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George Cunningham's address on 'The UN, the EU and You'

INTRODUCTION

I am very glad to be here despite everything that's been happening in the world over the past two months. And I pass onto you my greetings from the great New York City!

I am very grateful to Jennifer O'Neil, Secretary-General of this great conference, Patrick Miles and Jason Terry for extending me this invitation to speak. I'm very excited to be here and to have a chance to share my thoughts with you.

I have arrived in Chattanooga after a very busy week at the United Nations. As you know, the General Assembly Debate was postponed from September until last week. This "Ministerial week" as we call it included around thirty meetings involving high-level European Union representatives working together - a real New York Marathon for us.

Just before the meeting of the 15 EU Foreign Ministers with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov, there was a photograph taken of all EU Foreign Ministers together. There was a lot of jostling as photographers from all over the world pushed and shoved each other to take the best picture. Afterwards, I asked the photographer's assistant what he thought of it all. "It's really amazing", he said. "I feel for the first time that I'm really in contact with the world".

This is what this gathering is about in Chattanooga - being in contact in the world. And being in contact with the world's most important multilateral institution - the United Nations.

US OPINION TOWARDS THE UN FLUCTUATES

The US-UN relationship has not always been an easy one since the foundation of the UN in 1945. During the first few years, polls showed high US public support for the UN. But after a while, a steep decline set in. This happened for several reasons:

• The Cold War deepened;
  
• The US started feeling its policies were being negatively affected by the expanded UN membership after the mass independence of colonial territories in the sixties;
  
• The US started making it clear publicly that its national interest was served less and less at the UN.
  
• The first low-point of the US-UN relationship was reached with the Zionism v. Racism UN resolution debate of the mid-seventies
  
• In 1985, a further low-point was reached during the "Star Wars" period, when 54% of the US public said the UN was doing a poor job and just 28% a good job.

Thomas Frank, former Director of UNITAR, wrote in 1985: "The balmy days of 1945-1960 now seem a distant shore. Then, the United States could command the UN's agenda; nowadays (that is, in 1985) the tendency is to think of the UN as a Venus fly-trap, to be approached warily or, better, not at all…Yet, even now, occasional US victories…suggest that the situation is not hopeless; not, that is, if Washington chooses the right issues and commits sufficient diplomatic and intellectual resources to winning…The effort deserves to be made. Admittedly…if the U.N. did not exist, we would not now feel impelled to invent it. But since it does exist, and for as long as the U.S. chooses to belong, it is better…to throw a few well-placed punches than to just lick our wounds."

In 1988, opinion started to change. The Cold War unfroze. The UN brokered the deal to allow Soviet Forces to leave Afghanistan. 1989 saw the Berlin Wall come down. The UN started to unite.

The latest public opinion poll- in the middle of President Bill Clinton's second Administration in 1998 - shows quite the reverse of 1985 with 60% saying the UN was doing a good job and only 37% saying it was doing a poor job, the highest approval rating for the UN in the US recorded since 1959 and the second highest in the UN's history.

The recent event of 11th September is another turning point in the relationship between the US and the UN, the importance of which will only become evident in time to come.

IMPORTANCE OF THE EU AND US TOGETHER ENGAGED AT THE UN

The EU believes in a multilateral approach to world affairs. It does so because it is by the process of negotiation and consensus seeking among its current 15 Member States that it has built itself into the power that it now is on the world's stage.

Multilateralism is therefore part of the nature of how the EU gets its job done. And therefore working within the UN system is natural for us.

The EU is a major player in world affairs. It is an economic superpower. The European Union has a 9 trillion US dollar economy compared to United States' 10 trillion US dollar economy. Together, the EU and US are almost 60% of the world economy. The EU is equal to US in trade volumes - together the EU and US have over a third of world imports and exports.

The European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy developed in the nineties. The EU also expects to have a Rapid Reaction Force of 60,000 soldiers by the year 2003.

The two biggest priorities on the EU's agenda - the launch of euro notes and coins and the EU's forthcoming enlargement up to 27 or 28 countries in total - will further cement its impact on the world scene.

The EU is engaged in all parts of the world. Its main actors in foreign policy currently are the EU Presidency Foreign Minister Louis Michel, External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and High Representative Javier Solana. They have been busy focusing their efforts in crisis management especially in Afghanistan, the Balkans, the Middle East and even Korea. The biggest military contingents in the Balkans come from EU Member States. The EU is also consistently the biggest giver of foreign assistance in times of crisis, as witnessed in the Balkans and also, for instance, in financing the Palestinian Authority to try to stop the Middle East sliding further into chaos.

