YouSaid · the spoken record

Guido Westerwelle

lines on the record: 52
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
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 Germany’s twin obligation: a strong united Europe in the world and a strong, effective United Nations for the world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Everyone using the Internet should be able to be sure that their rights are being respected worldwide vis-à-vis private companies as well as vis-à-vis States. Not everything that is technically possible must be allowed to happen, nor is everything technically possible legitimate. Germany remains firmly anchored in Europe. Europe is a community of shared cultures, bound together by a common destiny. Close union among the nations of Europe is and will remain the response to our history and to our future in a world of change. German foreign policy is firmly embedded in European foreign policy. Europe will continue to use its clout, its influence and its resources to uphold peace and justice, to encourage development and cooperation and to promote climate protection and disarmament throughout the world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We want to contribute to a global process in which we — in the North, South, East and West learn from each other and develop joint solutions by working together. Germany will continue in future to use its economic clout and full political strength to promote peace and the balancing of interests. The digital age brings with it entirely new opportunities and challenges. We need an Internet in which freedom, security and the protection of privacy are appropriately reconciled. Just as we have to regulate international financial flows in order to prevent global crises, so we need binding rules and standards for global data flows. That is why Germany has submitted to the Human Rights Council an initiative regarding the protection of the right to privacy in the digital age.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In formulating the future agenda, greater attention needs to be paid to human rights protection and good governance than has been the case in the past. The new agenda must incorporate all three dimensions of sustainability and take account of economic, social and environmental aspects. With such a comprehensive approach we can also strengthen the fragile statehood in many countries and eradicate safe havens for terrorists. Social stability is the best protection against radicalization and extremism. German foreign policy is a policy for peace. It focuses on crisis prevention. We Germans accept our responsibility for international peacekeeping. We focus on personal and social development. We focus on strengthening civil society.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I am gratified that it was not military solutions but the struggle for political and diplomatic solutions that came to the fore. The international community must continue to follow such an approach. Beyond crisis diplomacy, the United Nations is the central forum for setting binding objectives for the international community. Just a few days ago, the General Assembly agreed on the next steps for drawing up a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Germany wants to make a contribution in that regard with its experience of combining economic prosperity and promoting political participation and sustainable management. Sustainability and combating poverty are not only key social issues; they are also key foreign policy issues.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“However, the new words coming out of Tehran must be followed by deeds, and not at some unspecified time in the future, but right now. But, I repeat: a fresh start has been made. We welcome the great commitment shown by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry in giving fresh impetus to the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas deserve our respect for their courage in embarking together on that course. They have our full support as they pursue that course towards a negotiated agreement. Only a negotiated two- State solution can reconcile the legitimate interests of the two sides. This week in New York has been an encouraging one for the world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The tragedy in Syria underlines the extraordinary and growing importance attached to disarmament aimed at eliminating weapons of mass destruction and the strengthening of the non-proliferation regimes. Attaining a world free of weapons of mass destruction is our generation’s prime task for the future. Disarmament is a crucial issue for the future of humankind. Iran must allay the international community’s doubts about the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. We welcome Iran’s announcement this week that it is prepared to do so. The talks with the Iranian Government were encouraging. They open up a window of opportunity. Now it is imperative that we rebuild trust. Germany is ready to conduct negotiations in a constructive manner.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To date, Germany has made available more than €420 million to ease the worst of the suffering of the Syrian people. But despite all of the outside help, millions of Syrians are fleeing. Ever more people are at acute risk of starvation, and very soon they will also be at the mercy of the cold weather. They do not have even the most basic medical care. We must seize every opportunity to provide humanitarian access to the suffering population as quickly as possible. Amid all the devastation and hatred, the United Nations and its staff are the face of compassion and, for many Syrians, the only hope. I would like expressly to pay tribute to their work and commitment.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Germany is prepared to provide financial and technical help to destroy those chemical weapons. A world without weapons of mass destruction would be a better world. We must take advantage of the opportunity for a political process offered by the agreement on destroying the chemical weapons. After all, people in Syria are still being killed every day by conventional weapons. But there will be no military solution in Syria. Only a political solution can bring lasting peace to Syria. That would include an immediate ceasefire. I am pleased that there is at last a timetable for a possible peace conference, details of which still have to be clarified even after yesterday’s decision in the Security Council. Only with a substantive political process can we counter the destabilization of the entire region.