YouSaid · the spoken record

Mompati S. Merafhe

lines on the record: 91
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 5
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 must muster the political will to conclude the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization trade negotiations as soon as possible. We as nations, individually and collectively, face the greatest challenge of our time — the uplifting of humankind. In fulfilling that mammoth task, our greatest hope lies in our ability as leaders to summon our courage and political will to do what is right. Let me conclude by reaffirming Botswana’s commitment to working with other Members in our common endeavour to put our Organization at the service of humanity.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Significant progress was made in that respect last September, when we resolved to take effective measures to further strengthen support for and meet the special needs of regions and countries struggling to achieve economic and social development, including middle-income countries. Recent experience has shown that even that category of countries, which have made small gains in poverty reduction, are still vulnerable in the event of further global economic and financial upheaval. The limitations imposed by our fragile economy and the landlocked position of my country, Botswana, also call for the speedy implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, accompanied by renewed efforts to level the playing field in international trade.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Similarly, the seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in South Africa later this year, offers the international community yet another valuable opportunity to reverse the harmful effects of climate change on our planet. We must forge a spirit of cooperation and partnership, including through South- South cooperation, public-private partnerships, resource mobilization and technology transfer, as well as capacity-building, to assist countries such as my own to exploit the abundant coal reserves for sustainable energy production in a manner less harmful to the environment.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The ongoing climate change negotiations, the failed nineteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development and the ongoing discussions on the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development continue to expose deep divisions among our countries. Unfortunately, those divisions undermine the implementation of existing commitments and threaten prospects for an effective global sustainable development regime. We believe that the Rio+20 processes present an excellent platform for all Member States, individually and collectively, to muster their resolve towards the attainment of sustainable development.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The residual effects of the financial and economic crisis, coupled with ongoing uncertainties in the global economy and the prevailing high cost of energy and food, have compounded the setbacks experienced in the implementation of internationally agreed goals and commitments, including the Millennium Development Goals. We must ensure that sustainable development in all its three pillars — social, economic and environmental — remains the key framework for attaining a balanced approach towards development in our countries. In that context, poverty eradication should remain the centrepiece of all our policies and programmes. As we prepare for a common global policy on sustainable development in Brazil in June of next year, we are increasingly concerned about the negative trend the negotiations are taking.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“For them, it is no longer acceptable for children to die from HIV and AIDS or any other preventable disease just because the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights hinders access to affordable treatment. They do not accept that over 113 million children have no access to primary education. It is certainly no longer acceptable for people to die from cholera and other waterborne diseases when affordable technology for clean water and sanitation exists. Nor is it acceptable for our people to continue to be exposed to the dire consequences of climate change, while we debate endlessly instead of concluding a comprehensive, 11-51384 4 legally binding climate change regime to curb global warming and its effects. In other words, our people want us to do more with the collective resources that we have at our disposal.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this respect, I wish to reiterate my country’s support for all efforts geared towards assisting countries emerging from conflict to make successful transitions to post-conflict rehabilitation, reconstruction and economic recovery. Allow me now to turn to another critical pillar of the United Nations mandate, namely, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. Now more than ever, our global citizenry is demanding practical actions to address the global challenges we face. They believe — and rightly so — that collectively we are equipped with enough resources, institutions, policies and lessons learned to respond effectively to existing and emerging global challenges. They therefore expect us to muster the requisite political will to find durable solutions to those challenges.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is timely, given the multiplicity of mediation efforts in which the international community is currently engaged as part of an effort to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts raging in various parts of the world. It is pertinent in that forging international peace and understanding is the raison d’être of this very body. In order to maintain momentum in governance, my delegation believes that countries emerging from conflict should also commit themselves to the strict observance of human rights and national and international humanitarian law, as well as of the values of accountability and transparency, guided by effective application of the rule of law.