Third Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability
– As prepared for delivery –
Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at Third Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability: “The spirit of Rhodes: shaping a positive agenda for stability and prosperity”
Thank you.
This is my third Rhodes Informal Ministerial Conference for Security and Stability.
But it is my first one, as President of the General Assembly.
It is a great pleasure to be here – and I want to thank His Excellency Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, for his commitment to this initiative.
To start us off today, I want to make three main points:
The first is on prevention.
Simply put: we need to do much more of it.
Prevention can save lives.
And it can save money.
Recently, the World Bank and the United Nations put their data together, to show just that. And the results were stark: If we invested more in conflict prevention, we could save our economies 5 billion US dollars, even in the most pessimistic scenario. And the projected savings rose to 70 billion, in the most optimistic.
Now, we know there are crises happening – not far from where we are meeting today.
As we speak, human traffickers are preparing for journeys across the Mediterranean. People are in hospital beds, because they were caught in bomb blasts. Civil conflict is raging. Whole communities are running out of food and water. And terror groups, like ISIS, have lost ground – but still pose a very active threat.
This is the reality. And we need to deal with it.
And, we are all here because we want to solve these security challenges.
But we also need to look at how we can prevent them – both, from spreading to other areas and from reappearing, after we think we have dealt with them.
And, in doing so, we need to use all the tools at our disposal.
This means quick-reaction mediation and diplomacy, when warning signs appear.
And it means much more investment, in the drivers of peace. For example, stronger rule of law transparent institutions better management of natural resources and development that can be sustained and can include everyone.
Let us be honest: this would mean a new departure. Because, it is not what we have, always, been doing.
Too often we have been in response mode. We have waited too long to act. We have spent billions on military operations, after peace has been lost – rather than investing millions, or even thousands, on making it stronger, when it is still there.
This new departure must include all of us.
And, the United Nations must blaze the trail.
Luckily, it is trying to do just that. We have seen two of its main bodies – the UN Security Council and the General Assembly – take a big step. In 2016, they called for a change; for a move from conflict response, to a broader approach… called Sustaining Peace.
And, last April, I invited world leaders to New York. The aim was to take stock of how we are doing. And to plan on how we can do better.
After this meeting, I can say one thing for certain: the interest is there. We heard resounding calls for a stronger focus on prevention – including from many of the countries here today.
As you know, the agenda of this Rhodes Conference looks to the future. And so, I think it is the perfect place to talk about prevention – and what this new departure would look like, on the ground, in this region.
My second point, today, is about dialogue.
Because, I think it is the only way forward the only way we can find solutions to our problems and the only way we can bring about the kind of peace that can last.
Here, however, I mean real dialogue.
And, frankly, we are not seeing enough of that.
Too often, we are talking for the sake of talking. We are reading out scripted statements, reaffirming our own positions, criticising others and then calling it dialogue.
But it is not. Because it is too easy. Real dialogue is a lot harder.
It requires listening, compromise, openness, interaction, self-reflection.
That is why we are seeing so many people choosing the easier alternatives.
And, we cannot talk about dialogue without talking about the United Nations.
In particular, the General Assembly. This body gives a seat – and a voice – to all 193 countries, which are members of the UN. Any topic or issue can be addressed – from the health of our oceans, to international law. And, I see it as the world’s biggest hub for dialogue.
But the UN isn’t the only space.
We know that peace cannot be brought from the outside in. It doesn’t work that way.
Instead, it must be homemade. That is why we need to see more national ownership – and a bigger role for regional players.
Which is why there is so much value, in bringing dialogue closer to the ground. This allows for more local expertise, knowledge and best practices to be discussed. And it can feed into our discussions, at the international level.
So, let’s use this opportunity we have, today, for a real exchange – and real dialogue.
My third point is on multilateralism.
And, here, I want to repeat the well-known words of Edmund Burke, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it”.
Now, I am not a historian.
But, from what I can see, history has taught us that working together is the only way forward.
I don’t think multilateralism has ever brought us down the wrong path.
Instead, our major mistakes have come from acting alone – or in our own, exclusive alliances.
That is why we created the United Nations, in 1945 – to stop ourselves from repeating the mistakes of history.
So, when we discuss regional security challenges, we cannot forget that one main solution is right in front of us. And, here, I am talking about multilateralism.
Certainly, the UN holds a lot of potential, for this region.
Migration is one example. The UN General Assembly is working on the world’s first Global Compact on Migration. This will create a better support system for countries which are responding to both irregular and regular migration.
Next week, I will convene the sixth review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This strategy is a major resource, in our collective efforts against terrorism.
Also, prevention of violent extremism is high on the United Nations’ agenda. Although there are different views on this issue, more and more countries are requesting the UN’s support.
These are just some areas of work.
But the main point is this: we can find many of the solutions we need, in our multilateral system.
Only, however, if this system remains strong.
And that is why a commitment to multilateralism is not only for the common good but it can also help us to solve the individual challenges we face. So, excellencies, dear friends and colleagues, that is my humble assessment; what I think we need, to overcome the challenges facing us:
- Much more focus on prevention.
- A return to real and genuine dialogue.
- A strong multilateral system – to which we are all committed.
You might disagree with me entirely. Or you might agree – and elaborate on some of these issues.
But, either way, as long as are talking, we are moving forward!
So, thanks again, to our Greek hosts, and all of you for being here. Good luck in the discussions ahead.
