YouSaid · the spoken record

Stjepan Mesić,

lines on the record: 45
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2009-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Although my ten-year term is nearing its end and this is the last time I stand at this rostrum, I will just say that I shall continue to place my skills at the service of achieving this noble goal.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The specific features of individual nations and civilizations must be respected, since there is no reason why anyone should renounce something that is part of his cultural or traditional heritage. Finally, a world characterized by international peace, security and development is not possible without disarmament, in particular without renouncing nuclear weapons. This was the topic of my address in the Security Council this morning. I would like to mention in addition the notorious fact that problems of development would become minor if the huge funds currently allocated for armament were channelled into development. I reiterate: the task before us is enormous. Let us show courage and political will to grapple with it. The Republic of Croatia, although a small country, is ready to make its contribution.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Fortunately, the world has emerged from a potentially very dangerous period of unipolarism and is now on a path towards multipolarism. However, the world is still in the process of learning that only dialogue can help us to build mutual trust and understanding. It is not yet ready to face the fact that it is not a crime to be different and that our future can be found only in unity through diversity — of course, under the condition of full equality and strict observance of human rights and in line with the United Nations conventions. With the simultaneous drift from unipolarism and a shift towards multipolarism, we have to understand and accept that though we have established a set of universal values, we have not, will not and cannot establish a single model of social and economic relations applicable to all.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is up to us to embark now upon the enormous task of creating a new world order — not returning to anything that existed before, but creating something new: an order that will in the end provide a life worthy of humankind for each person and equal chances for all, and not one that writes off those who are in dire need through no fault of their own and those who at the end of their lives are viewed as useless and therefore unworthy of any support. It is up to us to dispel prejudices more resolutely than ever before, to stand up to discrimination on whatever grounds, to say no to intolerance and to promote not only the idea but also the practice of multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations. That is the only way towards building global peace, security and development as vital preconditions for lasting and stable peace.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Our world is ultimately still dominated by an economic model that is self-evidently exhausted and has now reached a stage where it is itself generating crises and causing hardship to millions of people. If one attempts to save that already obsolete model at any cost, and if one stubbornly defends a system based on greed and devoid of any social value worth 09-52425 50 mentioning, there can be only one result: social unrest harbouring the potential to erupt into social insurgence on a global scale. Can we accept such prospects? I respond with the utmost resolution that, no, we cannot, and must not.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Our world is still dominated by developed and most developed countries; while developing countries are desperately lagging behind, struggling with hunger, the inability to educate their citizens and the lack of even the most basic health care. Can we be content with such a world? Without any hesitation, I respond that, no, we cannot. In our world there are many States as well as groups that are united in their inclination to use terror as a means of action and to resort to force to achieve their goals. Admittedly, confrontation between the blocs no longer exists. A balance of fear between super-Powers is non-existent, but our world has hardly become more secure, while peace has hardly become more stable. Can we be content with such a world? Again, without any hesitation, I respond that, no, we cannot.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We have assembled once again to discuss the situation in the world, outline the problems our countries face and present our views on the world we live in. The President of the General Assembly has offered a topic for discussion, one which, I would say, perfectly reflects current circumstances and the tasks arising from them. What kind of world are we discussing here? A globalized world? By all means. An interconnected and interdependent world? Without any doubt. A world of great discrepancies and major threats? Certainly. In brief, our world is such that there are practically no longer regional problems and crises, since each and every issue, no matter how much it may appear to be regional, reveals itself as global in terms of its consequences.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It has also shown the capacity to act and to get things going in a positive direction, both in its own interest and in that of others. We have only one world. Its destiny is in our hands. There is room for everyone in this world, but this world can, may and must be only a world of equals, of people enjoying not only equal rights but also equal opportunities, knowing that nobody, however big and strong, can live alone and only for his own sake, and that together we can change our world. Even more importantly, however, together we can save and preserve it for future generations. But let us not forget: time is running out.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We are already living that truth; fast, coordinated and responsible action is called for. That action must serve the interests of all, even if it may momentarily run against the interests of some, because time is running out dangerously. We have not met yet again in the General Assembly in order to describe our world and our environment from our individual perspectives. Our mandate is not mere diagnosis. Our mandate involves healing, changing and improving. With a foreign policy based on the value of the European Union, which it will enter soon, and with its desire to develop good relations with everyone willing to reciprocate, the Republic of Croatia has shown by deeds that it is aware of the fact that there is no time to be lost.