PERMANENT MISSION OF
TO THE UNITED
NATIONS-
THE
MILLENNIUM SUMMIT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT
BY
H.E.
MR. POUL NYRUP RASMUSSEN
PRIME
MINISTER OF
DENMARK
NEW
YORK
8
SEPTEMBER 2000
The World Needs a Stronger
UN - Action Must Follow Words
Madam Chairperson and Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The United Nations is the sum of our efforts, our
commitments, our contributions. The United Nations is what member countries
make it.
Our guiding light should be equal worth and social
fairness for all. The SecretaryGeneral has delivered the analysis of the
global trends we face. The Secretary General has made a strong case for the
future of the UN. Global problems have to be tackled globally. Therefore, we
need a stronger UN.
Around the world, untold millions live in poverty -
at the outskirts of change - where the future seems a dead end street.
Especially Africa seems locked in a vicious circle of desolation and despair.
No one can justify fatalistic and cynical acceptance. We must act - and
we must support Africa's Renaissance. Investments, transfer of knowledge and
resources are necessary for development in Africa.
We need to create a human framework for the
international market economy - as has been done in national economies. We
need to put people before money and the market.
Where multinational corporations make money at the
expense of social progress, we have an obligation to provide the right balance.
There can never be an exchange rate between money and human suffering.
At the Copenhagen Summit in `95 poverty and social
progress were at the top of the development agenda. Only if the private and the
public sector work hand-in-hand to ensure an even distribution of
the benefits will we be able to realize the truly global promise of
globalization.
The
UN is what we, the leaders, want it to be. Our support forms the destiny of the
UN. We need to do more.
I
welcome the emphasis on global solidarity and social responsibility in the
SecretaryGeneral's report. The least developed countries need action on trade,
debt, and aid in order to catch up.
Developing
countries should enjoy the advantages of international trade. Substantially
improved market access for their products - in my view, all their
products - should be at the center of an upcoming WTO Round. And
everybody should honor the demands and requirements of the ILO concerning labor
rights.
Debt relief has the potential to
make substantial resources available for investment in poverty reduction,
education, and health. Both bilateral and multilateral creditors should cover
their share of the cost.
The
long-term decline in aid needs to be reversed. Far too few countries live
up to our modest commitment. If Denmark can meet and exceed the targets, others
may as well. The UN process on Financing for Development offers an opportunity
for renewed commitment and action. The Secretary-General can count on our
support.
But
debt, aid, or trade are not separate issues. Improving one and cutting back on
another is meaningless. We can only make development sustainable, if we take a
coherent approach.
I
urge those countries that could really make a difference - countries
among the most developed and fortunate - to make an extra effort.e
Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Following the Rio Summit 1992 it is evident that
sustainable development is the sum of many parts, including social, economic,
and environmental aspects.
Heads of State and Government should come together
and discuss the next steps. We must promote an agenda for further cooperation
with a stronger emphasis on the needs of developing countries. We have to
narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. This requires a major effort by
the industrialized countries.
Let us be honest. Too many times we have set new
deadlines to reach old goals. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to let
action follow words.
Effective cooperation requires solidarity and a
strong, well-functioning United Nations.
If we want an effective United Nations capable of
meeting its mandate, we need reforms. And dues need to be paid - by
everybody. That includes small nations as well as big nations.
The Secretary-General deserves credit for
making the UN both leaner and more effective. His quiet revolution of '97 must
maintain momentum. Now is the time to dismantle obsolete bodies and activities.
The Secretary-General can count on Denmark's support.
Reform of the Security Council is overdue as well.
The number of both permanent and elected members reflects the past. It should
reflect the present.
The UN needs a sizeable and robust capacity for
peace operations. The UN must be able to respond quickly and with credible
force. The report from Ambassador
Brahimi's panel provides both a strong case and
frank recommendations for putting things right. The Secretary General can count
on our support.
But preventive action should always come first.
Thus, I am pleased to announce a Danish contribution of one million dollars to
the Trust Fund for Preventive Action.
Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
For almost half a century, the United Nations has
remained our preeminent, common forum for promoting peace and social progress.
In this spirit, I welcome the recent landmark decision to establish a Permanent
Forum for Indigenous Issues.
It would be unfair to blame the UN for having failed
our expectations. The fact remains that only if we, the leaders of the world, are
ready - individually and collectively - to take action.
Only, if we give the United Nations the necessary authority and adequate
resources - only then can we move forward towards a better world
for all.
We
can do better - all of us - together.
As
I said in my introduction: The United Nations is the sum of our efforts, our
commitments, our contributions.
Denmark
remains ready to take her share of this responsibility.