YouSaid · the spoken record

Jan Peter Balkenende

lines on the record: 53
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

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

“And I have suggested the direction the renovation might take in three specific areas. One thing I have not yet done, however, is to reaffirm that the Netherlands, in keeping with its long international tradition, will continue to work for quality in the United Nations system. Together with others, together with all represented in this Hall, we will work in the knowledge that this renovation, like all our activities, requires us to pool our resources. Or, as the United Nations Charter says: “unite our strength” and “combine our efforts”. Let those words inspire us in the work that lies ahead.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But it is clear to the Netherlands that there should be more room for more countries to join the discussions and exert influence: room for large countries that in 1945 were not yet large enough or were not yet Members of the United Nations; but also room for smaller nations that, as troop-supplying countries or as interested parties in a particular region, should have the right to speak. I would add immediately that countries that want influence should realize that this entails financial, political and moral obligations. Or, in the words of Winston Churchill, the price of greatness is responsibility. I have briefly sketched why the United Nations is in need of renovation. I hope I have made clear that its relevance is tied not only to its legitimacy but also to its effectiveness.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“On the other hand, the Council remained silent on the question of blame, which is an extremely hard thing to bear for the survivors and the victims’ loved ones. 29 10-55103 It is precisely in order to guarantee the legitimacy and strength of the Security Council in the future that the Dutch Government continues to support reforms of the Council that reflect the geopolitical realities of today and not of 1945. Naturally, the exact substance of those reforms is still open to debate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In closing, I would like to say a few words about the broad topic of peace and security. At this moment, there are some 100,000 people taking part in United Nations peace missions around the world. So no one can deny that the United Nations plays a leading role in this area — and rightly so, because it is precisely in matters of war and peace that legitimacy and resolve are most essential. Such legitimacy and resolve can only be provided by the United Nations and the Security Council. We saw only recently, in the incident involving the Republic of Korea’s naval ship, the Cheonan, how difficult and shaky the position of the Security Council can sometimes be. On the one hand, the Council condemned the attack unanimously and in strong terms, and that has to be applauded.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today, those who commit the most terrible crimes, wherever in the world they may be, know that their chances of being called to account are growing by the day. Now we must act boldly. We must strengthen these institutions’ visibility, credibility and authority. We can do that by improving international cooperation on investigations and prosecutions, by increasing compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and by pushing for as many countries as possible to sign the Rome Statute and to conduct themselves according to both its letter and its spirit. With that in mind, I say that it is unacceptable to the Dutch Government that someone like President Al-Bashir of the Sudan, against whom an arrest warrant is outstanding, should be allowed to move freely in a country that is an ICC partner.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The city of The Hague is not only the centre of Dutch democracy, it is also known as the legal capital of the world — and we are proud of that. More important, though, of course, is the fact that the international institutions based in The Hague are sending a clear message with the work they undertake. The international community will not allow human rights violations and crimes against humanity to go unpunished. That applies to the various ad hoc tribunals, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. It also applies to the International Court of Justice and of course the International Criminal Court (ICC). Over the last 20 years international criminal law has developed at an impressive rate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Dutch Government considers it unacceptable that people, often women, are still being stoned to death in 2010. We must continue to resist this practice with every ounce of our being. The Dutch Government urges that the capacity of the human rights machinery, and particularly the Human Rights Council, be strengthened. To start with, a clear division of tasks between the Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of this General Assembly is needed. Overlap and lack of clarity make it too easy for some regimes to distract attention from human rights violations. The Netherlands will press for clarity. Of course, human rights are closely related to the international legal order, the second area I want to touch on. As you know, this is a subject very close to the Netherlands’ heart.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We will do so as a founding Member of the United Nations but also together with our partners in the European Union, of which we also are a founding member. The European Union is strongly committed to the United Nations, and we subscribe to its contributions to secure the future of the United Nations. That brings me to the first of the three core tasks I mentioned at the start of my speech: human rights. This, without question, is an area in which the United Nations has achieved great success in setting standards, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an unshakeable basis. Unfortunately, though, it still falls short in enforcing those standards. We still hear reports every day of torture, unfair trials, curbs on freedom of expression and other human rights violations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is often said, “If the United Nations did not exist it would have to be invented” — and indeed, a global organization with universal membership is essential. Still, no matter how representative an organization may be, it will lose its relevance if it does not deliver sufficient results. In short, legitimacy and effectiveness are two sides of the same coin. The Dutch Government is convinced that the United Nations can improve its effectiveness and decisiveness and so increase its legitimacy and public support. This can be done by utilizing the United Nations and its process to solve problems and by putting practical considerations first when problems are tackled. The Netherlands wants to see that happen and will work to make it happen.