YouSaid · the spoken record

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović

lines on the record: 103
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 5
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

“We in this Hall are running out of excuses for not following the example of the people of Zlarin and doing the same globally. Let us make all of our communities as responsible as the people of Zlarin. Let us not hesitate or be discouraged by past and present failures, but rather provide strong leadership for our common success in the future. Fear steals time, and time is scarce. In the words of Saint John Paul II, “Be not afraid”.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Since I could not project any videos in the Hall, I kindly ask those gathered here to watch their short video message entitled HRT— An Island Without Plastic, which is subtitled in English, via the web link provided in the written version of my speech. The people of Zlarin and the activists that appear in the video had the vision and courage to transform their island community. Within just one year, the island has been transformed. By signing a symbolic declaration, all residents, caterers and merchants banned disposable plastics from everyday use. Today the children on Zlarin educate hundreds of visiting tourists that plastic is not welcome on their island. Those children are our future, and they deserve recognition for what they have been doing.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Today, instead of a lengthy speech, I want to use the remaining time to give real people a voice and emphasize again the need for real actions that inspire further action. In that connection, I will tell the Assembly about Zlarin, one of the 1,246 Croatian islands. It is a small island, inhabited by about 300 people — people with hearts and minds dedicated to the preservation of their environment and their home. Last year, young environmental enthusiasts gathered the entire local community to start an action called “Take a break from plastic”. The goal was to make Zlarin the first Adriatic island free of single-use plastic and plastic waste within a year. Their action was local, but their efforts are indeed global.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“That is why more and more local communities are organizing beach clean-ups and encouraging tourists to take part in those activities as well. From this rostrum, I encourage everyone to please stop throwing waste into our oceans and rivers. Our own future is at stake. I spoke last year (see A/73/PV.8) about the Ocean Cleanup project, the first feasible method to rid the world’s oceans of plastic and remove 50 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just five years. The media has named it Pac-Man, referring to a popular video game. I spoke about the inventor of this method, the brilliant young Croatian scientist living in the Netherlands, Boyan Slat. But what we need is more deeds like that, not just words. The clock is ticking.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Its scientific activity encompasses very complex research in the fields of biological, chemical and physical oceanography, sedimentology, fisheries biology and aquaculture. More than 100 scientists and experts are diligently working on the preservation of the sea as one of our greatest assets. One of their main projects involves cooperation with fishermen — plastics and litter from the sea floor that is found in their fishing nets is collected and disposed of. A number of fishing ships are involved in the project and to date have collected more than 50 tons of waste. In the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea, 97 per cent of beach water is of exceptional quality. We do not take that for granted, nor can we allow ourselves to do so.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Plastics are found throughout the marine environment, from the surface of the water down to the sea floor. We know that pollution has an annual financial negative impact measured in billions of dollars, which reflects only the immediate costs of the impact of plastic on marine life, tourism, fisheries and businesses. However, plastic pollution carries toxic pollutants into our own food chain. A recent study has revealed that, in general and on average, people may be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week, the equivalent weight of a credit card. What we throw into the sea today, we consume in our food tomorrow. The renowned Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, in Split, has been monitoring the Adriatic Sea since 1930.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We cannot continue to neglect its severe implications for our environment and the significant economic losses we can expect in future. Marine litter is a problem of increasing concern. It threatens marine life in the world’s oceans and in the Adriatic Sea, having already impacted more than 700 marine species. Croatia’s coastal areas, some of the world’s cleanest and most wondrous, are at times severely affected by poorly managed waste from our neighbouring countries to the south. The plastic pollution in our seas and oceans is one of the greatest threats that humankind is facing today. Without the preservation of our waters and our marine life, there will be nothing to leave to future generations. About 8 million tons of plastic debris ends up in our oceans and seas every year.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The number of known species in Croatia is about 40,000, including significant populations of many species that are threatened today in Europe and worldwide. Besides our talented people, biodiversity is our greatest treasure. In that connection, Croatia pays particular attention to the environmental protection of the Adriatic Sea. We are focused on preserving and facilitating the recovery of the marine and coastal environment, protecting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of the sea and coastal areas. Croatia’s national ecological network covers 37 per cent of our entire land area and 15 per cent of our marine area. However, climate change and pollution threaten our natural resources, our delicate ecosystems and our Adriatic Sea.