Today's Date:

Speaking for the first time from this rostrum, I wish to reaffirm here the importance France attaches to the multilateral system. Our common future cannot be envisaged without strengthening it.

The declaration adopted the day before yesterday is a milestone on this road even if it does not meet all our expectations.

The text includes some significant advances. I am thinking in particular of innovative financing for development. I am also thinking of the decision to establish a Peacebuilding Commission working closely with the Security Council. Lastly, I am thinking of the establishment of a Human Rights Council and the endorsement of the principle of the "responsibility to protect”. It is up to us now to concretely implement these conceptual advances. I wish to pay tribute here to the remarkable work carried out under Mr Jean Ping's leadership.

But let us not underestimate the scale of the task that still has to be accomplished, be it in counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, Security Council reform and development aid.

HUMAN RIGHTS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL/TERRORISM

The fundamental objectives of the United Nations are to frame the rule of law and promote universal standards. These reflect our common values and our conviction that there can be no security and development without scrupulous respect for human rights. This is not a question of ethics but of respect for everyone's identity. It is not a matter of saying what is good or evil, but of enabling all to live in greater freedom and in dignity.

Let us reject the impressment of children in armed conflicts, the systematic use of sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon of war, the recourse to threats, arbitrary detention, torture of opponents, journalists, union officials and defenders of human rights. Let us conclude at last the negotiations on the Convention against Forced Disappearances.

To this end, let us strengthen the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and quickly establish the Human Rights Council.

The international community now has the necessary legitimacy to exercise effectively its "responsibility to protect” populations threatened with ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and genocide. France is particularly pleased about this. She welcomes the progress in the international criminal justice system, in particular through the action of the Security Council.

Those who believe they can count on the international community's inaction when committing their crimes should make no mistake: they will have to account for their actions.

60 years after the founding of the United Nations, terrorism is now one of the worst human rights violations. Nothing, no cause, no religion, no moral order justifies attacks on the lives of innocent civilians. We must define acts of terrorism once and for all so that we can combat more effectively this barbarism which takes mankind backwards.

PROLIFERATION/WMD/IRAN/SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is another major threat for the planet against which we must remain united and determined.

France, together with her German and British partners, has proposed a constructive approach to Iran to pave the way for a new relationship between that great country and the international community. This relationship is currently compromised by the concerns over its nuclear programme. We are asking Iran to build confidence by providing objective guarantees as to the exclusively peaceful nature of her programme. The Iranian statements made from this rostrum compel the international community to face up to its responsibilities, with referral to the Security Council on the agenda in order to strengthen the authority of the IAEA. The integrity of the non-proliferation regime is at stake.

But let us also work to reduce the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which fuels so many really deadly conflicts.

PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEBUILDING

To better serve peace and ensure the security of populations, the Security Council has expanded its field of action to the trafficking which finances conflicts, the impunity that covers them, particularly through to sanctions and embargoes. The United Nations is resolutely committed on the ground, at the very centre of the conflicts. Over 70,000 blue helmets, soldiers and police officers are now serving in 18 peacekeeping operations and thousands of others are working under Security Council mandates.

The results are there to see: in East Timor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in particular.

But to emerge from crisis, it is essential that these countries continue to benefit from our full attention and total support. In this transition phase, it is up to the United Nations to take a central role, through the Peacebuilding Commission.

Other situations still demand great vigilance and a high level of mobilization.

HAITI/COTE D'IVOIRE

In Haiti, the presence of strong contingents of United Nations soldiers and police officers must create the conditions for strengthening the political process involving, with none debarred, all peaceful forces. The preparation of elections must be accelerated. Like any other, the Haitian people, who have suffered too long, are entitled to respect and freedom.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the presence of ONUCI [UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire] and deployment of a representative of the Secretary-General responsible for the elections must also help bolster the implementation of the process defined at Marcoussis and Pretoria.

But in Côte d'Ivoire as in Haiti, the determined action of the united international community will produce no results unless all the parties cooperate in good faith and show a sense of responsibility. In Abidjan as in Bouaké, everyone must honour their commitments so that free and transparent elections can be held throughout the country. No other solution is possible. This is why it is essential to resolutely support the electoral process that is beginning as well as the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programmes. All the Ivorian parties must understand that they cannot with impunity block the peace efforts by being obstructive, making hate speeches or challenging democratic rules. The Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.

LEBANON

The situation in Lebanon shows what can be achieved through resolute international mobilization, supporting the courageous will of the people. The bulk of the Syrian forces have now left Lebanon. Elections have been held. A representative government has been formed. Our organization must continue to support the Lebanese government's efforts to recover full sovereignty and exercise authority over the whole of its territory. Concurrently, we must continue to support the proceedings of the commission of inquiry into Rafiq Hariri's assassination. We are determined to see justice done.

GAZA

Still in the Middle East, a spark of hope which could spread to all the States in the region is emerging with Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. France, together with her European partners, stands with the Palestinians in the task of rebuilding and developing this territory so that its inhabitants can move around and have access to jobs and decent living conditions.

