YouSaid · the spoken record

Steven Vanackere

lines on the record: 28
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“Today I am also proud to introduce Belgium’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the period 2015-2018, to add our voice to those who fight impunity and discrimination; to give a voice to those men, women and children who worldwide see their rights curtailed; to turn the principle of non- indifference into a living reality. That is not for the sake of ourselves, but for the sake of those to whom we are accountable.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I am proud to announce that Belgium has decided to financially support the United Nations Mediation Support Unit and to actively engage with the President and with other Governments and non-governmental stakeholders to strengthen the role of United Nations mediation efforts. Some say that the United Nations is losing its power as a global platform for discussion and decision- making. Some say that global trends point towards a more fragmented structure of global governance. I do not think that that is true. I would certainly not think that it was desirable. Belgium remains a staunch supporter of the United Nations. Our current engagement in the Peacebuilding Commission and our bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 2019-2020 show our willingness to play our role in the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“No country, however modest in size it may be, should think that it cannot be part of the solution. Multilateralism is not about blocking solutions. It should lead to change, and should have at its centre the United Nations, which indeed has proved its added value in so many fields. Let me mention just one such field to which Belgium attaches particular importance: international conflict mediation. When the Secretary-General addressed us earlier this week he mentioned Guinea, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan as United Nations mediation successes. The list is undoubtedly longer, but so are the needs. I am therefore grateful to the President of the General Assembly for choosing mediation as a central theme for our debate. I strongly believe that the United Nations should continue to invest in strengthening its mediation capacities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“They range from terrorism to climate change and sustainable development — in which regard the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will ask a lot of our energy and creativity in the months ahead; from financial turmoil to terrible humanitarian tragedies like the one in the Horn of Africa; from banning cluster munitions to curbing nuclear proliferation, notably in North Korea and Iran; from guaranteeing the responsible and transparent exploitation of natural resources through schemes such as the Kimberley Process; through to fully implementing the indicators of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. For Belgium, the only way to address those challenges is through a multilateral approach. No country, however big or important, is capable of tackling global challenges alone.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is also clear that the Palestinian Authority has successfully progressed on the road to statehood, also thanks to the important and sustained contributions by the European Union and by Belgium, and that it has now reached a level of statehood that the world cannot ignore. Now is the time to show leadership. After all, that is what accountability towards the people of the region is all about. Many have said it before: the global challenges we face are multiple.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples have legitimate aspirations. People want statehood. People want to live in peace and security. These were the messages that President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu brought us yesterday. It must be possible to satisfy both legitimate needs. Over the past few months, the European Union and its High Representative have spared no effort to get a process of negotiations started. There is no alternative to negotiations, however difficult and risky the path may be. It is therefore my sincere hope that the steps proposed by the Quartet yesterday will be fully implemented.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As an important partner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my Government is contributing financially to the preparations for the elections, and demands that every candidate and every citizen be able to participate peacefully and with full respect for democratic rules. Let us finally look at the Middle East, a conflict region that has this week received much attention here in the Hall. Dag Hammarskjöld, to whom this week is dedicated and who himself devoted much of his effort to finding a lasting peace in that region, said more than half a century ago: “The building of a firm bridge … over which you can pass without any difficulties may be a long story”. More than 50 years later, we still do not have such a “firm bridge”. That is not acceptable. 11-51378 6 The parameters of a sustainable solution are well known.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The important part played by the United Nations, and in particular by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cannot be ignored. There are still significant challenges to be overcome. They include the continuation and strengthening of stabilization efforts in the east of country, the reform of the security sector, the establishment of the rule of law and countering impunity and sexual violence. Those are essential ingredients in the consolidation of democracy. The 2006 elections put the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the road to democracy. The elections to be held at the end of November should confirm that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is ready once and for all to move on from its bloody past.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That was because Belgium is convinced that the international community has the responsibility to take action when populations are exposed to imminent danger. Molière said long ago that we are responsible not only for what we do, but for what we do not do. Today, now that the immediate danger is fading, the international community has a responsibility to help in the reconstruction of Libya. Let us not forget that that responsibility is an integral part of the responsibility to protect. Belgium will contribute. Let us look at the rest of the African continent, whose peoples want their voice to be heard through free and fair elections. In that context, I wish to make specific mention of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, after years of violence, undeniable progress has been made.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Belgium will not stand idly by when people claim a future free of coercion and terror. Instead of non-interference, Belgium believes in non-indifference. Sovereignty cannot be a wall that leaders can use to violate the rights of their citizens. Sovereignty cannot be used as an excuse to run away from the responsibility to protect their people. This is one of the main lessons that I draw from recent events in the Arab world: that democracy and accountability are of a universal nature; that they cannot be claimed, and should not be claimed, by any nation or group of nations. Take the case of Libya, where the Security Council was able to prevent a massacre in Benghazi. Belgium decided, with almost unanimous support in Parliament, to take part in the military Operation Unified Protector, assuming the risk and the cost.