YouSaid · the spoken record

Jean-Claude Gakosso

lines on the record: 71
first: 2015-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
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

“The embargo, which is totally anachronistic and obsolete, should have been abolished long ago. On behalf of my country, I again call on the wisdom of the American people and its leaders, who, as we know, for the most part, have nothing to do with that outdated embodiment of the Cold War. On that subject, and I wish to conclude here, I would very respectfully like to address President Biden, who has long promoted the ideal of peace, as he did in this very Hall last week (see A/77.PV.6). I urge him to be bold and to close, without further delay, the dark chapter of relations with Cuba, which belongs in the past. By doing so, he will undeniably create new possibilities in the glorious history of his beautiful country, and I am convinced that posterity will thank him.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“To believe otherwise is simply a show of selfishness, and goes against the current of history. Similarly, continuing to prevaricate over the idea of admitting two African countries as full permanent members of the Security Council is nothing more than willingly choosing to discredit our prestigious Organization. We, the representatives of allied countries meeting here at the United Nations, must make the honourable choice, here and now, and go down in history by ridding ourselves, once and for all, of the medieval and obscure prejudices against Africa, which, for too long, have humiliated that part of the world. The second situation concerns the never-ending embargo on Cuba, which has been in place since the middle of the last century and continues to cause indescribable suffering to the people of that country.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Together with the Government of the United Kingdom, the host of COP 26, my country’s Government plans to launch, over the next few weeks, a political forum entitled “Forests and climate leaders’ partnership”. I cannot conclude my statement and leave this rostrum without mentioning two situations, which should unceasingly appeal to our conscience. Morally, we cannot give up on those two situations. The first concerns Security Council reform, which has become a hackneyed topic. It is a reform that everyone glosses over at will and the outcome of which seems to every day draw farther away from its noble goals, although the need for Africa’s inclusion in the management of world affairs is self-evident. Africa must indeed assume its rightful role in the community of nations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“However, in spite of that, as we prepare for the twenty- seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which Africa will host next November, we hope that this time, at least, instead of the statements of commiseration to which we are accustomed and the usual formulas and hollow promises, considerable resources will finally be mobilized for poor countries that have become even more vulnerable owing to climate disruptions. In any event, with the lowest deforestation rate in the world — only 0.06 per cent — my country, the Republic of the Congo, is playing its full role and will continue to do so to protect the environment and ensure the survival of humankind. The establishment of the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin is part of the regional plan for that commitment.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I can already assure him of the unconditional support of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who chairs the African Union Ad Hoc High-level Committee on Libya. The forests of the Congo basin are the second largest environmental reservoir on the planet, and we have preserved those forests for years, as they are dear to our hearts. We still await strong support that is commensurate with the existential challenges that those forests represent. We should always remember the promises that were made, from Copenhagen to Glasgow and under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Those promises were made with enthusiasm but, to date, they remain unfulfilled by the rich countries — the same countries responsible for 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The objective was to encourage the stakeholders to talk to each other and bridge the gaps between their views on the challenges their country has faced since the failed elections of 24 December 2021. The inter-Libyan reconciliation conference, which is the goal of the African mediation efforts, will make sense only if it is inclusive, constructive and consensus- based. It must enable our Libyan brothers and sisters to stop eyeing each other with mistrust, forgive each other, resume dialogue and prioritize justice, which is the foundation of a new Libya, from which they are to rewrite history. I would like to commend the appointment of Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is important to give peace a real chance now, before it is too late for us all. I humbly ask that of them. What I just said, in my basic Russian, about the events in Ukraine can allow us to draw a parallel, although perhaps at a completely different level, with the tragic situation Libya has been facing since 2011. It is a situation to which, for many years, the President of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has been fully committed to resolving on behalf of the African Union. He continued his peace efforts on the controversial issue on 14 and 15 July in Brazzaville, during consultations that brought together several stakeholders who represent the core of Libyan social and political views.