YouSaid · the spoken record

Ahmed ABOUL GHEIT

lines on the record: 168
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
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

“This occurs as attempts are being made to enhance the obligations included in international mechanisms without paying attention to the issue of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and subjecting all nuclear facilities in the Middle East to the comprehensive safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Egypt will nonetheless persist in its endeavours, through existing mechanisms and forums and in coordination with friendly States that understand the reality and danger of the situation, in order to change it and to warn of the danger that failing to achieve universality for the NPT in the Middle East would entail. In my statement today, I have given precedence to international over regional issues.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our interest in this matter is based on our unwavering belief that security and military balance, especially in conflict areas, contributes to laying solid foundations for peace between countries and peoples. However, achieving genuine peace and security in any region requires, among other things, the establishment of just and parallel international and regional mechanisms in the areas of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. It is notable that, unfortunately, prominent members of the international community are unduly lax regarding Israel’s nuclear capability and the extent to which this constantly threatens the security of the Middle East.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Here, I wish to convey to the Assembly that we are concerned by the unconstructive cultural friction that the world is witnessing, which causes severe divergence in opinion and action; this in turn inflames public emotions and increases the nature and severity of the polarization and confrontation between the followers of different cultures and creeds. This matter must not be ignored. The international community’s approach to disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation is marred by defects, double standards and regression. This is a matter of concern for us. Egypt has always shown great interest in these matters, as best embodied in Egypt’s call to rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“With the utmost respect for the value and importance of freedom of expression, I emphasize that we reject repeated affronts to religions and holy symbols being portrayed as a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression: there are many glaring slogans in whose name crimes have been committed against thousands and millions of people by offending them and their religious beliefs. Egypt calls upon everybody to consider this matter judiciously and objectively with a view to striking the proper balance that protects freedom of expression while respecting the rights and sentiments of all. Egypt will continue to seek such a balance, with the aim of reaching a consensus on the content of draft United Nations resolutions on this matter.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“For such people, talking incessantly about human rights is a luxury they cannot afford, and results in the neglect of their basic requirements for sustenance. The promotion of economic and social rights must therefore be viewed as crucial to strengthening the human rights regime, which is essential to promoting the awareness and practice of the components of that regime. In that regard, I wish to discuss the important question of using the concept of freedom of expression to incite hatred based on religion.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The goal is to amend the international development agenda for the upcoming stage, while taking into consideration the A/63/PV.13 9 08-53122 agreements reached in all the international meetings and conferences held thus far. Egypt believes that using language that implies double standards is an affront to human rights. Despite the fact that everyone is adamant in declaring that human rights constitute an indivisible whole, the reality, which we need to change, is that economic, social and cultural rights are not, unfortunately, accorded the same attention as civil and political rights. That adversely affects public perception in many of our societies, in particular those that face dire, and occasionally destructive, economic and living conditions.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As one of the countries vulnerable to the repercussions of that phenomenon, Egypt is acutely aware of its gravity. While reiterating our full support for the Bali Plan of Action and Road Map, we call for focused international attention on the issue of categorizing low-lying coastlines, which applies to Egypt. A list of the States most vulnerable to climate change is needed so the United Nations and the international community can provide them with the necessary support as a matter of priority, including technological and financial support. Based on our belief in globally addressing those urgent economic challenges, Egypt and Norway are facilitating the current negotiations at the United Nations on the final document of the Review Conference on the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Egypt has also supported the strategy put forward by the Secretary-General to deal with the issue. We have also called for utilizing that strategy as the basis for more effective international action. In an effort to translate the growing international concern into an integrated plan of action to address that phenomenon, Chile, Indonesia and Egypt have proposed that that question and its repercussions should be a main theme at this session of the General Assembly. In that connection, I would like to thank the President for his positive response to our initiative and also for including the issue of strengthening international democratic action at the United Nations. By the same token, urgently establishing collective international political will is necessary to deal with climate change.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The channels currently available for addressing and resolving the problems of food and energy are at odds with each another, to say nothing of the fact that none of them can provide for a genuine and meaningful dialogue between importers and exporters. It was for that reason that President Mubarak was keenly interested in participating effectively in the emergency summit convened by FAO, to which I have referred, on the question of the rising price and availability of foodstuffs. Along the same lines, President Mubarak has strongly supported the African endeavour to adopt a clear strategy to tackle that phenomenon. In turn, that led to the adoption of the Sharm el-Sheikh declaration at the last African Union Summit, which contains Africa’s comprehensive vision for addressing the matter.