YouSaid · the spoken record

Mohamed BOLKIAH

lines on the record: 35
first: 1990-09-24
most recent: 2007-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“That is why we very much value the partnership you have proposed. We hope it will result in our people becoming far more than just receivers of solutions. We hope it will start to make them one of the most important agents in finding solutions. We feel you have begun your term of office, Mr. President, by inviting us all to share a modern platform on which we can all work well. We are very pleased to join you and your consensus for the sixty- second session of the General Assembly, and we wish you much success in broadening and strengthening it during the coming year.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In my own country we have only just started to realize how difficult the subject is. It is like security and sustainable development and energy. These are all new, twenty-first century problems, and they all mean that our people need to learn more and more and to learn very quickly. We need to include the subject I have mentioned in all aspects of national development planning, and we need to share knowledge and expertise. We believe that this is more important than ever. This is because by exchanging views and information on climate change this week we have also learned another new lesson, which teaches us that when it comes to modern twenty- first century problems we are all in them together. That is what your consensus, Mr. President, means. It recognizes that we all have an important contribution to make if we work together.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“If our people are to gain such understanding, it will come from having universal good education, good health and strong social services. This will come only when all countries have reached the United Nations Millennium Goals. So it is more urgent than ever that these Goals be reached on time. They cover all aspects of modern life political, social, cultural, and, perhaps above all today, economic and commercial. As such they provide a way for people to understand modern problems well, take a full part in the consensus and help to find a solution. I say this because we are now at the critical halfway point that we set seven years ago in planning the Millennium Development Goals. The discussion we have had all week on climate change shows how vital the next seven years will be.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Most of all, we are very happy with the idea of a lasting consensus among Member States, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society. We are especially pleased that civil societies were included. That means giving ordinary people a place in the consensus. That is why we found the statement so encouraging. Nevertheless, it has set a very serious challenge to the United Nations. It is most important that our people gain the understanding that comes from knowledge, experience and expertise. Our theme of climate change at this session shows this very clearly. The many discussions we have had this week have taught us that all modern problems are extremely complicated. It has also shown us how important it is to gain a full understanding of these difficulties.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Here I offer once more our continued strong support for all the efforts being made by the United Nations to find a solution to the suffering of the Palestinian people. In doing so we reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their efforts to find a just and lasting solution to problems that have been going on for almost 60 years. My last word of thanks, Mr. President, is to you personally. We were most encouraged by your acceptance speech and your plan for the future. We were pleased to hear you express strong support for multilateral solutions to world problems. We certainly agree on the need for the United Nations to strengthen its central position in the multilateral system.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“May I offer my congratulations to you, Mr. President, your Government and people on your election. I would also like to offer my thanks to your predecessor, Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, for her leadership of the General Assembly over the past year. I also offer my congratulations to the Secretary- General on the progress he has made during the past nine months. His first report (A/62/1) is very encouraging, and we welcome his response to the new challenges we are all facing. I also wish to thank our United Nations representatives, workers and volunteers throughout the world who are undertaking very hard tasks which are often extremely dangerous. We thank them for their professional dedication. This is especially so in many parts of the Middle East.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Having made these points, I should like to conclude by once again offering my congratulations to the Secretary- General on his work. As I said, it is a good start. When the work is finished, we hope that the result will be not only administrative reform but a strong renewal of the deepest principles of our Charter. We wish the Secretary-General, and you yourself, Mr. President, much success in the year ahead. We assure you that we will do all we can to assist fellow Members in responding well to what the Secretary-General has rightly described as unprecedented demands and opportunities.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“With regard to development cooperation, we welcome efforts to enhance it. It represents all that is best in international cooperation. It is also directly linked to the important Chapter IX of our Charter, which calls for higher standards of living, full employment and economic and social progress. Without these, there can be no lasting peace and security in the developing world. Lastly, there is the question of financial viability, perhaps the most important of all if reforms are to be effective. We find the various proposals interesting, but what we are concerned about is whether they provide a long-term solution. We therefore want to give these matters more thought. Naturally, we rely on the Committee to look very carefully indeed into the details of any such scheme.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“As many others have remarked, the proposal seems, basically, to be a management package. It reflects the Secretary-General’s long experience in the Organization. But good management principles represent only one aspect of the reforms we need. We hope that an acceptable consensus will be reached on matters which especially concern developing nations. We would like the Secretary-General to make absolutely sure that nothing is going to weaken the things the United Nations does so well for ordinary people. The United Nations work in the field gives the Organization meaning for millions. We must not let our agencies down. With regard to the proposals concerning peace and security, we hope that the Working Group will soon complete its work on the Security Council. This aspect of reform will certainly strengthen the Organization as a whole.