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François Hollande
We hold 32 passages that may be François Hollande’s. We do not publish them until we can confirm who spoke. See the correction.
On the record 2012–2025
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“I am pleased that thanks to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, there was a summit here that mobilized awareness, States, financial institutions, businesses and civil society. Many events took place. We have to succeed at the Paris conference, not because it will take place in Paris, but because it is the world’s appointment with itself. There are periods in history when we have the power to decide, and decide not just for ourselves but for humankind. This is one of those moments. Therefore in Paris, we have to do everything can be done to reach a comprehensive, binding agreement that differentiates according to levels of development, everything so that there can be that Green Climate Fund, to which France has contributed $1 billion for the coming years.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“We have to have the same awareness of the risks, the dangers and the perils that we had right after the Second World War. We must not think that all we have to do is remember; we have to think of the future, of the world we want. The world that we want is the final subject I wish to address here. The world that we want has to be one of profound change. The present disorder also threatens not only our generation but naturally those that will follow us. It threatens our very security, as there are more displaced persons resulting from climate imbalance than from wars, which are sadly so intense and deadly on our planet. France has lived up to its responsibilities in that area too. We decided to organize the climate conference in December 2015.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“Therefore, France, Europe and the world must provide to the countries affected by the epidemic the necessary medical care, indispensable protection and economic assistance that is expected. Because again, if there is the slightest weakness, the slightest failure to show solidarity, all of our countries will be affected. I have also come here before the General Assembly to speak about what is happening in Europe and next to Europe, to speak about what occurred in Ukraine and the failures there to uphold principles of international law. But what is at stake today, even in Europe, is peace and ensuring that the ceasefire that was agreed can be transformed into a lasting solution to the conflict. No continent has been spared from any threat. Everything is fragile, everything is precarious, everything is vulnerable.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“It is not weakness that will be the response to terrorism; it is force — the force of law, the force of the United Nations. At a certain point also, it will be the force of military action when it becomes necessary. I also wanted to talk about other regions of the world that are facing threats that also affect our own security. I want to talk to the Assembly about the Ebola epidemic, because I know just how much it is affecting our African friends. But again, let us look beyond those who are affected. Who can imagine that the epidemic will remain confined to just a few countries if we do not intervene? It is also a global threat. Again, the response must be a global.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“France knows that it upholds values, France knows it has a role to play and will never abandon that role, and that the fight against terrorism will be continued and expanded as much as necessary within respect for the rule of law and the sovereignty of States, for we make no mistake when we act. We will always act with respect for the principles of the United Nations. I also wanted to talk to about other things, but it must be understood that a great question is being asked of my country and also of the Assembly. When faced with barbarism, with terrorism, will we remain spectators, or will we be actors together in what should be a just international order? The question, if we do not respond to it, or if we respond too weakly, then terrorists will continue their business of recruitment and indoctrination.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“But we also know that as long as there is no settlement of the Syrian crisis, all our efforts risk being undermined. So the challenge is not only to act against Daesh, but also to achieve a political solution. We in France support the democratic Syrian opposition. We consider it the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. In that case, too, we will not back down; we will not compromise because of threats. The Bashar Al-Assad regime deserves to be condemned because they are complicit in what has been going on for the past three years in Syria — 200,000 deaths and so many displaced persons. This is a sad time for France, with the death — the murder — of one of our citizens, but France will never give in to blackmail, pressure or barbarous acts. On the contrary, France knows what is expected of it.”
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“But it does not concern that region alone, because the Daesh group has decided not only to conquer territory, imagining that it will found a State; it threatens the entire world by provoking attacks, organizing kidnappings and recruiting fighters from around the world to train them and show them the barbarity of which the group is capable, so they may reproduce that horrific terrorist movement in our own countries. It is because this threat exists not only for the region but for the world that France responded to the Iraqi authorities’ appeal to provide them first with military aid through the delivery of weapons this past August and also with aerial support to keep the Daesh group from being able to continue its advance. We want to weaken it. We want to quash it.”