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Moreover, we should accompany them, throughout the world, in great numbers, working together in solidarity, tenaciously and fully capable of imposing unconditional peace on the war lobby. I want to be direct and address my dear Russian and Ukrainian friends, in particular. Too much blood has been spilled — the sacred blood of their sweet children. It is time to stop this mass destruction. It is time to stop the war. The entire world is watching. The time has come to fight for life, just as they courageously and selflessly fought together against the Nazis during the Second World War, in particular in Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kursk and Berlin. It is important to consider the young people of both countries and the fate of future generations. It is time to fight for peace. It is time to fight for them.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Ever since the Congress of Vienna, after the battle of Waterloo, it has been clear that wars must always end around the negotiating table. The world urgently needs negotiations to prevent the current conflicts, which are already so devastating, from reaching a crescendo and tipping humankind into what could be a cataclysm without remedy, namely, a generalized nuclear war beyond the control of the great Powers themselves. Albert Einstein, the great theoretician of the atom, said gravely that such a war, if it were to take place, would be the last battle to ever be fought on Earth. Nelson Mandela, a man of eternal forgiveness, said that peace is a long road, but it has no alternative. It has no price. Indeed, Russians and Ukrainians have no other choice but to take that path — the path of peace.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Indeed, one has only to think of the current war in Ukraine and the apocalyptic projections — which are not baseless — that strategists and other military experts are now making about a possible tragic downturn in those terrible events. Given the enormous risk of nuclear disaster that such events pose to the entire planet, it is the responsibility not just of the conflict’s participants, but also the foreign Powers that can influence the course of events towards peace, if they seek to temper their passions, stop fanning the flames and turn their backs on the vanity of the powerful that has hitherto kept the door to dialogue closed. Under the auspices of the United Nations, we must all commit ourselves, without delay, to peace negotiations that are just, sincere and equitable.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“As though that were not enough, we are witnessing an exacerbation of dissent and enmity between the permanent members of the Security Council, whose main task is to maintain international peace and security by working together. Faced with such a situation, whereby our common fragilities are aggravated and our collective vulnerabilities highlighted, only a consensus-based, supportive, calm and coordinated approach can help us to find the true answers to those problems. I believe that the theme under which our general debate is being held provides us with a real opportunity to do just that. Indeed, by calling for transformative solutions, this year’s theme appeals to our collective conscience with regard to the increasing number of challenges that besiege us on a daily basis and that can sometimes take a dramatic turn.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The universal premise of multilateralism, enshrined in our Organization since its very creation, has never been so seriously undermined as it is today, before our very eyes. We are witnessing an unprecedented intensification of crises throughout the world. We are witnessing the proliferation of conflicts and an increase in their complexity. We are witnessing unprecedented food insecurity and dangerous threats to biodiversity. We are even witnessing attempts to call into question the commitments made collectively and ratified here, in this very Hall, on environmental protection and the preservation of the planet, our shared home.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“To conclude, I would like to welcome the strong resolve that we, the humble servants of our nations, allied from generation to generation since 1945, have always had and shared within this form of global responsibility, a will that is renewed time and again from this lofty rostrum to work towards a humankind that is more generous and stands shoulder to shoulder; and a will that is reaffirmed time and again to work faithfully for a world of peace and justice, a world of freedom and equality, a world where prosperity is truly shared among nations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“For his part, in line with his pan-African convictions, President Denis Sassou Nguesso reiterates, through me, his commitment to continuing with his mission at the head of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya. He reiterates also his commitment to accompanying all Libyan brothers all the way on the path of inclusive dialogue, national reconciliation and the reconstruction of their beautiful country.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The African Union High-Level Committee on Libya, chaired by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, on whose behalf I have the honour to be speaking, believes that there should be no ambiguity on those points. It is the Committee’s view that as we approach the date of the elections, the Libyan people must imperatively intensify the dialogue among themselves, transcend the accumulated rancour and learn to forgive one another. They must break down the sectarian barriers that on occasion keep them imprisoned and establish everywhere bridges and pathways between tribes, customary authorities and other religious communities. We believe that only in this way can a definitive chance be given to peace and a new historical perspective opened for that country.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“But in order to ensure that the general elections planned for the upcoming months take place — elections that are awaited as a turning point in the history of the country — all stakeholders must be aligned and persevere in the implementation of the decisions emanating from Berlin. Those decisions have been followed up regularly and closely in Munich, in Geneva, in Cairo, in Tunis, in Oyo and in Algiers, and even here in New York a few days ago. Those decisions essentially concern the consolidation of the ceasefire, the respect of the arms embargo, unifying the military and financial institutions and a gradual, consensual and balanced withdrawal of foreign fighters, obviously without any prejudice to neighbouring countries.