YouSaid · the spoken record

Leonel Fernández Reyna,

lines on the record: 108
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
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

“Quite the contrary, we analysed with the greatest possible rigour the situation that we wanted to correct. We measured with mathematical precision its overwhelming scope and the magnitude of the political and financial effort that its reversal would require. We committed to the MDGs with such supreme responsibility that we even set a date for their achievement: the year 2015. Now we are halfway to that date, and we face the disheartening situation of an international landscape full of obstacles to overcome if we are to conclude what we set out to do in the year 2000. We knew there would be difficulties. We recognized that we would have to overcome immense obstacles, and we had identified every type of major challenge that would await us in the quest to carry out our plans.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In the year 2000, it was believed — and this is still the case today — that the objectives established at that time would go down in the common history of humankind as the bravest ethical decision ever taken in the face of extreme poverty, the shame of generalized injustice and the heartbreaking tragedy of social inequity. It was an agenda of work and dedication that required a large dose of political will, actions laid out in conformity with the goals to be reached, a reorganization of budgetary priorities and a 21 08-51749 greater flow of aid resources and support for development. We did not undertake the Millennium Development Goals in vague terms. We did not couch the Millennium Declaration in abstract and grandiloquent concepts lacking in substance.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Dominican Republic, I am pleased to extend our warmest congratulations to the President of the General Assembly, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of the sister Republic of Nicaragua, on his recent election. We also take this opportunity to greet our fellow Member States in this General Assembly. Eight years ago, in this same place, representatives of 189 countries undertook a crucial commitment, possibly one of the most transcendental commitments that such a large number of nations ever made. They agreed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As one of the founding Members of the United Nations, the Dominican Republic aspires to a position on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member. In that position, we would strive to be a voice in favour of the weak, those without protection or shelter, the forsaken of the world. That is our sole aspiration. The Dominican Republic will uphold, responsibly and with conviction and determination, the values and principles the Organization has pledged to represent, as a beacon for peace, human dignity and the civilized coexistence of all inhabitants of the Earth.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“However, this grand forum of humanity, established after the enormous sacrifices of the Second World War, must also reform itself, if it intends to fulfil the ideals that inspired its creation, as enshrined in the Charter at the San Francisco Conference. The current structure of the United Nations is no longer adequate today. The structure still corresponds to the cold-war period, even though humankind has advanced beyond an era when all events of importance were determined by the rivalry of two super-Powers. Now, in the twenty-first century, we in the Dominican Republic do not truly comprehend why the President of the World Bank must be an American and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, a European and why major global decisions are the responsibility of only five countries.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Given all those challenges presented by globalization, a country like the Dominican Republic asks itself: where is international solidarity, where is cooperation between peoples, how are we going to address together all of those challenges which affect most of the peoples of the world? The truth is that there cannot be solidarity when there are those in the world who seek to accumulate wealth even while others suffer. There cannot be cooperation when there are people who think only of conducting business without taking into account the pain and anguish of others. The United Nations system was created to promote solidarity and cooperation, and it is only fair to recognize that there is no other organization at the world level that has the prestige, capability and vocation of the Members of this world Organization.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Another example that illustrates the undeniable interdependence of all nations on earth is climate change. That topic is not new to our discussions in this Organization, but with each year that passes we find ourselves closer to the predicted disasters. In the Dominican Republic, we are already experiencing the impact of climate change in various ways: an increase in the volatility and frequency of floods, droughts and hurricanes that destroy our ecosystem, our biodiversity and our infrastructures. Also, we are experiencing increased coastal erosion and loss of beaches as well as frequent bleaching of our coral reefs, thus reducing our marine biodiversity and making tourism less attractive.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“His tractor emits clouds of smoke every morning when he attempts to turn it on. His facilities are dilapidated. He receives no government subsidies since the Government is in no financial position to help him, and his production cost for one pound of corn is 12 cents, almost double the production cost of the subsidized United States farmer. When we asked Felix how we, as the Government, could help him, he stated, “I don’t want anything. All I want is fair trade to be able to sell my corn. The fact is that the challenges of globalization are having a marked impact on countries like the Dominican Republic. What we are experiencing is the interdependent character of current international trends. What seems to be a distant or remote event nevertheless has a direct impact on the daily lives of our peoples.