YouSaid · the spoken record

Georges Rebelo Chikoti

lines on the record: 31
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In spite of the timid steps taken towards normalizing the situation, Angola reiterates its position of principle by reaffirming the need to end the embargo against Cuba. 13 11-51398 Angola has been making its contribution to finding solutions to the most pressing problems. Within the broader international community, we have sought to cooperate with all countries based on mutual respect and interests, upholding the highest ideals of peace and cooperation for development. We will continue on this path, firmly believing that the defence and promotion of these principles contribute to the development and advancement of all peoples.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The situation in the Middle East, particularly in the Palestinian territories, is one of the most serious problems facing the international community. Angola is witnessing with great concern the escalation of the conflict and the lack of progress towards a solution of the Palestinian question. In line with the general position of the international community regarding the conflict, my country advocates the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, living side by side with the State of Israel, in peace and security, within secure internationally recognized borders. As in previous sessions, the sixty-sixth session of General Assembly will address the embargo imposed on Cuba, which violates the rules of international free trade.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In that regard, Angola urges the National Transitional Council to promote genuine national reconciliation and to form an inclusive Government, as those are prerequisites for ensuring that Libya can regain its rightful place in the African and international arenas. However, we must make use of lessons learned with a view to achieving more effective cooperation between external partners and the African Union in seeking joint solutions based on international law and mutual respect. Angola remains concerned about the limited progress in addressing the problem of Western Sahara, which remains an important issue on the international agenda. We call on the warring parties to resume negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union, so that the people of Western Sahara can exercise their right to self-determination.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The consequences of drought in Somalia are felt even more profoundly due to the prevalence of armed conflict, which compounds the humanitarian crisis, shocks the world’s conscience and calls for a redoubled effort by the international community. Angola has joined the international humanitarian assistance efforts under way, as well as the search for political solutions to end the armed conflict and open new prospects for a better future for the Somali people. With regard to the situation in Libya, the Angolan Government hopes that the Libyan people can find stability in the very near term. That can only be achieved through the free exercise of their democratic rights.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Guinea-Bissau, our brotherly country and partner in the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, has been the subject of special attention by Angola. As part of the CPLP, Angola and other member States have striven to establish a strategic partnership with the Economic Community of West African States under the coordination of the United Nations, aiming to bring political stability to the country so that it can carry out major structural reforms, in particular the reform of the defence and security sectors. We welcome the positive developments that the country is now experiencing and we encourage the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to vigorously pursue the process of stabilization. The drought in the Horn of Africa is a cause of deepest concern for my country and the entire international community.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“With regard to peaceful cooperation at the regional level, Angola is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), which, with several partners, has acted on the basis of preventive diplomacy in the search for peaceful solutions to the various crises that have arisen. With regard to the constitutional crisis in Madagascar, SADC mediated the recent signing by all parties involved of the road map for the implementation of the reconciliation process, which is intended to lead to elections and the restoration of constitutional order. That was an important breakthrough in the process, which Angola welcomes.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is of crucial importance to strengthen the action of regional organizations in the management of situations that may constitute threats to peace and security. In that connection, the Security Council has the primary role in preventing and resolving conflicts and in maintaining peace, in accordance with the powers conferred upon it by the Charter of the United Nations. The central theme of our debate has drawn attention to the need for reform of the Security Council, including the imperative of achieving fair representation for all regions and increasing the number of permanent members, thereby adapting the Council to contemporary reality.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Angola has served as a reference point for the resolution of several conflicts on the African continent. Moreover, we have spared no effort in sharing our experiences with other peoples and countries. Also in the context of conflict resolution, it is important to strengthen the role of multilateralism while adhering to the principle of shared responsibility and shared benefits, recognizing the legitimate interests of all parties and engaging in consultations and dialogue in the search for workable solutions to international peace and security issues. There is therefore a need to refer to the instruments of cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union, as well as to the role of 11-51398 12 the United Nations and regional institutions in preventing and resolving conflicts.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The role of Angola and its contribution to internal and regional peace should be seen in the broader context of conflict resolution. In that regard, the implementation of the landmark Security Council resolution 435 (1978) led to the independence of Namibia and created the conditions for peaceful coexistence in a region that had endured extreme hostility and constituted a permanent threat to world peace. Imbued with a spirit of fraternity, the Government of Angola has spared no effort in pursuing its policy of effective reconciliation, which has allowed the reconciliation of all its children who were previously involved in the conflict. There has been genuine investment in peace, which has been a decisive factor in the process of post-conflict reconstruction.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law and good governance are key elements in ensuring that any human society can live in peace and harmony. They are also the main guarantors of effective conflict prevention. There are other elements I would like to mention that are also important causes of the spread of conflict. I am referring here to external interference, which, in gross violation of international law, frequently obstructs efforts at mediation and peaceful resolution and prevents the reaching of solutions to conflicts. Angola has paid a very high price as a result of such interference, which for too long compounded a fratricidal conflict that Angolans were finally able to settle and wisely overcome with magnanimity, fairness and inclusion, thanks to the leadership of our President.