YouSaid · the spoken record

Joseph KABILA KABANGE

lines on the record: 101
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2018-09-24
sittings or episodes: 9
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

“It is nevertheless up to Member States to work to achieve a stronger Organization by preserving through their actions the values that inspired its foundation and are unequivocally aimed at the preservation of humankind.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Only a few years ago it was mired in bankruptcy, but it is now showing indisputable signs of new ambitions, underscored by encouraging economic and security policies. Our challenges are by no means negligible, but that in no way shakes my faith in a bright future for my country, in which the people understand how to overcome their history and robustly commit to their unity, independence and sovereignty. I would also like to assure the Assembly that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will always stand by the Organization as long as it remains at our side, as the United Nations embodies in the most concrete terms what our collective efforts can achieve in bringing about peace and the well-being of our planet.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Given the myriad changes over many years and for the sake of equity, which is the focus of our meeting here, it is Africa’s wish to speak with a louder voice in line with the expectations of its peoples, who demand greater representation within this Organization, which embodies universalism and whose peacekeeping activities primarily concern our continent. Moreover, United Nations forces were deployed in my country 20 years ago, and my Government now reiterates its demand, given the fact that the results at the operational level of the multilateral forces have diminished, that the multilateral force effectively and significantly begin its withdrawal. In conclusion, I want to stress the progress made by my country today.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Lastly, we cannot make the United Nations an organization relevant for all people, with a view to achieving sustainable societies, as long as the fauna and flora of countries with extensive forestlands serve only as ornaments — under the well-chosen pretext that they are the lungs of humankind or the repairers of the environmental damage caused by Northern industries — and if there is no real will to allocate substantial rewards for those resources to our populations, or to make good on commitments that are often made but never kept. Almost 15 years ago, the African continent spoke with one voice in asking that Africa be represented by a permanent member in the Security Council, as part of United Nations reform.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is why my country denounces and opposes any interference in the current electoral process, and is determined to finance all of its operational costs. We also demand a return to the fundamentals of democracy and human rights, one of the issues at the root of the asymmetrical diplomacy that some make excessive use of to consciously weaken countries that have resolutely taken a path towards progress. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo is only 58 years old, and its democracy only 15 years old, we are proud today to share our experience in that area, both in the Human Rights Council and in other regional and international forums. We do it with humility and in a straightforward manner, bearing in mind that the road ahead is still long.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That once again reinforces the value of shared and engaged reflection on the reform of our Organization with a view to ensuring its improved functioning. However, the effectiveness of our Organization in that new context also depends on its ability to preserve the ideals on which the structure of global equilibrium that emerged in San Francisco more than 70 years ago are based. We will not be able to make the United Nations an organization for all if we tolerate or allow to become commonplace some Governments’ serious interference in matters that clearly fall within the purview of domestic State policy, in violation of the rules that govern our Organization, which represents a grave danger.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
““Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies” is the theme of this year’s session of the General Assembly. That suggests an uncompromising view of what we want for our Organization and urges every Member State to value its contribution to improving the universal collective. It also urges them to protect the values that make the United Nations a bulwark of solidarity, peace and shared progress in the face of the profound changes that have taken place in the international scene and that have been marked by the emergence of new development hubs and the appearance of new threats, some of which have global repercussions.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I also mentioned the progress that has been made in particular in creating a voting register and ensuring the imminent publication of the electoral timetable. Despite the enormous challenges that still plague the electoral process at every level, I can now reaffirm, as I did last year, that the timetable for the holding of elections is irreversibly scheduled for the end of this year. The political situation in my country is therefore becoming clearer, with all the electoral timetable deadlines kept so far. Everything will be done to ensure the peaceful and credible nature of the elections, which is evidence of the strengthening of the political and economic stability that the Democratic Republic of the Congo so greatly needs for its emergence from crisis.