YouSaid · the spoken record

Mark Rutte

lines on the record: 91
first: 2014-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 7
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 now that push has come to shove, we must show that we have learned from the past, that we will all pick up the phone, that we will all answer the knock at the door and that we will all fulfil our responsibility.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In the case of the war in Ukraine, there is no shared blame. There is no doubt about who the perpetrator is and who the victim. Russia attacked Ukraine, a sovereign nation, and not the other way round. So there can be no shared solution. Russia is the aggressor here and it is not Ukraine’s supporters who are prolonging the war — it is Russia. Putin has occupied 20 per cent of Ukraine. An immediate ceasefire now would mean victory for Russia. That is the reality, and a just and lasting peace can be achieved only if we recognize that reality. There is a lot at stake here. Putin is counting on us being divided. He is counting on us ending our support as the war drags on longer and costs more than we thought. He is counting on us losing interest and returning to our own problems. That is Putin’s strategy.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I have explained how the Netherlands will fulfil its responsibility. Members can hold us to that, and they can call us to account for our actions. In the same way. I am calling on everyone to speak out against Putin and Russia’s violation of the United Nations Charter, to support the peace plan, to support Ukraine, even if it takes time and even if there are setbacks — especially if it takes time and there are setbacks — and to tell Russia to give back the stolen children of Ukraine. Some countries feel they are supporting peace in Ukraine simply by calling for an immediate ceasefire. They think that this will help end the war and that peace, freedom and security will return automatically. They see it as an expression of nuance. They want to see the good in others. They do not want to point the finger of blame.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We will not find them on the official casualty list, but those countries and the people who live there are also victims of Putin’s aggression. Russia’s conduct goes against everything that we in the United Nations stand for. That alone is reason enough to take action. The Charter of the United Nations, our common foundation, is very clear on that. When push comes to shove, we cannot neglect our duty because it is not convenient, because we have other things on our minds or because it seems too hard. No! No! No! The Charter is intended for moments like these for a time and a place like this. The General Assembly is the ultimate place and now is the time to hold each other to account and remind each other of our responsibilities. That goes for all of us. and it goes for me too.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Those are questions that no one should ever have to ask. In Europe, we thought we would never need to ask them again, but we were wrong and so now it is up to us to respond, to pick up the phone and to answer the knock at the door. We cannot leave one country to fend for itself. I know that some countries are hesitating, asking themselves why they should get involved in someone else’s war. To them. I say: “It is your war too. because even if there is no shooting in your towns and your cities are not being bombed, this war affects everyone”. People in vulnerable countries know exactly what I am talking about. The global food supply is being used as a weapon of war and food prices are soaring. Millions of people are being pushed back into poverty and hunger. And it is precisely the most vulnerable countries that are being hit the hardest.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“however different our countries, we share the same universal values: peace, freedom and justice. On 17 July 2014. those values, which the Netherlands holds so dear, were trampled underfoot. It was the day that flight MH-17 was downed by Russia — the day the Dutch people and people everywhere were reminded, in such a painful manner, that peace, freedom and justice are not givens, but require our constant efforts. Those values, those collective aims, form the basis of the United Nations. They are the reason we are here today. With that in mind. I would like to talk about Ukraine. Every day. millions of people feel the effects of Russia’s aggression — above all the Ukrainian people, who are the victims of terrible crimes. Every day they live in fear. Am I still safe in my own home? In my city? Will I ever see my family alive again?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change must mark a course correction. There, we must agree and explain how the world will get on track to meet the 1.5°C goal. If we do not. the consequences will be disastrous. The examples I have offered of Dutch action, working together with our Kingdom partners in the Caribbean, show that we are willing to fulfil our responsibility, that we are willing to pick up the phone and to answer the knock at the door. The most striking of truths is also the most obvious: We are not as different as we might think. What unites us is bigger and stronger than what divides us. I see that in my bilateral discussions. I see it in the European Union, and I see it here at the United Nations. However different our backgrounds are.