Norwegian Statement at UN General Assembly

Mr President, excellences, ladies and gentlemen, 

We are living in times of rapid change. Global and regional dynamics are transforming global governance.

A changing world will inevitably change the United Nations.

But we, the members of this great organisation, can influence the direction of change. In order to do so, however, we must make strategic priorities. We should develop an agile multilateral system for the 21^st century.

The architects of this United Nations were in many ways ahead of their time. The Charter, especially chapters 6 and 8, foresaw a world where the UN should safeguard international peace and security, the settlement of disputes, and the promotion of common interests at regional – just as much as at global – level.

In 1945, however, there were few established regional mechanisms. In other words, the Charter’s provisions for regional arrangements were largely aspirational. 

Mr President,

In today’s world, regional organisations and arrangements are increasingly proving their relevance. Economic, social, and political integration is increasingly taking place at the regional level. Cooperation and integration are not only about outcomes but also processes. Practical cooperation can lay the foundation for strategic trust and for shared values.

It was only after two horrific wars during the last century that my own continent chose integration. This was instrumental for the creation of a peaceful Europe. For this historic achievement, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last year. 

The African Union has seen its continent through 50 transformative years. Freedom came at a high price. Yet Africa has never been more prosperous than it is today. We are seeing economic growth, improving governance, and enhanced regional cooperation.

From Somalia to Mali, the African Union and its sub-regional partners continue to prove their importance. The AU is, beyond doubt, becoming one of the UNs most important regional partners. I commend the AU for its dedicated efforts, and I would like to express my deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack in Nairobi.

We must never allow terrorists to set the agenda. Hence our efforts to work with the AU to promote peace and stability in Somalia at this crucial moment must be redoubled. 

In recent years, Norway has worked with the people of Colombia to lay the foundations for lasting peace between its Government and the FARC movement. In doing so, we have seen strong commitment on the part of Colombia’s neighbours. Here, as everywhere else, we have learned that peace cannot just be established within one country, it has to be rooted in a regional context. 

In South-East Asia, ASEAN is becoming the source, as well as the architect, of regional stability. I commend ASEAN for its constructive role in supporting the democratic reform process in Myanmar. Myanmar will chair ASEAN next year, which in many ways is a testimony to the organisation’s adaptability. The ASEAN community is only two years away.

ASEAN has also taken upon itself to develop multilateral responses to regional challenges, including those pertaining to maritime security. These strides are not only of regional importance, but important to all of us. The freedom and safety of the seas is one of the most important public goods in an interconnected world. 

Just like in South-East Asia, Norway and our fellow Arctic states have built our deepened maritime cooperation on one of the most salient organising principles of this United Nations: the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Regions also reach out to each other. Earlier this year, Norway acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Also, this spring, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and Singapore joined the Arctic Council as observers. In doing so, they subscribe to the founding principles of the Arctic Council: principles that – yet again – are a direct reflection of key a United Nations norm.

Where I live, we can observe global warming at close quarters. As the polar ice cap melts, we are reminded of our shared responsibility for saving the planet’s climate. Today, the Arctic Ocean is opening up to human activities in ways hard to imagine only a few years ago. Over the last decade, we have strived to develop forward-looking strategies for the safe management of this new maritime crossroads between Asia, Europe and North America.

Mr President,

This emergence of regional institutions as a feature of global governance is in fact good news for the United Nations.

We need a UN that can be a catalyst that supports and encourages regional developments, and reinforces our common global and multilateral agenda.

We must acknowledge this trend, revisit chapters 6 and 7 of the UN Charter, and seek to identify the opportunities and potential pitfalls it represents for the UN. 

Mr President, 

The Middle East has yet to find an effective regional architecture. It is also a part of the world that is causing considerable concern these very days. 

Israel and Palestine are facing a moment of truth. This month we mark 20 years since the Oslo accords. We have witnessed positive achievements on the ground. State institutions have been built and are ready for statehood. But for many years, a political horizon has been missing. Time is running out for a negotiated two-state solution. 

But now, as Palestinian and Israeli leaders have returned to negotiations, hope is renewed. This afternoon, in this building, I chaired a meeting of the international donor group for Palestine, the AHLC. The donors reaffirmed their commitment to providing necessary assistance to the Palestinian Authority through the current transition to statehood. 

This may be the last chance – a chance we cannot afford to miss. 

Mr President,

As we speak, the horrors in Syria are continuing. Thousands upon thousands of children, women and men are being killed and maimed. Millions are fleeing their homes.

The use of chemical weapons is utterly unacceptable, and is a grave violation of international law. Further use must be effectively prevented. Those responsible must be brought to justice and the case referred to the ICC.

The Syrian crisis can only be resolved through a political solution.

The UN Security Council must now live up to the responsibility that we, the members of the UN, have entrusted it with. We must seize the momentum created by the US–Russian agreement.

Humanitarian access must be ensured by all parties and to all areas.

The bloodshed in Syria must come to an end. 

Mr President,

Frustrated by developments in Syria, many have criticised the UN for its inability to act.

However, we should not lose sight of the UN’s many achievements.

Every single day, the UN provides shelter for refugees, vaccinates children, promotes maternal health, and stabilises fragile states.

Evolving norms of human security have placed new issues on the agenda. Children and armed conflict, women, peace and security and protection of civilians are recent examples of the UN’s important normative role. 

Mr President,

Faced with scarce resources, accentuated by a global economy under pressure, we should increase, not decrease, the flexibility of the Secretary-General. Last autumn, this Assembly decided that the 2014–15 budget should be cut by one hundred million dollars. Reducing the budget whilst increasing the number of tasks is a recipe for a weaker, not a stronger UN. This Assembly must be coherent in its policy.

The role of this Assembly should be to provide guidance, not to micromanage. 

To conclude, Mr President,

To meet the regional and global challenges of our time, we the member states must work together to fulfil the aspirations and potential of the UN Charter. The efficiency of this great organisation depends on our ability to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances.