YouSaid · the spoken record

Zoran Milanović

lines on the record: 58
first: 2012-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

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

“We are very concerned about the latest developments in relations between Kosovo and Serbia and would like to encourage measures to de-escalate tensions. And those two countries need to focus on normalizing relations, delivering on their commitments and starting to implement what was agreed on this year in Brussels and Ohrid. We continue to advocate for universal recognition of the Republic of Kosovo and its right to existence as an equal member of the community of nations. It is in our interests to promote the stability and further development of the region, in addition to the process of European integration, which we believe remains crucial to the future prosperity of our neighbours and which we hope will be accelerated in the coming years.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“such as resolving the remaining missing-persons cases, engaging in meaningful cooperation in handling war crimes without discrimination and in line with international standards, ensuring access to archives, and other unresolved and highly sensitive problems. We actively support the European perspective of our close neighbour Bosnia and Herzegovina and warmly welcomed the recent European Union (EU) decision to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina the status of an EU candidate country. We continue to advocate for electoral reforms that can ensure the legitimate representation of all its constituent peoples — particularly Bosniaks. Croats and Serbs — at all levels of Government, which in our view is essential to the country’s future stability and prosperity.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Based on that tragic national experience, we continue to give our unwavering support to all efforts to provide answers to people still suffering the anguish of uncertainty anywhere in the world. We remain committed to combating hate speech, advancing the rights of women and children, protecting minorities and abolishing the death penalty. Gender equality is the foundation of a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. In that regard, we want to highlight the importance of education and equal opportunities for girls and boys. We will continue advocating against discrimination and hate speech, including antisemitism. Croatia continues to attach the utmost importance to the welfare of its immediate neighbourhood in South- Eastern Europe. We must fully tackle issues relating to the past and the legacy of war.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“How we go about addressing the issue at the Climate Ambition Summit and COP28 will be a true test of trust and solidarity among nations and will have an impact on current and future generations. Creating a world of peace and security that respects human rights and promotes social progress is the very foundation of the United Nations. The number of human rights violations and humanitarian crises around the world shows that more must be done to prevent atrocities and operationalize the responsibility to protect. Croatia is honoured to be contributing to that cause by serving as co-Chair. along with Costa Rica and Botswana, of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect in New York. The Croatian Government remains committed to determining the fate of 1.806 persons who went missing during our homeland war in the 1990s.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“When we put the clean energy transition at the heart of the fight against climate change on the global level, we should not forget that the most vulnerable communities, which have historically contributed the least to climate change, are often the ones most and worst affected — both by climate conditions and by the costs of the green energy transition as a remedy. The establishment at the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) of a loss and damage fund to help vulnerable countries cope with the destructive effects of climate change marked a historic breakthrough in that respect.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“By further pursuing that course and accelerating the development of renewables and increasing green investments, we believe that we can turn the current crisis into a new chance for our economies. In that regard. I would mention as an example one such project that can boost new growth in the European economy based on decarbonization and clean industry. It is the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project, which encompasses Slovenia. Croatia and the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The successful negotiation of that agreement is the most recent proof of devoted multilateral work and represents not only a milestone in conserving the marine biodiversity of nearly two thirds of the world’s oceans but also a triumph for multilateralism. Today Croatia proudly joined the first tier of countries that have signed the high seas treaty and is committed to ratifying it as soon as possible. We call on other countries to do the same in order to enable its swift entry into force and the commencement of its effective implementation. As a State member of the European Union. Croatia has already committed itself politically and legally to contributing to making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Furthermore, we firmly believe that the protection, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity is essential for the prevention of pandemics and the promotion of the One Health Approach, which needs to be included in future prevention plans. We are also committed to working together to intensify cooperation in protecting the marine environment and combating plastic pollution. If we want healthy oceans and seas, our ambition needs to be high and ocean protection needs to be stepped up significantly. Croatia welcomes the landmark adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Croatia’s performance in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals was among the top-ranked countries. However, we still have a lot of work ahead of us. Croatia has a large natural heritage that it wants to preserve for future generations through the implementation of the SDGs. While accepting the clean energy transition. Croatia is taking a