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Together with other EU member States, Croatia strives to become a leader of sustainable development. Our focus is and will be on a green Croatia and the balanced regional development and territorial cohesion of all our geographic areas, including the sustainable development of our more than 1,000 Adriatic islands. I have spoken more than once at this rostrum. Together with the Assembly, I have raised many issues that trouble our nations and the world. I want to focus today on the environment, in particular our seas and oceans. They are the essence and foundation of all life on Earth. Without them, we would not be here. Croatia is both a Central European and a Mediterranean country, with great biodiversity.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Finally, Croatia is dedicated to fighting climate change through the implementation of innovative solutions that will transform our economy and society, and remains committed to the efficient fulfilment of its obligations under the Paris Agreement. Just as accession to the European Union (EU) provided a blueprint for the transformation of governance, the economy and society, so does Croatia see the Sustainable Development Goals as a matrix for our future and an obligation to our citizens and the international community. We need to reinvigorate the political momentum and renew our enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For us, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are guidelines for our own development and a framework for securing a better and more sustainable future, both locally and globally.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We have to revitalize the United Nations and redouble efforts to make this building a home to true global leadership and a platform for the promotion and development of the rules-based international order. The goals before us — poverty eradication, quality education, inclusion and climate action — cannot be achieved without individual national efforts coupled with our common dedication and action. For its part, Croatia is doing its best to fulfil the goals we have set for ourselves. First, we are combating poverty and social exclusion and reducing social inequalities. Secondly, we believe that quality education is key to long-term social stability and economic progress. Thirdly, with regard to inclusion, the ultimate values of our constitutional order are freedom, parity, gender equality and respect for human rights.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We all know the answer, which is at the same time simple and ever more difficult — by joining forces. We cannot deny that multilateralism is facing challenges, the reasons for which may be numerous and complex. However, multilateralism is still our best chance of achieving our common goals. Standing alone and isolated, one fails, but many of us, together, united around common ideas and working in good faith, have the tools in our hands to succeed. Let us use the existing mechanisms, transform them for the better and make them more effective. No doubt, reforms are necessary. We also need to take a deep look at our Organization — its strengths and weaknesses — and trace the path for decades to come. In that connection, I affirm Croatia’s full support for the United Nations reform agenda and the Secretary-General’s continued efforts.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It gets ratings. It wins votes. It generates clicks”. Indeed, fear is present and it inhibits us from taking that step in the right direction; it is hampering our potential and our creativity. We who are gathered here should lead by example. It is incumbent upon us to fearlessly use the instruments we have at our disposal and to boldly think of new ones to advance our nations and our planet, right now. It is incumbent upon us to address the greatest challenges of the globalized twenty-first century — climate change, sustainable development, migration, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and new technologies. How do we prevent unfavourable scenarios and harvest the benefits? How do we mobilize States and joint resources to respond adequately to emerging threats?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are gathered here on the eve of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. Gatherings and anniversaries are usually a time of reflection and introspection. One such global occasion is the United Nations General Assembly. Here the world meets, reflects, exchanges ideas and sets goals for the future. It is a unique forum in human history. I believe that we must use the coming months and the seventy-fifth birthday of our Organization in 2020 not only to emphasize its accomplishments and global relevance to the spheres of peace and security, development, climate action, human rights and humanitarian assistance, but also to take a bold leap forward and reiterate our commitments. However, time is of the essence. The Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said in January, “[t]he best-selling brand in our world today is indeed fear.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In order to confront all the adversities and adversaries mentioned in my speech, both as I have delivered it and in the more complete, written version that has been circulated, we must show our determination to take on the risk of decision-making. We must be open to new ideas and we must show emotion, empathy and above all enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is contagious. As Nelson Mandela — Madiba — whose centenary we celebrated two days ago, may have said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.””