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The use of chemical weapons, ascertained by the United Nations, is a crime against civilization. Its terrible dimensions have consequences that extend far beyond Syria. All the facts available to us show that the regime is responsible for the use of chemical weapons. The use of chemical weapons cannot be allowed to go unpunished. That we owe not only to the victims in Syria, but also to future generations. Those responsible for using such weapons must be called to account before the International Criminal Court, which must at last be able to begin its independent investigations. We welcome the agreement reached in the Security Council yesterday. The chemical weapons in Syria must be completely destroyed in accordance with a firmly agreed timetable.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The best guarantees for a society’s internal cohesion are respect for individual human rights, the triumph of the rule of law over the arbitrary, and broad economic, social and political participation on the part of the people. Germany is committed to democratic change and to respect for human and civil rights, not because we want to take the moral high ground but because we have learned from experience — from the painful experience of our own history. In Syria the people took to the streets to protest against a repressive regime. For more than two years now, the regime’s response has been brutal violence, which has brought countless deaths, immeasurable suffering and terrible destruction on the Syrian people and is now jeopardizing stability in the entire region.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“This is a call not only to the United Nations itself, but also to each and every individual Member State. Only if we are prepared to compromise and are willing to act together will we be able to make the United Nations strong. Germany remains committed to the United Nations. A strong United Nations is in Germany’s interests. Our cultural differences and diverse traditions are not going to vanish in the age of globalization, but it is not only the world’s markets that are becoming ever more closely interconnected: people’s expectations, hopes and ideas are globalizing too. The developments in the Arab world have shown us that a country’s stability depends primarily not on the stability of the Government but on social stability.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“A Security Council without permanent seats for Africa and Latin America does not reflect the realities of today’s world. A Council in which the emerging and highly populous region of Asia is represented by only one permanent seat does not reflect the realities of today’s world. Nor does it reflect the reality of tomorrow. Germany, with its partners Japan, India and Brazil, is prepared to assume greater responsibility. In essence, it is a matter of strengthening the United Nations. The authority of the United Nations depends on its being representative. We are seeking reform of the United Nations so that its power to build consensus, establish global rules and act effectively in response to crises and conflicts can be demonstrably strengthened.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Exactly 40 years ago, the two German States joined the United Nations. For Germans, that marked our full return to the community of nations. Germany supports the United Nations as the beating heart of a global order rooted in cooperation, peaceful compromise and cooperative solutions. The world has changed dramatically since then. New centres of economic and political power are emerging. In recent years, Germany has established new strategic partnerships with the new global players in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The setting of our meeting today is different from the usual one. The United Nations is undergoing renovation, which must not be restricted merely to the buildings. The United Nations must reflect the world as it is, not as it used to be. Only then will it be fit for the challenges of our age.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Above all, however, that change brings with it great opportunities, especially for young people. In this changing world we need a clear compass, and our compass is freedom. The yearning for freedom is rooted in people’s hearts all over the world. They are our partners in building a better future.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It needs strong and representative institutions. We will weaken the Security Council if we fail to adapt it to today’s world. Together with our partners in the G-4 group, India, Brazil and Japan, Germany is prepared to assume greater responsibility. It cannot be that Latin America and Africa have no permanent seats on the Security Council or that dynamic Asia has only one. That does not reflect the realities of today’s world, and it definitely does not reflect the realities of tomorrow. The challenges are too great for us to simply accept the status quo. The world is not only growing together; the pace of change is increasing. We are living in an age of breathtaking change. That change brings with it risks and new dangers, as well as new uncertainties.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The way out of the debt crisis is difficult. It requires spending discipline, solidarity and growth. We will continue down that road. Europe is growing closer together. Europe is consolidating. Europe will emerge from the crisis stronger than ever before. Europe will remain a force to be reckoned with as the world’s largest donor of development assistance, as an inspiration for peaceful regional cooperation, as a pioneer in climate action and disarmament, as a champion of rules-based globalization and as a driving force for United Nations reform. My country’s peaceful unification more than 20 years ago also signified the reunification of Europe. Since then, the world has changed dramatically. Today, we find ourselves on the threshold of a multipolar world. The world with its interdependencies needs a cooperative order.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Those challenges must not lead us to lose sight of the necessity of a negotiated peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. There is a danger that the goal of a two-State solution, the only solution that can reconcile the legitimate interests of the two sides, will slip away. The two sides must build new trust. At the same time, they must refrain from doing anything that might jeopardize a two-State solution. Germany’s foreign policy is a policy for peace. Germany’s foreign policy is anchored in Europe. Many have been wondering whether Europe can successfully manage its sovereign debt crisis and whether it will continue to play a leading role in the world. The answer is an emphatic yes. Europe has a great responsibility in the world. And Germany is aware of its responsibility for Europe.