YouSaid · the spoken record

Borut Pahor

lines on the record: 73
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
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 cannot deny that, at times, in the absence of other means, specific circumstances may compel the international community to maintain peace by the use of force. Sometimes it is so. Nevertheless, a United Nations mandate is essential to ensure credibility, at least in principle. If, however, intervening without a United Nations mandate becomes the principle, the world will certainly arrive at a point where an arbitrary action may trigger a conflict of broad dimensions. I think there are no moral grounds for such risky behaviour. A comprehensive United Nations approach is also needed to address the global threat emerging in the broader Middle East and North Africa: the threat of terrorism, extremism and a militant radicalism that is distinctively different in its strategic approach and methods of operation.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is our common task to remedy such problems rapidly, thoroughly and by consensus, especially with regard to the functioning of the United Nations and the Security Council; otherwise, it may be too late. I suppose we all agree that a reformed and effective Security Council is needed, with its permanent members exercising their powers responsibly and in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. We have to use this opportunity to rethink the international security architecture, improve our capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts and reclaim our shared values and principles, which are enshrined in the Charter. With numerous ongoing conflicts around the world, we will have to do so before international peace is undermined.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Long ago, a debate began on the reforms that were needed, but thus far, it seems to have resulted in no decisive changes. Hence, a sense of uncertainty about future stability and peace is gaining ground among the peace-oriented States of international community. If the United Nations is not reformed so that it can successfully cope with international conflicts, it risks being sidelined. Increasingly, deadlocks in the Security Council — which have sometimes come about for good reasons, but sometimes not — are taken as an excuse for resolving conflicts by force and without a United Nations mandate. If that trend continues, it may lead to the breakdown in the contemporary political and security architecture.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Slovenia is among the vast majority in the international community that desire and strive for a lasting peace. However, the precondition for that is the peaceful resolution of all disputes. The United Nations was founded mainly to serve precisely that purpose, and that goal has often been achieved. Within the contemporary international community, the United Nations remains a very important tool for maintaining and strengthening world peace. However, contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, force is still being used in today’s world. There is even a strong feeling that, owing to new circumstances, the existing architecture of the United Nations — and above all the Security Council — is failing in that fundamental role.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“That is why it is important not to lose focus on the successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to agree on the post-2015 agenda. Let us transform our vision of saving future generations from the scourge of war into reality. We have no time to spare. We have no right to fail.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It brought about mass destruction of human life and new methods of warfare that were subsequently condemned by the civilized world. It was followed by the Second World War, and the century ended with a decade of intra-State conflicts and genocides that caused untold human suffering. Let us use our conscience and humanity as the weapon of choice, for everyone deserves to live in dignity and peace, feeling safe, with access to food and drinking water and with a decent job and adequate pay for it. Yet something so obvious seems to be very far from reality. It is our task to bring reality closer to our dreams. Today’s world leaders have a unique opportunity, possibility and responsibility to influence our common future for many decades to come.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The consequences of inaction far outweigh any risks that might arise from timely prevention and response, in terms both of money and — more important — human suffering and lives. That was a lesson learned in our neighbouring region, the Western Balkans. Enhancing mutual trust through open political dialogue is a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence and long-term stability there. Slovenia and Croatia have therefore launched the Brdo process as a forum for high-level dialogue intended to strengthen relations and reconciliation among the countries of the region. The past century was a very dark chapter in Europe and in human history. In August 2014, we will commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As part of that effort, the permanent members should consider refraining from the use of the veto in situations of genocide, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. We call upon the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. The International Criminal Court is an essential pillar in the system of international justice and a powerful tool to ensure accountability and to fight against impunity for the most serious crimes. It deserves our full support. We must focus more closely on addressing the root causes of conflicts and expand our work on prevention. In particular, we must improve our ability to read the warning signs and trigger early action.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Security Council has the primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations. It exercises that responsibility on behalf of all of us. It has an obligation to deliver and to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it by the international community. In this period of tensions and challenges, the responsibility of the major Member States is especially great. In recent years we have witnessed too many divisions in the Council, which have impeded its ability to act in a timely manner. Decisive progress in Security Council reform is required to improve the Council’s efficiency, transparency and accountability.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The United States-Russian agreement on the framework for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons must be implemented without delay. Syria’s accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction is a positive step. Syria should comply immediately and fully, or face the consequences. It is important that diplomacy prevailed and referred the issue back to the United Nations and the Security Council. The Security Council should live up to its responsibility and use all appropriate measures to comprehensively address the situation in Syria. Reaching a political settlement remains the only viable and lasting solution to the crisis and to ensuring stability in the region. We support the timely convening of the “Geneva II” conference.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“After more than two years of brutal violence against civilians, including women and children, we still have not found a political solution within the framework of the United Nations. Not only is the unconscionable use of chemical weapons in Syria considered a war crime, it is an assault against our common humanity. Sovereignty as responsibility implies that States are responsible for the well-being of their citizens. It does not give them a licence to kill their own citizens. If States manifestly fail to protect their populations, the international community has a duty to react. When faced with mass atrocities, indifference is not, and cannot represent, an option. The report of the United Nations inspectors was clear, credible and impartial.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Thus far in history, this kind of global change has never ended without a global conflict. We established the United Nations precisely in order to prevent such a conflict in future. Less than 20 years ago, we witnessed events that shocked our human conscience: genocide in Rwanda, followed by genocide in Srebrenica and Darfur. We should have learned lasting lessons from those horrific events. We vowed never to let that happen again. We collectively endorsed the responsibility to protect human beings from mass atrocities and gross and systematic violations of human rights, and yet we have failed again. We are faced with another human tragedy unfolding before our eyes in Syria.