Speech to be given at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly
Mr President,
Heads of Delegation,
“None of us, acting alone, can achieve success”, Nelson Mandela said. We have to decide and act together. It is together that we can forge the right responses to the challenges we are facing. Our responsibility is to offer every child, girl or boy, the keys to his or her own emancipation.
Every woman, every man, wherever they were born, enjoys universal rights. So that each may learn, work, take care of him- or herself and raise his or her children in peace and security. So that technological, medical, social advances may be shared. And not be the prerogative of just a privileged few.
This should be our ambition and our common commitment.
We know the road to this objective. It was written in 1948 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For all of us, the universal values should be the inviolable beacons that should shed light on the road to Humanity.
There can be no exception to, liberties taken with or renouncement of respect for human rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy.
No exceptions may be allowed, no liberties taken and no renunciation accepted with respect to human rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy.
Now, we must face up to the truth. Equality between women and men is not always a reality. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are too often violated. Homophobia in some countries is even legal, sometimes by recent laws. Too often, the Rule of Law is nothing more than a smokescreen and, rather than providing recourse, justice represents instead a threat to citizens and businesses.
Mr President,
The African continent is full of assets and talent. Its potential is immense. The histories of Europe and Africa are inextricably connected. And our future is certainly shared.
We should all mobilise to encourage and support the development of the African continent. First, through better shared economic growth and the emergence of a middle class.
I call for an equal and responsible partnership with Africa, which is sincere and a win-win. Without nostalgia or feelings of guilt.
I am firmly convinced – and History has time and again shown this to be true – that strengthening democratic rights and personal freedoms goes hand in hand with developing and improving people’s standard of living.
Over the last few years, Africa has seen a number of successful transitions to democracy. We owe this, first, to the citizens who participated in the political and electoral process. They were thus able to strengthen their democratic institutions and their sovereignty.
Unfortunately, some citizens are still deprived of the fundamental right to elect those who should represent them.
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable”, Kennedy declared. A peaceful revolution is an honest election. There is no other legitimacy for governments than that of the ballet box.
Respecting the requirements of the rule of law and thus of constitutions is the only route possible to guaranteeing democratic stability and harmony.
This right was denied to the people of Burundi. The result was discord, division and oppression. The only solution to this crisis is an inter-Burundian dialogue that is genuinely inclusive, that is mediated internationally and that respects the Arusha Agreement.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is essential that elections be organised. And any doubts in this regard must be dispelled.
I strongly condemn all forms of violence which we have seen, including, these last few days, in Kinshasa. When we hold offices of authority, we should assume fully, and individually, the responsibility that comes with them.
We respect the principle of sovereignty. But on the condition that sovereignty does not become a screen for abusing the Rule of Law and trampling on fundamental rights.
I call on the political leaders of the majority and the opposition. Avoid escalation. The dialogue must be broad and inclusive. Do your duty for your country and its population.
We should not deceive ourselves. The only road to stability is a definite date for honest and credible elections. And as soon as possible.
Mr President,
The situation in Syria, it must be admitted, is at this stage a failure for the international community. A country on fire. Unspeakable suffering and a mass migration of refugees, uprooted from their homes.
We cannot allow this chaos in Syria to serve the geostrategic interests that are greatly distanced from the Syrians and their future. We cannot allow the bloody single-mindedness of a single man to be an obstacle to a political solution and to peace.
We support Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.
We call on all permanent members of the Security Council to show what it means to be responsible. There can be no impunity for violating international humanitarian law.
Mr President,
With Daesh, as with Al Qaeda, Boka Haram or Aqmi, we are in fact facing a new form a totalitarianism.
It is about fanaticism and the denial of human life. They seek to destroy freedom. They are choosing barbarism and terror. Last March, my country, like so many others, was tragically hit.
It is a common battle that we must lead against terrorism. Without compromise, with intransigence.
We support the Secretary General’s plan to fight violent extremism. But we must do more and better. We must in particular standardise information and information exchange to prevent and avoid acts of barbarism.
Freedom must be stronger than the shadows.
