YouSaid · the spoken record

Espen Barth Eide

lines on the record: 35
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“The role of the Assembly should be to provide guidance, not to micromanage. In conclusion, to meet the regional and global challenges of our time, we, the Member States, must work together to fulfil the aspirations and potential of the Charter of the United Nations. The efficiency of this great Organization depends upon its ability to innovate and to adapt to changing circumstances.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Every single day, the United Nations provides shelter for refugees, vaccinates children, promotes maternal health and stabilizes fragile States. Evolving norms of human security have placed new issues on the agenda. Children and armed conflict, women, peace and security and the protection of civilians are recent examples of the important normative role of the United Nations. Faced with a scarcity of resources accentuated by a global economy under pressure, we should increase, not decrease, the flexibility of the Secretariat and the Secretary-General to run the Organization. In autumn of 2012, the Assembly decided that the 2014- 2015 budget should be cut by $100 million. Reducing the budget while increasing the number of tasks is a recipe for a weaker, not a stronger, United Nations. The Assembly must be coherent in its policies.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Millions are fleeing their homes. The use of chemical weapons is utterly unacceptable and is a grave violation of international law. Their further use must be effectively prevented. Those responsible must be brought to justice and the case referred to the International Criminal Court. The Syrian crisis as such can be resolved only through a political solution. The Security Council must now live up to the responsibility that we, the Members of the United Nations, have entrusted in it. We must seize the momentum created by the United States- Russian agreement. Humanitarian access must be ensured by all parties and to all areas. The bloodshed in Syria must come to an end. Frustrated by Syria, many have criticized the United Nations for its inability to act. However, we should not lose sight of the United Nations many achievements.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“State institutions have been built and are ready for statehood. But for many years, a political horizon has been missing. Time is running out for a negotiated two-State solution. But now, as Palestinian and Israeli leaders have returned to negotiations, hope is renewed. This afternoon, in the Conference Building, I presided over a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, the international donor group for Palestine. The donors reaffirmed their commitment to providing necessary assistance to the Palestinian Authority through the current transition to statehood. This may be the last chance — a chance we cannot afford to miss. As we speak the horrors in Syria are continuing. Thousands upon thousands of children, women and men are being killed and maimed.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The emergence of regional institutions as a feature of global governance is in fact good news for the United Nations. We need a United Nations that can be a catalyst that supports and encourages regional developments, which — and as long as — they reinforce our common global and multilateral agenda. We must acknowledge that trend. We must revisit the Charter of the United Nations, in particular its Chapters VI and VIII, and seek to identify the opportunities and potential pitfalls it represents for the United Nations. The Middle East has yet to find an effective regional architecture. It is also a part of the world that is causing considerable concern these days. Israel and Palestine are facing a moment of truth. This month marks 20 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords. We have witnessed positive achievements on the ground.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Likewise, again during the spring, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and Singapore all joined the Arctic Council as observers. In doing so, they subscribed to the founding principles of the Arctic Council, principles that, yet again, are a direct reflection of a key a United Nations norm. Where I live, we observe global warming at close quarters. As the polar ice cap melts, we are reminded of our shared responsibility for saving the planet’s climate. Today, the Arctic Ocean is opening up to human activities in ways hard to imagine only a few years ago. Over the past decade, we have strived to develop forward-looking strategies for the safe management of the new maritime crossroads between Asia, Europe and North America.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Organizations such as ASEAN have also taken upon themselves the development of multilateral responses to regional challenges, including those pertaining to maritime security. Those strides are not only of regional importance, but are important to us all. The freedom and safety of the seas is one of the most important public goods in an interconnected world. Just like in South-East Asia, Norway and our fellow Arctic States have built our deepened maritime cooperation on one of the most salient organizing principles of the United Nations — the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. And regions reach out to each other. Earlier this year, Norway acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In recent years, Norway has worked with the people of Colombia to lay the foundations for lasting peace between its Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia movement. In doing so, we have seen the strong commitment of Colombia’s neighbours. There, as everywhere else, we have learned that peace cannot just be established within one country alone; it has to be rooted in a regional context. In South-East Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is becoming the source, as well as an architect, of regional stability. I commend ASEAN for its constructive role in supporting the democratic reform process in Myanmar. Myanmar will even preside over ASEAN next year, which in many ways is a testimony to the organization’s adaptability.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Yet, Africa has never been more prosperous than it is today. We see economic growth, improving governance and enhanced regional cooperation. From Somalia to Mali, the African Union and its subregional partners continue to prove their relevance. The African Union is, beyond doubt, becoming one of the United Nations most important regional partners. I commend the AU for its dedicated efforts, and I want to express my deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life in the heinous terrorist attacks in Nairobi. We must never allow terrorists to set the agenda. Hence our efforts to work with the AU to promote peace and stability in Somalia at this crucial moment must be redoubled.