YouSaid · the spoken record

Lech Kaczyński

lines on the record: 53
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2009-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

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

“But we understand that under international law the only 100 per cent legitimacy for such operations derives from the United Nations. This is very important now and also for the future, because we must realize that the problems of conflict, crisis and terrorism cannot be solved within a few years. Many times today we heard that the United Nations is entering a new stage. We believe that this will be a phase of its greatness, because we have learned from the past that this great world experiment, which has many times passed the test on a global scale, will continue to do so in the near future.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We should always bear that in mind in thinking about the solidarity of all nations and about the objectives given to the United Nations 64 years ago. Last, but not least, I turn to an issue that has not been discussed at great length, except in regard to piracy: international terrorism. Today it is an important problem. The situation in some countries, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, is very significant proof of that. Terrorism has its sources, not all of which are related to external ideologies. There are also some objective premises, and we understand this. We also understand that the United Nations can play a greater role than it has played so far. Poland is a member of NATO, and is very much involved in operations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I do not wish to dwell on the subject now, but we are all aware that it is a very important issue, in that there is a basic difference between what was established 64 years ago and what we have now. In the past the United Nations has placed a great deal of emphasis on climate change and climate issues. Much has been said about the subject, and I do not want to repeat it. However, I strongly emphasize that this is a very important issue, requiring great sensitivity. If richer countries want to become strongly involved in climate protection, they must realize that the weaker States should be assisted, because this very just cause cannot be dealt with in such a way as to make development easier for some and harder for others.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Today’s address by the President of the United States pointed to the fact that a country that, whatever one thinks about it, is the most powerful in the world today, is now approaching the problems of the United Nations differently. This creates a certain possibility for the Organization, our Organization. This is an opportunity that can be taken if the United Nations peacekeeping operations become more effective. We should appreciate the operations that have been carried out so far, but we need certain organizational changes to make the activity more effective. What I am saying does not exclude the tasks taken up by, for instance, 09-52228 44 NATO. But the United Nations should play the leading role. There is also the problem of United Nations reform, especially reform of the Security Council.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Here I draw attention first to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which has been in existence for 80 years. It embraces almost all countries of the world and has about 2,500 employees. Should it not to a greater extent be a place for the formulation of programmes providing an alternative to liberal development? It seems that a reformed ILO could successfully perform that function. It requires a common effort, but it is feasible. I am not talking about additional funds and financial means. I am talking about formulating alternative programmes that take the interests of workers into account to a greater extent than so far, and also a balance between different social groups, not only in the rich countries, but also in the poorer countries.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We understand that all those who use them do so to improve the situation in their countries; we realize that from the point of view of various countries, especially those that are not rich, there is a reason. I am not here to criticize them. But it is in our common interest to put an end to such practices. There is no other organization in the world that can do this but the United Nations, through the creation of international norms. President Lula of Brazil spoke about certain very important problems, including those relating to financial agencies affiliated to the United Nations. In that regard, I refer to the problem of greater flexibility in programmes launched by the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. There is another issue: better use of certain organizations affiliated to the United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I believe that the United Nations has a great opportunity here. It is not that there will be management of the global economy. Such attempts are doomed to failure and will lead to another crisis. But it is not true that we do not need new rules, new regulations, to deal with issues that have also been discussed today, including supervision and oversight over the banking sector. Perhaps that oversight should not be global in nature, but it must include countries where banks are under no control, because that is the source of an economic pathology, which often facilitates large-scale criminal activity, such as drug-trafficking. Another problem that has been mentioned here is that of so-called tax havens. Mention can also be made of cheap flags of convenience for shipping.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It could be the source of local wars, but it could also be the source of great conflicts, even conflicts on a world scale. On behalf of my country, I warn against this. I return to the problem of the current crisis. I represent a country that continues to develop. We are the only country in the European Union that will this year record — albeit small — economic growth. This is due to some factors that are specific to my country, so I do not wish to dwell at length on the subject. However, it is clear that one reason for the crisis is that we place too much faith in markets and banking systems that become more and more complicated. Sooner or later that must lead to the outcomes that we all see. What preventive measures can be taken? They are known, but it is difficult to implement them.