YouSaid · the spoken record

Juan Manuel Santos Calderón

lines on the record: 117
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2017-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“Today, I can say to the international community that we are closer than ever before to achieving that peace. The process that has been taking place in Havana over the past two years with the guerrilla group known as the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) has been serious, realistic, credible and effective and has produced concrete results. We agreed on an agenda with five substantive points, of which we have achieved agreements on three: comprehensive rural development, political participation and the illicit drug problem. In the first of those areas, we have agreed to unprecedented investment in agricultural development, working to give farmers access to land and to generate a better standard of living for farming families. Regarding political participation, what we are striving for is very simple.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“First, on behalf of the Government of Colombia, I would like to congratulate Mr. Kutesa for his election to the presidency of the General Assembly and to express Colombia’s support for his work in promoting a post- 2015 development agenda that responds to humankind’s current challenges. The sustainable development goals recently adopted after an open, transparent and inclusive negotiation process should be at the centre of that agenda. In a world full of bad news, war, terrorism and disease, I would like to bring a ray of hope to the Assembly: that, after more than half a century of conflict, Colombia will soon enjoy peace. If we achieve this goal, which Colombians have unsuccessfully sought for so long, there is hope for peace anywhere in the world, despite how difficult things may seem right now.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In that way we are shouldering our responsibilities with respect to climate change, which has already had an impact on Colombians. We will protect the sources of oxygen and water necessary not just for Colombia’s survival but that of the entire planet. I will conclude by stating that in my country we are working and will continue to work to prevent the plight of María Zabala and millions of other victims from ever recurring. Never again! I hope that the President of Colombia will come to the Assembly next year bearing the good news that the conflict has come to an end.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“For example, a few weeks ago, we doubled the area of the largest national park in Colombia, the Chiribiquete National Natural Park, located in the very heart of our Amazon region. We designated that area a natural reserve and prohibited mining and deforestation activities in an area roughly the size of Belgium, and not just in any place, but in the area where the Amazon region has the greatest biological and cultural diversity. This very morning we are launching, with the Prime Minister of Norway and five other countries, the New Climate Economy initiative. With the support of the most respected research institutes, we will seek the best way of making economic efficiencies and the fight against poverty compatible with the preservation of the environment.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“At the Rio de Janeiro Conference on Sustainable Development, we put forward the proposal to establish sustainable development goals as a mandatory benchmark in the development agenda for the coming decades. We are taking an active part in the design of those goals, and they can and should be incorporated into a visionary and ambitious development agenda for all countries as of 2015. In fact, we were a member of the High-level Panel on the Post- 2015 Development Agenda, convened by the Secretary- General and co-chaired by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, which has already presented its report. Colombia, for its part, is continuing to do a great deal.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Because of that — because it is a global problem — we expect their conclusions to also be discussed in this body, the United Nations, which has already called for a special session on the drug problem to be convened in 2016. If we act together on the drug problem and adopt a new, modern and comprehensive vision that is free of ideological or political bias, imagine how much harm and violence we will be able to prevent. I am not just speaking about harm to people, but also harm to nature, because drug trafficking has become a major destroyer of our tropical forests and forests in general, in what can be termed a veritable ecocide. Colombia is deeply committed to environmental protection.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Last year, when chairing the Summit of the Americas, fully aware of that dilemma, I led a proposal to debate and explore different scenarios in the fight against the global drug problem, aimed at evaluating what we are doing and at seeking ways to be more effective. We commissioned the Organization of American States to conduct studies with experts, academics and people with different approaches on how to face the problem. Those studies were delivered to us in May. Different Governments are evaluating them and they should serve as inputs for discussions at all universities and think tanks, and in the context of different forums, not just from Latin America but from the whole world, because it is a global problem that requires a global solution.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“If we manage to have the guerrillas change sides, once they have demobilized, and become an ally of the State in order to definitively curb drug trafficking and eliminate illegal crops, just imagine what could be accomplished. A Colombia without coca crops and without a conflict was once a utopia and an impossible dream, but it is one that we can now realize for the benefit not only of Colombians but of the whole world. Almost a half century ago, in this very place, the Convention that gave birth to the war on drugs was adopted. Today we must recognize that that war has not been won. I say that as the President of the country that has suffered the most deaths, the most bloodshed, the most sacrifices in that war, and also the country that has achieved the most results in the fight against this scourge and the mafias that underpin it.