Geneva International Model United Nations (GIMUN)

Mr. Lauber
Distinguished Delegates
Dear Colleagues:

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to the Palais des Nations. I always enjoy taking part in the Annual Conference of the Geneva International Model United Nations.

We greatly appreciate your interest in the United Nations, and we welcome your status as a non-governmental organization accredited to the Economic and Social Council, which allows you to contribute more directly to the debates at the United Nations. You want to go beyond simulating – you want to take active part.

Judging from the topics that you will be discussing and the impressive position papers prepared, I think that most of you know as much about this Organization as many long-time United Nations staffers – if not more. I am glad to see that our next generation of diplomats does not shy away from complex or challenging questions. I think your readiness to probe conventional formulations and your desire to move the goalposts can provide inspiration to many seasoned negotiators.

I hope that with a few brief remarks, I may be able to put your discussions into the broader context of the United Nations’ efforts. Common to all the issues on your agenda – and on ours’ – is that they are inter-related. We cannot address any of them in isolation. This does not mean that we cannot set priorities. But, we must be responsive to the linkages across issues if we are to be effective.

You are highlighting some of the most urgent security issues before the international community. In Darfur, insecurity and intense suffering prevail, despite the commendable support of the international community and the humanitarian, peacekeeping and mediation efforts on the ground. It is important to ensure that the situation in Darfur does not impact negatively on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement concerning Southern Sudan. Elections within this framework were planned to take place by July but delays in setting up the requisite infrastructure for elections may make this deadline hard to meet. The United Nations/African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) has now deployed more than 60 per cent of its troops, and the United Nations continues to do everything within its power to accelerate the deployment.

In the area of economic and social development, I welcome your focus on food security. The food crisis, which culminated in 2008, may have faded from the headlines, but it has by no means gone away. This is exactly where the United Nations can play a particularly valuable role – in ensuring that issues are followed up and efforts continued when the spotlight of the media has moved on. Prices may have fallen slightly, but they are, in fact, still high. The price reduction has been caused not only the economic and financial crisis, but also by an unusually good harvest in many parts of the world in 2008 that may not materialize this year – or next year. At the same time, because of the lower prices, the incentive to grow has gone down in some areas. There is still an urgent need to address the underlying structural causes that precipitated the food crisis in the first place, if we are to avoid its reoccurrence.

The food crisis is part of a wider development emergency. The Millennium Development Goals represent an ambitious agenda for human development – and it is an achievable one. But, efforts must be strengthened. Despite significant progress here just past the half-way mark, no country in Africa is on track to reach all of the MDGs within the deadline of 2015. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that the current economic downturn does not divert attention or resources away from this development challenge. If anything, the goals have only become more important to protect the world’s poor from the effects of the global crisis.

The partnership between developing and developed countries is critical to this task. Donors must maintain their support. For their part, developing countries must ensure accountability and eliminate wasteful spending to make room for investment in health and education.

An important issue that cuts across both security and development is disarmament. I know from your agenda that it will not be one of the main topics of discussion, but I encourage you to keep in mind this dimension. Disarmament and non-proliferation are not only key to international stability, but also to advancing development. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – a well-know research organization – global military expenditure has now topped USD 1.3 trillion. This staggering sum of money represents a huge investment of financial and technical resources that could be liberated for other productive uses – not least development, and especially at this time of global economic crisis.

Respect for all human rights is the indispensable foundation for lasting peace and long-term sustainable development. Protection and promotion of human rights is therefore – together with security and development – one of the three pillars of the United Nations’ work. There can be no security without development, just as there can be no development without security – but we can have neither without respect for human rights. I know that these connections will manifest themselves clearly in your exchanges. We are fortunate that we have with us today also Mr. Lauber who is Switzerland’s Special Representative to the Human Rights Council, and I am sure that he will outline the work and challenges of the Council in greater detail.

I am also encouraged by your focus on humanitarian issues. As you know, almost 10 million fellow human beings are refugees, often far away from their countries and families. In addition, an estimated 50 million people worldwide are internally displaced. As an international community, we have an obligation to assist them, and to support their countries to address the situations that uprooted them. Against the backdrop of the economic and financial crisis, we must work to avoid any possible gap in funding for the basic needs for some of our most vulnerable fellow human beings.

Your environmental debates could hardly be more timely. In December, world leaders will gather in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Summit to agree on a comprehensive, inclusive and ratifiable climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Cutting emissions is central to our efforts to confront climate change, but it cannot stand alone. We need greater efficiency in the use of existing resources, coupled with investment in energy efficient employment opportunities and an increase in the use of renewable and low-carbon energy sources. This is what the Secretary-General has called a “New Green Deal”. In our focus on climate issues, we must not lose sight of other environmental challenges, such as water management. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a preventable disease associated with lack of clean water. 2.6 billion people lack access to proper sanitation. Better management of this scarce resource is not only a key objective in its own right, but it would have a catalytic effect on development generally.

As you know, they say that the devil is in the detail. I am sure that you will find that nowhere is that more true than in your “Sixth Committee”. As a lawyer myself, I participated in the work of the Sixth Committee in my national capacity. And I have experienced how what may appear to be technical legalistic details are often illustrations of disagreements on a political level. You may find that some of the your most heated exchanges will take place in the Sixth Committee because you will be debating issues that go to the core of the United Nations’ identity: an intergovernmental organization, built on the sovereign equality of its Member States, but with a mandate to protect vulnerable fellow human beings.

Dear Friends:

I commend you on the inclusion of the Historical Security Council simulation. I have to admit straight away that I am an avid reader of history, so I take a personal interest in this exercise. And I am glad to find – among my younger colleagues here – appreciation for the value of a historical perspective. Because, sometimes we need to look back to be able to chart the course ahead. In all our efforts, it is important that we take onboard – and apply – lessons learned.

The Palais des Nations used to be the headquarters of the League of Nations – the precursor to the United Nations. This year, it is 90 years since the League of Nations was founded. And 80 years since the first stone of the Palais des Nations was laid. Working here, we are surrounded by the history of the origins of our Organization – of the positive and negative experience of the past. While it is true that the League failed in its main endeavour – to maintain international peace and security – it is important to recognize that many of the institutions and processes of the United Nations are, in fact, built on what was created by the League of Nations. It shows that solid processes and lasting results are built over time, with persistence and a sense of purpose – and with the readiness to review past actions honestly to be able to correct mistakes.

Whether we are dealing with climate change, terrorism, the financial crisis, development or humanitarian emergencies, there is always a global dimension to the problem and a local impact. We must connect these levels, and that can only be done through effective multilateral institutions. Multilateralism – based on international law – holds the greatest potential for effective solutions.

By taking part in this exercise, you are showing your commitment to the values of multilateral cooperation, and we are grateful for that. I have no doubt that this commitment will be of benefit to the United Nations in the future. I trust that we will see many of you back at the United Nations – not for a simulation, but for a real contribution. I know that your debates here will help prepare you well.

Thank you very much.