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, the security challenge in the north-east remains unresolved because of persistent terrorist activities that not only affected the area of Beni on 23 September, but have also been a problem for other countries in the region. In any case, those attacks, which constitute a further challenge to all who are committed to the defence of a free world without mindless violence, will not prevent us from continuing to work for peace and stability for our country and, above all, for the security of the electoral process currently under way. At the political level, I commended the efforts of the entire political spectrum in the form of a comprehensive consensus on the electoral process with the ultimate goal of organizing elections.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“During my address to the Assembly at its seventy- second session (see A/72/PV.19), I outlined the internal situation in my country from the security point of view, affirming that thanks to the efforts that have been made, we had succeeded in reversing dangerous trends in the central Democratic Republic of the Congo and significantly improving the situation there, while the outstanding efforts of our defence and security forces in the north-east had enabled us to contain terrorist attacks. Today peace has been consolidated in the centre of the country, demonstrated by how far we have come in reintegrating the families that the deplorable violence had forcibly displaced towards the interior or forced into neighbouring countries.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I am once again pleased to be speaking from this rostrum, as I have for several years. I would first like to pay tribute to a worthy son of the African continent, the late Mr. Kofi Annan, who passed on just a few weeks ago, having bequeathed to our Organization a legacy of exemplary commitment in the service of peace. I would also like to salute the unquestionable leadership of the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, in defending a strong multilateralism buttressed by a reformed United Nations. I also extend my warmest and most sincere congratulations to the President of the General Assembly at its current session on her election, a clear recognition of her experience as a diplomat.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I would like to believe that all who place their hopes in the United Nations — including my country — will fully commit to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and to the long-awaited reform of the Organization. I wish the Assembly every success in its work.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It is clear that, after almost 20 years of deployment, the United Nations force cannot expect to stay in my country indefinitely or to exercise its mandate in the same format and without drawing lessons from the weaknesses that have been identified. What is important to us, and what should be important to everybody, is the credibility of the Organization and the effectiveness of the contribution of United Nations troops on the ground. That is why, for several years now, we have been requesting the adjustment of the MONUSCO force to suit its dynamic missions, and the reorientation of resources thus freed up towards meeting our development needs. In that area, as in others, we do not intend to compromise on the respect due to the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is guaranteed by the Charter of the Organization.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I ask the true friends of my country to sincerely support our ongoing electoral process. The Charter of the United Nations imposes obligations on us, including striving to building a better world. For that reason, the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains a strategic dialogue with the United Nations on the future of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolution. That strategic review should determine the pace of the reduction of the MONUSCO force until its full withdrawal.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In addition, a series of evaluations of the electoral process was started some 10 days ago by the National Monitoring Council, jointly with the Government and the Electoral Commission, which should allow for the publication of the electoral calendar by the Commission, which is the only competent institution in that regard. Despite that progress, however, the challenges of organizing elections in my country remain enormous in terms of logistics, finances, security and legislation. We are confronting those obstacles with humility, but also with indisputable tenacity. Given the advances that have been made, I affirm that we are moving towards credible, transparent and peaceful elections and that our progress in that direction is irreversible, all without external interference or any fiats.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I also welcome the efforts of all the political forces in my country who, in the search for a comprehensive consensus on the electoral process, arrived at the agreement of 31 December 2016, the ultimate aim of which is the holding of elections. At the request of all stakeholders for a new electoral register, voter registration has been under way for more than a year now. The last phase has just begun in the last two provinces in the centre of the country. We are pleased that more than 42 million voters of the projected 45 million have already been registered.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“My country and the other countries in the Congo basin — home to the second-largest forest reserve in the world — are equipped, through the Central African Forest Commission, to help improve the quality of life on our planet. For its part, my country intends to uphold all of its commitments, beginning with the ratification of the Paris Agreement, which is now under way. Like peace, political stability is for us a constant objective of our domestic policy. In that vein, for nearly a year we have been engaging in a dialogue that for us is a standing method of settling political disputes. In that connection, I would like to pay tribute to the African Union and other regional organizations. We are grateful for their support in that process.