YouSaid · the spoken record

Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé

lines on the record: 46
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
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

“As the Spanish philosopher, José Ortega y Gasset said, “men do not live together just because; they do so for the purpose of great undertakings”. Today the United Nations has a great undertaking: to complete the reform of our institutions and lay the foundations for global governance. Together, we can face the challenges and global crises of the twenty-first century and construct an international system that is fairer, more balanced and more sustainable. Bretton Woods in 1944 and the San Francisco Conference in 1945 were the results of half a century of crises and two world wars. Believe me, we are not doomed to wait another half century to reform and establish new institutions for the twenty-first century. We have already waited a decade, but we cannot continue to wait much longer, because we can feel history breathing down our necks.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“International consolidation of the Alliance of Civilizations, as a tool of preventive diplomacy, is now a fact and a resource we must use. More than 100 States, along with 23 international organizations, now belong to the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations. I take this opportunity to invite those countries that have not yet joined to do so. In a landscape of international economic crisis, intercultural tensions run the risk of exacerbation. This should impel us to continue working for the respect and understanding of cultures and civilizations in order to counter expressions of hatred, fanaticism, division and confrontation. The new world requires us to adapt and enlarge the international institutional architecture.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Embargos and unilateral attitudes that only disappoint new expectations are useless and make no sense. Africa is clearly one of the most important future challenges to the international community and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Progress achieved in the areas of good governance and democratization on the continent are cause for optimism and should allow it, with international cooperation, to overcome the crises in the Sahel, Somalia or the Great Lakes region. Spain reiterates its firm commitment to Africa. Coexistence in a globalized world should motivate us to strengthen the instruments for good governance and promote cultural and intercultural diversity, which are among the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Spain reiterates its support for the mediation efforts undertaken by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Christopher Ross. The conflict in that territory must be resolved by mutual agreement among the parties and pursuant to the United Nations resolutions calling for the self- determination of the Saharans. In our view, Ibero-America is undergoing unprecedented social and political change. At the start of the bicentennial commemorations of the independence of these republics, Spain wishes to join the celebrations by attending the Ibero-American summits and by strengthening its bilateral relations and relations between the European Union and Latin America. Cuba deserves special mention following the recent decisions taken by Cuban authorities.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We all know that stability in the Western Balkans and the full integration of its countries into the 10-55109 22 European Union is a basic priority for Europe. In 2010, we commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Zagreb Conference. Spain, which held the European Union presidency at the time, convened a high-level meeting in Sarajevo in May that was attended by all actors involved and at which the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the region’s stability and European future. Recently, the consensus adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 64/298, sponsored by the 27 members of the European Union and Serbia on one of the region’s pending issues showed the willingness of all actors in the international community to achieve the aforementioned objectives.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is why, on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the Madrid Conference, we continue to work resolutely to ensure that the process of direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians will finally lead to the two-State solution. The Israeli and Palestinian peoples know they can count on all our support at this time, when various thorny issues related to the conflict are being addressed. In this regard, I add my voice to the appeal made from this very rostrum by the President of the United States for the moratorium on building in the settlements to be maintained. In order to achieve a lasting, fair and comprehensive peace, it is vital to resolve the issues that relate to Syria and Lebanon and to work within a multilateral framework that creates a genuine global coalition for peace in the Middle East.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“With regard to human rights, Spain is firmly committed to abolishing the death penalty and introduced an initiative to the General Assembly two years ago to that end. The International Commission against the Death Penalty, proposed by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, will soon be established and begin its work. We believe that capital punishment is an absolute violation of human rights due to its irreversibility, which also makes it the most extreme case of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. My country unequivocally supports peaceful and negotiated solutions to all international conflicts, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Achieving peace in the Middle East remains a strategic priority for Spain.