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“By complying with the requirements of often uncontrolled development and not only in the most developed countries and by giving in to the aggressive needs of capital, guided exclusively by interest and never by social factors, we have agreed to condemn millions of people to death by starvation and for lack of basic medical care, and hundreds of millions to bare survival in poverty, with no prospects. However, by destroying nature, we have also jeopardized everyone’s survival. Climate change and global warming are only two indicators, albeit the most evident, of the situation to which I am referring. The summit on climate change proved that we are all aware of the danger we are facing. Those who underestimate and even deny that real danger will simply have to face the truth.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It is true that the high and the mighty have a greater responsibility, but it is also true that no one no one at all can or may have greater rights, much less usurp such rights by force, just as nobody’s rights can be denied by force. That holds true for global and regional developments alike. Unfortunately, force is still present in international relations, and on the European continent we are witnessing dangerous signs of a possible renewal of the arms race. Such a trend should be stopped and such conditions changed. There is not much time. Once again, time is running out.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In short, we are putting forward our candidacy as a mature European democratic country committed to the goals of the United Nations, and there is nothing more to be said about it. As I have already said, we demonstrate our commitment by supporting the reform of the world Organization, but even in the realization of that noble and certainly unavoidable goal we are running late. Even among us, there are voices suggesting that we renounce the United Nations. There is less and less time for action. Even in that context, then, I must reiterate: Time is running out. In recent decades, this Hall has heard many debates on the need to establish new political and economic international relations. Such new relations can be based only on equality.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our deeds say more than our words, and our deeds include a successful struggle for national independence, despite an imposed war; the peaceful completion of that struggle through cooperation with the United Nations; a courageous confrontation of the past and of the truth about that past; the establishment of good relations with all our neighbours, including those that waged war against us; the promotion of the peaceful resolution of conflicts, always and everywhere; current participation in 15 United Nations peacekeeping missions, which puts Croatia at the very top of those countries whose soldiers are today maintaining peace under the blue flag. Let me emphasize that they are participating only in those missions that are under a United Nations mandate.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“By declaring its candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council, Croatia wishes to affirm its commitment to the global Organization and its readiness to take part in its reform. I do not want to misuse the time at my disposal to lobby for that candidacy.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Nevertheless, underdevelopment and poverty still weigh upon a substantial part of humankind, and the preferred methods for fighting terrorism have so far been shown to be less than efficient, and sometimes even counterproductive. We are also running late in that regard, and time is running out here, too. We have wanted and still want this Organization, our own Organization, to be fit for better and more functional action in current conditions. In other words, we want to reform the United Nations; we want to transform the Organization from a reflection of a world long gone into an instrument for safeguarding peace, establishing stability and ensuring development in the contemporary world and the world of future generations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“However, what is not appropriate is the fact that the implementation of the Millennial Goals is not proceeding at the proper rate or in the proper manner if we want them to be meaningful. We are running late; hence my warning: Time is running out. Among all global organizations, the United Nations is that which has been most sympathetic to the problems of developing countries and where loud and justified requests have been voiced to stop the stratification of the world into the haves and the have-nots. I have also attended sessions and conferences dealing with the issue, and I have repeatedly drawn attention to underdevelopment as a generator of global terrorism, along with inequality in international relations and unresolved regional crises.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“When I first took the floor seven years ago to address the representatives of the States of the world on behalf of the Republic of Croatia, I started off with the words “time is running out”. At the time, I did not even imagine that I would have to repeat those very words seven years later, but with a greater sense of urgency. However, current circumstances, the problems facing us and our inability or inadequate ability to deal with them compel me to repeat, here and now: Time is running out. When we attended the millennial session marking the beginning of the new century and the new millennium, we also formulated our millennial goals. Quite appropriately, we identified our tasks and our aspirations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I am certain that this year's General Assembly session will reconfirm the importance of the United Nations and open a new chapter in our organization's activities in building peace and security.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Croatia is firmly set on the path of accession to the European Union. Croatia, whose strategic national goal is to join the European Union, remains dedicated to the continual promotion of friendly relations with all its neighbours and to the policy of open borders, allowing the flow of people, goods and services, but also to that of keeping its borders firmly closed to all forms of transnational crime and illegal migration. Croatia will continue to actively participate in regional, European and worldwide initiatives and organizations, respecting all its international obligations. For us, the United Nations remains a central point for resolving problems in international relations and for promoting the interests of mankind.