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is important that the international community remain vigilant against any breach of international peace and security and also respond in a decisive, consistent and timely manner to any such instances. We find it unacceptable that such countries as mentioned can continue to belong to a community of peace-loving nations. Botswana recognizes the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya as the interim Administration until there is an elected Government. We therefore welcome the NTC into the United Nations family to represent the Libyan people during this session. The chosen theme for this session — the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes — is both timely and pertinent.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this regard, support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) is crucial for realizing the full implementation of the Rome Statute. We commend the Security Council for its swift and resolute action on Libya under its resolution 1973 (2011), which authorized NATO to protect civilians in that country. However, we remain concerned about the delay and procrastination on a number of situations in Syria. The Council’s condemnation of human rights violations and the military assault on civilians by Syria came rather too late. It failed to convey a clear and unequivocal message of revulsion to the Syrian authorities and to urge them to respect international humanitarian law and human rights. Crimes against humanity have been committed in Syria, and the leadership in that country should answer for such crimes through the ICC.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Consequently, it is not acceptable under any circumstances for any State to use military force against the civilian population — the very citizens it has sworn to protect. I believe we all agree that this is a clear violation of human rights and international law and an infringement of our common value system enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Our view is that any leader who sanctions such use of force on his people forfeits the legitimate right to be recognized as representing the interests of his people. The international community should therefore spare no effort in applying all the necessary measures at its disposal to protect civilians from such repressive Governments and to hold them accountable for their atrocities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There are other emerging threats to international peace and security. My delegation is deeply concerned about States that continue to violate with impunity their obligations under their constitutions and international law to protect their citizens from any armed conflict. This very Organization is founded on the premise that Governments have the primary duty and responsibility to do all in their power to safeguard the 3 11-51384 legitimate aspirations of their people for a better life, including ensuring their safety and security. It is therefore imperative that Governments provide an environment conducive to addressing the legitimate concerns and grievances of their people through inclusive dialogue and mutual understanding.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“On Somalia, my delegation takes note of the conclusion of the recent Kampala Accord between the President of the Federal Transitional Government and the Speaker of Parliament, which is a welcome move towards improving the political situation in that country. However, we remain concerned about the deteriorating security situation and the growing humanitarian crisis in that country, and we call on all parties to remain engaged and to fully honour their obligations under that Accord. Regarding the Middle East, Botswana shares the general frustration at the prolonged impasse in the situation in that region. We call on both the Palestinians and Israelis to remain engaged in the negotiations on the basis of a two-State solution, in which the two peoples will live side by side in peace and harmony.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“While many security concerns remain, we believe President Ouattara and his Government have put in place the necessary measures to consolidate peace, build confidence, promote national reconciliation and set the country on the path to normalcy, reconstruction and sustainable development. We urge the international community to remain actively engaged in supporting this process. While notable strides have been made towards resolving some conflicts, regrettably the same cannot be said of many other conflict situations, such as those in the Middle East, Somalia and Syria, where peace remains elusive, with attendant hardship and misery.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“South Sudan will obviously need the full support of the international community in addressing the plethora of challenges of nationhood, including outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement such as the future of the Abyei region, and other separation issues that could easily undermine this fragile transition. Botswana will endeavour, within the limit of her resources, to assist our brothers and sisters in South Sudan translate their political freedom into tangible social and economic benefits. The evolving situation in Côte d’Ivoire is also a cause for optimism.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“For decades the people of South Sudan have been engulfed in a seemingly endless bloody conflagration, accompanied by heavy loss of human life, destruction of property and condemnation to untold misery and suffering. However, we are delighted that the people of South Sudan, with the assistance and support of the international community, have realized their long- cherished dream. They now face a new dawn of freedom and nationhood. Allow me, therefore, to pay a fitting tribute to South Sudan on the assumption of her rightful place in the comity of nations as a sovereign and independent State and the 193rd Member of the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We express our sincere appreciation to the United Nations system and the international community as a whole for their generous and timely response to those tragedies. At the inception of the United Nations, the international community pledged a solemn determination to safeguard succeeding generations from the scourge of war. In the intervening period, the world has seen monumental changes with profound effects on humanity. The end of colonialism and the cold war, the defeat of the inhuman system of apartheid, the institutionalization of conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms around the world, as well as the strengthening of collaboration between the United Nations and regional organizations in dealing with conflict situations, come to mind in this regard.