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It should lead us to an ambitious agreement by which States represented in the General Assembly can take ownership of the objectives and verifiable commitments contained therein. To bring these objectives to fruition, we need the equitable integration of almost half the world’s population — women. The tenth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, should provide us with an opportunity to enhance gender equality in the public arena, in institutions and in the economic, social and cultural spheres. We can and should move ahead with these reforms because there are positive indications that this mandate is dynamic, such as the recent creation of UN Women, led by former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, whom I congratulate on her appointment as Director of the new entity.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“A greater effort is required to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels, and to commit to renewable energy and efficient and responsible consumption. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has created a point of reference to provide us with a regime that defines realistic solutions and responds to our concerns and priorities. In a few months, we will attend the Climate Change Conference and should be aware of the effort necessary to pave the way to the meeting in Cancún, where the very credibility of the multilateral system will be at stake. The Conference will be successful if we take a realistic approach demonstrating solidarity and generosity towards the most vulnerable States.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“While the Food and Agriculture Organization has provided us with encouraging data — we have seen hunger decrease in the world for the first time — the figure of 925 million hungry people in the world is morally and politically unacceptable. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon knows that he can count on Spain for the mobilization of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Indeed, fighting poverty cannot be a casualty of the economic recession because, despite the crisis, it is not material conditions but political will that will be the key to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The time has come to take responsibility for combating climate change. To face this challenge, we need to change the way in which we perceive development and economic growth.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is what we have understood in Europe, where we have adopted measures to harmonize the legislation of member States, so that regulatory authorities would be able to 21 10-55109 exercise both executive and disciplinary powers. Since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, Europe is now on a path to cohesiveness in the area of foreign policy and should be seen as a single interlocutor with its own voice in the international community. It should therefore enjoy an appropriate status in the General Assembly. My Government, the Government of Spain, is in the vanguard of the fight against hunger and poverty. It has proposed in the United Nations, together with other Member States, the creation of a tax on international currency transactions whose proceeds would be used for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers on 15 September 2008, the international financial system has required States and international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to intervene at an unprecedented level in order to maintain worldwide demand and financial markets. The lack of international regulation helped to bring about the crisis of the financial entities and has required strengthened coordination, making the Group of 20 a new forum for economic governance. The lesson of the crisis is that, for their development, international markets need not only the invisible hand, but also a global regulatory system.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty makes it possible to reduce by 30 per cent of the nuclear warheads in the United States and Russia and represents the greatest nuclear agreement in 20 years. Last May, 189 countries signatories of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons approved the convening of a conference in 2012 to transform the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. We are beginning to come out of the worst financial and economic crisis since the 1930s. The negative fallout of this crisis will be felt through time by millions of people, especially in terms of decent employment.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In September 2006, the Member States approved the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, a resolution and annexed Plan of Action (resolution 60/288) which presumed for the first time to define a common strategic approach agreed by all States Members of the United Nations. This strategy was presented by Secretary-General Kofi Annan one year after the brutal and traumatic attacks of 11 March 2004 in Madrid. Since that time, the intensity and number of terrorist attacks have decreased, and we have improved security, although we are far from having won the war against international terrorism. This year we have also seen very significant advances in the area of security, disarmament and nuclear non proliferation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“On many occasions, we hear speeches that emphasize the incapacities and weaknesses of the United Nations system. But I prefer not to preach classic doom and gloom here; rather, I would acknowledge the work and success of the United Nations as well as its capacity to respond, as seen in its response to the natural disasters suffered by Haiti and Pakistan. The capacity to take action and effectively coordinate the efforts of all countries through a multilateral approach is a path that the international system should continue to follow at this time of great challenges before us. On 11 September, the concept of security was transformed and expanded.