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“So far, the talks during the last few months have not made enough progress towards reaching a solution. The European Union’s three plus three group has put forward proposals for a substantive negotiation process. We still await a serious response from Iran. We want a political and diplomatic solution. Time is short. Israel’s security is at stake. Indeed, stability in the entire region is at stake. However, that is also about averting the risk of a nuclear arms race with unforeseeable consequences for international security. I call on Iran to stop playing for time. The situation is serious indeed, and time is running out. We want a political solution, and we are putting all our efforts into achieving that goal.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is in the common interest of the international community. For there is one thing that becomes ever more apparent, and that is that without development, there can be no security and without security there can be no development. That applies to our engagement in Afghanistan, which we will continue after the withdrawal of combat troops in 2014. It also applies to the efforts to bring stability to Somalia and Yemen, to the Great Lakes region and to the countries of the Sahel. We are very concerned by the still-unresolved dispute about Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran has still not produced evidence of the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. It has also failed to date to provide the transparency that the International Atomic Energy Agency has long demanded.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“At Germany’s initiative, during the last week in September, the Security Council welcomed intensifying cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States (see S/PRST/2012/20). That is an acknowledgement of the Arab League’s constructive and positive role. We also pay tribute to the efforts to gain freedom in other parts of the world. As a result of the remarkable opening-up process under way in Myanmar, the country is emerging from isolation and gradually leaving repression behind. We criticize and strongly condemn the ongoing repression in our own neighbourhood, in Belarus. In many other Asian and African countries, which have struck out in a new direction, we are supporting political transformation by providing assistance for economic and social development.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The risk of a conf lagration engulfing the entire region is growing. Together with our partners and the United Nations, we are helping the many refugees in Syria itself and in neighbouring countries. All Syrians who want their country to have a democratic and pluralistic future based on the rule of law must work together. We support the efforts of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, to find a political approach. Despite the escalating violence and despite the deadlock in the Security Council, we must not stop working on a political solution. During the past 20 months, the Arab League has demonstrated ever more clearly its adherence to the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. We welcome that and we want to build on it.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We are not going to turn our backs on them, but we will be open to them. Our values and our interests compel us to take the side of those around the world who are fighting peacefully for freedom, dignity and self- determination. Education and work, investment and growth — our offer of a transformational partnership still stands. I will never forget the Syrian father who held out his emaciated son to me during my visit to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan. Such suffering renders us speechless, but it also impels us to act. To this very day, the Security Council has failed to live up to its responsibility for the people in Syria. I express that criticism with great sadness. The deadlock in the Security Council must not continue. Every day, the violence perpetrated by the Bashar Al-Assad regime is escalating.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The vast majority of people oppose violence. The people who have taken to the streets, as well as their political representatives gathered here in New York this week, have expressed that forcefully. It is not a clash of civilizations. It is a clash within societies and civilizations. It is also a struggle for the soul of the movement for change in the Arab world. It is a struggle between open and closed minds, between moderates and radicals, between understanding and hate. It is a clash between those seeking peace and those prepared to resort to violence. The extremists want to prevent the emergence of freedom by inciting violence. They must not be allowed to succeed. Germany has taken a stand in that struggle. We will continue to expand our support for people in the Arab world.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We will always stand by those who, wherever they are in the world, call for freedom of opinion, religion, the press and artistic freedom. Freedom has a daughter; it is tolerance. And freedom has a son; it is respect, respect for other people, respect for what is important to others, respect for what is sacred to others. Freedom therefore does not mean freedom from responsibility. Freedom always means freedom to shoulder responsibility. We understand the many devout people who feel wounded by the recent shameful anti-Islam video. However, legitimate criticism and sincere indignation cannot be used to justify acts of violence or destruction. Some would have us believe that the burning of embassy buildings are proof of a clash of civilizations. We must not allow ourselves to be deluded by such arguments.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Freedom, dignity, self-determination and the hope of a better life were the driving forces behind the movement for change in the Arab world. As Germans, we know from our own bitter experience that freedom is not a gift. It has to be won and constantly defended. Freedom is more than just freedom of thought. It is freedom to express one’s own opinion and to voice public criticism. For that reason alone, freedom is not always comfortable. The first article of the Basic Law, Germany’s Constitution, states that human dignity shall be inviolable. That applies to every single individual, regardless of their origin, culture, creed or sex. As Germans, we have experienced what it is to lack freedom in the course of our own history.