But we cannot do just this. We have to open up a political way forward for relaunching the implementation of the Roadmap by encouraging, on one hand, the Palestinians to redouble their efforts on the security front and, on the other, the Israelis to take the necessary measures to stop settlement activity and comply with international law in their struggle for security. Peace can come only with the existence of two peaceful and democratic States living side by side in peace and security.

IRAQ

In Iraq, lastly, France remains committed, with United Nations assistance in particular, to the Iraqi people being able to acquire democratic institutions which all Iraqis can see as their own. Clearly, a policy focused exclusively on security leads to retrenchment of a community, endangering the cohesion of Iraqi society and the country's unity. Here, too, the political process must not exclude any representative and peaceful force and must hold out for Iraq the prospect of the restoration of complete sovereignty.

UNSC

Through all these crises, the Security Council has gradually imposed the authority of the United Nations to promote international peace and security. Its action is legitimate. Its authority will be further strengthened when we've reached an agreement on its enlargement taking into account the emergence of new powers and giving a more equitable place to all continents.

Concurrently, it is necessary to proceed with the far-reaching management reforms which our organization needs. In his report "In Larger Freedom”, the Secretary-General proposed elements of an action plan and initiated the first reforms. I commend his resolve and reaffirm France's determination to support him in his initiative.

SECURITY/DEVELOPMENT/MDG/INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN FORCE

We all know that security and development cannot be dissociated.

Five years on from the Millennium Summit, heads of State and government have just drawn up a troubling progress report on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

The final document which they have adopted clearly sets out the priorities on which we must mobilize. The first of these, alas, remains food security since, as the declaration adopted in 2004 on President Lula and President Chirac's initiative emphasized, hunger remains the worst weapon of mass destruction.

It still kills several hundred million men, women and children across the globe. We can see this right now in the Sahel and southern Africa. This scourge of another age must and can be fought.

Of course, emergency humanitarian aid must be provided to people in distress. This implies greater coordination of United Nations operations and the establishment of an international humanitarian force, as France has proposed.

But beyond this, it is important to give all areas at risk the technical resources for prevention and early warning. Above all, it is essential to bring about the conditions for sustainable development which benefit all: that is the ambition of the Millennium Development Goals which can be achieved only with substantial long-term financing. Official development assistance will remain the primary source of this funding for a long time to come. The summit document restates the international commitments in this regard, which France and the EU are determined to honour.

It is urgent for the other developed countries to make the same commitments.

INNOVATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS/PLANE TICKETS

But, as we well know, this will not be enough. Additional long-term resources have to be found through innovative financing mechanisms.

France advocates the establishment of international solidarity contributions. Over 66 countries have given their support to the pilot project for a tax on airline tickets, and we are delighted. In February, France will host a ministerial conference on this initiative so that it can be implemented concretely and speedily.

HIV/AIDS

By devoting three of the eight goals to health, the Millennium Declaration put public health back at the heart of sustainable development.

Because of its extent and economic and social consequences, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a matter of concern to us all. Only by working together will we cope with it, through measures incorporating prevention, treatment, care and the medical and social vulnerability of infected persons. France wishes to work on this integrated approach with her European partners, the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Everything must be done to achieve universal access to treatment by 2010 by implementing where necessary the flexibility in intellectual property rights provided for in the Doha international trade agreements.

The fight against AIDS demands the mobilization of all: France for her part has pledged to double her contribution to the Global Fund, increasing it to €300 million by 2007.

Concurrently, international cooperation must take into account the particular difficulties of certain categories of individuals: victims of extreme poverty who are excluded from society, young women who are denied the right to sexual and reproductive health, the disabled who are marginalized.

ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CHANGE/UNEO

From the Indian Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, from Japan to Antarctica, man is today confronted with an unprecedented rise in threats to the environment which he himself has caused.

Scientific evidence of the reality of climate change and its human origin is irrefutable. All initiatives must be compatible with the Kyoto Protocol; ideas must be outlined for the future of the post-2012 multilateral climate regime. France would like to see stronger commitments, especially regarding the transfer of technology to the emerging countries.

To respond to the threat and more effectively mobilize energies and resources, France and Europe have proposed the establishment of a specialized agency, based on the UN Environment Programme, with the task of coordinating international action. This idea is mentioned in the summit final document; it must now be translated into reality.

Mr President,

The United Nations is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The world has changed profoundly since 1945. Millions of men and women have gained freedom and emerged from underdevelopment. Technological progress has been staggering and has radically changed the life of societies and relations between States.

The challenges and threats have evolved. Today, they are on a global scale and endanger the whole of mankind.

Yet we must remain optimistic. It is not too late, providing we understand the stakes and mobilize collectively.

The UN is regaining the purpose the founding fathers gave it: to help in the peaceful resolution of conflicts, build international cooperation to advance development, and promote human rights.

We need the UN more than ever; it offers us the only framework for universal comprehensive action which is legitimate and recognized as such by all States. Let us give it our full support. France for her part makes this pledge./.