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“11-51384 2 My delegation wishes to express our heartfelt condolences to all those countries that have been victims of those tragedies. Our profound sympathies and heartfelt condolences go to the Government and people of Japan for the unfortunate Fukushima incident, triggered by a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck that country early this year. We also wish to convey our condolences and sympathies to the Government and people of Norway on the recent senseless and horrifying attack that left many people dead. The humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa equally deserves our attention. We commend the United Nations for calling the attention of the international community to the plight of the victims of that disaster. We in Botswana have made our modest contribution to that relief effort.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“My delegation is of the conviction that all problems and challenges confronting humanity can be resolved within the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter and international law. In that connection, we must each do our part and work together to improve the lives of our people by conquering hunger, disease and illiteracy, to encourage respect for human rights and freedoms and to respond to natural disasters and different humanitarian situations. Once again this year, the world has experienced a number of natural and man-made disasters, including violent, senseless attacks that have claimed numerous lives, left many homeless, caused massive destruction of property and caused intolerable pain and suffering.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As the world’s problems have in recent decades increased in numbers and complexity, so have the challenges and responsibilities of the United Nations Secretary-General, the head of our grand institution. I am pleased to note that the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has acquitted himself extremely well, at times under very difficult circumstances. We specifically wish to commend him for his concerted efforts in raising the alarm on conflict situations and emerging threats to international peace and security. Allow me therefore to seize this opportunity to sincerely congratulate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his well-deserved reappointment for a second term.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is with infinite pleasure, Mr. President, that I join other speakers who preceded me in expressing our felicitations to you on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to your great country, the State of Qatar, for making you available to the service of the international community. We are confident that under your guidance and leadership the sixty-sixth session will achieve a successful outcome, one which will make a difference to the lives of multitudes of disadvantaged people around the world. May I also pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, whose effective and exemplary stewardship of the sixty-fifth session earned our deep respect and admiration.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“They would also enable issues of vital importance to be fully debated, and thus make it easier to implement the decisions reached. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate Botswana's commitment to the United Nations and its agenda. To us the United Nations is the embodiment of our collective will to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“This issue cannot continue to defy our collective wisdom after 10 years of deliberation. A compromise solution must emerge soon or history will judge us harshly. We welcome what now seems to be an emerging consensus towards the revitalization of the General Assembly. The speeches delivered in the Assembly have been correctly observed by the Secretary-General in his report as being repetitive and sterile. The agenda tends to be too long, and often results in a duplication of issues. We share the proposal to keep the agenda short and focused, with a number of issues clustered. Long speeches should be replaced by more focused debates and interactive dialogue. We strongly believe that those modest reforms would make the deliberations of the General Assembly more interesting to our stakeholders.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Turning to the Secretary-General's reform proposals, while progress has been made in respect of the rationalization of the functions of the Secretariat, especially in the economic and social fields, formidable hurdles still remain in connection with the reform of the Security Council. The Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council has, in our view, done all that is humanly possible to solicit a wide range of views and to try to bridge the differences that have emerged. But, regrettably, little progress has been made. It is clear to us that this matter, which is of vital importance to the whole Organization, will only move forward if there is political will on the part of some key Member States.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation fully supports the conclusions reached by the high- 30 level interactive panel on the critical issues that must now be addressed, namely, political leadership; stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/ AIDS; the importance of broad-based partnerships; and resource mobilization on a very large scale. We call upon our development partners, both in Government and in the private sector, to dig deeper into their pockets to support the efforts of developing countries struggling so hard to meet their obligations to control that scourge.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We must support the appeal by the Secretary-General for the adoption of urgent measures to provide protection and security to United Nations staff wherever they serve. We believe that the United Nations must be empowered to play a pivotal role in mobilizing international consensus around measures to curb the scourge of terrorism. In that respect, Botswana remains ready to cooperate in any way possible with the relevant United Nations agencies. My delegation was most pleased that a high-level meeting of the General Assembly was convened on 22 September this year to focus on sharing best practices and the lessons learned in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. As one of the countries most affected by that scourge, my Government accords the highest priority to tackling HIV/AIDS.