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In two months’ time we will gather in Dubai to take stock of our progress towards the Paris climate goals, but we already know that we are way off track, so something has to be done right now. The Netherlands will fulfil its responsibility, by providing 100 million people in developing countries with access to renewable energy by 2030. by massively scaling up our renewable energy investment and by helping to set up and scale up green-hydrogen corridors, together with South Africa. Egypt. Morocco. Namibia and others. Currently, only 2 per cent of global investment goes to Africa, despite the huge potential there. We have a collective interest in making sure that potential can be tapped, because if we do not help Africa to grow sustainably, we will all miss our climate goals.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“So that is what we are doing, by building a circular economy by 2050. by making our financial sector more sustainable and by combating deforestation and loss of biodiversity. In each of those areas, partnerships are essential — above all. partnerships with the countries hit hardest by climate change. Today I will speak with the representatives of several small island developing States about climate adaptation and about ways of exchanging knowledge, expertise and innovative solutions. And yes. such partnerships begin with talking, but they must go beyond words and promises. The Netherlands is increasing its annual contribution to international climate finance to €1.8 billion by 2025. and over half of that will go to climate adaptation. Everyone understands how important that is.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“that is because it is a reflection of the world we live in”. And he was also right. For too long at the United Nations, some interests have weighed more heavily than others. The United Nations is structured as if it were still 1945. but the world has changed. It has taken a long time for that realization to sink in. but once you see it you cannot un-see it. In this world at this time, we all need each other — all 193 countries — because we all face a common task. Let us consider the global distribution of wealth. The Netherlands is not only one of the United Nations most loyal development donors; we also support the reform plans of institutions such as the World Bank. Or let us consider climate change. We need to reduce our footprint — a footprint that leaves its mark on countries far beyond our borders.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Every one of us has come here to discuss the issues we face in our own countries, but if we look beyond our borders we see that none of those issues stands alone. All the big issues of our time intersect. Their impact is global. Let us consider climate change, or poverty, or conflict. Those issues are all related and we are all affected by them, though perhaps not always in the same way. In Europe, peace has been shattered by Russian aggression. And yes. I am asking once again for support in ending that terrible war. At the same time. I realize that some here are thinking: “What about our own challenges? What about our own security? Will you support us there as well?” I understand how they feel, and they are right. As the late Secretary-General Kofi Annan put it. “If the United Nations is not as united as it should be.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In 1864. Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to Edwin Stanton, his Secretary of War. He observed that “you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today”. It was a different time, with different problems and different ways of solving them. A lot has changed since then, and yet Lincoln’s words remain as relevant as ever. They show that “responsibility” has always been a watchword, because our very future depends on whether we choose or refuse to take responsibility. Today there is no time to be lost. There has never been so much at stake at one time. We must combat climate change, fight hunger and poverty, and protect peace and security in many places all over the world. It is human nature to prioritize the issues that affect us most directly. Let us be honest — that goes for all of us here today.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Now is the time to be on the right side of history.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“To quote Dag Hammarskjold once more: “The United Nations is what the Members make it, reflecting the weakness of all human effort but also the high aspirations and noble achievements of men of good will all over the world.” That is why the Netherlands supports Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) as a framework for promoting peace, security and sustainable development. We will continue working every day to build broad coalitions to address the major issues of our time — coalitions in which water is our common bond. In conclusion, together we can and must defend, protect and reinforce the international rules-based order. Putin’s war of aggression must be stopped. We cannot go back to an age of imperialist wars, mass atrocities and mass graves. I want to tell those who are still on the fence that they have a choice. Now is the time to speak out.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Only by acting together can we turn things around. That is why the Netherlands will continue pressing for a doubling of finance for climate adaptation. Half of the money that my country spends on international climate action now goes to adaptation and resilience, and we will continue on that path, because adaptation is in our DNA. In order to address the major issues of our time, we need each other more than ever. Cooperation is the only way forward, with the United Nations as a vital tool — one we must use far more effectively.