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“That is why the battle that the international community must wage against terrorism knows no borders. The same flag must be carried, that of the United Nations, that of the values for which this Organization was founded — human dignity, freedom, the vision we must have of a world of tomorrow, a world of justice. France is fully engaged in this battle. That was the case in Africa when it was called to Mali, where, fortunately, it was joined by many African and European countries and now by the United Nations. France has been engaged whenever there is a risk. But today it is in Iraq and Syria where that threat exists.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“The Assembly will understand that I am speaking today with particular emotion, because one of my compatriots has just been the subject of a cowardly assassination in Algeria by a terrorist group linked to Daesh. His name was Hervé Gourdel. He was a man full of enthusiasm who loved mountains and thought that he would be able to pursue his passion by going to the Djurdjura area in Algeria. He was captured, and he was decapitated. That is what terrorism does. And it does not do that only to France. Several days ago it was American and British individuals subjected to the same barbarity. That group — Daesh — does not strike only those who think differently from themselves; they also strike Muslims, they strike civilian populations, and they strike minorities. They rape, they kill.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“Our credibility depends upon our capacity to intervene quickly and effectively in ensuring respect for international law, punishing violations and promoting development to preserve future generations. Our legitimacy flows from the Charter of the United Nations. We must be worthy of it. Within that framework, France will always assume its responsibilities in all domains.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“In any domain, whether international security, nuclear proliferation, development or climate change, the worst threat is inaction, the worst decision is to take no decision, and the worst danger is to not see any. And the United Nations bears the responsibility to act. Each time the Organization appears powerless, peace is the first victim. That is why I am proposing that the permanent members of the Security Council define a code of conduct such that in cases of mass crimes, they may collectively decide to renounce the right of veto. It is also my hope to see the Secretary-General’s powers of inquiry strengthened to enable the United Nations to ensure — as it has done in Syria — that the truth is established in all instances, carry out investigations and act on the results. The Assembly has the sovereign right to take such a decision.”
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“The foundations of the commitment are well known. The agreement must be equitable. Each country must do its part. The developed countries obviously must make he greatest effort. Emerging countries must protect their development, but they must also understand that they are directly threatened by global warming. The least developed countries, those that are the most fragile and vulnerable, must be aided in the transition. That is the purpose of the fund that was created in Durbin. The agreement must also be binding; it cannot simply be a reiteration of principles. It cannot simply be wording in resolutions that are not translated into concrete actions. If there is no assessment and there are no sanctions, there will be no progress and global temperature will inexorably rise. My message is simple.”
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“I have decided to allocate 10 per cent of that income towards such development-related actions as access to water and renewable energy, because with development assistance we can help the poorest countries to ensure their future, and thereby their security, and to respond to global warming, which concerns us all. France is available to host the 2015 climate conference. This matter, too, respresents a threat to our own security, because one report after another states that if we do nothing, by the end of this century the temperature of the planet will have increased by three or four degrees Centigrade, with the well-known consequences of flooding in some places, droughts in others. Those direct threats would in turn endanger peace throughout the world. We must therefore seek an agreement at the 2015 climate conference.”
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“Again, France calls for the mobilization of the international community through new funds that we must create to finance the necessary infrastructures and to enable access to essential public services. France is fighting, along with Europe, for the introduction of innovative financing. My country’s tax on airline tickets, which helps finance the International Drug Purchase Facility (UNITAID), has brought in more than €1 billion since 2006. My country has decided to increase that tax by a further 10 per cent to enhance our fight against the great pandemics: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. With Europe, France has also established a tax on financial transactions.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“That is why the international community must help African States to protect themselves. France will convene, late this year, a meeting on peace and security in Africa. France has invited all African countries; Europe will be represented, as will the United Nations. The purpose of the meeting is to enable the establishment, training and equipping of African armies to ensure the security of the continent and combat all traffickers, particularly drug traffickers, and piracy. Africans themselves must ensure their security, but we cannot leave them to face the terrorist threat alone. The best weapons we have are our development policies, because poverty, unemployment and inequality provide fertile soil for violence and insecurity.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“That is why I would like the Security Council to issue a mandate and provide the logistical and financial means to create an African force, with its first mission to re-establish stability in the Central African Republic. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, women and children are victims of violence every day in the Kivu region. Again, it is essential that we continue to strengthen the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to implement the Addis Ababa agreement, and to reject all external interference. We must learn from the experience of recent years. Everywhere chaos reigns, terrorism takes root and grows. That is the case in Somalia, and the horrific attack against Kenya reminds us that Al-Shaabab- affiliated groups, while they have been defeated, have not yet been eradicated.”