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are at a historic crossroads where we must promote awareness of the reform of the United Nations system and the establishment of new mechanisms for global governance that modernize the system of international relations, consolidate multilateralism and security, and strengthen global economic recovery, while providing accountable management of growing interculturalism. Effective multilateralism is the method that will enable us to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century. It is a method that stems from the efforts of the General Assembly and from the commitment and work of the leaders of the States represented here. It is a method based on respect and understanding in order to build new alliances and common strategies and policies.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In September 2008, New York was the centre and focus of a panic created by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, while just a few weeks ago, our host city experienced tensions related to intercultural coexistence and saw the relaunching of the most ambitious programme of international cooperation in history, the Millennium Development Goals. These events mark the true beginning of the twenty-first century, which is unfolding in an environment of accelerated global and interdependent transformation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Far removed, as well, are the times of the Bretton Woods Agreements, which established free trade rules for commercial and financial relations among the most industrialized nations of the world in order to achieve peace. In the first decade of this century we witnessed events that have shaped the future of international relations and caused a new world to emerge, as we saw in New York in the month of September. On 11 September 2001, the cities of New York and Washington suffered terrorist attacks that stunned the world and were among the most traumatic in the history of the West.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“May my first words be to congratulate the newly appointed President of the Assembly, Mr. Joseph Deiss, to whom I wish great success in his conduct of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. September is an important month in the agenda of international politics since the middle of the last century because it marks the beginning of the new session of the United Nations General Assembly, which has the city of New York as its backdrop. Far removed is the San Francisco Conference, which turned the page on global conflicts and opened the way for international cooperation by establishing a new Organization, the United Nations, an Organization geared towards promoting peace, justice and a better 10-55109 20 life for all humankind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This is not the time to be discouraged; rather, it is a time for commitment and optimism. An objective and rational analysis of the progress that the international community has made in recent years should inspire hope and strengthen the will to work towards the development of a balanced agenda that addresses the challenges of our times. The States members of the General Assembly are more aware than ever that only through united action in solidarity can we meet these challenges effectively by using political dialogue, preventive diplomacy and public and humanitarian diplomacy. Spain sees the situation as positive. In that regard I would quote the Spanish poet Blas de Otero: “I ask for peace and I ask to speak ... in defence of man and his justice”. That means a commitment to action, not rhetoric.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Alliance of Civilizations will mobilize the international community and global civil society to end the risk of polarization caused by the prejudices, erroneous ideas and extremism that can disrupt peaceful coexistence. Mr. Jorge Sampaio, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, has presented an implementation plan programme, and a trust fund for voluntary contributions has been set up with the support of the Group of Friends, involving more than 70 States and international organizations. This has been a good year for Spain, and we would like to share it with the international community. Our presence abroad has increased due to the active involvement of our citizens and our institutions, economic stability and business activity, all of which has been conducive to greater openness to the rest of the world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It is essential for this very sensitive aspect of reform to be resolved through a political decision adopted by consensus, and not in haste. We welcome the Human Rights Council as a forum to debate issues related to rights and freedoms. Spain reiterates its trust in that body and its desire to become a member next year. The protection and promotion of human rights is a fundamental pillar of Spain’s foreign policy, because we are convinced that the violation of these rights leads to oppression and violence. We hope for the adoption at this session of a draft resolution on the abolition of the death penalty or, at the very least, on a universal moratorium.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“That event will give participating countries and visitors insights into the fundamental aspects of water in the twenty-first century, such as the environment, international cooperation and prospects for scientific, technological and economic management. I encourage and invite members to participate in the 2008 Zaragoza exposition on water and sustainable development. Spain wishes to assist in the structural strengthening of the United Nations and believes that institutional and managerial reform taking account of global civil society inputs is a priority. That comment, Mr. President, is intended to highlight the progress made on the Security Council issue at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, during the mandate of your predecessor.