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Once again, from this lofty rostrum, we call for temperance and wisdom on the part of American leaders, especially those who are of the current generation, most of whom have nothing to do with this remnant of the cold war. Among the major challenges facing the international community today is the Libyan crisis. In the course of recent months considerable advances have been made in that regard thanks to the joint efforts of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the neighbouring States and actors of goodwill. Those efforts were boosted by the Berlin Process, which created fresh impetus in the quest for solutions to the crisis.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Africa today is a key player in the world and must take its rightful place in terms of rights and obligations; it must take its rightful place within a reformed Security Council — a Council that is more transparent, more dynamic, more democratic and more clearly representative of the wonderful diversity of our world. The anachronism that I was just referring to — the African claim to a seat on the Security Council — dovetails with the embargo imposed on Cuba, an embargo that has been going on since last century and which has inflicted terrible suffering on the people of that country. It is long past time for the embargo to be lifted.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Indeed, how can we manage, within the United Nations and its Security Council, the various crises and conflicts in Africa without the effective participation of the continent, where more than 60 per cent of peacekeeping operations are taking place. It would seem to me that there exist here both an inconsistency and an anachronism that we must address. That is why it seems vital to us that account be taken of the African concerns expressed through the relevant Sirte Declaration and the historic Ezulwini Consensus, to which we remain firmly committed.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In terms of preserving biodiversity, in February my country launched the Biodev 2030 initiative, whose goal is to encourage joint private-sector and civil- society funding for projects relating to preserving biodiversity. I reiterate here the appeal made by the Republic of the Congo to various development partners to invest significantly in sustainable development and in the effective management of the peat bog in the Congo basin, which, according to scientists, could be a storehouse for several billion tons of carbon. For many years Africa has been trying to make its voice heard so as to ensure the rectification of what everyone agrees is a historic injustice against this part of the world. The recurrence of conflict on the continent calls more than ever for better international governance.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Within the framework of the implementation of resolution 75/17, on the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of humankind, the Republic of the Congo has made significant progress, placing special emphasis on adaptation. Scientific studies are being conducted that focus on the vulnerability of forests and fragile ecosystems, on agricultural practices in the savanna and on the fight against erosion and cyclical floods. Those studies are aimed at providing specific responses to the challenge of climate change and strengthening the capacities for adaptation and resilience of local populations given the rapidly increasing environmental changes that we have seen.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The Sustainable Development Goals that we adopted at that time thus represented the basis for the comprehensive development of all peoples throughout the world, with the lofty ambition of ensuring that no one is left behind. Unfortunately, the gaps between rich and poor countries have only become wider. In many of the regions in the world, unacceptable inequalities have compounded poverty. That is a genuine challenge that has a bearing on the very credibility of the United Nations in the eyes of the peoples of the world. The Government of the Republic of the Congo welcomes the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which is a major instrument bringing together the international community in the fight against climate-change-related imbalances.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We wish to take this opportunity to thank all the friendly countries and all the technical and financial partners that facilitated my country’s access to vaccines through direct donations and under various initiatives such as the Coronavirus Disease Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility and the African Vaccine Acquisition. Six years ago, in 2015, in this very Hall, we were swept up by a common impetus of solidarity and decided to include the fight against poverty and the promotion of health for everyone among our main challenges. We committed ourselves to working together to step up education for the most disadvantaged segments of society throughout the world.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It is only by standing shoulder to shoulder, in a spirit of solidarity, that we will be able to overcome the virus, which threatens the very existence of human life. And as I say this, I am thinking especially of the inhabitants of this wonderful city of New York, who are hosting us today and who have suffered from it so. In my country, the moment the first COVID cases appeared, the Government forcefully took the bull by the horns. To date, the Government has fully vaccinated about 180,000 people, or approximately 5.21 per cent of the population.