YouSaid · the spoken record

Micheline Calmy-Rey,

lines on the record: 37
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“Switzerland is ready to contribute, and we look forward to working together with the new President of the General Assembly, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, whom I congratulate on his election and offer the full support of my country during this sixty-sixth session of the Assembly.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why Switzerland advocates, along with its partners in the so-called small five group, improvement of the Council’s working methods. The small five’s proposals are practical and concrete. They can be implemented immediately without any need to amend the United Nations Charter. 51 11-50692 However, the United Nations will be truly strengthened only if those countries that rightly insist on having greater participation also show themselves ready to accept greater responsibility for the Organization’s proper functioning and its financial situation. The United Nations is unique in being the only Organization that offers all the countries of the world the opportunity to join together to address the whole range of international challenges to peace and security, ranging from the protection of human rights to sustainable development.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Indeed, it is in a negotiated solution rather than military victory that a lasting solution will be found for the majority of conflicts. The Security Council plays an important role in the prevention of conflicts. Switzerland would welcome a stronger and more lasting commitment to preventive diplomacy on the part of the Security Council. If the Security Council is to be able to make a worthwhile contribution to peace and security, it must adapt to new realities and reflect the new political balance of power of the twenty-first century. I should also like it to be more transparent and open and to fulfil its duty of remaining accountable to the Member States. Ultimately, the decisions of the Security Council have a direct impact on all States in ways that are legally binding.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In order to return peace to the centre of the stage, influential people on both sides have attempted to implement a tangible and lasting vision. We gave them our support and facilitated a model agreement. The Geneva initiative is today a consolidated, detailed proposal compatible with internationally accepted parameters, including the Arab Peace Initiative. It remains at the disposal of the decision-makers, as well as of the populations whose right it is to demand peace. Preventing future wars was the goal of the founding of the United Nations. Today, it remains among the noblest objectives of this Organization. The past two decades have shown that the international community has every interest in finding ways to strengthen its efforts in the area of mediation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“For a few minutes, we dreamed together of “the young girl in Gaza who wants to have no ceiling on her dreams or the young boy in Sderot who wants to sleep without the nightmare of rocket fire” (A/65/PV.11, p. 12). We entertained the hope that, together with Palestine and Israel, we could succeed in reaching an agreement that would allow us to welcome a new Member to the United Nations — a sovereign and independent Palestine, living side by side in peace with Israel. Somberly, we note instead that the past year has been a year of deadlock with no progress but stagnation, and even a hardening of positions. For more than 60 years, the international community has failed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The so-called peace process has replaced peace.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We must extend the authority of State institutions and restore public services. We must help to protect the human rights of all and support transitional justice. We must also support immediate economic recovery measures. Only through such a wide-ranging programme, backed by an international community in which each member is ready to make a constructive contribution, will it be possible to create more favourable conditions for sustainable development. I note with regret that the spirit of optimism borne of the Arab Spring has not breathed new life into the Middle East peace process. We remember the words of President Obama before the General Assembly a year ago well — words that encouraged us to hope for change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Many nations are facing difficult changes today and the fact that relations among States and between the region and the rest of the world need to be based on new principles. This is a challenge to the countries themselves and to the new social groups driving the change: youth, women, the emerging middle classes and civil society as a whole. But it is also a challenge to the countries and Governments of the region, as well as for us all as Members of the United Nations. We must do our best to ensure that effective aid is provided quickly to the victims of unrest and violence. We must ensure that security and the rule of law are strengthened. We must contribute to inclusive political dialogue, promoting national reconciliation and legitimate efforts to create new constitutions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“More than any other international organization, the United Nations has the potential and the necessary 11-50692 50 conditions to support States in these efforts. Since its founding, the United Nations has developed into a dense institutional network. International governance remains fragmented and inefficient. Governance structures need to be strengthened if the United Nations is to succeed as the driving force towards sustainable development. Events in the Arab world have been a reminder that democracy and sustainable development go hand in hand. Indeed, it was ultimately the lack of political freedom, combined with injustice and a lack of economic prospects, that unleashed the fundamental changes that have so surprised us.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“How can we shape development policy that is of benefit to all? The per capita gross domestic product of Switzerland is 130 times higher than that of a country such as Mozambique. Why do the poorest countries benefit so little from globalization, and what can we do to change this? One-quarter of the world’s population consumes three-quarters of the available raw materials. How can we ensure that nearly 7 billion individuals have enough water, food and energy at affordable prices? And what happened to equity and social justice in the twenty-first century? It is up to us together to find the answers to these questions. That will require us to have a sense of responsibility and to be ready to reflect together on norms, values and priorities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“My country will therefore continue to support the efforts of Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon aimed at strengthening the United Nations and making the Organization more efficient. If we want to move ahead, if we are determined to overcome the varied and interdependent challenges facing the globalized world of today, and if we want to free individual human beings from fear and want, we must focus on concrete objectives. To that end, let us resolve to work tirelessly to overcome our differences in the interest of the nations and peoples we represent.