YouSaid · the spoken record

Amre Moussa

lines on the record: 220
first: 1994-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
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 applies also to the numerous efforts made to achieve national reconciliation in Somalia, the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol in Angola and the settlement plan in Western Sahara. We hope that the parties concerned will benefit from these historic opportunities, so that stability will prevail in Africa and so that international support for these efforts will continue, particularly in terms of post-conflict rehabilitation and socio-economic reconstruction. In this context, I should like to draw attention to the gravity of the continued deterioration of the socio- economic situation in the African continent, which includes two-thirds of the world’s least-developed countries; one-third of its population is facing starvation.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The countries and the leaders of the Great Lakes region, particularly former President Nyerere, have played a laudable collective role in reconciliation, dealing with the question of refugees and the rampant ethnic rivalries in the region. Serious efforts were also made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to settle the Liberian problem, particularly by Nigeria, which has made continuing efforts during its current chairmanship of that subregional group. We commend the efforts made by Ghana during its chairmanship of ECOWAS over the past two years. We call on the international community, and the United Nations in particular, to support all of these efforts and to provide the necessary means for their success.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Last year we expressed our extreme dismay at the situation in this important region; today we reiterate this, and stress the need for the Security Council to discharge its responsibilities to avert the recurrence of Rwanda’s tragedy in Burundi. There is, however, a positive element that we hope will not be lost in the disappointment over the deteriorating situation in Africa: the efforts of the OAU, which have started to take shape within an institutional framework that we hope will be successful. This was embodied in the establishment of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, which will play a role in resolving the problems of the continent.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In view of our keen interest in averting an escalation of the problem and in expediting the attainment of an early settlement, we support the efforts and initiatives made by the League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Non-Aligned Movement, and call for a positive response to those efforts and initiatives. Moving from the Middle East to Africa, we find stories of success and of failure — pictures both bleak and bright. While our sister country Rwanda has restored its stability and launched its reconstruction and development, its neighbour, our sister Burundi, is an example of the real turmoil which is affecting the entire Great Lakes region.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“20 Sixthly, the policy of intervention and the attempts to manipulate ethnic and religious minorities to destabilize other neighbouring countries cannot help to establish stability in the Gulf region or the wider region of the Middle East, or help ensure the interests of any of the parties concerned, in addition to its being a flagrant violation of the rules of international conduct. Before leaving the issue of the Middle East, I would like to refer to the dispute between Libya and some Western countries, a dispute to which we attach particular importance because of its repercussions for the region as well as the damage and suffering it inflicts on our brothers, the people of Libya, on the economies of the neighbouring countries and on the stability of the region in general.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Fourthly, compromising territorial integrity and the unity of Iraq is not only a breach of international law but will open the door to major repercussions undermining regional stability and threatening the interests of neighbouring countries. Fifthly, the withdrawal of Iran from the three islands of the United Arab Emirates — Abu Musa, Tunb as Sughra and Tunb al Kubra — is a sine qua non condition for defusing another hotbed of tension. The Arab call to Iran to settle amicably any territorial claims to those islands is still valid.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“First, strict compliance with Security Council resolutions on Iraq, without fail or divergences, is the only way to guarantee the end of the crisis that erupted in August 1990. Secondly, the use of force cannot restore rights or rectify wrongs. Thus, the rights of the Iraqi people, the maintenance of its unity and respect for the rights and well-being of Iraqis, whether Arabs or Kurds, will remain the major concern of all of us. We are equally concerned with safeguarding the rights of the people of Kuwait and the return of detainees and property. Thirdly, the memorandum of understanding on the oil-for-food resolution, which was reached after arduous negotiations, must be put into effect without any further delay to alleviate the suffering of our brothers, the Iraqi people.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Egypt takes the initiative for peace, seeks prosperity, prompts enlightenment and is steadfastly involved in advancing the march of progress. Egypt therefore empathizes with the agony of the region and the repercussions of developments there. While peace in the Middle East is at a crucial stage, the Gulf region, which is part of the Middle East, is also undergoing a number of unfavourable developments. The stability of the Gulf region is, for more than one reason, linked to the ultimate interests of Egypt and its security. In particular, it is an area endowed with a potential and with characteristics that make its stability and security a matter of significance to all Powers concerned with international peace and security. The result of our review of the succession of events in this area leads us to several conclusions.