number of measures to alleviate the transition shock due to the rejection of fossil fuels and to ensure a fair transition and prevent energy poverty. With regard to biodiversity. Croatia is committed to working jointly for the development and full implementation of the ambitious and transformational Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We support the Secretary-General’s call for the universality of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. The PBC should also work more closely with international financial institutions and regional actors, forming a sustainable peace network. In addition to its advisory powers, the PBC could also be vested with decision-making powers, enabling it to establish United Nations civilian missions upon request by the countries concerned and thereby helping to address the root causes of instability. In that regard, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals can be an excellent prevention tool by fostering prosperity and inclusion, while leaving the world a safer place for future generations. According to The Global Sustainable Development Report 2023.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In that regard, we support the efforts by the international financial institutions to review their structures and operating processes with a view to reform in order to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Peace is not maintained by itself. Investment in conflict prevention is far more cost-effective than investing in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery. That is why conflict prevention and sustaining peace should be at the centre of the framework of the New Agenda for Peace, intertwined with a renewed commitment to multilateralism, global solidarity and trust. Croatia, as Chair of the Peace-building Commission (PBC) for 2023. strongly advocates for the strengthening and enlarging of both its geographical and thematic scope.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In the meantime, the necessary boost came with the Secretary-General’s vision offered in Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) as an overarching road map for fighting the multiple crises. The preparatory process for next year’s Summit of the Future — along with its outcome, the Pact for the Future — represents a unique opportunity to strengthen national and international governance and to make it more sustainable and resilient to future crises and shocks, thereby safeguarding the planet for future generations. The international financial system is increasingly unable to adequately and efficiently respond to the challenges at hand. More needs to be done to update and upgrade the global financial infrastructure so that it becomes more adapted to the needs of the world. Most notably, we need to scale up development and climate financing.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We are also hopeful that genuine efforts will be invested in the reform of the Security Council, as our main instrument for securing global peace and security. In 2015. we adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development based on the consensus that, in order to transform our world, we need to realize that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and that peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. In 2023. at the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the assessments of the Global Sustainable Development Report show that the efforts to achieve that synergy have proved insufficient to date. Time to reinvigorate our political commitments to the full and efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is irreversibly running out.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is my particular honour to address the General Assembly. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President on being elected to his position and to wish him every success in his work during these challenging times. The world in which we live today requires joint, global and concerted efforts as the key to success in addressing serious global crises. We strongly believe that we must strengthen the multilateral system based on international law. We must make sure that it is effective and fair and able to endure and deliver results that will serve to achieve our common goals and commitments, as well as a better future for our planet and peoples. We need to safeguard the role of the United Nations as the centre of global cooperation.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We will continue advocating for effective multilateral action on tackling illegal arms transfers and build-ups.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Croatia is proud to have contributed to 19 United Nations peacekeeping operations. We also aspire to join the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and continue our engagement from previous mandates. Nuclear weapons and corresponding technologies still loom large in the security calculus of leading global Powers. Nightmare scenarios can largely be avoided by sincere commitments to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a foundation of global nuclear order. We hope to see progress made at the next NPT Review Conference. But while nuclear weapons cast large shadows, let us not lose sight of the lingering threats posed by illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking. We are familiar with such threats due to the armed conflicts and organized crime in the Western Balkans.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I must confess that I cannot understand the lack of information sharing and access to archival leads on the possible locations of individual and mass graves so many years after the conflict. It is impossible not to recall the horrific terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, 20 years ago. Terrorism continues to be our era’s formidable security threat. On the other hand, it has also ushered in unprecedented cooperation and unwavering resolve to counter terrorism. Cybersecurity is perhaps one of our fastest growing concerns. Trends appear to indicate an increasing diversification of malicious efforts, with State-sponsored ones perhaps being the most worrisome. Particularly upsetting incidents involve cyberattacks targeting our critical health infrastructures, which are already exhausted due to the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Promoting the rights of women and children, confronting hate speech, calling for the abolition of the death penalty, protecting minorities and actively promoting casualty recording and the mandate on truth, justice and reparations are among our human rights priorities at the United Nations. Croatia is still searching for 1,858 citizens who are still missing or unaccounted for from the 1991-1995 Homeland War. It is a lasting and painful burden for the affected families and takes a toll on our society’s desire to move on. The fact that the fate of the missing is unknown some 30 years later is especially excruciating. We urge other neighbouring States to cooperate in good faith and to respect their declared commitments and international agreements.