposes or for weapons development of national nuclear programmes. There is a highly dangerous grey zone between what is permitted and what is possible. A new global partnership where sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle are multilateralized could offer a way out. We should create a regime in which enrichment facilities would be placed under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Disarmament, arms control and conflict prevention are next in need of a credible relaunch of multilateralism and a new partnership. In the nuclear age, we simply cannot afford to acquiesce to the present level of armament and to signs of a new arms race. Non-proliferation and an actual reduction of weapons stockpiles thus have to make an immediate comeback to the top of the global agenda. On certain limited issues, multilateral progress is within reach. A consistently growing number of States is rallying behind our call for the adoption by 2008 of a legally binding instrument to prohibit cluster munitions, which cause unacceptable harm to civilians. Austria is determined to continue leading this process by example, with a total national ban of this atrocious weapon. Nuclear technology is a third field for a new global partnership.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In the age of globalization, unilateralism and nationalism are dead-end streets. They simply do not achieve effective and durable results. We thus need both global processes and global objectives. We need to actively engage to build confidence and to counter the erosion of trust that so often breeds unilateral action. Climate change is the obvious challenge to be addressed in such a new global partnership. The United Nations is the only framework in which a fair and truly global agreement can be designed. Regional and sectoral efforts need to be linked, feeding into this global process. Furthermore, it is here only that those who contribute least to climate change but are most affected by it such as the small island developing States can make their voices heard.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Climate change, disarmament and dangerous technologies are just three examples requiring such joint action, now. Let me thus call for relaunching effective multilateralism. And let me make the case for a new global partnership the joint search for sustainable joint solutions, united by a shared sense of responsibility and purpose. The very concept of partnership is key in addressing the new challenges, both inside our societies and in the global village. Partnership is an eye-to-eye approach, based on recognizing and respecting each other as equals. Partnership is also a demanding option: anyone who wants to be treated as a partner has to behave as a partner. We all know that none of us, not even the strongest, can master the challenges of the twenty-first century on his or her own.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Let me address at the outset a burning issue: the situation in Myanmar/Burma. We join the call of many, including our partners in the European Union and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for an immediate cessation of violence. The bloodshed has to stop. Democratic rights and the freedom of assembly and expression have to be respected. We reiterate the call for the release from detention of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democratic opposition. That appeal was also made at this morning’s meeting of the Women’s Empowerment Network, which unites women leaders from around the globe. We can all feel a sense of urgency at this sixty- second General Assembly session about the need to counter contemporary challenges with decisive joint action.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“He is a role model for dignity and confidence. He is always ready to speak out, in his soft but firm voice, for those whose voices are not strong enough or loud enough to be heard; to give voice to the weak, the poor, the small and those who feel lost or abandoned. Mr. Secretary-General, the world will continue listening to your voice as it is the voice of hope and steadfastness.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Let me in this context point out the excellent work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, with its Global Programme against Terrorism, in delivering technical assistance to Member States. It is out of respect for diversity and in recognition of the need for unity that Austria has presented its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security 06-53005 38 Council for the period 2009-2010. With this in mind, we have made the rule of law the backbone of our candidature. Let me close by conveying Austria’s appreciation for the great personality who has been standing at the helm of this Organization for the past decade, for Kofi Annan, the statesman and the person. We thank the Secretary-General, in particular for being a tireless encourager, despite the considerable obstacles he has had to face at times.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“However, in Austria’s view, nuclear energy is not the right answer; it bears too many risks and uncertainties to be regarded as a safe and sustainable source of energy. Solidarity is at the heart of the United Nations: solidarity with the poor, the weak and the powerless. Here, the United Nations task list for the coming years is rich with promise: achieving the Millennium Development Goals in full, concluding the Doha Development Round, fighting against hunger, disease, poverty and exclusion. On Tuesday, we launched the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy with a clear message: the international community is united against this scourge of humanity. We will not tolerate terrorism in any form or manifestation. And we will redouble our efforts to dry up the breeding grounds from which terrorism feeds itself.