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The peace that we aspire to is a balanced Arab-Israeli peace that reciprocates right for right, security for security, and commitment for commitment. A just and comprehensive peace is the cornerstone of stability in the Middle East. Despite the unpropitious attitude of the new Israeli Government to the peace process, right alone will eventually prevail. Peace will impose itself, propelled by the desire of the peoples of the region, including the people of Israel, to live in genuine peace, cooperation and stability. Egypt, whose people contributed to laying the foundations of human civilization, has for centuries accepted and continues to accept the imperatives of geography and history, which give Egypt special responsibilities for the affairs of our region and beyond.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“That can be achieved only by making serious endeavours on all peace tracks, in terms of both negotiation and implementation. We are making this declaration before the entire international community, so that every party will discharge its responsibilities and honour its commitments. If they do not, the balance will be disturbed and the issue will become meaningless. Peace in the Middle East is contingent upon justice, balance and honesty in negotiating and addressing the needs of peoples. From this stems the open Egyptian diplomacy that regards the current situation as a matter of utmost seriousness. We once again reiterate that Egypt rejects any measure that results in an unbalanced peace that satisfies the interests of one party at the expense of another.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This state of affairs threatens peace, its framework and all that is associated with it, including regional cooperation, which can prosper only in an atmosphere of peace and hope for the future. We therefore call upon Israel to return to the fundamental framework of peace in accordance with the agreements concluded, the terms of reference established and the principles approved. While Egypt is in favour of holding the third Economic Summit as scheduled — like others, we have a great deal to contribute in the fields of economic reform, investment and development — we call upon the sponsors of the peace process, especially the United States, to strive to create the conditions that could lead to the successful convening of the Summit.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Regional cooperation is inseparable from the establishment of peace: peace is its essence and 19 its framework. Two sessions of the Middle East-North Africa Economic Summit have been held, in Casablanca and in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Both were held in an atmosphere of optimism that the peace process would succeed. Indeed, there have been some successes, such as the signing of the interim agreement between Israel and Palestine, and the holding of direct negotiations between Syria and Israel. They took place against the background of a receding settlement policy and continuous discussion about peace and its objectives. However, today we see the exact opposite.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Egypt calls upon the permanent members of the Security Council and the depositary States of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which sponsored and adopted the resolution on the Middle East during the Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to take specific steps to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East in accordance with the Egyptian initiative, which has enjoyed the consensus of all the States concerned since 1980. While Egypt stresses the fact that arms control and regional security constitute one of the pillars of peace and stability in the Middle East, it also believes that economic and regional cooperation under a just peace constitutes another such pillar.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We believe that it has, indeed, led to a reaction by a number of countries in the region to this serious escalation, at a time when we are all talking of peace. Given this fact — or, rather, to avoid its consequences — Egypt proposes the initiation of effective negotiations to establish a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. President Hosni Mubarak has been making such a proposal since April 1990.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Peace in the Middle East will not be comprehensive or lasting until a strict regime for regional security is established, based on arrangements that provide equal security for all parties with minimum levels of armament. The region must be totally free from all weapons of mass destruction — nuclear, chemical and biological — and their delivery systems. Peace and security cannot survive in the presence of any instability in the balance of power or serious discrepancy in the rights and obligations of the countries of the region. Furthermore, we are closely watching the huge Israeli arsenal, which includes weapons of mass destruction, missiles and anti-missile weapons. We wonder about the rationale behind it.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The negotiations should resume at the point at which they stopped, which is fair, and in accordance with the Madrid framework and the principle of “land for peace“, which is right. From this rostrum, Egypt calls for the resumption of these negotiations. Israel must refrain from pursuing policies and formulations that may be interpreted as squandering years of negotiations and that constitute a regression from principles that have become an integral part of the rules for peaceful work in the region and are backed by international legality and supported by broad international consensus. On the Lebanese track, we call for the implementation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanon, to which Israeli officials have repeatedly stated they have no territorial claim.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Israel is called upon to desist from its settlement policy, including the expansion of settlements, and to end its policies of closing territories and besieging the Palestinian people. It is called upon to honour its commitments, redeploy its troops outside Hebron and resume without further delay the final status negotiations. Israel is also called upon to put an end to its practices in Al-Quds, a city where any rights that could be claimed by Israel are outweighed by Arab rights, which are more ancient, legitimate and authentic than any Israeli claim to the city. On the Syrian track, I can say in all honesty and with full confidence that Syria is ready to resume the negotiations suspended last February at Israel’s request.