YouSaid · the spoken record

Pal Schmitt

lines on the record: 25
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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 believe in an integrated approach to conflict resolution and will advocate a stronger integration of security and development concerns, as well as enhanced interaction between the Council and other main organs of the United Nations. Let me conclude by assuring the Assembly once again that Hungary will continue to contribute its utmost to strengthening the global cooperation of countries within the United Nations system, which is so strongly needed to tackle today’s challenges.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We need to capitalize on this in order to reach the ultimate goal of saving lives around the world and thereby move further towards one of the founding objectives of the United Nations: human development. As members may know, Hungary has put forward its candidacy for Security Council membership in 2012-2013. We continue to uphold the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, such as the equality of nations, the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for human rights. Hungary also stands ready to contribute in a meaningful way to all efforts aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the United Nations in the field of conflict prevention and mediation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are also proud of Hungary’s long-standing tradition of sharing knowledge and providing educational and training programmes for students and experts from all over the world. In the past decades, hundreds of students from outside Hungary have obtained their medical degrees in our country. We are cooperating with various countries, sharing knowledge and experiences in order to contribute to the collective efforts that need to be made to bring about better health worldwide. The High-level Meeting gave momentum to this fight, which needs to be fought not only on an 3 11-51191 individual level by the victims of these diseases, but also by our countries and by the international community working together.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Such reform should pursue the goal of streamlining and unifying the existing structures, with a view to increasing the coherence and efficiency of the system as a whole. It is our shared responsibility to develop joint strategies to mitigate the effects of non-communicable diseases. Their rapid growth is preventable and can be controlled to a significant extent. Hungary has been in the forefront of this fight, with national cancer and diabetes control systems in place that may contribute to paving the way for functional alternatives around the world. It is also our fundamental belief that the development of comprehensive national and regional strategies for control programmes can significantly lower the incidence of these illnesses. This can contribute to prevention, early detection and adequate treatment in a cost-effective way.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We consider the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development as a unique event aimed at generating the widest possible support for and acceptance of this green concept. Its goal is to support the sustainability of socio-economic development at the national, regional and global levels. In addition, the concept of a green economy has the potential to also contribute to job creation and the eradication of poverty. If implemented in a coherent manner, it will create new resources for achieving the internationally agreed development goals. There is no doubt that achieving these goals will require innovative thinking in terms of technology transfer, investment and fair trade. In order to put this concept into practice, a reorganization of the environmental architecture of the United Nations is needed.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Time has shown that only a coherent approach to the environmental, economic and social aspects of this concept can ensure the long-term survival and prosperity of mankind. We should not miss this chance to formulate new courses of action in this era of reinforced mutual interdependence and globalization. Against the background of the constantly deteriorating global environment, it is an increasingly demanding task to strike the necessary balance between ensuring growth in all regions of the world, a decent life for our societies and the preservation of natural resources in the interests of the survival of our planet. One of the responses to this dilemma is the concept of a green economy, which is gaining ever- greater support.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Hungarian Government, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, has already carried out, and plans to carry out in future, concrete projects and programmes aimed at, inter alia, assisting the new emerging democracies in North Africa and the Middle East in the field of institution-building, security-sector reform, and drawing up the legislative framework for political and economic renewal. We welcome the central role and increasing involvement of the United Nations and its various agencies in support of the democratization of those countries. Hungary stands ready to contribute to such efforts and provide its specialized expertise. Over the past two decades, since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the three pillars of sustainable development have been the focus of the international development agenda.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We therefore feel equipped to share our experiences and to offer a substantive toolkit for good governance and democratic change. As a good friend and supporting partner, Hungary truly hopes that those undergoing transitional periods today will be able to benefit from both our achievements and our omissions. Far be it from us, of course, to try to give advice or provide ready-made solutions. While we advocate the universal character of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the virtues of the rule of law and good governance, we believe that those ideals can be implemented only in conjunction with respect for the cultural, religious and other traditions of each nation. At this stage of what we see as a long transformation process in the Arab world, we thus offer to share our own experiences and lessons learned.