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“If we want to move forward and leave no one behind; if we truly strive to make the United Nations more relevant and, in doing so, more effective, we must also realize that the Organization is and should be much more than just New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi or any other conference location. Multilateralism starts in our own homes and our own minds. It cannot be an annual event. It needs to be our daily routine, a way of doing business in the world. Everything that we want to achieve globally and everything that we have agreed to so far under this dome will be easier to accomplish with the understanding and support of our citizens.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We need a United Nations that is capable of coping with constant changes and growing challenges in the international arena, whether in the field of regional security, conflict management, threats to the environment, human rights or front-line technologies that are fundamentally transforming the areas of labour and disarmament alike. I want to take this opportunity to commend the Secretary-General and his team for their tireless efforts to achieve reform. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but we should be pleased with this year’s results and trends.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“This year was one of United Nations reforms in more ways than one — not only through results achieved in the pivotal sectors of peace and security, development and United Nations management, but also in the transformational nature of our mutual efforts to make our Organization fit for the twenty-first century. The world has changed profoundly since 1945 and the birth of the United Nations. In our reforms, it is essential that we strike the right balance between the maintenance of the basic framework based on the Charter of the United Nations and the flexibility that our new realities and contemporary needs demand. In pursuing United Nations reforms, we must not lose sight of the 2030 Agenda.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Its first mission, to remove 50 per cent of the so-called great Pacific garbage patch in just five years, started several weeks ago. In the media they are calling it Pac-Man, in a reference to the popular early video game. Boyan Slat, the young man behind the invention, is a brilliant scientist of Croatian origin, living in the Netherlands, and he fully deserves to be given credit here today, beneath the United Nations logo, which clearly shows our oceans. My country is already actively preparing for the fulfilment of its obligations under the Paris Agreement.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We have to address the rising problem of plastic pollution in our seas and oceans urgently if we want to leave a liveable world for future generations. Plastic debris — and each year around 8 million tons of it ends up in our oceans and seas — is particularly worrying because it is resistant to environmental breakdown. Plastic pollution not only harms sea life, it also carries toxic pollutants into the food chain, with us humans at the top. We can start solving this problem by educating and engaging everyone in a conversation to rethink plastic, by challenging society’s perception that this indestructible substance can be treated as disposable. In that regard, particular attention should be given to the Ocean Cleanup project, which is designing and developing the first feasible method to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That growth is especially welcome in a number of areas such as sustainable coastal tourism, new health benefits, better connectivity for islands, sustainable blue growth and jobs, marine technology, renewable energy, the management of maritime ecological threats and the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as improving safety and security with regard to maritime traffic and cross-border maritime pollution. One of the issues that I would particularly like to emphasize today is marine litter, an increasingly worrying problem that threatens marine life in all of the world’s oceans and affects more than 600 marine species. Croatia’s coastal areas are being severely affected by poorly managed waste from our southern Adriatic neighbours.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We need to resolve our water- supply issues and provide clean water and sanitation. We need to invest in education, technology, science and innovation so that societies and families can once again flourish on the islands. Blue growth could be a solution. It is a long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. The seas are drivers of the economy, with great potential for innovation and growth, and they are set to grow at twice the rate of the mainstream economy by 2030.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It is estimated that the sea level in the Adriatic will rise by almost half a metre by the year 2100, submerging parts of world heritage places and treasures such as Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik. That is why climate action is not an abstract issue. It is a serious matter requiring our constant and undivided attention. One of the most important climate-action and sustainable-development issues for Croatia is reversing the demographic trends on our islands, which are turning into places where schools have no children and churches see more funerals than baptisms and weddings. And yet the problems that many of these islands are facing are common all over the world. We need to improve affordable transportation and connections between the islands and the mainland.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With more than 1,000 islands, islets and reefs, and a rich history of Mediterranean heritage, the implementation of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development right now is crucial to Croatia’s future. All over the world, including Croatia, we are seeing rises in sea temperatures and unprecedented and irreversible changes in ecosystems. In Croatia’s beautiful Adriatic Sea, one of the cleanest in the world, we have already registered more than 20 new species of tropical fish, some of them extremely invasive, that could irreparably shift its environmental balance. We may soon be exposed to the danger of rising sea levels, which is already an existential issue for many small islands around the world.