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We are interested not in handshakes or wide smiles for photo opportunities, but rather in substantive developments. Thus, what is required and what we should all strive for is the implementation of commitments, serious negotiation and time well spent. We call upon the entire world to follow up the matter with us with full vigilance and to allow neither retrogression nor the manipulation of very sensitive and serious matters, namely, the establishment of a permanent contractual peace between Palestine and Israel that fulfils the national aspirations of the Palestinian people and culminates in their exercise of their right to self- determination under international supervision and the establishment of a Palestinian State. This peace must also achieve security for Israel and all parties on an equal footing.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The Arab leaders also emphasized that a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East can be achieved only through a resolution of the questions of Al-Quds and the Palestinian refugees on the basis of their rights of return and to compensation, in accordance with international legality and United Nations resolutions. 18 A short while ago, the new Israeli Prime Minister met with the Palestinian President. Undoubtedly, their meeting represents progress towards their mutual recognition as partners on an equal footing in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. In theory, the peace process should proceed to implement the commitments made under the Oslo Accords in accordance with the agreed timetable, but that has not yet happened.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In such a case, the Israeli Government alone would assume full responsibility. The Arab leaders emphasized that there would be no recognition or acceptance of any situation resulting from Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Arab territories, since the settlements are considered an illegal measure that entails no rights and establishes no obligations. The establishment of settlements and the bringing in of settlers violate international law and the Madrid framework and impede the peace process, which requires Israel to halt all settlement activities in the occupied territories.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This Arab position requires a corresponding commitment, seriously and unequivocally undertaken by Israel, to abide by the principles agreed upon at the Madrid Conference, particularly the “land for peace” principle and the assurances provided to the parties. The Arab leaders stressed that any breach by Israel of these principles or of the bases in which the peace process is anchored; any reneging on the commitments, undertakings or agreements made in the framework of this process; or any procrastination in their implementation would set back the peace process, with all the risks and repercussions involved. This could replunge the region into an atmosphere of tension and would force all Arab countries to reconsider the steps taken vis-à-vis Israel within the framework of the peace process.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This position has threatened a return to the language, concepts, policies and even practices that were on the eve of extinction in the region. Thus, action on all peace tracks was deadlocked and the peace process stagnated. This prompted Egypt, which initiated that process and believes in a just and balanced Arab-Israeli peace, to intensify efforts to rectify the situation and consolidate the fundamentals of this process, first among which is the “land for peace” principle. In this context, I would like to put forward the Arab position as contained in the final communiqué of the summit held in Cairo last June. The attending Arab leaders unanimously expressed their keen interest in the continuation of the process of making a just and comprehensive peace an Arab strategic option under international legality.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We were disturbed by the events in Bosnia, where United Nations “safe areas” had been overrun and innocent people had lost their lives in despicable ethnic strife. However, we were optimistic at that time about developments in the Middle East. The Interim Agreement had been signed between President Yasser Arafat and the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, and described as an important step on the path to finding a solution to the question of Palestine. Has the situation changed or evolved for the better? Let us look into last year’s developments in that region. In recent months, the Middle East has undergone a crisis that has almost stifled the peace process, a crisis resulting from the reluctance of the Israeli Government to act in keeping with the agreed fundamentals of peace.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The Declaration contained a clear conceptual framework for global action on the basis of the priorities upon which we all agreed: peace based on the principles and provisions of the Charter and supported by an effective regime of collective security; development in all its aspects in the social and economic fields; sovereign equality among States and respect for peoples’ rights; and justice in addressing the various issues on the international agenda. Egypt deems it necessary to translate these noble principles into clear programmes of action that take into consideration the interests of all without discrimination. When we met here last year to celebrate the United Nations fiftieth anniversary, we were dismayed by the events in the Great Lakes region in Africa, where horrendous massacres had left a painful humanitarian legacy.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We call on the Secretary-General to pursue this approach, which allows the United Nations to stand out in a distinctive and positive way in a world of growing negativity. A strengthened role, reform and enhanced efficiency are our common objectives for the United Nations. The historic Declaration issued last year by the Heads of State and Government on the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations constitutes a cornerstone for the future work of the Organization.