Thank you for inviting me to address you today. <\/em><\/p>\nThis, is exactly what we need.<\/p>\n
A practical discussion. An opportunity to hear about Sustaining Peace, from first-hand experience. A way to listen, and to learn from, those who know best.<\/p>\n
So, I want to sincerely thank Indonesia and Timor Leste, for bringing us all together today.<\/p>\n
To kick off our discussions today, I would like to make three main points.<\/p>\n
First, on the importance of reconciliation.<\/p>\n
When a peace deal is signed, the entire world is watching. There are headlines, in newspapers. There are conferences, in hotels. There are celebrations in the street.<\/p>\n
And, support does come. The international community rallies.\u00a0 Schools and hospitals are re-opened. Destroyed infrastructure is, slowly, built back up again. And places previously deserted welcome back signs of life.<\/p>\n
All of this is positive. However, none of it helps the other kind of devastation, faced by a post-conflict society.<\/p>\n
It is not as obvious \u2013 as a burnt-out house, or a collapsed bridge.<\/p>\n
But it has just as great – if not an even greater – impact.<\/p>\n
Here, I am talking about the emotional – the psychological – damage or trauma, caused by conflict.<\/p>\n
And that is why, reconciliation is so important. It cannot be an afterthought – something that we move to, once the physical recovery is complete. It must be a priority, from the earliest stages of peace.<\/p>\n
My second point is that we need a broader perspective – when we discuss reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Because it cannot come, from a truth commission alone. It has to go beyond that – and address broader needs.<\/p>\n
And, this links to what we are doing now, at the United Nations.<\/p>\n
In the past, we spent our time, putting out fires. We waited until we could see flames. And then we rushed in, to respond. We did not do enough to prevent the fires from breaking out in the first place. And, then, we left too suddenly. We ignored the embers – which were still hot\u2026.and could, at any moment, burst back into flames.<\/p>\n
We cannot afford to do that anymore. That is what this High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace is about. That is why we are working for a new approach to peace.<\/p>\n
And, I think we should apply this to reconciliation, too.<\/p>\n
We cannot say \u201cWe have had a truth commission, so now the wounds have been healed \u2026.. everyone can live peacefully, together\u201d.<\/p>\n
The wounds are too deep \u2013 for such an approach.<\/p>\n
Instead, we must ask:<\/p>\n
Have we addressed the root causes of the conflict?<\/p>\n
Are human rights still being violated? Is there still discrimination?<\/p>\n
Have those who were fighting been reintegrated, into society?<\/p>\n
And, have we done enough, to incentivise peace? To make sure conflict does not offer a better alternative?<\/p>\n
We must also focus more inclusion.<\/p>\n
Because conflict affects everyone. Not just those who are shooting the guns. So, the work to heal its wounds must also involve everyone. That is why we need to address the lack of women in post-conflict planning and decision-making processes.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial _builder_version=”3.0.87″ author=”MIROSLAV LAJ\u010c\u00c1K” portrait_url=”http:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/72\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2017\/08\/PGA72-small.jpg” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_layout=”light” border_style=”solid” job_title=”President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly” quote_icon_background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” border_style_top_portrait=”solid” border_style_right_portrait=”solid” border_style_bottom_portrait=”solid” border_style_left_portrait=”solid”]<\/p>\n
Reconciliation is so important. It cannot be an afterthought – something that we move to, once the physical recovery is complete. It must be a priority, from the earliest stages of peace.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_layout=”light” border_style=”solid” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
My third and last point is about national ownership.<\/p>\n
So far, I have been speaking as an outsider. My contributions are based on the research, and on the experiences of others.<\/p>\n
I want, however, to make this clear: I do not know best. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ does not know best. The international community does not know best.<\/p>\n
But those on the ground do.<\/p>\n
They know what conditions need to be created, for victims and perpetrators to come together.<\/p>\n
They know how to make a\u00a0reconciliation process transparent, inclusive and effective.<\/p>\n
They know what the root causes of conflict are – and how to best address them.<\/p>\n
And that is why they need to be in the driving seat. Our job is not to steer them. It is to listen. To support. To enable. And to respond.<\/p>\n
That is why we are here, to learn from the nationally-led Indonesia\u2013Timor Leste Commission on Truth and Friendship.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nLadies and Gentlemen,<\/em><\/p>\nTo conclude, I want to draw from a statement delivered by President\u00a0Xanana Gusm\u00e3o, yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said that, \u201creconciliation within societies with a bitter past, to reach a brighter future\u201d is the only viable option, for peace.<\/p>\n
We need to listen and learn, directly from these societies.<\/p>\n
That is what we are here to do.<\/p>\n
Not to lecture. Not to impose. Not to make our own assessments.<\/p>\n
But to listen to, and to learn from\u2013 those who know best.<\/p>\n
Thank you. <\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.0.69″ divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” height=”150″ hide_on_mobile=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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