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have therefore adopted a set of measures to mitigate its most adverse effects. Without prejudice to the maintenance of macroeconomic balance, we have focused considerable resources on social development and combating poverty. The theme of this session of the General Assembly — “The role of mediation in the settlement of disputes through peaceful means” — reflects the deep concern of the international community with regard to the need for an integrated approach to resolving conflicts that affect it. That is what makes it necessary to implement mediation efforts after conflicts have started. Conflict prevention should be the key element in the management of any area of tension.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The analysis of the current international situation made by the majority of the speakers who preceded me, and which we agree with, constitutes an appeal to our collective responsibility. A particularly disturbing factor is the current economic and financial crisis, which has affected virtually every country in the world, in particular developing countries, with serious consequences for political stability and social cohesion. It is therefore urgent that we find solutions to these problems. That will require strengthening international cooperation on the basis of greater justice and equality. Moreover, it is urgent that we take measures aimed at deepening economic reforms within States that promote economic growth and social development. Angola is extensively affected by the international economic and financial crisis.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“If we were to list them, although not exhaustively, we could mention the current economic and financial crisis, which triggered the most serious social crisis witnessed to date by our generation; a dangerous environmental crisis of unpredictable consequences for the future of humankind, which will be irreversible unless the international community as a whole applies immediate and courageous measures; and a general escalation of violence and outbreak of conflict, which, combined with the environmental crisis, has caused the most serious humanitarian crisis that humankind has witnessed since the end of the Second World War. In brief, we are living in dangerous times, where a combination of factors is endangering stability, peace and security in the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We congratulate the Republic of South Sudan on its admission as a Member of the United Nations. We wish South Sudan a future of peace and prosperity and would like to say that the Government of Angola stands ready to cooperate with this new State’s efforts to consolidate its independence and its socio-economic development. We also welcome the establishment of UN-Women. We are certain that it will give further impetus to the promotion and empowerment of women and the achievement of their legitimate rights. This session of the General Assembly takes place at a particularly complex juncture in the international situation, which is characterized by so many crises that 11 11-51398 I believe it is not an exaggeration to say that they challenge the very foundations of our international Organization.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President of the General Assembly on his election to preside over the work of the Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and to assure him of Angola’s support and cooperation in ensuring success in the work of this session. I also want to express our gratitude to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss, for the competent and impartial manner in which he conducted the proceedings of the Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. Allow me to also congratulate the Secretary- General on his reappointment and to assure him of my Government’s support for the success of his very complex and demanding mission in the service of peace and cooperation among nations, a cornerstone of the mandate embodied in the Charter of the Organization.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Finally, the reform of the Security Council, given its importance in the democratization of international relations, must remain a topic on the agenda of the Organization. In that connection, Angola reiterates its support for the African common position embodied in the Ezulwini Consensus.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Since 2002 more than 2 million children have been enrolled in primary education. The percentage of children attending school has risen sharply, to 76 per cent. The rate of infant and maternal mortality fell considerably, from 1,400 per 100,000 live births in 2001 to 660 per 100,000 live births in 2010. Moreover, in order to eradicate hunger and poverty, Angola has adopted its National Food Security Strategy (2009- 2014) as a mechanism to increase agricultural production in a sustainable manner. We are convinced that the international community is also aware of how much still has to be done, particularly in the areas of financing for development and the materialization of the commitments made at major international conferences on financing for development.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are aware that we still have a long way to go, especially in view of all the time lost and the delays accumulated in several areas. But it seems important to us to emphasize that the progress already achieved did not happen by chance. Rather, it resulted from the leadership efforts of the Angolan executive organs, the pragmatism of its policies and its commitment to better the human development indexes, which are reflected today in the improved welfare of the people. After eight years of peace, Angola has implemented economic and social reform policies that have allowed for the revitalization of its economy and the rehabilitation of key infrastructure. Such policies have enabled the country’s annual growth rates to average double digits, with a direct impact on the improvement of basic indicators of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We urge the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to attain those objectives. Mutually beneficial cooperation, the promotion of peace and respect for human rights remain the major drivers of Angolan foreign policy, based on the observance of the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Internally, and as a result of experiences during different periods in our history, marked by three decades of war and political instability, Angola is now entering a new cycle, of which we are very proud. It is characterized by the adoption of a new constitution that marks the end of the transition period and definitively establishes democratic rule of law, given that elections will be held in June 2012.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Angola is also concerned at the persistence of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, despite successive General Assembly resolutions demanding its immediate removal. That unilateral measure, particularly its extraterritorial effects, is contrary to the principles and norms of international law and contributes to the precarious humanitarian and social situation of the Cuban population. From this rostrum we reiterate our vehement appeal for the lifting of a measure whose anachronistic nature has been restated here on numerous occasions. Regarding the question of Western Sahara, Angola notes with concern that despite various United Nations resolutions and initiatives, there has not been the type of progress that would lead to meeting the aspirations of the Saharan people.