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Together with Costa Rica, Denmark and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Croatia organized yesterday’s special event on protecting women and girls, who are directly affected and often targeted in conflict and post-conflict settings. Croatia reaffirms its strong commitment to a rules-based international order and to upholding international law — two essential ingredients of peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States. We support the role of the International Criminal Court and call upon those Member States yet to ratify the Rome Statute to do so.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Together, we urgently need to start reforming the United Nations, especially the Security Council, which is our main instrument for securing global peace and security. In that regard, we welcome the Secretary- General’s efforts, expressed in his recently published report, entitled “Our Common Agenda”. Croatia also upholds the responsibility to protect, as adopted by consensus in the 2005 World Summit outcome document (resolution 60/1). We welcome resolution 75/277, entitled “The responsibility to protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”, which was adopted with overwhelming support.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In the long term, the focus should be on developing a wider political horizon for meaningful negotiations and renewing the peace process. A two-State solution based on internationally agreed parameters remains viable. Reviving the Iran nuclear deal is a key instrument of regional security and stability that can still serve as a useful platform for broader regional dialogue. We hope that further diplomatic efforts will contribute to resolving issues of common interest. After over a decade of instability, the Libyan crisis could be winding down. Nevertheless, lasting peace will remain complicated. I sincerely hope that the planned elections will be held in December, as legitimate leadership is an important precondition for a successful transition. Mr. Manalo (Philippines), Vice-President, took the Chair.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Maintaining a pragmatic approach will not be easy, as we rightfully call upon those in power to respect the most fundamental rights of their people. Security will remain fragile, as the risk of a regional spillover cannot be ruled out. We are also concerned that Afghanistan may once again become a breeding ground for terrorism. Croatia has decided to financially support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in its efforts to provide humanitarian support to the Afghan people. The Middle East peace process remains crucial, not just regionally but globally. We call on both sides to refrain from unilateral actions that could exacerbate tensions and reopen new cycles of violence.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Many political and legal practices can be ensured without having to give up democratic rights and freedoms. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electoral reforms are long overdue and urgently needed. Electoral reforms should facilitate the ability of the constituent peoples, namely Bosniacs, Serbs and Croats, to respectively choose their representatives at all appropriate political levels. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Croats have not been able to exercise that right, therefore it is no wonder that they feel marginalized and disenfranchised. That should change. The collapse of Afghanistan’s Government is a major setback. After 20 years of our engagement and investment, it is hard not to come away discouraged. We will certainly assess the lessons from our Afghan experience, but the key question today is: how should we deal with the Taliban?”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“However, we should not underestimate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s well-established sensitivities and inherited intricacies, nor should it be subject to experimentations that dangerously deviate from the Dayton Peace Agreement’s founding principles. That is essential in order to move Bosnia and Herzegovina forward and secure its EU aspirations. The inequality of its constituent peoples has been left unresolved for too long, unnecessarily creating internal political instabilities and tensions. In order to move forward, Bosnia and Herzegovina requires an appropriate institutional power-sharing framework, based on the principles of federalism, decentralization and legitimate representation. The concept of constituent peoples is often misrepresented as an obstacle to the equal rights of all its citizens.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We would like to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina, progressing firmly on the path to EU membership; a country where equality among its three constituent peoples and the rights of all its citizens are fully guaranteed. Unfortunately, narratives in Bosnia and Herzegovina often swing between two tenaciously unachievable and unjust ends, namely centralized governance and separatism. In their own way, both are destructive and contrary to the spirit of its constitutional framework, stemming from the Dayton-Paris Accords. The Dayton-Paris Accords are not without their faults, which undoubtedly will need to be addressed.