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The international legal order was strengthened by new international tribunals, the International Criminal Court and a growing number of peace missions under the United Nations flag — and of course, in setting the MDGs at its Millennium Summit (resolution 55/2), the United Nations showed how ambitious it can be. The United Nations is only able to achieve such things because every country is involved and everyone has a voice. That is the power of the United Nations, but also its greatest weakness. Inclusion does not only foster legitimacy — the unique selling point of the United Nations. It also leads to sluggish decision- making, politicized relationships and a bureaucratic structure that lacks transparency. I believe that anyone 10-55103 28 familiar with the international circuit over the past 10 years will recognize this picture.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We discussed this earlier in the week at the MDG summit. What these examples show is that the United Nations is losing its position — and its convening power — as the obvious global platform for discussion and decision-making. It pains me to say that. However, I also have every faith that the United Nations can continue in the future to claim its vital role as the world’s overarching governance organization. In my view, the end of the cold war freed the United Nations from a long period of confrontation and stagnation. In its wake the international agenda was redefined with great speed and vigour. Relatively new topics like the environment and climate change, social themes and gender issues began to claim our attention.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In this light, I applaud the choice of theme for this sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly: “Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance” — although I must confess I would have replaced the word “reaffirming” with “recovering”, because ground has clearly been lost, as has become especially apparent in the last few years. The Group of 20, and not the United Nations, has taken the lead in tackling the economic crisis, for example. The United Nations Climate Change Conference could have delivered more if the world had been able to unite behind the tough decisions. And where the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are concerned, we see mixed results. A lot has been achieved, but on some Goals we are lagging far behind, thanks to a fragmented and defective international aid architecture.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Unfortunately, that is not an option for the United Nations, for despite all our efforts, peace, security, legal certainty and development are still not guaranteed for everyone. In fact, since the United Nations was established, the global challenges facing us have only grown larger. Consider the climate crisis, or the energy and food crisis, or the international economic crisis that has shown so clearly how closely connected everything is in our time. We need each other more than ever before, and we need the United Nations as the organization uniting us more than ever before.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Or, as Dag Hammarskjöld, one of the great leaders of the United Nations, put it, “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon”. Today, I would like to look briefly at three of the core tasks of the United Nations in order to show how the Dutch Government views various concrete reforms in practical terms. Those tasks relate to human rights, the international legal order, and peace and security. Let me begin, however, with the background to these renovations, using my own experience as a guide, starting with the question of why they are necessary. In human terms, 65 years is often an age at which we start to take things easier.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“There, and at Bretton Woods, the world’s leaders laid the foundations for a multilateral system that would be built upon the smoking ruins of the Second World War. This system has demonstrated its usefulness, but it is based on post- war realities, not on the international balance of power and the global problems of today. I use the word “renovation”, because we do not need to build from scratch. Over the past 65 years, the system has more than proved its worth. There is nothing wrong with the foundations or the basic structure. Besides, experience has taught us that a practical step-by-step approach is a more effective way to reform a large organization than reliance on a “big- bang” strategy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Headquarters of the United Nations is currently undergoing a major renovation, and that is a good thing. It is good because the building no longer meets the requirements of the new century. In the meantime, work goes on as usual, 27 10-55103 and here we all are, discussing the big issues of the day. Of course, the parallel is obvious. The United Nations system itself has now reached a certain age and is also in need of renovation. And in this sense, too, the day-to-day work of the United Nations must go on, for we cannot afford to take a break from tackling the global problems we face. The United Nations may be under renovation, but it still has to stay open for business. It was 65 years ago that the United Nations was established in San Francisco.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The world is much smaller than it was in the days of Henry Hudson, but it is far more complex as a result. Any solution to the issues I have raised today starts with recognizing our mutual dependence and responsibility. Within the concepts of stability, solidarity and sustainability we will find the shared values and interests that should guide us on the road ahead. It is a road that requires courage. But to echo the words I heard recently from the Italian Nobel Prize winner and senator for life Rita Levi-Montalcini, on her one-hundredth birthday, “Don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” Let us go forward in that spirit.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We must be ambitious and set our sights high. Therefore, at Copenhagen the Netherlands will call for worldwide carbon dioxide emissions to be halved from 1990 levels by 2050. We should be fair to developing countries. Every country should contribute to the common goal according to its means. Every country will be expected to play its part. But those that need help in designing and implementing sound adaptation policies must receive it. That is why the Netherlands has set aside €500 million to promote the use of renewable energy in developing countries. Comprehensive also means that we should not simply pave the road ahead with good intentions, but with concrete agreements — for example, agreements on developing the global carbon market, on sharing knowledge and on financial arrangements. We simply cannot fail at Copenhagen.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It also concerns the private sector. More and more businesses now recognize the importance of corporate social responsibility. I believe there is still a world to be won in that regard, not only for society but also for companies themselves. Corporate social responsibility makes good business sense. My third subject, sustainability, is essentially about making choices and sacrifices, not for our own sake but for future generations. This session of the General Assembly is our last major stop on the road to Copenhagen. We should be aware that the progress we make there will affect the lives of our children, our children’s children and so on, down through the generations. That must be our main motive for seeking a radical change in the way we live. 09-52586 10 In Copenhagen we must reach an ambitious, fair and comprehensive agreement.