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“An in-depth reading of the Secretary-General’s reports on political, 17 economic and social situations in the world reassures us of this role and we urge that it be upheld, because it addresses the present and explores the prospects for the future through global understanding. The Secretary-General’s role in developing a rational basis for worldwide development activities has succeeded in focusing attention on the issues of our times through a series of conferences held over the past five years on the environment, human rights, population, social development, women and human settlements. These represent important reference points for global action based on international consensus in dealing with problems that were once marginal but are today substantial.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We are also aware that the United Nations, in its current culture, may not be able, one way or another, to deal with future challenges. However, this must be a subject for discussion to build consensus among us, not a matter to be determined by a few or to be decided unilaterally. For these reasons, it is imperative to strive collectively to build a common political will to strengthen the United Nations, to enhance its effectiveness and to restore its credibility in order to maintain world stability and security. The annals of this Organization abound with historical achievements and it continues to make progress in dealing with the problems of our world.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It would have been more logical to call for the strengthening of this Organization, so that it could perform its role in achieving these objectives in a truly democratic manner, with the participation of all the countries of the world with their diverse cultures, societies, sizes, orientations and achievements. This is particularly true since the United Nations Charter, in our view — a view shared by many others — still represents a major instrument governing international life, and since any international order, be it old or new, must be based on a solid foundation that respects rights, determines obligations and opens the door to an era of interaction among societies on the basis of acceptance and understanding, not imposition or oppression. We are definitely aware that the challenges of tomorrow are different from those of yesterday.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The lack of common understanding among world cultures and civilizations is still present. This has caused discord in world thinking and created mutual suspicions that not only pose an overwhelming threat, jeopardizing the march of political progress and the activities of economic development as well as the fabric of social development, but also have raised questions as to whether the benefits of science and technology lead to world security and stability, or quite the opposite. In connection with contemporary international politics, it is really most alarming that attempts are being made to marginalize the United Nations at a time when the world is in need of further understanding, better coordination and accelerated interdependence.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Ambitions of leadership overlap practices of hegemony. This has created a serious conceptual confusion which the international order, in its current form, cannot address in an effective or deterring manner. Indeed, this order, due to its obvious double standards, might have contributed to the intensification of the era’s negative aspects at the expense of its positive aspects and gains. Certainly, the logic of evolution and the rules of transformation indicate that the stages of change carry within them a potential risk as well as elements of rivalry, unless an objective and conducive environment exists, accompanied by a forward-looking vision and a set of highly advanced values that are crystallized through coordinated and concerted efforts. This is precisely what did not happen. The dichotomy between the North and the South is widening.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This session is being held amid a very sensitive and delicate international situation which is generally characterized by political and socio-economic concerns. This is particularly evident all over the developing world, which is overpopulated and simultaneously overburdened with problems of backwardness and the challenges of development. The hopes that were raised with the end of the cold war, heralding the advent of a new era in which cooperation and détente would prevail, soon were shattered in the midst of these problems and these concerns. We are currently facing conflicting phenomena, where elements of complementarity and integration coincide with tendencies towards division and disunity. The technology and communications revolution runs parallel to the eruption of national conflicts and ethnic animosities.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We call on the United Nations not only to contribute to but to lead the process of formulating the new concepts and ideas required to lay the foundations of the new international order and the relations between the North and the South, particularly in the area of social development. This requires an overall process of rationalization, as indicated by the Secretary-General. In 22 his current report on the work of the Organization he refers to "the common misperception of the United Nations as an organization dedicated primarily to peace-keeping." (A/49/1, para. 1) He states that economic and social questions should be at the forefront of United Nations efforts. That is what should happen.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Recent international developments have highlighted the strong link between peace, stability and development. Global stability cannot be achieved without balanced and sustainable development. The existing structural imbalances in international economic relations will continue to cause the social turmoil and conflicts that turn under our eyes to disputes which threaten international peace and security. On its new journey - starting in New York, moving on to Rio de Janeiro and Vienna, passing through Cairo to be continued in Copenhagen and Beijing - the United Nations has proved that it remains the global umbrella under which different ideas and positions interact.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“One of those countries is Egypt, which has made significant contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security in all the political, economic and social fields, and which continues to contribute to the cause of peace and prosperity at the regional level and in the context of its various affiliations. Economic clout has become the principal tool of competition and the determining factor in the distribution of power and influence on the political and economic map of the globe. At the same time, social development has become a goal which we all pursue and technological development has become a prerequisite of economic progress and social advancement. It is a challenge that must be faced by those who aspire to progress and development.