YouSaid · the spoken record

Jean ASSELBORN

lines on the record: 228
first: 2004-09-24
most recent: 2017-09-24
sittings or episodes: 11
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

“Luxembourg is committed to the latter vision. The challenges I have outlined need to be tackled in a multilateral system with strong institutions — a multilateral system inspired by the Charter of the United Nations, which enshrines human dignity and the sovereign equality of all States. That is the best recourse for the vast majority of the States of the international community and for the peoples of the United Nations, which we represent here. At its heart, multilateralism is the foundation of the United Nations. To challenge it would be to question the inspiration behind the United Nations — the creation of an international order based on the rule of law, in the service of peace and freedom.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The taking in of hundreds of thousands of refugees occurs year in year out, and there is renewed optimism, including prospects for economic growth. I call for a Europe that rejects withdrawal into isolation, a Europe free of conflict that does not give way to intimidation, not even in its own neighbourhood, a Europe that puts the person at the centre of its efforts and which is resolutely committed to the multilateral system. The tensions in the international system are the result of major trends such as growing inequality, migratory flows and climate change. They pit two visions against each other — one based on force, the law of the jungle, unilateralism and national selfishness, even nationalism; the other on the primacy of multilateralism, solidarity, universal values, human rights and the rule of law.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I hope that the Normandy format talks can continue and lead the parties to fully implement the Minsk agreements in order to guarantee the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of Ukraine. Europe is not immune to the upheavals of globalization, either. It is victim to repeated acts of pointless and indiscriminate acts of terrorism. It is also a place where nationalist movements are fuelled by an anti-immigrant or anti-refugee backlashes. Moreover, sharing the burden of taking in refugees has been far from exemplary in some communities, but also in some States, including European Union member States. And yet, while they were capable of adding momentum to the worst fears a year ago, populist movements are on the decline in Europe, even if they are often an electoral reality.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For those four countries — Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen — my country has pledged more than €10 million in 2017. We are also a signatory to the Grand Bargain on humanitarian financing, which gives more flexibility, predictability and continuity to international humanitarian efforts. I mentioned our Organization and the world. Let me say a few words about Europe. Europe is not immune to the tensions in the international order, or should I say, international disorder? In Ukraine, the past year was marked by renewed hostilities, with numerous violations of the ceasefire, despite the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Trilateral Contact Group.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Those statistics are horrifying. That is why Luxembourg, alongside our partners such as Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, has joined the SheDecides initiative by providing €2 million in additional funding this year to support the United Nations Population Fund. Women’s health is one of the top priorities of Luxembourg’s health strategy and cooperation. I assure the Assembly that my country will continue to support the access of girls and women to sexual and reproductive rights and health. Sometimes defending human rights is reduced to its simplest expression — no more or less than ensuring the physical survival of the population. I mentioned catastrophic humanitarian situations in several countries. Luxembourg responded to the United Nations appeal to the famine crisis in three African countries and Yemen.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Human trafficking, sexual exploitation in conflict situations and violations of the rights of children in armed conflict situations are all scourges that are unfortunately still raging. We must not be content with denouncing them, but ensure that we support and strengthen our financial and human resources, including the institutions that counter those scourges. The right to dignity is also reflected in respect for the physical integrity of women and girls. In recent decades, we have been able to reduce maternal mortality by almost half, but access by women and girls to sexual and reproductive rights in health care is now being challenged in some parts of the world. Every day, more than 800 women and adolescent girls die from pregnancy-related causes. More than 22 million unsafe abortions are recorded each year.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The current session of the General Assembly focuses on people and their right to peace and a decent life. Human rights and the dignity of the human being must guide all our actions. All of the situations I have just mentioned give rise to human rights violations. In a cruel irony, those violations are sometimes also committed by those who were least expected to do so. I congratulate Secretary-General António Guterres for having referred the extreme deterioration of the situation of the ethnic and religious minority in Myanmar — the Rohingya minority — to the Security Council. The Burmese authorities must cease military operations and ensure humanitarian access. Ethnic cleansing has no place in the twenty-first century, not in Myanmar or anywhere else.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In that context, it is also essential to develop the various instruments of international criminal justice. We must continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose scope should be extended. I would like to say here how pleased we are that the trend towards disengagement by African States has been halted. Clearly, the scope of the ICC is not confined to Africa, and any such perception should be avoided. We have supported the international, impartial and independent inquiry mechanism on the most serious crimes committed in Syria since March 2011. We call upon all Member States to participate in financing the mechanism before it can be incorporated into the United Nations regular budget. We also support initiatives on the responsibility of Da’esh for the crimes committed in Iraq, as endorsed today by the Security Council.