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“There is a real danger that those who had no part in causing the crisis will be the people who suffer most deeply. In rich countries the crisis means the loss of jobs and assets. In developing countries it means rising child mortality and rising hunger. Therefore, in rich countries the crisis is serious; in poor countries it is a matter of life and death. Let the donor countries honour an old promise and set aside at least 0.7 per cent of their national income every year for development aid; and let the current crisis also inspire recipient countries to use the funds as effectively as possible. Now more than ever, public support for development aid depends on transparency, good governance and an effective fight against corruption. I would also add that international solidarity is not simply a question of development budgets.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Iran must regain the trust of the international community, comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East. In June of this year, the United Nations showed leadership by holding a major conference here in New York on the effects of the crisis for developing countries. The Netherlands fully supported that initiative, as there can be no stability without solidarity. After all, there is nothing more destabilizing than poverty, hunger and a future without hope. The economic crisis and rising food prices are threatening to sweep away a great deal of hard-won progress. In 2009 alone, the number of people forced to live on less than $1.25 a day will grow by at least 55 million.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We need it here in New York, but we especially need it on the ground. In that context, I would highlight the vital importance of the One United Nations Initiative, which needs follow-up, and soon. Stability cannot be achieved without respect for human rights. As friends of the Iranian people, we are concerned about the worsening human rights situation and the violent crackdown on popular protests. The Iranian nuclear issue represents a major challenge to international peace and security, to regional stability and to the non-proliferation regime. The recent revelation of a nuclear facility that was long kept secret is additional reason for great concern. It calls for a strong reaction by the international community and for total transparency by Iran.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In the long term, the greatest threat to a stable world order is to allow the crisis to push the world’s other great problems into the background: climate change, for example, the energy and food crisis or the pressing issues of peace and security, poverty and human rights. We cannot let that happen. In some cases, we simply have to honour commitments that we have already made, such as the Millennium Development Goals. In others, we need the courage to see beyond this crisis to the world of tomorrow, as we must show at the climate summit to be held in Copenhagen. In any event, the current situation demands that we place our common global values and interests above our acute domestic problems, however serious they may be. Therefore, now more than ever, we need a strong, decisive and efficient United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“9 09-52586 The current crisis offers clear proof that in a globalized world instability anywhere is a threat to stability everywhere. The international policy response has shown that that is widely understood in the financial and economic context. That is a positive sign, even if there is still a long way to go. The Pittsburgh agreement on compensation systems should end a bonus culture that has grown out of control. We cannot allow the greed of a few to endanger the jobs of many. We must therefore prevent that kind of crisis from ever happening again. Mr. Valero Briceño (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Vice-President, took the Chair. Institutional reform should not stop with the financial and economic sector. There is a clear need for new arrangements that will allow us to manage a range of global governance issues at the same time.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The last few days in New York and Pittsburgh have shown that there is a clear realization that the world has changed and that we must work together more closely than ever before. Our interdependency gives us a shared responsibility. We can see now that the problems we face are too big for any single nation. There is therefore strong will to address the underlying causes of the economic crisis, to work on systemic imbalances and to once again make finance a tool for growth. The agreement we reached in Pittsburgh on a framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth is a big step forward. It shows that there is a widely shared conviction that we have much to gain from stability, solidarity and sustainability, both as individual countries and collectively. I would like to say a few words about each of those core concepts.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The crisis has been so severe and so rapid that courage and resolve are now required of us all — the courage to place shared values and interests above narrow self- interest, the resolve to adapt existing global governance structures to a new reality and the courage to make decisive choices that take account of all interests, especially those of the world’s weakest and poorest people. That is my clear message to the General Assembly. The Dutch Government has no doubt that a strong, decisive and efficient United Nations will be vital to that process. Only an integrated global approach will deliver the stability, solidarity and sustainability that the world needs so badly.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“A few weeks ago, the Empire State Building was lit up in orange, the national colour of the Netherlands. The reason was that, precisely 400 years ago, the Dutch East India Company commissioned Henry Hudson to find a shorter sea route to Asia via the north. After a brutal voyage filled with hardships, Hudson decided to change course. He never found his shortcut to Asia, but he did become the first person to map the area around the river that would one day bear his name, including the place where we are gathered today. Ever since then, the origin of the great city of New York has been closely linked with the courage and resolve of Henry Hudson. Today more than ever before, we must make those qualities our own. In the past year, we have faced the harsh reality of a financial and economic system on the brink.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The number of armed conflicts is also declining, however serious the situation remains in certain troubled regions. Progress is possible, but it does not happen by itself. For the Netherlands, that is an incentive to continue working, heart and soul, for “a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want”. In conclusion, let me echo President Roosevelt’s words: “The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society.””
