EU Presidency Statement - 55th Session of UNGA [3/3]

(Disarmament and Non-proliferation)

Mr. President,

The threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems is a crucial issue which the European Union, sharing the concern for international peace and security that ought to inspire the nations represented here, is resolved to combat relentlessly. To this end, international cooperation must be stressed along with the development of multilateral standards for non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.

This is particularly true of chemical and biological weapons, which have now been banned. The Union is working towards the early conclusion of a protocol to strengthen the 1972 Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons which shall contain reliable and effective verification measures.

We are equally determined to ensure nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, where so much progress has been made since the signing of the NPT, to which 187 states are now parties.

Since the end of the cold war, effective instruments for ending the arms race and achieving disarmament have started to see the light of day, with the halt to testing, the treaty enshrining it, the first two START agreements to reduce the largest nuclear arsenals and a host of unilateral decisions that follow the same trend.

Consolidating this mechanism must be our priority. A start was made with the review conferences of 1995 and 2000; the results which we welcome must be fully implemented.

We must give full weight to strengthening the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency through the widespread implementation of the measures contained in the 1997 model protocol and to remain alert to the issue of NPT compliance. We must also revive the momentum of the multilateral negotiations.

The entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the completion of the operational readiness of the CTBTO and the negotiation at the Disarmament Conference of the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty are all necessary steps that are of concern and ought to mobilize all States, be they parties to the NPT or not. The start of this negotiation implies urgent negotiations on a working program at the conference on Disarmament. International standards in this field can only be effective if they are universal. Arsenal reductions, which are the prime responsibility of the nuclear-weapon States, must also be continued. This will enable us to move closer to our common objectives: the elimination of nuclear weapons and general, comprehensive disarmament under strict and effective international control.

The issue of small arms and light weapons is just as sensitive in many regions of the world. It deserves special attention. The EU will contribute to the preparation of the International Conference on the Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its aspects, which will take place during the summer of 2001, with the objective of obtaining a positive and enforceable plan of action to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons.

At the same time, the Union shall continue its drive in favor of the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. It shall join in the efforts to achieve the total elimination of anti-personnel mines.

( Human Rights)

The European Union shall continue to support the efforts of the United Nations to reach the goal set by the Secretary-General to put human rights at the heart of every aspect of UN work.

The best guarantee of solid progress in this area is each person's awareness of the importance of human rights and democracy and the emergence of groups who actively promote them in every country. In this connection, the European Union welcomes the designation, thanks to the support of many countries, of the Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Jilani; we welcome her appointment and assure her of our full backing as she undertakes her duties.

This year the United Nations has once again demonstrated that it is the main forum of progress in setting standards for human rights, as witnessed by the adoption of two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sexual exploitation of children and on children in armed conflicts. This represents a major step forward in favor of the protection of children. The European Union intends to contribute actively to the Special Session of the UNGA for the follow-up to the World Children's Summit, to be held next year, which will give the international community yet another opportunity to help this cause move forward.

Another important task lies ahead: the World Conference Against Racism. At the European Preparatory Conference, to be held in October under the auspices of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the European Union will demonstrate its commitment to combat all expressions of racism, whatever form they take.

The European Union, all of whose members have abolished the death penalty, calls on States that have not yet done so to adopt a moratorium as a first step towards the eventual abolition of this punishment which is contrary to human dignity.

(Crime)

The EU shall endeavor to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and shall play an active role in the negotiations to be held to that end. It earnestly hopes that this General Assembly will adopt the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols at the Palermo Conference next December. Given that such crime, one of whose most hateful manifestations is the trafficking in human beings, poses an ever-growing threat to our societies, it is vital for the international community to develop the means to cooperate and fight against it effectively.

(International Criminal Court)

Lastly, the European Union looks forward to the early establishment of the International Criminal Court. I would like to recall that ratification by 42 States is still needed for this.

(Sustainable Development)

Mr. President,

The European Union's contribution to international cooperation is substantial. With 30% of global GDP, it contributes 36% to the United Nations regular budget, 39% to the peacekeeping budget, 50% to UN Funds and Programmes, and 54% of the world total of official development assistance.

This effort is testimony of the EU's commitment to reducing inequalities, in particular by helping the least developed countries to keep from sliding further. The preparation of the third United Nations Conference on LDCs, which the Union will be proud to host in 2001, is extremely important. This Conference should lead to concrete results.

We attach great importance to the work carried out by the UN Funds and Programmes. Halving the world's great poverty by 2015 is a major goal of the international community, which has just been reaffirmed in the Millennium Summit Declaration.

The progressive integration of developing countries into the world economy, with special emphasis on the needs of LDCs, requires good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. In addition to the bilateral development assistance policies of its Member States, the European Union has proven its commitment to the LDCs since 1975 through the successive Lomé Conventions and shall continue to do so in the future through the latest Cotonou Agreements, negotiated recently with the ACP countries.

In the area of financing development, a better mobilisation of national and international resources is required, as is a better policy coherence and a more effective cooperation between all development actors: governments, the United Nations and the Bretton Woods Institutions, other international organizations, private sector and civil society.

(Eradication of Infectious Diseases)

Coordinated efforts and international partnerships are indispensable for fighting infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which pose an extremely serious problem for development and security in the developing world, particularly in Africa. We fully support the action of UNAIDS and its co-sponsoring organizations.

(The Environment)

Mr. President,

Environment should remain a UN agenda priority. In this regard, the outcome of the first Global Ministerial Environment Forum and the adoption of the Malmoe Declaration are very encouraging.

The concern for environmental sustainability expressed in the Millennium Report of the Secretary-General is legitimate. We support the call to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, so that it may enter into force by 2002. The success of the Lyons and Hague meetings will contribute to this.

The implementation and follow-up of UN conferences on environment and development are extremely important

(Follow-up to United Nations Major Conferences)

In general, improved coherence and coordination of the follow-up processes to United Nations conferences are essential. The review and appraisal processes should be made more rational, and the results should become more visible and target-oriented.

(United Nations Finances)

The EU remains fully committed to putting UN finances on a sound, sustainable and equitable basis, and therefore looks forward to securing a comprehensive reform of both the regular and peacekeeping scales in line with its long-standing position on this matter. The EU reaffirms its attachment to the principle of « capacity to pay », as the basis of the United Nations Member States' contributions.

(Reform)

The EU continues to support the strengthening and revitalisation of the Organization. Reform of its principal organs is essential for a more effective United Nations. The European Union is resolved to contribute to this.

At a time when the UN is asked to meet the challenges of peace, development and world regulation, I wish to assure it of the full support of the European Union and its Member States.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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