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We cannot miss this opportunity.Future generations and history will not forgive us. Moreover, our conflict, with all its violence and cruelty, has been affected by a poisonous scourge that fuels it and is fuelled by it: drug trafficking. That illicit activity has been the main funding source for violence and terrorism in my country — and I would say in the whole world as well in recent times. Without the grim influence of drug trafficking, which fuels the fires of our war, I am certain that the war would already have ended. That is why we have included the topic of illicit drugs as a specific item in the agenda of the discussions with the guerrillas.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The purpose is not to sacrifice justice to achieve peace, but rather to achieve peace with maximum justice. I am saying that out of deep conviction. There is much at stake, that is, no less than an end to the half-century long conflict, as well as the fate of 47 million Colombians. We have been involved in talks for one year now, but we have reached agreements on just one of the six items on the agenda. I am still optimistic, but the patience of the Colombian people is not infinite. The guerrillas will have to decide whether they opt for an honourable and lasting peace, or whether they will continue to wage war. From this rostrum, I call upon them to understand that history has led us to this decisive moment. The time for decisions has come. If we leave empty-handed, we will doom our nation to many more years of bloodshed and pain.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“If we understand justice and the fight against impunity in a transition as a set of measures aimed at satisfying the victims and not just as the administration of criminal processes, it will be possible to find a comprehensive solution for everyone. I refer to measures such as genuinely establishing the facts of events, the acknowledgment of responsibility, the recovery of trust, access to reparations, and measures aimed at ensuring that there will be no recurrence. In that way justice becomes — as it should be — a support for, rather than an obstacle to, peace. I want to be clear: there will be no impunity for crimes against humanity or war crimes committed in a systematic fashion. On the contrary, this is the first time that Colombia is seriously assuming the obligation of fighting impunity for crimes committed in our armed conflict.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“What we are asking from the United Nations and the international community is that both Colombia’s and every nation’s right to seek peace be respected We ask for continued support in that effort, along with respect for our decisions and our approach, with confidence in the fact that our actions have never deviated from the values of the international community. We cannot investigate every action committed over half a century of violence, prosecute each and every one of those responsible and then find ourselves unable to follow through. But what we can do is to build a realistic and transparent strategy that may satisfy the rights of all the victims in the best possible way.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Therefore, how can we simultaneously achieve the end of armed conflict, fulfil our obligation to investigate and prosecute and realize the rights of victims? That dilemma must be confronted with honesty and seriousness, and that is what we are doing in Colombia. We have adopted an integrated strategy for transitional justice that addresses the issues of truth, justice and reparations, which we hope will enable us to make the transition towards peace. We can say that we have been pioneers in the implementation of transitional justice measures in the midst of conflict, giving priority to satisfying the rights of victims. No one in my country wants the perpetuation of violence.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour of Canada recently stated that international doctrine had not been successful in finding practical answers as to how to resolve the real tension that exists between peace and justice in a negotiation process. Ms. Arbour recalled examples, such as International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, which had been given immense resources but had yielded very poor results. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, established in 1994, has managed to dispose of only 40 cases out of the nearly 800,000 murders committed in a single year. In 20 years, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has resolved barely 100 cases.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We are doing that in accordance with our democratic tradition — of course respecting, as we always have, the rule of law — and in compliance with our international obligations. We wish to achieve an end to our conflict without relinquishing justice, much less the truth and due care of the victims. I take this opportunity to offer my thoughts to the General Assembly on the role of the United Nations and the multilateral organizations in our peace process and its future implementation. The subject is relevant and current, since Colombia is possibly the first country in the world to engage in a process of that nature since the entry into force of the Rome Statute, which will make us a model for other cases where dialogue is given priority over armed solutions, as should be the case.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“María Zabala is one victim among many, all of whom are entitled to justice, truth and reparations and to not seeing history repeat itself. That is what we are working on in our country. My Government has promoted our most ambitious bill yet, recognizing and compensating victims in the midst of a conflict. I had the honour of ratifying that bill in the presence of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. But our commitment goes beyond serving the victims of the past; our most urgent obligation today is to eliminate the possibility of new victims being claimed by the conflict. Our obligation is to end the conflict now and to ensure that the spiral of violence and pain will not continue to recur.