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“At the same time, we must remind everyone who enjoys those freedoms of their responsibility — the 08-51851 52 responsibility to show the same respect to others that we claim for ourselves. We need the United Nations to ensure those four essential freedoms for which we stand, and the United Nations needs us. A strong United Nations is one in which universal values are central — a United Nations with a fair and balanced Human Rights Council, a United Nations that unites and delivers. When we began building the United Nations together, the number of countries worldwide in which people enjoyed a reasonable level of freedom was around 15 per cent of the total. Today, more than 60 per cent of countries can be called free. In the same period, the number of people suffering from malnutrition has fallen by several hundred million.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Religion offers people comfort and inspiration in their personal lives. A religion is not a system of dogmas that may be imposed on others by force, and it is certainly not a justification for using violence when one feels aggrieved. Everyone is free to profess his or her faith, to change religion or not to believe. We must all cherish and defend the freedom of religion or belief. The same goes for the freedom of people to express their views, and those freedoms go hand in hand. We all know that there are countries in the world where those freedoms are violated, and to those countries I say: Respect the right of every person to freedom of religion and freedom of expression. They are universal rights. They are universal freedoms.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We also need to speak about freedom of expression and belief. The debate on that issue often leads to misunderstandings, incomprehension and fears that national traditions may be swept aside. We can all be proud of our cultures and traditions, of the things that distinguish us from others. The challenge for every Government is to affirm its people’s cultural and religious values and customs, and at the same time to build bridges with the rest of the world — bridges that enable people, organizations and religions to meet and draw closer. Finding the right balance is not easy, but it is essential. Governments are there for everyone — for men and women; for people of all backgrounds and all religious convictions; for monks, priests, rabbis and imams; and equally for those who do not believe in a supreme being.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“To recognize those brave people, the Netherlands has introduced the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, a special honour that will be awarded annually on International Human Rights Day. In our free world, no one is above the law and no one is beneath it. The Netherlands is proud to host the legal capital of the world in the city of The Hague. We will continue to strive for an International Criminal Court that is supported by all Member States. In a safe world, right is stronger than might. Crimes that outrage world opinion must always be punished. The International Criminal Court is there to support us in that task, and we must support the Court — all of us, openly and unconditionally. A wider acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice will also strengthen the international legal order.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“What are we doing to ensure that second essential freedom — freedom from fear? Millions of people still live in the middle of conflict and violence. We must not accept that. Over the past 60 years, United Nations peace operations have played an important role in ending conflict. In many areas, the United Nations has ensured that dormant conflicts do not flare up again. So our efforts must continue, undiminished. Yet peace operations alone are not enough. The root cause of a conflict is often a political dispute, and it often requires a political solution. There is no place in a free society for torture. There is no place for the death penalty. We all strive for a life without fear, yet there are people who face fear every day in order to defend human rights.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The Netherlands welcomes the initiative of Mr. d’Escoto Brockmann to place food security at the centre of this session of the General Assembly. Rising food prices hit the poor hardest. The position of small farmers is particularly important. If they are able to increase production, not only will their own families benefit, but the local community will too. That is why the Netherlands has earmarked extra funding for the development of agriculture in developing countries. However, there can be no food without water. Water is the source of all life — 1.8 billion people currently have no proper access to clean drinking water, and their health, their very lives, are in the balance. So the Netherlands has joined with countries that believe that water is a human right, because access to water is an essential part of freedom from want.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The International Monetary Fund should play a central role in that process by further 51 08-51851 stepping up its financial sector oversight. Together, we should re-establish the stability and integrity of the financial system. Governments have a duty to provide food for their people. The international community will support all those who fight against hunger, want and disease, but we must do so as efficiently as possible. We must not waste resources; the need is too great. Above all, we must work together. We must work together with other Governments, certainly, but also with the business community and civil society. Public-private partnership works. I meet more and more entrepreneurs who are committed to the Millennium Development Goals and actively want to help. Let us grasp the hands they extend.