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Participating in a General Assembly session for the first time, I can state that all the earlier problems, such as conflicts, of which there are many, the more recent problem of climate change, and the problem of poverty, are not new. To them we should add the problem of health: AIDS, epidemics and so on. However, the problem of the current crisis appeared in the last year. Before coming to it, I should like to refer to what the President of Ukraine said. There are many causes of conflict in the world, one being the violation of faith in territorial integrity. Because many new countries have emerged over the past dozens of years, it is clear that there will be differences of opinion over this or that territory. If force is used to resolve such differences, as it was last year against Georgia, this may give rise to fundamental problems.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“There was also the time, 20 years ago, when, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there appeared many other new countries, and when others such as mine, Poland, gained real, not only formal, independence. At that time the whole world believed that we had found a way to solve all problems, especially economic problems, using market economy rules, which meant a free economy and free movement of capital in all areas. We have to state clearly that, as we have heard here many times, in recent years this faith has been 43 09-52228 undermined, and therefore I have to devote my address to the problem of the crisis to some extent. This crisis is a new problem.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Sixty-four years since the foundation of the United Nations we recall the self-evident fact that the United Nations was created to prevent atrocities such as those that occurred during the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945. It was called into being in order to avoid a repetition of the failure of the League of Nations, the first worldwide organization, which tried to carry out its duties between the two world wars. The United Nations over 64 years has undergone various twists and turns. There have been better and worse years, years when here in this Hall there were clashes between the forces of two camps, the so-called socialist camp and the free world. There were times when here in this Hall scores of new countries of Africa, Oceania and Asia emerged.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The Secretary-General rightly says that there should be deeper coordination between the work of the agencies, irrespective of the great successes which the bodies affiliated to the United Nations have scored over recent decades. What is most important, however, is to ensure universal respect for international law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. I hope that when we meet next year during the sixty-fourth session the world will be slightly safer and a little closer to the principles that I have had the honour to refer to in this address.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“However, in today’s world, where the division into east and west is no longer as important as it was in the past, what we need above all is solidarity between north and south; we must give help to those in need. We need to promote democracy, of course adapting it to the cultural conditions and traditions of a given State, because, regardless of its flaws, there has never in our history been a system more friendly to mankind. We should act jointly and in a spirit of solidarity through effectively operating international structures such as the United Nations and its agencies, which have global reach and an unchallenged position.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I note with pleasure that our hopes are being raised by the situation in Lebanon. Poland believes that the elections and the new President will bring the stability and peace for which the Lebanese people have been waiting for 35 years — and even before that the situation was often difficult. We wish the new Lebanese authorities and the nation of Lebanon every success. We will be involved in this part of the world in a spirit of international solidarity and because of our historic ties with the region. The issues I have mentioned cannot be resolved by a single State or a single group of States. Today we 33 08-51839 see clearly that we need joint action by all countries: rich and poor, from both the east and the west.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Military action must also be accompanied by measures to stabilize the Afghan economy, improve the internal security situation and enable Afghanistan to grow more quickly. I should like to believe that this mission will end successfully. The continuing lack of stability in the Middle East is a source of concern for almost — the “almost” is regrettable — every country in the world, including Poland. The lengthy process of building an independent Palestinian State should be completed as soon as possible, for the sake of Palestinians and Israelis alike, both nations being Poland’s friends. We wish the Palestinian people every success in their struggle for an independent State. To Israel, with which we have important historic ties, because many of its citizens come from Poland, we wish successes and peace, a peace much needed by Israel.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Iraq was one such place. Through the five years of its presence in Iraq, Poland has made efforts to help its Iraqi friends and allies to ensure strengthened external and internal security. Its mission, the main stage of which comes to an end this year, has clearly been a success. Iraq today is definitely safer and more stable than a few years ago, despite the doubts expressed in some circles. What remains a challenge, however, is the situation in Afghanistan. We deeply believe that the mission in Afghanistan, in which Poland is also taking an active part, is bound to end in success, not only a military success in the fight against terrorism but also the success of the Afghan nation in improving its day- to-day existence.