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We are concerned by the fact that although the Treaty was opened for signature and ratification seven years ago, it still has not entered into force. The universal character of this Treaty is of great significance and we call on all States that have not acceded to the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. Croatia welcomes the efforts of the Secretary- General and the United Nations to raise the level of awareness throughout the world of the importance of the rule of law and of acceding to international instruments in this area. As a member State of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Croatia has actively participated in the pioneering endeavour of setting up a new international order symbolized by the International Criminal Court, which has rightly been termed the embodiment of our collective conscience.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Although much has been done in the past period to improve the position of women in society and promote principles of gender equality, the international community still has an obligation to intensify efforts to prevent all forms of violence against women, and must try to include women in decision-making processes, ensuring empowerment of women at all levels. Against this background I am proud to say that Croatia has 29 provided the first woman participant in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. Apart from terrorism, one of the biggest security threats in the world is the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is, we believe, particularly important in ensuring that the goal of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament is attained.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“As a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Croatia supports the universal ratification of international instruments in the field of human rights. The Commission should continue unhindered in its activities while carrying out its mandate. In an effort to promote and protect the human rights of all people, Croatia is devoting special attention to the human rights of women, children, refugees and disabled persons, and to the human rights of members of national minorities.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The establishment of working groups for Guinea- Bissau and for Burundi were steps in the right direction, and we hope that this experience will be used to further the involvement of the Economic and Social Council in processes of maintaining and building peace. The Millennium Declaration, this joint vision of all United Nations members for a more just and better world, is a beacon we must follow. Not only must we follow it, we must ensure that its goals are fully implemented. In this context, Croatia would like to see the Economic and Social Council play a greater role in the general implementation of the Millennium Declaration. Therefore, Croatia supports the idea of a high-level dialogue on the achievement of the Goals set out in the Millennium Declaration taking place at the next General Assembly session.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is also important to ensure the necessary exchange of views between the Security Council and the countries on whose territory the peacekeeping operations are being conducted. This is not only a question of due respect of those countries' sovereignty, but it is also a way of acquiring full insight into its needs and priorities. I also believe that there is the need for the establishment of closer links and better coordination in the work of the United Nations main bodies, especially between the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council. The Economic and Social Council and its commissions possess exceptional knowledge and experience important for the building of post- conflict societies, something we were able to see for ourselves last year when Croatia presided over this body.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We are determined to further intensify our participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, in line with our physical and financial capabilities regarding the composition and number of troops deployed, as well as theatres of operation. Croatia feels that as a country that received United Nations peacekeeping forces at a time when its sovereignty and territorial integrity were attacked, and as a country which hosted one of the United Nations most extensive operations, it now has a moral obligation to contribute this experience to securing peace and prosperity in other parts of the world. I would particularly like to stress the importance of closer cooperation between the Security Council and troop contributing countries. We welcome the positive changes that have so far occurred in this respect.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The United Nations is the only global institution that can respond to the challenges of simultaneously establishing regional stability, introducing post-war reconstruction and building a democratic society. The United Nations has paid a high price in its peace efforts. I would like to take this occasion to once again express Croatia's condolences to the families of the victims of the recent barbaric attacks on United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, and to re-emphasize that such attacks strengthen our belief that the development of collective security systems and global solidarity must continue. Croatia is currently participating in five United Nations peacekeeping missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea, India and Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste and Western Sahara.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The mandate and character of peacekeeping operations 28 have been significantly transformed, from operations aimed primarily at disengaging warring parties into complex missions for building democratic systems, protecting and promoting human rights, strengthening civil society and establishing the groundwork for the sustainable development of independent States. This complexity, and the frequent overlapping of mandates, requires a high degree of expertise in various areas: from holding democratic elections and developing judicial systems to establishing police and military forces that meet international standards and basic international legal regulations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We are also aware of the importance of timely resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly, which must be fine-tuned to meet the challenges and needs of the peace process, keeping abreast of realities in the field and encouraging a greatly needed agreement. We hope that in its forthcoming work the General Assembly will take this into account when adopting new resolutions on the Middle East. The importance of United Nations peacekeeping operations has been recognized on many occasions.