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I hope that the guerrilla forces understand that the time has come to leave this 50-year confrontation behind; that the time has come to move from bullets to votes, from weapons to discussion; that the time has come for them to continue their struggle, but within democracy. Today, before the General Assembly, we Colombians want to thank the international community for the support we have received in the endeavour to bring an end to our conflict through dialogue. With the world as our witness, we wish to assert our right to achieve the peace. We are tired of being afraid, we are tired of violence, we are tired of a conflict that pits the children of the same nation against each other and delays our development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It would not be responsible towards Latin America or towards the world, as they also suffer, in different ways, from the effects of the Colombian conflict. And it would not be responsible towards my own conscience, because we have the best possible opportunity before us today — a real opportunity, and maybe the last — to put an end to the conflict. I could not die in peace if I failed to do everything within my power to seize the opportunity presented. My generation has not seen a single day of peace, and my dream is for my children and the children of all Colombians to have the opportunity to know peace.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In spite of the conflict, Colombia has achieved unprecedented progress in recent years on matters of security, in the fight against poverty and inequality, and in its economic performance. We have achieved much — a great deal — in the midst of a confrontation. Imagine how much more we could have done without the confrontation. And I must confess to the Assembly that for me, as the head of the Government, it would have been easy to continue to move forward on the path that we were on and to leave the conflict unresolved, because waging war — and I know how to wage war — is easier than seeking peace. It would have been easier, but not responsible, because continuing to coexist with the conflict would be like sentencing millions of people to many more years of violence, fear, poverty and victimization.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Today, María Zabala is a courageous and inspiring leader, a leader of victims, who is working for peace in my country. In Colombia, sadly, there are many thousands of cases like María Zabala’s. It is estimated that over the past 50 years, over 220,000 people died because of the conflict. That is more than twice the death toll of the Bosnian war in the former Yugoslavia, which was an open and ruthless conflict that moved the entire world. And to that, we would have to add the injured, the people mutilated by anti-personnel mines, those who have suffered the infamy of kidnapping and those uprooted from their own land, who could amount to almost 5 million people. That is the harsh and ugly reality of a conflict that unfortunately persists to this day. It is the oldest and the last conflict in the western hemisphere.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I should like to depart slightly from protocol and start my statement by speaking about a humble woman, a Colombian named María Zabala, who has to bear the burden of immense pain in her heart day in and day out. Two decades ago, armed members of illegal groups arrived outside her house located on the Colombian Caribbean coast, determined to impose their rule of terror. In front of her and her small children, they murdered her husband and two other relatives. They forced her to leave her house and then they burned everything down. She barely managed to remove the corpses from the ashes. She buried them right there and fled from her parcel of land with her children and without any belongings. All she carried was the immense weight of her tragedy.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Aware that the process must have brief deadlines and precise terms if it is to be successful, I trust that I will be able to deliver to the Assembly next year a positive outcome of the effort, which we undertake enthusiastically with a view to ending our 50-year conflict. We do not want to talk just about peace; we want to build conditions for peace. That is what we are doing on a daily basis with the actions of our Government and now with the talks that we are initiating. Today, with great hope, we present the world with this new special moment for my country, Colombia.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We embark upon the talks with moderate optimism and in the absolute conviction that it is an opportunity that we cannot squander to achieve a peace that is good not only for Colombia but for the entire region. With regard to my statement today, a few days ago I asked the Colombian people through social media what message they wanted me to bring here to the General Assembly. Among the many messages I received, I want to share one from my compatriot Henry Rodríguez Chacón: “An entire generation wants to wake up one day to the news of a peace agreement.” That is the most heartfelt wish of the Colombian people.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“After two years of exploratory contacts, we have announced to the country and to the world that a phase of talks will be initiated on a short and concrete agenda, which we hope will allow us to achieve the desired outcome. The talks will begin in Oslo during the first half of October and will continue in Havana, thanks to the goodwill of the Governments of Norway and Cuba, which will serve as guarantors. We will also have the backing of the Government of Venezuela, to which we are grateful for its valuable support, and of the Government of Chile, which will be working with us during the second phase. Today, before the General Assembly, I wish to thank the international community for the support it has expressed at outset of the talks and for its willingness to cooperate and help in any way that is necessary.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Today, Colombia is suffering through the most prolonged internal armed conflict in its hemisphere, indeed perhaps one of the longest-lasting in the world — an ever-more anachronistic and inexplicable conflict. Above all, it is inexplicable in the light of the development of our democracy and of our social progress. Aware of that, and without neglecting the protection and security of the Colombian people and without ceding an inch in the fight against terrorism and crime, my Government is resolved to move forward prudently, seriously and firmly, and without repeating the mistakes of the past, by entering into conversations with the guerrilla forces in order to achieve an end to the armed conflict.