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Their diagnosis and treatment require a concerted international effort. We must all be fully aware that jointly overcoming those problems depends upon our collective diagnosis and our united stand in addressing them. We need a new approach, vision and methodology to deal with global problems. Unfortunately, the existing frameworks have proven incapable of dealing successfully and effectively with the challenges under consideration. As an example, Egypt believes that the global food and energy crises require serious dialogue between importers and exporters of energy and food. President Mubarak called for such a dialogue at the recent African Union Summit and at the Rome meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The sixty-third session of the General Assembly is taking place against the backdrop of various international and regional events and developments that are closely linked to the peace and security of all humankind. Among those are the global food crisis, the increase in energy prices, global warming and climate change and their negative and catastrophic repercussions for the entire world, the global economic downturn that is bordering on being a worldwide recession, the sharp global increase in poverty, our diminishing collective ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the rising rate of infection with HIV, malaria and other deadly diseases, and the fight against terrorism. Egypt believes that all those challenges, as well as others, are high priorities on the international agenda.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“During this session, Egypt will raise and defend the priorities and visions I have put forward in this statement along with a host of other subjects that time did not allow me to address. It is our hope that we will all write in responding to the challenges facing us. We all bear responsibility and will all suffer the consequences of failure.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It remains a fair and balanced position that would, if implemented, achieve legitimate African aspirations. I cannot fail to refer here to the fact that the reform of the working methods of the Security Council is a genuine objective in itself that must not fade or be obscured by the attempts of some to expand the Council. We have plenty of work to do, but since time is short I would like to say that the state of our world is no cause for rejoicing. Rather it is a cause for concern. This requires us to work together with open minds in order to change it for the better, and in order to meet the aspirations of our peoples to freedom, justice, a dignified life, security and peace.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Today’s world is regrettably witnessing an imbalance and double standards in dealings with the various parties that have nuclear ambitions, potential or expertise. Egypt believes that the international disarmament and non-proliferation system will be strengthened and that regional security in the Middle East will be reinforced only when a single standard is applied equally to all the States of the region without exception. The previous session witnessed many serious efforts and consultations concerning the question of the reform and expansion of the Security Council. Despite the plethora of consultations, meetings and endeavours, this objective remains elusive. As a member of the African Group, Egypt once again states its full commitment to the specifics of the unified African position.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Egypt profoundly believes in the three main pillars of international disarmament treaties: non-proliferation, disarmament and the inherent right of every State to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In 1995, Egypt accepted the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons within an integrated package that included a resolution calling upon all States of the region without exception, to accede to the Treaty and compelling those States responsible for the maintenance of international security to discharge their responsibilities. However, this objective is still to be achieved because Israel has not yet acceded to the Treaty despite all the international and regional calls on it to do so.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“This has required time, effort and hard work from all of us to defuse that crisis and to reach a settlement that would ensure for the whole population of the region the right to a decent life. Egypt welcomed the broad concern of the international community over those difficult conditions and sought, in cooperation with concerned international and regional parties, to bring the parties in the crisis close to each other. As concrete proof of its concern for the stabilization of the situation in Darfur, Egypt has offered a generous contribution of nearly 3,500 troops to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in the region. That offer still stands. In addition, Egypt has contributed to the development of the region by drilling 40 boreholes that would make water resources available to larger numbers of people in Darfur.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We continue to encourage Lebanon’s politicians to engage in dialogue among themselves. It is our hope that they will be able to deal with the upcoming entitlements, foremost and most important among which are the presidential elections, in a manner consistent with the Lebanese Constitution and that would enable them to preserve Lebanon’s constitutional institutions and the proud achievements of its democracy. The Lebanese model of coexistence is significant and should not be allowed to suffer a setback similar to that suffered in the past. Egypt will work with all parties to achieve that objective. Since the onset of its crisis, the Darfur region of Sudan has witnessed difficult conditions.