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“More specifically, in support of the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development, my country has been focusing on expanding access and equity, improving the quality of teaching and learning and improving governance in the educational sector. We are are pleased with the increased access of girls to schools. Over 10 years, their enrolment rate has increased from 70 per cent to nearly 105 per cent. We are implementing plans to build thousands of schools, without neglecting in-depth reforms in that area. Climate change is one of our greatest concerns, as it is a threat to humankind and our fundamental rights. Every State has the responsibility to contribute to limiting its impact.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“With regard to combating sexual violence, I welcome the outstanding progress recorded by the courts, which have handed down hundreds of convictions for rape. No one has been spared from prosecution because of social position or military rank, which is proof that impunity in that area has ended. Two years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is not too early to begin monitoring its implementation. In carrying out its commitments, my country has begun the process of prioritizing the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development in elaborating and implementing its national development plan.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Thanks to that approach, which combines the restoration of State authority, dialogue and restorative justice, we have been able to reverse the dangerous trend in the security situation in the centre of the country, which has improved very significantly. In the eastern part of the country, laudable efforts by the national defence and security forces have in turn allowed us to contain the terrorist attacks of the Allied Democratic Forces, which plagued our populations daily. We are convinced that the subregional cooperation initiative involving my country, South Sudan and the Central African Republic will also allow us to halt the terrorist threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Our participation in the process should be seen as evidence of our determination in the coalition’s fight against that threat.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We are determined to make sure that light is shed on the exact circumstances of that crime so that that horrible act, as well as those to which our countrymen have been subjected, will not go unpunished. That is why public trials were begun several weeks ago, following the arrest of most of those presumed to be guilty. That was also the purpose of the recent conference on peace, reconciliation and development, which aimed to establish the truth of what really happened in those central provinces of the country, to promote reconciliation among the people of those provinces and to affirm our belief that all reconciliation necessarily involves justice and that there can be no real and lasting peace without justice. My country remains open to all forms of collaboration on that subject.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For the past year, my country has been the victim of terrorist attacks, especially in the Kasai provinces and even in the capital, by certain armed groups whose objective is to destroy the peace so dearly acquired, so as to thwart the dynamics of consensus-based problem-solving at the national level and to undermine our development efforts. In the Kasai, a mystico-tribal militia is using the civilian population, including children, as human shields and is attacking people and public buildings that symbolize the authority of the State. It is thereby sowing terror — decapitating law-enforcement officers, agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and administrative and traditional authorities. Those were the circumstances of deplorable barbarity in which the two United Nations experts lost their lives in March.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I am pleased with it, as it is consistent with the logic of the Sustainable Development Goals and because, for my country, peace, stability and the improvement of our people’s living conditions are the Government’s priorities. Seventy-two years ago the Organization was born out of the ambition to reform relations among States on the basis of the principle of sovereign equality and the desire to guarantee peace and prosperity for all. That ambition remains relevant and is carried forward every day by the commitment of women and men who are determined to see it fulfilled, sometimes at the risk of their lives. In the face of the rise of terrorism in various forms, it is indisputable that the world to which we aspire depends on how we address peace and security issues.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I wish to express my very warm congratulations, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session, which is an acknowledgement of your distinguished career as a diplomat and a tribute to your country, Slovakia. I would also like to pay tribute to Secretary-General António Guterres for his leadership and efforts to strengthen the role of our Organization during this first year of his term of office. The theme of this session — “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet” — responds to the concerns of the moment in most of the States Members of the Organization.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The fact is that it does not make sense that Africa, a continent with six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world today, whose growth rate and youthful population are portents of future demographic power and whose forests, freshwater reserves and arable lands make it essential to the implementation of sustainable development strategies, does not have a permanent seat within the entity responsible for ensuring peace and international security. It is high time that this changed. It is a question of fairness, and it is also a condition of our collective effectiveness.