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Earlier, I referred to the need for the international community to address the problem of poverty with all the resources at its disposal; for the failure to do so will only increase the level of frustration and anger and feelings of powerlessness among the poor, which will in turn will provide fertile ground for radicalism and extremism. Botswana strongly condemns international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Terrorism, like poverty, is now the biggest threat to civilized norms of international discourse. The recent senseless and deliberate attack on the United Nations office in Baghdad is a stark reminder that even the United Nations servants of peace and humankind are not immune from acts of terror.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We need to measure whether we have been able to mobilize enough domestic and international resources for development, including foreign direct investment and private capital flows. We need to measure whether we have resolved the external debt crisis. We need to measure how far we have gone towards establishing fair and equitable international monetary and trading systems. Above all, we need to measure how much we have achieved in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In that context, it is regrettable that the recent talks in Cancun on trade, a key factor in poverty reduction and development, collapsed.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Instead they believe that they have nothing to lose by using violent means in expressing their grievances, for in their perception, the international community is indifferent to their suffering. Three years after the Millennium Declaration was adopted by our heads of State, the General Assembly should take full stock of the progress achieved towards the fulfilment of the commitments contained in it. Botswana welcomes the report of the Secretary- General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. It is the intention of my delegation to participate actively in the debate on this matter. We need to measure in concrete terms whether there has been an increase in the flow of official development assistance.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is estimated that about 1.2 billion people around the world still live in poverty, and a large proportion of them live in Africa. It is unacceptable that in this day and age, when billions of dollars are spent on armaments, space technology and other advances in human endeavour, such a large number of people are still poor and marginalized. We should bear in mind that there is a clearly established link between poverty, on the one hand, and the political instability and insecurity that the world is witnessing today, on the other. Poverty breeds resentment, anger and despair. People condemned to the margins of society feel that they have nothing to gain by participating in the democratic process of governance.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Small States such as my own place great hope in multilateral partnership and cooperation, for on their own or in their small regional groupings the challenges they face are formidable. We therefore call upon Member States to rededicate themselves to the noble ideals of the Organization. As we direct our energies towards peace and security, we must also remain focused on the twin challenges of development and poverty eradication. Those are global challenges requiring global solutions and the active participation of all nations. Our performance in efforts to eradicate poverty cannot be considered successful by any measure. Poverty still remains a blemish on humankind's attempts at socio-economic upliftment. The policies, strategies and programmes to address the situation have not had the desired effect.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“That development should be condemned by all who want to see peace in that land. In Iraq, despite formal pronouncements that hostilities have ended, the country is still not at peace. Instead we see an escalation of violence, with many people, including coalition troops, being killed every day. The situation clearly calls for an intervention by the Security Council to ensure that the Iraqi people are 29 given the mandate to govern themselves and that the United Nations is given a bigger role to play in the reconstruction of the country. Botswana firmly believes that the various challenges that the international community faces today can best be tackled under a multilateral framework. The United Nations remains the foremost body for promoting the Agenda for Peace.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The inability of the international community thus far to act resolutely to address those conflicts will no doubt make it more difficult for the continent to implement its major programmes, such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The conflict in the Middle East continues to be a matter of grave concern. All initiatives towards a peaceful settlement, including the road map promoted by the Quartet, have so far failed. The decision by Israel and others to insist on determining who in the leadership of the Palestinians they will do business with is an unacceptable precondition for genuine negotiations. Worse still, the threat to expel the democratically elected leader of the Palestinians, Mr. Arafat, is a recipe for further strife that could result in more loss of life on both sides.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We welcome the news that, through the mediation of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) and the African Union, the military in Guinea-Bissau has agreed to hand over power to a civilian interim administration until elections are held, in two years' time. Those conflicts continue to drain Africa's energies and to undermine the continent's capacity to focus on the equally challenging tasks of development and poverty eradication. The vicious cycle of war, poverty, hunger and disease has left African people in despair. They wonder whether in this new millennium the dawn of peace and tranquillity that they so aspire to will ever come.