YouSaid · the spoken record

Toomas Hendrik Ilves

lines on the record: 176
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2016-09-24
sittings or episodes: 13
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

“I commend United Nations efforts in paving the way towards a more efficient operational system, especially the long-awaited outcome of the four-year system-wide coherence negotiations. As the implications of gender inequality affect all the Millennium Development Goals, the consensus agreement on establishing the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will serve as an extra boost for meeting those Goals. Estonia contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Goals through the respective United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and we pledge our support to UN Women as well. Ever since the United Nations Charter was signed, 65 years ago, the United Nations has stood for global peace and security. The United Nations peacekeeping budget has increased more than 15-fold since 1991.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“For my country, Estonia, the development of information and communications technology has been a crucial engine of economic development and modernization throughout the past 20 years. This is why our experts advise Governments on information and communications technology solutions in many parts of the world. In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and the Open Society Institute, we have established a special academy to assist Governments in developing countries with advice and training in electronic governance and the use of information and communications technology in public services. I am convinced that the more successful we are in reducing the digital divide, the more accelerated and more sustainable overall economic progress will be.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We also offer our best practices in 10-54965 24 establishing standards of good governance, including the creation of an electronic voting system for the newly elected Parliament. Estonia supports the transition process, including the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan authorities. This process should be term-based and irreversible, and carried out according to the agreement reached at the ISAF meeting in Tallinn last April. Ownership of the process on the part of the Afghan Government is crucial in taking forward the pledge it made at the Kabul Conference with regard to strengthening the electoral framework. This, along with the endorsed reform agenda, demonstrates the Afghans’ desire to develop their nation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The political will expressed by a majority of stakeholders at the recent MDG summit and in its outcome document (resolution 65/1) needs to be implemented promptly, in accordance with the agreed action agenda. Only five years, after all, remain. Estonia is ready to provide continuous contributions to the success of our common endeavour. Estonia contributes towards the achievement of the MDGs through focused development cooperation policy and respective activities in our main partner countries, one of which is Afghanistan. Alongside with providing security through the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), we are carrying out long- term health care and education projects in Helmand province.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am pleased to address the General Assembly. This year, I shall focus on three pressing global matters: the progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), promoting peace and security, and humanitarian affairs. During the first decade of this millennium, the MDGs have triggered a level of global commitment and wide-ranging partnership that the world has never seen before. Along the way, there have been setbacks, of course. One thing, however, is certain — achieving the MDGs is an attainable reality with concrete targets and deadlines. We have set a clear goal, but we must keep in mind that we shall reach our objective only if we share the weight of responsibility and all of us pull in the same direction.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Regarding another reform area — gender reform — considerable progress that is also relevant to achieving the Millennium Development Goals has been made recently. No security, development or human rights-related goal can be achieved without the full participation of women. Estonia has been a dedicated supporter of the United Nations funds and programmes that foster gender equality. It is our common obligation to ensure that reform becomes a reality without delay. Facing the first financial crisis of the twenty-first century and the accelerating global warming process, we see the necessity for a united response growing. This is why we, the leaders of all nations, once again have gathered here this week: to remind ourselves to keep our eyes on the horizon of peace and prosperity and to make sure that we are in the same boat.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I fully concur with Under-Secretary-General John Holmes that this is not an ideological luxury but a practical necessity to help ensure timely access as well as the safety and security of humanitarian staff. It goes without saying that expectations are higher during trying times, and therefore the United Nations actions in carrying out its objectives have increasingly come under scrutiny. Yet, how is the Organization to live up to those high expectations when the United Nations is struggling to reform itself? Over the past years, Member States have undertaken considerable efforts to improve the United Nations system, while one important element, Security Council reform, still remains pending. While recognizing that the reform process is complex, we must also realize that there will be severe consequences if the process remains incomplete.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The launch of the Central Emergency Response Fund three years ago has also proven a justified effort in providing more rapid and equitable response allocations to disaster-affected areas. As Estonia, together with Ireland, currently co-chairs the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative, we urge all donors to apply the principles of good humanitarian donorship to make humanitarian aid more needs-based and its financing more flexible. As a sign of the priority we give to global humanitarian issues, Estonia this year holds a vice- presidency of the Economic and Social Council and has been leading humanitarian discussions in that body. I am concerned that in many humanitarian situations, especially in conflict situations, adherence to humanitarian principles has become selective, hindering safe and timely access to victims.