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We also reiterate the need for foreign interventions to cease influencing developments in that sisterly country. Egypt reaffirms its full support for any regional or international effort that assists Iraqis to overcome this difficult situation. By the same token, Egypt will continue to consistently call upon Iraqis to show unity and engage in dialogue in order to restore and strengthen trust among them. Brotherly Lebanon is also going through a sensitive crisis. The prospects for settling that crisis seem remote and difficult in view of internal differences and the regional tug-of-war. The situation in Lebanon is delicate and must not be burdened by the weight of the conflicts raging in the region. Therefore, Egypt has consistently called for Lebanon to be left to its people to determine what they wish for themselves.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It needs leaders who extend the hand of dialogue to each other, who do not point guns at one another: it needs leaders who close ranks to combat the illegal armed factions and militias that take the lives of dozens of Iraqis everyday. It needs leaders who would sit together to agree on the shape and future of the State of Iraq in the Iraqi Constitution, which we believe should express the hopes and dreams of all Iraqis without exclusion or marginalization. It should build a modern developed State that is enriched by its diversity and that does not allocate its posts on the basis of sect or ethnic background in a manner that causes tension and increases discord. Egypt reiterates the importance of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq in a manner that enjoys the consensus of all Iraqis.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In this respect, the meeting called for by President Bush this fall may, if well prepared, provide an important opportunity to achieve long-awaited progress. Brotherly Iraq continues to bleed; thousands of its citizens continue to be killed; thousands more continue to flee as a result of difficult living conditions. The state of today’s Iraq breaks the heart of one and all. In spite of the political process in Iraq, which we understood and encouraged, events on the ground, with their extremely negative repercussions, are what shapes today’s Iraq and its image before the international community. Iraq today sorely needs leaders and leaderships that are keen on preserving the unity of this major Arab country. It needs leaders who seek consensus and steer away from sectarianism and confessionalism.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our purpose is to achieve the resumption of serious political dialogue, which would lead to a settlement within a strict, specified time frame. We will spare no effort to achieve that objective. We will not despair in the face of problems and difficulties. We will work in all sincerity because we are committed to the cause of our Palestinian brothers and to the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State on the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We will continue to work because we are committed to the liberation of the rest of the occupied Arab territories in Syria and Lebanon and because we are committed to the objective of achieving just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It also requires a clear and correct vision that the lack of a peaceful settlement of this conflict not only denies the right of a whole people to freedom and dignity, but also feeds directly the calls for violence, extremism and the relinquishing of peaceful and political negotiation as a means to achieve the objective. Thus the conflict will continue to rage for years to come; peoples will continue to suffer; the world will continue to face the current state of sharp instability and polarization, as we are currently witnessing. Egypt has displayed and continues to display its constant readiness to work with all parties: Palestinians, Israelis, Americans, Europeans and all those who take to heart the interests of the Palestinian people, the interests of the peoples of the region and the interest of world peace and stability.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It is hard to believe that there is now talk going around in vicious circles about the bases and principles of the settlement, which are already known to all of us. It is also hard to believe that strenuous efforts are made to resume negotiations to agree yet again on mechanisms and formulations. Rehashing those old and worn-out subjects is an exercise in futility. We in Egypt realize that the persistence of this conflict inflames passions and minds in the region. The Assembly knows the efforts and sacrifices made by Egypt in order to put a just and comprehensive end to this historic conflict in a manner that serves the interests of all parties. But this issue requires leadership; it requires courage from all parties.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Fourteen years have elapsed since the signing of the first Palestinian-Israeli accord in Oslo. Eleven years ago, Arab States adopted peace as their strategic option to end their conflict with Israel. Five full years have passed since the declaration by the Arab States of their historic initiative regarding their readiness to establish normal peace relations with Israel in return for the latter’s withdrawal from the territories it occupied by force in 1967 and for the just settlement of the Palestinian question. It has also been five years since the Palestinians and the Israelis reached a number of agreed points and memorandums that come very close to the final settlement of this question. Given all of the above, one would scarcely believe that peace today still seems farther away than it was in the early 1990s.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Any attempt to achieve stability and disseminate peace and security in the world without a serious settlement of the Palestinian question and the Arab- Israeli conflict will not be successful. The opposite is also true. Serious and sustained action to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of that conflict and that question directly serves international peace and security and contributes to the stabilization of the Middle East region. All of us are aware of the importance of Middle East stability for the stability of the world at large. Furthermore, we are duty-bound to continue our work to defuse tensions in Iraq and Lebanon and to stabilize and improve the situation in Darfur. It is hard to believe that sixteen years have already passed since the convening of the historic Madrid Peace Conference between the Arabs and Israel.