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Those factors have led to a vicious cycle that is spreading throughout the global food chain, while, in spite of the plea for free trade, producers in the world’s most powerful countries remain protected. As an example, while a United States farmer has access to state-of-the-art farming equipment, the most modern facilities and technologically proficient staff, that farmer also receives government subsidies of approximately US $750,000 per year. Furthermore, the farmer might produce a pound of corn for a mere 7 cents. At the same time, Félix David García Peña, also a corn farmer, who belongs to the Association of Farmers in San Juan de la Maguana in the southern part of the Dominican Republic near our border with Haiti, is struggling alone to make ends meet and to lead a decent life. His farming equipment is outdated.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Moreover, while the price of oil is rising, and with the prices of goods in the global economy fluctuating, we also find ourselves unexpectedly affected by price increases for food. All of a sudden we are surprised by the news that owing to the elimination of export subsidies in Europe, the price of milk has increased on the international market. The same has occurred, although for different reasons, with the cost of corn, soybeans and wheat as well as with other products that comprise the basic nutrition of the family. Because of the climbing prices of those products, the cost of chicken, turkey, bread and eggs have also risen. As will be appreciated, we are facing a dangerous situation which could lead our people towards widespread famine and, consequently, a plunge into extreme poverty.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“However, exactly when we began, just like the phoenix rising from its own ashes, a gloomy international picture threatened to darken our prospects for future growth. In recent weeks, for example, the price of oil on the international market has reached an unprecedented rate, and projections point towards continued increases. These price increases are asphyxiating our economies. Similarly, in recent times, as a result of changes on the international stage, free zone companies in the Dominican Republic, alongside those in Mexico and Central America, have been losing their competitive edge to Asian countries. This drop in competitiveness has resulted in the loss of jobs, production stagnation and a shortage of new investment.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“According to the statistics of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 1.5 million out of the 9 million Dominicans sank into the lowest levels of poverty. At that time, we were facing one of the most dramatic crises in the modern history of the Dominican Republic. Since we took the reins of administration in 2004, the Dominican Republic has managed to recover the confidence of investors and entrepreneurs. We have been able to reactivate economic growth. We have been able to reduce inflation. We have increased jobs and improved social conditions and quality of life for the Dominican people.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“On behalf of the Government and the people of the Dominican Republic, it is a pleasure to extend our warmest congratulations to Mr. Srgjan Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia upon his recent election as President of the General Assembly. We would also like to take this opportunity to greet the members of the General Assembly. During the four years following the Millennium Summit of 2000, the Dominican Republic went through a crisis, during which our national currency was devalued by 100 per cent. Our working class had to double its efforts simply to meet their basic subsistence needs. Drug trafficking and high levels of crime gained a foothold, and our credibility went down worldwide.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“With regard to our two countries, our warm relations are also expressed through the Dominican-Haitian Joint Commission, a forum which our Governments are reviving because we recognize it as the most appropriate mechanism for discussion and for reaching agreements on many topics of shared concern. In conclusion, we wish to see the United Nations renew and strengthen itself with a view to playing a more active, dynamic and effective role — one that would guarantee the realization of the values and principles enshrined in the San Francisco Charter, so as to ensure that peace on Earth will become the daily form of existence among human beings.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We reiterate our deep commitment to the activities and objectives of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW). We consider them suitable for the advancement and dignity of all the women of the world and, in particular, the women of countries such as the Dominican Republic. As the host country, we warmly appreciate the support of Member States to INSTRAW. The Dominican Republic is deeply committed to re-establishing stability in Haiti, and we applaud the recent decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for six months. The Dominican Republic has special interest that there be an increase of international cooperation aimed at preserving the pace of the reconstruction process of this sister nation.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In another regard, the serious events that recently took place in the Middle East have filled us with alarm and consternation. They are a dramatic reminder that tensions affecting the peace of entire regions still persist. As with other conflicts, the dispute between Israel and its neighbours can be resolved only through dialogue and the good offices of the United Nations, which recently achieved the cessation of hostilities between the two disputing parties. We are confident that a definitive peace will prevail in this region and allow the development of enhanced levels of understanding, tolerance, and co-existence among its inhabitants. The Dominican Republic maintains its interest in participating in the promotion of peacebuilding and conflict resolution.