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The playing field is anything but level, and this means that the world organizations to which we belong must be highly effective. The most important of these is the United Nations, and this brings me to the questions I know the Secretary- General is keen to hear all of us answer at this session: What do we think of his package of proposed reforms? Are they going to help developing nations? My broad reply would be to say that we think the package is better than the previous attempts to achieve reform. Overall, it firmly addresses the right questions, 4 and, having long supported the idea of United Nations reform, we welcome the proposals. However, we do have a few comments to offer. We believe they are constructive and hope they will be taken into account by the Secretary-General.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“On the question of lasting peace, however, we have learned to take nothing for granted. Some causes of instability have been dramatically highlighted in our own region this year. The recent attacks on our currencies and our financial institutions have shocked us all. They cannot be dismissed as mere ups and downs in the market. It is all very well for commentators to say so, but this is not good enough; it is too simplistic. The effect is like a disease, and it goes for the heart of our economic systems. It seeks out weak points, and developing countries have limited built-in resistance. Yes, we will survive. Our foundations are sound. But the experience has taught us a lesson. We are realizing how deeply we are all affected by globalization, market forces and interdependence.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“These are just two of the areas where we have seen setbacks to United Nations efforts. We can add many others in Europe, Asia and Africa. What is required everywhere is a determination to resolve all problems peacefully by means of dialogue and negotiation. Given that spirit, progress is possible. We have seen evidence of it in the great efforts being made in northeast Asia to try to find a solution to the problems on the Korean Peninsula. The difficult situation in Korea could affect all of us in the Asia-Pacific region, so we very much welcome the four-party talks as a way of reducing tension and building confidence. For the same reason, we are happy to support the initiative of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), since it will help remove one serious threat to peace.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“What we want to see is a peace process that actually proceeds. Somehow, the impasse must be broken, and we greatly appreciate the efforts being made by Jordan, Egypt and the United States to do that. We encourage them and all countries that can help to continue their efforts, despite the many difficulties. Concerning the situation in Bosnia, we have also been disappointed by the way certain elements continue to undermine the cause of peace. There are overwhelming signs from the peoples of Bosnia that they welcome the new opportunities they have for a normal life. We are therefore pleased to see the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations taking strong action to enforce the Dayton Agreement. In our view, such action is definitely being taken on behalf of the Bosnian people. We offer them our full support.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The first is peace and security and the second is the Secretary-General’s reform package. On peace and security, we were pleased to have had the chance to do something to help in the Middle East and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But we have been dismayed by what has taken place this year, particularly in the Middle East. The current situation is not what we expected. The disruption of the peace process clearly started when Israel decided to build settlements in East Jerusalem. This was bad policy. It was obviously not aimed at helping the peace process. Thus, we would like to see the Israelis do something positive to repair the damage done. We have made our position clear for many years. We do not wish to return to the past. It is time for more than words, arguments and resolutions.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I extend my warmest congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your election. I am sure you will guide us well, and we look forward to working with you. I would also like to congratulate our Secretary-General on the excellent start he has made in answer to the Members’ call for reform. At the same time, I would like to thank the outgoing President for his support in this most important work. You take office at a critical time, Mr President. There are obviously no easy solutions to the many challenges faced by our Organization. But there is one thing I hope we can all do: be positive and constructive in our approach. With this in mind, I would like to comment briefly on two aspects of current United Nations work that particularly concern us in Brunei Darussalam.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Their efforts brought to an end more than 20 years of violence and hostility, and I would like to congratulate all the parties involved. We see this as reflecting the need that lies behind the strong calls that many Member States have made for reform of this Organization. It acknowledges that aggression must be dealt with firmly, but it also recognizes what has been tragically impressed upon us all over the past few years in Europe, Africa and Asia. It is what guides all our work in our region and, I suggest, must be the starting point for any new approach to the conduct of international affairs today. It is the knowledge that, if we do not accept and willingly embrace diversity, there is a price to be paid and it is unacceptable.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This is a Treaty which we would like all nuclear-weapon States to join as a commitment to peace in our region. It was in this spirit that we endorsed the resolution on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, passed by this Assembly earlier this month, as a first step towards worldwide nuclear disarmament. What we are trying to stress is the need for inclusion, drawing together all parties to a problem, working towards consensus rather than demanding compromise and bringing everyone into the mainstream of decision-making. The kind of results we hope for were shown just this month in the achievements of the Government of the Philippines and the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front through the good offices of Indonesia.