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We must stand ready to provide a more predictable, equitable and consistently effective response to humanitarian crises. The growing needs require an increase in the amount of assistance, in coordination and in the range of donors. True, we all have economic concerns at the moment, but it is vital to keep our commitments to providing humanitarian relief. Today’s short-sighted financial decisions or fading political will may in the end become far more expensive and entail severe long- term consequences. I would like to commend the excellent work done by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Member States in making the coordination among humanitarian workers more efficient and implementing the cluster system.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Consequently, major cooperative efforts by both the governmental and the private sectors are required to develop more effective response capabilities. This growing global concern demands both a better coordinated international approach and an enhanced legal domestic framework, including steps to criminalize malevolent cyber acts. Our long-term aim should be the creation of a universal cyber culture — a universally accessible, secure and safe environment for all. Regarding humanitarian affairs, our task is equally challenging. Global ecological instability, political and military conflicts, combined with economic instability and population growth, are expected to increase humanitarian needs considerably and require that our efforts be multiplied in the future.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I am convinced that the bolstered role and greater visibility of the United Nations throughout the country has a positive impact on the coordination of development activities that in turn will attract more 09-52463 10 non-governmental organizations and other international organizations to the area. Besides conflicts between and inside States, new and asymmetrical cross-border threats have also emerged: the threat from the Internet, for example. Cyber threats not only endanger vital information technology systems but they endanger entire communities. Concurrently with the rapid development of computer technology we are witnessing alarming signs of more sinister developments: cyber attacks are growing more complex and are increasing in frequency.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“My delegation takes this opportunity to reiterate its firm support for the security and stability of Georgia, based on full respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. I follow with deep concern the situation in Afghanistan. It is essential that the election process deliver results that are legitimate in the eyes of the Afghans. The future of Afghanistan lies in the hands of the Afghan people; we, the international community, can only help. By consolidating the efforts of the new Government and the international community, lasting progress can and should be achieved. Estonia is one of the countries that have steadily increased their military and civilian contribution to Afghanistan.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“This is but one example of how an ambitious climate policy can be used to trigger new growth in the economy. To uphold the core of the United Nations Charter, we must remain committed to providing the United Nations with sufficient resources to fulfil its unique role in contributing to international security. Compliance with the basic principles enshrined in the Charter, including the obligation of all Members to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, must remain the fundamental basis of the United Nations agenda. The United Nations should remain engaged in areas of tension where it can make a contribution.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I am convinced that applying the “polluter- pays” principle would motivate the biggest polluters to multiply their efforts and would therefore have the greatest effect. Green energy production, renewable energy, energy efficiency and diversification of energy sources — all these contribute not only to sustainable environmental and economic development but also to our security, as we will become less dependent on exhaustible fossil fuels. As an essential part of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, we foresee a wider use of renewable energy in Estonia, particularly biomass and wind energy. By the end of the year, an Estonian Energy and Climate Agency will be established to help consumers cut energy expenditures and support building energy- efficient homes.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In combating climate change, we have finally understood the magnitude of our task and I would like to thank the Secretary-General for hosting the Summit on Climate Change a few days ago. We are not running a 100-metre sprint, but rather a marathon, where one must maintain speed. If we manage to stay on track we all shall be winners in the end. But time is running out. Melting glaciers, frequent and abnormally large hurricanes, floods and heat waves — this is not the planet that we want to leave to our children. Global and united efforts are needed to reach a comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 climate agreement in Copenhagen this December. I call upon all countries to set binding goals to share the burden. Responsibility must be proportional to the harm that is caused.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Over the past year, I, like many others in this Hall, have spoken about the effect of the current global financial crisis on our people and the need for an effective national or international response. Although the crisis is closely related to issues such as peace and security, human rights, development and many other matters of common concern, we cannot let it cast a shadow over all the global challenges that we currently face. Today, a year after the collapse of the financial markets, cyclical indicators point to economic stabilization. The crisis is not over, however, and the need to restore confidence and repair the financial system remains. Moreover, each of us should make an effort to refrain from raising new barriers and avoid laying the foundations for new global imbalances in the longer run.