Statement by H.E Mr Stavros Lambrinidis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece to the 66th UNGA
Friday, September 23, 2011
Mr. President,
Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Je tiens à remercier le Président sortant de la 65ème session de l'Assemblée Générale, M. Joseph Deiss de la Suisse, ainsi que féliciter M. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser du Qatar pour son élection au poste du Président de la 66ème Session de l'Assemblée Générale.
Je tiens également à exprimer ma gratitude pour le travail et le leadership démontré par notre Secrétaire Général, M. Ban Ki-moon, qui a guider avec habilité notre Organisation dans ces temps difficiles et exigeants.
Two world wars taught humanity of the necessity to infuse international relations with respect for a few simple yet powerful ideals. This is what the United Nations is all about: Respect for peace and good neighborly relations; respect for the rule of law and the international justice system; respect for the fundamental right of every person on this planet, to have a chance for a better life.
The United Nations is what we, its member-states, make of it. We are the driving force behind its accomplishments. We are the reason behind any of its failures. The United Nations is where we meet and agree or disagree on global cooperation. And when we agree, humanity becomes stronger.
Today, the UN is leading vital international cooperation to confront climate change and desertification. There is, too, the challenge of non-communicable diseases – which hinder macro-economic development and keep the bottom billion locked in chronic poverty. Unregulated migration is putting huge pressure on some countries – including Greece – while at once resulting from -- and often exacerbating -- a lack of development in countries of origin, poverty, and wars.
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Address by H.E George A. Papandreou, Prime Minister of Greece, at the UN High Level Plenary Meeting on the Millenium Development Goals
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Millennium Development Goals expressed the realisation that we are all in this together. Whatever the problem – when it hits, sooner or later it will affect us all.
In our interdependent world, there is no problem that can be dealt with in isolation. No country that is immune to job losses, environmental disasters, pandemics, or the vagaries of the financial markets.
In Greece, our recent experience has given us real insight into how one small country’s problems can ricochet around the world.
In Greece, we have taken unprecedented steps to overcome our fiscal crisis. It is a painful process, but we are making real progress and delivering on our commitments - and we will emerge stronger.
With one prerequisite: We decided to change.
Presentation by Ambassador Anastassis Mitsialis, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, of the Resolution on the “Return or Restitution of Cultural Property to the Countries of Origin"
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Mr. President,It is with great honor and pleasure that I present to the General Assembly, under agenda item 43, the draft Resolution on the “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”, contained in document A/64/ L17.
Over the previous years, the international community has become increasingly sensitive to this issue and has demonstrated its willingness to facilitate the return or restitution of cultural property illicitly removed from its country of origin. Such removal, especially when it results from illicit trade, is against all principles culture stands for.
Culture is the soul of a nation. The illicit removal or destruction of cultural property deprives peoples of their history and tradition. Restitution is the only means that can restore damage and reinstate a sense of dignity.
It is, therefore, of paramount importance that Member States of the United Nations continue to cooperate actively, both bilaterally and in international fora, in a spirit of mutual understanding and dialogue, with a view to resolving any outstanding issues in this respect. Such cooperation constitutes also the most appropriate way to address the adverse effects of major political and other upheavals, including armed conflict, that have provided fertile ground for the loss, destruction, removal, or illicit movement of cultural property.