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That is precisely why my country, the Republic of the Congo, has very deep faith and trust in the Organization, which has such a unique historical trajectory. Unfortunately, we are compelled to acknowledge that despite its praiseworthy commitment to peace throughout the world, despite its tireless advocacy for the well-being of many, every year millions of people throughout the world die of hunger and as a result of lack of medication, and millions of others continue to die from perfectly curable diseases such as typhoid and malaria. Today we are talking about billions of people who cannot access vaccines to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which will certainty leave an indelible mark on our century. The pandemic is a fearful common enemy against which we have to pool our intelligence and our forces.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The United Nations, I need hardly recall, has a vocation to lead the peoples of the world towards collective wellbeing and prosperity, towards justice, peace, security and development, in line with its Charter. The United Nations remains, after all, the only Organization that can bring together all nations for effective collective action aimed at mitigating the consequences of the various and varied scourges that could destabilize whole swaths of humankind, if not all of humankind. Even in the most difficult times in our common history, the United Nations has always held high the torch of universal solidarity. The Organization has always been able to mobilize the international community in the quest for lasting solutions when faced with collective danger.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It is a question of justice and equity, and it is our responsibility to history.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Indeed, the structural changes and sociological transformations that have arisen in the world since the advent of the third millennium, the emergence of new forces on the international stage, the emancipation of mindsets and the shift in mentalities today require an intelligent, deft restructuring of our Organization so as to make of the United Nations a truly meaningful mechanism for the benefit of humankind in all of its diversity, a mechanism that is better tailored to reflect the requirements of our time. For that reason, the thorny question of reforming the United Nations and its Security Council remains vital to our future. We cannot indefinitely continue to ignore or sidestep this issue without ultimately betraying the magnanimous spirit of our Organization’s founding fathers.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“On behalf of the Republic of the Congo, I urge those responsible to do away with this anachronism, demonstrate political courage and simply and definitively lift the embargo, in a spirit of reconciliation. This should be done in the name of peace and friendship among peoples and of the Charter of the United Nations. It cannot be overstated that today more than ever the United Nations needs to be rejuvenated.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Just like Francis Fukuyama, an eminent thinker, we, too, had hoped that the end of the Cold War would equally mean an end to the absurd hatred among nations, especially those bold nations that together made the sacrifice of countless lives to defeat the Nazi scourge. Thirty years after the end of Cold War, it is evident that the yoke of the embargo continues to weigh heavily on Cuba and its people, that generous people who are often considered to be a positive model for cultural mixing between the peoples of Africa, Europe and America. Just like the country currently hosting us, Cuba also is a harbinger of the sociological makeup and image of the world to come.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“That has been the sole agenda of the African Union High-Level Committee from the very outset. We consider it to be an agenda of common sense and reason. It is specifically this type of agenda, this frank and sincere approach, that made it possible to end the crisis in neighbouring Sudan. That was a positive outcome, which we welcome here, and one that in a way was the result of the ancient African tradition of palaver — a process that, as everyone knows, is based on reflection and wisdom. Thirty years ago, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism, many of us dreamt of a world that would finally see an end to injustice related to the antagonisms and complex history of the post-war period.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Concerning Libya, my country chairs the corresponding African Union High-level Committee, on the quest for peace in that country. We cannot but deplore the fact that fighting has resumed in Tripoli and that the situation is at an impasse, which shows that the efforts undertaken to date have not sufficed to bring about a lasting settlement of the crisis. We must therefore continue to take action without ever becoming discouraged. We must act in a collective, cohesive and coordinated way, with perseverance and our sole aim being to put an end to the fighting, to resume dialogue and initiate national reconciliation. Clearly, only a comprehensive ceasefire and a definitive cessation of hostilities can set the stage for inclusive dialogue ahead of general elections, with a view to the restoration of constitutional order.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The difficult negotiations held in Khartoum between the Government and 14 armed groups, under the auspices of the African Union and the United Nations, as well as the signing in Bangui of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, clearly reflect the determination of political actors to build peace and move towards genuine reconciliation. The international community must without hesitation assist the Central African Republic in completing the difficult process of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation currently under way. The international community must support that country in rebuilding its army, which is not just the backbone of the State, but also a factor of national unity and social cohesion.