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Migration is not about the poor invading the developed countries, nor is it a threat to their current way of life. Frankly speaking, migration is one of the historical means used by human beings and to which they continue to resort to in order to achieve greater well-being, liberty and justice. As it will be impossible to do away with this phenomenon, we can only seek to control it in a legal and organized fashion, in a framework of respect for the human rights and dignity of all persons. In the meantime, many people could benefit from this situation, through remittances, the creation of networks of contacts and cooperation, capacity-building in human resources, technology transfer and diverse forms of collaboration and exchange.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“However, there is an inherent contradiction in this modern, globalized world in that we promote the free flow of merchandise, capital and services, while we restrict the free flow of human labour. Although each State exercises its sovereign right in implementing its migration policies, it is our conviction that the asymmetry currently existing between the free flow of production inputs and the restricted flow of persons will have to cease to exist over time. According to the conservative voices in the developed world, migration is a sort of invasion from the underdeveloped countries to the most developed countries. It is also considered to be an act of revenge for the territorial expropriation that took place in the colonial era and is seen as a threat to their current way of life. This is a fallacy.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In addressing this dramatic situation, which is driving some populations to desperation, the Dominican Republic remains vigilant in the continuous struggle and urges the international community to strengthen control and prevention mechanisms that are needed to meet these modern challenges that only increase fear and desperation among defenceless civilian populations. Another issue of great importance for the progress and well-being of our countries is the relationship between migration and sustainable 06-52885 12 development, which constitutes the main item on the General Assembly’s agenda. We believe that the phenomenon of migration is positively linked to the cause of development.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“One of the global issues of great concern to the Dominican Republic and other parts of the world is that of human security. We have observed with great consternation that there has recently been an erosion of domestic security in countries, leading to increased violence and criminality. That situation has, without a doubt, been fuelled by a combination of factors, among them drug trafficking, the illicit traffic of arms, the trafficking of persons and other criminal activities.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We recognize the unquestionable accomplishments achieved during this process, such as the creation of the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. Notwithstanding, reform will be incomplete if it does not include reform of the Security Council, the body specifically responsible for taking political decisions within this Organization. It is our conviction that the Security Council must be expanded to make it more diverse and participatory, with the aim of ensuring more equitable regional representation and taking into account the regional and national interests that prevail in today’s world. There is also a need for closer cooperation between the Security Council and other important United Nations bodies, such as the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“I am greatly honoured to congratulate Her Excellency Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa of Bahrain upon her election, the first woman from the Middle East, to preside over the work of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly. She has the great responsibility to promote dialogue and harmony in the midst of the spread of conflict throughout the world. Likewise, we wish to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his ten years at the head of this Organization and for his immense efforts to promote peacekeeping, security and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In the interest of continuity in the pursuit of United Nations reform, so notably promoted by the Secretary-General, our country wishes to reiterate its conviction that any reform must provide for greater democratization.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We believe that that important assembly will reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Charter, by highlighting the mission of the United Nations system in the twenty-first century in the light of the problems posed by globalization and of the need to ensure that that process will be of benefit to us all.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It is as important as it was in 1978, when it was created to promote the advancement of women, especially in our developing nations. We therefore appeal to all Governments to contribute to revitalizing the Institute so that it may continue its important work. We are confident that this great Organization will renew itself and will act with the visionary leadership for which it was created for by its founders at the San Francisco Conference, in a world that expects greater solidarity among nations and a more just, equitable and humane international order. I wish to conclude by calling on States Members of the United Nations to participate in and support the Millennium Assembly.