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I call upon all United Nations Member nations to deal with the risks associated with cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness. Estonia, which has extensive experience dealing with and repulsing cyberattacks, is ready to contribute its expertise to thwarting that new form of criminal warfare.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The previous month’s events in the southern Caucasus raised another issue. Even before the armed 9 08-51839 conflict broke out, Georgia was the target of a cyberwar aimed at Government websites, as well as those of news agencies and banks. In the case of cyberattacks and cyberwarfare, it is becoming ever more difficult to determine and apprehend the perpetrators. As I stated last year from this very rostrum, cyberattacks are an international problem — indeed, a form of aggression — that no nation is able to deal with on its own. Cyberattacks can be launched against any nation on any continent, and from any continent. Administering and policing the cyberworld to avoid criminal and hostile attacks requires extensive cooperation and the standardization of relevant international regulations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Russia’s behaviour in the weeks following the cessation of combat activity showed us that, unfortunately, even in the first decade of the twenty- first century, it is possible to refuse to adhere to international treaties, to interpret them arbitrarily and to observe international laws only when it serves one’s interest. A permanent member of the Security Council should be especially committed to fulfilling the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. That forces us once more to conclude that, in the interests of the international community, it is imperative to improve the capacity of the United Nations to regulate and resolve conflicts. Looking at recent events, it has become quite clear how important it is to proceed with the reform of the Security Council.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Therefore, we have the right to demand and ensure that the United Nations be capable of convincing one Member to withdraw its military forces from the territory of another sovereign Member State and to terminate its aggression. The capacity of the United Nations to fulfil the expectations placed upon it cannot be dependent upon whether said Member nation chooses or not to act according to the good practices of international law. In the alternative case, the United Nations loses its reason for existence. We cannot allow international law to be followed selectively and only when convenient, for then it is no longer law.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“There are a series of complex issues involved, but here in the General Assembly I would like to raise one fundamental question: What do those events mean for us, the United Nations? To begin with, we must realize that the principles governing relations between States have been seriously damaged. It is regrettable in the extreme that the basic principles of the United Nations as enshrined in the Charter, such as the unacceptability of threatening the use of force or actual aggression against a nation’s territorial integrity, were grossly and grotesquely violated. Those principles must be and must remain the bases for the activity of the United Nations and the Security Council.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In the case of humanitarian catastrophes, be they natural or man-made disasters, it is of the utmost importance that help arrive on the scene as quickly as possible and that the access of humanitarian experts be ensured, regardless of their nationality or the State or organization that they represent. Unfortunately, there have recently been a number of occasions when various countries have permitted help from abroad only under very specific conditions. As a result of such policies, it is the weakest and the most vulnerable who suffer the most. As I said earlier, I would like to talk about recent and ongoing events in the southern Caucasus, specifically the military conflict between Georgia and Russia.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In that connection, as opposed to the fight against poverty or diseases, we cannot of course set objectives for ourselves that can be expressed in monetary amounts. We can, however, formulate and implement measures that can help to minimize the dangers and threats to people and their property, and to avoid or reduce destruction to physical infrastructure and the environment. We can thereby limit losses and alleviate the suffering of people. That, in turn, can prevent the social and economic convulsions that natural catastrophes have on repeated occasions triggered throughout history.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Secondly, donor States and organizations can enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation by mutually coordinating and standardizing the procedures involved in development cooperation. Finally, I would like to stress that Estonia strongly supports British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s initiative, the Millennium Development Goals Call to Action. The objective is to inform the general public of the importance of fulfilling the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals programme. This year, Estonia also joined that initiative. I personally hope that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was right when he said that the MDGs are still achievable if we act now. The second Wednesday of October is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“First, every nation is primarily responsible for its own development. In order to ensure their proper development, developing countries must strengthen their administrative infrastructure and capacity, intensify their fight against corruption and put their economic environment in order. That is the only way to create conditions suitable for an efficient mode of 08-51839 8 transferring development aid and for increasing the benefits of the aid received. High levels of corruption, inefficient administrative capacity and an unresponsive economic climate make it difficult for donor-nation public opinion to support increases in development aid. In a word, our electorates — and here I am of course speaking of democratic countries with free and fair elections — do not understand why their taxes are spent that way.