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“I welcome the new President of Mali, Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar .eita. His election is evidence of a great victory for West Africa against terrorism. However, the threat continues to weigh heavily on the Sahel and in Libya, where weapons are uniquitous and where terrorist groups have found refuge. We must assist the Libyan authorities to ensure the security of their territory and of their population. France is prepared to do so. I would like to sound an alarm, as I did last year with respect to Mali. The warning here is about the Central African Republic — a small country that has been ravaged by coups and conflicts for years. Today, chaos has taken root and civilians are yet again its victims. We must bring an end to the abuse, which is also sectarian in nature.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“I will also say from this rostrum that while I am in favour of dialogue, I remain firm on the serious issue of nuclear proliferation. The Middle East is not the only region of the world that is of concern to us. Africa has fallen prey to terrorism, and the barbaric attack in Nairobi confirms that to us once again, tragically. Victories are possible against terrorism. In Mali, with the clear mandate of the Security Council, African and French forces, with the support of Europe, intervened in response to the appeal of the authorities in Bamako and brought an end to a broad terrorist offensive. Today we see the results. Mali has regained its territorial integrity. It has ensured the security of its population, and it has even been able to hold, on the scheduled date, a presidential election that has been recognized as incontestable.”
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English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“The second glimmer of hope is found in the statements of the new Iranian President, which reflect an evolution. I will not exaggerate them, but the question now is to know whether those words will be translated into actions, in particular concerning the nuclear issue. For the past 10 years, our discussions have not progressed, leading the the international community to adopt increasingly severe sanctions. The situation is dangerous, as we all know. Therefore, France expects from Iran concrete gestures reflecting that country’s renunciation its military nuclear programme, although it clearly retains the right to pursue its civilian programme. That is why I have chosen to engage in direct and open dialogue with President Rouhani.”
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“France is committed to that country because we know how much it has suffered in recent years from disturbances in the Middle East and how much it needs to be supported today in its efforts to host refugees. There are serious concerns in that part of the Middle East, but there are also glimmers of hope. The first is the resumption of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Only that will enable peace to be achieved. It requires the coexistence of two States, both with safe and recognized borders. We must do everything to ensure that the opportunity that now exists for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region is seized to finally bring an end to a conflict that whose regional and international repercussions are well known to us all. Negotiating peace between Israel and Palestine would be an historic act.”
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“All countries — and I repeat, all countries — that accept the goal of installing a transitional Government and clearly acknowledge their commitment to a political solution will be welcome at the conference. Of equal urgency is the humanitarian situation. In Syria, the displaced are in the millions, and there are now more than 1.5 million refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. The prolongation of the crisis poses a direct threat to the unity and security of Lebanon, nearly 20 per cent of whose population is now of Syrian origin. I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for having organized the first meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon.”
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“During this period, not only has the regime increased its violence, but terrorist groups have also taken advantage of the international community’s inertia, to the detriment of the democratic forces found within the Syrian National Coalition. This is why the “Geneva II” conference must be held as soon as possible. For France, however, Geneva II is not just a talk shop. It must be a conference to define the objective for putting in place a transitional Government with full executive powers, mandated to re-establish civil peace, to protect all communities and to organize elections in due time. I am sometimes asked about participants in this conference. My response is simple.”
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“The second requirement is that the draft resolution we are preparing provides for coercive measures under Chapter VII in the event that the Syrian regime fails to respect its commitments. Since the agreement signed between the United States and Russia has the same provision, that is all the more reason to include it in the draft resolution. The third requirement is that those who have committed these crimes must be held accountable before justice. But we cannot limit ourselves to this draft resolution, which must be adopted soon. We must end this war, the deadliest since the beginning of the century. The solution is political. Too much time has been squandered, and I will not refer again to the blocking of action in the Security Council.”
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“United Nations inspectors, sent officially on behalf of the Organization have, established unequivocally and with certainty the use of these weapons. In the face of this horrifying crime, France sought a strong reaction to punish this violation of international law and to dissuade Bashir Al-Assad’s regime from committing new massacres. This pressure exerted by my country, along with others, in particular the United States, has seen some initial results. Negotiations are under way as we speak to ensure the verification and destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. However, if these negotiations are to attain their ultimate end, I have set out three requirements. The first is that any text must clearly make it possible for the Security Council to become seized of this issue of chemical weapons at any given moment.”
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“It is an honour for the United Nations to act everywhere where the freedom of peoples is denied. It is an honour for the United Nations to act where fundamental rights are compromised. It is an honour for the United Nations to intervene where extremism threatens the security of the world. It is an honour for the United Nations to act on behalf of peace. In Syria, the situation is becoming urgent because 120,000 people have died over the past two and a half years — 90,000 in the past year alone. One-fourth of the population is displaced. Millions of Syrians have become refugees and the country has been destroyed. The worst happened on 21 August in Damascus, when chemical weapons were used against civilians, including women and children.”
