The Annual Security Conference of the Security and Defence Agenda

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a distinct pleasure to be with you today at this important conference. I commend the organizers - the Security and Defense Agenda as well as its partners Finmeccanica and Thales – for their timely initiative, a solid programme and an excellent mix of speakers.

This final panel is particularly interesting and challenging by the issues it raises. Far be it for a UN official to make categorical evaluations about whether “Europe is getting the politics of security right”, but I must say, that the initiative to have a UN view in this EU-focused conference, ‘from the outside’ as it were, speaks volumes in favour of an overall positive response. I am pleased to share with you my thoughts on this subject and the very important mix of issues this question belies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Globalisation brings with it new threats as well as benefits, which affect us all. We live in an age where the traditional notion of borders has all but diminished to its core legal concept. Their physical separating and insulating function is severely blurred, particularly when information and communication travel the globe in seconds. As a consequence, national security is no longer a geographically limited term, which can be addressed by traditional ‘hard’ power alone. We have to be prepared to face challenges to it in unexpected areas: terrorism, trans-national criminal networks, human trafficking, humanitarian disasters, climate change, avian flu, HIV/AIDS, and the list goes on.

The traditional tools and the internal and external policy dichotomy that once guided the actions of states in responding to these threats and challenges are becoming increasingly ineffective. The multi-faceted and widespread challenges we are facing now require a multi-faceted and multilateral approach, if security policy is to be effective and sustainable.

The United Nations and regional organizations are closely cooperating to address our common security challenges. The European Union has become an important partner for the United Nations, not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world.

At the field level, the UN and the EU have established an excellent relationship. We are cooperating well in Afghanistan. The hand-over in Bosnia was successful. And currently we are working shoulder-to-shoulder to solve the future status of Kosovo. In 2003, the EU supported the UN in a difficult situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through Operation Artemis. And this year, the EU mission “EUFOR R.D. Congo” will help MONUC to strengthen security during this summer’s elections in the country.

At headquarters level, first and foremost, it is the High-Level meeting between the UN and regional and other intergovernmental organizations, which the Secretary-General convenes and chairs since 1994. The next meeting is scheduled for September 2006 in New York. A biannual Desk-to-Desk dialogue between the UN Department of Political Affairs and the European Commission is also a good working-level initiative at headquarters level.

Due to its geographic position and mandate, the United Nations Office at Geneva focuses on cooperation with regional organizations in Europe, particularly in the format of the so-called Tripartite Process, a framework of annual consultations between the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE, with the participation of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and others. This year, UNOG will host the Tripartite Meeting on 4 and 5 July. Its High-Level segment will focus on the theme “Peacebuilding from a European Regional Perspective”, the expert-level segment on the first day will discuss “Intercommunity Relations in Post-Conflict Environments.” The meeting will aim to come up with concrete recommendations that could feed into the practical activities of the respective organizations.

Let me flag a couple of areas, where the UN sees room for closer cooperation and assistance from the EU.

EU member states have been key contributors of expert human resources to UN peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts. We acknowledge competing demands for its expertise, but would appreciate the EU’s continued commitment in this regard.

Also appreciated would be the EU’s continued commitment in its capacity as a major donor. Donor fatigue leaves unresolved issues which come back to haunt us. We should, therefore, work to close this gap between the considerable amounts pledged at donor conferences and those delivered.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The modern threat of international terrorism ushered in with such devastating brutality by 9/11, Beslan, the bombings in Madrid and London, is one of the most difficult challenges we are facing and figures high among Europe’s concerns when considering security strategies. This subject was covered in detail in this morning’s session and thereafter. Let me just touch on selected aspects.

In an unprecedented message to peoples around the world, and, most importantly, to all terrorists, the 2005 Summit of world leaders issued a clear and unqualified condemnation of terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes.” In response to a request in the Summit’s Outcome Document, the Secretary-General presented to the General Assembly last May 2, a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy. In formulating his recommendations, the Secretary-General has built further on the five interlinked components he had presented last year in Madrid, the so-called “5 Ds”. They are:

- Dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or supporting it;
- Denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack;
- Deterring states from supporting terrorism;
- Developing State capacity to defeat terrorism, and
- Defending human rights.

The Secretary-General’s main proposal is to launch a global campaign of Governments, the UN, civil society and the private sector, conveying that terrorism is unacceptable in any form, and that there are better and more effective ways to seek redress to grievances.

While it is unfortunate that there is no agreement yet on a comprehensive convention on terrorism that would include a definition of terrorism, the international community has adopted 13 conventions related to the prevention and suppression of international terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as well as five key Security Council resolutions.

Effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals, but complementary and mutually reinforcing ones. We have to make sure that we do not imitate the terrorists who negate the most basic human right – the right to life. Any security strategy that compromises human rights will play right into their hands. The words of the Secretary-General that “every time we make the rule of law stronger, we make terrorists weaker”, reflect well international concern that counter-terrorism measures, whether on a national or international level, be based on the rule of law. The United Nations and European regional organizations are jointly working towards these goals.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Recent events have led some to argue that the theory of a “clash of civilizations” might actually be coming true. Indeed, one can hardly avoid sensing a widening gap in mutual understanding between Islamic and Western societies, an environment that has, unfortunately, been exploited and exacerbated by extremists on all sides. The passions aroused by the recent publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad are only the most recent example. But the intensity of feelings that we have witnessed would indicate that a much deeper reservoir of mistrust and resentment exists, which was there long before the cartoons were ever published.

In seeking some of the underlying reasons for this, we would be well served to look to both sides. In broad strokes: it is no secret that many developing countries construe globalisation as a new crusade of the West. The West, in turn, is considerably off the mark when it uses the term Islamic terrorism. Just as globalisation is not a “crusade” by the West, so terrorism does not emanate from any particular religion or ideology, nor is it directed only at selected countries or certain peoples. It is, unfortunately, very much a ‘global’ phenomenon, rooted in such issues as poverty and under-development. Leaving the developing countries to fend for themselves is a recipe for disaster, as it widens the gap between the global ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ and creates a breeding ground for the various forms of trafficking and illicit networks. Yet, we must all share a responsibility for each other’s security, and we must all work together to build a safer world.

More tolerance is required from both the North and from the South. It would be unforgivable if the East-West conflict of days gone by was to be superseded by a North-South divide.

In an effort to avoid this, the Secretary-General launched in July 2005 an initiative for an Alliance of Civilizations. A High-Level Group of politicians, academics and representatives of civil society will provide an assessment of new and emerging threats to international peace and security, in particular the political, social and religious forces that foment extremism. It will identify and recommend appropriate strategies and actions in a report to the Secretary-General later this year.

The central problem we are facing is that misperception feeds extremism, and extremism appears to validate misperception. That is the vicious circle we have to break.

In the context of the challenges we are facing today, multilateralism itself has to adapt to the new environment. The reform efforts of the Secretary-General aim at creating or strengthening mechanisms to adapt the Organization to the challenges of the 21st century and to move from a “culture of reaction to a culture of prevention”.

Although, Member States could not agree so far on reform of the Security Council and of the Secretariat, the creation of the Peace building Commission, of the Human Rights Council and agreement on the principle of the responsibility to protect are major achievements of the UN reform process.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In conclusion, let me underscore that the UN system has a vital contribution to make in all relevant areas in close cooperation with the European Union. Dealing with today’s threats requires broad, deep, and sustained global cooperation. Thus we must create a collective security system to bring peace to war-torn areas, promote development and human rights, combat terrorism, and overhaul the United Nations. All this is in line with Europe’s values and will strengthen security in Europe.

Thank you very much.