Carsten StaurAmbassador and Permanent Representativeof Denmark to the United NationsDenmark remains strongly committed to the ideals and aspirations enshrined in the UN Charter. Since 1945 we have worked hard to contribute to the realization of the bold vision that the Charter represents. The UN continues to be at the heart of our foreign policy. Denmark was greatly honoured to serve on the Security Council in 2005-2006 - assisting in translating the priorities of the Charter into reality. No state can meet the challenges of today’s world alone. One reason for this is perhaps the size and geographical location of our country. For generations we have reached out and cooperated with others. We have seen the benefits close cooperation can bring. In an age of rapid globalisation the problems faced by the peoples of the world have become more interdependent than ever before - climate change being one of the clearest examples of the need for joint global action. Cooperation has become vital to all of us. We wish to consolidate the UN as the place where our common problems can be effectively addressed. There may be different approaches. We certainly have ours that we wish to pursue. But we will try to listen to and understand other views. Reach for the common ground and then act decisively together. This is the essence of the UN. Denmark has offered personnel to most of the UN peacekeeping missions over the last fifty years. Over the same period of time we have offered financial assistance to developing countries around the globe. To us, those activities reflect the principle of solidarity, on which our own society is based.
