YouSaid · the spoken record

Pierre Charles

lines on the record: 40
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2003-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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“In conclusion, Dominica repeats its call for a new global framework to redress the imbalances brought about by the galloping forces of globalization. We urge the international community to rally behind the banner of multilateralism and to support the bold initiative of General Assembly President Julian Hunte to make development and its attendant components, poverty eradication and the Millennium Development Goals, the central focus of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly. We call also for the leadership role of the United Nations in the quest for peaceful resolution to the conflicts in Iraq, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for the unwavering support of the international community to the special needs of the small island developing States.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Taiwan has demonstrated its willingness to provide much needed assistance to countries around the world, including relief to war-torn and devastated countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Article 4 of the United Nations Charter invites all other peace-loving States to join the Organization and compels us to consider the participation of Taiwan's 23 million people. The problem of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) ably demonstrated that progress towards the noble goals of the United Nations is only impeded by not integrating the Republic of China on Taiwan into international efforts to confront global challenges. The situation regarding the Republic of China must be addressed to ensure a more meaningful contribution to global peace, security and poverty eradication.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We reiterate our concern once again about all manifestations of climate change, and our opposition to continuing trans-shipment of nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea. We therefore call on all Member States to support and participate in the Mauritius Conference for the 10- year review of the Barbados Programme of Action next 16 August. We also appeal to corporations, private foundations, bilateral and multilateral organizations to lend support for significant participation of civil society organizations, particularly from the AOSIS member States, at this conference. The delegation of the Commonwealth of Dominica wishes once again to address the participation of the Republic of China on Taiwan in the work of the United Nations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The sudden adjustment to trade liberalization and the WTO trade regime has contributed to the economic decline in many small island States. Averting the rapid descent into a downward economic spiral and social dislocation in SIDS requires a wider embrace and understanding of our call for special and differential treatment in the trade arena. The Dominican delegation believes that we have an obligation to be responsible to future generations by ensuring that they will have an earth that is safe, secure and can sustain life. Let us not forget the commitments we made last year at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, especially regarding small island developing States.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“This meeting will address the future of the world's small island developing States and will be a momentous occasion for Dominica and all the members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) to finally get the much-needed international support to address the range of vulnerabilities we confront. Dominica is honoured to host next week a meeting of sustainable development experts, who will assess the performance of the indicators of the Barbados Programme of Action. The Mauritius Conference is especially important given the marginalization of small island developing States by unfavourable World Trade Organization (WTO) trade rules and the trade liberalization process. The international community must pay greater attention to the social and economic vulnerabilities faced by small island developing States.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We welcome the first report of the Secretary- General on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and we are greatly encouraged by the number of African actions to institutionalize NEPAD along with the incremental steps towards alignment of United Nations activities with the priorities of NEPAD. We commend the African Union and the African nations for all the efforts towards strengthening the organization's momentum. Dominica reiterates its continuing support for the efforts of our brothers and sisters in Africa to take full responsibility for their own development. Next August, the international meeting for the 10- year review of the Barbados Programme of Action regarding the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States will be held in Mauritius.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Although the Decade has fallen far short of expectations, it did have one positive outcome, namely, greater awareness on the part of the international community about the continuing plight of the indigenous peoples of the world. Dominica's indigenous people, the Caribs, made some important gains during the decade. These include the building of links with other indigenous groups across continents, the consolidation of a Caribbean grouping of indigenous organizations, and the Government's establishment of a Department of Carib Affairs. Indigenous peoples around the world continue to face marginalization and to wallow in abject poverty. The world community must demonstrate greater responsiveness to improving their condition through more generous contributions to the Voluntary Fund.