YouSaid · the spoken record

Uri Rosenthal

lines on the record: 26
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2012-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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

“I want to see her live in a Syria where jobs and economic opportunities have replaced poverty and despair. That woman, Мedya, has already shown the courage and the will to contribute to Syria’s future. Together, we, the peoples of the United Nations, should show that same courage. Together, we must preserve peace, protect freedom and promote prosperity. Together, let us build a stronger international legal order.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and many other organizations are providing crucial assistance to the victims of the violence. I want to pay explicit tribute to the Governments of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan for their invaluable efforts to alleviate the suffering of the thousands of refugees. In conclusion, for me, meeting Мedya, that courageous Syrian journalist and mother, has given a voice to those refugees. I hope that I will meet Medya, that 25-year-old mother of a five-year-old child, again in the near future in Homs, Syria. I want to see her live in an inclusive and prosperous Syria, where democracy and human rights replace terror and violence. It is about democracy and human rights. That is our aim.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Thirdly, countries should recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, as the Secretary-General has requested. Fourthly, countries should adhere to the principle of the responsibility to protect. That applies to prevention, protection and prosecution. Fifthly, countries that have not done so to date should join the International Criminal Court. That will ensure that civilians are protected and the perpetrators of atrocities are prosecuted. That takes me back to Syria. The Syrian crisis highlights the mounting challenges of the United Nations and its States Members. I applaud the active stance of the Secretary-General with regard to Syria.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Secretary-General’s reform proposals must be implemented. Emerging Powers rightly ask for more influence, due to new political and economic realities. The Security Council should be reformed while taking those realities into account. At the same time, the larger share of those emerging Powers in the world economy should be reflected in the relative contributions of Member States to the United Nations budget. The Members of the United Nations need to take action in five areas. First, countries should respect universal human rights without distinction. That key principle also applies to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Secondly, the rights of religious minorities should be guaranteed all over the world. Governments should protect religious groups against violence.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The private sector is crucial to achieving those goals, especially when it comes to unlocking the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. To quote renowned economist Paul Collier, “We cannot make poverty history unless the countries of the bottom billion start to grow”. The United Nations is indispensable for the agenda of peace, freedom and prosperity. The widening gap between the increasing expectations we have of the United Nations, on the one hand, and of its capacity to deliver, on the other, is a cause of serious concern. Therefore, we need a more effective, efficient and coherent United Nations. The Security Council must act decisively when serious crimes are involved and international peace and security are at stake. All United Nations organizations should deliver as one.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“For that matter, free trade agreements and a well- functioning World Trade Organization are crucial for stimulating growth. According to the World Bank, a new global trade deal would increase global welfare tremendously. A good way to promote foreign direct investment is by enhancing arbitration and conflict resolution mechanisms. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has an increasingly important role to play. Protecting intellectual property rights effectively fosters innovation. We should therefore strengthen the World Intellectual Property Organization. Finally, the Millennium Development Goals need a new agenda, with bold ideas to end poverty and plans to promote sustainable development and foster economic growth.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“People should be free to live their lives in peace and security. Therefore, every State has an obligation to prevent aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Prevention is key. But if countries cannot or will not act, the international community has a responsibility to protect. A strong international and domestic legal order promotes prosperity and, let me state it emphatically, economic growth. Trade, investment, innovation and economic development will all benefit from a stable, predictable and rules-based business climate. The economy cannot thrive in societies where human rights are violated, corruption is rampant and Government revenues are wasted. That is one of the lessons of the Arab awakening. Sustainable prosperity and sustainable economic growth depend upon a strong, legitimate and reliable legal order.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It is in every country’s own interest to make sure that women are actively involved in society, the economy and politics. They must participate in the power structures as leaders of the world. Human rights cannot be imposed from the outside. But Governments carry the responsibility for observing their international human rights obligations and commitments. There is therefore a need to communicate constantly about the obligations and commitments. The role of the Human Rights Council in promoting freedom is crucial. We need to improve the way in which it functions. Countries that aspire to join the Council should be genuinely committed to respecting human rights. I am proud to reiterate our genuine commitment and to announce the Dutch candidature for the Human Rights Council from 2015 to 2017.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague will this year celebrate its fifteenth anniversary. It should stand ready to assist in addressing the chemical weapons problem in Syria. The Netherlands will host the next Nuclear Security Summit, in 2014, as part of our efforts to enhance security and fight nuclear terrorism. Negotiations on a robust and effective arms trade treaty should recommence as soon as possible. A stronger legal order also promotes freedom. It promotes human rights, reinforces the responsibility to protect and helps prevent atrocities. Greater freedom means equal rights for men and women alike. Women make up 50 per cent of humankind. We need the full 100 per cent of humankind.