YouSaid · the spoken record

Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim

lines on the record: 37
first: 2022-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“Egypt adheres to the mandate of the legislative authority pursuant to the constitutional declaration and the 2015 Libyan political agreement of Skhirat in order to lead the Libyan dialogue towards ending the transitional phase in the country. In conclusion, our vision is to restore trust in this multilateral Organization by upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of the international law. and maximizing the role of international organizations, chief among which is the United Nations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt supports a Libyan political solution that is in accordance with the principles of national ownership and moves the country out of the transitional period, with the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible. Egypt also stresses the importance of the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya within a time-bound period. Egypt reiterates its categorical rejection of any bypassing of the legislative role of the Libyan Parliament. We have reservations regarding any alternative solutions that eliminate the role of Libyan legislators.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt supports counterterrorism efforts on our continent. Africa, through a comprehensive approach in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We intend to intensify our efforts during our co-chairmanship of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Cairo has launched a summit for the countries neighbouring the Sudan, with a view to coordinating their efforts to settle the current crisis and to mitigate the humanitarian repercussions thereof. We are also working towards a lasting ceasefire with full respect for the Sudan’s sovereignty and the preservation of State institutions. The Sudan’s neighbouring countries continue their efforts to reach a sustainable political solution.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Currently, we are concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories due to the practices of the occupying forces, which endanger the situation, following the recent summits held in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh. Egypt stresses its position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent State based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with resolutions of international legitimacy. We call on all peace-loving Powers to seize the opportunities available to salvage the two-State solution and achieve a just and comprehensive peace. Egypt is also working towards establishing peace in the Sudan. Libya. Syria and Yemen, according to the principles of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt also gives priority to the principle of citizenship, the fight against discrimination and the protection of religious freedoms. Seventh, the United Nations was created to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to create an Organization based on noble principles. Despite that, the world has. over the past 78 years, witnessed wars and conflicts that have claimed the lives of millions of innocent people. However, that should not make us lose faith in those principles. We must acknowledge the failure in implementing them and in applying policies that contradict those principles. Since we believe in them. Egypt has sought for half a century to be a pillar of stability, security and development. It was the first to make peace in the Middle East.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Most notable among those manifestations was the recent burning of the Holy Quran, as that is a violation of freedom of religion and faith. Laws, policies and programmes must be established to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We commend the recent Danish initiative in that regard. We also believe in the established principles and the responsibility of the State and its institutions and of communities to promote human rights. At the national level. Egypt has made strides in promoting the rights of its citizens, most notably by launching the national human rights strategy, the strategy for the empowerment of Egyptian women and the strategy to combat violence against women. Moreover. Egypt has made tireless efforts to empower youth and persons with disabilities.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We continue to work sincerely with Ethiopia to reach an agreement that takes into consideration the interests of Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia. It would be wrong to believe that we would accept a de facto situation concerning more than 100 million Egyptians. Sixthly, one of the pillars of efforts to reform this international system is enabling it to promote human rights at the political, economic, social and cultural levels, far from politicization and double standards. There is an attempt to impose certain concepts that do not respect cultural and social peculiarities. I wonder: how is one system of values morally superior to others? We warn against the phenomena of racism, xenophobia. Islamophobia and its manifestations, including increased violence and hatred against Muslim communities.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“which was built without consultation, adequate prior analysis or study of the impacts on the riparian States. Ethiopia has gone further by unilaterally filling and operating that dam. thus explicitly violating the principles of international law. the 2015 Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the 2021 Security Council presidential statement (S/PRST/2021/18). Notwithstanding those unilateral practices on the part of our brothers in Ethiopia. Egypt is keen to engage seriously in the current negotiations, which have been ongoing for more than one decade, with a view to reaching a binding agreement on the rules concerning the filling and operating of the Dam that takes into account the interests of all involved.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt is at the top list of arid countries that receive less rain than others in the world. Egypt’s population exceeds 105 million people. That has led to a sharp decrease in the per capita quota of water and an annual water deficit of more than 50 per cent. That compels us to reuse the limited amount of available water more than once and import proxy water in the form of food imports to the tune of nearly $15 billion annually. Egypt depends on the Nile River for 98 per cent of its water and is very vulnerable to any unsustainable use of the river’s water. Here. I would like to stress our unwavering position, which is based on international law. We reject any unilateral measures regarding the management of transboundary water — for example, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I would like to stress that our success relies upon implementing the pledges and existing agreements, especially by establishing a fund that provides financing for developing countries to face losses and damage and the financing necessary to achieve the goal of the 1.5°C limit. Fifthly, our vision for developing this international system should take into consideration newer challenges such as the scarcity of natural resources, including drinking water, which was the lifeline of nearly 1 billion people at the beginning of last century. Today we need an adequate amount of drinking water for approximately 8 billion people. That is why we welcome the outcomes of the historic United Nations 2023 Water Conference. In that regard. I would like to highlight my country’s acute water scarcity.