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2010 - The Challenges to Global Security: Tony BLAIR

Tony BLAIR
PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Promoting global security will be one of our biggest challenges at the turn of the millennium ­ how we consign the evil of two world wars, ethnic cleansing and genocide to the millennium we leave behind ­ how we ensure we create a more stable and just world ­ how we deal with the armed conflicts that disrupt the lives and security of millions.

As Kofi Annan made clear at September's UN General Assembly, identifying the circumstances in which we can and should intervene will be the key issue for the next decade. We need a new definition of the 'common interest': preserving the world from major conflicts is in all our interests. I am determined that Britain plays a leading role in this debate.

We will be working with our NATO, EU and UN partners to tackle the causes of conflict at source. That means reducing poverty and encouraging prosperity through sustainable development. It means promoting human rights and good governance. It means preventing the proliferation both of weapons of mass destruction and of the small arms that are used daily to kill and maim innocent people.

As well as tackling the causes, we must also be better equipped to deal with conflicts when they start, and to deal with consequences when they end. Thanks to the Strategic Concept and the Defence Capabilities Initiative adopted at NATO's Washington Summit in April, the alliance will enter the next century in a much better position to do this.

As Bosnia and Kosovo demonstrate, NATO stands ready to help create peace and stability through Europe, and is committed to playing its part in crisis management and humanitarian assistance, working with our partners throughout the entire Euro-Atlantic area. I am also determined to make concrete progress in the next few years to strengthen the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the capability to deploy military forces where the alliance as a whole is not engaged.

The new century also needs a strong UN, reinforced in three key areas:

• Credibility: a more broadly representative UN Security Council will have greater authority when imposing solutions on parties in conflict;
• Consensus: the first responsibility for resolving conflict rests with the state or states concerned. We need to forge agreement on when the UN's authority will be used in cases where this does not happen. Sometimes regional organisations will be best placed to intervene. At other times, the UN will need to take the lead;
• Capabilities: if member states do not give the UN the means to act, it will not be able to do so. We hope others will do as Britain has done and declare stand-by military and police forces for UN operations. UN forces must also have robust rules of engagement if they are to carry out their missions successfully. The action taken by the International Force, including the British Gurkhas, to protect refugees in East Timor, shows how important this is.

As we enter the new millennium, I am determined that Britain should work for a better, safer, more prosperous world. A more effective UN has a vital role to play in this. We must work together to ensure that we seize the present opportunity to achieve these goals.

Tony BLAIR Click to enlarge picture

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