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is an undeniably daunting task, and we still have some way to go to achieve our ultimate goal. But the people of the Congo are tackling it with enthusiasm and selflessness, determined as never before to make our march towards progress irreversible and to propel the country to a level of development commensurate with its potential. To do that, we must preserve stability at all costs, and that is what we will put the majority of our efforts into from now on. And we count on the support of our partners in prioritizing everything that may involve. Before concluding my remarks, I would like to reiterate the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s continuing plea for Africa to be fairly represented in the decision-making organs of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Every effort is bring made to ensure that our country will emerge from them stronger, more peaceful and more united. Regarding security, through the application of a judicious mix of political dialogue, diplomacy and military action we have moved steadily closer to the goal we have set ourselves of banishing negative forces from our land and thus helping to bring peace to the eastern part of the country and to our neighbours. In order to consolidate peace and improve social conditions for the people, we are working to improve the business climate so as to stimulate investment, promote greater added value locally and create more jobs. As can be seen, my country has resolutely taken the road of reconstruction, development and re-emergence and the defeat of poverty, injustice and inequality.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is a country where a newfound peace is consolidated a little more every day; a country whose economy is one of the most dynamic on the continent, with an inflation rate close to zero, a growth rate that has exceeded the African average for almost a decade, and steadily increasing foreign exchange reserves; a country undergoing total reconstruction, with roads, schools, hospitals and much other infrastructure being built at an unprecedented rate and speed. On the political front, consolidating democracy and strengthening national cohesion remain our top priorities. In that regard, I wish to confirm that our forthcoming elections will soon be held according to the schedule set by the relevant national institution, the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The issue of peace is fundamental because, without it, humankind cannot realize or implement a transformative development programme, as the central theme of this session has it. Nor can that goal be achieved as long as terrorism is not contained and epidemics such as Ebola are not defeated. From experience, we Congolese know that there is no challenge that cannot be met provided there is the will, the way and the determination. We all know where my country was barely 13 years ago. Today I am happy to say that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is standing on its feet once more.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“As for the wars that are engulfing various parts of the world, including the Middle East, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya and the Central African Republic, we should first recall that the United Nations was created following a world war, in order to establish mechanisms capable of preventing, or at least managing, situations that bring the world only grief and despair; and then we should ask ourselves why at this point, decades after the San Francisco Conference, humankind seems unable to maintain and guarantee peace. Knowing that in this area any contribution is welcome, I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to working tirelessly for peace and stability in Africa and around the world. That is the reason for the presence of Congolese troop and police contingents in the Central African Republic.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I take this opportunity to announce from this rostrum that, on the basis of its over 30 years of experience in the management of Ebola outbreaks, in October the Democratic Republic of the Congo will set up multidisciplinary training centres to train health personnel to respond adequately, in terms of quality and quantity of care, to the needs of African countries that have been or could in the future be affected by such an epidemic.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“As for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is being touched for the seventh time by this scourge, we have not only managed to contain this new epidemic at its origin — in Boende territory, Equateur province — but also provided support to the fight against the epidemic in West Africa. Now that we have all but mastered the situation within the country, the Democratic Republic of Congo is ready to once again send its experts to the other affected countries.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It deserves support. I am grateful to the international community, which is aware that, beyond the affected African populations today, all of humankind is under threat and which has extended its touching and effective solidarity to the affected countries. I thank the international community for its significant technical and logistical support in the response against the epidemic. In the future, I hope to see this fine example of human brotherhood prevail over the blind competition we see so often, and for it to occur with equal fervour in other sectors.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Africa, which was once spared this type of senseless violence, is today at its epicentre. The people of Libya, Mali, Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria and many other countries in Europe, America and Asia are regularly bereaved by attacks, hostage-taking and summary executions. All States Members of our Organization must face the threat collectively, as a moral obligation and the only effective strategy to eradicate this barbarism surely and quickly. Since the previous session of the General Assembly, a major public health problem has also hindered Africa on its path towards development, namely, through the loss in human lives caused by Ebola in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In less than six months, the disease has claimed over 2,000 lives, including approximately 40 in my own country. Africa is leading a heroic battle against the virus.