Speech by the Foreign Minister of Brazil, Ambassador Celso Amorim, at the opening of the General Debate of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly — New York, 17 September 2005.

Mr President, Mr Secretary General, Excellencies,

Let me extend my warmest congratulations to Ambassador Ian Eliasson of Sweden on assuming the presidency of the 60th General Assembly. Allow me also to express our fraternal greetings to Secretary General Kofi Annan, whose wisdom and commitment to multilateralism have made an immense contribution to progress in the United Nations. Minister Jean Ping, of Gabon, deserves special recognition for the competent and dedicated manner in which he presided over the 59th session of the General Assembly.

History offers us a rare opportunity to promote change: let us not waste it. Peace, development, democracy and respect for human rights are the objectives that unite us. Reform must be our watchword.

The summit's final document falls short of our expectations, but provides us with guidelines that will allow us to complete our task.

The General Assembly needs to be strengthened. More than ever we need a forum of universal representation in which the crucial issues of today's world can be debated democratically. The General Assembly must provide leadership and political guidance to the organization as a whole. In supporting the authority of the General Assembly by means of reforms which will make it more agile and productive, we are supporting the very essence of the United Nations.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) must again become a dynamic and influential organ. It must help us achieve convergence on issues related to trade, finance and development in an environment free from prejudice and dogma. The ECOSOC must be the deliberative forum in the quest for conciliation between the objectives of economic growth and the reduction of inequalities brought about by asymmetrical globalization. President Lula suggested at this year's G-8 Summit in Gleneagles that we could start raising the profile of the ECOSOC by organizing a high-level segment with the participation, for instance, of the finance minister of the country holding the G-8 presidency. The ECOSOC must also contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in partnership with the Security Council, as set forth by Article 65 of the Charter.

The establishment of a Peace-Building Commission will bridge an important institutional gap. It will be the link, currently non-existent, between security and development.

The structures and mechanisms of this organization in the field of human rights must be improved and reinforced. We support the creation of a Human Rights Council based on the principles of universality, dialogue and non-selectivity. The elaboration of a global report on human rights by the High Commissioner's Office, covering all countries and situations, will contribute to increasing the credibility of the UN human rights system.

The Secretary General has called for better coordination in our work to protect victims of grave and systematic violations of human rights. International cooperation in the areas of human rights and humanitarian assistance must be guided by the principle of collective responsibility. On several occasions we have asserted that, in our region and elsewhere, the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of States must be associated with the idea of "non-indifference".

We have been called upon to deal with new concepts such as "human security" and "responsibility to protect". We agree that they merit a place in our system. But it is an illusion to believe we can combat the dysfunctional politics at the root of grave human rights violations through military means alone, or even through economic sanctions, to the detriment of diplomacy and persuasion.

Human security is mainly the product of just and equitable societies which promote and protect human rights, strengthen democracy and respect the rule of law while creating opportunities for economic development and social justice. The United Nations was not created to disseminate the notion that order should be imposed by force. This extreme expedient must only be considered when all other efforts have been exhausted and peaceful solutions have indeed proved not viable. The judgment regarding the existence of such exceptional circumstances must always be a multilateral one. On that basis, the Charter foresees two situations for the use of force: the need to restore or maintain international peace and security, and the right to self-defense. Mixing these two concepts would blur the very tenets of this organization.

Mr President,

Security Council reform is the centerpiece of the reform process in which we are engaged. An overwhelming majority of member states recognize the need to make the Security Council more representative and democratic.

At this historical juncture, Security Council reform will be meaningful if it does not entail an increase in the number of permanent and non-permanent seats, with developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America in both categories. We cannot accept the perpetuation of imbalances that run contrary to the spirit of multilateralism.

Above all, a more efficient Security Council must be capable of ensuring that its decisons are implemented. It is not reasonable to expect that the Council can continue to expand its agenda and responsibilities without addressing its democracy deficit.

Two years ago, President Lula declared before this Assembly that every nation committed to democracy at the domestic level must strive for transparent, legitimate and representative decision-making processes in its foreign relations. In the same spirit, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out the contradictions to be overcome, and I quote: "We are the ones who go around the world lecturing everybody about democracy. I think it is about time we apply it to ourselves and then show there is effective representation".