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“For the United Nations to succeed in its mission, it is important that all Member States respect the Charter. Although now fewer in number, conflicts continue to bedevil the African continent. Fighting is still going on in many parts of Liberia, although there is a semblance of peace in the capital, Monrovia. It is a welcome development that the Security Council has decided to send a peacekeeping mission to that war- torn country. The peace process in CÙte d'Ivoire, though holding, is still fragile. Only recently, a military coup took place in Guinea-Bissau. Botswana strongly condemns the coup, which further tarnishes the image of Africa.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Let me also pay tribute to our illustrious Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his dynamic leadership of the Organization, in particular for his unshakeable commitment to the reform of the United Nations. I assure him of the unwavering support of Botswana in the discharge of his onerous responsibilities. The fifty-eighth session is beginning at a time when we are faced with formidable challenges to the cohesion of the international community and to the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. We have just witnessed the war in Iraq, which caused deep divisions and recrimination among the Member States of the United Nations. It is important that the Member States set aside their differences and promote the Organization as a force that can rally nations, both big and small, around common causes.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Allow me, first of all, to express once again to the Secretary-General and to all United Nations personnel the condolences of my Government and the people of Botswana for the terrorist attack on United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August. We are outraged that an attack of that magnitude was carried out against international civil servants, whose sole mission in that country is to help Iraqis rebuild their country. The death of Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and a number of his staff is indeed a loss to the United Nations family that we shall all feel for a long time to come. May I now pay my respects to you, Mr. President, and congratulate you on your election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. I pledge to you the full support of my delegation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We therefore wish to appeal to UNITA to reconsider its position and choose the path of dialogue. My delegation is seriously concerned at the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East. It is our sincere hope that the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will recognize the urgent need to resume negotiations towards a comprehensive peace agreement. A lasting solution to this problem is essential. In conclusion, let me reaffirm my country’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. We are committed to working with others to strengthen this Organization in order to surmount the challenges that face us all as nations and peoples across the globe. The United Nations is our only hope for a stable and prosperous world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I also wish to call upon the international community to provide the necessary support and resources to the Office of the Facilitator, former President Sir Ketumile Masire, to enable the facilitation process of the inter-Congolese dialogue to succeed. The peace process in Burundi is moving in the right direction after many years of painful war. The deal brokered by former President Mandela has provided a way out of the stalemate. The resolve of the parties to remain committed to the peace process is the only way forward. We continue to be concerned that prospects for peace in Angola remain distant. At the heart of the impasse are UNITA’s continuing acts of destabilization and sabotage. UNITA must understand that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Angola.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“After many years of bloody conflict, which has inflicted immense suffering on the people of the Congo, the political players and other stakeholders have embarked on a national dialogue that should bring peace to the country. I would like to underline the fact that dedication and perseverance will be required on the part of those concerned in order for the inter-Congolese dialogue to be crowned with success. We therefore urge the players to see the process of negotiations through, because the alternative is to slide back down into the suffering and misery that the Congolese have endured for so long.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Recent developments in Sierra Leone give us hope that peace will now be given a chance in that country. The agreement between the Government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), which will see the latter transformed into a political party, is a major achievement and an important step forward. The RUF must now translate its promises into action, because this is the only way that the international community will be able to provide the much needed support for the holding of the envisaged national elections, which will provide the basis for the restoration of peace and stability in Sierra Leone. There is a real window of opportunity for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We also believe that the initiative will usher in a new concept of technical cooperation between Africa and our development partners, and that the United Nations will have a critical role to play in its implementation. My delegation attaches importance to the International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held in Mexico in the spring of 2002, and the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in South Africa in September 2002. These Conferences will offer us an opportunity to examine issues of development in a holistic and pragmatic manner. Issues of environment, trade, domestic policy-making, international cooperation and partnership with the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as the private sector, will have to feature prominently at these conferences.