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, if we are to succeed in our endeavours, we have to mobilize all partners to work together. In that way we can achieve social progress, protect the environment, create economic growth and build a more just, stable and peaceful world. Runaway climate change is one of the most serious threats that we are regularly witnessing — from heatwaves and forest fires, no longer limited to California or the Mediterranean but now also in places such as Scandinavia, to historic typhoons in Japan or the Philippines and to the melting of the ice sheets on the planet’s poles. No country can shield itself from the negative effects of climate change, and Croatia is no exception.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Otherwise we could reopen a Pandora’s box of potential new territorial claims that would provoke serious instability and security threats. There are inspiring developments, however, that have also demonstrated brave leadership in our own region of South-East Europe. We warmly welcome the signing of the agreement reached on the name dispute between Skopje and Athens, and we hope that the referendum this coming Sunday will represent a crucial impetus for the country’s successful continuation of its path of integration into Europe. By adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, we have sent a powerful message that there is hope for a brighter future.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, our closest neighbour and a country that is extremely important to Croatia, we see a potential risk of legal uncertainty and political and institutional instability in the wake of the upcoming October elections, owing to a failure to amend the electoral framework so that it fully respects the rights and equality of Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with the Constitutional Court’s decision on the legitimate and proportionate representation of constituent peoples at all levels of Government, including the presidency. And although it is for the two sides involved to resolve the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, we should be extremely cautious when it comes to proposals with potential regional implications, notably on ideas regarding territorial exchanges.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Good and mutually beneficial neighbourly relations depend to a large degree on the words coming from across the border, because it takes only a moment to deliver inflammatory and revisionist rhetoric in response to domestic political circumstances. However, repairing the damage caused takes much, much longer.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“This year Croatia marked its fifth year of membership in the European Union (EU). Croatia is a telling example of the transformative force of EU membership and the benefits of accession to a space where peace, freedom, human dignity and prosperity are standards, not mere ideals. For those reasons, among others, Croatia strongly supports further EU enlargement to our south-eastern neighbourhood. Resolving all the outstanding legacies of war while constructively engaging in regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations is of course essential. Within that framework we will maintain a particular focus on issues related to the rights of minorities, missing persons, war crimes jurisdiction, victims of war and domestic processing of war crimes.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We need to rethink decades-old mechanisms and instruments in order to adapt them to modern times and contemporary needs. As we celebrate two very important anniversaries this year — the 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25 years of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action — it is a fitting time to remember that respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law has always been a precondition for long-term stability, peace and development. Nor should we forget the seventieth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. We must learn from the tragedies of Srebrenica and Rwanda — “a shame for the United Nations”, as described by the great Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to whom I pay special tribute today. Those dark hours must never be forgotten.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Deeds, not words; inclusion, not exclusion or isolation; empowerment and motivation are the keys to success. We are the global village, but more often than not we tend to miss opportunities to bring the global agenda to our homes, communities and families. We also forget to include our homes, communities and families on the global agenda. It takes great tragedies caused by disasters, global crises, wars or climate change to remind us of what we all stand to lose. In today’s world, that approach, embodied in multilateralism, is under ever-increasing strain. This is of particular concern, since the most important issues for humankind cannot be resolved by any State single-handedly or in isolation. Multilateralism is indispensable, but I would agree with those who call for changes to the multilateral system that we should not be complacent.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Croatia has many Luka Modrićs, and not only in sports. Our people excel in so many areas. Marin Soljačić is a modern-day Nikola Tesla who is developing a wireless transfer of energy, Iva Tolić is conducting breakthrough work in molecular cell biology, Ivan Mrvoš is a developer of smart city furniture for the cities of the future and Mate Rimac is building electric cars, to name just a few among countless others. So let us push against the formal limits of our organizations. Let us embrace the abundant talent around us. Let us inspire through science and innovation, through our brilliant individuals at home and our well- established, hard-working diaspora around the world. Let us inspire through our dedicated and tireless work at the United Nations.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It is our responsibility as States Members of the United Nations to maintain the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of our Organization and to be up to the task for whatever challenges may confront us. However, raising awareness of the most pressing issues is not enough. We must also push for the adoption of the instruments and frameworks necessary to deal with them and, most importantly, secure their implementation. Without that, this rostrum will remain a self-serving global stage, just words without deeds. Through the years, we have often learned the hard way that Governments and international organizations alike have their limits. This has also taught us the value and importance of inclusiveness and the important role that the private sector, academia, civil society and brilliant individuals can play in many different fields.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Our adversaries are many: poverty; hunger; terrorism and extremism; instability; lack of education; gender inequality and the exclusion of women in many societies; environmental hazards; endangered security and trampled human dignity. We leaders should think of ourselves as a team that needs to work together to take advantage of our strengths and address our weaknesses in order to make our world a better place and inspire excellence globally. We should lead not only in managing crises and solving problems, but in spreading hope and optimism as well. We must demonstrate our humanity, solidarity and compassion and in doing so, we must above all respect one another. Respect is the most valuable asset that we have in interpersonal and international relations.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