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Now that the Year is drawing to a close, we are especially proud of its international success. In the Dominican Republic, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Government, in September 1998, our Congress approved a bill of rights for older persons and established a national committee to oversee its implementation. We consider this to have been our most important contribution the Year. As host country to the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), we wish once again to stress the fundamental importance of the Institute, which is one of only three United Nations entities headquartered in a developing country, and the only one situated in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Dominican Republic is convinced that reform of the Security Council must be carried out in keeping with the principles of equitable geographical distribution and the equal sovereignty of Member States, since no reform will be acceptable if it leads to discriminatory treatment of developing nations by developed nations. It is in this spirit that the Dominican Republic aspires to election in the near future to a seat as a non-permanent member of the Council. Our country, although small in size, has a pacifist tradition that it would hope to channel into and combine with the basic principles that should guide the Security Council. The Dominican Republic is proud to have introduced resolution 47/5, by which the Assembly proclaimed 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“With the wealth currently circulating world-wide, we could restore a sense of dignity to each and every human being. Determining how to achieve this is the big challenge facing this Organization in the twenty-first century. To meet that challenge the United Nations itself has to go through a process of change and reform, beginning with acceptance that all its Member States are equal, with no differentiation between the powerful ones that possess the right of veto and the poor ones that have been marginalized in the very Organization that represents them. There is no doubt that we now have a unique opportunity to reform the Security Council.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“These proposals would seem to be wise and beneficial. However, we believe that a true new international financial structure, as the focal point of a 5 global economy, should include the element of international solidarity and cooperation aimed at the introduction of measures to reduce poverty. We cannot understand why more than $1 trillion dollars circulates in international financial transactions every day while not a penny of those resources goes to the world's poor. All of Haiti's problems would be solved with only a single minute's worth of banking transactions on the international market. The same could be said of Nicaragua and of Honduras, and even of our own country, the Dominican Republic. The eradication of poverty is not an illusory goal.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The so-called Asian crisis generated international turbulence, led to the Russian crisis and had a similar impact on the Brazilian economy, which in turn affected the Southern Cone economies. In analysing that crisis, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund agreed that it resulted from factors generated by the international flow of capital in the Asian stock markets. As a result of that situation, which has been identified as the first major crisis of the globalized economy, the economists of both institutions have proposed the creation of a new international financial architecture. That new architecture would seek to stabilize the financial markets through the adoption of a set of careful measures, both national and international, to prevent another financial crisis in the future.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Forgiving external debt, or at least reducing it significantly, or eliminating the interest would be a just acknowledgement of those countries that, in spite of their internal difficulties, have adopted strict adjustment measures that have made it possible for them scrupulously to honour their international obligations. Forgiving external debt, or reducing it in any other way, would be a true gesture of international solidarity aimed at reducing poverty. Furthermore, the resources that would be freed as a result would greatly benefit the creditor countries and the international commercial banking community, since the purchasing power of poor nations would be increased, thereby generating a new dynamism in the world economy.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The developing countries have watched their external debt climb from $1.6 trillion in 1993 to $2.5 trillion in 1998. The external debt of Latin America increased from $44.786 billion in 1980 to $669 billion in 1997 — an almost fifteen-fold increase in 17 years. Interest payments, which remained stable between 1980 and 1994 at a level between $24 billion and $28 billion, increased sharply, in 1997 reaching $42 billion. The current proposal is to reduce the debt of only the heavily indebted poor countries. It seems to us that although this is a very significant first initiative, it is not sufficient because it excludes a group of countries, including the Dominican Republic, that have made significant efforts to achieve progress and peace, yet face a titanic struggle to overcome underdevelopment and poverty.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The world welcomed with great joy and satisfaction the decision adopted by the countries members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to use 0.7 of their gross national product to finance a programme aimed at halving by the year 2015 the percentage of the inhabitants of developing countries living in extreme poverty. Despite the public commitment made by those countries, cooperation for development fell to 0.22 of the combined product of the donor countries in 1997, which is the lowest figure since the 1950s. It is unfair that while there is a daily transfer of over $1 trillion from the central or highly developed countries, there is a tendency to decrease official development assistance for the least developed countries.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Only the concerted efforts of all nations, rich and poor, working to the same end in a spirit of solidarity and a sense of humanity will make it possible for the whole of humankind to share on a basis of equality and social justice in the prodigious and unprecedented creation of wealth in this era. For some time, in various international forums, a set of balanced and reasonable ideas have been put forward, and if they were applied they would contribute to a significant reduction in poverty and to the creation of opportunities.