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Moreover, as an international community, we achieved historic progress by securing funds for developing countries to confront climate-change-related losses and damage and established a track towards a just transformation in development. We also focused on the expanded use of renewable energy. As President of COP27. we note that current efforts are not up to the existing challenge. We also note that certain countries have reneged on their responsibilities, while others have even reneged on their pledges in terms of implementing agreed pledges. Some countries have imposed protective measures and fees under the pretext of climate change. Therefore, to achieve success at COP28 in the sisterly United Arab Emirates.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Climate disasters such as devastating floods, deadly hurricanes or continuous drought have become part of our daily life. International reports stress that the world is not on track to address the climate challenge, especially with respect to adequate financing for developing countries to support the implementation of their national pledges. In that regard, given Egypt’s conviction of the importance of moving from planning to implementation, we succeeded, at the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh. in mobilizing international consensus to achieve climate justice. We reached balanced decisions there, based on the agreed responsibilities and principles as per the Convention and the Paris Agreement.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“then we should take immediate steps to prevent global debt crises that not only exacerbate the weak economies of poor countries and increase challenges for developing economies but will cause a greater global economic crisis. We must, therefore, take immediate steps to address that crisis by way of creating sustainable and comprehensive mechanisms to address the debts of low- and middle-income countries. We must also address the increase in the debt burden and complexity of its global structure while changing patterns of indebtedness, promoting cooperation with development partners for debt exchange and establishing development projects. That will eventually transform the challenges of debt into an opportunity for a just transition to a green economy. Fourthly, the world is facing the existential threat of climate change.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“That requires establishing effective and innovative financing tools and promoting existing financing tools, including special drawing rights of the International Monetary Fund. That also calls on us to look into the best ways of allocating them, in addition to modifying the practices of multilateral development banks in order to realize three goals: increasing the amount of funds; providing funds from different sources and tools such as concessional loans and grants; and improving developing countries’ access to those development banks for achieving development in line with the national priorities of those countries. It is high time to reform the World Trade Organization and to consolidate its centrality in maximizing the returns of the rules-based multilateral trading system. If we wish to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Thirdly, we are in dire need of restoring trust in the economic tools of the global system, with a view to enabling it to address the urgent development aspirations of peoples. The best way to prevent conflicts is through comprehensive and sustainable development. That makes it incumbent upon us to uphold the role of international organizations in supporting developing countries in facing ongoing international crises and promoting resilience against international future crises. In that regard, it is essential that the international community synergize its efforts, take constructive steps to reform the current global financial structure and develop the current international financial system in such a way as to enable developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt and the African countries insist on the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, with a view to undoing the historic injustice done to our continent by expanding the African representation in the Security Council and securing two permanent seats for Africa with full prerogatives. Egypt has also supported the joint action mechanisms among developing countries and was at the forefront of efforts to found the groupings of those countries. We look forward to playing an active role through our new membership in the BRICS group — Brazil. Russia. India. China and South Africa — advocating for the interests and aspirations of 30 per cent of the global economy in the countries of the South that have the human wealth of young people to offer.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Egypt has taken active steps with her Arab and African neighbours, including by creating the Arab Ministerial Contact Group on the Crisis in Ukraine and participating in the African leaders’ initiative, to put an end to the bloodshed and to find a peaceful settlement for the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Secondly, the international multilateral system in the post-Second-World-War era has revealed a structural deficiency in the way we address political, economic, social and security global crises. That deficiency mainly entailed the monopoly by major Powers of the ability to make international decisions and their disregard for the aspirations of hundreds of millions of peoples and communities. In that regard.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Our collective security lies in our joint action and in the effective application of the principles of the Charter, rather than selectivity and double standards. The challenges that are facing our world, given their complexity, interrelatedness and diversity, such as conflicts, food insecurity, pervasive terrorism and the inability of the international system to find sustained solutions for them, emphasize that we are still far from realizing the purposes and principles of the Charter. The serious repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine have proved that we cannot guarantee the stability and security of any party without the other, and that settling disputes is the responsibility of all States and not the responsibility of only influential parties. Thus.