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It demonstrates that an appropriate policy, combining pressure and dialogue, can lead to results. Africa continues to mobilize the energies of international actors in the areas of development, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and combating terrorism. The political and humanitarian situations in South Sudan, around Lake Chad, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are extremely worrying. As in the case of the Sahel and Mali, such situations are often the result of non-State actors, which render a number of mechanisms inoperative. Luxembourg is committed to the activities of its African partners, including at the regional level. We will therefore support the deployment of the Force conjointe du G5 Sahel.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That is also important in the context of the North Korean regime’s headlong rush, which is multiplying provocations by accelerating its nuclear and ballistic programme through nuclear tests and missile launches. That is unacceptable and, like many other countries, Luxembourg strongly condemns those acts by Pyongyang. The Security Council has just strengthened the sanctions regime, and the European Union will do the same. Only the determination and the resolve of the international community will bring the regime back to reason, and hopefully to the negotiation table. If we call for resolve, we must also avoid an escalation that would lead to a catastrophe. To reach true de-escalation, we must not close the door to diplomacy and dialogue. The Iran agreement can serve as an inspiration in that regard.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The federal Government and the Kurdish Regional Government established excellent cooperation during the horrible military campaign against Da’esh. The differences that remain between them must be resolved through a peaceful and constructive dialogue that leads to an agreed solution in the framework of the Iraqi Constitution. We have to do everything we can to calm the situation in the region. It also means maintaining and rigorously implementing the Iran nuclear deal, which helps to reduce the risk of proliferation. The agreement was signed not only bilaterally between the United States and Iran, but also by the European Union, Russia, China, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, as well as being endorsed by Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In this seventh year of the conflict, a lasting political solution depends upon the commitment of countries that can exert political, military or economic influence on the warring parties in Syria. Every effort must be made to ensure that negotiations in Geneva under the United Nations continue and make progress. The Astana process alone is not enough. We should improve humanitarian access and extend the de-escalation zones and local ceasefires, which remain a glimmer of hope for a ravaged population. In Iraq, it was announced that a referendum would be held on 25 September 2018 in the Kurdistan region. Our position is to support the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. A united, stable and democratic Iraq should guarantee the interests of all citizens.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We must seize that opportunity, which also, clearly, requires responsibility on the part of Palestinian leaders, and I have trust in President Abbas in that regard. By continuing settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Israeli Government is directly jeopardizing the two-State solution, the only fair and equitable way to make possible a lasting solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this fiftieth year of Israeli occupation, the trend on the ground is very worrying. But that is not a reason to give up. On the contrary, the international community must mobilize to change the situation. In Syria, all stakeholders must realize that peace will return only if a comprehensive, genuine, inclusive political transition is implemented.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The international community must do everything in its power to reduce those tensions. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has lost none of its core importance. The total absence of credible political prospects could lead at any moment to a new eruption of violence and creates fertile ground for hatred and terrorism. Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), adopted on 23 December 2016, which again calls on Israel to immediately and completely cease all its settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is not directed against Israel. The resolution targets a status quo that has become untenable and unacceptable. It aims to contribute to ensuring peace for Israel. The recent announcement of general elections being organized in Palestine offers a slight hope for reconciliation.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Secondly, there is the fact that, depending on the circumstances, many countries are simultaneously countries of origin, countries of transit and host countries. It is therefore an issue that goes beyond a single North-South logic, although I do not deny the difficulties and concerns arising from the European refugee crisis in 2015 and 2016. Many refugees were forced to move either due to legitimate concerns for their physical safety or humanitarian disasters arising from conflicts. In that regard, the situation in the Middle East continues to raise concerns. Beyond the persistent obstacles to seeking a political solution between Israel and Palestine, the situations in Syria and Yemen are apocalyptic, Libya is engulfed by violence and civil war, and new tensions are emerging in the Gulf countries.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Understandable economic motives, both in countries of origin and in countries of destination, are also often the basis for such movements. In any case, that is a problem that needs to be addressed, and it is very useful that it should be dealt with at the level of our Organization. Next year will see the establishment of new instruments with regard to both refugees and migration. The dividing line between the two will not always be easy to draw. With regard to migration, the current phase has allowed us to take stock of the situation, which does not always correspond to preconceived notions. First, there is the fact that most of the major transregional movements today are South-South movements.