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“That is why my country, which chairs the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and which has always shouldered its share of responsibility for peacebuilding in this geographical area, welcomes the positive developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the successful holding of elections, the establishment of a new Parliament and the formation of a new Government. All of that is unfolding in a context of peace, reinforced by a strong will for national reconciliation. In the Central African Republic, where peace is also on the agenda, we welcome the tireless efforts of President Faustin Archange Touadera to restore security in all the provinces of that country.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I take this opportunity to recall the need, for the benefit of us all, to operationalize the Congo Basin Blue Fund, an initiative of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his peers in Central Africa that aims to protect the world’s second-largest “green lung”, and which today constitutes a major complement to global policies on ecosystem conservation. Without an environment of peace, security and stability, it is futile to hope that we will achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that we have set here and which I just mentioned. Without those conditions and without peace, it is futile to hope to achieve the development of States, the prosperity of nations and the happiness of peoples.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The truth is that we have little choice but to unite our efforts to try to stem the degradation of our natural environment and ward off the negative effects that it could have on the future of life on Earth and the survival of our own species. It is regrettable that this issue, of which every aspect is vital and which is affecting the future of humankind itself, is still the subject of perplexing differences of opinion, while the specific commitments made by Governments to the peoples of the world are not being met and continue to be plagued by a lack of funding.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“For its part, my Government fully supports the African-led initiative, spearheaded by the Brazzaville Foundation, to convene in Lome, in partnership with the Government of the Togolese Republic, a summit of Heads of State devoted to that problem, which is affecting the foundations of life itself throughout the continent. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which most of the speakers have mentioned, is in reality a lifeline for all of humankind. Notwithstanding the scepticism of some among us, we can never overstate the importance of all the vital forces of our era and all actors of goodwill in the world standing shoulder to shoulder in the combat that is under way against the threat of climate change.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The second threat to health to which our populations are exposed today concerns the unrestrained — amid widespread indifference — spread of counterfeit medicines. Mafia- and criminal-run dispensaries are responsible for orchestrating this phenomenon and selling counterfeit medicines to the poorest of the poor. Greedy, lawless networks are dumping their product onto the wretched of the Earth. These counterfeit medicines and the dispensaries that produce them must be clearly declared public enemies by all without exception here at the United Nations, as this phenomenon is tantamount to a vile mass-poisoning agenda.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The first is humanitarian assistance emorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus, which has struck the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been declared a public-health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization. Given the severity of the daily devastation that this outbreak is causing, the international community should mobilize its efforts like never before. It should proactively mobilize to provide significant support to the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo in their courageous combat against this merciless outbreak. It should mobilize to provide the real financial and human resources that are critical to a robust and effective response.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Four years ago in the General Assembly, the international community adopted an ambitious development agenda (resolution 70/1) to be implemented by 2030 — the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — along with 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In my country, as part of our efforts to combat poverty, the Government implemented, following broad popular consultations, its national development plan 2018-2022. The plan places particular emphasis on universal access to health care, which is all the more important given the fact that two serious health dangers are now threatening to decimate entire populations on our continent and in our subregion.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“And, for us, moving with the tides of history means having a willingness to respect the diversity of our world, achieve mutual understanding among nations, build peace and friendship between peoples, achieve mutual tolerance with regard to cultures and practices, achieve brotherly solidarity and world peace, and, above all, steer clear of narrow interests and extremism as well as contempt for and hatred and rejection of others. What I said during the previous session (see A/73/PV.15) bears repeating: we all belong, without exception, to one unique human race. This divine human race, which was placed on Earth by Providence, is the only group to which we will ever belong, together in a community of destiny.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“They give rise to legitimate fears and contribute to our naturally understandable uncertainties about the future of the world. We the peoples of the United Nations, represented here, can no longer continue to hide those fears and uncertainties. We the peoples of the United Nations, meeting here and deliberating honourably in this prestigious body, cannot countenance the seemingly methodical dismantling of the multilateralism upon which our fathers and grandfathers patiently built the post-war world — the same multilateralism upon which our hope now rests that one day humankind will become less selfish and more brotherly. Moving with the tides of history enables us to see clearly.