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“However, Croatia stands ready to offer its wealth of experience in post-war reconstruction, especially in construction work, as well as the knowledge and operative capacities required for dealing with post-war confidence-building, strengthening the country's stability, normalizing life, and mending the tears left by the war in the fabric of civil society. I am thinking in particular of the knowledge and experience acquired in civil police training and activities. Events in the Middle East confirm that greater courage is required to reach a compromise and ensure coexistence than to wage battles; Croatia knows this all too well.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Croatia's forces are participating in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. Croatia is aware of the fact that concerted action by all democratic countries is the best response to terrorism. The fight against terrorism requires not only action by the democratic coalition at a global level, but also that of each of its members at the national and regional levels. It is equally important that we intensify our activities to assist countries lagging behind in economic development and other areas. Inequality, injustice and ignorance are fertile breeding grounds for the seeds of terrorism. Croatia is still dealing with the consequences of the war imposed on it and does not have the economic resources to participate as a donor in the action for the reconstruction of Iraq.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Croatia's membership in the Security Council would represent a great tribute to my country and a recognition of all that has been achieved in bringing peace to South-eastern Europe, which has found the strength, after many years of war, to embrace the path of good-neighbourly relations. The fight against international terrorism is high on Croatia's list of priorities. Two years after the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States, we stand firmly by our American allies and all those who refuse to accept terror, fanaticism and killing as a means of resolving problems between peoples and countries. Our collective duty to maintain international peace and security, which stems from the Charter of the United Nations, provides an international framework for a decisive response to terrorism in the twenty-first century.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We have an opportunity to do this at this session of the General Assembly. Croatia has never been a member of the Security Council. However, in the 1990s Croatia acquired considerable experience in the work of that organ and learned about its good points and its shortcomings, its importance and its true scope. Therefore, unless it adapts to the new realities in international relations, the Council will not be able to maintain its credibility and authority in all parts of the world. What is required is adherence to the principle of equitable representation of all United Nations Members in the Security Council. Croatia is prepared further to intensify its activities as an active promoter of regional and world peace. With this in mind, Croatia has presented its candidacy for membership in the Security Council for the 2008-2009 mandate.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In this connection, Croatia welcomes and fully supports the Secretary- General's September report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. When discussing our Organization's reform, especially reform of the Security Council, but also that of the General Assembly, we must be aware that this is a matter of our own political will and readiness to accept change. Unfortunately, and this should be openly stated, so far there has not been enough political will to move from debates on the subject to actual reform. Croatia is convinced that reform of the Security Council is necessary and should no longer be put off. In fact, we ourselves decided in the Millennium Declaration that we would intensify joint efforts to achieve comprehensive reforms of the Security Council in all its aspects.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Global solutions require the concerted and united efforts of all countries and of all the inhabitants of our planet. Our Organization is a joint effort by the world community that is persistently searching for solutions to the ever-growing problems of our time. I emphasize the phrase our Organization', for sometimes it seems that we expect the United Nations administration alone to solve our problems. We tend to forget that the 27 United Nations is not some abstract institution with a will of its own one that we depend on but that the United Nations is the will of each and every one of its 191 Member States. We alone are responsible for the will, the decisions, the work and the activities of the United Nations. There is no doubt whatsoever that the United Nations needs to be reformed.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Seldom has the world's attention been so focused on the United Nations; seldom has so much been expected of this Organization. The question now being asked throughout the world is: Is the United Nations experiencing the deepest crisis in its history, and does it still play a fundamental role in international relations?' Today, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the main reason for the existence of our Organization is the same as it was 60 years ago: to maintain world peace, reached at the cost of millions of lives; and to contribute, in an ongoing manner, to the well-being of humankind all over the world. We live in a world where no one can go it alone, without the help of others, however big and powerful they may be.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Let us change the world we live in so as to be able to continue to live.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I would like this session of the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm this world Organization as an irreplaceable instrument in the struggle for a different and better world. I would like this session to show the political will of all Member States to start seeking together — and finding — in a sincere and coordinated way, solutions to problems that, in the context of the threat of global terrorism, prove to be literally unavoidable. Let us not forget that in September the terrorists used planes full of passengers in order to kill thousands of people. The next time they may use chemical, biological or, perhaps, even nuclear weapons to kill hundreds of thousands of people. Let us also not forget that this Organization was founded to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. There is no time to lose.