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The European Union, of which Estonia is a member, is on the whole, on track towards increasing its development aid to 0.7 per cent of its gross national income, the objective agreed at the United Nations. Estonia has steadily increased its share among international donors; our development aid has grown fourfold since 2004. In addition to the actual decrease in development aid, we suffered a serious setback when the Doha Development Round of trade negotiations stalled and where the main theme has been a more efficient integration of developing countries into a world trading system based upon equality and regulations. I would now like to set forth several positions based upon matters of principle that Estonia regards as essential, and which are also part of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Yet, have we actually reached half our goals? As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reported here 20 days ago, there are reasons to doubt that we have. Some achievements can be regarded as noteworthy progress, for example greater access to education, a marked reduction in infant mortality, debt relief for developing countries, an increase in access to information and communication technology for people in developing countries, and so on. We have also made certain progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. At the same time, however, progress in the spheres of trade and development cooperation has been modest. From the Secretary-General’s report, it is clear that, although the donor States have increased their official development aid, the actual flow of financial assistance in the course of the past two years has actually decreased.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Allow me to begin by congratulating Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann upon his assumption of the office of President of the General Assembly. I wish him success in his responsibilities and endeavours. I also wish to express my appreciation and respect to his predecessor, Mr. Srgjan Kerim, for his effective leadership during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly. I shall be brief. I would like to speak today about the following three issues: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the prospects for realizing them; natural disasters and humanitarian assistance; and the war between Georgia and Russia, along with some of the conclusions that can be drawn from it. Let me begin with the Millennium Development Goals. We must bear in mind that over half of the time originally allotted for achieving the Goals is already behind us.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I know: my family was forced to leave my country, fleeing brutal Soviet occupation forces. Trying to integrate into a new society is always a significant challenge. Only through well-coordinated common efforts can we ensure that people never again have to leave their homes because they have no other option. Thus, a global approach to human migration should remain a vital issue on the United Nations agenda.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“For example, both the United Nations and the EU were involved in managing the response to the Asian tsunami in 2004 and the Lebanese crisis in 2006. That once again brought to the fore the necessity of developing common needs assessments to further discuss the roles and mandates of the relevant actors, such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and the Community Mechanism for Civil Protection of the EU. Poverty, armed conflicts and natural disasters such as floods, tsunamis and forest fires are all causes of another global problem forced migration, which should also be tackled in a more concerted manner by the whole international community. Being forced to leave one’s home is always a tragedy.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We cannot be satisfied with the current situation. It is important to build confidence between the parties and to resume the meetings between the representatives of Georgia’s Government and those of Abkhazia. There is no place for military provocations, internal or external. A major task for the United Nations remains the facilitation of the return of refugees to Abkhazia, which, unfortunately, has been greatly hampered. Progress regarding the conflict is possible if all interested parties act in a constructive way. We must generate the political will necessary to resolve the conflict. In that context, I welcome the increased contribution of the European Union (EU). The international community should also secure the best and most rational use of available resources, including in emergency and crisis response situations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We need to increase the presence and visibility of the United Nations there, which would be an encouraging sign for the local population and would also send a signal to other international aid organizations and non-governmental organizations that they should increase their activities. The United Nations should also assume a greater role in coordinating the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. I would like to highlight one conflict in Europe in which the United Nations has a significant role to play: the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. Along with the other “frozen” conflicts in the neighbouring region, it remains among the last unresolved conflicts in Europe. It is my hope that the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General will have the determination to find solutions that honour Georgia’s territorial integrity.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Estonia also agrees with the assessment of the specialists of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research that a globally negotiated and comprehensive cyberspace law is essential and that the United Nations can provide the neutral and legitimate forum necessary for that task. The United Nations is determined to resolve conflicts. Understandably, conflict prevention and resolution, particularly in Africa, is a top priority. We welcome the creation of a United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force to quell the violence and instability plaguing the Darfur region of the Sudan. It is important to settle conflicts in other places as well, such as Afghanistan.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We call upon the international community to cooperate in legal matters in questions concerning cybersecurity. But, since this whole subject is in a relatively new field, it is essential to establish an appropriate legal space. As a first step, we call upon all countries to accede to the Convention on Cybercrime of the Council of Europe. The Convention is also open for accession by non-members of the Council. We should move ahead and create a truly international framework for combating these vicious acts. The Global Cybersecurity Agenda of the International Telecommunications Union, launched by the Secretary-General in May, is an important initiative for building international cooperation in this field.