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly considered United Nations reform, but no real progress has been achieved so far. We welcome the fact that the new President intends to again personally champion this reform. We will do everything we can to him. In September 38 years ago, two German States were admitted to the United Nations. At that time, my predecessor in office, Walter Scheel, stated before the Assembly: 51 11-51384 “Where there is a question of international cooperation, of preserving peace and of protecting the rights of man, there the Federal Republic of Germany will always be found. If there is anything we have learned from our own bitter experience it is this: man is the measure of all things”. Man is the measure of all things. Germany remains committed to this principle.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“By the end of this year, our planet will have more than 7 billion inhabitants. In that world, Germany will place its hopes in a strong United Nations as a forum for political consensus-building, a source of rules with international legitimacy, and a player in the crisis regions of this world. The United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights offer more people than ever before the direction and inspiration they need to strive for a cooperative world order and a fairer global community. However, the United Nations has to adapt to our changing world. Only then will the decisions made here gain political force, effectiveness and acceptance. New centres of power are emerging in global politics. Their economic dynamism has prompted them to demand political participation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“While people are seizing the opportunity to build a better future for themselves in freedom and self- determination in a growing number of countries around the world, millions in the Horn of Africa are struggling to survive. The United Nations has played a valuable role in providing swift humanitarian assistance. Germany is doing everything in its power in this and many other crises to alleviate the suffering. The collapse of State authority and the impact of climate change are aggravating the already disastrous situation. Germany will continue to be in the vanguard of the fight against climate change. As with disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, as well as the protection of human rights, the fight against climate change is an integral element of preventive diplomacy. It is part of a farsighted peace policy.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Secondly, the international community will remain engaged in Afghanistan after 2014. Afghanistan will continue to need economic initiatives and more regional cooperation to help strengthen its sovereignty. The New Silk Road initiative, which we launched here in New York last week, is intended to serve this aim. Thirdly, Afghanistan’s internal reconciliation and support from States in the region are critical to lasting peace. The brutal murder of former President Rabbani shows that the reconciliation process will continue to suffer setbacks. Nevertheless, it must and will go on. Germany will play its part on the road to Bonn.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let us make use of the impetus provided by the intensive efforts here in New York for the benefit of the people of Israel and the Palestinian territories. The international community has worked tirelessly for years to ensure that Afghanistan ceases to harbour a threat to international peace and security. Many, indeed too many people have already lost their lives as a result of that threat. On 5 December in Bonn, under Afghanistan’s chairmanship, we will discuss the way forward. The Conference will focus on three major issues. The first is the complete handover of responsibility for security. This summer saw the start of a process whereby the Afghans are to gradually assume responsibility for security in their country by 2014. This is a responsible handover of responsibility.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The task now is to channel the energy and pressure of recent days into a constructive process. The two sides have been called on to come forward within three months with comprehensive proposals on territory and security, and to refrain from all provocative actions. The international community will continue to support the difficult road to peace. This includes the Moscow conference as part of the negotiating timetable for the coming months. I would like to express my appreciation to all who have worked so hard in the past few days to create this opportunity for a constructive solution. As a European, I would like to extend my special thanks to the European Union’s High Representative, Lady Ashton.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let there be no doubt, however, that the security of Israel is and will continue to be part of the raison d’être of the Federal Republic of Germany. Peace 11-51384 50 between Israelis and Palestinians is possible. A Palestinian State is possible. Two States existing peacefully side by side are possible. However, they can be achieved only through negotiations. The statement issued by the Middle East Quartet on Friday identified the milestones along the way. Germany worked hard for that Quartet statement and staunchly supports it. The confrontation of words here in New York must not be allowed to lead to an escalation in violence in the Middle East. I therefore call on both sides, Palestinians and Israelis, to enter into direct negotiations without delay. On Friday, the two sides reaffirmed their desire for a negotiated peace.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“However, these interests are certainly not irreconcilable. They can be overcome if the parties involved are willing to do so. Germany is backing a two-State solution. We support a Palestinian State that will allow the Palestinians to live in dignity and self-determination and that is independent, sovereign, contiguous and democratic, as well as politically and economically viable. Over the past few years, we have been heavily involved in the practical development of this statehood by helping to build an administration, infrastructure and vocational training, as well as politically, in the German-Palestinian Steering Committee. And we do not want that State to be founded sometime in the distant and indeterminate future.