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The overthrow of autocratic regimes is, nevertheless, only the first step in that direction. As shown by our own experience, the most difficult stages of the transformation process are yet to come. The victorious popular uprisings of the Arab Spring have encountered tremendous challenges in terms of establishing new power structures, drafting new constitutions and other basic laws, as well as conducting free and democratic elections, just to mention a few. Essentially those measures require an 11-51191 2 internally driven process, carried out with the support of the international community. Hungarian society has, on the one hand, already successfully met many of those challenges and, on the other hand, made some avoidable mistakes.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“More than 20 years ago, Central and Eastern Europe, including my country, Hungary, was the scene of sweeping political changes. Beginning in early 2011, the world has witnessed, yet again, the outburst of popular will for profound transformation, this time in North Africa and the Middle East. Those of us who took active part in the democratization process and the transition to the rule of law and market economies in our region have been following the events of the Arab Spring with great empathy and understanding. The revolutions leading to sweeping shifts in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries were equally driven by sincere desires for a better life and for putting in place new political systems capable of better responding to the aspirations of all parts of society. The voices of Tahrir Square echoed the aspirations of millions of people.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me at the outset welcome South Sudan as the 193rd Member of the United Nations. I commend the successful conduct of the referendum on independence as a manifestation of the principle of self-determination. That historic act has put an end to a long civil war on the African continent and opened up new horizons for the stability and prosperity of the people of South Sudan. Hungary fully aligns itself with the statement made earlier by President Van Rompuy on behalf of the European Union. To complement this, allow me to outline my country’s position on three issues figuring high on our foreign policy and development agenda, namely, the Arab Spring, sustainable development and the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In conclusion, let me, on a personal note as the only Olympic champion in the Hall, emphasize my strong belief that multilateral partnerships can only be enhanced by respecting the jointly established rules, with special regard to the rules of fair play with other teams and players on the field. I am confident that, during the coming session of work, the noble principles of the United Nations will continue to guide all delegations in strengthening the kind of global cooperation within the United Nations machinery that is so strongly needed to tackle the challenges facing us today. I wish to assure the Assembly that Hungary stands ready to do its utmost to contribute to those noble goals.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We commend the personal commitment of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the efforts made by the Quartet, including the European Union, as well as the valuable contributions made by a number of outstanding Arab statesmen in this regard. Acting on its own, as well as within the United Nations framework, Hungary is a partner of African countries in enhancing development and establishing peace and security on the continent. We also encourage Africa’s voice to be heard in relation to compelling global questions such as water management, poverty eradication and the empowerment of women. Still, we once again emphasize the significance of the role of African countries themselves and the importance of dialogue and negotiations in this process.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Hungary remains committed to supporting Afghanistan politically, and we will do our best to provide assistance to the country through both bilateral and multilateral channels. We envisage the establishment of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours. We also believe that the Middle East peace process should and can lead to overall Arab-Israeli reconciliation. We all know that it takes brave men to start a war, but it takes statesmen to finish it. In this spirit, Hungary welcomes and strongly supports the fact that the proximity talks have recently transformed into direct talks between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Hungary respects the recently issued advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo, and our country remains strongly committed to encouraging direct dialogue between the countries and communities of the region. In Afghanistan, the international community in general, and the countries in the region in particular, should assist efforts towards reconciliation, good governance and sustainable development. Strengthening State institutions at all levels, improving the security situation and effectively implementing civilian development programmes are all essential for decreasing tensions and transferring responsibility and leadership to the Afghan Government.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The appalling statement made by one of the speakers yesterday concerning this tragic event is unacceptable and is detrimental to the noble cause of promoting mutual understanding and dialogue among religions and civilizations. The United Nations was created, and I shall again quote from the Preamble of the Charter, in order to “practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours”. Coexistence and cooperation would serve regional stability in the Western Balkans, a region which, due to its proximity 3 10-54959 to Hungary’s borders, has great importance in our foreign policy. In our view, progress towards the stabilization of the region and resolution of its persisting problems should be the result of an essentially internally driven process, with the unwavering support of the international community.