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“My country will continue its efforts to improve transparency in sanctions committees and to ensure that the addition and removal of names of persons and entities on sanctions lists are in conformity with the principles of the rule of law and human rights. Efficient management and a better targeted use of available resources continue to pose a serious challenge for the Organization. Switzerland welcomes the determination of the Secretary-General to make the efficiency of the United Nations system one of his priorities. Given the progress made this year, but especially because of the challenges that remain, Switzerland believes that it is essential to continue the process of reform already under way.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We already know that results in this area can only be achieved through very considerable joint efforts by all partners concerned. The Organization has begun a process of reform in order to better respond to global challenges. So as to strengthen the credibility and efficiency of the efforts of the United Nations, we must demonstrate our determination to fully carry out those reforms. There was real progress in the past year, including the beginning of the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. That illustrates the ability of the United Nations to carry out ambitious reforms in order to respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century. Switzerland is advocating for an overall improvement in the working methods of the Security Council.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We stand today at the midpoint of the timetable for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Although there is no denying that progress has been made at various levels, there is still much to be done. All of us - Governments, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector must combine our efforts across a wide front that encompasses the national, regional and international spheres. Given the upcoming high-level dialogue on financing for development, I shall limit myself merely to recalling that all of us have a common interest in improving the efficiency and the impact of development assistance and in increasing the volume of resources made available for it through official channels.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It also has great moral and technical legitimacy and substantial operational capacity. Unfortunately the system remains fragmented and its transaction costs are very high costs which are to a great extent borne by beneficiary countries themselves. Major adjustments some of which are described in the report entitled “Delivering as One” need to be carried out promptly in the field so that United Nations operational bodies can meet the needs of partner countries more effectively. Negotiations on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, which are due to begin in a few weeks, will provide the appropriate framework to determine what measures are needed especially on the basis of the experiences of pilot countries that are applying the concept of “One United Nations”.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In our view, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes and the Kyoto Protocol provide the most appropriate starting points for all deliberations and negotiations on climate change. Addressing the economic, social and environmental aspects of development based on respect for human rights is both a challenge and a goal for all of us as we seek to build a world that is both freer and more secure. The international community has adopted many development goals in recent decades. However, additional efforts must still be made to ensure greater coherence in the operational system of the United Nations. With its funds, programmes and specialized agencies, the system has at its disposal an excellent network through which to ensure its presence on the ground.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We therefore need to join together to identify and implement commitments in order to better manage resources and efforts and to protect the biosphere. We also need to mobilize the United Nations system in order to respond to climate change effectively and coherently. Switzerland therefore hopes that we will set ambitious goals for ourselves in the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol. We are ready to make a substantial contribution to that collective effort, in which the entire international community must join. Switzerland believes that, in order to have legitimacy, any future international regime to address climate change will require the participation of all countries.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The risks to security, health and development are discussed in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Today environmental problems are a threat to security. At the political level, they require that we act responsibly as human beings. They also require the forming of alliances to protect our natural resources. Although we have established institutions and international mechanisms to combat underdevelopment and promote peace and respect for human rights, we have not done enough with regard to the environment. It is true that we have a series of international conventions and national programmes and legislation. But environmental governance is fragmented and lacks clear objectives.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Its permanent nature and the possibility of the Security Council referring situations to the Court as it did in the case of Darfur gives that institution a preventive effect. For that effect to be achieved, the Court must have the full support of the international community, which must ensure that all States cooperate fully with the Court. Human security policy also applies to environmental threats. The actions of humankind have changed the climate of the planet. Those changes are taking place on a global scale and are resulting in rising temperatures, radical changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels and a disruption to the balance of nature. Taken as a whole, those phenomena pose a major threat to millions of people and the places where people live, their cultures and their living conditions.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“My country hopes that resolution 1769 (2007), which for the first time envisages close cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, will provide the inhabitants of that region with an opportunity to live in peace and to achieve reconciliation after so many years of suffering. The situation in Myanmar is alarming. Switzerland calls on the Government of Myanmar to renounce all forms of violence against demonstrators and civilians. Switzerland favours dialogue among all the parties concerned, under the aegis of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General. Lastly, there can be no peace or security without international justice. Switzerland supports in particular the work of the International Criminal Court.