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly, as has been noted by most speakers from this rostrum, is being held amid an international context that is alarming in terms of peace, security and the protection of human rights. A number of developments are unfolding around the world before our very eyes: ill-founded ideologies that oppose humanism are emerging; intolerance is rising and people are increasingly espousing nationalist sentiments; sectarianism is intensifying and hate speech is becoming normalized; fanaticism and proselytism of all kinds are sweeping across the globe; national irredentism is resurging, and the arms race — a dismal part of our collective memory — is starting up again. Those situations sometimes carry the real risk of armed confrontation between States.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“From this rostrum and on behalf of my President, I solemnly call on the conscience of the world and all in this Assembly to join in a sacred union, under the leadership of the United Nations, to give strength and vigour to the valuable instruments that we put in place following the Paris Agreement on Climate Change — the Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin, which are designed to improve the preservation of the Congo basin forest, the world’s second-largest lung, whose immense territory and exuberance are matched only by those of the Amazon. Those instruments are awaiting our generous contributions, which will serve the cause of humankind by protecting life on this beautiful and irreplaceable blue planet.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“From this rostrum, I would also like to invite sponsors, donors, philanthropists, nature lovers, those brothers and sisters who have been favoured by fortune, all people of goodwill and all nations to join the peoples of the world and the Governments of the Central African countries in protecting the forests of the Congo basin in order to ensure clean and healthy air for our children, our descendants, all humankind and its offspring.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is why today my Government is prioritizing those two sectors of the population, given that their dynamism constitutes one of the main drivers of our country’s economic growth. A few days ago, from this very rostrum, the Secretary-General of our Organization, Mr. António Guterres, called on the leaders of the world to delay no longer in protecting our planet from the disastrous consequences of climate change. That call has particular resonance in my country, which, as the Assembly is aware, is located in the heart of the Congo basin forest. Our Government has been working for years to preserve the invaluable heritage of Central Africa’s huge equatorial forests and the extraordinary biodiversity they contain.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“This is also the appropriate forum in which to commend the support of the United Nations, particularly because the Organization was able to quickly establish funding for our programmes for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants. For the Republic of the Congo, the pursuit of the ideals of peace and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals for the benefit of humankind are essential commitments, including to improving the integration of women and young people into decision-making processes and implementing actions aimed primarily at eradicating poverty in all its forms. It is obvious that we cannot hope to build prosperous and peaceful societies if women, who make up half of humankind, and young people, who are the builders of tomorrow’s world, do not fully enjoy their legitimate rights.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We support the idea of holding elections in Libya as soon as possible — general, inclusive, free, transparent and credible elections — while we also consider it essential to create a context conducive to peacebuilding, including by organizing meetings for reconciliation and the disarmament of militias, so that the elections do not add further violence to violence. In the Republic of the Congo itself, the Pool department, in the country’s southern region, which until recently was gripped by a residual rebellion, has finally found the joy of peace. Thanks to the combined efforts of the State authorities at the highest level and international partners, a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities agreement was reached on 23 December 2017 and has gradually come into force.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We appeal to the rebel groups that remain reluctant to join the peace process being courageously led by President Touadera to engage resolutely and in good faith, while relying on the support of the panel of facilitators for the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation and other facilitating entities. With regard to the crisis in Libya, in connection with which my country has received mandates from the African Union Ad Hoc High-level Committee on Libya to seek solutions, the Republic of the Congo encourages initiatives that can contribute to the speedy restoration of peace in Libya and throughout the continent.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to the Central African region, the Republic of Congo would like to commend the latest political developments in our neighbour the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which will choose new leaders at the end of this year. We once again applaud the effective implementation of the electoral process in that country and call on all stakeholders in the process to prioritize dialogue, strengthen interaction and work to develop an appropriate balance so that all the elections can take place in peace. We are also deeply concerned about the upsurge in armed violence in the Central African Republic.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)