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We are fully committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and we regret that one of the major international actors has distanced itself from that instrument. We hope that it will be possible to bring that actor back, as it is true that a truly global framework would not be complete without it. I would also like to point out my country’s support for the French initiative of a global pact for the environment, which will be able to provide a political framework in the future, giving coherence to all existing instruments. If there is one phenomenon that is more a product of globalization than any other, it is population movements. There are multiple reasons for that, such as demographic pressure, climate change, conflict and humanitarian disasters.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The preparation of that review enriched the debate in my country, enabling us to mobilize efforts and strengthen ownership among all stakeholders of the 2030 Agenda. Those efforts will translate into the adoption of a new sustainable development plan that will guide the work of the public authorities and that of civil society and private-sector actors in the decade ahead. My country acts with conviction within both a European and a multilateral framework. The context of globalization means that there is no other choice. That is true in the area of trade, even though bilateral regional agreements may complement that framework. That is also true in a whole series of other areas, above all in the fight against climate change.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Luxembourg contributes 1 per cent of its gross national income to official development assistance. Our annual voluntary contributions to the various agencies is in excess of $35 million for 2017. The funding requirements for achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are enormous. Progress has been made in terms of funding to combat climate change. To take the case of Luxembourg, my country has set up a green stock exchange with a current capitalization of more than €57 billion. We plan to use that model to set up future instruments for sustainable development financing on the basis of a broader range of development goals. At the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, Luxembourg presented its voluntary national review for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Luxembourg was one of the first to advocate the code of conduct for the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group to prevent crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. We also strongly support the French-Mexican initiative, whereby relevant States give up their right to the veto in the event of mass atrocity. For the United Nations to be able to implement an ambitious agenda, it must have sufficient resources. However, the budgetary situation of the United Nations remains difficult, notably, but not solely, because of the new approach by the American Administration. That may prevent agencies from fulfilling their core mission. Clearly, we need to go back to the drawing board. My country supports the idea of a budgetary compact for development.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“A rationalization of the latter, both at Headquarters and in the field, is of particular interest to my country, as 30 per cent of our official development assistance is channelled through multilateral organizations. Reform efforts must be borne on all fronts and all aspects of our Organization. In that regard, progress is still to be made on the part of the Security Council. It must become more transparent, even though efforts have been made in that area. It must become more representative of today’s world. It is also worth remembering that Security Council membership carries obligations as well as rights. We regret that in the past 12 months we have seen abusive use of the right of the veto.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“More than ever, multilateralism and cooperation must take precedence over unilateral approaches and national selfishness, in the interests of our common good and our common humanity. When facing crises, the world expects a lot from the United Nations. The appointment of our new Secretary- General, António Guterres, through an unprecedented process characterized by greater transparency, grants him new legitimacy that he can put to the service of his work and that of the Organization itself. It also allows him to initiate three major reform projects — as he has indicated, with regard to the management of the Secretariat, the reorganization of the peace and security pillar and the repositioning of the United Nations development system.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, Minister Miroslav Lajčák, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. You are a long-standing friend, and I know that you will be able to successfully carry out the task entrusted to you. My thoughts today are especially with the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, which have been repeatedly struck by misfortune. My country is doing everything in its power to assist them in those humanitarian emergencies. My message is simple. In a context where crisis hotbeds are proliferating and tensions are increasing, it is multilateralism that must prevail, meaning cooperation, dialogue and seeking solutions within the multilateral framework.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I understand it as an exhortation and a reminder of the responsibilities that we must shoulder, if we want to realize the dream of the creators of our Organization, which is the dream of a world of peace and dignity for all and the dream of a better world: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“On that account, we welcome the ongoing reviews that aim to make United Nations actions more efficient in its peacekeeping operations, peacebuilding or in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), which recognizes women’s indispensable role in peace and security. Luxembourg will continue to engage with the numerous Member States that wish to push forward a reform of the United Nations. I am obviously thinking, in particular, about a reform that would make the Security Council more effective, transparent and representative of today’s world. Let me conclude my remarks as I began them, with a quotation. This one is from Mahatma Gandhi.