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Unlike other initiatives that came before it, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development challenges African countries to take primary responsibility for their own development by ushering in a political environment guaranteeing peace, security and stability, respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. 8 The initiative underscores the need for a policy framework and, indeed, regulatory structures that will enhance governance in Africa. I must say, all of these are achievable objectives, and we as a continent have unreservedly committed ourselves, our Governments and peoples, and the required resources to their attainment.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The establishment of the African Union, which will be launched next year in the Republic of South Africa, is the most positive expression of a new solidarity, based on an urgent search for collective economic security and political partnership. Without underestimating the hurdles we still face as we move our continent towards integration, it is our fervent belief that an era of hope has been ushered in on our continent. The most talked about undertaking by Africa in recent weeks has been the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which is aimed at achieving socio-economic development by alleviating poverty as well as promoting peace, security, democracy and good governance.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We sincerely want to see the suffering inflicted upon the people of Angola, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and others brought to an end. Regrettably, many more countries in our continent continue to be torn apart by war and conflict. We applaud the efforts of the United Nations and other international players to enhance the capacity of African countries to prevent conflict and maintain peace and stability in the continent. We are convinced that the determination of many in Africa to consolidate democracy will go a long way towards ensuring that conditions of security and stability are instituted throughout the continent.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“However, I want to underscore the fact that “conflict diamonds” constitute only 4 per cent or less of the world trade in diamonds. Legitimate, conflict- free diamonds, such as those produced in my country, are used to generate socio-economic growth and development. I am glad that the contribution of conflict-free diamonds to the economic growth of countries such as mine, and indeed of other countries in Southern Africa, is being appreciated. We have been active participants in the Kimberly Process, in which Governments of diamond-producing countries of Southern Africa and other interested Governments, the diamond industry and civil society organizations are working together to institute a certification scheme designed to eliminate that small percentage of conflict diamonds from world trade.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Global HIV/AIDS and Health Fund could not have come at a more opportune time. It is our sincere hope, therefore, that the donor community will respond positively to the financing of the trust fund. I want to stress the need to strengthen the role of the United Nations in this fight. Our efforts for the prevention and treatment of the disease need to be augmented and strengthened by concrete measures of support and resources from the international community if we are to turn the tide of the spread of HIV/AIDS. The third issue I wish to highlight is that of “conflict diamonds” versus “development diamonds”. Botswana deplores the fact that diamond resources in a number of countries in Africa are being plundered by rebels to purchase weapons that are used to cause enormous suffering to innocent people.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Of the 5.3 million people infected with the virus during 2000, 3.8 million were in sub- Saharan Africa. Of the 3.0 million people who died of HIV/AIDS in 2000, 2.4 million were in sub-Saharan Africa. These statistics present an extremely grim picture of the HIV/AIDS situation in sub-Saharan Africa. As delegates are no doubt aware, my country is one of the worst affected on the continent. Unless we join forces to tackle this pandemic, it will continue to have a devastating impact on our societies and economies. Funding for the HIV/AIDS programmes is grossly inadequate and has to be increased in order to mitigate the impact of the scourge. Indeed, the twenty-sixth special session of the United Nations General Assembly underscored the imperative of intensified global action to combat the pandemic.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“A unified and concerted effort is required from the international community in order to wipe the scourge of international terrorism from the face of the earth, once and for all. 7 Among other things, we need to reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of all conventions on combating terrorism. My delegation is convinced that the international community collectively has the resources necessary to win the war against terrorism. This is a challenge of our age. The other major challenge that presents extraordinary danger to humanity is the HIV/AIDS pandemic, whose devastating impact on our societies and our economies, particularly in Africa, is well documented. According to recent estimates, of the 36.1 million people living with HIV globally, 25.3 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is regrettable that even as we are assembled here to forge a common future within the same walls where just 12 months ago our leaders proclaimed the arrival of a brave new world full of hope and promise, our attention should be drawn to acts of international terrorism not far from where we are meeting. My delegation wishes to add its voice to those of other speakers who have condemned, in the strongest language possible, the bombings that occurred in New York and Washington, resulting in a huge loss of human life. Immediately after learning of these attacks, my Government issued a statement in which we condemned these terrorist attacks and those who conceived and perpetrated them.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)