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In the Durban spirit of non-discrimination, let me add: accountable to all the people, regardless of their ethnic background, their religion or belief, their gender, sexual orientation or social position. Worldwide, the challenges are sometimes of a different order. Let us be clear. Leaders who believe that they can cling to power through terror and suppression make a cruel mistake. Leaders who believe that pointing guns at their own people, that sending death squads on to the streets, that stoning women to death is acceptable, have lost touch with humankind and are bound to lose all support, not only from their own people but also from the world. Warlords who think that they can get away with sexual abuse of women and recruiting child soldiers should be stopped and held accountable by a united and firm international community.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Mass atrocities committed in Côte d’Ivoire and Libya have been referred to the International Criminal Court. From this place, I would like to launch a strong appeal to those Member States that have not yet done so to adhere to and shoulder the Rome Statute, as a contribution to a sustainable and accountable international legal system. But accountability is of course much broader. It also implies political accountability. Governments, 5 11-51378 politicians and civil servants are accountable and responsible to their citizens, be it through the ballot box or through constructive engagement with representative organizations. Let me be frank: this is also a challenge in the continent I come from, Europe. We, as European leaders, should not run away from the obligation of being accountable to the people we represent.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“And in Europe the arrest of Ratko Mladic confirms what leaders should know all too well: that war crimes will not remain unpunished for ever, that this world will not accept impunity. The past year has shown that, more than ever, history is on the side of those who, worldwide, strive for more accountability. They will find Belgium on their side. Accountability means first of all legal accountability: the obligation to implement international treaties and to respect international law. A former Nuremberg prosecutor, Benjamin Ferencz, stated, “There can be no peace without justice, no justice without law and no meaningful law without a Court to decide what is just and lawful under any given circumstance”. Some of the examples I have just mentioned illustrate that all too well. Ratko Mladic is on trial in The Hague.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Twelve months ago, I stood here and insisted upon the importance of the principle of accountability. This year there is even more reason to underscore this core value in national and international politics. In several countries of the Arab world — in Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere — people are transforming the outlook of their societies, moving towards more accountable leadership. On the African continent, in Côte d’Ivoire a leader who repeatedly plunged his country into violence did not stand the test of democratic legitimacy. With parliamentary elections scheduled to take place later this year, Côte d’Ivoire is now ready to make a fresh start.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this respect, I am glad to say that the European Union last week took the firm commitment to improve market access for Pakistan as a concrete measure to reinvigorate Pakistan’s economy. Allow me to conclude by recalling John F. Kennedy’s observation that the only reward for a politician is a good conscience. It may be true that not many other rewards should be expected for politicians. But even so, the conscience of a politician cannot free him from the obligation of being accountable to those he wants to serve, to the people he wants to represent and to the country he wants to lead.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The focus of the Belgian presence beyond 2011 will therefore likely be more and more on civilian assistance. Nobody can remain untouched by the devastation and human suffering caused by the floods in Pakistan. As members of the international community, we have to take on our responsibility. This “slow-motion tsunami”, as the Secretary-General called it, demands a long-term and strategic answer. Belgium therefore welcomes the three-step approach — the meeting last Sunday in New York, the meeting in Brussels next month of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, and the donor event in November — which clearly sets out the framework for reconstruction. We have to move beyond the stage of emergency aid.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Like in every country, the Afghan Government is held accountable by the Afghan people. We hope that last weekend’s elections contributed to this. However, the Afghan authorities do not stand alone. The international community, with a central role for the United Nations, assists the Afghan Government in enhancing the level of accountability to its population. Gradually, the Afghan authorities need to take on more responsibility, especially in the field of security. This transfer is welcome, but rather than being calendar- driven, it should be results-driven. The Belgian Government has decided to extend its current military and civilian presence until the end of 2011. We believe that 2011 will be of crucial importance in transferring further security 49 10-54833 responsibilities.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Congolese authorities have expressed their determination to persevere on this path in confirming their intention to hold elections in 2011. That deserves our full support. Despite all this progress, it is clear that many challenges remain. In spite of the rapprochement among its neighbours, the situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains worrisome. We were reminded of this by the shocking reports of widespread rape in Luvungi. The fight against impunity, which is crucial to my country, hinges first and foremost on the strengthening of the rule of law. It is one of the primary responsibilities of the authorities, but here, too, the support of the United Nations and the international community is crucial. Belgium calls on the international community to continue to assume its responsibility.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“My key message of increased responsibility and accountability also applies to certain situations in the world that I would like to address briefly: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The fiftieth anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been an opportunity to measure the unquestionable progress made over recent years. What is important as we move forward is the consolidation of peace and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Belgium is pleased that the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has incorporated the element of peacebuilding alongside that of peacekeeping. The elections in 2006 allowed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to choose the path of democratization.