YouSaid · the spoken record

João Bernardo de MIRANDA

lines on the record: 89
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2008-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
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

“We are in an age of peaceful coexistence among peoples and nations, and that embargo wounds the universal collective conscience of our time.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Angola encourages the parties involved to engage in a dialogue that will lead to the de facto and de jure establishment of a Palestinian State, with recognized borders, coexisting side by side with Israel. My Government maintains its solidarity with the Common African Position and with all those who advocate the need to democratize the United Nations and to reform its system, including the expansion of the Security Council so that it reflects a fair and equitable regional representation, with all the rights inherent in membership. I would not like to end my statement without once again conveying my regret to the General Assembly over the continuation of the embargo that the Republic of Cuba is subjected to by the United States of America. It constitutes a situation that does not comply with the rules that govern relations between States.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We appeal to the international community, particularly to the European Union, to support the programme aimed at overcoming the crisis, which will be drawn up by the inclusive Government resulting from the inter-party agreement. We also call for the subsequent lifting of the sanctions imposed on that country. However, we must remain vigilant to the possibility of the eruption of new conflicts due to the political instability that exists in other countries of the continent. We must invest in preventive diplomacy and in the strengthening of rapid alert mechanisms. In the Middle East, the latest developments seem to introduce a light at the end of the tunnel, with regard to a definitive resolution of the Palestinian and the Israeli-Arab issues.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“08-52265 56 As Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Republic of Angola has given its all, together with the other countries of that region and the facilitator, to support the negotiation process with a view ending the political crisis in Zimbabwe. Angola welcomes the inter-party agreement reached in Zimbabwe and will continue to make efforts to help the parties put national interests before all personal quarrels so as to ease the return to political stability and to reverse the grim economic situation that prevails in the country.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“However, for the first time in many years, Africa is experiencing a significant reduction in conflict, allowing for improved economic indicators. The progress in the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire and the consolidation of peace under way in Sierra Leone and in Liberia have brought about a new aura of hope. Furthermore, the progress made in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite some tension in the eastern areas, is manifestly encouraging. We hope that the efforts currently being made by the United Nations and the African Union, as well as by regional organizations, will help resolve the conflicts in Somalia and Darfur in a peaceful manner.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“All the efforts involved in the complex electoral process that led to the success of this historic feat were made with the human and material resources of the Angolan Government. We are proud to once more have given a good example of political maturity, civic discipline and full popular participation. It gives us joy to state before this Assembly that, like other peoples of the world, Africans have the capability and the ability to build their own destiny and develop participatory democracy. Armed conflicts continue to absorb resources from both the international community and the parties involved, resources that could be better utilized for the well-being of the population in affected territories.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“On 5 September of this year, Angola added one more pillar to its democratic structure by holding legislative elections in a transparent and totally free environment. Despite the criticism and the pressure on the Angolan Government to hold the elections earlier, independently of the objective and subjective conditions prevailing at the time, the discernment of its leader, His Excellency Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, demonstrated that the elections were held at the most appropriate moment. With the gradual yet significant improvement in the quality of life of the people, and with fully reconciled and peaceful spirits, a climate of tolerance and political coexistence emerged into its optimal space. The elections were indeed an expression of the reaffirmation of our dignity.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“This growth allowed the unemployment rate, which in the mid-1990s was estimated to be at 45 per cent, to decrease to an estimated level of 22.5 per cent in 2007. The relative weight of the extractive industry, dominated by the oil and diamond subsectors, grew at a significant rate of 61.6 per cent. Moreover, Angola saw a reduction in inflation levels from 105.6 per cent in December 2003 to 11.78 per cent in December 2007, as well as a transformation in public accounts from a deficit of 7 per cent of the GDP in 2003 to a surplus of 11.4 per cent of the GDP in 2007. These figures encourage us to be optimistic in relation to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“A coherent application of those principles is the basis for the progress that Angola is building in the political, social and economic domains. As a result, since 2002, a climate of peace prevails in the entire country, with the eradication of conflict factors and important advances in national reconciliation, emergence of a highly entrepreneurial private sector, a dynamic civil society and a free, vibrant and active press. In the last five years, Angola has been registering high economic growth rates. During this period, the gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an estimated rate of 14.7 per cent in real terms. The non-oil sector grew at a rate of 17.4 per cent, faster than the oil sector, which reached an annual growth rate of 12.7 per cent.