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Better implementation of existing treaties on non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament is of paramount importance. An effective international legal order means that countries are bound by their promises. Iran must completely fulfil its International Atomic Energy Agency obligations and abide by Security Council resolutions. The burden of proof is on Iran. As I said to my Iranian colleague, Minister Salehi, earlier this week: You are the one to convince the world of the peaceful character of your nuclear programme — not us. The international agendas on nuclear, chemical and conventional weapons must lead to concrete results and new treaties. The United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva need to do better.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“So we need a stronger international legal order, first, to preserve peace and security; secondly, to protect freedom; and thirdly, to promote prosperity. That is the task that we face. A strong international legal order helps to preserve peace and security. To achieve that goal, we need greater unity. I regret the persistent disagreement in the Security Council. It has prevented the United Nations from taking decisive action on Syria. The world is in desperate need of a strong, united and determined Security Council. Mediation, arbitration and judicial settlement are indispensable for the peaceful settlement of conflicts. We should cherish and develop those tools, as Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson has so rightly said.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I want to pay tribute to the Dutch and the other men and women, soldiers and civilians, currently serving there. The Hague, a city of peace and justice, is known for its contribution to the international legal order. It is home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which are both based at the Peace Palace. Next year, we will proudly celebrate its centenary. Former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali recognized the role of the Netherlands in the international legal order by naming The Hague the legal capital of the world. We need international law to protect people, societies and nations, or, as former Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently wrote, the United Nations Charter was issued in the name of we the peoples, not we the Governments.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Her reports are broadcast on major international networks. Medya told me about the terrible events that she had witnessed. I was touched by her sorrow and impressed by her determination. Her strong desire for freedom is something to which we can all relate. Those who have struggled for freedom do not give up easily. However, it is also clear that those refugees need the support of the international community at large. They need food, shelter and security. Ultimately, they need an effective United Nations and a strong international legal order. Promoting the international legal order is enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a mission that we share with many in this Assembly. Together with 49 other countries, we are helping to establish legal order and security in Afghanistan, for example.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Last month, I visited a refugee camp at the border between Turkey and Syria. I met children, women and men, who told me how they had escaped the violence and suffering in their home country. They had f led the bloodshed of a regime that is using indiscriminate violence against its own people. They had f led a country where children are being tortured, women raped and innocent civilians killed. They had lost their friends, family and homes, but they had not lost hope for a better future. One of the people whom I met near the border was Medya, the 25-year-old mother of a five-year-old girl. She had f led the city of Homs eight months earlier. Now, she travels back and forth between Homs and a refugee camp in Turkey at great personal danger. She risks her life to report to the world on the situation in Syria.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“An effective and efficient United Nations is in the national interests of all its Member States, and is, indeed, essential for freedom throughout the world. Through our efforts at the United Nations, we can support the calls for freedom around the world. Then, on my next visit to Tunisia, Essma Ben Hamida, a strong-willed woman, can hopefully tell me that freedom has brought her both democracy and her rights and empowerment as a woman.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Peace Palace, the international courts and the legal institutions attest to our long tradition of international law and active role in its practice. That tradition, may I say, goes back to Grotius’s early seventeenth-century Mare Liberum, which laid the foundation for international law. I would like to congratulate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his reappointment. I call on him to use the overwhelming support for his second term as a mandate to reform the United Nations. A strong and active United Nations is essential in a world in which no country can shape the future single-handedly. To succeed, public support for the United Nations is crucial. Clear and tangible results are necessary to sustain the commitment of Governments to the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Netherlands supports a modest enlargement of the Security Council, but with a limit on the right of veto in order not to undermine the effectiveness of the Council’s decision-making process. The Netherlands supports the Secretary-General’s drive for budgetary discipline. We have to make careful choices about what to finance and what not to. I also urge emerging economies to take their share of responsibility for the sustainability of United Nations funding. The United Nations has an essential role in fostering the rule of law around the world, as well as in preventative diplomacy and mediation. The Netherlands will play its part, including through the role of The Hague as the international city of peace and justice.