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Despite the importance of the other questions, and even though we are fully aware of the answers thereto, we prefer to leave aside these questions and to let the historians and scholars probe them, detect any errors and assign historical responsibility to each party. But in truth the more urgent task is to get back on course by finding a way out of the dark tunnel we have been forced into. In our opinion, the right way to proceed is to go back to where we should have started from in the first place and to address directly and effectively the chronic conflicts, foremost among them being the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core issue, the Palestinian question.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“This came as no surprise to us, since the objective was regrettably lost. We all stood stunned and flabbergasted before the events that were unfolding in this region and the world. How could we have been diverted from our goal? How could it be that our world was dragged down almost to the level of a clash between civilizations, cultures and religions? Why are some attempting to thrust the holy religion of Islam into the labyrinth of a limitless clash with the West, a clash that serves no one’s interests? To the contrary, it causes everyone grievous harm. Here comes the question: what can we, the national people of the world, do to get back on course? In all honesty, I must tell you that this last question is our main concern in the Middle East.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We failed as an international community to maintain the huge momentum generated in this very Hall in September 2001, that momentum which found expression in our resolve to work together to defuse tensions in our region as a step towards the settlement of its chronic political conflicts. Regrettably, narrow-minded, domestic political agendas have been imposed by some, and unwise objectives have replaced the lofty ones that we had planned to achieve. Instead of focusing on the eradication of the hotbeds of international terrorism hotbeds which were not numerous six years ago we lost sight of our main goal and vision. The eradication of international terrorism was no longer the goal but instead became a loose phrase. There was oppression, torture and humiliation, and, on the other side, more violence, resistance and atrocities.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Those conflicts fuel people’s sense of injustice and despair and push them into the ranks of those who espouse dark extremist ideas that consider violence as the only means of operation and even sometimes as an end in itself. We were all prepared for action. There was a widespread belief in the Middle East region that major breakthroughs were imminent, that the successful containment and eradication of international terrorism would take place not only through security operations but also through concurrent actions of equal importance aimed at draining its intellectual resources and freezing its human and financial assets. However, we seem to have gone astray during those six years. Our objectives were fragmented, and our energies were scattered.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Six years ago, in September 2001, we, the representatives of the international community, stood united and in solidarity in the face of international terrorism. In all our languages, faiths and cultures, we expressed our condemnation of any terrorist act that targets innocent civilians. We denounced and deplored such acts, then resolved to work seriously to combat this grave and alarming phenomenon. We agreed to work earnestly, not only to deal with terrorism from a security perspective, but also to achieve long-awaited breakthroughs in the old crises and conflicts, which because of their complexity and longevity have overwhelmed the desperate and the hopeless in our particular region.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Let us cast aside our differences and be real partners. In conclusion, allow me to convey our sincere congratulations to you, Madam, on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- first session. We are confident that, as the first Arab woman to assume that high position, you will meet with resounding success. In that respect, allow us also to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to your predecessor, Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, for his skilful leadership of our work.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The call to disseminate democratic practices and good governance among the States of the world will be heeded only if coupled with the clear commitment of all States to applying those concepts in a multilateral framework and at the international level. It will be valid only if accompanied by a reaffirmation of the principles of partnership, the sharing of burdens and responsibilities, equality of rights and duties, and, above all, participation on an equal footing in defining options and in decision-making at the international level. Let us work together to strengthen the principles of democracy in an international multilateral setting. Let us make dialogue and mutual respect the language of our discourse. Let us give lofty human ideals and the common good precedence over narrow selfish interests.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In our opinion, efforts must focus on creating conditions conducive to the success of the Darfur Peace Agreement as the political framework agreed upon by the main parties. That will require the launching and strengthening of the Darfur-Darfur dialogue in order to create a consensus on the Peace Agreement and to convince the parties that have not yet signed it to do so. In addition, there is a need to encourage the Sudanese Government to carry out its commitments on the development and reconstruction of the Darfur region. If the United Nations is to continue to play the role entrusted to it, we must display a sense of collective responsibility based on a strong resolve to make the Organization an inclusive framework for common international efforts to deal promptly and effectively with regional and global issues and problems.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“There is now a need to build upon this cornerstone in order to create an effective political framework that would move the parties towards the objective desired by the international community as a whole — namely, the establishment of a comprehensive peace that would put an end to occupation and strife in this part of the world. Egypt has closely followed the developments in the Darfur crisis since its inception. It is one of the troop- contributing countries to the African Union observer mission in Darfur. Egypt participated actively in the Abuja talks and has provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur. There is no doubt that the international community bears a major share of the responsibility for reaching a swift and just solution to that problem.