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I would like to avail myself of the opportunity to assure our international partners that the Republic of Angola is motivated more than ever to assume the responsibilities that arise from membership in the institutions of the international community, those of the African continent and those of the United Nations. Our engagement and commitment will, in the meantime, continue to lie primarily in the maintenance of peace and security, the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights and sustainable economic development, on the basis of the social laws of a market economy that will safeguard the interests and the satisfaction of the majority of the population. Those are the principles that have guided our trajectory as a country, in particular since the end of the cold war.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The Republic of Angola commits itself to contributing, within the limits of its capacity, to finding solutions to these problems that affect all States. South-South cooperation, including triangular cooperation, has the potential to contribute to the eradication of poverty through the establishment of partnerships for sustainable development, trade, 55 08-52265 investment, tourism, prevention and combating of drug trafficking, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and transnational organized crime. In that connection, Angola is honoured to chair the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, an effective interregional mechanism for cooperation in the areas of development, peace and security among its 24 member States in Africa and South America.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The collapse of those talks eliminated the chances of concluding, in the short term, a general trade agreement that would remove such subsidies and other obstacles to international trade exchanges. The Republic of Angola hopes that negotiations will resume as soon as possible and that the main actors will show the necessary flexibility to allow countries that are underprivileged as a result of the lack of a global trade agreement to avoid remaining eternally marginalized from the global economy. Turning this extremely dangerous situation around, particularly for the countries of the South, requires that the General Assembly intensify its efforts. Our hope is that the President will steer the debate towards addressing these concerns.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The rise in food prices is closely linked to climate change, which is not only causing the destruction of infrastructure and basic means of subsistence in many countries, but is also forcing millions of people into poverty. The elimination of distorting elements in international trade is also fundamental if we are to resolve the world food crisis. The agricultural subsidies provided by the wealthiest countries to their farmers are ruining the farming production in poor countries, rendering difficult their farmers’ access to international markets. The failure of the World Trade Organization negotiations during the Doha Round last July further aggravated that scenario.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We must overcome those challenges through a collective response, with the central role played by the United Nations. Above all, however, each State must also act individually. With regard to the financial crisis, we must take measures that help to prevent serious effects on the global economy, especially the economies of the more vulnerable countries. Such measures must be effective and must help to reduce the negative impact on the progress that African countries have already made by implementing reforms that have enabled them to have an annual growth rate of 5 per cent. We are also concerned at the rise in food prices. That has dealt a hard blow to the efforts to fight poverty, which affects more than 1 billion people.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I am particularly honoured to address the General Assembly on behalf of His Excellency Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola. First, I should like, on behalf of my Government, to warmly congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his election to preside over this organ. We wish him all success during his mandate and assure him of the support of my country. The present session of the General Assembly is taking place at a time of serious challenges for the international community. They include the food crisis, the rise in fuel prices, unexpected climate change, the financial crisis, the escalation of cold-war rhetoric and terrorism. The global scale of those challenges and their negative effects on the lives of millions of human beings on all continents indicate that we are at a critical moment.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our desire that the process of reform of the United Nations, mainly of the Security Council, be accelerated. The current composition of that organ is anachronistic and fails to reflect the contemporary structures of the international community. In the context of United Nations reform, we wish to stress the importance of the recent creation of the Peacebuilding Commission and of the Human Rights Council. I would like in that respect to express my gratitude to all Members of the United Nations for the trust they placed in my country, which is to preside over the Peacebuilding Commission during its first years of existence.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In the Middle East, the continuing violence is rendering ineffective any blueprints for peace aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Angola supports the right to existence of all States in the area as well as their right to live in peace with their neighbours. It is important to return to a process aimed 51 06-53005 at the peaceful resolution of the conflict — a process based on the road map for peace — in order to arrive at a comprehensive solution leading to regional stabilization. Angola hopes that the people of Iraq and of Afghanistan will be able, in the short term, to fulfil their aspirations to live free from violence and from tension, and that those countries will be respected as sovereign and genuine States.