The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework for all our deliberations on the oceans and the law of the sea. Iceland welcomes recent ratifications of the Convention, which bring the total number of States parties to 161. By ratifying and implementing the Conventio…
Let me start by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss on his election to the presidency at the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, and assuring him of the fullest cooperation of the Icelandic delegation.
When I spoke for the first time from this distinguished rostrum last year, my…
Ten years ago a milestone was reached in international cooperation: the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), providing common universal objectives for the global fight against poverty. Those Goals have helped us draw the world’s attention to our mutual responsibility: the responsibil…
The catastrophic events that have devastated up to 20 million people and claimed the lives of more than 1,600 in Pakistan are among the most dramatic of their kind in living memory. I take this opportunity to express the sincere condolences and the deepest sympathy of my Government to the Government…
The comprehensive report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (A/HRC/12/48) has concluded that there is evidence indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, committed both by Israel during Operation Cast Lead and in the West Bank, as w…
I would like, at the outset, to thank the Secretary-General for his concise and valuable report on the work of the Organization (A/64/1).
The past year has been a gruelling one for the world and for the United Nations. The global financial and economic crisis has affected the well-being of millions…
It is indeed an honour for me to address this Assembly for the first time. I would like to start by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- fourth session, and I pledge him the full support of the Icelandic delega…
The annual report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/63/1) provides a good overview of the accomplishments during the past year and the complicated challenges ahead. The report helps us to
keep our focus, and I will touch briefly upon the three key areas the Secretary-Gener…
The elements of the concept of the responsibility to protect (R2P) may be neither new nor original, but the acknowledgement by world leaders in 2005 that they had a responsibility to protect their citizens from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity certainly did mark a n…
At the outset, I would like to welcome the report of the Secretary- General (A/63/812) on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. It provides a valuable update on developments in responding to AIDS. During the Ge…
I would like at the outset to thank the Secretariat, in particular the able staff of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, for its comprehensive reports on oceans and the law of the sea and on sustainable fisheries. I would also like to thank the two coordinators, Ambassador Henriqu…
As a sponsor, my delegation is very pleased that consensus was established on today’s resolution. The text may fall short of the expectations of some, but the patience and hard work of the original drafters, the Pacific small island developing States, have finally borne fruit. For the first time, we…
It is my pleasure to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
I wish to express our support for the statement delivered by the representative of France on behalf of the European Union.
The Nordic countries recognize the progress made since the est…
Iceland supported the draft resolution (A/63/L.2) submitted by Serbia. In so doing, we departed from the position of some other States that, like us, have recognized Kosovo’s independence. We do nonetheless share their
viewpoints in respect to the developments that gave rise to Serbia’s proposal. I…
We welcome the efforts made by the Secretary-General to ensure effective preparation for the midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action, and thank him for his comprehensive report (A/63/165) on the implementation of the Programme. I would also like
thank Ambassador Takasu, Permanent Represent…
Let me first join others in congratulating Mr. d’Escoto Brockmann on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- third session. I pledge Iceland’s support and cooperation in the important work that lies ahead.
Almost all United Nations Member States recently sent athletes t…
I have the honour to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic countries welcome today’s long-awaited unanimous decision to create a new and consolidated gender entity of the United Nations. This is a fresh s…
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.
This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping. Today’s commemorative meeting underlines that milestone, and we warmly welcome the draft resolution and declaration submitted for the cons…
I have the honour of delivering the following statement on behalf of all five Nordic countries, namely, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
First of all, allow me to thank the Belgian presidency of the Security Council for organizing this open debate on the working methods of the Security…
At the outset, I would like to welcome the report (A/62/780) of the Secretary- General on the progress made mid-way to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in realizing the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.
It is encouraging to observe that since 20…
