Minister Grabar-Kitarović delivered a speech at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in New York

In her speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarović advocated the global development, eradicating poverty, the strengthening of global security, and fighting terrorism. She pointed out the necessity of the United Nation’s existence for building a better future, but a need as well for it to reform in order to rise more efficiently to the challenges of the 21st century.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović stated the need to help developing countries and in the realisation of the UN Millennium Goals, i. e. the reduction and eradication of poverty, insuring universal primary education, gender equality, the reduction of child mortality, the improvement of maternal heath, combating AIDS and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and global co-operation (development, aid, cancellation of debts). She advocated a more efficient use of the existing aid, as well as the new sources of financing the development of the poor so that they could realise those goals.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović said Croatia deems the reform of the UN Security Council necessary, as far as the number of its members and its activities are concerned. She reminded that Croatia applied for a non-permanent Security Council member for the 2008-2009 period, and that it supports the setting up of the UN Democratic Fund for stimulating democracy worldwide. She supported the agreement achieved in the final document on the international community’s responsibility to protect civilians from genocide and war crimes.