The oceans are of fundamental importance to all life on earth. They are important in food security, as routes for international transportation and communication, and as factors in the world’s weather and climate systems. It is imperative for all of us, individually and collectively, to keep our ocea…
Allow me to thank the Russian President of the Security Council for organizing this quarterly debate on the situation in the Middle East, which includes the question of Palestine.
The region of the Middle East faces massive challenges amid conflict and crisis. The epicentres of conflict — Syria, Ye…
At the end of the nineteenth century, one quarter of the Icelandic population emigrated to Canada and the United States. Iceland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, and people were seeking a better life for themselves and their families. The image of the struggling Icelander — crossing the o…
Allow me to thank the Japanese presidency of the Security Council for organizing this quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
The Middle East region remains steeped in conflict and crisis. Despite determined efforts by the international communi…
Allow me to thank you, Sir, for overseeing the process of the fifth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy with your characteristic patience, good humour and firmness of purpose. I would also like to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his strong leadership in bringing u…
Iceland is pleased to have joined consensus on the Political Declaration contained in resolution 70/266 and would like to align itself to the general statement delivered by the representative of Argentina on the importance of the Political Declaration addressing sexual and reproductive health and ri…
Allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this timely debate on a matter of vital importance. I would also like to pay tribute to the co-organization by Switzerland and the United Nations of the Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism in April. We also look forward to the conclu…
Iceland attaches great importance to the draft resolutions under discussion today. For an island State such as Iceland, which is heavily dependent on the sustainable use of living marine resources, maintaining healthy oceans and marine ecosystems is a constant priority.
In order to accommodate diff…
First of all, allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for calling this meeting to ensure full global awareness of the tragedies being lived out among so many in the Mediterranean basin. How we deal with this grave situation will define not only our future but also who we are as human beings.
In the p…
The world has changed enormously since the establishment of the United Nations 70 years ago. It has become a real world body with 193 Member States. The United Nations has established a peacekeeping structure, overseen the development of a strong human rights framework and set up key agencies for de…
Our leaders have just agreed on the Sustainable Development Goals to be fulfilled by 2030. This forward-looking vision of hope makes it clear that sustainable development, peace and security are tightly related.
However, the Arab Spring, which raised so many hopes just a few years ago, has given wa…
This autumn has already produced a truly impressive harvest. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda alone amount to a bumper crop, and I am optimistic that we will see an excellent result from the twenty-first session of the Conference of the …
In December 2011, Iceland recognized Palestine as an independent and sovereign State. In November 2012, Iceland voted in favour of granting the State of Palestine observer status at the United Nations. Iceland would like to see Palestine become a State Member of the United Nations as soon as possibl…
As we said at the beginning of this process in 2014, resolution 69/319 addresses a very real problem. We referred at the time to the Secretary-General’s conclusion, in his report (A/69/167) on the matter, that international ad hoc arrangements for debt crisis resolution have resulted in incoherence …
At the outset, allow me to thank Ambassador Kamau of Kenya and Ambassador Donoghue of Ireland, as well as the delegation of Hungary, for the sound management of the processes that have resulted in this historic draft
outcome document (resolution 69/315, annex). Under their excellent leadership, we …
I thank the New Zealand presidency for convening this important debate, and the Special Coordinator for his insightful briefing.
Iceland reiterates its strong conviction that the only path to peace between Israel and Palestine is the two- State solution.
But both sides need to commit fully to the …
First of all allow, me to thank Chile for convening this open debate. We are seeing a period of exceptional instability in the Middle East. The vicious conflict in Syria has become the epicentre, and the intractability of certain conflicts in the region makes it all the more important to look for pl…
I would like at the outset to thank the Secretariat, including the able staff of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, for the valuable assistance provided to Member States through the preparation of reports and all other activities. I would also like to thank the two coordinators, …
The Security Council has in recent weeks received a number of letters from the Israeli and Palestinian Missions highlighting acts of aggression and provocation. The situation seems to be spiralling out of control. Unless leaders on both sides show the necessary courage, restraint and firmness forthw…
I would like to thank the Argentinian presidency for organizing this meeting and in particular for the way you have framed the debate.
Iceland agrees that in the wake of the ceasefire in Gaza, this open debate is an important opportunity to focus on that longstanding issue. That is not to diminish …