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That progress should inspire hope as we continue to work towards the Millennium Development Goals. There is still so much to do. In some countries, the situation is actually getting worse, especially where health is concerned. One child still dies every three seconds, one mother every minute. All Governments need to realize that good and ethical governance is an essential foundation for development, and realizing that, they must act accordingly. That also applies to the current financial crisis, where urgent action is needed. The financial sector and regulators should quickly implement the recommendations of the Financial Stability Forum: stricter supervision, better risk management, greater transparency and enhanced accountability. That is how to restore confidence in the financial markets and prevent future crises.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We still live in a world where, each year, more than 9 million children die before they reach the age of five, and every day millions of people live in fear of violence and the abuse of power. We cannot accept that. Together, the United Nations comprises a working community and our work is not done — not by a long way. Global challenges require global solutions. Global solutions require global action. Every one of us needs to ask ourselves: What am I doing to make freedom a reality for people at home and elsewhere? What are we doing to bring about freedom from want? In the past 10 years, millions of people have managed to escape from poverty. In Asia and parts of Africa, a great deal of progress has been made, thanks to the efforts of many people.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“There is a direct link between this United Nations building and the homes of hundreds of millions of families all over the world. One man who forcefully reminded us that we are responsible for the opportunities open to future generations was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In early 1941, in the darkest hour of the Second World War, he gave us his vision of the future: the dawning of a world in which people would enjoy freedom of expression and belief and would be free from fear and want. After the war, those freedoms became our moral compass. They were set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by this very Assembly almost 60 years ago. Human rights remain the cornerstone of Dutch policy. If we look around us today, we can see that reality falls far short of our ideal.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“When the present session of the General Assembly began on Tuesday, the Secretary-General made important remarks about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the financial crisis. The world is witnessing extraordinary financial turbulence, and all parties must shoulder their responsibility. At the same time, the current crisis should not distract us from the need to achieve the MDGs. What kind of world do we want to leave to our children and grandchildren? Any parent who considers that question for a moment will answer: a world in which my children are safe and can build decent lives, free from want; a world in which my children can reach their full potential without fear of repression or terror; a world in which my children are free and their rights are protected. Everything that we do as the United Nations is about deep desires.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We want our values to take concrete form in the twenty-first century in people’s lives and in international relations. That demands unity of purpose, courage and resolution from us all. Above all, it requires ambition, the ambition to make a determined effort while respecting our differences to realize our common ideals. What we need in the twenty-first century is united values, united ideals, a united world and the United Nations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Netherlands supports the Secretary-General’s efforts to reform the United Nations system and the Security Council. Reforms are never easy, but they are essential. In a world that is changing at breakneck speed, we need multilateral institutions that can respond to new developments. A relevant United Nations means a dynamic United Nations with dynamic institutions. Reforms are sometimes seen as giving up certainties. I am convinced that we need to reform in order to safeguard what we all hold dear: respect for human rights, enforcement of the rule of law and sustainable development for all nations. Those values are the lifeblood of the United Nations. Respect for our values means taking joint responsibility. Responsibility means a constant effort to make the United Nations more relevant.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It is better to invest in strengthening confidence between North and South, West and East. People and resources are scarce. We can only spend each euro once. If we want to achieve our common aims, such as the Millennium Development Goals, we need to coordinate our efforts. Several dozen United Nations agencies are active around the world. We have planted a forest of United Nations flags in various countries. We need a more unified approach in order to help the poorest developing countries more. We can work far more efficiently if we pool our resources in a single programme in each country. That makes demands on donors. Several countries, including the Netherlands, now fund various United Nations organizations on the basis of multi-year plans. I hope that others will follow suit.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We would like to see the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court accepted more widely. We stress the need for cooperation by both member and non-member States with the International Criminal Court in general and with regard to the execution of arrest warrants in particular. The Netherlands will continue to make a special effort to promote the international legal order. That is why we have responded positively to the Secretary- General’s request to host the Lebanon tribunal in the Netherlands. Preparations for that tribunal are in full swing. Enforcing the rule of law is not enough to make the United Nations more relevant. We also need to keep a critical eye on how we work. Let us resist the temptation to invest too much energy in resolutions we adopt every year.