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Earlier this month, I met with African leaders in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the Africa adaptation summit. Our discussions further impressed on me the importance of climate action for Africa. I can confidently say that the European Union member States remain fully committed to a 55 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a swift transition to clean energy. The Netherlands is also working to combat deforestation and to help the world meet its $100 billion pledge on climate finance. That money must go to the most vulnerable individuals and communities — to those hit hardest by climate change. We will continue to provide expertise and financial support to protect vulnerable areas from the elements. Developed countries have a responsibility to help developing countries take the necessary measures.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That is why the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with our friends from Tajikistan, will be hosting next year’s United Nations Water Conference. The Conference is all about action — action by Governments and the private sector, working closely across sectors and regions. It can and must be a turning point — it is now or never. I therefore urge everyone to attend. In the meantime, we will also need to step up our other climate efforts. We will have to rapidly deliver on the promises we made last year in Glasgow. The twenty-seventh Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, will be another milestone, if only because it will mark the first time it will be convened on the African continent.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The recent events in Pakistan are a sobering reminder of that: devastating floods that have disrupted the lives of more than 30 million people. That illustrates once again that water is at the heart of many global problems. It has the power to turn our lives upside down and to threaten our health, safety, food and living environments. But at the same time, collaborating on water issues provides us with a big opportunity to make the world safer, healthier and more prosperous. Investing in water security should be a top priority for our common future because worldwide water solutions are an existential issue and therefore a basic necessity for the world. It is our responsibility to place water security at the core of all our climate action and worldwide efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Small island developing States are at the forefront of the world’s climate adaptation strategies, and Curasao, Aruba and St. Maarten, the island countries of our Kingdom, are no exception. We are experiencing both the challenges confronting mainland Europe and those that small island States face every day, including rising ocean temperatures, coral bleaching, biodiversity loss and ocean pollution. As one Kingdom, we know that water is the factor linking all the great challenges of our time, from food and energy to migration and urbanization. Moreover, 90 per cent of all climate disasters manifest themselves through water via flooding, drought or pollution. Many parts of the world are already facing the reality of having too much or too little water or water supplies that are too polluted.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Putin’s cold-blooded power politics, which exploit the most basic human needs of so many people, provide yet another argument for ending the fossil fuel era even faster than we had planned. They make tackling that other major global issue — climate change — even more urgent. Here too, worldwide cooperation is an absolute must. Together we have all made pledges aimed at keeping global warming below 1.5°C. Around the world, we all feel the urgency of that task. The Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is made up of four very different countries, is also feeling the effects of climate change, from heavier rainfall and worsening drought in the European part of the Kingdom to more severe hurricanes and rising sea levels in the Caribbean part.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I promise the General Assembly that the Netherlands will continue to work hard to ensure justice for Ukraine as well. By the same token, we stand firmly with those in Russia who oppose the war, who long for peace and justice, who do not want to send their children into a senseless war and whose voices are not being heard. We will also support those people all over the world who are suffering the effects of the war indirectly. Putin’s war has created not only thousands of victims in Ukraine, but also hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of victims of hunger and poverty around the world. Here too, the United Nations family must hold Russia to account.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Netherlands and the city of The Hague — the legal capital of the world — feel a special responsibility in that regard. We have already supported fact-finding missions by sending forensic experts to Ukraine, in close cooperation with the International Criminal Court. And in July we hosted the Ukraine Accountability Conference, at which 45 countries agreed on key priorities for guaranteeing justice for Ukraine. We know from experience that achieving international justice can be a long and painstaking process. For more than eight years now, we have been closing in on the Russians responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 in eastern Ukraine. I am grateful for the unwavering support we have received from Ukraine and many other countries in our fight for justice for the 298 victims and their families.