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Against the backdrop of international turbulence, we have been successful in maintaining a healthy economy that has generated over 2 million new jobs over the course of two years, attesting to the major progress we have made in reducing poverty. We have put in place initiatives of great social impact, such as a law for victims, which is the only legislation in the world that seeks to return lands to displaced peasants and to compensate the victims of a conflict that remains ongoing; or major hydrocarbon and mining royalties reform to more fairly distribute the revenues generated by such activities, and thereby promote more effective social development. Nevertheless, our progress, which has been remarkable, has been curtailed by an absurd conflict that has now lasted half a century.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Regional coordination mechanisms of relatively recent establishment, such as the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, are evidence of the resolve of our countries and peoples to cooperate. I would like to highlight the enormous potential of the Pacific Alliance that was formalized this year among Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile. The Alliance is open to the participation of other States with which we seek to strengthen not only trade but also political and human ties, as well as to the nations of the immense Pacific basin. I cannot conclude without referring to the special moment that our country is currently experiencing.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is only a first step, but it is of great importance because it is the beginning of a discussion that the world has avoided for many years. We hope that it will ultimately yield concrete results. The debate about drugs that have caused so much harm throughout the world and to my country must be frank and, most certainly, global. Similarly, in my statement before the General Assembly two years ago, I expressed my conviction that the dawning decade should be the decade of Latin America and the Caribbean — a decade that would consolidate that region of the world as a region of peace, progress and solutions for the rest of the planet. Today, we are pleased to note that our region is indeed experiencing a favourable moment with solid economies, functional democracies and no current conflict among the nations of which it is formed.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Summit of the Americas in Cartagena was characterized by frank and open dialogue about the most crucial issues for the region and the world. The Governments of the Americas agreed to undertake an analysis and discussion of the track record, effectiveness and future prospects of the so-called war on drugs, as well as possible alternatives to it. It is our duty to question with scientific objectivity whether we are doing the best we can or if there are better options to more effectively combating the scourge. To that end, we mandated the Organization of American States to begin an analysis and discussion, inviting other entities — the first of which would be, of course, the United Nations — to participate.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Today, the sustainable development goals promise to be a fundamental component of the planet’s development agenda, and the Secretary-General himself has identified them as one of the five priorities of his legacy. We are therefore especially pleased that our Foreign Minister has been invited to be a member of the high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda, which held its first meeting yesterday. This year, the sixth Summit of the Americas gathered in Colombia, with 30 Heads of State and Government from the western hemisphere in attendance. It was a fruitful gathering, which for the first time we organized simultaneously with a business summit attended by the leaders of the premier companies of the Americas. We also held a social forum that brought together people from diverse social organizations on the continents.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In our hemisphere, one country that requires comprehensive peacebuilding is Haiti. We continue to work for Haiti. Its recovery will require our continuous support in strengthening its capacities, institutions and productivity so as to generate employment, reduce extreme poverty and promote the United Nations work for development in the country. I urge everyone to persevere in that cause. A key event for the world this year was the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Inspired by the Millennium Development Goals model, Colombia led the proposal to establish the sustainable development goals, which was the most important outcome of the Rio+20 process.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Implementing Kofi Annan’s six-point plan would greatly contribute to facilitating a Syrian- led political transition. We strongly support the new Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, and wish him much success in his very complex and difficult task. As a representative of a country that is currently a member of the Security Council, I would like to brief ly turn to the matter of its reform, which has been under discussion for 20 years. Colombia believes that consensus should be our guide in developing a comprehensive approach that includes change in both the Council’s composition and its working methods so as to promote more effectively the United Nations goals of peace, well-being and humanity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Today, the Arab world is experiencing a fundamental political transformation, opening the way towards democracy. If the process is to last, it will require respect for people’s rights and the creation of conditions conducive to sustainable economic development. We hope that participation by citizens, especially women, will continue to increase and foster democratic systems and opportunities for development and welfare. With regard to the dire situation in Syria for more than a year and half, I must express our deep frustration with the inability of the international community to put an end to the tragedy that every day takes more and more Syrian lives. From this rostrum, we reiterate our call for an end to the attacks and for a political negotiation that will meet the legitimate aspirations of all sectors of Syrian society.