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Året, der gik
FN's generalsekretær, Ban Ki-moon ser tilbage på året, der gik - fra revolutionen i Libyen, til dannelsen af Sydsudan, til sultkatastrofen på Afrikas Horn - til de opgaver, der venter i 2012. Konflikten i Syrien, i Sudan. Genopbygningen af Haiti. Og ikke mindst verdenstopmødet Rio+20, der skal bane vejen for en bæredygtig udvikling.
We are nearing the end of my first term as Secretary-General, and
this is also the day when I can discuss with you my last five year
situation. This has been an extraordinary and remarkable
year.
The Arab Awakening or Arab Spring has transformed the geopolitical
landscape. We spoke out - early and forcefully, calling on leaders
to hear the voices of their people. And we acted, decisively, in
concert with the international community.
We played an essential role in the liberation of Libya. We
stand ready to continue to help Tunisia and Egypt at their
request.
The agreement mediated by our UN envoy in Yemen sets the stage for
an end to fighting - and the creation of a new government of
national unity.
We welcomed our 193rd Member State - the Republic of
South Sudan. The birth of this new nation followed a successful
referendum in January this year, made possible by UN peacekeeping
and diplomacy that included, four years ago, our deployment in
Darfur of peacekeepers.
And in Myanmar we see a promising new opening - we will persist
through our good offices and other efforts.
Elsewhere, events continue to test our resolve.
In Syria, more than 5,000 people are dead. This cannot go on. In
the name of humanity, it is time for the international community to
act.
In Afghanistan, we face continued insecurity. Last week's
conference in Bonn re-affirmed the international community's
commitment to our partnership through 2014 and beyond.
With the help of the Quartet, we must continue to push for peace
between Israel and Palestine.
In the Horn of Africa, people still face famine.
From the beginning of my time as Secretary-General, I have sought
to advance a practical, action-oriented vision of the UN as the
voice of the voiceless, and the defender of the defenceless.
That is why, together with the President of the General Assembly I
went to Somalia last week - the first visit of a Secretary-General
in 18 years. And of course, the first time ever in the history of
the UN that the Secretary-General and the President of the General
Assembly travelled together to Somalia. And it is why I
visited the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, where we are helping to
feed and shelter half a million Somali people.
From Somalia to Sudan, Yemen to Afghanistan, Haiti to the
Philippines - millions need our help.
Today in Geneva, we asked for $7.7 billion to assist 51 million
people in 16 countries next year.
Economic times are hard. But we cannot balance budgets with the
lives of the world's poorest and most vulnerable.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
2011 also delivered warnings about our common future.
The disaster at Fukushima revived concerns about nuclear safety,
and the UN mobilized a global response.
We saw record floods in Pakistan, Thailand, Colombia and El
Salvador - a vivid reminder of the increasing incidence of extreme
weather.
I came to office speaking of climate change as the defining
challenge of our era. I was determined to raise it to the top of
the global agenda.
Five years later, we have made significant progress - from Bali to
Copenhagen to Cancún and, now, Durban.
At Durban, we defied the sceptics. We showed clearly that UN
multilateral negotiations can deliver: consensus on a clear target
and timeline for reaching a legally binding agreement involving all
countries; a re-commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and the
institutions that have produced major reductions in green house
gases; advances on technology and financing, including the Green
Climate Fund.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, we will build on this Durban spirit of
cooperation to advance on climate change financing and, in
particular, our new initiative on Sustainable Energy for All.
There is a broader lesson.
Whether the issue is climate change - peace, security and human
rights - or humanitarian relief - the United Nations has never been
so needed.
I believe we are at an inflection point in history. All is
changing. The old rules are breaking down.
We do not know what new order will emerge. Yet we can be confident:
the United Nations will be at the fore.
That is why, at the General Assembly in September, I set out a
vision for the next five years - a vision of solidarity for an era
of upheaval and uncertainty.
5 Global Imperatives
I identified five global imperatives - five generational
opportunities to create the future we want:
1) Sustainable development,
2) A safer and more secure world,
3) The importance of prevention,
4) Helping countries in transition, and
5) Doing more for the world's women and young people.
I will lay out our plan of action in January to the General
Assembly.
For now, let me say that we will focus on the links among issues.
We must connect the dots - between climate change, energy,
food, water, health and education, and oceans.
All these will be front-and-center at the Rio + 20 Conference on
Sustainable Development in June next year.
Meanwhile, we will build on the progress of the last five
years.
Our new emphasis on preventive diplomacy and mediation has produced
encouraging results - in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus
and Nepal.
We have advanced the Responsibility to Protect.
In Côte d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo sought to subvert the will of his
people. We stood firm for democracy - and today he is in The Hague.
We stood, as well, against Muammar Qaddafi when he vowed to
slaughter his people like "rats."
These are important victories for justice and international law.
During the last five years, we have stood repeatedly for
accountability against impunity. We have strengthened the rule of
law and the International Criminal Court, now ratified by 120
nations with more soon to come.
On disarmament and non-proliferation, we have seen growing support
for the five-point plan introduced early in my first term.
We continue to champion the rights of women and children. The
creation of UN Women culminated a long effort, grounded in our
conviction that women are key to development and peace.
Our "Every Woman Every Child" initiative has the potential to
prevent millions of needless deaths. Coupled with our success in
fighting malaria, we have a powerful model for the future.
What we preach to others, we must practice ourselves. Women
hold more senior positions than ever in UN history. You will see
many more during my second term, not only at the top.
Ladies and gentlemen, we can accomplish little without a strong
United Nations.
People are outpacing traditional institutions - in their desire for
change - in their demands for democracy, justice, human rights and
new social and economic opportunity.
Our challenge is to keep up - to adapt - and to deliver.
As my Chef de Cabinet announced on December 1, I intend to build a
new team for my second term, a team that is strong on substance and
diverse in composition, a team that works as one.
Leading by example, I have placed priority on mobility - combining
fresh perspective and institutional continuity and synergy.
With these criteria in mind, I am undertaking a thorough review of
my entire team and its management structure. In the coming days,
additional announcements will be made as appropriate.
Thank you.
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UN Photo/Michos Tzovaras
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