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In such a wealthy world, 3 billion people survive on less than $2 a day, and each year 50 million children are permanently harmed because of malnutrition. Some 1.5 billion people have no access to drinking water, and more than 2 billion have no access to drainage or sewerage facilities. A large percentage have very limited access to education, health care and housing, and hundreds of millions are unemployed or have no secure or permanent income. This stark and horrifying contrast between wealth and poverty constitutes a huge challenge for all the nations of the world and the United Nations system as we approach the twenty-first century. There are no magic formulas for resolving this situation.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“However, that wealth is concentrated in just a few countries that today are identified as central countries, and inside each of them wealth is concentrated in a few hands that control industry, finance, transportation and communications. The concentration of wealth in a few countries, and the influence that those 4 countries exert in the media, leads to the dissemination of a consumer philosophy that in turn contributes to the adoption of artificial lifestyles and behaviour patterns that are conducive to waste, luxury and ostentation. Alongside all this wealth, however, the world has never suffered so much poverty. Today, 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty, and most of them suffer from hunger every day.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“At no other time in history has humankind been able, as it is today, to produce everything it needs in the way of food, clothing, shelter, communications and transportation. The level of wealth that exists today is such that each and every day, more than a trillion dollars circulates in international capital markets for purely speculative purposes, producing what today is known as a “casino economy”. In order to give a rough idea of what that volume of capital means, I must point out that a single day of operations in the financial markets is equivalent to twice the annual gross national product of all the African countries.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“But in a world that is becoming increasingly complex in the wake of an era marked by bipolar confrontation between two models of civilization, and with the rise of a technological revolution that has contributed to an accelerated sense of time, a reduction in distances and an increase in expectations, the United Nations must exercise renewed leadership in order to confront this new set of circumstances which, while they represent tremendous opportunities for the peoples of the world, may also threaten their future. It is no longer just a matter of preventing war and conflict; that unavoidable task will always be expected of the Organization. The United Nations must ensure for every human being on this earth a dignified, hopeful and decent existence. Never before has the world accumulated so much wealth.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“This venerable institution, the United Nations, was founded more than half a century ago with the lofty goal of safeguarding peace among nations and the integrity of peoples. The United Nations has made a significant contribution to preventing armed conflict, reducing tension, resolving differences, promoting negotiation and agreements, and encouraging tolerance and non-violence.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It is a particular honour for me to address the Assembly on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominican Republic and to take this opportunity to express my warmest congratulations to you, Sir, on your recent election as President of the fifty- fourth session of the General Assembly. I would also like to commend the excellent work of that outstanding representative of our region, the Foreign Minister of Uruguay, Mr. Didier Opertti, who so efficiently conducted the proceedings of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly. Let me also wish Mr. Kofi Annan every success in the important and delicate tasks he is carrying out as Secretary-General of the United Nations.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Dominican Republic, trusting in God and in the creative capacity of its people, aspires to be a spokesman and an instrument for channelling the ideals of justice, peace, 7 democracy and prosperity, which inspire the civilized nations of the world.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“As to the Republic of China on Taiwan, we believe that due to its location in the centre of East Asia, its security and stability bear a close relation with the peace and prosperity of that region, and we therefore encourage both the sides along the Taiwan Strait to resume constructive dialogue with a view to achieving mutual cooperation and understanding. We believe that the parallel participation of both sides in the United Nations would be conducive to maintaining peace. We stand at the threshold of a new century and a new millennium, which will bring new challenges as well as new opportunities for human progress, and an Organization such as the United Nations has always served to stimulate the noblest of human aspirations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“For Dominicans, drug use and trafficking are a national security problem, which we will fight with the necessary force to eliminate an evil that has become the great plague of mankind at the end of the twentieth century. In expressing its willingness to play a more active role in the international system, the Dominican Republic also expresses its concern at the many unresolved conflicts in different parts of the world. We advocate a definitive and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina; of the search for peace in Middle East between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization; of cooperation and assistance with regard to situations such as those of Somalia, Burundi and Liberia.