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Yet, the road map remains a cornerstone for the achievement of peace in the region, since it establishes the principles of peaceful co- existence between Israel and Palestine and determines the general parameters of the final settlement between Israel, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon — namely, an end to the occupation that started in 1967, implementation of the international resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict, and implementation of the Arab peace initiative that would ensure security, peace and recognition for Israel by its Arab neighbours in return for Israel’s ending its occupation of the Arab territories and working out acceptable solutions for other pending issues.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Experience has proven time and again that the success of security measures will remain limited and fragile if they are not made part of a wider political framework that would ensure the basic rights of the parties and encourage them to make the difficult decisions necessary for the improvement of the security situation. The Quartet has drawn up a road map for peace. It was accepted by the parties and the States of the region. It was endorsed by resolution 1515 (2003) of the Security Council. It was hoped that it would constitute the political framework to which I referred earlier. However, this did not happen, for reasons that I will not list here.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In this context, Egypt is exerting efforts to improve the security situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis through direct engagement with both parties, with the aim of calming the situation, putting an end to all acts of violence, killing and destruction and encouraging confidence-building measures between the Palestinians and the Israelis aimed at resuming dialogue and negotiations. At the same time, Egypt seeks to resume progress on the three tracks of the settlement of the Arab Israeli conflict. This is the main objective of the peace process, which has regrettably been stalled for years. The deterioration in the security 43 06-53005 situation must not make us lose sight of that objective.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In it, political, historical and religious dimensions have fermented into a combustible mix that carries the seeds of a conflagration that could go beyond the region and reflect negatively on stability and relations between the various cultures and faiths in the world. Hence the importance for all of us, citizens of the region and members of the international community, to act in concert to reach an immediate, just and comprehensive solution to this conflict. In its endeavours to achieve comprehensive peace between the Arab world and Israel, Egypt precedes from a realistic vision of the events on the ground.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It has also proven that the solution lies in ending the occupation and in negotiating a just political settlement that will eliminate the feelings of enmity and replace them with relations of cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Undoubtedly, Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), after having been amended to take into consideration the Arab point of view, thanks to the efforts of the Arab delegation mandated by the League of Arab States to New York, is a step in the right direction. However, this step will remain incomplete and will not enjoy the success required unless it deals with the core of the problem in the region — namely, the Arab Israeli conflict. The Arab-Israeli conflict has squandered the resources and lives of the people of the Middle East for many decades.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Despite Egypt’s repeated warnings against following the path of escalation and confrontation, the huge loss of life and property incurred as a result of the war between Israel and Lebanon has gone beyond all limits. Lebanon has suffered the total devastation of its infrastructure and the indiscriminate killing of hundreds of innocent civilians, including children, as the result of actions that contravene the United Nations Charter and the basic rules of international law and relevant international humanitarian law. And, despite the fact that the Israeli war against Lebanon caused untold devastation, it has proven that military might, however great, will never be able to impose a political solution.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Together, we must work to increase the ability of the collective security regime to deal swiftly with international problems. We must stand up to the arrogance of power of some so that we can protect the rights and future of other countries and peoples. We must also face resolutely any attempts to impose temporary solutions through unilateral actions or military solutions that might result in transient victories that lack justice and a comprehensive vision. Such actions only scratch the surface of the problems without delving into the root causes. They lead to the exacerbation of problems by fanning the flames of hatred and rejection. This, in turn, feeds terrorism and extremism and leads those who despair of the justice of the international system to rebel against the will of the international community.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Together, we should chart the course aimed at upholding the values of democracy, justice and respect for law in international relations. We must move resolutely towards the consolidation of those values in the international community, in view of the fact that they constitute the real, solid foundations of international peace and security. With the same constructive spirit that prevailed in our work last year, together with a balanced mixture of realism and ambition, and without the imposition of impractical time frames or the acceptance of temporary measures, we must proceed towards the achievement of further reform and the strengthening of the effectiveness of the United Nations. We must commit to preserving both the principle of consensus and the intergovernmental character of the Organization.