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“To further support their growth, we should enhance their access to education, vocational training and microfinance for women and the poor. Freedom belongs to us all. Those who have fought to gain their freedom will never give it up. Freedom must be supported through security, democracy and the rule of law, and prosperity. We can achieve this through the efforts of Member States. Since the United Nations is the international forum where global issues and actors come together, it is here at the United Nations that we must join forces. We are witnessing international developments unfolding more rapidly than ever before. The United Nations needs to adapt to maintain its important role in international relations. For that matter, the Security Council should better reflect changing international relations and economic realities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Breaking down the barriers to trade in agricultural products can galvanize entrepreneurship in the countries that really need it the most. The Arab region in particular should benefit from enhanced export opportunities to the European Union. The beauty of well-regulated free trade is that it is not a zero-sum game; it benefits everyone and it is part and parcel of freedom. This is why the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round must succeed. The world should not and cannot revert to protectionism. The WTO has an important part to play in preventing this. The European Union is also ambitiously negotiating free trade agreements with various partners. Of course, these agreements should fit within the multilateral system. Free trade leads to economic growth, which in turn should also benefit the poorest countries in this world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is in every country’s own interest to ensure that women take an active role in society and 17 11-51390 the economy as well as in the political process in the political power structures. I am convinced that in free and fair elections, extremists who want to take away women’s rights will not succeed. Real democracy also means that the rights of religious groups, including Christians, are respected. Society as a whole should be tolerant towards those with other religions and beliefs. There should be no doubt about that. Freedom offers the best route to prosperity. The ongoing global economic crisis is affecting prosperity everywhere in our world. Enabling free trade is vital to economic recovery. Market access is crucial for private sector development.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“To that effect, Slovakia and the Netherlands, for their part, are co-chairing the Community of Democracies’ task force that is supporting Tunisia’s democratic transition. The international community should also support internet access that is free and uncensored. This is an essential tool for people to exercise their freedom of expression, and we should take great care to make sure they can use it. Countries supporting this cause should really unite around it. As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently said, “Countries do not become fit for democracy; they become fit through democracy.” Democracy means freedom and equal rights for everyone. It provides opportunities to empower women. Women represent 50 per cent of the world’s human capital.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I talked with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I listened carefully to what they had to say, and the message is simple and clear: negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. Democracy and the rule of law are the best guarantees for freedom, but they require hard work. As Francis Fukuyama put it, democracy is more than the majority voting in elections. It is a complex set of institutions that restrain and regularize the exercise of power through law and a system of checks and balances. That is what it is about. I admire the tremendous courage that people, young and old, have shown to claim their individual liberty and democratic rights. We must support their efforts to build truly democratic societies governed by the rule of law. The United Nations should play a leading role by helping with institution-building and developing the rule of law.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“If we do want peace, we need direct negotiations now, not new resolutions at the United Nations. The Netherlands endorses the time frame outlined by the Quartet and stands ready to assist wherever it can. We are a major donor to the Palestinian Authority. We fully support the ambition of the Palestinian people to build a viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian State. However, this cannot be viewed separately from the Israeli people’s desire to live in a secure, internationally recognized Jewish State in peace with their neighbours. It is really essential that the two parties invest in mutual confidence, refrain from unilateral steps and find a solution together. They should be prepared to make the difficult and painful concessions necessary for the fulfilment of their peoples’ aspirations. I talked with President Abbas.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It explicitly referred to the international community’s responsibility to protect. It highlighted the indispensable role of the United Nations. By contrast, the Council’s failure to reach consensus on Syria has been at great human cost. Every day we are shocked by new, horrific stories. This very weekend peaceful demonstrators were carrying a sign that read: “Help Syria. It is bleeding.” We need to listen to the people of Syria. We need to stop President Al-Assad’s Government from brutally murdering his own citizens in an attempt to crush their legitimate call for freedom. I urge all members of the Security Council to act decisively and agree on targeted sanctions against the regime. Freedom and security are also key issues in the Middle East peace process.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“And the severe financial and economic crisis is threatening growth and trade around the globe. This crisis is undermining people’s ability to earn a living and enjoy freedom to the fullest extent. It is thus crucial that we manage these developments. The United Nations and individual Governments must support people’s calls for freedom. Freedom is a right for everyone, a duty for Governments and the mission of the United Nations. Freedom must be supported by three key pillars: first, security; second, democracy and the rule of law; and third, prosperity. Lack of security is a fundamental threat to people’s freedom. Providing security is a responsibility of Governments and of the international community as a whole. In March this year, we rose to the challenge. Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) on Libya was truly historic.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In May I visited Tunisia, the cradle of the revolutions that have spread across the Arab world. I spoke to many people there who told me about their deep yearning for freedom, about the decades during which their freedom had been suppressed and about what the revolution meant for their lives. One of them was Essma Ben Hamida, the strong-willed director of a civil society organization active in micro-finance. She said literally to me, “If 11-51390 16 democracy would mean that I lose my rights as a woman, I do not want democracy.” In one sentence, Ms. Ben Hamida defined one of the key challenges we face. The call from the streets of the Arab world for freedom and democracy has brought about great change. It has inspired people around the world to claim their rights. But huge challenges remain.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)