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Many discussions have been held regarding the development of this international Organization, especially after developing countries, including Egypt, found themselves grappling with cascading and interlocking crises in which they have no stake and without adequate support from the international organizations created to support their legitimate development aspirations and achieve global economic stability. Having said that. I would like to share with the General Assembly the Egyptian vision, which sheds light on a number of priorities seeking to restore trust in and the efficiency of multilateral action. First, in a world mainly characterized by interdependence and globalization, no one is secure unless everyone is secure, and no region is stable unless all regions are stable.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is my honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of the Arab Republic of Egypt and to demonstrate its voice and vision, as a representative of a noble country that has made civilizational contributions throughout history and plays an essential role in promoting regional and international peace and stability. Egypt was one of the first countries to join the United Nations and contributed to establishing the goals and principles upon which the Organization was founded. For decades. Egypt has been fully committed to the Charter of the United Nations, the promotion of international peace and prosperity and the achievement of sustainable development. However, our world today faces a persistent question: how effective is the multilateral system in grappling with current challenges?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The designation by the United Nations of 20 December as the annual International Human Solidarity Day reflects the importance of initiatives to eradicate poverty and celebrate unity in the context of diversity. It is also an indication that the United Nations believes in solidarity as an indispensable value, not only to effectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goals but also to counter emerging challenges and address economic gaps. Solidarity remains a source of hope for a better tomorrow. That tomorrow cannot be achieved unless we all act together, hand in hand, to build and to banish all evil for peoples who seek coexistence and cooperation under the banner of human fraternity.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that regard, Egypt commends the role of the elected Libyan Parliament and stresses the importance of the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, as well as the dismantling of armed militias within a specific time frame, in order to restore long-desired stability in Libya. Our region has suffered for a long time, and it is high time to overcome the suffering, to prioritize peoples’ interests over personal ones that seek power and wealth and to end attempts to undermine our region’s unity and national security. Before concluding, I would like to note in particular the importance of solidarity as a fundamental value of which we are in dire need, now more than ever before.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Meanwhile, it is essential to refrain from any unilateral measures that would change the facts on the ground and undermine prospects for an ultimate solution. Based on Egypt’s responsibility to support its brothers, we continue to support efforts to reach political solutions, in accordance with international terms of reference, in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and the Sudan in a manner that preserves the unity, integrity and sovereignty of those brotherly countries and puts an end to any external interference in their affairs. Egypt continues to support the efforts of our brothers in Libya to establish the constitutional framework to allow for the simultaneous holding of presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible and ending the transitional period.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Egypt therefore calls on the international community, represented by the United Nations and the Security Council, as well as influential States at the international level, to implement international law in order to safeguard the rights and lives of 250 million Egyptian, Sudanese and Ethiopian citizens. Reaching definitive solutions to the crises in our region remains an essential pillar of building a secure and stable international system. At the forefront of that is the need to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question, through negotiations on the basis of resolutions of international legitimacy and the two-State solution, in order to establish a Palestinian State along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I reiterate the need to reach, without delay, a legally binding agreement regarding the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, in accordance with the Agreement on Declaration of Principles concluded by Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia in March 2015 in Khartoum and the presidential statement issued by the Security Council on 15 September 2021 (S/PRST/2021/18). As three sovereign States, they must respect what they agreed upon and implement their agreement through deeds, not just words, in order to maintain international peace and security.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Those who believe that resorting to peaceful means to settle water disputes is a form of weakness are mistaken. Such an approach is rooted in the strength and ability to protect and preserve the rights from loss or alienation. It is also based on a keen awareness by Governments of the negative impacts of conflict on people. In that context, after a decade of self-restraint, Egypt still recognizes the right of the Ethiopian people to development. However, that cannot be at the expense of the Egyptian people’s right to life and survival, which has been linked to the Nile River since the dawn of time.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That will demonstrate to our peoples that confronting climate change remains a top priority at the global level, among all other challenges that confront today’s world. In that context, Egypt reaffirms its steadfast commitment to providing all favourable conditions to that end. Water security remains one of the most important challenges facing our world today, especially in the Middle East and the African continent, where some countries are located in the driest and most arid areas in the world. Unfortunately, that grave human suffering is not always due to a lack of resources or declining rainfall, but often to non-compliance with international law and to certain upstream countries monopolizing water resources and depriving downstream countries of the water that flows for the common good of all peoples.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“During COP 27, which Egypt will host in a few weeks’ time, we look forward to reaching outcomes that contribute to accelerating the pace of implementation at all levels, consolidating the international community’s commitment to addressing climate change, including through emissions reduction, enhancing adaptation and tackling losses and damage due to climate change and, most important, raising climate financing ambitions. We must also commit to double adaptation financing and ensure $100 billion annually, as well as working towards a just transition to renewable energy. The international community’s ability to move forward on implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, especially limiting the rise in global temperature, is closely linked to the achievement of tangible outcomes in Sharm El-Sheikh conference.