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That must be followed by rebuilding the country and achieving justice for those who have suffered from the war and the crimes and human rights violations arising from it, from sexual violence to deportations, torture and random killings. The horrific crimes committed in Bucha, which I visited, and other places must not go unpunished. I reiterate that the empty Russian threats leave us cold. But what does not leave us cold is the suffering of the people of Ukraine and, frankly, also the suffering of Russian people, who are being called up against their will to fight. Every week we are seeing more evidence of atrocities, such as those in the recently liberated city of Izyum. The world cannot and will not stand by and do nothing. There can be no justice without accountability.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“His words were meant to intimidate, but they leave us cold. Putin’s latest threats to invoke Russia’s nuclear capabilities are intended to sow division in the growing unity that the world is showing. But he will not succeed. Together with our allies, the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in any way we can and for however long it takes, every inch of the way. I therefore call on everyone here — all States Members of the United Nations — to stand firm in defence of the principles we collectively enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and to stand firm until peace, freedom and territorial integrity are fully restored in Ukraine.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“All States Members of the United Nations should be united in condemning this unprovoked war, because Russia’s unbridled aggression is an assault on the Charter and the international rules-based order. It is an assault on the very foundations of our partnership and therefore an assault on the security of us all. The Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom, one stride at a time. I have great admiration for Ukraine’s achievements on the battlefield. Ukraine is gaining ground. This shows that our military assistance is working, and it motivates us to do even more. In the past week, Putin made a speech that can only be described as a sign of panic — a sign of weakness. He is losing his own ill-conceived war, and he knows it. That is why he clutches to his delusional narrative, full of lies and deceit.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Putin said that the end of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe. In hindsight, we all should have paid heed to his words, because they reflect a dangerous worldview. He will not stop at Ukraine if we do not stop him now. This war is bigger than Ukraine itself. It is about upholding the international rule of law. It is about a sovereign people’s right to choose its own path. It is about freedom — theirs and ours. This war is therefore about our common future. And there is only one path for us to follow and one right choice to make. We must uphold the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations — the principles we agreed to after the painful lessons of history learned from a past aggressor. This year, NATO and European Union allies are more united than ever in our determination to stop Putin.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That is my message today — working together under the laws of justice is and will remain the only path to a safe and prosperous world. And that is why Russia’s aggression must be stopped. Right now, Russia stands on the wrong side of history. It is hard not to think of historical analogies in which one powerful country with expansionist ambitions invaded other countries under the false pretence of victimhood and security. Let me be very clear. Russia is not the victim here, it is the aggressor, and the whole world knows it. No one was invading Russia. No one was threatening the Russian people. The people of Ukraine wanted only to be left in peace and to decide their own future. Again, there is only one aggressor here, and that is Russia. For too long, we assumed that it was pure rhetoric when Mr.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Growing up in Europe as a child of the Cold War, the Iron Curtain was a fact of life, and I still vividly remember when the first breaches began to appear in the mid-1980s. The credit for that shift, which made a profound impression, is largely due to Mikhail Gorbachev, who passed away a few weeks ago. Although he represented a dogmatic, undemocratic and oppressive system, he had the courage, as a matter of principle, to choose freedom and humanity. I mention that memory here for a reason. As Russia’s recent past and Mr. Gorbachev’s legacy have shown, we will always have a choice to make. It is the choice between “might is right” and, in the words of the great Dag Hammarskjold, “an international community living in peace under the laws of justice” (A/PV.690, para. 68).”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I therefore once again call on all countries to cooperate fully with the investigation, in line with Security Council resolution 2166 (2014), so that justice is served and responsibility accepted. Mr. Salovaara (Finland), Vice-President, took the Chair. In recent months, we have been confronted with our own vulnerability and that of the world around us. I began my remarks by urging everyone not to give in to cynicism and fatalism because, as the philosopher Karl Popper once wrote, “We are all responsible for what the future holds in store. Thus it is our duty not to prophesy evil, but rather to fight for a better world”. Please be assured that the Kingdom of the Netherlands will continue working with full conviction to that end, together with all Member States.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That is because ultimately, we have to continue defending the international legal order and universal human rights in Afghanistan and around the world. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this is especially true in the context of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17. Together with the other countries of the MH-17 Joint Investigation Team, we continue doing all we can to ensure that justice is done. At the moment, family members of the victims are getting the opportunity to share their stories in court, and the emotional impact of that is enormous. One of them said, “We will never be able to come to terms with our loss as long as those responsible refuse to accept responsibility”.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Thanks to their courage and commitment, a generation has grown up in Afghanistan with better opportunities, child mortality has fallen by 60 per cent, more girls and women have been able to get an education and life expectancy has risen by 16 years. Those are statistics that matter, but the harsh reality is that we have to pause those efforts now. The question is whether all the hard work of the past 20 years will be undone by recent developments. It is too soon to tell. There continue to be many possible outcomes for Afghanistan, but we must be mindful of the Taliban’s track record. Whatever happens, we will continue working to push developments in Afghanistan in the right direction, however difficult that may seem right now.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Over the past 20 years, the international community, including my country, has worked very hard in Afghanistan. Many countries, together with the United Nations and the Afghan people, have tried to ensure a better future for all Afghans in which everyone has opportunities, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or beliefs. And it is important to note that we have definitely taken steps in the right direction. The Netherlands would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all the military personnel, diplomats and aid workers — as well as the many brave and determined Afghans themselves — who made that possible. We will never forget the many people, including 25 Dutch military personnel, who paid the ultimate price.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We cannot abandon the millions of Afghans who are in need of urgent humanitarian aid and whose rights are being trampled, especially the rights of women, girls and minorities. Various United Nations organizations are doing all they can to provide such aid. The people of the United Nations are our eyes and ears on the ground. Even more important, they are the helping hands reaching out to those in need of aid and protecting the weakest in society. We must support and facilitate that good work. To that end, at the donor conference held on 13 September, the Netherlands pledged an additional €13.5 million for the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and the Afghanistan Situation Regional Refugee Preparedness and Response Plan. The people of the world, and the Afghan people in particular, are counting on the United Nations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We have increased our public climate financing, and we support Secretary-General Guterres’ call to spend at least half of it on adaptation. In fact, in recent years the Kingdom of the Netherlands has spent almost 70 per cent of its public climate financing on adaptation. Of course, it is not a matter of either/or. We need to step up our efforts on both adaptation and mitigation and help one another do so. We are all facing the same storm but we are not all in the same boat. That means developed countries have a responsibility to help developing countries take the necessary measures. Only together can we turn things around. Thirdly, this summer we saw a tragedy unfold in Afghanistan. The situation is desperate.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Climate adaptation is at least as important because the impact of climate change is already a threat — one we have to arm ourselves against now. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that is not new. For centuries, we have been battling the elements — from North Sea floods to Caribbean storms. Climate adaptation is in our DNA. That is why we hosted the online Climate Adaptation Summit at the beginning of this year. The event saw the launch of the Adaptation Action Agenda, which aims to turn words into deeds. The Kingdom of the Netherlands understands that we not only need to get our own house in order but we also have to help others do the same. We therefore provide expertise and financial support to protect vulnerable areas against the elements.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Elsewhere in the world, extreme temperatures had devastating impacts, including severe forest fires that forced many people to flee their homes. Clearly, we need to collectively embrace climate action, and we need to do it fast. It is therefore more vital than ever that the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in November, succeed. Together we must find a way to reduce harmful emissions to net zero by 2050, and we must ensure that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C degrees remains within reach. We cannot allow political tensions among countries to get in the way of achieving those goals. We cannot saddle our future generations with the problem. And limiting emissions is not the only challenge.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That brings me to my second point, which is the disruptive impact of climate change. That is no longer a theoretical doomsday scenario; for many, it is now a stark reality. We felt it this summer. Every part of the world experienced extreme weather and devastating natural disasters that are clearly the result of climate change caused by humans. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was not spared either. The six low-lying islands of the Caribbean that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands live with the constant threat of sea- level rise, drought and tropical hurricanes, like much of the global South. In Europe, the Netherlands and its neighbours were hit by extreme rainfall this summer. Tranquil rivers transformed into raging torrents that destroyed everything in their path.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Together with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the SDGs are our guide towards a sustainable recovery in an uncertain world. In order to support that objective, the Kingdom of Netherlands has become the second- largest donor, after Norway, to the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to bolster countries’ socioeconomic resilience. We also support valuable initiatives like the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents, which aims to lessen the impact of the pandemic on sexual and reproductive health and rights. In short, the breakthrough we need requires a two- track approach: first, getting the virus under control around the world and, secondly, working towards an economic recovery that benefits everyone and is green and sustainable.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“More broadly, the most vulnerable segments of society are the ones that have been hit hardest by the crisis. The impact on young people, women and girls has been enormous. Young people have not been able to attend school and faced other obstacles in their development. Many women lost their jobs in global supply chains like the clothing industry. What is more, some Governments have used anti-COVID-19 measures as a pretext to restrict fundamental human rights, such as the freedom of expression. Many human rights defenders and civil society organizations have suffered as a result. Given all that, it is essential that we work to achieve a socioeconomic recovery that benefits everyone and that we get back on course to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“To that end, we need to put all our effort into stepping up vaccine production and sharing the available doses fairly so that we can vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is fully committed to that goal. For example, we have contributed €172 million to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator of the World Health Organization. For every vaccine dose we administer in the Netherlands, we aim to give one away. By the end of the year, we hope to have donated more than 20 million vaccines to countries in need via the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility. Together with the public health crisis, COVID-19 has also led to a shadow pandemic. Staying at home under the lockdowns has shown to be especially dangerous for women, as domestic violence has increased dramatically.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Today I would like to focus on three critical developments — three crises, in fact — that have dominated our attention this summer. The first is the fight against the coronavirus disease and the road to post-pandemic recovery. The second is the disruptive impact of the climate crisis and what we need to do in response. And the third is the situation in Afghanistan. Let me start with the most acute challenge we face: finding a way out of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have to realize how dependent we are on each other, because the reality is that no one is safe until everyone is safe. COVID-19 will remain a threat as long as a large part of the world is not fully vaccinated. Global solidarity is therefore not simply the right thing to do; it is the only thing we can do to end the pandemic.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“At the very point when the world faced an impossible task, countries united and got to work. Although the starting points are very different, we need the same approach now. As Secretary-General Guterres wrote in the summary to his recent report Our Common Agenda, “In our biggest shared test since the Second World War, [humankind] faces a stark and urgent choice: a breakdown or a breakthrough. [...] The choice is ours to make; but we will not have [that] chance again.” It is therefore up to us to make the right choices. I see it as our solemn duty to bring about that breakthrough and to work together, with people from all walks of life and with non-governmental organizations and business, on solutions to the major problems of our time for today’s generations and for generations to come.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Right now it is hard to predict the consequences of those recent developments, but I am sure that we all felt powerless and despondent. There was a sense of fighting a losing battle, a feeling that the negative forces were winning over the positive and a fear that our efforts were futile. I understand those feelings, but at the same time I want to appeal to everyone here: let us not give in to cynicism and fatalism. That is my message today — especially today and especially here. This place, the United Nations Headquarters, this beacon of international cooperation, has proved in the past that we can find solutions together even if our problems seem too big or too complex. One has only to think back to the start of the United Nations over 75 years ago, when much of the world lay in ruins.