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Syrian Government has responded to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people with brutal force. Germany will continue to press for a Security Council resolution. This is not only about showing solidarity with the Syrian people; it is also about the credibility of the international community. If the repression continues, we Europeans will further tighten sanctions against the regime. The Syrian people should be free to shape their own future. This week has been dominated by the unresolved conflict in the Middle East. On Friday here in New York, President Abbas expressed the Palestinians’ expectations and understandable frustration with the lack of progress made (see ). On the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s justified desire to exist in peace within secure borders (see ). Both sides have legitimate interests.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“People who take to the streets for freedom and self- determination must see first-hand that they, too, can succeed with the help of their ideas, their creativity and their commitment. Germany is therefore working not only for close partnerships but for increased market access. We want to foster change through increased trade. We are offering investments, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of an open and successful society. Most important of all, however, will be to offer young people education and training so that they can make the most of their opportunities. That is of key importance to successful transitions and fresh starts in those countries. The courageous men and women of Syria deserve a clear sign of our solidarity.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We Germans offer our support for the reforms in Morocco and Jordan, the political awakening in Egypt and Tunisia, and the fresh start in Libya following the overthrow of the dictator. Every country and every society will find its own way into the modern world, either through revolution or through reform. We want to provide advice and support. We want to help create an independent judiciary, a pluralistic media landscape, and a vibrant civil society. We want to help people come to terms with their past and we want to support the constitutional process. Above all, however, we want to assist in the crucial process of building a new social and economic order, for we all know that the success of social change largely hinges on economic success.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That takes time and patience. However, even the longest road begins with the very first step. This is a year of momentous steps. We have not forgotten the moving images of people who won dignity and self-respect by their own efforts, the proud faces on Bourguiba Boulevard in Tunis and in Tahrir Square in Cairo. Those people want to shape their own future, and their yearning is by no means limited to the Arab world. In Belarus, too, people long for an end to repression and tyranny and for the opportunity to fully develop their individual personalities. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification more than 20 years ago, Germany experienced for itself the joy of a peaceful revolution. Today we have a fundamental interest in the success of the political awakening in the southern Mediterranean region.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Seldom has people’s yearning for freedom, dignity and self- determination played such a dominant role as it has this year. Until now, we have experienced globalization 49 11-51384 first and foremost through the ever-greater integration of the world economy. Today, we see that globalization means so much more; that it has also brought about a globalization of values. Those are the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the inalienable rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In North Africa and in the Arab world, millions of people have shaken off the shackles of decades of oppression. They want freedom, democracy and human rights, as well as better lives for themselves and their families. That road is anything but easy. A new political system must mature in order to become stable.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Everyone wins in the competition for the best ideas; in a clash of cultures, there can only be losers. United Europe can make a valuable contribution on our continent and beyond. Germany is working to ensure that, in the future, the European Union shall cooperate even more closely with other regions in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and live up to its global responsibility. Germany is the third-largest development cooperation donor. We have practically recovered from the financial and economic crisis and are on the right track due to our robust economic growth. This strong economy makes Germany a strong global partner. If all countries, small and large, work together, we will be able to master the pressing challenges of our world. They can count on Germany. They can rely on Germany.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are working hard to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and to bring peace and stability to Somalia. Reconstruction efforts in devastated regions cannot bring success overnight. Similarly, for societies torn by war and civil strife, the route to life in dignity leads through peace and reconciliation. There can be true peace only when human rights are respected. For us, such principles as the rule of law, freedom of opinion, freedom of the press and respect for inalienable human rights are essential. The protection of human rights remains a task for all societies. It is a fundamental tenet of the United Nations that women determine their own lives and help decide the fate of their countries. Ethnic or religious minorities enrich their societies. Tolerance is one of Germany’s guiding principles.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am proud that my fellow Germans donate so generously at times of greatest need. Humanity and solidarity are global values; humanity and solidarity make no distinction based on skin colour or religious beliefs. When the tsunami devastated coastlines around the Indian Ocean, when the Haiti earthquake destroyed the work of decades, or just recently, when the horrific floods in Pakistan left havoc in their wake, we Germans shared the victims’ pain and helped in the most heartfelt way possible. We will stand by Pakistan over the coming months and years to ensure that the country has a promising economic future. We are working towards a peaceful order in the Sudan, now and after the referendum early next year. We are looking for ways of achieving stable conditions in Yemen and are particularly active in the Friends of Yemen group.