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Egypt, in its capacity as President of the upcoming twenty-seventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), appeals sincerely to all members of the international community to translate our pledges and commitments into action and to support developing and least developed countries in their efforts to confront the devastating impacts of climate change. They are the most deserving and in need of such support on the basis of the principles of equity and common yet differentiated responsibilities.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that context, thanks to its unique geographical location, Egypt declares its readiness to cooperate with the international community to establish an international centre for storing, supplying and trading grains in Egypt, which will contribute to maintaining global food security. The current session of the General Assembly is taking place under a theme that reflects our deep understanding of the crises and challenges the world is facing today. There is no doubt that the search for radical solutions to those interlocking crises is most applicable to the climate change crisis.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In addition, the crisis has been exacerbated by the recent economic and geopolitical crises. Regrettably, in Africa alone, one in five people are at risk of hunger and the continent remains a net food importer, at an annual cost of $43 billion. We reiterate the need to confront the global food crisis by establishing an integrated strategy that addresses its root causes through developing sustainable farming and agricultural systems and meeting the urgent needs of food-importing developing countries. We also must ensure that their products have unimpeded access to the global supply chain, particularly through the development and transfer of agricultural technology. We also stress the importance of supporting early warning systems regarding food insecurity and promoting grain storage and exports.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The current global challenges have threatened the very notion of the nation-State, interfering in its internal affairs and disrespecting the unique features of its society. They weaken the State entity and, at times, even disrupt it, which enables non-State actors such as terrorist groups and armed militias to control the fate and wealth of peoples. The nation-State and its institutions must be empowered to play their role at all levels to preserve and promote international peace and security. There are many complex and intertwined challenges on the international scene with multiple repercussions, most notably the food security crisis, which is the result of the international community’s failure, over many years, to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the Goal seeking to eradicate hunger and achieve food security.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Developed countries therefore need to respond by launching a global initiative between creditor and debtor nations, to transform the bulk of debt into joint investment projects. That would create more job opportunities and contribute to economic growth. The current international situation clearly indicates that the concept of international security is now closer to a system of balance of power than one of collective security. The international environment has been characterized by conflicts, not cooperation. We must therefore work to promote the spirit of international consensus to ensure the security of all States, without threatening or undermining each other’s security and safety.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That process should not remain incomplete. Instead, it should be addressed seriously, objectively and fairly so that the United Nations can better respond to the challenges we face and become more flexible in meeting the demands and needs of our peoples. In that regard, Egypt reiterates its adherence to the African common position calling for reform of the Security Council, based on the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. The Russian-Ukrainian crisis has further exacerbated the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s negative impact, coupled with successive geopolitical developments, has increased the burdens on the developing countries, especially pertaining to the sovereign debt crisis and soaring budget deficits.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Instead, we are surprised by a growing tendency towards polarization and confrontation rather than achieving complementarity to realize our common interests, or even to compete on the basis of justice leading to human advancement. The United Nations system is further threatened by the use of double standards in dealing with similar crises even when acting outside its working context. What is an acceptable response for one crisis is considered rejected for another. Therefore, the flaws we are witnessing are not a feature of the United Nations system itself, but they reflect the will of certain members in the system. As we meet in September of every year in this international forum, I call on all those gathered here to respect the United Nations system, with a view to reinvigorating and reforming it.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In the light of those delicate circumstances, Egypt would like to reflect on the current international landscape, the challenges faced by our world today and the means to confront them. First, the United Nations system still faces the challenge of acting outside its working context. That undermines its capacity to take an effective international stance that supports the maintenance of international security and stability and promotes the development and prosperity of peoples of the world. It is unfortunate that our hopes have been dashed in terms of achieving, in the twenty-first century, a world of stability and renouncing tensions while establishing international systems based on respect for international law.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“At the outset, I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its current session and wish you every success in presiding over its work. The current session of the General Assembly is taking place at a delicate historic time. The international arena is witnessing intertwined crises of immense complexity, requiring concerted action to invigorate multilateralism, including, first and foremost, the United Nations system. As the world still suffers from the colossal consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, successive geopolitical crises have raised international tensions to unprecedented levels.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)