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We therefore encourage all Member States to support the code of conduct as it relates to the action of the Security Council against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It will be officially launched on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations. The same code of conduct has been developed by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, of which Luxembourg is a member. The responsibility to protect must cease to be an abstract principle and become a concrete reality. At 70 years of age, the United Nations must be able adapt in order to be up to the challenges it faces.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“According to the Charter of the United Nations, the primary responsibility for maintaining peace and international security was conferred upon the Security Council to “ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations”. The paralysis of the Council, when populations are threatened with horrific crimes, runs counter to the spirit of the Charter. That is why we welcome and support the initiative launched by France aimed at ensuring that the permanent members of the Security Council refrain from using the right of veto in cases of mass atrocities. But beyond the permanent members, each of the Member States must assume its responsibility. Each one has its role to play, in working towards decisive action by the Security Council to prevent or halt mass atrocities.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is essential that each party fully respect the commitments entered into in the Minsk agreements. When we talk of Ukraine, the Middle East, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Mali or Burkina Faso, there is one constant in all the situations, which is that diplomacy and the commitment to human rights and the rule of law must prevail, if we are to solve today’s profound crises. Our Secretary-General has fully risen to the challenge with the Human Rights Up Front initiative, firmly reminding us of our collective responsibility to protect and to place human rights at the centre of United Nations efforts to prevent conflict. To that end, all the actors and organs within the United Nations system must play their respective roles. Allow me to focus on the particular role of the Security Council and its members.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Thanks to substantial mediation efforts and commitment on the part of Germany, France and the European Union; thanks to close cooperation between regional and international organizations, first and foremost among them the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and thanks to 15-29658 41/55 A/70/PV.22 01/10/2015 the continuous monitoring of the United Nations, especially of the human rights situation in the Crimea and in eastern Ukraine, the foundations of a settlement of the crisis in Ukraine have been established in recent months. Commendable efforts have also been made with respect to regional autonomy and decentralization. The upcoming regional elections will be critical. It will be especially vital to hold them throughout the country and, therefore, in the Donbas region, under the authority of Ukrainian law.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We believe that the full and rigorous implementation of the Joint Plan of Action, adopted on 14 July, will mark a fundamental turning point for peace and security in the region. We could also say much more regarding other regions in the world, including Africa, as well as my own continent, Europe, where a conflict dating from another era started to affect Ukraine in February 2014 and is still ongoing.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“As of yesterday, the Palestinian flag began to fly beside those of the States Members of the Organization. Let us all work to make it become more than just a symbol. The comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which the E3+3 and the European Union reached after several years of negotiations with Iran, demonstrates that we should not lose faith in the power of diplomacy, even when tackling the thorniest of issues. The international community has made considerable efforts in those negotiations with Iran, which also serve the security interests of Israel. Let us be less fatalistic. Israel’s right to exist is not affected by that agreement. In fact, the opposite is the case.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Rather, it is a call to reason, to give the resumption of negotiations a chance. But to save the two-State solution, we must change our mindset. We must think outside the box. Now is no longer the time for efforts that lead nowhere. We must encourage a new negotiating format, broaden the circle of participants so that there is a greater involvement of Europe and especially of the Arab countries, reactivate the role of the Security Council and set a reasonable time frame within which to conclude the negotiations. Israel has the right to live in peace and security, but it is clear to me that Israel’s security in the long and medium term will depend on the creation of a sovereign and democratic State of Palestine, living alongside it. The two-State solution is the only solution that is just and moral for both parties.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The year 2015 was sadly emblematic of the impasse of the peace process, which, at present, is only that in name. In an environment characterized by a total lack of prospects and the continuing cycle of revenge, the idea that there might be an alternative to the two- State solution is beginning to gain public support and to be applied on the ground. During my travels in the region last month, I was able to see that development for myself. But it involves an illusion, and perhaps a very dangerous one. The two-State solution remains the only way forward. The conditions for that solution are obvious, both with respect to the 1967 borders and the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the two States. The call to stop the settlements is not a matter of Israel-bashing, as it was described by the Prime Minister of Israel earlier today.