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In other words, the Charter’s provisions for regional arrangements were largely aspirational. In today’s world, regional organizations and arrangements are increasingly proving their relevance. Economic, social and political integration is taking place at the regional level. Cooperation is not only about outcomes, but also about processes. Practical cooperation can lay the foundation for strategic trust and shared values. It was only after the past century’s two horrific wars that my own continent chose close integration. That was instrumental in the creation of a peaceful Europe. For that historic achievement, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last year. The African Union (AU) has seen its continent through 50 transformative years. Freedom came at a high price.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We are living in times of rapid change. Global and regional dynamics are transforming global governance. A changing world will inevitably change the United Nations. But we, the Members of this great Organization, can influence the direction of the change. In order to do so, however, we must set strategic priorities. We should develop an agile multilateral system for the twenty-first century. The architects of the United Nations were in many ways ahead of their time. The Charter, in its Chapters VI and VIII, foresaw a world where the United Nations should safeguard international peace and security, the settlement of disputes and the promotion of common interests at the regional, as much as at the global, level. By 1945, however, there were few established regional mechanisms.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Intergovernmental micromanagement of what would be the chief executive’s prerogative in any modern organization is nothing but the opposite of making the United Nations work. To conclude, leaders have real choices. Leaders have real responsibilities. Humankind shapes its own future. Failing to solve the most critical challenges of our time not only harms those who suffer under poverty, war or oppression; it also deprives people of the conviction that they too can shape their own future. And that very conviction, that belief in oneself and each other, is what will make freedom from want, freedom from fear and the freedom to live in dignity possible for all. That is the purpose of our leadership.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The two-State solution is the only path to sustainable peace, but the prospect of realizing a Palestinian State based on the two-State solution is diminishing as the expansion of Israeli settlements continues. Those actions remain the main obstacle to peace and they must stop. To get the peace process back on track, we need to break the impasse and reinstall the trust in a political horizon based on the final status issues. Negotiations remain the key to achieve that; they must start now. Leadership is also about trust. To achieve our goals, we need a strong United Nations. I applaud the Secretary-General’s tireless efforts aimed at reforming the internal workings of the Organization. We have elected a Secretary-General to lead, but we must allow him to do so.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We met on the eve of this session of the General Assembly. I want to take this opportunity to share with Member States my deep concern about the state of play in the Israel- Palestine relationship. Exactly one year ago, we agreed here in New York that the Palestinian State-building process had reached a level where the institutions of State were in place. Great expectations were created, only to be frustrated. Time is running short — shorter than many seem to understand. There is significant fatigue among the Palestinian population. They may become inspired to look for alternative options — options that would severely hamper the prospects of Palestinians and Israelis alike. I see a similar fatigue emerging among the countries that are funding the Palestinian authorities.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“She has chosen to talk to the very people who once held her in confinement. Earlier today in Addis Ababa, the leaders of the Sudan and South Sudan made the choice to end the bloody conflict that has marred their peoples’ lives for decades. The Sudan and South Sudan had again been on the brink of war, but by signing today’s agreements they have opted for peace. We salute the African Union, which has, in close partnership with the Security Council, helped make that choice possible. In Colombia, the Government and representatives of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia have made the wise choice of entering into formal negotiations in order to end another age-old conflict. As Norway’s Foreign Minister, I am the Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We expect them to put away outdated ideas of zero-sum games or spheres of influence and to strive to seek a common position. Enough blood has been shed. The verdict is harsh against those who choose the wrong side of history. They must not allow narrow self-interest to block the winds of change that the vast majority of members of this Assembly applaud. President Al-Assad of Syria was not forced to take the path of conflict and confrontation; he could have opted for compromise and cooperation. Elsewhere in the world, quite different choices are being made. Today in this Assembly, we have heard how Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein is opening the door for a free and democratic Myanmar. I commend the courage shown by the Myanmar Government. I also commend the courage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“They did so not only to reflect the world order of the day, but also to ensure that the Council would have genuine authority to make decisions and be able to act on our behalf. They did not do so because they held certain States to be superior to others. Therefore, and in the light of the Syrian drama, my message to the members of the Security Council is that people in the Arab world, in Europe, in Asia, in Africa and in the Americas are watching with horror how history is repeating itself. Once again, the permanent members of the Security Council are divided and unable to protect people on the ground. In its absence, extremists on all sides are free to kill, maim and rape. We now expect the members of the Council to act.