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The pandemic itself is far from over, let alone the long-term consequences of the crisis. There were other major concerns too. Different parts of the world were battered by extreme weather and devastating natural disasters, from heavy flooding in Africa, China and Western Europe to forest fires in North America and the Mediterranean and hurricanes in the Caribbean. Using hard science and clear statistics, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirmed what we could see with our own eyes: climate change is happening now. It is impacting us all and is hitting us hard. On top of all that, this summer a tragedy unfolded in Afghanistan. None of us will forget the heartbreaking images of the violence, the people trying to flee, the desperation and the humanitarian need.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“This spring, after a year in the grip of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we looked forward to the summer. We were full of hope and anticipation. Despite our concern for our loved ones and our economies, there was a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the scientific community, which developed vaccines in record time, offering a way out of the crisis. Defeating the virus seemed like only a matter of time. The summer of 2021 would be the summer of freedom regained. But in fact it became a summer of worry. It is true that, in the most affluent parts of the world, vaccination campaigns are well under way. Globally, vaccination coverage is growing by the day, but it is not growing fast enough and is not growing everywhere — not by any means. What is more, the virus hit back and the Delta variant took hold.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Like the international mechanism for collecting and analysing evidence of the most serious crimes committed in Syria. Or the step the Netherlands recently took, holding Syria formally responsible for human rights violations. And for our country in particular, the establishment of special court proceedings to try those accused of downing flight MH17 was a major milestone. Because justice must be served. And because justice is a central pillar of our multilateral world order. We work in all these areas, in the full conviction that international cooperation brings us progress. And although the current crisis forces us to keep our distance, now more than ever we need to come closer together. Thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“A topic that’s in the very DNA of our Kingdom, which is made up of a low- lying delta by the North Sea and several small islands in the Caribbean. In January 2021, we will be hosting the Climate Adaptation Summit to help the world prepare better for the effects of climate change. Another contribution we make is providing a base for the international legal order. My home town of The Hague is host to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, for example. We must continue supporting these crucial institutions. Even though it’s become harder and harder in recent years to achieve accountability, due mainly to resistance from a small number of countries. But we won’t let that stop us. We will find other ways.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“During our recent membership of the UN Security Council, the Netherlands worked hard on practical UN reforms in the area of peacekeeping. And we fully support the broad reform agenda of SecretaryGeneral Guterres. Together we need to ensure that the UN — now 75 years old — remains fit for purpose, well-equipped and young at heart. That it’s ready for the next 75 years. Because the new generations, who are already making their voices heard, must be able to count on a solid global system of multilateral cooperation. The Kingdom of the Netherlands will keep working towards that end, in every way possible. By providing financial resources, for example: we are one of the ten biggest donors to the multilateral system and we try to play a constructive role. But also by sharing our expertise in areas like climate adaptation.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The multilateral world order, which has given us so much in the decades since World War Two, is under great pressure. And we need to turn this tide. Step one is for all countries to take responsibility for the proper functioning of the multilateral system. Take a constructive approach. Stand up for your own interests, but don’t lose sight of the common interest. And last but not least, honour the agreements we’ve made and respect international law, including human rights. When it comes to multilateralism, you can’t pick and choose. Step two is to critically assess the system itself. Because there’s work to be done there too. We can’t tackle today’s challenges with yesterday’s structures. It’s essential that we improve, reform and modernise our global institutions. And the UN is no exception.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“But if we’re truly going to defeat this virus we’ll have to do even more to enhance international cooperation. It starts with supporting the World Health Organization, which plays a crucial role. We must provide the resources it needs. It also means countries need to give the Organization full cooperation and show transparency. In some cases this has been lacking. At the same time, the WHO has also attracted criticism. The Netherlands agrees that — once the crisis is under control — we should evaluate the situation and look at how we can enhance its powers. So that we’re well-equipped to deal with — or better still prevent — any future pandemic. Critical evaluation and continuous efforts to improve are key elements of multilateral cooperation. But unfortunately, as we mark the UN’s 75th anniversary, we’re also seeing another trend.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)