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It contributed to the cessation of the internal conflict that devastated the country and is currently contributing to building the capacity of the Congolese institutions charged with maintaining internal peace, security and order. It is now up to the Congolese parties to demonstrate that they are truly committed to peace and democracy. We want to believe that they will not frustrate the expectations of their people and of the international community and that they will respect the verdict of the ballot box. The situation in Côte d’Ivoire remains volatile. The Ivorian people continue to be the principal victims of a conflict that is jeopardizing the country’s future. Angola associates itself with the efforts of the international community to reach a definitive and peaceful resolution of the conflict in that country.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo, a neighbour and brother of Angola, is steadily approaching a situation of normality, which is likely to contribute to the lessening of tensions in Central Africa and in the Great Lakes region. Recently, and for the first time in its history, the people of this country exercised their right to freely choose their legitimate representatives. Such an act marks a crucial stage in the process of democratic transition and the consolidation of internal stability. It was made possible by the support of the international community, particularly of Angola, which supplied $30 million and some logistical means for the electoral process. Angola has always stood by the Congolese people and always will.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In social terms, the results over the last four years are also encouraging. Poverty has been reduced from over 80 per cent to 56 per cent. With the ongoing implementation of poverty reduction programmes and substantial investment in capital goods, we foresee a gradual improvement of social well-being and employment indexes in the short term. The global advances which my country has achieved in four years of peace are evidence that its people can look to the new Angola with real hope. The international community can count on Angola as a dependable partner. In the area of peace, important progress has been made in other parts of the African continent.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Other priorities are the reintegration of the displaced population, refugees and former combatants, as well as the rehabilitation of the economy and the reduction of poverty. These areas have registered important progress. In only four years of peace, roughly 4.5 million displaced persons and more than 400,000 refugees have been resettled. Nearly 200,000 former combatants and members of their families have been socially and productively reintegrated; and countless infrastructures that were destroyed by the conflict are also being rehabilitated. The national economy is characterized by a solid macroeconomic stability resulting from a coherent monetary and budgetary policy. It is among the fastest- growing economies in the world. For 2006 and future years, we foresee continuous, vigorous economic growth, of the order of 20 per cent.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We have prioritized the pursuit of political reforms with a view to the consolidation of a democratic regime and a righteous State, aware that these constitute prerequisites for the maintenance of peace, political stability, respect for citizens’ rights and economic development. This is a serious commitment which my Government will not forsake, the main objective being the regular holding of elections. The next electoral process is at an advanced stage of preparation, and voter registration will begin next November. My Government is creating all the necessary conditions to make the next elections transparent and credible, so that their results are accepted by all the parties, and so that they constitute a step on the road to prosperity. Therefore, the organization of the next elections is going ahead surely and firmly.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“With Angola’s support, one State in Central Africa settled its internal conflict, and, once 06-53005 50 free, its people took charge of their destiny and recovered their sense of peace and stability. Another State in Central Africa overthrew the dictatorship that had oppressed its people and had created a permanent focus of regional tension by acting as a source of instability for neighbouring countries. Today, the people of that country are engaged in building a new democratic society by means of transparent elections and national reconciliation. Now that peace has been achieved, one of the fundamental objectives of the Government of Angola is the complete elimination of factors of conflict.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The establishment of peace in Angola was the supreme objective of a sensible and principled political process led by President José Eduardo dos Santos, whose goals were: to liberate, together with some forces in our region, the people of southern Africa from the dominance of oppressor regimes; to settle the conflicts in Central Africa through negotiation; to extinguish the threat that some States represented to their neighbours; and, finally, to economically develop and integrate the region. The fruits of this political endeavour are visible today: the people of the region, who before were under oppressive regimes, now live in freedom and have built democratic societies.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Notwithstanding this unwelcome picture, in recent times, we have seen significant progress in the area of peace and security, democracy and respect for human rights. For instance, the resolution through dialogue of the Angolan internal conflict, which was among the longest-running conflicts in Africa, constitutes one of the more significant success stories in this regard. Recently, the Angolan Government opted for the same path of dialogue and negotiation in order to extend the peace process to the territory of Cabinda, where some insecurity persisted.