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In his address to the General Assembly at its 10th meeting, on 19 September, the Secretary-General rightly said, “It is shameful that last year’s Summit Outcome does not contain even one word about non- proliferation and disarmament”. Austria calls for a renewed commitment of the international community to these security goals. We also offer to host the next preparatory meeting for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna in the spring of 2007. Development and the preservation of our livelihoods require sustainable solutions. Among the great global challenges we are facing is climate change. Global warming is real. Austria is committed to do her part in combating it.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The voices of women need to be heard more clearly in the work of the United Nations. Women know what holds families, communities and societies together. This age-old knowledge in all its modern variety and colour should not be left untapped, in particular in peace processes. In United Nations missions, at the negotiation table, in decision-making processes and not only as voices in the background. During its presidency of the European Union, Austria, in its recruitment strategy, consistently aimed at deploying women in European Union peace missions. In addition, we elaborated guidelines for European Union missions on how to best comply with the special needs of children.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In a world where connections are established by a single mouse click, reactions arrive within minutes. Here, we need to counteract on the basis of our common values, in full conformity with universal human rights and basic freedoms, as they are the very foundation of our work here at the United Nations. In the 61 years of the United Nations, this is only the third time that a woman has presided over the General Assembly, and the first woman to do so coming from the Arab world. While we congratulate her personally on her election to this high position, Austria also regards this election as a signal to all women in the world: the time has come for women to take their rightful place in all spheres of public life. We are called upon to engage politically at all levels, from the community level to the United Nations.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We have to find answers on how best to organize living together and provide orientation in a rapidly globalizing world that many regard as a menace. Ultimately, it is in the work place, at school, in defining the role of women in society, in seeking to create opportunities for young people and in the media that we decide about the outcome of the dialogue of cultures in real-life terms. I am therefore convinced that we must better integrate the dialogue of religions and cultures in the everyday work of the United Nations. This is a topic that we cannot leave to the street. The minefield of collective emotions is not a good place to discuss questions of belief. Complex feelings of frustration, humiliation and neglect can erupt in violence at the slightest trigger.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“This is because my 37 06-53005 country lies at the crossroads of many different cultures, at the heart of a continent marked by centuries of dividing lines. Our own difficult experience has certainly taught us that mutual tolerance and respect are universal values, which we must all uphold and that religious beliefs, by their very nature, must never be misused to justify violence. In view of our own experience, we are also convinced that the dialogue of religions and cultures is not a challenge confined only to the international field; this dialogue begins at home, within our own societies. Here, as well as at the global level, “United in diversity” must be our guiding principle. We have to keep our work down to earth.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“A conference of that kind could also examine the longer-term potential for regional security arrangements. As the Secretary-General has rightly pointed out, Africa must remain one of our main priorities. In particular, we must engage to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur. It is simply unacceptable that not even relief agencies are given access to help those most in need. It is deeply disturbing that there is no clear perspective for an end to fighting and suffering in the region. As many others, we urgently call upon the Government of the Sudan to accept the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur without delay. Austria is deeply aware of the need for the dialogue of cultures and religions.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“That is why we welcome the efforts of President Abbas to form a Government of national unity in the Palestinian territories and the recent high-level, direct contacts. Yesterday’s statement by the Middle East Quartet — in which the United Nations plays such a central role — is another encouraging signal. We hope that those decisions will help to alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people and to move the political process forward. Austria is convinced that the work of the Middle East Quartet should now pave the way towards a major peace initiative. We see great merit in an international Middle East conference along the lines of the 1991 Madrid Conference. We believe that such a forum should be open to regional partners willing to participate constructively in search of a comprehensive peace settlement.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The goal that Austria pursues in its relations with the Middle East is to realize the vision of Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in security as neighbours in two States, working towards a peaceful and economically successful common future. We know that the path towards that goal is rocky, but now we have reached a turning point. In the aftermath of the armed conflict in Lebanon, all parties in the region have agreed on the need for renewed engagement on the part of the international community. The European Union and its member States can and will make a substantive contribution. However, international efforts can only support — not serve as a substitute for — efforts by Israel and the Palestinians.