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I am pleased and proud to say that my country today is the eighth-largest contributor to the United Nations system; our goal is to devote 0.7 per cent of our gross domestic product to development aid by 2012. In only three years, backed by political and social consensus, we have reinforced cooperation and increased its volume to nearly €4.5 billion this year. Spain has expressed profound solidarity with and commitment to the goals set forth in the alliance against hunger and poverty. We want access to drinking water and sanitation to be a universally enjoyed right. Water will be the central theme at International Expo Zaragoza 2008.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Allow me, here in the General Assembly, to express my gratitude to the Spanish armed forces, the State security forces and others engaged in cooperative efforts for their work and solidarity in favour of peace. In particular, I pay heartfelt tribute to those Spaniards who have lost their lives in this effort and to their families and friends; only four days ago two Spanish soldiers died in Afghanistan. To assist in the logistics of peacekeeping operations, Spain has offered to establish a United Nations support base in Quart de Poblet in Valencia. A communications centre will be established there for the development of peacekeeping operations on the ground. It is possible to defeat poverty. It is an ethical and political duty, a duty that Spain is firmly determined to shoulder.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“This global violence aims at undermining the stability of free and democratic societies and, as we agreed a year ago in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution 60/288), we must prevail over that violence by coordinating our efforts and responding collectively. We are pleased that, in our determination to defeat terrorism, victims and their families have not been forgotten, and that the international community continues to urge respect for them. I believe that this is a well deserved acknowledgement and that without it the strategy against global terrorism would be incomplete. Spain participates in peacekeeping operations authorized and mandated by the Security Council, in Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Balkans.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Constructive trust is fundamental, and that was behind the dialogue forum on Gibraltar in which important agreements were reached on matters of local cooperation of benefit to all. Spain hopes to make progress in reaching a final solution to the sovereignty dispute in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the United Nations. We have seen uneven progress in conflicts with a history of devastation and violence. We have also seen progress and change in conflicts that had been deadlocked, such as those in Georgia, Nagorny Karabakh and Transdniestria, as well as in that relating to the status of Kosovo. Peace is possible and necessary, and we are moving towards it despite being hit by terrorism, which poses a serious threat to peace and security.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I truly hope that the Lebanese political forces will reach a consensus resolution of their political crisis without interference. I appeal for a political agreement in the name of peace, in the national interest of Lebanon and in the interest of the region. The conflict in Western Sahara is one of the main obstacles to the integration process of the Arab Maghreb Union. We are actively committed to seeking a just and final political agreement that respects the principle of self-determination within the framework of the United Nations. Spain trusts that with the assistance of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and the support of friendly nations, all parties will make progress and that the direct negotiations that have already been initiated will culminate in an agreement.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In order to do this, we must establish an open dialogue without preconditions and draw renewed inspiration from the Madrid Conference. For peace to be complete, it must include Syria and Lebanon. The meeting proposed by President Bush is an appropriate occasion to formalize everyone’s commitment to this desired peace. Spain unreservedly supports that initiative. We wish for a peaceful, viable and democratic Palestinian State, living in peace with Israel, and an Israel that is secure and has good relations in its region. The international community must support and assist parties in their efforts. Spain is firmly determined to make its contribution effective. Spain’s commitment in the region is also demonstrated by its participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Despite the sometimes slow pace of progress, there is a global political awareness of the challenges affecting demography, sustainable human and economic development and their link to climate change. Peace is possible and necessary real peace, not just the absence of war. We need to clear the way for peace and political reason in the Middle East, a region fraught with violence and dramatic tension, which in turn affects the security and confidence of the international community. We must choose the power of words over that of arms, trust over mistrust, commitment over fear and dialogue and effective concerted action over disagreement. Spain wishes to help the parties and joins with the Quartet and its representative in seeking a final solution.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The structures and organizations that the international community has built with so much effort form a complex framework that we must reform, strengthen and update. Spain promotes effective multilateralism inspired by values and principles sustained by the people. The international community recognizes the need for a greater political consensus and effective cooperation, a trend seen within the United Nations system as well as in regional structures such as the European Union (EU), the Iberoamerican Community of Nations, or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Spain participates in those organizations, where optimism on progress is tangible.