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Poverty indexes around the world are also a contributing factor to the bleak present-day international situation. Half of the world’s population, or three billion people, continue to live on less than two dollars a day; 640 million people are without appropriate housing; 400 million people do not have access to drinking water; and 270 million people lack medical assistance. Close to one billion people have entered the twenty-first century illiterate and with little hope of emerging from spiritual and material poverty. Africa is the continent most affected by this scourge, and not even the potential for economic growth of some of our countries permits us to hope that the poverty indexes will be drastically reduced.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It is more indiscriminate; it emerges not only from inter-State or internal conflicts, but rather, and increasingly, it arises from actions that seek to alter the way of life of societies through intimidation and the brutal destruction of human lives. In recent times alone, over a dozen countries in four continents have been severely affected by acts of terror, which have become the most direct and immediate threat to international peace and security. In spite of political or ideological differences, the international community has, in general terms, demonstrated firmness and unity in the fight against acts of terror. We are of the view that this form of collective action must continue to be the most appropriate way of dealing with threats to international security, including terrorism.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Annan has played during the most critical phase of the Organization’s history. I trust that the next Secretary-General will find in Mr. Kofi Annan’s legacy an impressive reference for the reinforcement of the Organization’s capacity to deal with the principal problems facing humanity. The aspirations to stability, security and social justice of the peoples represented in this Assembly continue to be unfulfilled. The persisting armed violence in some States and the meagre results in the fight against world poverty have been contributing to this picture; consequently, these make up the chief challenges facing the United Nations. With regard to the new tendencies towards violence, we see something new.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“On behalf of my Government, I wish to congratulate Ms. Al-Khalifa on her election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. We are confident that under her guidance and leadership, this session will be productive and will attain the goals set. I assure her of my delegation’s full cooperation. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my country’s appreciation to the Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for the valuable work he has performed during the 10 years of his mandate, which is now drawing to a close. Mr. Annan has made an indelible mark on the history of the United Nations by paying special attention to the most pertinent problems affecting our planet, especially the African continent. In particular, Angola praises the role which Mr.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The acts of terrorism we have witnessed in recent times, and the vile and cruel form they have taken, should not discourage the efforts that the international community has been making to root out their perpetrators, but should instead increase its determination to isolate terrorist groups and stymie their efforts. We believe, however, that we should reflect further on ways to prevent and combat terrorism. Have the methods used to date been effective in eradicating terrorism? Is the current system of collective security capable of coping with the aggressiveness of the terrorists? Would responses to terrorism based on the multilateral efforts of the United Nations be less effective?”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“55 The crisis in Darfur is a thorn in the international juridical conscience. Angola supports the decision of the Secretary-General to authorize an investigation. We hope that the authorities of the Sudan will fully cooperate with the African Union and the Security Council in their efforts to help bring peace to the people of that region. We believe that there now exists a solid basis for resolving that conflict. Having in the past been a victim of terrorism, Angola cannot be indifferent to acts of terrorism, wherever they may happen.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In that context, subregional organizations, the countries of the region and other bodies involved in the pursuit of lasting peace in that country must cooperate, with a view to encouraging the Congolese parties to meet their commitments under the transitional process. It is crucial that all the countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo reiterate their commitment to continue to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and not to interfere in its internal affairs. The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs the support of the international community. My Government is willing, to the extent of its ability, to supply the necessary assistance in the process of the consolidation of peace and stability in that country.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We were particularly shocked by the massacres of civilians in Gatumba. The perpetrators of that heinous act, who provoked a new escalation of violence in order to make the peace process unworkable, must be held judicially accountable. That act makes clear, inter alia, that, despite the significant efforts made in the context of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the situation is still quite fragile. The international community, particularly the Security Council and the African Union, must devote special and ongoing attention to this issue in order to avoid a collapse of the process.