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I would like to congratulate Mr. John Ashe on his election and wish him every success. Let me also pay tribute to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and thank him for his tireless efforts and leadership in promoting the ideals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The ideal and principle to which we should aspire is creating a world in which everyone can live free from fear, free from want and in dignity. The United Nations has achieved many extraordinary successes in the past, but we also have to acknowledge some disappointing and frustrating setbacks and failures. I believe that now more than ever, the United Nations must play a major role in international relations. We live at a time when the balance of global power is changing in a rapid and dramatic way.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Furthermore, it indicates Slovenia’s desire to utilize its rich multilateral experience to enhance the goals and principles of this universal, international Organization. Finally, let me say once more how honoured I am, as the Prime Minister of Slovenia, to be present in this Assembly. Extraordinary historical circumstances have shaped the development of my country, which 10-55103 24 therefore attaches great importance to the constant promotion of the noble purposes and principles of international relations, as defined in the Charter of the United Nations. I am therefore all the more pleased to have been able to participate in the general debate devoted to the reaffirmation of the central role of this Organization in global governance.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Slovenia views its candidature as an opportunity to contribute further to the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. We intend to build on our international commitments and experience gained in recent years. We are committed to upholding the rule of law, respect for human rights, international law and international humanitarian law, and we continue to foster open and transparent international dialogue in the spirit of cooperation and consensus-building. Our candidature therefore underscores the great significance Slovenia attaches to the role of the United Nations in an increasingly interdependent and complex world.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I think the results and consequences of this decision have so far been very good. Our aim is to encourage dialogue and cooperation among the political leaders with a view to discussing mutual support and further steps on the road to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the entire region. I believe that we are on the right track, and we will continue to work in this direction. Slovenia plays an active role in the international community and takes its responsibilities seriously. I would therefore like to confirm once again our dedication to our candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, for the period of 2012-2013, at the elections to be held next year in this Assembly.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In this connection, I would like to recall that only a couple of weeks ago this Assembly adopted resolution 64/298 by consensus, acknowledging the content of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which was rendered in response to a submitted request on the issue of the declaration of independence of Kosovo. I am particularly glad that the resolution paved the way for dialogue, which the European Union is ready to facilitate. It is the historic responsibility of the democratically elected leaders of the countries of the Western Balkans to pursue reconciliation and the rebuilding of mutual trust. In order to promote the necessary confidence, I therefore decided, together with the Prime Minister of Croatia, to launch the so-called Brdo process several months ago in Slovenia.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Unfortunately, the financial and economic crisis and international debates in many European States pushed aside some of the topics that are important and of strategic interest to the continent as a whole. The need for a continued process of enlargement of the European Union and NATO is one of them. I would therefore like to underline that the commitment to enlargement to the Western Balkans needs to be honoured, and all the more so since the situation in the region today has changed for the better. Obvious and tangible progress has been made.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This year, we must do better and do more in Cancún to reach a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement that will limit global warming to below 2°C, as stated in the Copenhagen Accord, and improve adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change. Our responsibilities differ, but we must all shoulder our share of the common burden. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the countries of Western Europe decided to open their ranks to the States of Central and Eastern Europe. This decision was instrumental in building a modern Europe of key democratic values. The choice of enlargement of Euro- Atlantic institutions was thus a choice for stability on the continent.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In this connection, I encourage closer cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions and between the United Nations and the Group of 20 in finding the best possible responses to the crisis and in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. It is unfortunate that, as a result of far-reaching developments, we continue to face an even greater challenge in climate change. Indeed, the past year has been a year of lost opportunities. However, this should not be a reason to lower our ambitions. Climate change is real, the loss of biodiversity is unprecedented and the consequences are already being felt by far too many people around the world. In some cases, the very existence of individual countries, States Members of the United Nations, is at stake.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The reforms of international economic and financial systems must continue at an accelerated pace, reflecting global development needs. Our endeavours should aim at increasing accountability, responsibility and solidarity, while taking into account the need for a 23 10-55103 stronger voice for and better participation of developing countries, which should be fully included in the international response to the crisis. Together, we must build a world in which economic indicators are not the only measure of a prosperous society. Human, social and environmental values should also become principal elements of our criteria.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“For Slovenia, strengthening global governance means renewing our common commitment to multilateralism and its principles of inclusion, legitimacy and transparency. The United Nations must keep its place at the core of global governance structures. However, this Organization also needs to adapt to the contemporary reality of an interconnected world and the resulting new challenges and threats. As many of my colleagues have already said, reform of the United Nations has been long undervalued. The composition of the Security Council is visibly out of date and the work of the General Assembly needs revitalization. Progress in peacekeeping reform would strengthen all other United Nations activities relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, including preventive diplomacy and post-conflict peacebuilding.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am indeed honoured to address this Assembly for the first time as Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia. I reaffirm my country’s commitment to the United Nations and its Charter. Let me also congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. We all rely on your political wisdom and experience, and I assure you of my country’s utmost support in the coming weeks and months. In the past few years, numerous national leaders have spoken in this very Assembly about new global challenges that threaten our security, prosperity and freedom. There is a general consensus that more effective and coordinated global action is required to address such challenges.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)