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are committed to a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East. Germany is one of the major supporters of a peaceful and secure Afghanistan. As we agreed in London and Kabul, we want to transfer security responsibility for the whole of Afghanistan to the Afghan Government by 2014. To make progress in that country, so long ravaged by war and civil strife, effective measures must be taken to prevent the violence. However, military means alone will not bring success. We favour a comprehensive approach and above all a political solution. All sides now need the courage and the stamina to engage in reconciliation. The German Government assists when people anywhere in the world are struck by natural disasters and emergencies. However, a country’s conscience is to be found in the hearts of its citizens.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Lasting peace will be achieved only through a two-State solution, with Israel and a Palestinian State living peacefully side by side within secure borders. Iran, like every other country, naturally has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, the Tehran leadership itself has sown doubt about the civilian nature of its nuclear programme. Iran, by demonstrating openness and transparency, can allay that doubt. Our offer of dialogue still stands. It is now up to Iran to grasp our outstretched hand. 10-55103 36 The conference aimed at establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, planned for 2012, will be a major opportunity to strengthen peace and security in the region. Germany is encouraging all countries in the region to take part to ensure that the conference is a success.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our world will be a more secure place when the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty enters into force and the production of fissile material is ended once and for all. German peace policy stands for the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts. Germany is doing its utmost to ensure that the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians are a success. We will continue to strengthen the forces of reason and reconciliation. During this vital period for the peace process in particular, I urge both sides to refrain from taking any action that might block the path to peace. We condemn any form of violence that has the sole aim of torpedoing the peace talks. At the same time, we call for the moratorium on settlement construction to be extended.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If we work together to maintain this momentum, it will be in our power to ensure that this decade does not see a build-up of arms but becomes a decade of disarmament. A world without nuclear weapons is a long-term vision, but even a marathon begins with the first step. There is now movement in the disarmament debate. The group of States founded here in New York on Wednesday to advance disarmament and arms control does not stand alone. For over 10 years, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva was not even able to agree on an agenda. That is not the way to live up to our shared responsibility. We met yesterday at the invitation of the Secretary-General to break the deadlock binding the Geneva Conference.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Asia, too, rightly considers itself to be underrepresented. The entire continent, not just individual States, is developing at breathtaking speed. We take our partnerships seriously, both the old and the new. Germany, too, remains ready to assume greater responsibility. Disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are not issues of the past but challenges of our time. Disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are two sides of the same coin. We have to do all we possibly can to ensure that weapons of mass destruction do not become the bane of globalization. Unlike the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons five years ago, this May’s Review Conference was a success.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Development needs education. Education protects people from discrimination and oppression. Education fights prejudice and thereby fosters peace. Education also creates products and markets; education is the path to prosperity. The true wealth of many nations is no longer found in their raw materials but in the minds of their people. Education is a human right. It is because education will determine whether societies succeed or fail in tomorrow’s world that Germany is one of the major international partners for learning. By building on education, we are building bridges to the future for the young people of today. The United Nations itself must also keep up with the pace of change. Today’s world order is not properly reflected if Africa and Latin America are not permanently represented on the Security Council.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are helping those who are now most adversely affected by climate change. We are particularly concerned about the fate of small island States. Anyone who is serious about combating climate change has to build on innovation, new technologies and exchange. Developed and developing nations alike can profit from cooperation on future energies. Germany will contribute its technological expertise, for example, in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. In this way, we are turning the challenge of climate change into an opportunity for fair development and enhanced cooperation. Climate policy is a cornerstone of any sustainable development policy. The recent summit on the Millennium Development Goals laid down the next steps forward in our global partnership for development. Education is the key to development.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Climate change has a direct impact on each and every one of us. Countless people are already personally feeling its economic and social consequences. In their letter to the Security Council, the Pacific island States rightly warned us in no uncertain terms just how much climate change threatens everyone’s security. Everyone must play their 35 10-55103 part to protect the climate. In Germany, we have just adopted a forward-looking energy strategy. By the year 2050, 80 per cent of our electricity production will come from renewable sources. Germany has also pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by the year 2020, compared to the 1990 baseline. Even now, we have reduced our carbon dioxide emissions by almost 30 per cent. We are pioneers in the field of climate protection.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)