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The reservations expressed by certain international donors in terms of providing assistance to Angola — overlooking the fact that the internal conflict was quite lengthy and destructive, that it absorbed a large part of the country’s financial, human and materials resources, and that it disrupted the country — can be justified only by a lack of political will. The reconstruction of Angola urgently requires partnerships and substantial support comparable to the assistance given to other countries in post-conflict situations. As a country that is rejoicing in the peace and freedom for which it fought for 40 years, Angola is concerned with the instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that shares an extensive land border with Angola, and with which we have fraternal ties.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“That task involves the rehabilitation of social and productive infrastructures, which were almost totally destroyed by the armed conflict; the social reintegration of nearly 100,000 former combatants and their families; the resettlement of more than 4 million internally displaced persons and more than 400,000 refugees; and a far- reaching effort to reduce the poverty that afflicts most of the population. This very difficult task can be successful only with the full participation of the international community.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“That long-sought peace has finally arrived and it has proved to be irreversible. The success of the peace process ushered in a new phase: the laying of the political groundwork for the construction of a new society, one based on the rule of law, tolerance, a market economy, and the existence of a vibrant civil society. In addition to that political process, my Government is engaged in economic reform, which is a contributing factor to economic and social stability. Were it not for the tremendous, simultaneous challenges that we have had to face, that process could have been faster. So far, the Angolan Government has been tackling alone the task of national reconstruction.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Today, our countries and peoples are still suffering as a result of those policies of exploitation and subjugation, which in some cases have been worsened by internal conflicts that came about after the end of the period of foreign dominance. It appears to us at times that the international financial institutions and the rich countries deliberately minimize those facts. From our point of view, the extensive hesitation with respect to financial assistance to developing countries is unjustified. Furthermore, some of the imposed preconditions seem to be a response more to political interests rather than to the requirements of sustainable economic development. We had until recently called on this body and on the international community to support the restoration of peace in Angola.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Wealthy nations have a moral responsibility to foster a spirit of partnership, not of inequality and dependence, so as to contribute to the development of the less affluent countries and to the establishment of institutions capable of sustaining their integration into the global economy. 54 The existing economic disparities between the wealthy countries of the North and the developing countries of the South is not the result of choice on the part of the latter. The enrichment of the industrialized world has been achieved at the expense of the impoverishment of the Third World through the rampant exploitation of its natural resources and workforce and the imposition of a system of occupation and dominance.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Some institutions and rich countries are pressuring poor countries to follow the steps taken by industrialized countries during their economic development, alleging that developing countries will develop faster because of the benefits resulting from the implementation of policies that have in the past yielded positive results. Such guidelines do not come close to meeting the development needs of poor countries. They fail to place an emphasis on training institutions at the local and national level; those institutions should, indeed, serve as levers for development.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Furthermore, restrictions on international free trade have contributed to a deterioration in the living conditions of people in countries subjected to restrictive economic measures, as is the case in Cuba. We believe that such measures constitute an assault on moral and humanitarian principles. In spite of the efforts made by developing nations to improve their economic performance and the well-being of their populations, the practical results do not measure up to the needs of the development process. This is partly the result of the imposition on developing countries of policies that do not take their realities into account.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In fact, the ranks of the poor have not stopped growing: since 1990, the number of poor people has been growing in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the recent summit on hunger and poverty, promoted by the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, world leaders highlighted the dramatic situation of billions of human beings living mainly in developing countries who are suffering from hunger, malnutrition and diseases that are easily preventable. This is a reprehensible picture, and we must therefore make the eradication of hunger and poverty a priority in our national policies and on the Organization’s agenda. This dramatic situation could rapidly be reversed by a greater commitment on the part of the Governments of developing countries and a stronger political will on the part of the richest countries.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In the past 50 years, humanity has made important advances in the areas of science and technology, economic development, medicine and other fields, which have resulted in improved living conditions and in an increase in the life expectancy of vast segments of the world’s population, as well as in the growth of the world’s material and even spiritual wealth. However, while some countries and continents have shared in those gains, others continue to be marginalized — overwhelmed by economic setbacks that force a significant part of their population to live below the poverty line. The aspirations of such people to a world of social justice and the full exercise of their economic and social rights, including the right to development, continue to be unfulfilled.