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In Libya, a ruthless tyranny in place for more than 40 years was dismantled in a process in which the Security Council played a decisive role. My Government did not hesitate to condemn the violent repression of the civilian population justly clamouring for the exercise of their fundamental rights. That is why we joined the Council’s decisions furthering a transition towards a democracy that, although still fragile, enjoys the support of the international community as it seeks to entrench itself. There are still violent groups that want to sabotage that process by terrorist methods. I take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms the despicable attack perpetrated against the United States consulate in Benghazi. Extremism, terrorism and disregard for human life cannot be allowed to persist.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Two years ago, during my first address before the Assembly as President of Colombia (see A/65/PV.15), I expressed my country’s aspiration to become a member of the Security Council for the period 2011-2012. We assumed the responsibility of participating in making decisions about critical situations that threaten world peace in a spirit of absolute independence and well aware of the enormous commitment required to work for international peace and security. It has been a particularly turbulent time, but one during which the aspirations of many peoples who had suffered long conflicts and armed confrontation have been furthered. Countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire are now making strides towards peacebuilding and the rule of law.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“With determination and positive leadership, we can convert these storms into winds favourable to the whole of humankind.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have both the capability and the willingness to provide the world with solutions in the areas of the environment, water, energy, food and labour. But our region cannot grow or progress in isolation. We want to advance hand in hand with the world, sharing the principles of respect and tolerance. We welcome progress in prosperity wherever it occurs in the world. That is why I would like to conclude by calling on the nations of the world and on the Organization that brings us together here to continue to work together to make use of the peaceful means at our disposal, with a new goal: to turn the crises we are experiencing today into opportunities for a better tomorrow. The future, as has always been the case, depends on us.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We know how terrorists benefit from drug-trafficking, and there can be no doubt that drugs and terrorism threaten democracies and the rule of law. Colombia will continue to combat these scourges, because for us they represent a national security problem. We are actively cooperating in the region, and will continue to do so, to combat transnational crime. We can only succeed if we 43 11-50692 cooperate and work together in this struggle, which affects every country equally. A year ago, from this rostrum (see A/65/PV.15), I said that we should call the decade that was then just beginning the decade of Latin America and the Caribbean. I reaffirm that prediction now. Our region is an area of political and economic stability that is firmly determined to move forward with social policy.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In addition, at this time of global financial and economic volatility, we have introduced into our Constitution the element of fiscal sustainability, and have enacted a law to ensure that the State maintains discipline in its management of public finances. Such responsible initiatives have increased investor confidence, had a positive impact on our country’s risk rating and will lead to a more stable economic future in which we believe we will be able to focus on reducing unemployment and poverty, my Government’s two main priorities. Colombia, to a degree unlike any other country in the world, has had to deal with the global drug problem. We have had much success, but a great many challenges remain.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are paying a moral debt to the victims. This is the first time in the history of the world that this is happening before the end of an internal armed conflict. We have decided that justice, truth and reparations must not have to wait. It is worth pointing out that Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon joined us in Bogotá the day that law was passed. He emphasized the advance it represented and offered the assistance of the United Nations in ensuring its proper application. Also thanks to the governability guaranteed by our new national unity, we were able to establish a more equitable distribution of resources originating from oil and mining to ensure that they reach our neediest population and regions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Today I can state with realism and well-founded optimism that the first rays of that new dawn are beginning to warm us and light our way. My Government is one of national unity, in which the main political parties have converged around the fundamental objectives of the nation. This unity has afforded us a significant measure of governability and has enabled us to have historic laws and reforms approved in our Congress that will help us to have a more prosperous and safer nation, one that is more equitable and more egalitarian. Among the initiatives that have been approved, I wish to point to a law concerning victims and the return of land that guarantees that the State and society work to make reparations and to return stolen lands to hundreds of thousands of farmers affected by the violence of the past several decades.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We believe that one of the main results of Rio+20 should be the establishment of a set of sustainable development goals based on the agenda that was approved in the first conference and echoing the Millennium Development Goals. The guiding principles were established in Rio in 1992, and an implementation plan was agreed on in Johannesburg in 2002. Today, 20 years later, we need to define a set of goals that allow us to measure achievements, identify shortcomings and determine the opportunities for advancement. The planet and its future demand that we work with goals, with specific indicators of results that ensure the efficacy of our efforts. A year ago I said that thanks to advances in economic and social security, Colombia was at the threshold of a new dawn.