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I am sure that, in addition to the fight against terrorism, there is another task ahead of us that is no less difficult or responsible, namely, creating and implementing a global strategy for solving accumulated problems of today’s world, problems that did not appear only yesterday. Many of them have been discussed under the dome of the General Assembly. Many beautiful words have been said. It is now time to turn those words into actions. It is now time for those actions to stop ugly, abominable words full of hatred and hostility from turning into new acts of madness such as the ones we saw in this city. We have a common interest: life in peace and safety for all. Let us have a common goal, too: a life of dignity for all. Neither can be achieved tomorrow everywhere, but both can be achieved everywhere.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It will not be difficult to encourage fanatic behaviour in both individuals and large groups of people — thus turning them into ruthless killers or terrorists — as long as famine, poverty and non- development are present in large parts of the world, and as long as people anywhere suffer from inequality and the absence of freedom as a result of unresolved regional crises. I therefore think that we have to change 5 the world completely, if we do not want our present fight against global terrorism and our victory over it, of which I have no doubt, to be mere episodes. That might sound too ambitious or even a bit utopian, but I believe it is neither of the two.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“However, while we are still combating global terrorism using our military, political and economic force and intelligence organizations, we must start looking for answers to the following questions: What is global terrorism and what makes it possible? It is not enough to defeat the terrorists we are faced with today. We have to do everything we can to make sure that we shall not be dealing with new terrorists tomorrow. This is the second level of change that needs to be carried out, but that is not yet being made. I view the situation as follows.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“To accept that dilemma would be fatal for our civilization. The response is, and can only be, democracy and the rule of law. The defence of democracy must not turn it into its very opposite, even under the conditions of war imposed upon us by the terrorists. Secondly, the establishment of the anti-terrorist coalition represents the beginning of profound and far- reaching changes on the world political scene. I am speaking about changes in relations between countries or groups of countries. I am also speaking about changes in the nature and way of functioning of international alliances, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as existing international organizations like the United Nations and those organizations that are just emerging, of which the International Criminal Court is one example.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Terrorism is therefore absolutely unacceptable, and this is why we are fighting against it today. We have created a broad anti-terrorist coalition, an alliance of countries not previously known in history, which can only be compared to the anti-fascist coalition at the time of the Second World War. This anti-terrorist coalition is almost an alliance of the civilized world, a defence response of that world to the challenge and threat of destruction and anarchy. I would like to stress two things with respect to the response and the circumstances in which it is taking place. First, today we are not faced with the dilemma of choosing between anarchy imposed upon us by the terrorists, on the one hand, and autocracy, which some could perhaps see as the only efficient response to global terrorism on the other.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Today we live with the threat of global terrorism, and the global response to it. With regard to the nature of this first big war of the twenty-first century, I can only repeat what I recently mentioned in my speech in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. This is not a clash of civilizations; this is not a clash of cultures; this is not a conflict of religions. This is just a confrontation of civilization and non-civilization. I would also like to be very clear about something else. There is no such thing as “our” or “their” terrorism. There is no justified or unjustified terrorism. It is in the nature of terrorism, regardless of whether it is masked by an ideology, religion or war of liberation, to kill innocent people — the more, the better.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Since 11 September, when as if in a nightmare we were faced with the horror of global terrorism, it has been repeatedly said by many people, including myself, that the world is no longer the same. I am here today to repeat this, and also to add a few more words. It is true, or at least it seems to be true, that the terrorist attacks, which left thousands of deaths behind, have changed everything. However, the truth is slightly different: much has changed as a result of the attacks, but nothing has changed in the area that made it possible for the attacks to be committed. I would therefore like to stress the following points. In order to make sure that the terror experienced by New York and Washington will not happen again, we — I repeat, we — have to change the world completely.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I wanted to come here, and I had to come here. I thought it was necessary to show that I will not allow those fanatic killers, who 4 may be secretly lurking right now, to prevent me from presenting the general views of my country, the Republic of Croatia, about the current situation in the world in front of this audience in the United Nations. This year, the general debate is taking place later than usual. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington postponed the scheduled autumn session. I emphasize the word “postponed”. The terrorists did not manage to paralyse the United States of America. They did not manage to stop the work of the United Nations; nor will the world’s statesmen cancel their visits to New York and their participation in the work of the General Assembly.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)