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our experience shows that only peace, the democratic rule of law and respect for human rights can guarantee the stability necessary for sustainable development and improvement of the living conditions of our people. Angola encourages the efforts by regional organizations and the United Nations in conflict resolution and peacekeeping to ensure global security and stability. A situation that is certainly of concern to all of us is the conflict in the Middle East. Angola recognizes that it has lasted a long time, with serious consequences for the population. Therefore we support the resumption of peace talks by President Barack Obama with a view to creating a Palestinian State that coexists peacefully with the State of Israel.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Angola vehemently rejects the insinuation and considers abnormal the manner in which that so-called mapping exercise was conducted. We question the motivations behind that venture. We would like to reiterate that Angola and the Angolan armed forces will continue to act responsibly and on the basis of international standards and scrupulous respect for human rights. The report of the Secretary-General to the sixty- fifth session contains references to peace and security, considering them essential for development and for the 10-55276 26 promotion of and respect for human rights. Angola shares the concerns of the Secretary-General.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We stress that that document was produced at the initiative of an organ of the United Nations Secretariat with no specific mandate from the Secretary-General or from Member States. It is important to emphasize before the Assembly that Angola intervened in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the basis of a SADC mandate, at the request of the Government of the Democratic Republic. That intervention made it possible to stop the bloodbath and to save the lives of millions of people and lay the basis for the negotiations that culminated in the establishment of the transitional Government, the installation of the United Nations peacekeeping mission and the successful holding of the first democratic elections. It thus contributed to the pacification of the Great Lakes region.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today the Angolan armed forces are a factor for stability not only for Angola, but also for the southern and central regions of Africa, where we are part of the early warning mechanisms of SADC and ECCAS. At present we are committed to finding solutions to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau, in close cooperation with other partners in West Africa, namely, the Economic Community of West African States, and in partnership with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries. It was therefore with great amazement that we learned of the mention of involvement by the Angolan armed forces in alleged acts of human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a report intended to be circulated as a document of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In the Commission on the Gulf of Guinea, member States cooperate with a view to managing potential conflicts linked to maritime borders and managing shared maritime resources, as well as coordinating policies for the prevention of maritime trafficking and piracy, thus providing security to a region that produces more than 15 per cent of the world’s oil. With that motivation, Angola and its armed forces bravely participated in the liberation of southern Africa, having contributed to the independence of Namibia and to the end of apartheid in South Africa. With that same motivation we contributed to the stabilization of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With other international partners of the United Nations, we are participating in the training of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“My country gives priority to political and diplomatic coordination and to strengthening institutional relations with the organizations of the United Nations system, as well as with the regional and subregional organizations to which it belongs, namely, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Commission on the Gulf of Guinea, the latter having its headquarters in Angola.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“At the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Regional Conference for Africa, held recently in Luanda, the participants expressed their concern about the impact of climate change on the world food crisis in some regions and recommended that States make an extra effort to reduce its impact on agriculture. Angola believes in the importance of multilateralism as the best form of treatment and resolution of the multifaceted challenges that humanity faces today. In that context Angola advocates a shared commitment to find solutions to our problems at all levels.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“25 10-55276 In the President’s speech to the General Assembly on the occasion of his election (see A/64/PV.93), among other things he set the following topics as priorities for the sixty-fifth session: climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, food security, sustainable development, rebuilding and strengthening fragile post-conflict States, and humanitarian aid and disarmament. Angola is of the opinion that the environment and other issues he mentioned must remain priorities on the national and international agendas. They are crucial for sustainable development, for the growth of our economies, for the implementation of national strategies for combating poverty, and for the attainment of the Millennium Goals.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is thus imperative that we pursue relationships that have greater balance and equality between large and small and rich and poor, because the new reality is that we are increasingly interdependent in a global world. Angola, has always been convinced of the important role of the United Nations and of multilateral diplomacy in general, because no country can progress and develop unilaterally, isolated from the community of nations and alienated from the common problems affecting humanity as a whole.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The terrorist attack of 2001 on the Twin Towers of New York that killed more than 3,000 people, the tsunami of December 2004 in which more than 200,000 people perished, the recent earthquake in Haiti that caused more than 200,000 deaths, and the series of natural disasters that have occurred on every continent, added to the global financial and economic crisis, should awaken us to the fact that we live in a different world that requires broader cooperation among nations, given that those phenomena are unforeseeable. Therefore, in today’s world, the consequences of the irresponsibility of a few can have repercussions on the lives of us all.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“First, I should like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session and to assure him that he can count on the support of Angola so that at the end of this session we will all be better prepared to respond to the multiple and complex challenges facing the international community. I also take this opportunity to convey, though the President, our most sincere gratitude to the outgoing President for the selfless manner in which he conducted the sixty- fourth session. In the last decade several events have profoundly marked the world community, including natural calamities and man-made disasters, which should lead us to consider the need to work towards a more cooperative and increasingly integrated world, for no one is immune to those phenomena.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)