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“I say in all seriousness that when there is paralysis, inertia and inaction, injustice and intolerance find their place. What I would like members to understand is that we must act in order to shoulder our responsibilities and to deal with urgent situations, such as Syria, nuclear proliferation and the Sahel. We must also work for another world that is based on development and innovative financing and for the fight against health crises. We must act, always and together. Let us live up to the mission entrusted to us and to the expectations of peoples. That is France’s message.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“I am thinking, in particular, of what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians are the main victims of clashes and where foreign interference must cease as soon as possible. Those are the goals that France will support and defend at the United Nations. France has confidence in the United Nations. We know that no State, however powerful, can deal with emergencies, undertake the fight for development or overcome all crises. No State can do that, but, on the contrary, if we act together, we will live up to our responsibilities. France wants the United Nations to be the centre and the framework for global governance, but do the States that make up the Organization want that to be our purpose and goal?”
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“That is why France will continue to fight to abolish the death penalty, to ensure women’s right to equality and dignity, and to work towards the universal decriminalization of homosexuality, which cannot be viewed as a crime but must be recognized as an orientation. We will continue to fight for the protection of civilians. Moreover, I recall that the Assembly affirmed the principle that all States have the responsibility to ensure the security of their civilians. If a State fails in that obligation, it is up to us, the United Nations, to use the means at its disposal to meet it in its place. Let us not neglect that promise, as it can serve us.”
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“I want to welcome the events that took place in Tunisia, in Libya, in Egypt. It is true that transitions are not always easy. There are risks, and setbacks can occur. Some may attempt, through violence, to reverse the progress made and the achievements gained. France will call on the new political authorities emanating from democratic elections in those countries to wage an unrelenting combat against complacency, extremism, fanaticism, hatred, intolerance and violence, whatever the provocation may be, because there can never be any justification for violence. France wants to set an example. It is not telling anyone what to do; that is simply its history and its message. We want to be an example in the promotion of fundamental freedoms. That is our combat, and we are honoured to wage it.”
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“But the mission of the United Nations is not only to fight financial instability or ensure that development remains at the centre of our concerns: it is to work to counter all forms of instability. I am thinking here about drug trafficking, a scourge that affects producing, transit and consuming countries. To combat drug traffickers, who are frequently allied with terrorist networks, the United Nations must elaborate and implement a global strategy to fight against drugs. Arms trafficking also poses a major threat. France is firmly committed to the conclusion of a universal arms trade treaty. What the United Nations must defend and promote is a worldview that is based on respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. The Arab Spring showed that those values are universal and apply to all continents and countries.”
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“I propose a tax on financial transactions — which several European Union countries have already agreed to — aimed at slowing down the movement of capital or at least financing development and helping to fight health-related scourges. France has adopted such a tax. We have also made another commitment: to dedicate at least 10 per cent of the benefits of that tax to development and to fight health- related threats and pandemics. That is the message that I wanted to send to the Assembly today: let us ensure that a global tax on financial transactions can be levied and that the benefits it yields can be spent on development and fighting pandemics. That would be an excellent example of what I call the globalization of solidarity, and one of the best ideas that today’s world could implement.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“It would also be highly symbolic to entrust Africa with such a global agency for the environment. With respect to development, I believe that we should face reality. We will not achieve the Millennium Development Goals without new resources. Everyone knows the budgetary limitations of our respective States. That is why today, from this rostrum here at the United Nations, I am making an appeal for innovative financing, which would give us the means to enable our organizations to fight effectively against diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. I would like to commend the success of the International Drug Purchase Facility, which was financed by a tax on airline tickets. That path has been opened, and today we must take another step in that direction.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“I believe that today we have an agenda that should encompass economic growth, poverty reduction, social progress and environmental protection. That is what we need to do over the long term. The 2015 deadline for a climate agreement is fast approaching. I wish to state here that France is ready to host the United Nations conference on climate change to be held at that time, because I want us to succeed together in meeting that challenge. In parallel, I would recall that one of the disappointments of Rio was our failure to agree on the creation of a major United Nations organization for the environment. That remains France’s objective. Such an agency would be based in Africa, because that continent, which has been neglected for too long, is facing climate-related challenges.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“The African Union, which I commend, and the Economic Community of West African States have said that they are prepared to take courageous decisions. The authorities of Mali have spoken; there is no time to lose. France will support any initiative that will enable the Africans themselves to resolve that issue within the framework of international law, with a clear mandate from the Security Council. Mali must recover its territorial integrity, and terrorism must be eliminated from that area of the Sahel. The role of the United Nations is to respond to urgent situations. But there is another objective that should unite us here, and that is development. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio, in which I participated, was a disappointing stage for some and an encouraging one for others.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“France will make every effort to re-establish the basis for negotiations leading to the coexistence of the two States in question; everyone knows that this is the only solution that could lead to a just and lasting peace in the region. The last of the urgent issues that I will mention, although there are many others, might be the most important one for us to focus on this week: the Sahel. The situation created by the occupation of territory in northern Mali by terrorist groups is intolerable, inadmissible and unacceptable. It is unacceptable not only for Mali, which is affected by that terrorist threat, but also for all countries of the region and beyond the region — all of those that one day might be affected by terrorism.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“I had hoped that negotiations could take place in earnest and that steps could be outlined, but, again, no negotiations have taken place. France will not accept such actions, which threaten not only security in the region but peace throughout the world. I therefore state once again that we are prepared to adopt new sanctions, not to punish the great people of Iran, but to tell their leaders that enough is enough and that negotiations must be resumed before it is too late. The third urgent issue is at last to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The status quo is not a response; it is an impasse.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“Without further delay, I would ask that the United Nations immediately give the Syrian people all of the assistance and support they are requesting and, in particular, that the liberated areas be protected and humanitarian aid be assured for refugees. As for the leaders in Damascus, they must know that the international community will not stand by if they take the unhappy decision to use chemical weapons. Another situation that is urgent is the fight against the most serious of threats to stability in the world, namely, the proliferation of nuclear weapons. For several years now, Iran has been ignoring the demands of the international community. It shuns monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It does not keep its word or uphold Security Council resolutions.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“But the ordeal of the population continues to this day. There have been almost 30,000 deaths in the last 18 months. How many more deaths will we wait for before we take action? How can we allow the paralysis of the United Nations to continue? I know one thing for certain: the Syrian regime will never again take its place among the alliance of nations. It has no future among us. This is why I have taken the decision, on behalf of France, to recognize the provisional Government representing the new Syria as soon as it is formed. That Government will itself have to give guarantees that every community in Syria will be respected and will be able to live in security in their own country.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“This is why I would once again recall that France supports the request for an enlargement of the Council made by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil. But we are also in favour of an increased African presence, including among the permanent members. Having a seat on the Security Council is not a privilege justified by history, and it is not a matter of satisfying some ambition related to economic power. No, having a seat on the Security Council means making the commitment to take action to promote peace in the world. Indeed, we must act and act together, but act quickly, because it is urgent. The most urgent situation is in Syria. The Assembly has several times denounced the massacres carried out by the Syrian regime, called for those responsible to be prosecuted and expressed the desire for a democratic transition.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“In recent years, we have been able together, to finally put an end to deadly conflicts, and we have been able to prevent confrontations. However, just as we are sending out 100,000 Blue Helmets who act on our behalf — and I would like to pay tribute to them — because of divisions, the blocking of our own institutions and inertia, the United Nations has not been able to put an end to war, atrocities and attacks on the rights of peoples. I would therefore, on behalf of France, draw one conclusion that I would like to share with the Assembly. If we want to make our world safer, it is up to us to fully shoulder our responsibilities. How can we do so? First of all, we can do so by reforming our own Organization, the United Nations. The Security Council must better reflect the realities of the world today.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“Those values and those rights are all too frequently held in contempt in our world, especially as we face three main threats, which we must tackle head-on. The first is the threat of fanaticism, which fuels violence. We have seen that yet again in recent days. The second is the global economy, which has been affected by a crisis and which perpetuates intolerable inequalities. The third threat is the disturbance in the climate system, which threatens the very survival of our planet. The mission of the United Nations is to tackle these challenges and to find strong and just responses to them together. These responses must be just because without justice, force is blind, and they must be strong because without strength, justice is powerless. I am also here to express France’s confidence in the United Nations.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.
“This is the first time that I speak from this rostrum at the United Nations. It is a very moving moment for me because I understand what the United Nations represents, for our world, and what it has represented historically. I am also aware of a sense of responsibility, because France is a permanent member of the Security Council and therefore has duties. I am also here at this rostrum to talk about values that do not belong to any particular people, are not owned by any particular continent and are not the privilege of any particular part of the population. I am here to talk about universal values, which France has always proclaimed, and about the rights of every human being, wherever they live: liberty, security and resistance to oppression.”
UN General Assembly2012English text as published by the United Nations. The speech may have been delivered in another official UN language.Source: United NationsSpeech held by session and year. Its individual meeting record is not yet linked.
English text from the UN verbatim record. Where the speaker did not speak English, this is the UN's interpretation, not their original words.