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“We should not pursue our work in this regard under pressure of time or on the assumption that consideration of the matter must be concluded by the time designated for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. Finally, it must be emphasized that rational restructuring is infinitely preferable to what might result from a hasty decision that may please some States, upset the overwhelming majority of States that suffer from lack of representation in the Security Council and put the Council itself in a position of extreme lack of credibility. In this regard, I wish to state that a number of countries are eligible for membership of the Security Council in accordance with the criteria to which I have referred.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“First, it must be carried out on a regional basis, not on a specific-country basis. Secondly, the new seats - and there may be two additional ones each for Latin America, Asia and Africa - must be allocated on the basis of the criteria stipulated in the Charter. Thirdly, it is not essential at this stage to specify the two States from each region that are to occupy the additional seats. The principle of rotation could be applied to several States satisfying the criteria agreed upon, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region. Fourthly, agreement must be reached simultaneously on a number of issues concerning reform of the Council’s working methods and procedures and the need to increase its transparency. Fifthly, the framework within which the right of veto is used should be reviewed and defined.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Such efforts will never rise to the level of expectations unless they are preceded by an effort to reform our thinking, to bring it into line with the changes in the international situation and thereby to translate the new collective vision into a concrete programme of action that would be based on genuine consensus and that would afford us a real opportunity to ensure the stability of international relations. In this context, it is needless to point out that such a process of thought reform as the one I have just referred to must impact on our efforts as we embark on the process of restructuring the United Nations and, in particular, of reforming the Security Council with its extensive competence. We must emphasize several points regarding the process of reforming the work of the Security Council.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Those new lines of confrontation would be ruled by economic 21 and developmental criteria and considerations that may ring down a curtain thick enough to separate the North from the South, deepen disagreement between them, and give rise to a situation inconsistent with the interdependence and cohesion of the present era. In this connection, I refer to demands of the developing countries voiced during the meeting held in Cairo this summer under the umbrella of the Non-Aligned Movement. The celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations coincides with the flagging of initiatives and proposals for the restructuring of the Organization’s mechanisms.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Today, as we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations, we feel that all nations, industrial and developing alike, must contribute to the development of a common vision of the new world order - a vision that will consolidate the foundations of our common future on the principles of democracy, humanity and equality, arrived at through consensus by all members of the international community. We wish to make it clear that any attempt to marginalize the role of the developing countries in formulating the global vision for the coming era would involve the risk of drawing new lines of confrontation in place of those that existed during the cold war.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Egypt, as a country contributing troops to the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), reiterates that the purpose of the presence of these troops is to provide genuine protection for those areas until such time as the Bosnian armed forces would be in a position to undertake the task of defending their territory. The withdrawal of UNPROFOR while the power vacuum continues - an idea that is being floated - would be a further step towards handing the protected areas to the aggressors, who have the necessary power to control them. This would certainly have negative implications for international relations as a whole. We are at a unique juncture in history: our generation has been afforded an opportunity to lay the foundations of a new era.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“It would have been more useful if the Council had given priority to a review of the extent of the implementation of its many previous resolutions, adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter. Those resolutions contain provisions and requirements that should have been implemented prior to any consideration of the easing or reviewing of sanctions. The rules of international justice should not be twisted to reward the aggressor for mere promises that lack credibility or effectiveness. Moreover, the effectiveness of the observers currently deployed on the Bosnian-Yugoslav border is highly questionable. Indeed, in our view, they are ineffective and insufficient.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Frankly speaking, we believe that lifting or easing the sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - Serbia and Montenegro - without deploying credible and capable international observers along its borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina or securing its recognition of Bosnia as a sovereign State amounts to a negative development that is bound to hinder a just settlement, that bespeaks acquiescence in considerations that run counter to the norms of justice and is tantamount to surrender to the policies of aggression and racism. A few days ago, the Security Council adopted a rather hasty resolution easing the sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - Serbia and Montenegro.