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The tragic current situation in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and its repercussions in Europe, demonstrates that the international community must work together to stop the advance of Daesh. The day before yesterday, my country participated in a summit meeting organized by President Obama, which was the continuation of a discussion held in the Security Council one year ago (see S/PV.7272). The Assembly can continue to count on our country’s support in combating Daesh and violent extremism, whether in terms of preventing radicalization, exchanging intelligence, countering the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters or taking measures against terrorist financing. I must mention another tragedy at the heart of the tumult in the Middle East, which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Today, the worst thing is the indiscriminate shelling in an undisciplined way and without prior coordination. The people are waiting for us to end the carnage rather than to make it worse. A solution to the conflict can only be political. As we have said time and again, any lasting settlement requires a political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, in line with the Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522, annex). Words must be followed by actions. It is time for negotiations to finally begin. All of us must support Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in his efforts. The fate of the Syrian people and the stability of Syria and of its neighbours within and beyond the region depend on it. In that context, I will say a word on the destructive barbarism of the terrorist group Daesh and the urgent need to combat it.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“A whole of generation of children has been exposed to war, violence and death and deprived of fundamental freedoms, protection and education. More than 220,000 people have lost their lives. Indiscriminate aerial bombing, the release of barrel bombs, the acts of violence and the violations of human rights and international law continue unabated. The sieges continue. The denial of assistance and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance persist. Crimes 40/55 15-29658 01/10/2015 A/70/PV.22 against humanity and war crimes are committed every day with impunity. That cannot continue; it must be stopped. The situation is the Security Council’s responsibility and it is the responsibility of all of us. The solution to the Syrian conflict cannot be humanitarian, nor can it be military.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“That brings us back to the interconnectedness of security, development and respect for human rights and the need to adopt a comprehensive, integrated approach for the most effective application to development and migration of a combination of foreign policy, security, trade and cooperation instruments. The upcoming Valletta summit on migration on 11 and 12 November will provide an opportunity for us to discuss a comprehensive approach to the question of migration with our African partners, an opportunity which I welcome. For more than four years, Syria has been synonymous with war, violence and exodus. One in six Syrians has now fled the country. One out of two has had to leave home. Every day 9,500 persons are added to the list of displaced persons. Every minute a family is forced to abandon everything.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The European Union will respond to the urgent needs of refugees by donating at least an additional €1 billion to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme and other such bodies. We will increase our assistance to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis. We will help Western Balkan countries deal with the flow of refugees, including through pre-accession instruments. We cannot simply deal with the symptoms of the crisis. We must also tackle the root causes of migration and of refugee flows: development inequalities, especially in Africa; conflict and violence; the absence of the rule of law; persecution and violations of human rights; and impunity.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Withdrawing into ourselves is not the answer. We must act together, as the countries of origin, transit and destination of migrants, and respond to the challenges posed by migrant movements in the Mediterranean, the Balkans and elsewhere. Only if we firmly anchor our actions in respect for our international commitments, shall we find a solution worthy of our shared values, the values for which the United Nations and the European Union were founded. At the level of the European Union we took a first step during the past week by deciding to relocate within the countries of the Union 120,000 people who clearly need international protection. Other decisions will follow shortly.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Another priority project during Luxembourg’s presidency of the Council in which I will invest all my energies is that of migration. According to the data of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, today there are 59.5 million displaced persons, including refugees, or more than at any time since 1945, at the end of the Second World War. As the Secretary- General noted, the continuous flow of migrants and the surge of human misery bring us face to face with our responsibilities as political leaders, as members of the international community and, obviously, as human beings. In times of crisis, unfortunately, various unilateral vague desires and nationalist or populist reflexes seem to reappear. We saw that happen again, tragically, in the summer. But no country can face the unprecedented crisis of migrants and refugees alone.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“That observation should cause us to renew our commitment to a better future for all, to show solidarity, to unite our forces, pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations. As we did when we reached agreement on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must spare no effort to come together at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris in December, so that we can accept an ambitious and binding climate change agreement that applies to all countries and will keep the increase in global warming to below 2°C. As President of the European Council, Luxembourg will spare no effort to ensure that the Paris meeting will be a success. We must seize this historic opportunity.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The choice of theme for the seventieth session of the General Assembly, “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security and human rights”, was 15-29658 39/55 A/70/PV.22 01/10/2015 wise indeed. As we have said many times from this rostrum, human rights and the rule of law are closely interconnected and one cannot exist without the other. I shall not revert again to the historic adoption of the post-2015 development agenda except to recall that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in San Francisco in June and commenting on the importance and scope of this universal programme, observed that we were the first generation that could put an end to poverty in the world and the last generation that could take action to prevent the worst consequences of a warming Earth.