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I also want to pay tribute to the tremendous efforts of UNAIDS, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization/Pan-American Health Organization in HIV/AIDS prevention. The programmes of these United Nations organizations deserve additional resources from Member States, international financial institutions, private foundations and transnational corporations if we are to expect higher levels of effectiveness and greater positive outcomes in HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2004, the Decade of the World's Indigenous People will come to an end. The Decade was important in that it highlighted, for the first time since Columbus came to the Americas, the marginalization of the world's indigenous people.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“This meeting will only be successful if it renews the resolve of Member States to accord a higher priority to national integrated efforts to fight the disease, which is exacting a toll on the youth and adult populations of African and Caribbean nations. 15 The Commonwealth of Dominica has developed a five-year plan of action to guide our efforts to manage the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and we are increasing our efforts to ensure a coordinated and participatory national response that involves schoolchildren, workers, the private sector and the voluntary sector. I also wish to acknowledge the great initiative of President George W. Bush for the global fight against HIV/AIDS. It is a bold and assertive commitment that will contribute much-needed financial resources for the global campaign, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We remain hopeful that our donor partners will soon translate the ODA commitments that they made at Monterrey last year into action, since these commitments have become critical for economic reconstruction throughout the developing world. Our call for special and differential treatment in the trade arena continues to resonate loudly. The outcome of the WTO meeting in Cancun was not encouraging. We join other developing nations in the call for an end or drastic reduction of agricultural subsidies in the developed world. Let me take this opportunity to commend the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for organizing the high-level plenary meeting with respect to the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, which took place on Monday, 22 September.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“As we struggle to eradicate the mono-crop nature of our economy, a remaining vestige of the colonial period, we are determined to anchor our future economic foundation in the following areas: sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, ecotourism, information technology, financial services and water resource management. Our resolve to build a new economic order is based on our assertion of the principle of responsibility for our own development. Our efforts at economic re-engineering urgently require a complement of new foreign direct investment, official development assistance (ODA) transfers, technology transfer and deepening of cooperation with Member States and global civil society.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The impending abolition of the banana quota at the end of 2005 has contributed immensely to an economic crisis in these Caribbean Community States. Thousands of small farmers in these island nations have lost hope and left banana production altogether. This has led to a 60 per cent decline in banana export earnings and has a negative impact on our national savings. In Dominica, this situation has necessitated the implementation of an austerity program, in tandem with a standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund. We are, however, working assiduously to create the conditions for economic revitalization and transformation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Twenty-five years of nation-building has given us some experience in the global arena and allowed us to build a foundation for the next 25 years of national development. As a peace-loving people, we highly value the right to self-determination and the full, fair and unhindered expression of the will of the people. We reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law, good governance at all levels and deepening of our longstanding democratic tradition. Dominica and its sister islands of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica are island nations adversely affected by the World Trade Organization (WTO) banana regime, which will bring to an end preferences and quotas for bananas exported to the European Union.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Mankind faces a great challenge as growing scarcity of freshwater becomes a reality of this century. This is clearly an arena for constructive global action by the United Nations. Let us hope that concern for and attention to freshwater remain a core part of our continuing commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. My delegation is indeed pleased at the tremendous progress made by the International Criminal Court over the last year. We have moved one step closer to punishing war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. This year is an important year for the Commonwealth of Dominica because we are celebrating the silver jubilee of our political independence, as well our twenty-fifth anniversary of our membership in the United Nations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We appeal to Member States to continue collaborative 14 efforts in this global fight to combat terrorism and to ensure that the capacities of small States are enhanced through transfer of intelligence information, surveillance technology and training in prevention strategies. The United Nations International Year of Freshwater has helped the world community to focus attention on the millions of poor people who lack access to clean sources of water. Dominica is one of the islands in the Caribbean blessed with abundant freshwater resources, largely thanks to our high rainfall. Our experience with conserving our mountains and forests, which contribute to the maintenance of the water table, is one of the many experiences that our people are prepared to share with the world community.