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The recent difficulties that the United Nations has confronted in dealing with situations that have seriously affected international security have exposed the limitations of its structure and its operation. The United Nations system must be urgently reformed and adapted to the demands and challenges of the current situation, which is characterized by globalization. The main organs of the United Nations lack the broad democratic character that they need in order to express the will of the majority of the Members of the Organization. Both categories of membership of the Security Council should be expanded — on the basis of equitable geographical representation — so as to reflect the new international order.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“53 At a time when the world is confronting the horrors of violence, poverty and hunger, the members of the Assembly once again have the difficult responsibility of assessing the implementation of their decisions and of seeking new solutions to problems that affect millions of human beings — solutions that will require a mechanism for international cooperation. The United Nations must remain the pivotal instrument for States in dealing with new international challenges to peace and security, such as terrorism; hunger; poverty; violations of human rights that continue to deprive millions of human beings of their fundamental freedoms; the degradation of the environment; organized transnational crime, including drug trafficking; and HIV/AIDS.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I am overwhelmed with a great sense of joy at seeing Mr. Ping preside over the General Assembly at this fifty-ninth session. My first words are thus to convey to him, on behalf of my Government and on my own behalf, the most heartfelt congratulations upon his election. Our satisfaction springs from the great esteem in which the Angolan people hold your country and from the strong ties of friendship and fraternity that unite us. I would also like to congratulate your predecessor for the dynamic manner in which he carried out his mandate.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Based on such results, experience has shown that, in fact, the financial institutions very often do not take into account the idiosyncrasies of each country and frequently put the Governments in the position of choosing between meeting the conditions imposed by the financial institutions or meeting the real needs of their people. Angola hopes that, with the establishment of the African Union and the launching of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the tragic situation in which the African continent finds itself today can be alleviated by setting priorities and giving special attention to immediate economic development issues.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“External debt has been a huge obstacle to the development process because repayment of the debt service alone has depleted the already-limited national resources of the African States. Angola supports the cancellation of the external debt service of the least developed countries, particularly those in the African continent. The macroeconomic measures imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions within the framework of the structural adjustment programme have not always been able to help the African continent overcome its international economic problems. In many cases, that has led to controversial results.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Angola urges the parties involved to show flexibility and seek a political solution that enables the people of that territory to decide freely about their own destiny. Today, as one part of the world, particularly the industrialized countries, enjoys considerable wealth, 40 per cent of the 600 million Africans continue to survive on less than one dollar a day. In fact, Africa continues to show the lowest social and economic development indicators, and those levels are becoming even worse, due to the marginalization of the African countries in the progress of globalization and within the world economy, where trade and capital share are only 1 per cent. Africa is also the continent that benefits the least in terms of foreign direct investment, receiving only 7 per cent of the investment targeted at the developing countries.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The Congolese patriots have shown signs of great maturity in guaranteeing the success of the peace process and the transformation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo into a viable country that does not constitute a threat to the stability of its border regions. Angola will continue to be open to strengthening the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation it 35 has maintained with the authorities of the interim Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as with future authorities that are legitimately elected by popular vote. There is still a stalemate with regard to the situation in the Western Sahara. Difficulties regarding the holding of a referendum on the self-determination of the territory are a hindrance to the search for a definitive solution to this question.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“To this end, my delegation will submit a draft resolution on international assistance and the reconstruction and economic development of Angola, which proposes that an international donor conference be convened. We are counting on the support of the Assembly. Angola also welcomes the progress made in the area of peace and security in other regions of the continent, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo. The role of Angola, as well as that of its partners, was crucial in preventing a situation of chaos and disintegration in the territory of that brotherly country, with which we share a long border, and in convincing the parties to give up war and choose instead a negotiated political solution.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)