““The value of a nation is not measured by its size”, underlined Bernard Stem of France. Indeed, one does not need physical size in order to excel; it takes heart and persistence. Above all, you need to share a vision and to work together to make it happen. It is not the size of one’s territory that matters; it is the size and quality of one’s ideas. Magnitude is measured not only in volume, but even more so in determination to reach the goal. Individual Croatian players might have shown great skill and technique on the field, but the reason they triumphed was because they played together as a team. The United Nations is a place where we must show our willingness to act together and play together as a team.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Opshori Nondona, a 14-year-old girl from Dhaka, Bangladesh, was especially persistent in getting her message through. She wrote: “This year, the whole world has recognized a small beautiful country — Croatia — and the power of football. Now the world knows how powerful a small, beautiful nation can be.” These messages are but a fraction of many. What most of them had in common and what I could read in each of them is that Croatia — not a large country in terms of the size of its territory, its population or even its economic means — has become a metaphor, for all of these kind people who congratulated us, for what a country can do to inspire others and to reach the top of the world, winning the hearts of people worldwide and rousing enthusiasm that each of their countries can do the same.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“This summer, football — of all things — triggered a global response, uniting us for a moment in our common aspirations to excellence. Following the success of the Croatian national team, I received so many congratulatory letters and messages from all corners of the world — from China, Australia and Saudi Arabia to France, Trinidad and Tobago and Nepal. I thank everyone for their kind words. Vishal Bagale of India kindly said, “Team Croatia really played well. They won our hearts”. Shabbir Allam wrote in Croatian “Svi kao jedno” — “We are all like one”. Gilberto Castillo of Colombia pointed out that the final was “well-deserved for a country that has excelled in spite of the harsh historic situations it has experienced. It is certainly an example to follow”.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We live in times of great opportunities and serious challenges. We are more interconnected than ever, yet the world remains divided in many ways. Technological developments have enabled our world to become a truly global village. Our citizens have become global citizens and are well- informed and strongly driven by developments around the world. They expect global leadership in these times of rapid change and great complexity and look to all of us for inspiration. What is it that people are looking for today? What is it that they expect of a leader? Mighty words? These do not really matter much anymore. Mighty deeds? Yes indeed, but, foremost, what they expect of us are the simplest of gestures that bring us together and that show our compassion and respect for each other. They expect integrity and inspiration.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Lovro may only be 6 years old, but his voice resonates today in the General Assembly Hall, and he is making a difference.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Will we accept that we are creating a world led by feelings of separation, fear and cynicism because we have allowed violence, injustice and crises to prevail? Or will we reverse those trends and choose to achieve a better tomorrow? Fourteen years from now, our children will not ask us what we planned together or what we signed up to do. Instead, they will ask us what we achieved together and whether we made a difference. And we as leaders need therefore to inspire our citizens again and act together today. I want to end with a message to all of the children in Croatia and in the world: their voices provide us with guidance and serve as an obligation for all of us who gather here at this permanent meeting point of humankind.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Croatia will continue to be actively engaged in the United Nations reform process. We commend recent progress in the process of electing the next Secretary- General and strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly. However, the Organization is still lagging behind in terms of what is expected concerning Security Council reform, as highlighted by the number of ongoing, prolonged and nascent crises in the world. We have great expectations for the next Secretary-General. We hope that she or he will give bold impetus to the processes of carrying forward our Organization, making it even more effective, accountable, transparent and, above all, more relevant. The world has been yearning for inspirational and effective leadership. The solidarity of our global society is deteriorating as problems pile up and hope diminishes.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Establishing individual accountability through strong evidential and legal norms is essential. International tribunals and judicial mechanisms can lay the foundations needed to make the voices of victims heard and to record volumes of evidence in the annals of history, but it is up to each society to bring the process of reconciliation to its end. Respect for, and the protection of, human rights is a prerequisite for sustainable peace and development. Our work in that area should never end. We strongly support and advocate the Human Rights Up Front initiative. Through its candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council for the period 2017-2019, Croatia looks forward to constructively contributing to and strengthening the Council’s work in the promotion, protection and further development of human rights.