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Even more so, the path to membership serves to secure the higher standards all peoples aspire to. Democratic transformation and the rule of law will remain central markers. We have also continued to call on all regional leaders to lower tensions, overcome differences and seek ways to build lasting partnerships. In a way, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a cornerstone of peace and security in the wider region. Its territorial integrity, functioning institutions and inter-ethnic cohabitation have always been important concerns for Croatia, yet the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is as challenging and as complex as it gets in the Western Balkans — and it is always challenging in the Western Balkans.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Our commitment to reaching climate neutrality is visible through several key strategic achievements, namely our national development strategy for 2030; our low-carbon development strategy for 2030 with a view to 2050; and our five-year action plan for the implementation of a low-carbon development strategy. Allow me to say a few words about our South- Eastern European neighbourhood. Croatia has vested interests in the well-being of the Western Balkans. The stability, functionality and prosperity of the region mean a great deal to us. That is why Croatia is one of the strongest advocates of the region’s EU enlargement prospects. The fulfilment of well-established criteria, the implementation of reforms and the delivery of tangible results remain key requirements for EU membership.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Ahead of the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow in November, it is vital that we stay on track and promote the continuous implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Even Pope Francis, who dedicated his first encyclical Laudato si ’ to the common heritage of our planet, is expected to attend. Making the necessary changes to our lives and our economies will certainly not be easy. However, I am convinced that shifting to green and sustainable technologies can go hand in hand with economic growth. Croatia is actively setting up a legislative and strategic framework, which is a prerequisite for coordinated action on climate change.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Establishing legal standards and assuring compliance is a fundamental part of an effective multilateral cooperative response. That is why Croatia actively advocates for a pandemic preparedness and response agreement. As an incoming member of the Economic and Social Council for the term 2022-2024, Croatia wants to foster the deliverance of a stronger multilateral response to the pandemic in a spirit of global solidarity and partnership. Safe and effective vaccines, as well as diagnostics and treatment, need to be made more easily accessible to all, in a timely and sustainable way and without discrimination of any kind. We are firmly committed to supporting the work of the Economic and Social Council as the key platform at the United Nations for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, clearing our path to recovery.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The resolution also recognizes the value of an integrated One Health approach. By better understanding the health-related interlinkages of humans, animals and our ecosystem, we stand a better chance at tackling antimicrobial resistance, as well as preventing and containing another major zoonotic disease outbreak. I think we all share an aspiration for comprehensive, multisectoral engagement to strengthen national, regional and global capacities, as well as society’s overall resilience to a future pandemic. Let us maintain the momentum and keep working towards a more robust architecture that will reinforce global health security. The World Health Organization plays a pivotal role and its further development is therefore essential.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That includes taking action on climate change; our commitment to solidarity in times of crises; protecting human rights and upholding humanitarian law; promoting education and the empowerment of women; peaceful conflict resolution; fighting organized crime and corruption; countering terrorism; and dealing with disruptive technologies. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a historic test for our generation. How we respond today, both individually and collectively, will greatly shape the world of generations to come. Croatia is pleased to have been able to coordinate, together with Afghanistan, resolution 74/306, on the comprehensive and coordinated response to the coronavirus disease pandemic, which set the stage not only for our recovery, but also for building back better.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Multilateralism, global solidarity and international cooperation have few — if any — alternatives. They constitute a sound way forward for rational beings. The United Nations stands only to benefit from its cooperation with regional multilateral actors, such as, in a European context, the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. I therefore want to re-emphasize Croatia’s commitment to our collective efforts to tackle the many challenges before us.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Our post-pandemic recovery will be even more hard-pressed in upending the world’s uneven economic development. Devastating natural disasters, especially due to severe weather patterns, are increasingly difficult to deal with. As our best scientific minds tell us, we can no longer afford to ignore how climate change is making natural hazards worse. Migration continues to rise, further fuelling discontent in its wake. Meanwhile, populists and disinformation campaigns, by blatantly or maliciously ignoring factual accounts, can unnervingly shake people’s confidence in public authorities, in science and in the media. But we cannot and we must not give in. It is our responsibility, as global leaders, to tackle those false narratives head-on, to win back the people’s trust and to give them hope.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It is a great honour to address this important organ once again. I especially want to congratulate you, Sir, on being elected to preside over the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session and I wish you much success. I also want to thank your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir of Turkey, for his leadership and guidance in truly difficult times. Furthermore, I congratulate His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres on his reappointment as Secretary-General of the United Nations. It is perhaps more important than ever that we continue to strengthen multilateralism and the international rules-based order, with the United Nations playing a central role. You are right, Sir, to point out how this moment in history calls for, above all, hope. Violence, poverty and hunger are once again on the rise.