Mr President,

We are still far from accomplishing the goals of the Millennium Declaration. This week's Summit has stressed the importance of a renewed commitment to Development Assistance, and contributed to promoting wider acceptance of the 0.7 per cent threshold as the proportion of GNP to be destined for ODA. At the same time, we must continue to work on innovative and additional sources of financing. I note with satisfaction that since the World Leaders' Meeting for Action Against Hunger and Poverty - convened last year by President Lula - we have achieved significant progress. A growing number of governments and NGOs have joined in the effort to eradicate hunger and poverty. This is the only war in which we are engaged. This is the only war we can all win.

This year we have yet again witnessed brutal acts of terrorism. Innocent civilians, women and children are today victims of groups who stand opposed to the values we share. As a country whose identity cannot be dissociated from the notions of tolerance and diversity, Brazil denounces these abhorrent acts in the strongest terms. We will continue to lend our support to increased international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and to the elimination of its deep-rooted causes. Such efforts must be undertaken with due respect for international law and human rights. The fight against terrorism cannot be viewed in terms of police repression alone - neither must such acts result in absurd, indiscriminate deaths like those caused by terrorism itself. Despite the fact that there is no automatic linkage between poverty and terrorism, communities can be exposed to extreme attitudes by fanatical groups as a result of grave social and economic problems - especially when associated with the absence of civil and political liberties. I wish to express Brazil's readiness to work intensively with a view to the prompt conclusion of a comprehensive convention on terrorism.

We recognize the risks of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Yet we cannot disregard the importance of reducing and dismantling existing arsenals of all such weapons. We regret that the Seventh Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty did not produce tangible results. Together with non-proliferation efforts, we must continue to work tirelessly towards nuclear disarmament.

In addition to the challenges I have just mentioned, we are faced with two crises of global impact: the pandemic explosion of HIV/AIDS, and the serious threats posed by climate change. Brazil will remain engaged in promoting the implementation of existing multilateral instruments to fight these scourges.

Mr President,

Brazil is committed to reinforcing its strategic alliance with its main partner in our region, Argentina, and to the promotion of a prosperous, integrated and politically stable South America, building upon our experience in MERCOSUL. We will strive tirelessly for MERCOSUL's advancement in the economic and political fields. The South American Community of Nations, founded last year in Cuzco, can be seen as a driving force for integration in Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole.

Our efforts in establishing partnerships with other countries and regions go beyond our immediate region.

IBSA – the India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum – has brought together three democracies from Africa, Asia and Latin America which are keen to deepen the economic, political and cultural ties between themselves and their regions.

We joined our other partners in establishing the G-20, which has placed developing countries at the centre-stage of the Doha Round agricultural-trade negotiations. Thanks to the role played by the G-20 it has been possible, in the context of the GATT or the WTO, to associate trade liberalization and social justice.

To strengthen our ties with Africa has been a longstanding aspiration for Brazil. No previous Brazilian government has pursued this objective with the resolve demonstrated by President Lula. Trade and cooperation between Brazil and Africa has grown significantly. Our dialogue has intensified. We have been contributing to the consolidation of peace and democracy in countries such as Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe. We have helped to fight hunger, develop agriculture, and combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS in a number of African countries.

The same sense of solidarity inspires us to participate in the peace efforts of the United Nations in Haiti. The Brazilian and Latin American presence in Haiti is unprecedented, both in terms of troop numbers and political commitment. We are moved by three main objectives: 1) the setting up of a safe environment; 2) the promotion of dialogue among the political actors with a view to a genuine democratic transition; and 3) effective international support for social and economic reconstruction. Haiti is likely to be the first test case for the Peace Building Commission.

Brazil and the Arab world are renewing their ties of friendship, inspired by strong historical and cultural affinities. Apart from bilateral initiatives, Brazil has been strengthening its relations with regional groupings such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League. In May 2005 an unprecedented summit of South American and Arab countries took place in Brasilia. This pioneering initiative brought together two regions of the developing world in a concrete and effective demonstration of harmony between civilizations.

During several trips to the Middle East I have had the opportunity to talk to a variety of interlocutors, including leaders from Israel and Palestine. Those leaders are aware of Brazil's willingness to support the work of the Quartet as a partner for peace. The practice of tolerance and respect for others, as well as the harmonious coexistence of different communities in our country, perhaps constitute a comparative advantage for us. I believe this conviction is shared by important personalities and political leaders in both Israel and Palestine.

Mr President,

At the threshold of a new chapter in the life of the United Nations, Brazil remains committed to the ideals that led to the creation of the only organization of universal scope, the only body that can guarantee a future of peace and prosperity not for the few, but for all.

Thank you.