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The threats posed by cyberwarfare have often been underestimated, since, fortunately, they have not as yet resulted in the loss of any lives. Also, for security reasons, the details of cyberattacks are often not publicized. In addition to taking concrete technical and legal measures to counter cyberattacks, Governments must morally define cyberviolence and cybercrime, which deserve to be generally condemned in the same way as terrorism and the trafficking in human beings are condemned. Fighting against cyberwarfare is in the interests of us all. It requires both appropriate domestic measures and international efforts. In April and May of this year, my country, Estonia, coped successfully with an extensive cyberattack, and we are prepared to share with other countries the know-how that we have acquired.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Estonia believes that the best way forward is to tie development assistance to investment in clean technologies. If in the past people were connected by sea lanes and trade routes, today we are ever more connected by the Internet, along with the threats that loom in cyberspace. Cyberattacks are a clear example of contemporary asymmetrical threats to security. They make it possible, with limited means and from a distance, to paralyse a society. In the future, cyberattacks may, in the hands of criminals or terrorists or terrorist States, become a considerably more widespread and dangerous weapon than they are at present. Cyberattacks are a threat not only to sophisticated information technology systems, but also to communities as a whole. For example, they could be used to paralyse a city’s emergency medical services.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Yes, we recognize that developing countries have special needs in the areas of sustainable economic growth and eradication of poverty. But we also need to decouple economic growth from energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Investing in energy efficiency will have a huge impact on our future. Diversification of the energy supply and greater use of renewable energies are the way forward. The resources and the technology for decarbonisation come primarily from industrial nations. Therefore, we need to continue the dialogue between industrialized and developing nations concerning the adoption of a “green” economy, reducing carbon-fuel dependency and counterbalancing climate change caused by human activities. We need to promote technology transfer, which is necessary for developing environment-friendly energy production.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I shall speak today on four fundamental topics: climate change, cybersecurity, conflict resolution and cooperation among international organizations. In accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries are obligated to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Estonia has already achieved the basic target of the Kyoto Protocol: our emissions of greenhouse gases have been cut back by over 50 per cent. Fully subscribing to the European Union statement on the post-2012 vision for international climate, released by the Portuguese presidency, we hope that the negotiations concerning a new global climate deal will reach a new comprehensive and global political agreement by as early as December 2009.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The goal of this upcoming special session, to create better conditions and opportunities for children everywhere, continues to be of the utmost importance to us. It is precisely for initiatives of this kind, which endeavour to achieve a better future for mankind, that the United Nations Organization has earned the Nobel Peace Prize. In conclusion, please allow me to express my personal condolences and the condolences of all Estonians to the families of those who perished in the air tragedy that occurred just a few days ago in the borough of Queens.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Many of you may be interested in finding out more about the initiatives I have described, and we are more than happy to share our experiences with you. Finally, I would like to stress the fact that the grave events that have affected all of us in the last few months will not prevent us from moving ahead. Our decisiveness and sense of unity have only been reinforced by what has happened. We must not discard or forget all the common projects initiated before 11 September. In many parts of the world, nothing has changed for those who suffer from poverty, hunger and persecution. Thinking about our projects for the future, I am especially pleased that the United Nations special session on children, which was postponed owing to the terrorist attacks, will nevertheless take place in May next year.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“More and more Estonians are making use of the opportunities offered by the public sector — the services of the revenue office, local governments and federal agencies — through the Internet. Having now connected all Estonian public schools to the Internet, the Government also plans to bring all public libraries online. This last summer, the Estonian State Chancellery launched a unique new project by opening a direct democracy portal called “Today I Decide”. This portal allows everyone to present ideas, initiatives and proposals, as well as to comment upon proposed legislation. New ideas that have been proposed by portal users are passed on to the appropriate government offices and agencies for action.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Here too, openness is important; it is essential to communicate our intentions and ideas both to those who support us as well as to those who doubt us. Openness is also essential in more conventional situations, for example, in the traditional political decision-making process, be it in the international or domestic arena. Here, Estonia can share experiences in the sphere of information technology. Last year, the Estonian Government began to hold its cabinet meetings electronically. All information concerning government activities now moves through electronic channels — through the Internet. In addition to speeding up decision-making and providing monetary savings, information now becomes available to the general public through the Internet, much faster and more efficiently.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Although we often talk about the need for limiting expenditures, in this case it is clear that in order to increase efficiency, means must be found for increasing the budget of United Nations peacekeeping operations. We are pleased to say, as I mentioned earlier, that we have contributed to this effort to increase those expenditures. Let me proceed to my third theme, namely, openness. Openness and transparency are essential for many reasons. Terrorist attacks have been directed at everyday interpersonal relations and at our usual means of communication, such as the postal system and air travel. Therefore, we need to make concerted efforts to ensure that the movement of people and ideas will not suffer from the threat of terrorism. Terrorism itself is fed primarily by misinformation, disinformation and misperceptions.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We need not fear opening a discussion on whether the moral and legal reasoning underlying Security Council membership in the wake of the Second World War is still appropriate in the post-cold- war era — or this post-11 September era. Nothing underscores the need to come back to this question more than the challenge that we are currently facing. Participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations is an inseparable part of Estonia’s national security policy. We therefore fully support the endeavours outlined in the Brahimi report concerning the reformation of United Nations peacekeeping. 14 Estonia is in full agreement with the report’s comprehensive and long-term approach to the prevention and solution of conflicts.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The composition of the Council, which still reflects the power relationships that prevailed in 1945, is another issue that cries out for resolution. From the inception of the United Nations that year until just a decade ago, the people of my country were afforded only rare glimpses of the goings-on at the United Nations through fissures in the iron curtain. When we finally established our independence in 1991, we emerged into the international arena only to discover that the Security Council, judging by its composition, was still stuck back in the year 1945. This strikes Estonia as being anachronistic, if not wrong-headed. The guarantors and greatest contributors to stability in the world have, in the course of half a century, changed fundamentally.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We share the view that it is time to move from discussions on to the negotiating phase. Estonia supports the enlargement of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, just as we support reform of the Security Council’s decision-making process. In the confrontational context of the cold war, the veto in the Security Council was a means for the great Powers to protect their interests. Even then it was avoided, and any light-handed use of the veto resulted in condemnation by the international community. Now, however, the sense of trust among the Security Council members has grown immensely, and a limitation of the use of the veto would be an appropriate reflection of this improved atmosphere.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In this light, I would emphasize two aspects: reform of the Security Council and the Brahimi report on improving United Nations peacekeeping operations. We must ensure that our cooperative efforts for solving the urgent problems confronting us do not become entangled in the deficiencies of the structure or the working order of the Security Council. We all know very well what these deficiencies are, and therefore our common goal is quite clear: to increase the representativeness, transparency and efficiency of the Security Council. The enlivened discussions and the shift towards greater openness in the work of the Security Council give us hope. We supported the strenuous efforts of Harri Holkeri, the General Assembly’s previous President, to intensify the activities of the Working Group dealing with reform.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“This transformation has been confirmed by, among others, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee, which, in its 2000 yearbook, lists Estonia for the first time as a donor nation. Therefore, those who assisted Estonia during its now completed transition phase can clearly see now that their aid has borne fruit. We, in turn, are willing to share the experience that we have gained in the course of the last 10 years. As a matter of fact, we have already established cooperative efforts of this nature with several countries. I spoke earlier about how every Member State has an obligation to evaluate how it can best help the United Nations in its endeavours. Of equal importance are the ongoing efforts to increase the effectiveness of the Organization as a whole.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In other words, maintaining the representation would be irresponsible on our part, as it would use resources for which there is a greater need elsewhere. This means that Estonia’s cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies has qualitatively advanced to a higher level. This has been clearly demonstrated by the founding of the United Nations Building project in Estonia. The intention is to have the representation of various United Nations agencies all under one roof. The fact that the United Nations is gaining importance in the eyes of the Estonian public is evidenced by, inter alia, the fact that the Estonian United Nations Association has been steadily increasing its activities. During the last few years, Estonia has clearly progressed from an aid recipient to an aid provider.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“For Estonia, to give up the rights to such a discount was not a step taken lightly — it was a decision based on the Government’s realization that with our rapid development, we had acquired new responsibilities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had, after all, found that Estonia had developed to the point where the UNDP could 13 terminate the activities of its mission in Estonia in December 2000. Of course, we miss working together with such a useful cooperative agency as the UNDP representation in Estonia. Yet we realize quite well that there are many regions in the world which badly need their assistance, while for Estonia the presence of the UNDP mission is no longer essential.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)