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The complete implementation of the peace plan, which should also cover the issue of the territorial integrity of Georgia, is a prerequisite for the further discussions about the Caucasus to be held in Geneva in October and a prerequisite for the future of relations between the European Union — of which Poland is the twenty- sixth member — and Russia. Those relations can be correct and mutual only if both sides respect international law in their relations both with each other and with third parties. One expression of Poland’s involvement in international security is its participation in a counter- terrorism coalition in many volatile regions of the world. Today, more than 3,500 Polish troops and police officers are taking part in global peacekeeping and stabilization forces — from Africa to the Balkans, through the Middle East and Asia.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That founding principle of the United Nations is the principle of law and of opposition to the unlawful use of force. Not all members come from countries neighbouring Georgia or from countries in or near Europe, but the problem of Georgia is a problem for us all, for every country that is grappling with issues relating to territorial integrity or to stronger neighbours abusing their advantages. The international order should be based on strict compliance with the United Nations Charter by all subjects of international law — first and foremost, by all States. It should be based on common responsibility for the fate of countries incapable of ensuring their own security alone. Those were the motives that guided my response to the Georgian conflict and the actions of the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Fundamental principles of international law, such as the inviolability of borders and respect for territorial integrity, were breached. Without respect for those principles, the world will be a hotbed of not one but hundreds of conflicts. We cannot allow the relativization of international law. We cannot accept that international law is applicable to the weak but not binding on the strong. If we do, international law will have no positive impact, especially as concerns the principle of territorial integrity. We must not allow the undermining of a principle on the basis of which the United Nations was established 63 years ago in the aftermath of the Second World War as a consequence of the bankruptcy of the League of Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Thus it is of fundamental importance to diversify the sources of supply, to introduce transparent rules regulating the energy trade and to extend transport infrastructure, especially by developing alternative routes and energy sources for the European Union, mainly from the Caspian Sea, Central Asia and the Middle East. This could significantly accelerate the development of the States of those areas and enhance their potential as part of global solidarity. 08-51839 32 I have referred to Georgia in the context of energy security. But the situation in that country is far more serious. Several weeks ago we witnessed an illegal military aggression and the division of the country. That was an aggression against an independent State.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Poland is following developments in Georgia with concern. We believe that engaging in dialogue and acting in a spirit of solidarity and consistency in implementing energy policy should become a priority for all European States, especially European Union States. It is only in that way that Europe can be assured of energy security, especially at a time of the complete unpredictability of actions of the current main suppliers of energy to Europe. Poland’s concern arises from the abuse by some States, especially one very powerful State, of energy as a tool to achieve political goals in relations with neighbours and with all the other nations that benefit from the supply of energy by that State.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As holder of the presidency of the fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties, Poland will strive to bring the positions of major countries as close as possible so as to ensure maximum progress during the Poznan Conference. We anticipate cooperation and support from our international partners and friends. We greatly appreciate the Secretary-General’s deep commitment to the implementation of these objectives. Introducing new, more climate-friendly technologies should be coupled with enhanced energy security and diversification of energy sources. As we do not yet have mechanisms to guarantee solidarity on the energy crisis among all States members of the European Union — I refer to the European Union but this is also applicable to all other States of the world — the issue of energy security becomes our priority.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“One of the key challenges facing this year’s Conference is to work out solutions and mechanisms that will support and bring about true systemic change in developing countries. It is especially vital to ensure the funding of investments that will help to modernize the economies of those countries and help them reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to climate change. I reiterate that there is no possibility of implementing these objectives without a major change in thinking, especially by the countries that now have the most resources. We hope that this year’s Poznan Conference will lay strong foundations for reaching a new agreement in Copenhagen in December next year.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“This calls for a certain change of philosophy in our approach, and for much greater effort on the part of the North in favour of the South. What I am saying now is mere short hand: the rich should become much more committed to helping the poor. The United Nations is, if not the sole organization, then definitely the principal organization that can implement these objectives. Poland wants to be an active partner in the international community’s activities to that end. With this in mind, we will be hosting in Poznan in December this year the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We believe that the high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals taking place on 25 September will result in concrete commitments that will be implemented in a timely manner: timeliness is of special importance. As we analyse the causes of the food crisis and try to find effective prescriptions for combating poverty and hunger, we take note of the immense negative impact of climate change on these phenomena. Although the consequences of climate change will be felt globally, it is the poorest who will bear the brunt and who will be hurt the most severely. It goes without saying that, without solidarity, responsibility and enhanced mutual cooperation, developing countries will not be able to fulfil their commitments regarding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and will fail to successfully adapt to climate change.