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“International terrorism is another of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Hungary strongly condemns this phenomenon in all its forms and manifestations and underscores the pivotal role of the United Nations in counter-terrorism. We welcome the fact that the recently concluded second review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy reinforced the consensus among Member States to foster a global counter-terrorism alliance. And, expressing our full solidarity with the victims of terrorism, we lend our unequivocal support to all United Nations efforts in this regard. Almost a decade ago, this city of New York suffered one of the most horrendous terrorist attacks in human history.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“New dynamism in this area was also clearly demonstrated at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons earlier this year, and we are hopeful that the renewed international commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation will lead to success. We note with great concern, however, that the growing consensus around the ultimate goal of a so-called global zero of nuclear weapons is being offset by overt and covert attempts at the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles by certain countries. Hungary fully supports the statement made in New York on 22 September by the High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, on the negotiations conducted between the E3+3 Governments and Iran.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The possible role played by women in accelerating the achievement of the MDGs and in reducing tensions and hostilities around the world should not be neglected. We are confident that the recent establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) marks significant progress in this regard and will make a great contribution to the elimination of the disadvantages facing women. Let me express Hungary’s sincere gratitude to the Secretary-General for convening, on this very day, a High-level Meeting on the disarmament machinery.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are of the view that the rights of minorities, with special regard for the preservation of their cultural identities and linguistic heritage, should be high on the agenda of the international community. We believe that flourishing minority communities do not weaken a society but, on the contrary, contribute to the cultural enrichment of a country. Fruitful relationships between the majority and minorities can only be pursued if human rights are not being infringed and if tolerance prevails at all levels of society. This is one of the reasons that Hungary has decided to establish the Budapest-based Tom Lantos Institute, an international centre for promoting human rights and spreading the value of tolerance. Hungary also feels compelled to raise the issue of women worldwide.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Such decisions would prepare the ground for the adoption of a comprehensive and legally binding global framework next year in South Africa. As a State member of the European Union, Hungary is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. Moreover, we are also ready to undertake further emissions reductions if our partners make similar commitments, taking into account their different capabilities. The promotion and protection of human rights constitute the cornerstone of Hungary’s foreign policy. Hungary acts at the forefront of international efforts to fight all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on national or ethnic origin.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Hungary believes that, in order to achieve success and effectively meet the needs of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in these turbulent times, a 10-54959 2 partnership-based approach needs to be adopted in this regard. Similarly, climate change figures high among the pre-eminent challenges of the twenty-first century that threaten our well-being, security and economic development. The international community should pay particular attention to the well-founded and legitimate concerns of the small island States of the Caribbean and the Pacific in this regard. Our primary goal should now be the adoption of a series of ambitious, action- oriented decisions at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations to be held in Cancún, Mexico, later this year.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Hungary remains determined to take on its share of responsibility in realizing the MDGs on a global scale, and we will continue to implement donor programmes in various parts of the world. The effects of the recent global financial and economic crisis have thrown millions of people into poverty, especially those who are most vulnerable in the developing world. The food, water and energy crises and humanitarian disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and floods in Pakistan have also taken their toll on the lives of people. The growing number of disasters emphasizes the great need for prevention, preparedness and disaster risk reduction, as well as for development activities centred on the promotion of sustainable economic growth.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Preamble of the Charter states that we the peoples of the United Nations are determined, inter alia, “to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom” and, for this end, “to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”. In the year 2000, the United Nations exhibited leadership in the articulation and adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Contributions made at the MDG summit a few days ago reassured me that, although most of us are suffering from the fallout of the recent global crises, none of us would readily accept the vision of a bleak future that would result from slowing down the concrete actions we take.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As an engaged member of the United Nations, Hungary wishes to play its part in international efforts aimed at building our common future. In this spirit, we do our utmost to contribute to the crisis-management and peacekeeping operations of the international community, and we seek to deliver special added value to international development and humanitarian activities. I can assure the Assembly that as a candidate country for Security Council membership for the period 2012-2013, Hungary stands ready to work vigorously to overcome divisions and to strengthen global partnerships in today’s interdependent international environment.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)