The Address of HE Mr. Indulis Berzins

The Minister for Foreign Affairs

of the Republic of Latvia

To the 55th Session of the United Nations

General Assembly

September 12, 2000

Finding ourselves in a new century and in a new millennium, it is natural to review what we have done right and to meditate also on what we could have done better.

The United Nations is the forum and the system that allows us to contemplate the status of the world development in the widest possible perspective.

Latvia is small but the success of our democracy and the success of our efforts at European integration will have a strong positive effect on the destiny of the Baltic Sea region.

The success of an organization like the United Nations can be measured by how its work has affected the lives of individual people in all countries. In the age of globalization the challenge we collectively face is to ensure that all can be beneficiaries.

As a result of the revolution in information technology, the world has grown smaller, nations and people are closer to each other than ever before. This underlines the importance of the principle of universality.

Today the decisions taken in one part of the globe affect people and nations all around the world. This calls for wider representation and in the case of the UN for the reform of the Security Council that needs to be carried out to reflect the present political and economic realities.

To respond to modem challenges, the UN needs both political will and courage. In this regard I would like to express my appreciation to the Secretary General for his efforts in strengthening and modernizing the Organization through its reform.

Mr. President,

The United Nations also needs to be better equipped to prevent and manage conflicts. Unfortunately, the demand for peacekeeping is still high. The member States, both individually and collectively, must do more to meet this demand.

Latvia has done its best to give its practical contribution to peace and security. During the past year Latvia's peacekeepers have been present in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo as a part of NATO-led forces. In accordance with the United Nations decision to extend the mandate for the operation in Kosovo, Latvia will continue its participation and will allocate more resources for peacekeeping operations in next year's budget.

As a future member of the European Union Latvia attaches great importance to the development of Common European Security and Defense Policy that will increase the European capabilities in conflict prevention and crisis management. We are willing to conribute our forces and to participate in EU operations.

To provide the United Nations with proper tools for peacekeeping the reforms of the scale of contributions must be implemented to reflect the capabilities and responsibilities of every member state. At the same time the UN must ensure that the resources are spent wisely and operations managed properly.

For its part, Latvia is considering a review of its contribution to the peacekeeping budget with a view to gradually increase its share.

Mr. President,

Human rights must remain high on the agenda of the United Nations in the 21st century.

As a member of the Commission on Human Rights and its bureau, Latvia remains strongly committed to strengthening of the UN human rights mechanisms. In particular the role of the Office of High Commissioner, its Human Rights programs including the development of national capacities for promotion and protection of human rights should be strengthened.

Latvia remains committed to the establishment of the International Criminal Court. We welcome the efforts of its Preparatory Commission in tackling the task of finalizing the texts of Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and the Elements of Crimes in a timely manner.

Mr. President,

Fifty years of foreign occupation left us with a heavy social, economic and psychological burden. From the time of our return to independence in 1991, Latvia has undertaken every effort to overcome this legacy.

To be successful in the new Millennium, we need the consolidated input of all our people, regardless of their occupation, ethnicity, or place of residence. That is why the Latvian Government has elaborated the Program of Integration of Society.

This is an experiment and in many ways unique. The Integration Program is our vision of how our society can function most effectively on the basis of democracy and respect for human rights.

This program complements the integration measures implemented through education with the help of the United Nations Development Program.

The Program will increase public participation and it will reduce differences among the various regions of Latvia. It is a sign of Latvia's readiness to explore new ways for improving the living standards and the social climate.

Mr. President,

Latvia's international role has grown in the past decade of freedom. Each year we are able to do more for the people of Latvia and the international community. With the beginning earlier this year of the talks for EU membership, Latvia entered a new phase in its international relations. This November Latvia will assume the Presidency of the Council of Europe our first presidency in a pan-European organization.

Latvia is determined to participate even more actively in the work of the United Nations. Therefore Latvia has put forward its candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2006 to 2007. I believe Latvia is ready to assume this high responsibility.

Mr. President,

It is an honor to present Latvia's perspective here today at the outset of the 55th Session of the General Assembly. I wish to all of us a very useful and productive session.

Thank you very much.