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“As neighbours and friends, we urge both Belgrade and Pristina to engage in these negotiations constructively, in a results-oriented manner and with the necessary sense of realism. Our goal is a democratic and multi- ethnic Kosovo whose citizens can all live in security and dignity on the basis of mutual trust. In the same spirit, a confident, peaceful and prosperous Serbia, fully integrated into the family of European nations, is crucial for the stability of the whole region. In the Middle East, innocent civilians still suffer from the disastrous consequences of terror attacks and the indiscriminate use of force. Men, women and children on all sides must be given a real chance to live in peace and in an atmosphere of increasing mutual trust.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The iron curtain is a relic of the past. Today, we want the countries of South-East Europe and the Balkans to take their rightful place in Europe and to be included in the reunification process of our continent. The European experience is, profoundly, an experience of overcoming old and bitter conflicts and of the power of patient and peaceful transformation. Here, I wish to welcome to the General Assembly the newest European member and the 192nd Member of the United Nations, the Republic of Montenegro. In Europe, difficult issues need to be solved. Tomorrow, the Security Council will discuss the future status of Kosovo. Austria supports the efforts of President Martti Ahtisaari and his team in Vienna.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“By establishing the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the Peacebuilding Commission, we have given ourselves new instruments for carrying out an important part of our work in this phase of United Nations reform. Austria thanks Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, for his vision, tenacity and endurance. We owe it to his negotiating skills that institutional reform of the United Nations has been decisively set in motion. We pledge to devote the necessary determination to the reform measures that still need to be implemented, such as management reform, the review of United Nations mandates and the establishment of a rule of law assistance unit. Today, after decades of division, Europe is growing together again. That is the major achievement of the European Union. We have come a long way.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
““United in diversity”: this motto of the European Union expresses what we, the 25 — and soon to be 27 — member States of the European Union, demand from ourselves, as well as our aspirations for the United Nations. “United in diversity” is also a concrete management principle of our practical, everyday work to promote justice, peace, freedom and prosperity. As the host country to the only United Nations headquarters within the European Union, as President of the European Union during the first six months of 2006 and as a venue for the dialogue of religions and cultures, Austria has consistently aimed at translating this principle into practice, including by providing peacekeepers, despite recent 06-53005 36 bitter experiences such as the tragic death of Major Hans-Peter Lang while he was serving the United Nations in southern Lebanon.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Real freedom is within reach if we, through the United Nations, join our forces to promote peace, security and justice — not only freedom from want and freedom from fear, but eventually freedom to live in dignity for both women and men across the globe.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“That is true for societies at large, but it is also true for the smallest communities and 3 individual households. Full respect for the rights of women and children is therefore indispensable in the world of increased justice and equality we strive for. Too many women are victims of violence. We therefore welcome the study currently being prepared by the Secretary-General on all forms of violence against women. Much remains to be done. The Doha Development Round has to promote improved market access. In our efforts to protect the environment, we have to enhance the use of renewable energy and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. We also need to finalize the comprehensive anti-terrorism convention, as agreed at the world summit, and adopt and implement the counter- terrorism strategy proposed by the Secretary-General.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“In our view, we need a standing body with the ability to address urgent human rights issues swiftly and efficiently. That is no mere management question. What is at stake is the new Council’s capacity to make a difference for those in need. It is now crucial that negotiations start without delay in order to seize the momentum of the reform. Human rights are also a matter of education. In the framework of the Human Security Network, Austria has therefore developed a human rights manual that has been translated into all United Nations languages. It is used in training programmes in Austria and abroad and we encourage our partners to make use of that instrument. Strengthening human rights and the rule of law will increase security.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Austria’s clear commitment to effective multilateralism is at the very heart of our work in the European Union and the United Nations. It is in that spirit that we are a candidate for Security Council membership in 2009-2010. Promoting the rule of law is the key to an environment of trust within our societies. It enables individuals to enjoy a self-determined life. For many, the rule of law is synonymous with normality and predictability in their private and professional lives. We therefore welcome the proposed establishment of a rule of law assistance unit in the Secretariat to advise States in their efforts towards the rule of law. One of the main achievements of the summit was the decision to establish a human rights council, even if the concrete set-up remains to be defined.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)