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In our complex and uncertain world new and old challenges, new and old conflicts exist simultaneously. Our cooperation has improved in quality, but poverty continues to affect a large sector of the world’s population. We are moving forward in promoting and protecting human rights, but gross violations persist. We seek peace, prosperity and dignity for all. What measures and instruments do we have to meet these challenges? How can we adapt them in order to respond more effectively? Today, we know that no State alone can effectively address the global agenda and guarantee human development in a world that is increasingly uncertain and interdependent though no less stimulating and creative for that. The means exist at the universal, regional and bilateral levels, as well as at the level of our many interrelationships.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Mr. President, at the outset I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of this session of the General Assembly. It is a great pleasure for me to address the General Assembly for the third time in order to take stock of the actions of the international community and to express commitment and share our thoughts regarding the priorities on our agenda. When this world forum was created six decades ago, it was an expression of will and necessity; out of will came commitment and out of necessity came awareness. The States represented here today are more committed and are more conscious than ever of the need to advance in establishing peace, combating poverty, protecting human rights, and furthering democracy and international law.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Sixty years ago the signatories of the United Nations Charter translated into an agreement a thought that was as solid as it was simple: we can either walk together towards peace, or we will never find it. A year ago, before this Assembly, the President of the Spanish Government recalled that the history of humanity does not give us many reasons to be optimistic. Let us work with imagination and commitment to turn this Organization into an expression of common will, an Organization legitimized by its effectiveness and its universal character. Let us work so that some day we will feel proud as human beings. We are the United Nations, and the people of the world expect us to act as such in the face of the challenges and opportunities afforded to us in these times of change.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“I also extend my congratulations to the Palestinian National Authority for having significantly contributed to the entire operation, so that it was completed in a peaceful manner. Now that the disengagement has been satisfactorily completed, the road map must again become the central framework for the peace process. Moreover, the time has come to increase our aid to Africa and to support African countries in their efforts aimed at integration, peace and progress. The summit outcome document is a good starting point to continue working towards achieving the agreements that still elude us. We cannot allow inaction, lack of ambition or shortsightedness to prevent the successful conclusion of the task ahead.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The international community must contribute to overcome the stalemate and offer, within the framework of the United Nations, a just and definitive political solution, in accordance with international law. To that end, Spain is developing an active diplomacy and believes that steps taken, such as the recent appointments by the Secretary-General of his Personal Envoy and of the Special Representative for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, will provide the opportunity to relaunch the process. In the Middle East, the disengagement from Gaza, carried out with great skill and with great effectiveness by the Israeli Government, may constitute a powerful driving force in the peace process. It is only right to congratulate the Government of Israel for its decision.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Next month, Spain will host the fifteenth Ibero- American Summit in Salamanca. It will be a meeting that will constitute a turning point in the creation of a true Ibero-American forum, with the institutionalization of its secretariat and the manifestation of a stronger will to contribute to effective multilateralism. Spain pays particular attention to its relations with its neighbours in the Maghreb region. Through an active and comprehensive policy, Spain wishes to reinforce its cooperation with those countries, firmly supporting political stability, respect for human rights and those reforms that are put in place to consolidate the rule of law and economic and social development. In this regard, Spain firmly believes that the Western Sahara conflict, which has lasted for almost 30 years, requires priority attention.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We are concerned about the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and we support the preparation of an international arms trade treaty. I cannot but mention here, once again this year, the question of Gibraltar and the need to put an end to this dispute through the implementation of the repeated mandates of the General Assembly that have urged Spain and the United Kingdom to continue their bilateral negotiations, with a view to reaching a definitive solution to the decolonization process, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Spain is willing to work in a constructive spirit; this spirit is reflected in the creation of a trilateral dialogue forum, the aim of which is to produce an atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation for the benefit and prosperity of Gibraltar and the region as a whole.