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Coherent overall solutions to the crises that are currently affecting the international order cannot be implemented unless we take into account the interests of all the communities concerned. Switzerland does all it can to promote dialogue with all parties. That is particularly the case in Lebanon, where we are offering the political forces a forum in which to seek a way out of the current political crisis in the interest of long- term stability. Recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories have reminded us once again, with tragic intensity, of the need to respect those principles. In that regard as well, the involvement of all parties is necessary if there is to be a lasting solution. The same can be said for the situation in Darfur.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The International Criminal Court, the Human Rights Council and the Anti-personnel Landmines Convention were all the result of broad-based coalitions of countries in all regions of the world. However, dialogue alone will not be enough. Experience has shown that, without concrete objectives, debates between players with very different views of the world can sometimes serve to accentuate differences. In contrast, efforts to devise and implement actions that are concrete and practical make for cohabitation between different communities. It is for that reason that Switzerland supports such initiatives as the Alliance of Civilizations, along with the implementation plan proposed by the secretariat of the Alliance.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The focus now must be first and foremost on the security of the individual. Accordingly, Governments and non-State armed groups alike are called on to respect certain basic rules common to all. If we are to achieve results, confrontation must give way to dialogue and efforts to find solutions. Negotiation, dialogue and diplomacy are the tools for achieving success. We must overcome the barriers that exist between different sectors and disciplines in the field of international relations. We must develop alliances based on shared values. That approach should enable us to find solutions by cutting across regional, ideological and cultural boundaries. The recent past has shown what can be achieved.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“How can we translate our responsibilities into action? In attempting to answer those questions, we have to acknowledge two facts. The first is that respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance are the prerequisites both to achieving lasting peace and security and to protecting the environment. We know now that systematic violations of human rights and flagrant deficiencies in the rule of law are often the source of conflicts. The second concerns the nature of conflicts. On the ground, battle lines are being blurred. State forces are confronting non-State armed groups. Warlords, terrorists and criminal gangs dictate the rules. Civilians rather than soldiers are the primary targets. It is no longer possible to limit security policy to the traditional State framework.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“At the outset, Sir, I should like to congratulate you on your election as President of the General Assembly, and to assure you of my country’s full support during the sixty-second session. All of us here share the hope for a more peaceful and harmonious world. At a time when civilian populations are the targets of suicide attacks and sophisticated weapons, when children are forced to become soldiers, and climate change poses a threat to the survival of our planet, how are we meeting our responsibilities? Where does the responsibility lie when millions of men and women are suffering from malnutrition and their most basic needs are not being met, when injustice is everywhere, and when the environment is being destroyed? How can we overcome those scourges assailing human beings throughout the world?”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Last autumn, we embarked together on a major undertaking: adapting the multilateral system so that it can address the new problems and challenges of the twenty-first century, with a strengthened and more efficient United Nations at its centre. All reform requires a subtle mix of ambition, realism and patience. We have come part of the way. The basic itinerary was set at the summit. We must now pursue the path of reform, give shape to our early decisions, and resolve persisting differences. That has to be one of the main objectives of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, which has just begun.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We invite the Member States to support the enlargement of the mandate of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, so that it is able to respond to requests for assistance from the specialized agencies. Especially close to my heart is the importance of combating cases of abuse and sexual exploitation committed in the context of United Nations peace operations. Such abuses are a grave violation of human rights and of the values that the Organization espouses. They damage the credibility of the Organization and hinder the accomplishment of its missions on the 19 ground. Switzerland advocates zero tolerance on this question. We strongly support the measures that have recently been taken, in particular an increase in the number of resident investigators deployed on the ground under the authority of the Office of Internal Oversight Services.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“In that context, the three following factors must be taken into account: first, the political competence and responsibility to decide the budget belong to the General Assembly; secondly, the Secretary-General's management authority must be extended; and, thirdly, the internal oversight bodies must be strengthened. The scandals that have tarnished the image of the United Nations in recent months underscore the urgent need to strengthen the means as well as the financial and operational independence of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Furthermore, given the increasing complexity of their task, we must strengthen cooperation between the various oversight bodies, which are spread across the United Nations system.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Furthermore, in the composition of the Commission, we need to ensure gender parity. Peacekeeping, humanitarian action and development are parallel activities and should not be rigidly divided into successive phases. In drafting its mandate, we should ensure that the Commission has the ability to advise all the institutional actors concerned at any step of the peace and reconstruction process. We cannot speak of improving the efficiency of the Security Council without discussing the improvements that have to be made in the internal management of the United Nations. The Summit Outcome document sets out the most urgently needed measures. They must be implemented without delay.