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“European government leaders would like to see negotiations start in Bali on a follow-up to Kyoto. The Netherlands and its European partners will do all they can to accomplish that. Responsibility also means ongoing efforts to make the United Nations more relevant. The United Nations is the platform for seeking global solutions to global problems. The world needs an effective United Nations. How can we be more effective, efficient and credible? We need to strengthen the rule of law and put an end to impunity. We are not yet making full use of the instruments we have. I say this as Prime Minister of a country that is proud to have the legal capital of the world The Hague within its borders. Without justice, there can be no lasting peace and no reconciliation.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The future lies with those countries that excel in energy conservation and the use of cleaner technologies. We are not yet making sufficient use of the scope that innovation offers us. The Netherlands wants to be a front-runner, not only in our ambition to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also in developing new strategies to deal with the negative effects of climate change. It is important to take climate and nature into account in all our investments. The most vulnerable developing countries deserve more support in tackling the problems they face. In December, at the Bali Climate Change Conference, the United Nations has a unique opportunity to take charge of the situation and create a united global framework for addressing the climate problem.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The hopes of millions of Afghans rest with us. The United Nations needs to broaden and intensify its role in Afghanistan. The Peacebuilding Commission has a vital role to play in bridging the gap between conflict and development. In the past year, it has worked hard to help several African countries that are on the difficult road of reconstruction after being torn apart by conflict. The Netherlands is actively supporting that very promising approach, which focuses on prevention. Assembly President Kerim has drawn attention to another responsibility we all share: the need for prompt action to tackle the problem of climate change. The industrialized countries and that means all of them should take the lead. But the countries that are now enjoying rapid economic growth are also being asked to develop more sustainably.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In 2005 the United Nations adopted the principle of the responsibility to protect. In doing so, we sided with all those suffering from genocide or crimes against humanity. It is now time to put that principle into practice. The United Nations has a key responsibility as a protector of peace and security. Each of us shares that responsibility. In this age of rapid communications and global linkage, nothing is far away anymore. What happens elsewhere affects us all. We can only secure lasting peace in areas of conflict if we combine defence with development and diplomacy. We are putting that concept into practice in the Afghan province of Uruzgan, together with our Australian partners and other allies. It is a difficult and demanding mission under United Nations mandate. The international community must not abandon Afghanistan to its fate.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We owe respect not only to one another, but also to our planet. It gives us everything we need, provided that we treat its natural resources wisely and do not upset its natural balance. That is why sustainability is one of our most important values. A value is not something that we possess. It is not an achievement that we can boast about. A value is a task, an incentive to action. Cherishing values automatically means accepting responsibility. Membership of the United Nations goes hand in hand with moral responsibility. It means more than attending meetings and even paying our dues. It also means keeping our commitments. The treaties we sign must not remain a dead letter. Human rights must be respected. The Netherlands is proud to contribute, for example as a member and a Vice-President of the Human Rights Council.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Netherlands wants to join forces with all those who want to promote tolerance and dialogue between civilizations. But we must not allow that dialogue to put the universal validity of our common values in question. We know from experience how fundamental our shared values are. The Netherlands is one country in the world. But in a sense, we are also the world in one country. Our capital, Amsterdam, is home to 177 nationalities. We have learned that only through unity in diversity can we make progress, locally, nationally and internationally. That means that the rule of law must be strictly enforced so that people can feel safe. It also means that we need to be more tolerant and willing to take a critical look at ourselves. Stressing our differences leads to polarization and solves nothing.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In that case, I am convinced the European Union and the United States will decide on further measures, together with other well-intentioned countries. When it comes to human rights and the rule of law, I am not talking about abstractions. Every child that can go to school, every family that can live in peace and freedom with its neighbours and every country that enjoys prosperity and tolerance is a step towards fulfilling our dream. Values connect us across our cultures and religions. We must not allow cultural or religious differences to create barriers to open dialogue. Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, tells us that religious freedom is under threat in many parts of the world. So, we have a lot to do.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)