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It will be impossible to overcome the current crisis or carry out our development policies unless — 31 08-51839 and I stress this — every country shoulders its individual responsibility, takes concrete steps and assesses the progress made so far. We should make joint efforts to promote a global development programme with the MDGs as its basis. It was in that vein that Poland joined British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in endorsing the call to action on the MDGs. We hope that that statement, which reflects a broad understanding among countries, business representatives, non-governmental organizations and faith groups will contribute to the full attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
““Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”: that principle is enshrined in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose sixtieth anniversary we celebrate this year. As an international community, we bear responsibility for their fulfilment. Fighting against hunger and poverty is among the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has been almost eight years since the international community set them. Despite numerous declarations and commitments we are still short of achieving the Goals.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Each State should be given the opportunity to decide in which direction the United Nations will head, and the General Assembly remains the most important forum for such democratic debate. In this context, it is especially important to streamline the decision-making mechanism. We are in favour of accelerating the pace of work on Security Council reform. The number of non-permanent members of the Council should be increased so as to truly reflect today’s world. Let us remember that some of the rules in that regard were laid down in a world that was fundamentally different from today’s.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The decision to make that issue the central theme of this year’s General Assembly session testifies to the special role of the United Nations as a forum for debate focused on major global challenges. Poland appreciates the initiative to juxtapose the debate on the food crisis with discussions about the need to democratize the United Nations, as it is only a democratic and effective United Nations that can face up to the global challenges of eliminating hunger and poverty and ensuring the sustainable development of the poorest nations. That is why we remain certain that the United Nations reform process should continue. One of the fundamentals of the democratic governance of the United Nations is the rule “one State, one vote”.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me start by expressing my respect and gratitude to the President of the General Assembly at its previous session, Mr. Srgjan Kerim, whose active involvement and initiatives have contributed to a broader Assembly agenda and facilitated its work. I wish to extend my congratulations to his successor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. I congratulate you, Sir, on your appointment and wish you fruitful work. The past year has seen many new challenges and problems with which the international community has to deal. In our attempts to respond to these problems and to search for the best solutions we have recognized yet again that different crises cannot be successfully overcome without referring to such universal values as democracy, freedom and solidarity. One of the biggest global challenges at present is the food crisis and its consequences.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Today it is also a theme raised by the United Nations. I believe there are reasons behind this. Therefore, this subject matter needs to be pursued further.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Since then, we have achieved economic success and, on the way, we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent. Therefore, we see that it is, indeed, feasible to do so. Despite apparent obstacles, the problem is not insurmountable. So, what methods can be applied? On the one hand, certain types of production should be stopped. On the other hand, we can develop forestation of the land. In Poland and in other countries, this approach can generate fantastic results. But, to achieve this, forests must be under general public control. I represent a country that operates on the basis of a market economy, but forests are a public resource. Some years ago, the problem area we are discussing today was one of the essential but not predominant issues. Today, it is a key subject in debate in the European Union.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The question is who can be the agent organizing such international solidarity? The experience of the past sixty years shows that there is only one such organization, the one in which we are debating today, the United Nations. But in order to achieve that objective, the United Nations must be significantly reformed. Poland has consistently advocated such reform. The main idea of the reform consists of the simple adaptation of the structure of the United Nations system to the fundamental changes in the political geography of the globe over the past sixty-two years. This is intrinsically linked to the reform of the Security Council. In conclusion, I would like to mention some experiences of my country, similar to those of the Czech Republic, represented here today by Mr. Klaus. We recently did away with Communism.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Without far-reaching assistance from the highly developed countries to countries that are rapidly developing or hoping to grow faster, there is no possibility of success. What should such assistance consist of? Well, first of all, the transmission of technologies that contribute to mitigating emissions. Does the world now have regional organizations that would provide for the transfer of resources from country to country on a major scale? Yes, indeed. We have such countries and organizations, for instance, the European Union (EU), which serves as evidence of the existence of such frameworks. Of course, the EU deals with general development and the protection against climate change, but, in this regard, it can serve as an example. It is an example that needs to be globally followed, where applicable.