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Last, but not least, the negotiations on the reform of the Organization have proven that some believe that the international collective security regime was established to enable those who posses the military 06-53005 42 might to impose political settlements under international protection. While the great majority believes that the lessons of history, most recently in Lebanon, have proven that military might cannot and will not impose a political settlement. Such settlements must be reached through negotiations alone. The aforementioned are some of the main elements that set our positions farther apart during the past year. We must take these elements as a basis for determining the premise of our work during this session. We must develop a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the performance of our Organization.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Notwithstanding the increase in the number of victims of terrorist operations, there is an increased tendency to deal with terrorism through military force alone, while ignoring its root causes. Some have made it their mission to rid the world of the evils of terrorism as they themselves define it. They ignore the international collective work to conclude a comprehensive convention on terrorism and to implement effectively the General Assembly Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a manner that strikes a balance between the respective roles of the General Assembly and the Security Council.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Not only does the maintenance of the existing nuclear arsenals jeopardize the credibility of the NPT, it also threatens humanity with total destruction and annihilation. Our peoples have a keen interest in the achievement of a larger measure of democracy, human rights and political reform. However, we now can see that some seek to impose these concepts by military force, based on their assumption that their principles, values and cultures are superior and stronger and thus worthy of being imposed on others. At the same time, the overwhelming majority believe that democracy and human rights are based on culture-specific values and standards that emanate from their respective societies. They simply cannot be imposed from outside.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Last year was the sixtieth anniversary of the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Astonishingly, some States continue to believe that their might and dominance are based on their — and their allies’ — continued possession of nuclear arsenals. These States believe in the need to exercise strict control and supervision of other States and to apply restrictions on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At the same time, the great majority of Member States believe that their commitment under the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) not to produce nuclear weapons was made on the basis of a corresponding commitment by the nuclear-weapons States to eliminate nuclear weapons under international supervision within a specific time frame and to achieve the universality of the Treaty.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Indeed, the Assembly has the right to withdraw the prerogatives of the Security Council, should it fail to discharge its charter-mandated responsibilities or if the narrow political interests of one of the parties to a conflict prevent the Council from fulfilling its task. This is a time when the international arena has witnessed a growing tendency to misuse official development assistance (ODA) by imposing conditions on the national priorities of developing countries without any regard to the agreements reached in the relevant United Nations conferences and summits. At the same time, the overwhelming majority continues to believe that development is a human right and that development assistance, along with the transfer of technology, is an obligation for developed countries.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Those States are robbing the others of most of their competencies and deal with them in any way they see fit, without oversight, even if that leads to the failure of the Council to discharge its responsibilities to prevent the killing of the innocent or the perpetration of crimes of genocide and other crimes against humanity. This insistence by a small number of States runs counter to the view of the majority of Member States, which believe that the General Assembly is the inclusive democratic forum that brings the Members of the Organization together. It is the Assembly that mandated the Council to bear the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Assembly alone has the right of oversight and review of the work of all the organs of the Organization.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“That was manifest in a number of attitudes that have left visible marks on the international environment. There is a widening gap between, on the one hand, those who pay the larger share of the budget of the Organization and believe that their contributions entitle them to a larger say in the conduct of its work, and on the other hand the developing countries, which pay their fair share as established by the methodology and criteria adopted by the General Assembly and believe that the Organization must remain the international forum of democracy, equality and good governance on the international level, as embodied in the principle of “one State, one vote”. Some States, with increasing insistence, believe that the Security Council must hold the fate of the Organization in its hands, taking precedence over its other main organs.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Those contradictions require us to study in depth the extent to which the United Nations has succeeded in strengthening international understanding and consensus when dealing with the threats and challenges that face humanity. The current complex situation and recent events make it incumbent upon us to draw on past experience to strengthen the role of the Organization in achieving the noble purposes and principles for which it was founded. The negotiations preceding the adoption of the 2005 Summit Outcome Document and the subsequent negotiations on its implementation have made it clear that the visions of the North and the South with regard to the future of the United Nations and the nature of its 41 06-53005 role in the current and coming phases have become more divergent than before.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)