The European Union is also generous towards the United Nations:

• For the UN general budget, the EU member states contribute 37% of the total; the US 23%. Together the EU and US make up about 60% of all contributions.
  
• For the UN peacekeeping budget, the EU member states contribute 40% of the total; the US 27%. Together that's two thirds of the total.
  
• For Overseas Development Aid, the EU and its Member States contribute 50% of the world's total. In this case, the US's contribution is 17%. We shall see if the forthcoming Financing For Development conference can encourage the US in particular to do better.
  
  The EU Member States vote together 96-97% of the time at the General Assembly. The EU and the UN are also beginning to increase coordination in the realm of conflict prevention in areas such as:
  
  
• Development cooperation and external assistance;
  
• Economic cooperation and trade policy instruments;
  
• Humanitarian aid;
  
• Social and environmental policy;
  
• Diplomatic instruments such as political dialogue and mediation, as well as economic and other sanctions.
  
  The EU is therefore by its very nature a committed multilateralist. The EU and US are also sufficiently strong in the world that - as we like to say - "together we can make a difference", especially at the UN
  
  THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM: THE UN, US AND EU WORKING TOGETHER
  
  The UN is involved in all matters ranging from peace and security, economic, social and humanitarian as well as environmental issues. As the world shrinks, so issues become more global. No country can act in isolation as the tragic events on 11th September have shown.
  
  The UN is often portrayed as a talking shop but of course it has many agencies and programmes combating all the ills of the world. Even as a talking shop, it serves an important role in promoting jaw-jaw instead of war-war.
  
  The war against terrorism today provides a concrete case study of how important the UN has become.
  
  The scale of the destruction of the Twin Towers on 11th September has shocked the world - a third of UN Member States lost citizens in the attacks. The UN Security Council Resolution 1368 immediately laid the cornerstone of effective international action by branding the attacks a "threat to international peace and security" - language in the UN Charter that triggers enforcement action. The Security Council declared that UN Member States have an obligation to help "bring to justice" the organizers and sponsors of these atrocities, and warned that those harboring terrorist networks "will be held accountable".
  
  The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution the same day condemning the attacks and calling for international cooperation to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these outrages.
  
  The UN Security Council resolution was no mere words. Security Council authorization makes a big difference - in practical as well as legal terms - to how the world as a whole reacts to crises.
  
  For instance, many Islamic countries have already invoked the Council's resolution to explain their cooperation in rooting out Osama bin-Laden's terrorist network. Pakistan has halted financial flows to Afghanistan, sealing its borders and sharing intelligence. Other countries in the Muslim world similarly justify close cooperation with Washington in tracking down Islamic terrorists by citing the legal obligation to fulfill the Security Council's call.
  
  The Security Council resolution vowing "to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts" gave the UN's green light for military action by the coalition against terrorism which has had such a dramatic impact now in Afghanistan.
  
  THE EU'S OWN ACTIONS AGAINST TERRORISM
  
  The EU was swift to respond to the terrorist acts on September 11th. Just ten days later, it set in motion a series of measures in those areas where it must and can make an effective contribution: external relations, police and judicial cooperation, air transport, humanitarian aid as well as economic and financial policy.
  
  The EU is in solidarity with the American people and the civilian population of Afghanistan. It is firm in its determination to fight against terrorism. This is reflected in closer cooperation between EU Member States' own police and judicial authorities and with those authorities of the United States and other non-EU countries. It is coupled with a major diplomatic drive to create a broad coalition against terrorism.
  
  Already two days after the Twin Towers disaster, the European Commission had tabled proposals for a European arrest warrant to supplant the current system of extradition between EU Member States. It hopes to adopt a common definition of terrorism and related penalties as early as next month.
  
  These proposals represent the first step in a much wider panoply of measures against terrorism and all forms of cross-border organized crime within the European Union.
  
  One key aim is to dry up the sources of terrorist funding. An important step in this direction was taken on October 8th, when the European Commission was asked to take the necessary measures to freeze the assets of 27 organizations and individuals suspected of having links to the attacks of September 11th, pursuant to a decision adopted by the UN Sanctions Committee in October. This will supplement measures already in force in the EU giving effect to UN resolutions in this area.
  
  The EU recently tightened its laws against money laundering, extending the scope of the directive to not only include proceeds from drug-related crime, but any type of crime and to both the financial and non-financial sectors which are vulnerable to misuse by money launderers.
  
  THE EU'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION IN AFGHANISTAN
  
  The European Union voiced its solidarity with the United States on the day the attacks occurred. A further expression of solidarity was the adoption on September 20th of a joint EU-US statement on measures to combat terrorism.
  