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Over the past 10 years, a lot has been accomplished in building consensus around that concept and strengthening the will and capacity for its implementation. Croatia advocates the further strengthening of the role of the International Criminal Court so that it can assume greater responsibility in prosecuting mass atrocities and war crimes, including criminal acts against cultural heritage committed by State or non-State actors. We believe that it is of paramount importance to put an end to the culture of impunity. And that must be done without any politicization, without putting daily politics above the rule of law and, certainly, without rewriting or misinterpreting history. It is through hard-earned wisdom that we lave learned that there can be no true justice without peace or peace without justice.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Their growing contribution to the prevention and resolution of conflict, as well as to the maintenance of a sustainable and inclusive peace, should be encouraged. More female peacekeepers could help us combat sexual violence, promote gender awareness among the host nations’ populations and improve relationships with local citizens. In order to contribute to that goal, Croatia is conducting a United Nations training course for women police officers from Asia, Africa and Europe. The course is organized back- to-back with predeployment military training in order to enhance the synergy between the military and civilian sectors by integrating the gender and multicultural aspects of peacekeeping. We commend the Secretary-General for advancing the responsibility to protect.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Technologies such as 3-D printing are changing the algorithm in the area of conventional weapons, and the misuse of cyberspace might have unforeseen consequences in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear areas. We must therefore broaden our reach when it comes to disarmament topics and align it with new realities. Croatia considers participation in international missions and operations to be a principal duty that can contribute to peace. In that regard, we are preparing to place the Croatian Army Engineering Horizontal Construction Company at the disposal of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Today, on the International Day of Peace, it is necessary to emphasize that women are powerful agents of peace and security. We must not treat women only as victims of conflict and violence. Women are powerful agents of change.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“At the same time, large parts of the United Nations disarmament machinery are stalled. The 2015 Review Conference of Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remains a case in point. In our quest for a more secure global community, we must spare no effort in the field of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Twenty years have passed since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was opened for signature, but we still need to invigorate our determination to become a nuclear-test-free world. New technologies and the fourth industrial revolution are changing our lives for the better in more ways than one. However, they also have a negative impact on security and disarmament.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We need to strengthen the resilience of our societies at the grass- roots level, particularly the fabric of multicultural and multi-confessional societies, against terrorist propaganda, attempts at violent radicalization and other extremist actions. In addition to our efforts to promote sustainable and long-term de-radicalization and fight terrorist narratives, especially those in cyberspace, we need to address the underlying socioeconomic drivers of terrorism, such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, the lack of education and the lack of economic prosperity. When countering global threats that impede the emergence and growth of resilient societies, the issue of disarmament must remain at the forefront. Recently, we achieved success in the development and implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The stability, security and well-being of the Mediterranean remain a priority of Croatian foreign policy. Our societies are exposed to a complex global security environment with increased mutual dependencies. There is a whole range of hybrid threats to national and international security: violent extremism, terrorism, foreign terrorist fighters, uncontrolled migration, organized crime, risks related to the cyberenvironment, and the malicious use of new technologies. Large-scale migrations and unemployment are interconnected, just as failed States and fragile Governments are related to conflict. Terrorism continues to represent not only a security concern, but also a detrimental economic factor for every country, causing millions of people to leave their homes in search of safety and prosperity.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Climate change is also a risk multiplier for other security challenges, including large-scale migrations and regional instability born out of hopelessness and desolation. We must ensure climate action and make sure that the recent Paris Agreement enters into force as soon as possible. As a country on the northern shores of the Mediterranean, Croatia is following the developments across that cradle of our civilization with care and deep concern. The southern Mediterranean has, sadly, become a sea of dangerous journeys, where the legendary tales of the classical world are being replaced by new stories of human suffering, where ancient monuments are being reduced to dust and where indifference to human life sometimes reaches an unimaginable scale.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Their role in the empowerment of women, their support and understanding, are as crucial as the will of women to succeed. This year, Croatia is chairing the Equal Futures Partnership — an innovative multilateral initiative aimed at encouraging Member States to empower women economically and politically. The high-level meeting of its members and supporters will take place tomorrow. I invite all those present to find the time to pay due attention to that endeavour. Nature is just as irreplaceable as people are. Development strategies must seriously take into account our natural resources as the fundamental starting point. Climate change is a powerful weapon of mass destruction that is going out of control. We have very little time to reverse that self-destructive course.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)