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Peace in Haiti will be the fruit not just of peacekeeping operations, but of the empowerment of Haitians themselves in handling their own problems and solutions, with sufficient international support for their economic and social development. By virtue of its place as the country with the greatest biodiversity per square kilometre in the world, which makes it highly vulnerable, Colombia is committed to measures that mitigate the effects of climate change and enable us to adapt to them. We are participating in the preparations for the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, which will take place in July 2012, with a proposal we have been developing in consultation with other countries.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is the only — I repeat, the only — path that leads to what we all wish to see: two States living in peace and security. 11-50692 42 On a positive note, we can offer as an example of appropriate cooperation and negotiation the efforts that led to the creation of the Republic of South Sudan, the most recent Member of the United Nations, to which we give the most effusive welcome. As a current member of the Security Council, Colombia has brought to the agenda the situation of Haiti, a country struck by natural phenomena and affected by unacceptable poverty. The solution there must remain a priority for all of us.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have also made important contributions to the search for dialogue, negotiation and mediation in our region. Honduras is an example of that effort. Venezuela and Colombia joined forces to support the Honduran parties in their reconciliation through dialogue and rebuilding trust. This succeeded in bringing Honduras back into the Union of South American Nations. What I have said so far can also be applied to long-standing conflicts, such as that between Israel and Palestine. Advances can be achieved if, and only if, direct dialogue and effective mediation are employed. Along with the rest of the international community, we are concerned by the suspension of peace negotiations, and we urge — in fact, we implore — both parties to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I am pleased to be able to affirm today that Colombia does not just believe in mediation and peaceful solutions; we have successfully put them into practice. My Government succeeded in normalizing relations with two countries: Venezuela and Ecuador. We did this on the basis of conciliation and respectful, direct dialogue. The former President of Argentina, Mr. Néstor Kirchner, then Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations, lent his good offices to the rapprochement between Venezuela and Colombia. His management was extremely effective, a great legacy he left to our region. In Latin America we have learned that Governments and States may have differing, even at times opposing, political concepts, but that this does not mean they cannot live together and cooperate in peace.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“What the peoples request, what the peoples seek, is freedom, respect for their rights, the ability to choose their leaders and democracy. The duty of the international community is to support them. If we do not, if we turn our back on them, we may see a protracted period of civil wars and conflict, which we should avoid at all cost. Therefore, we must commit ourselves to strengthening and applying the methods of peaceful conflict resolution described in Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter. The more efficient we are in the use of preventive diplomacy, the less need there will be for intervention. We should advocate effective mediation with conviction, mediation that does not seek the leading role but one that is given the time and tools required to establish trust and to reach solutions that are advantageous to all parties.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“During the past year we have witnessed events and popular uprisings that are changing the face of the planet, both politically and economically. As President of a country that firmly believes in multilateralism, I come to the General Assembly today to emphasize how important it is for the United Nations to assume the fundamental role that belongs to it in the face of such crises. Crises in and of themselves are neither good nor bad; their results depend on how we manage them. They can often become genuine opportunities. The political transformations we are seeing in North Africa and in the Middle East, for example, if they lead to a strengthening of democracy and the rule of law in the affected countries, can be a factor in global stability.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I have proposed a Government of national unity in which all Colombians are united to create jobs and greater welfare. I foresee with great optimism our future as a nation. 7 10-54965 Today, I present myself before this global forum with respect, humility, a sense of history and an awareness of our own limitations to say that we can do nothing alone, neither in my country nor in the world. Only united and only with respect, solidarity and tolerance will humankind be able to know a better tomorrow.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“These contradictions make it urgent — and on this matter we join the call by President Leonel Fernández Reyna of the Dominican Republic — that we agree to review the global strategy against illicit drugs in order to draft a single global policy that is more effective and within which all countries will contribute equally to this effort. Thanks to the significant security, economic and social achievements accomplished in recent years through the efforts of many Colombians and the leadership of my predecessor, President Álvaro Uribe, today Colombia finds itself at the dawn of a new morning. I came to office with the commitment to fight poverty and unemployment and to lead my country towards not only economic but also social prosperity that reaches everyone, above all the poorest.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)