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The passage of these pieces of legislation has contributed to significant strengthening of the regulatory regime for banks operating in our offshore financial sector and to efforts to combat money-laundering. We welcome the assistance of the Commonwealth in a review of our legal system to allow its alignment with the global strategy to fight terrorism, as well as the guidance of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The numerous terrorist actions this year in Indonesia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Iraq underscore the central importance of being vigilant and prepared to manage any crisis from a terrorist attack.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation supports the road map for peace in the Middle East and calls for the removal of the obstacles that have stalled the process. We embrace the two-State solution as the only mechanism for a lasting peace in the Middle East. The State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority must both commit to a ceasefire and return to the agreed obligations under the road map framework. The fight against international terrorism remains a priority for Dominica given the horror of 11 September. In that regard, we have taken many steps to comply with the obligations of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). This year our Parliament enacted the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism Act, which complements two earlier pieces of legislation related to the prevention of terrorism, the Money Laundering Act and the Exchange of Information Act.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The return of peace and stability to Iraq has now become the responsibility of all States members of the international community. If the international community must accept and shoulder this important responsibility, then we must commit to a greater role for the United Nations. We strongly hold the view that stability in Iraq is inextricably linked to the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis, who must have sole responsibility for their future. The coalition forces must give a clear mandate to the United Nations for the creation of a multinational force, led of course by the main troop contributors, in order to ensure the security of Iraq. While the attention of the international community is focused on restoring peace and security in Iraq, we cannot turn a blind eye to the breakdown in the Middle East peace process.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The reform of the Security Council and the General Assembly is indispensable to the restoration of the moral authority lost because of failure to enforce resolutions. Effective governance, predicated on the principles of accountability and transparency to the people of the Member States, is a highly desirable objective that we must strive for. I wish to reaffirm our country's total commitment to, and support for, the United Nations. Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, other staff members of the United Nations and the citizens of Iraq who lost their lives or sustained injuries in the tragedy of Baghdad last August. We share the sorrow of the Secretary-General and his staff, and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“All of these problems require a strong and effective multilateral organization, which enjoys the trust and confidence of the people on this planet and is capable of articulating collective approaches towards some solutions. The world has changed considerably, yet present institutions for global governance the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization continue to operate on outdated political and economic foundations. The legitimacy, effectiveness and credibility of the United Nations continue to erode in the face of the democratic deficit', which was an integral part of the original design but which needs to be remedied now.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We must all appreciate that it remains the only universal multilateral institution with the capacity to address the complex set of global problems of the twenty-first century, ranging from peace and security to development. Today's world is entangled in a web of complex problems that threaten global security. These problems, which require the urgent attention of the United Nations, include HIV/AIDS and other diseases, poverty, the marginalization of indigenous people, terrorism and global crime, the growing scarcity of freshwater, global warming, the spread of light arms, which threaten peaceful countries like Dominica, nuclear proliferation, armed civil conflicts and the refugees they give rise to, trafficking in humans and unfair trade rules that contribute to growing poverty in the developing countries.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I take this opportunity to congratulate your predecessor, His Excellency Jan Kavan, for the leadership he provided to the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, a session that brought out clearly the many challenges confronting the United Nations in this decade. The delegation of the Commonwealth of Dominica assures you of its full cooperation and support. Profound appreciation is also due to our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his tireless efforts to make the United Nations more responsive and effective. 13 Over the last nine months, the relevance of the United Nations has become a burning issue worldwide.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Allow me to start by congratulating you warmly, Mr. President, on your election to the high post of President of this respected global forum and to wish you success during your tenure. Your election to the post of President of the General Assembly is indeed an honour and a source of pride for all Saint Lucians, as well as for your brothers and sisters in the Organization of East Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Latin America. Your presidency is, as such, a CARICOM-Latin American presidency, and your record of prudence and diplomatic skills will certainly be instrumental in meeting the lofty goals sought commonly by all of our nations and peoples.