  The EU supports a UN-backed political process to bring about reconstruction and the opening up of Afghanistan.
  
  The EU is, apart from the United States, the biggest donor of humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It has given about a half billion Euro since 1991. For the year 2001, the Commission intends to commit over 100 million Euro in response to the Afghan crisis. The Commission is working closely especially with UNHCR and the World Food Programme to handle the crisis.
  
  The European Union will be heavily involved in plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan even before the war has ended to ensure there is a peace dividend through "quick start" projects in liberated zones.
  
  The UN currently is preparing for Afghanistan's future, having just delivered the first political blueprint for a post-Taliban government. Mr. Brahimi, Kofi Annan's special envoy for Afghanistan, presented the plan on November 13th for a two-year transitional administration to bring the country's ethnic groups under one umbrella and establish a multinational force to guard them.
  
  A UN Security Council resolution adopted last Wednesday supports efforts to ensure the safety and security of areas of Afghanistan no longer under Taliban control. Mr. Brahimi believes an all-Afghan force is the best way to provide security for any transitional government in areas where the Taliban no longer ruled, but he added that this might take too long to organize. A coalition of multinational troops, perhaps including such countries as Turkey, Jordan, Malaysia, along with EU Member States, might be appropriate.
  
  The European Union, the United States as well as many other governments have pushed the UN to the forefront in organizing a broad-based government in Afghanistan that would have global legitimacy. The EU restates the need for the post-Taliban Government to be representative of all ethnic groups inside the country and abide by the principles of human rights.
  
  In recent days, the Northern Alliance has made dramatic progress in securing Kabul and other key cities. The international community will support all efforts to ensure a broadly based administration can take charge as quickly as possible.
  
  Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, holder of the EU Presidency, and European Commission President Romano Prodi are travelling to India and Pakistan next week for the EU's regular summit with India and will hold talks with the Pakistani government on the regional dimension of the crisis.
  
  WILL THE CURRENT US COMMITMENT TO THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM LAST?
  
  How solidly internationalist is the United States now? Globalization is playing a major role everywhere as more people look at the world through the Internet and 24 hour news.
  
  Terrorism has had a knock-on effect. Irrespective of any victory in Afghanistan, the al-Qaeda worldwide terrorist network will need tackling. Also once the international community has agreed the essential definition of terrorism, other courses of action may arise.
  
  The US's commitment to multilateralism has also been reinforced recently by the good news of the launch of the Doha Development Agenda of multilateral trade negotiations.
  
  But the EU is also looking for good news in other areas of EU-US-UN relations, such as movement on:
  
  
• The Kyoto protocol;
  
• The International Criminal Court;
  
• Biological Weapons Convention;
  
• Proliferation of Small Arms Treaty.
  
  As well, we would like the US to re-engage itself in parts of the world such as the Middle East. As our High Representative is reported to have said: "We really want the Bush Administration more engaged. It is in everyone's interest that it does". We eagerly await Colin Powell's announcement on the matter this coming Monday.
  
  We believe that engagement through the UN is the best way forward for all of us. Actions through the UN give legitimacy in the world. And the EU is happy to help the US achieve its goals at the UN whenever it can.
  
  CONCLUSION
  
  Your gathering here is important as a display of US engagement in the wider world.
  
  I want to encourage you to build on that experience in your future lives and give some examples how you might contribute to the world yourselves.
  
  Travel. Put on your backpack and go forth into the world. See suffering, experience hunger, get a feel for the realities of the world. This is the way to build on your Model UN experience and become an internationalist.
  
  Use the tools of globalization - such as the Internet - to get knowledge and have an opinion. Get active in politics and grass roots NGO movements with internationalist objectives.
  
  Always keep an open mind, take in what life and the world offers you and don't be afraid to change your mind when arguments are convincing.
  
  Some of you have indicated to me that you want to be diplomats. This is a very important vocation. Although it can be difficult to work in a bureaucracy, if you have talent, initiative and drive, your voice will be heard increasingly as your career goes on. The US State Department is not the only place for this, as globalization has meant a major growth in the number of departments in US Government dealing with international issues.
  
  As you heard from Patrick when he introduced me, my own path is an unusual one. You have to map out yours. There is no given route.
  
  Remember "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail".
  
  Like the photo technical assistant at the beginning of my story today, find your way to be in contact with the world, stay in contact and serve that world to the best of your ability.
  
  Thank you.
  
  
  
  
  
  • Ref: SP01-004EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 18/11/2001

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