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The principal mission of the Peacebuilding Commission will be to bring those players from the fields of peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and development together to define joint strategies for future action. The Commission will include representatives of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as representatives of the principal financial donors and troop contributors. Switzerland believes that the main United Nations institutions concerned should also take part in the deliberations. For instance, it would be useful to include the Chairman of the United Nations Development Group, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It would also be useful to bring on board, as needed, experts from civil society, the academic world or the private sector.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“In particular, it is important to ensure the right to be heard, which is a fundamental human right. Switzerland, together with other countries, intends to present a draft resolution on improving the working methods of the Security Council. Another important institutional reform decided at the summit is the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission. Switzerland has contributed its ideas to that project over the past few months. It welcomes the creation of that body, which will address a key area of United Nations activities and fill a clear institutional gap. Once a conflict has ended, the main players - institutions, States and civil society - must work together to rebuild the country.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The task of codifying and developing international law should remain the primary responsibility of the General Assembly, which includes all Member States. The Council is authorized by the United Nations Charter to take emergency measures to maintain international peace and security. However, that authorization cannot be interpreted as including the power to impose legislative obligations, that is, obligations that are general in scope, abstract and have no time limits. Thirdly, on the subject of Security Council sanctions, the procedures for establishing and revising the lists of targeted individuals and entities must be improved. It is unacceptable that people who are subject to sanctions that affect their basic rights are denied all right of appeal.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Improvements in the working methods of the Security Council must be geared towards strengthening its capacity to efficiently exercise its responsibilities for international peacekeeping and security. In May Switzerland presented a series of specific recommendations that were well received by many Member States. I would like to focus on three specific proposals. First, in accordance with the principle of the responsibility to protect, the right of veto must not be 18 exercised in cases of genocide, ethnic cleansing or other grave and large-scale violations of international humanitarian law or human rights. I believe that that principle is sufficiently clear not to require further elaboration. Secondly, the Security Council should refrain, as far as possible, from exercising legislative functions.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“A serious reform of the Council's working methods would have an immediate and beneficial effect for all Member States. New and more detailed rules should be adopted in a General Assembly resolution and then written into the Security Council's rules of procedure. Reform of the Security Council’s working methods must achieve several goals: it should increase the possibilities for participation by States that are not members of the Council; it should ensure greater accountability of the Council to all the Member States of the United Nations; and, finally, it should improve transparency and find new ways for the Council to hear other points of view. Efficiency is a fourth criterion that needs to be taken into account.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Switzerland has also been actively involved in the reform of the Security Council, an organ that embodies both the strengths and the weaknesses of the United Nations. No one can deny that the composition of the Security Council should better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. Enlargement of the Security Council will make it more representative and will strengthen the authority of its decisions. However, enlargement of the Security Council, which has been the subject of intensive debate over the past few months, is only one aspect of the reform that needs to be made. It should not overshadow another indispensable part of the reform: the need to improve the Council’s working methods. For most countries, opportunities to sit on the Security Council are few and limited in time.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Finally, to ensure real added value, it should incorporate those instruments that constitute the strength of the present Commission without reproducing its defects. The profile and working methods of the Human Rights Council should be established promptly. We have given ourselves until the end of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly to do this, but the ideal solution would be to complete the work before the next session of the Commission on Human Rights, which starts next March. We now need a clearer picture of the process which the President of the General Assembly intends to conduct. We assure him of our strong support in this task. Switzerland hopes that the future Human Rights Council can start its work soon, and it invites all States to strive towards this goal.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We also regret its overly selective character and the application of double standards, which undermine its authority. Switzerland welcomes the decision made by the Member States at the summit to replace the Commission on Human Rights with a Human Rights Council. However, we regret that it has not been possible, even at this stage, to establish some of the working methods on which there was wide agreement. For Switzerland, this Human Rights Council should be a principal organ of the United Nations or should at least be directly subordinate to the General Assembly. It should convene periodically, be based in Geneva and should work in close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It should be of a size that guarantees both its legitimacy and the capacity to work effectively.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Eliasson, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly and to assure you of my country's full support during this sixtieth session of the General Assembly. Reform will be a central theme at the Assembly's sixtieth session. Allow me to focus on four institutional reforms, by which Switzerland sets great store. They are, first of all, the creation of a Human Rights Council; secondly, reform of the Security Council; thirdly, the Peacebuilding Commission; and, fourthly, internal management of the United Nations. The creation of a Human Rights Council is crucial. The Commission on Human Rights in its present form suffers from various defects. We deplore its weak capacity to respond to grave human rights violations.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)