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“To any party that commits violations of these principles, I say this: “You are all individually responsible. When justice prevails, you will be held accountable for the crimes you have committed. Do not expect to be pardoned by stating that your opponent committed the same crime.” When the United Nations was formed in San Francisco in 1945, we collectively decided to establish a Security Council to act on our behalf. The permanent members were then entrusted with the right of veto. My country’s delegation at the time was led by Mr. Trygve Lie, who would later become the Organization’s first Secretary-General. On behalf of my country, he cast his vote in favour of the right of veto for the five permanent members, as did many other small and medium-sized countries.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Some people can only dream about those freedoms, but when they do exist they are often the result of collective action by families, communities, regions and States and at the global level. At the end of the day, that is why we are here in this Assembly. In Syria, mass atrocities are continuing. The crisis in Syria started with a call for freedom and dignity through peaceful protests. The Syrian Government bears the primary responsibility. The privileges of the few should no longer stand in the way of the aspirations of the many. The regime of Bashar Al-Assad has lost all legitimacy and must cede power. The violence in Syria must stop. Even in war, there are rules. All parties have clear responsibilities under international humanitarian law.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It is the freedom of a woman to choose when to have children and also when not to have them. It is about her freedom from intrusion of her physical integrity, as well as her right to think and say what she wants. It is about the freedom that allows mother and child to survive birth, and the freedom that allows every child to live a healthy life, receive education and walk to school without fear of land mines or cluster munitions. It is about the freedom of every man and every woman to organize, to speak out and to have their say as society progresses. Those freedoms lay the ground for development and prosperity. They give men and women a chance to build a better future for themselves and for their families.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Leadership is about making choices. It is about the ability to make the right decision at the right moment and to have the stamina to deliver accordingly. It is about the will to help shape the future of individuals, nations and the planet. And it is about the courage that comes with seeking peace with one’s enemies, as Yitzhak Rabin once told us. Leadership is also about creating the conditions for people to choose how to live their lives. Freedom is more than the mere absence of physical or legal obstacles. The very purpose of the United Nations is to promote freedom for all people — freedom from want, freedom from fear, and the freedom to live in dignity. People are only truly free when they are able to choose the way they want to live their own lives, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“After all, the United Nations is only as good as the results it delivers. We are not judged by our words, but by our actions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is a reflection of the priorities and actions of Member States. Before I conclude, let me make one last remark. We deeply regret that this podium has once again been abused to promote extreme views and unfounded allegations. This serves only to incite conflict rather than to bridge differences. We will not give up the authority of our presence in this Hall, but will rather confront such attitudes from this podium. The purpose of the general debate is to draw attention to current challenges, express and share our views and lay the basis for constructive dialogue. In a rapidly changing world, the United Nations must be able to adapt to new challenges, new actors and new geopolitical realities. As the Secretary- General reminded us yesterday, with power comes responsibility.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is vital that we continue to improve and strengthen the United Nations, so that it can serve us effectively in times of change. We, the Member States, have not ensured sufficiently wide-ranging reforms. We have not equipped the United Nations with the resources needed to carry out the mandates we adopt. We define noble objectives, only to undercut them in the budgeting process. We continue to ask the United Nations to do more with less. If that is what we want, we must give the Secretary-General greater flexibility. At times, the vision of a United Nations that delivers as one is undermined by our own interference and insistence on pet projects, earmarking of funds and cross-cutting, awkward and, on occasion, internally conflicting financial reporting requirements. Fragmentation does not begin at the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“He also assured us of the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to complying with the United 21 11-51681 Nations Charter, relevant United Nations resolutions, democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The main obstacle to full institution-building remains the occupation. Measures taken under the latter are changing the shape of the territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in ways that undermine negotiations and may soon render the two-State vision physically unattainable. The Security Council, the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice have all rejected the legality of such unilateral changes. Both the Palestinians’ readiness for statehood and the declarations and commitments they have made should be acknowledged. Norway looks forward to welcoming Palestine as a full Member of the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Norway welcomes the call by the Quartet for negotiations on a comprehensive agreement on the outstanding final status issues to be completed within a year. However, the situation on the ground is changing in several ways. A few days ago, the donor support group to the Palestinian Authority affirmed the success of local institution-building. The performance of Palestinian public institutions was scrutinized by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations. Their joint conclusion was that the Palestinians are fully capable of running a State. On Friday President Abbas confirmed his commitment to resolving final status issues through negotiations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“When it admitted Israel as a Member State, this Assembly referred to those declarations and explanations. Since then, Norwegian policy has been based on the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Norway has consistently stood by Israel and its inherent right to self-defence in accordance with international law. We have also supported the Palestinian right to statehood and the building of the Palestinian Authority. One of the main issues before this session of the General Assembly is the Palestinian quest for recognition. It is legitimate for the Palestinian people to turn to the United Nations under the current circumstances. This is neither incompatible with a negotiation process, nor an expression of unilateralism.