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We must therefore consider the best way to achieve progress. I agree with those who claim, regardless of the countries they represent, that the problem cannot be resolved exclusively by methods linked to the pursuit of profit and the treatment of all goods as commodities - in other words, by the application of purely economic instruments. The market economy is the most efficient means of achieving economic growth and generating welfare, as attested by the failure of the communist system. However, market rules cannot be the sole principle governing not only the economy, but also social life and international relations. In that regard, as I did last year, I call for a much higher degree of solidarity.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The 1997 Kyoto Protocol set out three methods, two of which would contribute most to limiting the carbon dioxide emissions of the highly developed countries, while the third alone promotes, to a certain degree, the mitigation of such emissions by the less developed. The results of the Kyoto Protocol have been significant, but they do not resolve every issue and the Protocol has not been ratified by every country. Many powerful States have failed to adopt it, but in any case it will no longer be in effect after 2012. Thus, the world is facing a new challenge. On the one hand, as the representative of a developed country - though it is not among the most developed - I would stress that we cannot limit the less wealthy countries' right to development. On the other, we must make progress towards resolving the problems under discussion.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Most experts in the field claim that human economic activities, especially the generation of carbon dioxide, are the factors behind climate change, which has been dramatically described by many speakers over the past two days. The problems and the efforts to resolve them are intrinsically linked to the contradictions of our world. When the first climate convention was adopted some 12 years ago, the developed countries were believed to be the main perpetrators of excessive carbon dioxide emissions, but much has changed since then. In many respects, we have observed changes for the better. Two of the largest countries on the planet, China and India, have begun to grow dynamically. That growth has clearly led to increased emissions to carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate warming. How can we solve the problem?”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Echoes of those inequalities are heard every year in this Assembly Hall, and we have heard them today as well. The problem is closely tied to an issue that has been discussed in the past few days in the course of the high-level event on climate change. I thank the Secretary-General for his initiative of convening that event. The topic of global warming is one of the key themes of this session. The problem can be considered from various perspectives. First, as President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic noted, the causes of global warming are not obvious. A debate is under way concerning those causes. In my country, some support the theory that climate change is not caused by human activities, but those people are in the minority.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I wish to begin by conveying my respect and gratitude to Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, who presided over the sixty-first session of the General Assembly. I also sincerely congratulate her successor, Mr. Srgjan Kerim, the newly elected President of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. The current session is the best proof that we live in a world of numerous contradictions and multiple approaches to the basic issues facing humankind today. We can say that what some people took to be obvious following the fall of communism in 1989, which came to be called the end of history in the academic world, was not borne out by reality. History is rife with such contradictions, which are linked above all to inequalities in economic development between various countries and regions.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“These words of that great Pole, Pope John Paul II, the spiritual father of Polish solidarity, can be our guiding beacon: “Man is great not through what he owns, but through what he is; not through what he has, but through what he shares with others.” We are facing tremendous challenges. We can tackle them only by acting in solidarity through global partnership. May our efforts be inspired by solidarity, a principle embodied in a word that appears in all the world’s languages — and in many of them it sounds very much the same.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“06-52731 24 Reforms must be focused on the human being, thus defending human rights and freedoms and opening the way to well-being and spiritual development for all. Those were the founding values of the United Nations over 60 years ago. Poland advocates such a reform of the Organization and is ready to participate in it. Poland also wishes to participate in a restructuring of international relations that would be based to a greater extent on the principles of solidarity and assistance extended by wealthy nations to nations in need. In other words, the quantity of such support should be significantly greater than it is now.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In the long run, however, global solidarity may be the most effective weapon against those who would like to see the world as the scene of a never-ending fight. The United Nations today needs specific programmes to realize ambitious visions founded on global solidarity and a global partnership for development. The United Nations must be more effective in ensuring equal development opportunities, thus closing the gap between the living standards of the North and of the South. The United Nations is thus confronted with huge tasks, which require both high-minded commitment and reforms. We want changes that adapt the United Nations to contemporary challenges. The world is constantly changing, and the United Nations must keep pace with those changes. Only thus can it preserve its significance and multiply its great achievements.