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“They enable us not only to manage the diversity of our region, but also, at a very human level, to learn to appreciate each others’ differences and enjoy the challenge of working together. By way of example, I would like to commend our friends and colleagues in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar for their intention to join the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). They are making a lasting contribution to peace and stability in our region. We are therefore delighted to be on the verge of seeing the whole of South- East Asia working together in cooperation. What this has led to in terms of strengthening international peace and security is illustrated by our very extensive dialogue process. One practical result of this in our region was the signing of the South-East Asia Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty at the last ASEAN summit.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Modern technology may well encourage neighbourly cooperation, but it is just as capable of enhancing the hostile elements of primitive village life. It could set up a permanent division between the developed and the developing worlds. 8 That is why I feel it is essential for us to find an effective new approach to the tremendous changes taking place today. As members know, this is what we are trying to develop in South-East Asia. The way we have chosen has enabled us to promote programmes aimed at preventive diplomacy and economic cooperation in our region. It has also meant that we have been able to offer some wider assistance to the cause of South-South cooperation. These are specific measures with practical aims and they are producing clear results, but they also have a broader and deeper effect.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“What I have briefly described represents the sum of economic, social and political problems, which in our view calls for a new approach on our part. This can only be developed, we feel, when the United Nations is reformed. I say this because we are seeing the emergence of a new type of international community, far more diverse than the one our founders knew. At the same time, it is one which is being drawn even closer together through the advance of technology and communications — the “global village” of popular description. There are many reasons to welcome this. It could mean that we all learn to acknowledge and appreciate our diversity and to take on the best aspects of a real village. However, there is no guarantee. Villages are not always pleasant places to live in. They have their darker side.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Then, at last, a peace agreement was reached which gave us a realistic glimpse of hope. Even though we realized that it would be a very difficult process, we felt optimistic. However, a new Government in Israel now appears to be challenging the very basis on which our own hopes for peace were founded. The solutions that appeared to be within the grasp of the parties directly concerned are under threat. Rather than becoming more manageable, the scope of the so-called Middle East problem has now extended to include the people of Iraq. It is consequently with great concern that Brunei Darussalam adds its voice to the many who wish to impress on the leaders of Israel the need to continue the peace process, not just by making statements, but in the full spirit of the agreements reached in Madrid and Oslo.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Certainly, we in Brunei Darussalam welcome recent developments and will continue to give our strong support to the new Government in Bosnia. At the same time, I feel that all of us in this Assembly should recognize the extent to which the events of the last five years reveal our own shortcomings. We hope that the Security Council will now begin to insist that all agreements be resolutely kept. We would like to see it acting firmly against political pressure from any quarter and ensuring that nothing is allowed to stand in the way of the peoples’ recovery. I say this with particular concern as we are now facing what could become another emblem of failure for us: the current situation in the Middle East. Until quite recently, this was a problem which had defied solution since the earliest days of this Organization.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Above all, it has to face the results of these problems in the form of mounting intolerance, violent aggression and, all too often, extremism and terrorism. In trying to do all this, its resources are overstretched. For this reason, I would like to thank the Secretary-General, his representatives and all those who are serving this Organization in the field, often in extremely difficult conditions. Their work represents a deep commitment to the cause of peace and stability in the world and I admire and greatly appreciate it. However, I also tend to think that maybe we are asking them to take on new tasks with old or outdated tools. If they are not provided with the means to manage our affairs well, then we in the United Nations are at fault. In this respect, the tragedy of Bosnia is a warning to us.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Like you, I feel that the General Assembly must not be paralysed by the analysis of reform. We need concrete proposals from our working groups. Then we can spend our time on the hard work of building consensus. The need is urgent. Tension and conflict within nations are growing. At the same time, the United Nations is increasingly being asked to solve problems in many new areas of international concern — social, economic and sometimes even criminal — that transcend national borders. It is also expected to address the deep-seated causes of future instability, the widening gap between North and South and the allied problems of overpopulation and urbanization, which have been so sharply exposed by this Organization at recent conferences.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It is a very special pleasure for Brunei Darussalam to greet you, Mr. President, as a close friend and neighbour. Please accept our warmest congratulations, both to you 7 and to all Malaysians, on your election. May I also express our appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Freitas do Amaral for his leadership during our fiftieth session. Our fiftieth anniversary has come and gone. We still remember the many fine statements made last year. Now, however, we have to give them practical substance. In this regard, Mr. President, I was very interested in your recent statements on the role of the General Assembly. I was particularly pleased that you emphasized practical economic and social development. It was also most encouraging to hear you say that you intend to do all you can for the cause of United Nations reform.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“However, it will not emerge for the benefit of all unless we strive together to prevent new problems and to solve the many long-standing ones that have been shown to threaten the very existence of many nations and their people.