Statement by H.E. Srgjan Kerim president of the UN general assembly
at the Eurasian Media Forum
24 April, 2008
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, may I thank President Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev for his kind invitation to visit Kazakhstan. I would also like to thank Dr. Dariga Nazarbayeva, founder of the Forum and Chair of the Organising Committee, and all the other organisers of this event.
I very much feel at home here, because the paternal side of my family originates from this part of the world. They then migrated to Asia Minor and eventually settled in Macedonia, where I was born. So as far as the genes go, I am a Central Asian.
I am deeply honoured to give an opening address here today. The Eurasian Media Forum has a unique role in developing Eurasian culture and promoting regional cooperation.
Given my experience managing a media conglomerate I am well aware of the critical role the media and free access to information play in fostering democracy and development, and promoting human rights.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Kazakhstan has emerged as a dynamic and economically successful country and has been active in facilitating United Nations initiatives. You have led the way in promoting regional disarmament, inter-religious and intercultural dialogues and initiated the Almaty Programme of Action for landlocked countries.
Given these political experiences you are aware that sustainable development is a long term process, and so too is democracy. It takes time and there isn’t a single model. Each country has its own unique democratic path to follow just as my country Macedonia has.
Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain the distinction between East and West has faded. Self-reliance has given way to an era of globalization based on interdependence, partnership and democratic politics.
Development with democracy and free trade has proved to be the most powerful and popularly accepted paradigm of global relations.
According to many global polls the vast majority of the world’s people want to live in democracies, in places where their fundamental human rights are promoted and protected; where civil society and the media play an integral role in balancing political authority.
The globalization of the economy has further accentuated the nexus of relations between democracy and development: increasing our mutual interdependence, and the complexity of relationships between our economies, societies and politics.
This has led to a proliferation of actors in the international arena. Influential individuals, civil society groups, think tanks, corporations, the media and religious institutions operate internationally, and have created new social and economic networks.
Globalization has also disaggregated and devolved national sovereignty transferring some aspects to regional unions of states, as well as empowering individuals to exercise their sovereign free will.
If we want to continue to foster development and democracy and take full advantage of the benefits of globalization we need a new way of thinking about our shared fate in a way that reflects the complexities of these relationships.
The solutions to the global problems we face today, such as climate change, terrorism and sustainable development, can no longer be realized within a rigid international system that puts the interests of states above all others.
What we need is a new kind of internationalism that puts the well-being of the individual and communities at its centre. One based on principled pragmatism and shared responsibility, catering to a new, more inclusive global society where individuals and non-state actors can play an instrumental role in the political process to address contemporary global challenges.
As the President of the United Nations General Assembly, I've been calling for a new culture of international relations based on full respect for human rights, human security, the responsibility to protect and sustainable development.
The General Assembly is the preeminent global forum – it must become the framework and catalyst for this new approach. We need to work more closely with each other and deal with our common problems based on the basic human values of freedom, solidarity, equality, respect, tolerance and shared responsibility.
That is why, during the 62nd session of the Assembly we have reached out and involved a multitude of external stakeholders in our work – civil society, national parliamentarians, business and the media: not only to encourage them to assert their rights, but so that they can become active partners in our efforts to reach practical solutions.
Excellencies,
In order to take full advantage of the opportunities globalization offers and to overcome the challenges we face, we must ensure that the all states work together responsibly and in solidarity with international institutions, as well civil society, the private sector and the media.
We must continue to promote democracy and development as the principle basis of the multilateral system while ensuring that everyone has a stake in the benefits.
Ultimately, the freedom to choose is the common thread binding development and democracy. To choose people to represent your views and make your views heard; to associate freely with others and choose which paper or blog to read; to join a political party or a trade union; and, to practice your own religion.
The media contributes to the process of democratization - by asking difficult questions, providing access to information and representing all views impartially. It also has a particularly important role to strengthen the rule of law and promote institutional building.
Freedom to choose is a basic principle endorsed by all world leaders at the 2005 UN World Summit where world leaders gathered at the UN upon the 60th anniversary of its establishment. Exercising this freedom however must be within limits that do not infringe on the freedoms of others.
This is precisely what I believe the work of the United Nations is all about.
Thank you for your attention.
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