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Our plea is a simple call for justice for the 23 million people of the Republic of China on Taiwan and an appeal for the recognition of their right to be treated in international affairs no differently from citizens of any other country. The eleventh of September 2001 will undoubtedly be remembered for the horrifying nature of the terrorist acts, the magnitude of the senseless destruction of lives and property and the forced recognition of our common vulnerability. But the heroism, the extraordinary fortitude and selflessness of ordinary men and women, and the demonstrated triumph of the human spirit over the worst manifestation of evil, inspire us to hope that with dedicated commitment we can create for all mankind a world that is measurably better than that which we have today. The time to begin is now.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The exclusion of the Republic of China on Taiwan from membership of the United Nations makes little sense in today’s world of globalization and interdependence, particularly in light of the fact that this sovereign State, with a democratically elected Government, is the world’s seventeenth largest economy, the fifteenth largest in international trade, the eighth largest foreign investor, the fourth largest in terms of foreign exchange reserves, and the third largest exporter of information technology (IT) products. The Commonwealth of Dominica intends no interference in the internal affairs of any Member State, nor can such interpretation be validly applied to our action.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The reality is that trade preferences are eroding; official flows are declining, while historical ties with former partners in development are fading. It is therefore imperative that in order to prevent further marginalization of small economies, steps must be taken in the multilateral trading system and elsewhere to address the concerns of those economies and to ensure their growth and development.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We fear that without such recognition it will be impossible for small States to be fully integrated into the multilateral trading system of the globalized world. Our fears have been confirmed both by the generally poor performance of small States under WTO arrangements and by a very authoritative report by the World Bank and Commonwealth Secretariat on the issue of smallness and vulnerability. The unique characteristics of small vulnerable economies, which have been articulated in numerous studies, give a clear indication of the challenges that these economies face in improving their development prospects and in adjusting to liberalization and globalization. Many of these economies are at a crossroads.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“That is why the Commonwealth of Dominica and other States in the region attach such importance to the convening of the International Conference on Financing for Development, which will be held in Mexico from 18 to 22 March 2002. Given the changing global realities that are impacting adversely on the economies of developing States, the Conference will provide an opportunity for us to assess the impact of declining official development assistance and for creating new mechanisms for financing development. Over the past several years and in many different forums, particularly in the World Trade Organization (WTO), we have been calling for the formal recognition of the special problems facing small vulnerable economies.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is generally accepted that were industrialized countries to meet their promised official development assistance of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP), the countries of the developing world would be much nearer to solving many of the problems with which they are plagued. As a substitute for the failed promise, developing countries have been told to place greater reliance on foreign direct investment, most of which bypasses the most needy and the smallest economies. The Commonwealth of Dominica falls into that category of States for which official development assistance is vitally critical to the development of their economies.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The circularity of the problem has tremendous implications for economic development, poverty reduction and efforts to raise living standards in developing countries. The accepted premise is that international development cooperation plays a vital role in the development of the mechanisms necessary for enhancing the trade competitiveness of developing countries, strengthening financial systems, and developing human resources, but that role is clearly undermined by the declining trend in official development assistance (ODA). Once again we see the lack of commitment to the fulfilment of a stated goal.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As front-page news, HIV/AIDS claimed attention for only a short time after the special session, but the disease claimed millions of lives last year and created millions of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, which continues to have the highest rates of infection. The Caribbean region ranks a close second. The Global Fund for AIDS and Health proposed by the Secretary-General is clearly not realizing its spending target of $7 billion to $10 billion, and will not be able to achieve the stated goal of reversing the 3 spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015, as declared by world leaders at the Millennium Summit. The majority of people infected with HIV/AIDS live in the developing world and the high incidence of HIV/AIDS infection is considered a function of poverty.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Contributions from the industrial countries are woefully inadequate, and the required adjustment of the strategies of the international financial institutions is slow in coming. The outcome is less than desirable in creating and maintaining an enabling environment for the more effective management of projects geared to poverty reduction. That lack of commitment is evident in other areas. A year after the Millennium Summit and six months after the General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS, the international community seems to have lost interest in a crisis that the Secretary-General labelled the greatest public health challenge of our times.