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“We call for the intensification of efforts to achieve peace in order that the Lusaka Conference may succeed and for the full implementation of the peace agreement, as well as Security Council resolutions 864 (1993) and 932 (1994). We also strongly urge UNITA to show its goodwill by negotiating constructively to reach a peace agreement without delay. It was our hope that a just solution to the Bosnian crisis would be found before the commencement of this session. Unfortunately, the painful reality is that the crisis is still with us. While we accept the position of the Contact Group in its proposal of the peace plan which has been accepted by the Bosnian Government regardless of its shortcomings, yet we demand the most basic level of rationality and justice in managing this crisis.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“We are of the view that it is unacceptable and unwarranted that the major Powers should impose a certain solution or a particular leader in Somalia. At the same time, we cannot wash our hands of this problem. There is still an obligation on the part of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States to assist in achieving a just settlement to the crisis. From Somalia we turn to Angola, in which recent developments indicate a glimmer of hope that a final and peaceful solution may be close at hand. Egypt welcomes the official acceptance by the Government of Angola of the proposals concerning national reconciliation.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“20 As regards Somalia, the tragedy is still unfolding, despite strenuous African and international efforts to achieve national reconciliation between the warring Somali factions. The crisis remains elusive owing to tribal rivalries and self-centered interests. The persistence of this situation has further frustrated the international community, to the extent that a number of States have decided to withdraw their troops from the peace-keeping operation or to call for the complete termination of the United Nations Operation in Somalia. We are fully aware of the motives that have led to such decisions and proposals, and we emphasize that the responsibility for putting an end to the current deteriorating situation in Somalia and for reaching a solution to the crisis rests essentially with the leaders of the warring factions.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“We are fully aware of the high priority of this problem to Africa’s present and future generations. This will be the subject of a special meeting of African foreign ministers soon to be held in Cairo. The African continent’s share of human tragedies has been abundant enough, as demonstrated by the horrendous events in Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda. While Africa reaffirms its principal responsibility to deal with such sorrowful events by providing the necessary troops to undertake peace-keeping and peace-building operations, experience has shown that the humanitarian, political and economic dimensions of such events require a positive contribution by the entire international community, primarily within the context of the United Nations. Such contribution has been forthcoming and represents a unique international and regional solidarity.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“This is a development that contributes to the international efforts deployed in that area. It also complements the role of the United Nations within the framework of the principles and objectives of the Charter. Over the same period, Africa has also witnessed the entry into force of the convention establishing the African Economic Community. This represents a significant step by the African continent towards the realization of economic integration, which will enable it to deal with the new international economic realities and to face up to the potential consequences of international economic developments that may not be entirely in the interests of the African States. Moreover, we in Africa are currently studying, in all earnestness, the social and economic situation in the continent.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“With the same strength and clarity, Egypt supports the right of the Sudanese people to a tranquil and stable life that would afford them the opportunity to look to the future. In this framework, Sudan has a well-known history of tolerance and cordial relations amongst its people and with all its neighbours and brethren. There is no doubt that Sudan’s implementation of policies in this direction would ensure a change in the strained relations in that region. During Egypt’s chairmanship of the Organization of African Unity, which expired in June, the African continent witnessed a number of important achievements, the most important of which was the success of the organization in creating a mechanism for the prevention, management and resolution of African conflicts.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“An objective view of the problem confirms the importance of respecting international legality since the trial of persons accused of an international crime is a necessity and the more expeditiously it takes place the better it is for the process of justice. Similarly, in addressing the issues pertaining to its neighbours, we must also mention Sudan, with which we have had very special ties since the dawn of history. Today, Sudan is suffering from a challenge to its sovereignty in the south as well as an impediment to the development and prosperity of its people. In both instances, Egypt stands firmly and clearly in support of the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. We cannot accept its fragmentation or division.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“In this regard, serious work is needed to resolve the problem of the occupied Arab islands in the Gulf. This would represent a positive indication that relations in the region can be conducted on the basis of a positive dialogue dealing with the political tendencies that are a source of concern in various parts of the region. I turn now to Egypt’s closest neighbours in the region. In this connection, I may say that the people and Government of Libya have now the clear political will to put an end to the Libyan-Western crisis concerning Lockerbie by putting the accused on trial and attempting to reach practical solutions for the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)