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The United Nations was created, not to lead humankind to heaven but to save it from hell. These were the apt words of Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld, who served as the second Secretary-General, from 1953 to 1961, and saw things for what they were. The United Nations was created according to the people’s will 70 years ago, following the Second World War, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Today, in a world beset by armed conflict, violent extremism, radicalization and terrorism, in a world where war, persecution and violations of human rights force millions and millions of people — men, women and children — to leave their homes and to take to the road in mass exoduses in search of safety and dignity, the achievement of that goal seems far more urgent than ever.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Last year in the Hall of the General Assembly, our Head of State, the Grand Duke, underscored Luxembourg’s willingness to serve the United Nations (see A/67/PV.9). Today, I take this opportunity to thank the Assembly for having elected my country to a two- year term on the Security Council. That tenure, the first in our history, is not only an honour but a responsibility that we do not take lightly. Each day since 1 January, Luxembourg has worked in concert with its partners to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and to assume our common responsibility to prevent, to preserve and to protect. No task is more noble. No task is more urgent in the current context.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Since 2009, our official development assistance has amounted to 1 per cent of our gross national income. We are determined to maintain this effort despite the crisis. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012, we reaffirmed our commitment to sustainable development in its three interdependent dimensions: economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. We reiterated our determination to address the threats that climate change and environmental degradation pose to humankind. With its European partners, Luxembourg has made binding commitments to reduce its carbon emissions and to mitigate the effects of climate change. We are resolved to do our all to achieve a universal climate agreement in 2015.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Those objectives must apply to everybody and help address the global challenges of the twenty-first century, building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They must contribute to eliminating poverty and promoting sustainable development, and be integrated into one coherent framework. The special event held the day before yesterday by the General Assembly allowed us to take stock of ongoing work towards achieving the MDGs and to welcome significant progress made, but also to identify the sectors where it will be important to redouble our efforts. As the Secretary-General has reminded us, the picture before us is only half finished. We must therefore speed up the march towards attaining the MDGs. We must renew our commitment. We must keep our promises. My country will continue to do its part.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“When we talk about sustainable development and the creation of the post-2015 development agenda, we cannot ignore the devastating effects of conflicts and violence on development. The crisis situations and threats that I have just mentioned illustrate this clearly. We must also speak firmly about governance that is conducive to development, institutions that guarantee the rule of law, freedom of expression, and transparent and accountable Governments. We must talk about justice, the fight against impunity and respect for international law. Luxembourg fully subscribes to the Secretary- General’s call for the post-2015 objectives to be based on the international norms and principles of human rights.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We seek solid negotiations quickly leading to concrete outcomes and a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. Sanctions are not in and of themselves an end. They are a global response to Iran’s refusal to meet its international obligations and to cooperate fully with the International Atomatic Energy Agency. We encourage the new Iranian leadership to engage in constructive dialogue, to take the measures necessary to prove to the international community that its nuclear programme is intended for exclusively peaceful purposes, and to turn a new leaf in its relations with the global community. I hope that the recent phone call between President Obama and President Rouhani will help move the situation in that direction.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“During the New Deal for Somalia conference held on 16 September in Brussels, I had the opportunity to reaffirm that Luxembourg remained committed to working alongside Somalia. We are convinced that with the determined support of the international community — the African Union and the United Nations in particular, the Government and people of Somalia will be able to continue their journey towards peace, security and prosperity. The risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains just as real a threat as the threat of terrorism. Yesterday, negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the E3+3 Governments, led by the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Ashton, resumed here in New York. We support those efforts.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Council has thereby rightly underscored the need for an integrated response from the international community that takes into account the negative effects of those illicit activities on security, governance, the rule of law and development, as well as the links between such activities and other threats to international peace and security such as terrorism, piracy and transnational organized crime. The recent callous attack on a shopping centre in Nairobi has again demonstrated the importance of our ongoing vigilance in the fight against terrorism. This unacceptable act must encourage us to further support African efforts aimed at freeing Somalia from the threat of Al-Shabaab.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)