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We want people, especially young women and men, to have better standards of living and better prospects, to live in a clean environment and in a well-organized State with fully functioning institutions, to speak less about what was and much more about what could be. That reminds me of a quotation by Croatian public health expert Dr. Andrija Štampar, a man who founded the World Health Organization decades ago, who once said that, “All people, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, have the right to be healthy!” I agree. Only healthy and self-confident people can shape a healthy and progressive society. It is our primary responsibility, individual and collective, to build such a world and bequeath it to our children.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The perspective of EU membership has proved to be the main motivator and catalyst for social and political reforms. We want our neighbours in South- Eastern Europe to undertake the same demanding but rewarding road. We do not intend to assume a mentoring role in the region, but we stand ready to share our experiences and contribute constructively to the reforms in neighbouring countries based on democracy and European values. A peaceful and prosperous South-Eastern Europe is in Croatia’s strategic interest. Our vision is not just a region devoid of war. We strive to achieve genuine political, societal and economic development.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We have been providing substantial contributions to international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and improve the living conditions of its people, highlighting the need for the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of women and children. Croatia is also actively participating in EU meetings at a time when the Union is intensively trying to find ways of overcoming the crisis and assuming its rightful place in the world. Let me emphasize that Croatia greatly appreciates the role that the EU has been playing in the United Nations as a significant and positive force behind a number of initiatives. At the same time, for Croatia, the process of EU accession was primarily an exercise in institution-building and State transition. We built a stronger State so we can play a more substantive role in world affairs.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Education is a sector which builds a firm foundation for responding to the challenges of pursuing a post-2015 development framework. Therefore, Croatia salutes the launching of the Secretary-General’s Education First initiative and is pleased that the Croatian President has been invited to join the steering group known as the Group of Member State Champions. I have already mentioned Croatia’s successful post- conflict transition. In addition to having joined NATO since 2009, Croatia will become the twenty-eighth member of the European Union (EU) next year. Our international engagement is visible and strong. Croatia has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions, and I praise our women and men who have risked their lives for the common good.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Challenges we are facing require integrated solutions across interconnected issues and the further strengthening of the multilateral architecture. We welcome the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and encourage its follow-up process. We look forward to more energetic work on the implementation of sustainable development goals, which should complement existing commitments and encompass all three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and synergistic way. Croatia sees the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies as a cornerstone for the achievement of balanced integration of sustainable development. Croatia is firmly devoted to participation in those processes, in particular in the fields of education and gender equality.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Croatia will also continue with its active contribution to the work of the United Nations human rights forums, in particular safeguarding the rights of vulnerable members of society, such as lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered persons, promoting the moratorium on the use of death penalty and ensuring the right to conscientious objection to military service. In times of economic uncertainty, be it due to financial crisis or long-term poverty, some tend to downplay the importance of human rights or of consolidating democracy. Every day we witness the sad realities of starving children, deaths from preventable communicable diseases, inadequate education and health systems, and the continuous degradation of the ecosystem.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We give special attention to continually improving the degree of respect accorded the fundamental human rights of women and girls in different post-conflict societies. Women and children do not have armies to protect them or trade unions to negotiate on their behalf. Yet, more and more women are becoming the primary breadwinners in their families. The empowerment of women and their full and equal participation in societies are prerequisites for security, economic opportunity, effective governance and social development.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Croatia sees the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies as a cornerstone for the achievement of balanced integration of sustainable development. Croatia is firmly devoted to participation in those processes, in particular in the fields of education and gender equality. Education is a sector which builds a firm foundation for responding to the challenges of pursuing a post-2015 development framework. of human rights at the universal level remains one of the cornerstones of the role of the United Nations in the world. Further development of the capacity of the Human Rights Council is of the utmost importance if we are to address seriously and efficiently urgent human rights situations and crises.