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Civil society and the private sector are crucial in this partnership. Norway is committed to a successful outcome of the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Back in 1947, Norway voted in favour of the establishment of two States in the former mandate of Palestine in this Assembly. In 1949, we also heeded the call in resolution 181 (II) to give sympathetic consideration to an application by either State for admission to membership in the United Nations. We voted in favour of admitting Israel as a Member State. We based our decision at that time on the declarations and explanations provided by the Israeli delegation. Israel had persuasively explained why recognition and membership should not await resolution of the outstanding issues regarding borders, refugees, Jerusalem, and peace with neighbouring countries.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Today, 1.4 billion people lack access to affordable and reliable electric power supplies. We must combat climate change while promoting development. The Secretary-General’s call for sustainable Energy for All is therefore highly welcome. Together with partner countries, Norway will launch a new energy initiative this autumn. The purpose is to boost sustainable energy generation and accelerate change towards energy efficiency. New funding will promote incentives for the energy sector in partner countries. Such incentives will in turn attract fresh capital for energy projects. We are determined to ensure concrete progress in Rio on the access-to- energy agenda. Now, 20 years after the United Nations first Conference on Sustainable Development, the nations of the world must renew the partnership for sustainable development.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There are vast untapped resources within many of the countries that are struggling to achieve the MDGs. Broadening the tax base, making tax collection more effective, halting illegal capital flows and fighting corruption are all measures that must be fully used in the fight against poverty. Getting that right will also improve the social contract in countries emerging from poverty or conflict. This is a responsibility that lies firmly with individual States. With the climate conference in Durban only two months away, we must all play our part in making it a success. Implementation of the Cancun Agreements is crucial. The Green Climate Fund must be made operational. Durban should provide a roadmap that can bridge the gap between Kyoto and a new and more ambitious climate regime that includes all major emitters.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Last week, we received new evidence of dramatic and positive breakthroughs in our quest to reduce child mortality and maternal deaths. Strong political leadership, new partnerships and 11-51681 20 innovative ways of working have brought real progress. The Secretary-General’s global initiative “Every Woman and Every Child” has been instrumental in this respect. But further progress must not be taken for granted. Norway will continue to focus on women’s rights and promoting the role of women in development. We will strongly oppose any efforts to reverse progress. We must maintain our resolve to implement the Beijing Platform for Action. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have proven to be a formidable tool for improving the lives of millions of people. Yet much remains to be done.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Combating impunity and promoting the rule of law and fundamental human rights are key to the prevention of conflict and the protection of civilians. Promoting and strengthening human rights and gender equality are a common responsibility. Failing to adhere to universally agreed principles in that area is simply not acceptable. Investment in and empowerment of girls and women so that they can participate fully in the political and economic lives of States are also essential for economic growth and prosperity. There is fundamental evidence that States that fail on that account and continue repressive and discriminating gender policies will remain poor. Last year, we reconfirmed our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. We agreed to accelerate our efforts.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The resolve shown by the Security Council on Libya has reconfirmed its pivotal role in global governance and international security — the role that Member States bestowed on it through the United Nations Charter. There are times when there is no alternative to the use of force. When the Security Council acts, it is up to us — the Member States — to put its decisions into practice. Norway’s active participation in the military campaign in Libya was, first and foremost, an expression of our belief in a United Nations-led world order and in the principle of the responsibility to protect. The response to Libya was also a landmark in terms of international justice. For the very first time, a unanimous Security Council chose to refer possible crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That became possible thanks, first and foremost, to the vision and will of the people and leaders of the Sudan and what is now the Republic of South Sudan. However, it would not have been possible without the active support of the international community. That demonstrates the importance of mediation and the settlement of disputes through peaceful means. Yet, we know that peace is fragile. The international community must coordinate its assistance and align it with the priorities of the South Sudanese Government. Outstanding issues must be settled through negotiations. We must contribute to laying the foundation for two viable States, so that they can both live in peace. In Côte d’Ivoire and Libya, the United Nations has once again proved its worth by addressing some of the most challenging situations in the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Since we last met here, major changes have swept through the world. We have been witnessing the Arab Spring. People are standing up against authoritarian rule and demanding respect for the fundamental values that underpin this very institution. Autocrats who have failed to offer the prospect of a better life in freedom and dignity have been overthrown. Now, popular calls for reform in Syria have been met with a violent response. We urge the Syrian regime to respect the people’s legitimate demand for democracy and fundamental human rights. In July, a new flag rose in Juba as we celebrated the birth of a new State. Last Friday, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan addressed us from this podium as the leader of our newest Member State (see ).”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)