“Ninety years after the Åland Islands Settlement – Challenges and Prospects for Peace Mediation”

Excellency Foreign Minister Tuomioja
Excellency Madam Gunell
Ambassador Tanner
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure to welcome you all for this symposium, in which we will explore the success of the Åland Islands Settlement and whether it may still serve as a source of inspiration today. We will also reflect on how the United Nations can develop new approaches to respond to, and help settle, contemporary disputes and conflicts. Before we begin, I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Finland for organizing this symposium and the reception that will follow, as well as the Geneva Centre for Security Policy for their involvement in the event. The UN Office at Geneva enjoys close cooperation with the GCSP and I am pleased to see Mr. Tanner here today.

Dear Colleagues:
The Åland Islands Settlement set a precedent for the successful negotiation of international disputes. The decision by the League of Nations in 1921 to approve the autonomous status and demilitarization of the Islands was instrumental. It helped to protect minority rights while at the same time providing a mutually agreeable and peaceful resolution to a conflict.

That both Finland and Sweden acknowledged the decision as a standing and valid ruling, established the legitimacy and value-added of transnational engagement. This, in turn, proved the effectiveness of international bodies such as the League of Nations. In this way, the Åland Islands Settlement paved the way for conflict resolution leading up to this day. Although the nature of conflict has changed since that time, elements of the settlement can serve as an example of how peaceful mediation may be used to solve contemporary disputes, including with regional, ethnic or minority dimensions.

Following this agreement, the United Nations has gone on to play an important role in conflict prevention and dispute mediation and resolution. United Nations political missions are deployed to the field with mandates to encourage dialogue and cooperation within and between nations, or to promote reconciliation and democratic governance in societies rebuilding after conflict. One of our more recently established missions, in Libya, is currently helping to establish many of the required functions of a modern state. With UN support, Libyans will be holding country-wide elections next month, something that would have been unthinkable to most Libyans just one year ago. Globally, there are a broad constellation of United Nations entities operating across a wide range of relevant disciplines - poverty-eradication and development, human rights and the rule of law, elections and the building of democratic institutions, the control of small arms, to name just a few.

It is true that we face challenges. Conflicts today, more often than not, are no longer inter-State, but intra-State. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, conflicts over government outnumbered those over territory in every year of the period 2001 to 2010, except for the year 2007. In 2010, for example, only four of the major armed conflicts were over territory, with 11 being fought over government. Organized crime, illicit drugs, terrorism cross State lines and threaten the stability and security of fragile countries. Gross violations of human rights also often pose a threat to international peace and security.

To address these challenges, the UN has committed itself to moving from a culture of reaction to one of prevention. Efforts are ongoing to bolster our peacemaking capacity, in particular by strengthening the ability of the Organization to practice preventive diplomacy and to employ and support mediation in order to head off potential crises at an early stage. It is evident that we cannot accomplish our goals alone. Therefore it is critical that the UN works with Member States, regional organizations, civil society and others to pursue comprehensive strategies that address more immediate, as well as deep-rooted structural causes of conflict.

An increased focus on political solutions makes sense. First, at the root of most conflicts that may, or perhaps already have turned violent are political problems. Security interventions can provide a breathing space, but they rarely settle the underlying differences that drive conflict, such as ethnic and religious questions or disparities of wealth and power.

Second, in a conflict situation, distrust among national actors may mean that they are unable to arrive at necessary compromises without help in the form of international mediation, facilitation or diplomatic encouragement. To those problems, the UN brings a special legitimacy and impartiality. Peace agreements can also be supported by the UN’s development, human rights and humanitarian machinery.

Third, there is a place for political action before, during and after a conflict. Ideally we want to prevent violence from erupting in the first place. But even if that fails, robust diplomacy and mediation is still required to end the fighting through negotiations and then to help countries navigate the difficult politics of reconciliation and rebuilding. Too many nations fail in this last stage, and slide right back into conflict.

For these reasons it is clear, that as in 1921, there remains a case for involvement of the UN in conflict prevention and resolution, especially in partnership with regional and other actors.

The example of the Åland Islands clearly shows that acceptable and lasting solutions can be found to even the most difficult territorial issues provided that there is political will. The parties to a dispute will always have the most challenging role in finding a settlement and making it last, but the United Nations can and regularly does play a critical supporting role. Vested interests will always play a role, and ours are clear: support for fundamental human rights and international peace and security. This is an important perspective in any negotiation.

The Åland Islands Settlement came about as a result of political wisdom and diplomatic skill - two things which I think you would agree, remain quite relevant and needed in the resolution of today’s conflicts. I look forward to further exploring these during today’s discussion.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I very much look forward to the keynote address by Foreign Minister Tuomioja and the discussion that will take place during this symposium. I am sure that it will be fruitful, and hope that it will result in some bold and innovative approaches in global conflict resolution.

Thank you very much.