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Every day we witness the sad realities of starving children, deaths from preventable communicable diseases, inadequate education and health systems, and the continuous degradation of the ecosystem. Challenges we are facing require integrated solutions across interconnected issues and the further strengthening of the multilateral architecture. We welcome the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and encourage its follow-up process. We look forward to more energetic work on the implementation of sustainable development goals, which should complement existing commitments and encompass all three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and synergistic way.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The empowerment of women and their full and equal participation in societies are prerequisites for security, economic opportunity, effective governance and social development. Croatia will also continue with its active contribution to the work of the United Nations human rights forums, in particular safeguarding the rights of vulnerable members of society, such as lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered persons, promoting the moratorium on the use of death penalty and ensuring the right to conscientious objection to military service. In times of economic uncertainty, be it due to financial crisis or long-term poverty, some tend to downplay the importance of human rights or of consolidating democracy.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Promotion and protection of human rights at the universal level remains one of the cornerstones of the role of the United Nations in the world. Further development of the capacity of the Human Rights Council is of the utmost importance if we are to address seriously and efficiently urgent human rights situations and crises. We give special attention to continually improving the degree of respect accorded the fundamental human rights of women and girls in different post-conflict societies. Women and children do not have armies to protect them or trade unions to negotiate on their behalf. Yet, more and more women are becoming the primary breadwinners in their families.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Today we are sharing our knowledge and experiences with countries in the region of South-Eastern Europe and with countries emerging from crises, where our post-conflict understanding in nation- and institution-building is particularly relevant. Croatia is currently a Vice-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. My country stands ready to assume its responsibility for creating more relevant, better-performing and more empowered peacebuilding structures. Croatia has already joined the Civilian Capacity Project’s CAPMATCH initiative designed to address the State-building needs of fragile and conflict- affected countries by offering our help in various fields of expertise gained through our own political transition, post-conflict rehabilitation and unique European Union accession process.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“As a member of the Open Government Partnership initiative, we have become active in the fields of fiscal transparency, access to information, information technology and civil society participation. We are pleased to host the Second European Outreach and Support Meeting of the Initiative on 4 and 5 October in Dubrovnik, where we expect to see the sharing of best practices and further promotion of cooperation between Governments and civil society organizations. Croatia has undergone an extensive but successful political, economic and social transition in a fairly short period of time. For that reason, we have a special understanding and first-hand experience of the interwoven nature of peace, security, development and the promotion and protection of human rights.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is also the reason why, at the level of the United Nations, we provide our full support to the implementation, wider acceptance and universalization of international legal instruments on non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament, countering terrorism and preventing corruption. The global economic crisis combined with the effects of globalization has contributed to the rise of popular distrust in the capability of political leaders to deliver needed solutions. That calls for greater responsibility, better governance and stronger cooperation among States, civil society and the private sector. The Croatian Government has made notable progress in making its work more transparent and more available to its citizens.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“If a country is forced to fight corruption through its law enforcement bodies and the judiciary, that is usually a sign that it is too late, that corruption has already left its corrosive imprint on society. Our goal is to invest efforts aimed at building a society in which corruption is not an endemic phenomenon, in which elected officials in Government structures demonstrate responsibility towards their public office. That in turn encourages citizens to foster a corruption-free culture through their daily behaviour. When leaders lead by positive example, people tend to follow. That is because culture f lows from structure.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We support concepts of human security and the responsibility to protect, as well as their implementation and improvement through an open and constructive dialogue within the framework of the United Nations. We also support the work of the International Criminal Court. Undoubtedly, there are sufficient conflict prevention tools at our disposal. The question remains whether we can muster enough resolve to use them. Syria is the most recent and most striking example of the need for a greater role for preventive diplomacy and mediation in the early phases of a conflict. The later we engage, the more divided we are. Timely prevention is crucial for successful conflict resolution. Prevention is also indispensable for countering other threats that destabilize countries and societies. Let me cite an example.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)