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The Dominican Republic therefore urges all interested parties to move forward to enable the underdeveloped countries to implement viable programmes against poverty and marginalization, within a financially sustainable context. In addition to the fight against poverty, at this stage of reforming the international system it is important to take all appropriate measures to fight terrorism and illegal drug trafficking, scourges that deeply affect the normal development of mankind. Recently, international drug cartels have tried to use Caribbean routes to carry out their illegal operations. The Dominican Republic has been taking all possible measures to prevent the use of its territory as a medium for drug trafficking and drug use.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We have made progress in that regard, and it is fair to recognize that the G-7, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the regional banks for development assistance, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, have consistently designed and implemented important mechanisms to alleviate the foreign-debt burden, among which the so-called Brady plan and the G-7 programmes for the reduction of bilateral debt stand out. However, in the near future we will need to review some of the sacred principles prevalent in the international financial community now for many years, such as those related to the Paris Club cut-off date and the impossibility of debt restructuring with multilateral organizations. This affects especially the so-called least developed countries, which could receive preferential treatment in this regard.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This means that this international Organization’s new role is to guarantee international peace and security through mechanisms to promote the economic and social development of the less fortunate nations. For this reason, with respect to debt, our country believes that multilateral organizations that provide development assistance and the donor Governments, together with the debtors, must find more lasting solutions to the burden of foreign debt servicing, so that we can release resources that can immediately be used to fight poverty and to stop the deterioration of the environment.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“There are fewer resources to invest in education, health, housing and social security and, ultimately, to deal with the critical situation of poverty that affects most of our people. In its 51 years of existence, the United Nations has made extraordinary efforts to eradicate bellicose conflicts in different parts of the world and to contribute to the maintenance of peace and international security. But great human sacrifice is inherent in the theatre of war, and our impoverished neighbourhoods have adopted the names of war-torn places, symbolizing the extent of their fight against misery. In the Dominican Republic the poor and marginalized neighbourhoods have adopted such names as Viet Nam, Katanga and Cambodia; none of them, of course, is called Sweden, Japan or Germany.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The countries of the region have carried out a series of adjustment programmes in an attempt to regain external financial solvency. Nonetheless, there are still considerable imbalances as a result of the burden of debt 6 servicing, without a corresponding recovery in the terms of exchange that would allow us to create greater resources through our exports. In the case of the Dominican Republic, foreign debt increased 13-fold between 1964 and 1994. Today, thanks to our extraordinary efforts, our country is now current with its international creditors, which means that we are eligible for further external financing. However, being current with our payments to international credit organizations has meant that our Government has incurred greater social debts to the Dominican people.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“After a fruitful meeting, which took place a few day ago in Port-au-Prince, that Commission agreed to a series of technical exchange agreements in the fields of tourism, agriculture, trade and investment, sports and border and immigration matters. Furthermore, we defined the conditions for joint strategies to take advantage of funds provided by multinational sources, such as those granted by the European Union under the terms of the Fourth Lomé Convention. I would now like to direct the attention of the General Assembly to a subject that just a few years ago was on the front pages of all the newspapers of the world and that, even though it still has a considerable impact on the effectiveness of development policies, has vanished from the world’s attention: the problem of foreign debt.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We must overcome these limitations and define areas in which we can be competitive. Strengthening cooperation is one way to support the Caribbean integration process and rectify such weaknesses. When referring to the Caribbean, let us not forget the situation in Haiti, the country with which we share the island of Hispaniola. We view with sympathy the process of democratization that is unfolding in that country, and we appeal to the international community to do its utmost to assist in the huge task faced by the children of the country of Toussaint L’Ouverture in constructing a better future for their countrymen. One of the first foreign-policy actions of our Government was to encourage a cooperative and friendly relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and we put in place the Joint Bilateral Commission.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We have gained certain advantages from preferential trading with the United States and the European Union, as a result of greater prosperity that led to an increase in import demand from those countries and an increase in tourism in the Caribbean. By contrast, we must endure the complications of the new rules and harmonization standards that have come into force. We have not yet taken full advantage of the benefits deriving from such concessional agreements as the Fourth Lomé Convention, the Generalized System of Preferences, and the Caribbean Basin initiative. Our high dependence on foreign trade, the shortage in the supply of goods and services and unsuitable marketing methods constitute elements of vulnerability that affect, to a greater or lesser extent, all the countries of the region.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)