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“They comprise a wide range of economic, social, political and humanitarian problems faced on a daily basis and, for the most part, by the poor and disadvantaged of the world. Indeed, some of them are likely to be exacerbated by the fight against terrorism, and their successful resolution will continue to be the greatest challenge of the United Nations and the international community. At the Millennium Summit last year there was general agreement on the issues needing urgent attention and the goals to be achieved. One year later those goals appear to be as far from being realized as ever. Commitment appears to be lacking on all fronts. The objective of a 50 per cent reduction in the number of persons living in poverty worldwide by the year 2015 suffers from the perennially tepid effort to deal with the root causes of poverty.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We are convinced that well- regulated, competitive tax jurisdictions should be treated separately and distinctly from illegal activities such as money-laundering. The Commonwealth of Dominica remains firmly committed to the struggle against international terrorism to the same extent that we strive to ensure that our financial services sector, a major pillar of our economic diversification thrust, does not provide support to the perpetrators of criminal activity in the financing of terrorism. The current effort against international terrorism is important, and our focus on that activity is warranted. There are, however, other dimensions of the global agenda which should command the attention of the international community and the United Nations. They cannot be relegated to the back burner of our concerns.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the Caribbean there is strong evidence of damage to vital sectors of our economy, such as tourism, financial services and agriculture. The actual and projected losses of jobs in the region are in the thousands, and for those countries that were already experiencing fiscal pressures the prospect of higher unemployment and decreased revenues is daunting. Complicating the problem is the great concern that in the fight against terrorism and in the drive to enforce counter-terrorism measures, certain areas in which developing countries in the Caribbean region have a competitive advantage, such as the financial services sector, may be subjected to inordinate pressure and be unfairly targeted and linked to illegal activities such as money-laundering.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“But to be effective beyond the immediate crisis, counter-terrorism measures, mechanisms and strategies must be sustained through a comprehensive approach that seeks to create and strengthen, through the United Nations, a legal framework against international terrorism, complemented by strenuous efforts aimed at improving the social and economic conditions which adversely affect the poor and dispossessed. Beyond the immediate peace and security issues affected by the events of 11 September, there has been a considerable impact on the global economy, which has been thrown into an accelerated decline, with consequences that are particularly disturbing for small developing countries like the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We are in strong accord with the sentiments and mandates contained in Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001) and General Assembly resolution 56/1, all of which call 2 upon the international community to take unified and cooperative action to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism. We understand the need for the exercise of the right of self-defence in pursuit of those objectives, and we support the actions being taken to bring justice to the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the terrorist acts of 11 September 2001. Cognizant of the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Dominica has proceeded to establish a task force to put in place the necessary legislative and executive measures for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001).”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The ripple effects of those acts have resonated in locations far removed from New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, aggravating economic and social conditions and seriously disrupting efforts aimed at meeting the many challenges confronting the United Nations and the international community. In short, in one way or another and to a lesser or greater degree, we are all victims of those acts of terrorism that were visited upon the United States of America two months ago. The Commonwealth of Dominica condemns, without reservation, what is undoubtedly the worst terrorist act of our times.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Kofi Annan, on his election to a second term and on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to him and the United Nations. This general debate is being conducted in unusual circumstances. The horrendous terrorist acts of 11 September 2001 have altered the lives of many in ways traumatic and fundamentally tragic. I must again extend deepest condolences and pledge the full support and solidarity of the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the Government and the people of the United States of America and to all bereaved families, including those who lost their loved ones on flight 587.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I am pleased and honoured to address the Assembly on behalf of the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica. I wish to extend my congratulations to you, Sir, and your country, the Republic of Korea, on your election to the high office of President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, confident that your proven diplomatic skills will serve you well in guiding the affairs of the General Assembly with efficiency and purpose. Your immediate predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri, is most deserving of our thanks and appreciation for the very able manner in which he presided over the Millennium Summit and the fifty- fifth session of the General Assembly. Permit me further to congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)