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is why United Nations peacekeeping missions with strong mandates, especially in the field of the protection of civilians, are important and should be given the necessary instruments, not least in the context of the fight against sexual violence. In this context, Belgium strongly supports Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and its goals of ensuring the participation, protection and promotion of women in peace and security. The concept of sovereignty cannot be used as a justification for human rights violations against the citizens of any country. On the contrary, sovereignty implies the responsibility to protect, and we support the efforts of the Secretary-General to further put this principle into practice.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Important discussions on the reform of the Security Council have been ongoing for quite some time. Belgium hopes that the negotiations will soon lead to concrete results. I have talked about institutions, and concerns about institutions are, of course, legitimate. But they should never lead us to forget that the first accountability of humankind is not created by abstractions or institutions, but by the face of a person in dire need; of the man, woman or child who is the victim of violence; of those who suffer the violence of nature, or from violence perpetrated by other men. When it comes to humanitarian protection and aid, responsibility and accountability have never been more necessary.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If we indeed accept the need to be accountable for the results we do or do not obtain, we should have the courage to evaluate and adapt the institutions and instruments at our disposal. In that respect, Belgium fully supports the efforts of the European Union to 10-54833 48 participate in a timely and effective manner in the work of the General Assembly. If it is to contribute effectively to global governance and to take up its global responsibility, the United Nations needs to continue its efforts to become more representative and more efficient. The creation of UN Women was a welcome development, and it has my country’s full support. Of course, gender will need to remain a mainstream theme influencing the actions of each and every United Nations institution.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am pleased and proud to announce that Belgium has recently destroyed its entire stock of cluster munitions. The Millennium Development Goals and climate negotiations are at the top of our twenty-first century agenda, and rightly so. We are all responsible for our planet. In fact, we are all accountable to current and future generations, especially in the field of poverty reduction and environmental protection. Let us not forget the ancient Native American saying: “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”. Creating a world that is equitable, a world that will last, is our common responsibility. Belgium is doing so by spending 0.7 per cent of its gross domestic product on development cooperation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“There is also a need for increased accountability in the field of security, another pillar of the United Nations. Over the past year, important progress has been made. The Review Conference of the Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty came to a substantial and balanced result. Respect for Non-Proliferation Treaty provisions and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency are accountability in practice. Unfortunately, the non-acceptance or non-respect of these provisions by countries like North Korea and Iran threatens the international non-proliferation regime. In particular, Belgium welcomes the entry into force earlier this year of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The prohibition of the production and use of cluster munitions has become the international standard.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If all countries were willing to follow up on this appeal, we would be a step closer to having an effective and accountable international system. Meeting our responsibilities in the field of human rights means ensuring efficient means and mechanisms to ensure their protection. We need to instil more coherence to our action. Unfortunately, today we focus our attention all too often on how to react to human rights violations while we should focus more on prevention and on the root causes of those violations. Human rights are universal. My country strongly opposes any form of relativism in this respect. International and regional human rights instruments need to be strengthened. The evaluation within the Human Rights Council in 2011 should give important momentum to that strengthening.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“2) It has indeed become common knowledge that human rights are unlikely to be protected in an insecure and underdeveloped environment and that economic development cannot be durably sustained in a society where there is no rule of law. Accountability in international affairs is about respecting international law — the rules that govern relations among States. Without a solid legal basis, international cooperation remains optional and falls short of the necessary transparency and long-term sustainability. Important steps have been taken to uphold the rule of law at the international level over the past decades. Belgium pleads for the universal acceptance of the competence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“At the heart of any form of governance lies responsibility, be it global or local, national or international. But this is not enough. Indeed, governance is not only about behaving responsibly; it is also about being accountable. This applies not only at the level of the single State, but also at the level of our United Nations. Human rights, security and development are at the core of the mandate of the United Nations. Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out the fact that the three are inextricably linked when he said: “There will be no development without security and no security without development. And both development and security also depend on respect for human rights and the rule of law.” (A/59/2005, annex, para.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“History has shown us that words can change the face of the world. It has proven that the spoken word can influence the future, but only when they go beyond rhetoric. What is our global governance worth if it does not go beyond the expression of ambitions and intentions? Words remain ineffectual if they are not followed up with action. We must therefore act. I say “we”, the nations united, because no country, no matter 47 10-54833 how large, can respond alone to the great challenges facing humanity. I say “we” because no large-scale problem is limited to a single country, leaving untouched the lives of those who live elsewhere. The obligation to act is a shared, global responsibility. That is why today my message is about responsibility and increased accountability.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)