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I am delighted to be here today to once again make a contribution, on behalf of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the debate on the present and future of humankind. I am especially delighted as this sixty- ninth session of the General Assembly is taking place at a time when the international situation is particularly delicate. If we are not careful, three of its phenomena in particular will surely delay us in achieving our agreed goals. I am referring to the issues of terrorism, the resurgence of Ebola in Africa and the many threats to peace in various areas around the globe. Despite the commendable efforts of States and international organizations, terrorism, an extreme form of human intolerance, continues to claim victims — as many in number as they are innocent — around the world.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is high time that we, the international community, find the ways and means to enable millions of people to not simply live, but to live a life of dignity in a world where peace, security and justice are a reality for all.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I cannot conclude my remarks without expressing my thanks to the Southern African Development Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the African Union and the European Union for their essential role in maintaining peace in our region. I also thank the United Nations, in particular the members of the Security Council, and all of those States that have, for many years, remained at our side in order to ensure peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are all the more thankful to them, as they have participated in one of the breakthroughs of the post-2015 development agenda aimed at ensuring a better world for all. We must be convinced that beyond our differences lies a common future. Our diversity must be seen as the essential source of wealth that it is.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Beyond those efforts on the part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the dawn of sustainable peace in the region depends on two main conditions — ending impunity in all its aspects, and the diligent execution of their commitments by the other signatories of the Framework agreement. Therefore, my country again urgently appeals to the Organization to deal with all Member States with equal rigour and to require that each one strictly respect the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It is clear that denouncing violations of those principles is a good thing, but punishing those who violate the principles is preferable by far, especially when those violations are ongoing and recurrent.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“From that perspective, my Government has already undertaken the following definitive actions: the establishment of the National Follow-up Mechanism to implement the commitments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the acceleration of security sector reform, especially the army, police and justice sectors; further progress in decentralization, by adopting the necessary implementation laws; the reform of public finance management; and the restructuring of the Independent National Election Commission. This last was immediately implemented in order to prioritize the organization of local, municipal, provincial, senatorial and provincial governor elections. A national dialogue has been organized, starting on 7 September, with the goal of seeking national cohesion to better respond to all of the challenges facing the country.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is time to ask ourselves what will remain of international humanitarian law if welcoming refugees in distress, which is a humanitarian act par excellence, becomes sufficient reason to justify the eruption of war. The recent bombing of Goma was all the more reprehensible as it was perpetrated while the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was in the process of implementing the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework of Addis Ababa, including talks with the armed group responsible for the bombings. Nevertheless, I wish to reaffirm my country’s determination to comply with all of the commitments contained in the Framework agreement.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“That is all the more unacceptable since a breach of the peace is the result of aggression. That is the sad recent history of my country. It is also important to remember other parallel truths that are often overlooked or hidden. Because we acted in solidarity by welcoming Rwandan refugees to our territory, the Congolese population in the eastern part of the country has been deprived of peace — a fundamental right of all persons — and they continue to count their dead. The most recent episode of the unending tragedy occurred when bombs crushed the women and children of Goma last July. It was truly a tragedy unequalled in history and which cannot leave any heart untouched.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It will also be clean and renewable energy, consistent with the requirements of sustainable development. Today we must begin to set the stage for the post- 2015 period. In that context, I express the hope that proposals will be made during this session to translate into reality our common desire to promote the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Such proposals should cover our local, national and regional development programmes. They should also encourage bold international cooperation and reflect the will of each of our States to contribute to international peace and security. Without peace, no progress is possible. Without the minimum conditions for the safety of persons and property, all development is hypothetical.