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sixty-five million women and men in the world are either refugees or displaced. Countries like Jordan, Lebanon or Turkey are first in line to receive countless refugees with all the difficulties that come with it.
All continents are affected. We know the cause: wars, poverty, climatic change. Peace and development are certainly the best response.
We must also guarantee the dignity of every human being. And be especially vigilant for the most vulnerable, the women and children.
Mr President,
The political dialogue and international negotiation are lengthy, laborious processes, often too slow and strewn with obstacles. With one step forward and a few steps back. This frequently engenders frustration, sometimes even a sense of powerlessness.
Yet, I’d like to share with you my conviction that the inclusive political dialogue is the surest route to sustainable solutions.
And we should also highlight the success diplomacy has seen. The peace agreement between the Colombian authorities and FARC, the formation of a government in Libya, the agreement with Iran on nuclear research, diplomatic rapprochement between Cuba and the US and the fight against Ebola. These are examples of progress and success. Unlocking a better, safer life for millions of people.
Mr President,
“A winner is just a dreamer who never gave up”, Nelson Mandela said. I also believe that courage and perseverance are the keys for pushing peace forward and for ensuring a safer and more just world.
Never lose faith and refuse to accept fate. This is what we should all bear in mind.
The current situation in Israel and Palestine again illustrates the urgency and the need to relaunch a political process to find a definitive solution to the conflict.
We support the two state solution. But in the current situation, without fundamental change, this perspective risks being irretrievably lost. Any initiatives that are effectively preventing this solution from being brought about should be ended. We condemn pursuing the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories.
And at the same time, we are resolutely committed to the security of Israel. It should be guaranteed.
We support the initiative of France for facilitating the resumption of talks. Palestinians should also push their own dialogue forward. This step is indispensable.
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
International law cannot be the law of the strongest. At the European borders, the territorial integrity of many countries has been violated by one other country.
It is unacceptable to fan the embers of conflict to flatter the nostalgic feelings of grandeur. I call on Russia to abandon its confrontational approach. We have too many interests in common to allow ourselves the luxury of a diplomatic standstill.
Mr President,
We have made a great deal of progress over the last few years to stem poverty or improve access to basic health care. But there remains a great deal to be done.
The sustainable development goals and the Paris climate agreements provide us with a voluntary framework. We must work hard to implement these. It is our duty for the generations that follow. It is our duty for a world that is safer and more respectful of our planet.
Economic exchanges and international commerce contribute to growth and employment around the world. Freedom of trade, private initiative and economic exchanges are the foundation of development. They stimulate research, technological innovation or even medical advances.
We should encourage fiscal and banking transparency. And fight all forms of corruption.
Capitalism is not naturally virtuous. We need rules that are fair and transparent. And in many countries, workers are not compensated for their fair value.
Capitalism is not an end in itself. It is a tool that we need to master to serve human development. Nothing more, nothing less.
The global economic situation is a summary of the budgets of the States. Work is very often too heavily taxed compared to other sources of revenue. For this reason, Belgium, with 10 other European Union countries, would like to set up a system to tax financial transactions. We must successfully remove the technical and political barriers. It is an basic question of equity.
Mr President,
My country’s honour is to defend the principles of the universal values: freedom, tolerance and the importance of dialogue.
We fully respect the traditions, the cultures and the identities of the different peoples in the world. And we think that universal values are the common base for a fairer and safer world.
We believe in the virtues of multilateralism and of the ongoing search for consensus through political dialogue.
Belgium is an active, stable and loyal member of the international community.
This is why we are a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2019-2020 period. I genuinely hope that we will be able to count on the support of many countries in this election.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for his commitment to peace and security. His intelligence and his creativity have allowed him to leave a strong legacy.
I hope that his successor also subscribes to this principle and ensures effective implementation of the objectives for sustainable development or the Paris Climate Agreements.
A politician is always thinking about the next election. A statesman takes action while thinking about the next generation. Let us live up to the hopes of our citizens. Let us live up to universal values. Let us endeavour tirelessly to act as statesmen.
Thank you for your attention.