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“These are no less threatening to peace than arc acts of open hostility. Although initiatives taken in these areas have afforded us cautious optimism, other problems remain unsolved and must be addressed with even greater urgency. Only when that is done can we hope to see the emergence of a world that all nations, regardless of their size, geographic location or level of economic development, regard as prosperous and stable. Today I have stressed that an era of peace, stability and prosperity cannot be fashioned solely from the viewpoint of one region of the world, no matter how powerful that region may be. This means that we cannot be complacent. The global peace and stability that we all seek is certainly promoted by the climate of East-West detente that has developed during the past year.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“Brunei Darussalam reiterates its total condemnation of Israeli policy in that country with regard both to the actions of the Israeli army and to policy relating to the immigration of Soviet Jews. We therefore wish to record again our support for the convening of an international conference on the Middle East, involving the permanent members of the Security Council and all the parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organisation as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We refer to South Africa, where the complete and irreversible dismantling of apartheid has yet to be brought about. We refer similarly to matters of great global importance, such as damage to the environment, the problem of debt, international drug-trafficking and underdevelopment.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait is a demonstration of how vulnerable small nations can be in the face of such contradiction. It also reminds us how fragile the newly emerging global order is. Thus, in urging the international community to reject and condemn such acts, and in expressing its own condemnation of all such violations of the United Nations Charter, Brunei Darussalam not only notes current events but also recognises their deep-seated causes. Hence, we draw the attention of the Members of this Organisation once more to specific regional matters. These, we believe, are often the deep-seated cause of wider conflict. In this respect, we refer to the core problem of Palestine.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“It is important, however, to recognise that detente is not to be judged solely from the perspective of Europe. Peace and stability is the concern of all regions. Therefore, while acknowledging a number of positive moves towards the creation of a safer world, we detect grave tendencies that threaten world-wide peace. In particular, we observe contradictory trends. These reveal that traditional security, which in European countries may have begun to assume a less dominant character, is still a matter of considerable concern to the rest of the world. At a time when developed nations are more free to concentrate on welfare and even more development we face the disturbing fact that less developed countries are engaged in an arms race of their own.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“Nevertheless, at present, there appears to be only moral force to protect us against violations of the United Nations Charter. Therefore our hopes for the future are linked to the belief that it is crucial that the role of the United Nations in the resolution of international disputes be enhanced. In that way, Brunei Darussalam believes, members of the international community can contribute to a détente that is world-wide by encouraging regional organisations to co-operate with one another in support of the principles and Charter of the United Nations. Regional organisations may thus begin to emerge as significant forces for the protection of global peace and security. It is by engaging in such new roles that the major Powers may place their own hard-won détente at the service of world-wide peace.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“These may encourage the Afghans to settle their disputes and start rebuilding their homeland. Finally, the independence of Namibia was an occasion of great joy to us all. It came about as the result of much hard work by the United Nations, and showed that this Organisation can be a powerful, active force for peace. These are positive examples of progress. They serve to convince us that the trend towards reconciliation and co-operation between the major Powers can assist us all. Above all, such progress can help to bring about control over the flow of arms, a reduction in the excessive level of weaponry, and regulation of the transfer of arms technology. It may thus permit us to look forward realistically to a time when the arms race has been halted throughout the world.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“In our own region, we commend the continuing efforts of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the other countries that are seeking a solution to the Cambodian problem. The level of accord reached thus far by the Cambodian parties over the framework document has been encouraging. Final agreement will be a considerable achievement, and we urge all concerned to bring this about. In the Korean peninsula, we have witnessed signs of reconciliation between two adversaries. This could lay the foundation for lasting peace between North and South. Following this, we hope that the application of either or both of them for membership of the United Nations will receive favourable consideration. We have noted moves towards the resolution of the Afghan conflict.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“We similarly congratulate the Republic of Yemen and the Yemeni people on their peaceful unification earlier this year. These events are the high points of a year in which a number of encouraging prospects have seemed to indicate that the political situation in the world is improving. At this Assembly last year we noted several of these positive signs. Since then w. have seen relations between the super-Powers become much less tense. This, in turn has led to a number of constructive meetings between previously hostile parties. At these meetings the broad principle o£ negotiation rather than confrontation has appeared to dominate. To this extent detente has been seen in action. As a result we have observed several pleasing initiatives.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“I should like to join other representatives in presenting my warm congratulations to Mr. Guido de Marco of Malta on his unanimous election as President of the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly. I wish also to express our appreciation to the outgoing President, Mr. Joseph H. Garba, and to the Secretary-General for providing us with leadership which has inspired confidence throughout the past year. At the same time Brunei Darussalam welcomes as members of this Organisation the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Republic of Namibia. Today is a special day for the world community. Brunei Darussalam would therefore like to take this early opportunity to extend its heartfelt congratulations to the German people on the momentous occasion of the unification of their homeland.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)