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Climate change is a threat to humankind and fundamental human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations and especially those from the African continent and island countries. Seeking to limit its impact is, for each of our countries, a responsibility that we must shoulder as a duty towards our people, a service to the human race and an act of international solidarity. Recognizing that fact, the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country of exceptional biodiversity, has always sought to manage its natural resources with a view to the future. The management policy for of our forest ecosystems is aimed at that. The Grand Inga project has also been designed along those lines. We should emphasize, in fact, that that project should eventually enable us to produce enough electricity to meet the energy needs of nearly half of Africa.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It must bring about positive change, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. In that respect, it is important to utilize the contribution of women, youth and civil society in both the design and the execution of the agenda. We should also draw lessons from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. With regard to climate change as an important issue to resolve in the post-2015 period, allow me to recall that, under the final document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (resolution 66/288), States pledged to abandon unsustainable long- term patterns of consumption and adopt sustainable ways of managing natural resources as the basis for economic and social development and the very future of humankind.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To remedy the situation, the General Assembly has established several bodies, and I welcome their creation: the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing and the high-level political forum to promote the implementation of recommendations and decisions on sustainable development. My hope is that that process will be consistent with the ongoing transformation of the Economic and Social Council and, beyond that, of the entire United Nations system, in order to better integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development, namely, the economic, social and environmental dimensions, in the new post-2015 agenda. The new programme that we are called upon to create must be universal, ambitious and able to meet the huge challenges facing humankind.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“With respect to organizing for the post-2015 period, the international community is increasingly witnessing non-compliance on the part of certain Members with the basic principles of international relations, persistent selfishness on the part of States and convulsions in the global economy. The consequences are manifold. They range from threats to peace to deadly conflicts and from globalization driven mainly by the unbridled pursuit of profit to the aggravation of poverty. That comes in addition to the food crisis, famines, diseases — including endemic diseases that had once disappeared and are now reappearing — and environmental destruction, which is the main cause of climate change and its deplorable effects.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We welcome the President’s choice of theme for this general debate, namely, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”. He mentioned the equally relevant need to draw lessons from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, consider new and emerging development challenges, create measurable indicators, establish new types of partnership and better integrate the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development. The importance of the theme chosen and the relevance of the indicators that accompany it are undeniable. Our thinking must be even more rigorous, as we witness several troubling elements in the international environment.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I would also like to pay well-deserved tribute to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for all his initiatives for peace and security throughout the world and for his personal involvement in seeking ways and means to bring peace and stability to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the entire Great Lakes region. His efforts are all the more commendable given the fact that the enemies of peace are always on the lookout, ready to strike anyone, anytime and anywhere, as we have unfortunately been recently reminded by the terrorist attack that brought such tragedy to the Republic of Kenya. On behalf of the Congolese Government and people and on my own behalf, I condemn that despicable act. We express our condolences and solidarity with the brotherly people and leaders of Kenya.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“When the nations of the world come together in the General Assembly to consider the major issues facing humankind, it is an honour and a privilege to take the floor and to express the viewpoint of one’s country. Animated by those twin sentiments, on behalf of the Congolese people I address the Assembly and through it the community of nations as a whole. At the outset, I wish to express my most sincere congratulations to Mr. John Ashe on his election as President of the General Assembly at the sixty-eighth session. I also congratulate the members of his Bureau. I further wish to hail his predecessor, Mr. Vuk Jeremi., for the outststanding way in which he fulfilled his term as President.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We also remain determined to guarantee national cohesion and ensure equal protection for all Congolese citizens. At the same time, it is my hope to see the Organization encourage all Member States, in particular those that are tempted by violence, to respect the guiding principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In conclusion, I would like to thank all those who, from afar or from close by, bilateral or multilateral partners, including the United Nations, have assisted us in our efforts to build at the centre of Africa a Congo that is united and prosperous and that lives in peace with itself and with all of its neighbours. I would like to assure the Assembly of one thing: the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a safe investment.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)