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Freedom and respect for the rights of the individual are essential conditions for sustainable well-being. Assistance in the context of global solidarity also implies support for societies striving to achieve freedom, democracy and the protection of human rights — support that is provided with wisdom and that is sensitive to the cultural uniqueness, traditions and needs of each country. I believe that where tensions and social conflicts are resolved through dialogue, where respect is promoted for different cultures and religions and where economic inequalities between societies and States are prevented, terrorism will not find soil in which to grow. I also wish to express my conviction that here and now, in the contemporary world, we must fight terrorism wherever it appears.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Understood in that way, solidarity is a rational fight against poverty, carried out by encouraging a broad flow of assistance to the poorest countries through appropriately planned economic support. Assistance efforts must be undertaken in such a way as to ensure not only that they provide short-term relief, but also, and above all, that they permit long-term development. Thus, we should work out a reform programme to make such development possible. Here, I should like to draw attention to the issue of energy security, which is increasingly important in many regions of the world. Energy security should be based on the diversification of energy sources and on the development of energy relationships that cannot be used as a means of political pressure. Assistance provided in the context of global solidarity has an economic aspect.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It is also difficult not to fear the negative effects of globalization: the division of the world into countries that are becoming ever richer and those that are condemned to ever-deepening poverty. The response to these fears must be global solidarity. We can scarcely fail to see the dramatic contradiction between such poverty and the affluence made possible by incredible scientific and technological progress. What is solidarity in the global context? Very briefly, it is the collective reaction against the emergence of new iron curtains and political, economic and cultural barriers; it is also respect for the dignity and the inalienable right to freedom of every human being throughout the world, regardless of culture, tradition or geographic location.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In seeking to provide the most effective forms of assistance, the international community must take into account the phenomenon of globalization, which has become the challenge of the twenty-first century. Although it understandably gives rise to various emotions and extreme opinions, its significance is indisputable. Globalization has revealed the scale and the nature of problems of which we had not been fully aware. I am thinking about the ever-increasing inequalities and exclusion from the achievements of civilization and about the vast areas of poverty and instability that are breeding grounds for crime and increase the threats to peace and security.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Poland unequivocally supports Israel’s right to live in security. At the same time, Poland supports the aspirations of the Palestinian nation to build an independent State. We have been involved in the stabilization of the region for many years. We actively participate in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Two weeks ago, at the request of the Secretary-General, we stated that we would increase our military contingent. If necessary, we will increase it even further. For Poland, the difficult and painful period of our history belongs to the past. I wish to reiterate that our experiences have left us with a sense of moral obligation to help others. We want to repay our debt. Just as we once received support, we now want to support others.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Poland, which paved the way for a market economy, the democratic rule of law and a civil society in Central and Eastern Europe, has extensive experience in those areas. We are prepared to share that experience further with countries that are transforming their economies and State institutions. Together with our European partners, we are shaping the political, social and economic future of our continent. However, because Poland is aware that Europe is not the whole world, we are participating in stabilization and peacekeeping missions around the world, including those in Kosovo, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Iraq. 23 06-52731 We strongly encourage efforts to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East. A few days ago, I had the opportunity to express Poland’s position in that regard.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Having overcome painful historical experiences, Poland has been developing friendly relations with its neighbours since 1989, opening a new chapter in its relations with Germany. We also want the best possible relationship with our great neighbour Russia. We are hopeful, yet sometimes concerned, about the developments in that country. Poland, a member of the European Union for more than two years, supports the Union’s approach to cooperation with the United Nations. We are convinced that peace must be built through long-term sustainable development. It is in that conviction that we take action in the United Nations with regard to the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. We also support our eastern neighbours in their reform efforts.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Poland’s experience in shaking off a totalitarian regime and taking up the task of modernizing the country gives us a special understanding of the needs of countries following a similar path. That is why we are committed to doing our utmost to spread democracy and freedom around the world. Today, Poland is a rapidly developing country. We are becoming a nation that is able to donate to the international community, much to our satisfaction. Until recently, we were the beneficiary of such aid. Indeed, I should like Poland to become even more active in that regard. Today, in the twenty-first century, Poland is a strong sovereign State and an active member of the European Union, as well as an ally of the United States of America.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)