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The Government has also tackled the situation of immigrant workers through the 16 implementation of a broad-ranging legalization process. We firmly support the reform process aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the United Nations, which will ensure the concrete implementation of its resolutions. It is of little use to improve existing structures, if there is no enforcement of compliance with decisions. The United Nations must regain its credibility. We believe that the reform, especially that of the Security Council, must be the result of a broad agreement among all of us. I agree with the Secretary-General that our greatest failure has to do with non-proliferation and disarmament. For Spain, nuclear proliferation represents a serious risk for international peace and security.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Since its inception this Organization has been determined to provide the international community with a binding legal framework for the protection and promotion of human rights. Spain shares this goal. We have strengthened our cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and we have increased our contribution to its budget. We are also pleased with the establishment of a Human Rights Council and are fully prepared to contribute actively to the work of this new council. Over the past year, important legislative developments have occurred in my country, and we have taken significant steps to promote real equality among citizens in areas such as gender violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Let me reiterate Spain's firm commitment to peacekeeping operations, which translates into substantial contributions of our armed and security forces wherever needed, especially in the Balkans, Haiti and Afghanistan. I would like to underline the high degree of commitment and professionalism shown by Spanish peacekeeping forces and recall with pride those who have sacrificed their lives for international peace and security. The creation of a Peacebuilding Commission is another outstanding achievement of this summit. Spain, as an important contributor to the United Nations budget and to its peacekeeping operations, is ready to participate actively in the work of this commission.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“This initiative, co-sponsored by the President of the Government of Spain and the Prime Minister of Turkey, is more necessary today than ever. It is imperative to put an end to the negative drift in mutual perceptions that is being fomented and used by extremist groups. It is also urgent to find innovative and additional sources of financing for development. For that reason, Spain, along with five other countries, is promoting the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative with the aim of identifying innovative and additional sources of financing for development. In this regard, Spain actively participates in the cancellation of debt to benefit the heavily indebted poor countries and is preparing a plan to swap debt for public investment in key human development areas in Latin America.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Spain has just signed the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and in the Sixth Committee Spain is determined to promote the adoption of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism before the end of this sixtieth General Assembly. The summit concluded that tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation amongst different cultures, civilizations and peoples are essential elements for the promotion of international peace and security. This is precisely the conviction that inspired the President of the Government of Spain to propose the Alliance of Civilizations initiative at the previous General Assembly. The Secretary-General's High-level Group to guide the initiative will hold its first meeting in my country this autumn.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We recognized in that document that development, peace and security and human rights constitute the three basic interdependent and interrelated pillars of the United Nations system and are the foundation for our collective security and well-being. In our globalized world, we can solve international problems, and deal with new challenges and risks only through concerted action based on solidarity. Among those collective actions, the fight against terrorism is an absolute priority for Spain. The General Assembly should adopt a global strategy that includes the goal of creating an international fund for victims.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Spain is satisfied with the outcome because we have stressed the importance of assisting victims of terrorism. The Alliance of Civilizations initiative has been well received. The summit recalled the need to continue assisting middle-income countries and supported the search for new sources of financing for implementation of the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative. I would like to mention here that an initiative on United Nations reform was unanimously adopted by the Spanish Parliament on 13 September 2005, urging the Government to achieve a number of objectives that are now reflected in the outcome document of the recent High-level Meeting.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Sixty years ago at San Francisco, the United Nations Charter was adopted. It was an event that set the path for the future of nations and peoples. It was an event at which intelligence was resolutely dedicated to peace and justice, and willpower was used for the common interest. With the adoption of the outcome document by the High-level Plenary Meeting, a process of 15 paramount importance has been set in motion, one in which you, Sir, can count on the full support of the delegation of Spain. I wish to pay tribute to the sustained effort of your predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping, and to reiterate to our Secretary-General my admiration for his personal and diplomatic skills. There can be no doubt that the United Nations has taken a step forward as a result of the High-level Plenary Meeting. We have achieved progress in essential areas.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)