YouSaid · the spoken record

Demeke Mekonnen Hassen

lines on the record: 24
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

“I would like to emphasize that we are at a critical juncture when humankind must come together with unity of purpose for peace and prosperity. Fully aware that our time to serve is limited, each of us gathered here today should reflect on the legacy that we would like to leave behind for future generations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The international financial architecture should be reformed, with special consideration for Africa’s needs and priorities. A fast-track resolution of Africa’s debt crisis and the provision of additional development financing should be at the top of our agenda. Ethiopia advocates for an inclusive international order that recognizes the contribution of all countries. The very survival of humankind, the safety of our planet and the peace and security of the world are at stake. Therefore, hope, justice and equality for all should indeed define the fundamental agenda of the Assembly. Beyond the rhetoric, this organ has a responsibility to promote global consensus and translate ideas proposed in this very Hall into concrete actions. As I conclude.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Cultivating mutual trust and friendship is the right choice for regional cooperation and interdependence. Regional cooperation positively impacts the lives of people, especially when complemented by well- developed infrastructure projects. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is one such project that meets the legitimate development aspirations of Ethiopians and the region at large. Ethiopia welcomes the resumption of the trilateral talks with Egypt and the Sudan. We remain committed to a negotiated win-win outcome facilitated by the African Union. Africa is a continent of hope, with immense potential for prosperity. The continent has already been implementing its transformative and ambitious Agenda 2063. However, unleashing Africa’s potential requires mobilizing domestic and external financial resources.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Ethiopia has been supporting the efforts for peace, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. It is important to ensure that all peace initiatives be coordinated. Ethiopia continues to fulfil its responsibility by promoting regional integration to advance peace, stability, economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. We are working to realize the development potential of our region. Ethiopia is determined to cooperate with its neighbours to expand trade, investment and regional integration through infrastructure development, efficient logistics and connectivity. Any bottleneck that might constrain the shared prosperity of the region needs to be addressed in a concerted approach. Fostering closer partnership is critical for creating access to seamless connectivity.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In order to ensure accountability, reconciliation, truth-telling and healing. Ethiopia is finalizing its transitional justice policy. Nationwide consultations on policy options for transitional justice have been effectively conducted in all regions across the country. Through the National Dialogue Commission. Ethiopia has also embarked on inclusive dialogue to address both past and current societal concerns. We are confident that will contribute to realizing a prosperous future for all citizens. Conflict-induced crises in the Horn of Africa require a regional approach, with the support of the international community. We express our solidarity with the brotherly nation of the Republic of the Sudan, which is facing difficult times. We are confident that the Sudan will find a way to resolve the conflict peacefully and re-establish order.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The agreement is a practical embodiment of African solutions to African problems. Its implementation continues to make significant progress, despite some delays in the execution of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. There is a need to expedite the process and ensure its successful completion. The continued implementation of the agreement is a clear manifestation of the Government’s commitment to resolving political differences through dialogue and constitutional means. We are also actively undertaking rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes in conflict-affected areas. I would like to reaffirm that the Government is committed to consolidating peace and stability throughout the country. We continue to pursue dialogue for sustainable and peaceful solutions.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The Addis Ababa Action Agenda should also be fully implemented to meet the SDGs. Ethiopia has aligned its 10-year development plan with the SDGs. We are resolute in accelerating our inclusive political and economic reforms for a more peaceful and prosperous society. We are also committed to finding comprehensive solutions to the climate crisis. The Ethiopian-owned flagship programme — the national Green Legacy Initiative — is a demonstration of that commitment. The objective of the programme is to cultivate a green culture and ensure the country’s development through rural and urban green initiatives. The programme has been successful, and we are making every effort to share our experience. The Pretoria peace agreement ended a two-yearlong conflict in northern Ethiopia.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We wish to underline that diplomatic dialogue among sovereign nations should be the primary tool for resolving differences. Ethiopia and other developing countries have also been advocating for the reform of the United Nations system as a whole. We call for a more inclusive and effective multilateral mechanism that works fairly for developing countries. The group comprised of Brazil. Russia. India. China and South Africa has championed that call, and that is why Ethiopia is grateful to have been invited to join the group. While the world has the financial resources to fund all the development targets set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its implementation has fallen behind. Therefore, what we need is firm political commitment and renewed global partnership.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We need a reformed and representative Security Council that is fit for purpose. Allocating permanent seats to Africa, as set out in our continental Common Position, is politically and morally justified. Ethiopia commends the efforts of the Secretary-General with regard to the financing of African Union peace support operations from assessed contributions. National ownership of security responsibilities is imperative. For peacekeeping operations to achieve their objectives, robust capacity-building support should be provided to national law enforcement structures. Unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures violate United Nations principles and international law. Ethiopia opposes such measures imposed on developing countries and calls for their unconditional removal.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations demands that we come together to tackle those challenges with the highest sense of urgency and partnership. Ethiopia calls on all Member States to recommit to the Charter of the United Nations. Maintaining the status quo will not advance our shared interest of ensuring peace and prosperity. We should collectively work for an inclusive multilateral system to renew our global solidarity. A new global collective security system that respects the sovereignty of Member States and prevents conflict is vital. As a long-time champion of. and active participant in. United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations across the globe. Ethiopia underscores that reforming the Security Council is not a choice but an absolute necessity.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The target of mobilizing $100 billion by 2030 to support the mitigation and adaptation efforts of developing countries has not been achieved. The upcoming twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, should therefore be seized as an opportune moment to take bold actions. The threat of nuclear weapons is another source of grave concern for humankind. The international community needs to prioritize dialogue in order to de-escalate tensions and prevent the threat of nuclear weapons. We should also ensure that new technologies such as artificial intelligence are used responsibly, in a manner that benefits humankind. The global community can address those challenges through meaningful cooperation.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The uncomfortable truth is that we are increasingly witnessing policy choices that escalate tensions, threatening the peace and stability of the world. Poverty and hunger are increasing. Progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is off-track, pushing even further back the objective of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030. Global inflation and the rise in the cost of living are undermining development gains, further worsening the challenges of the most vulnerable communities. Investment in human capital and skills development remain critical for developing countries. Climate change continues to have devastating impacts across the globe. Africa and other vulnerable regions are enduring disproportionate adverse effects.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is my honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of Ethiopia. I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Dennis Francis on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session. I assure him of my country’s full support in the performance of his duties. We are gathered at a time when the world faces a multitude of challenges. In such times, we must ask ourselves whether we have the necessary political will to choose global partnership over geopolitical competition. Are we prepared to work together towards a promising age of shared prosperity? Are we committed to working together to save our planet and to meet the aspirations of more than 8 billion people?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We shall continue to uphold our cardinal principles of independence, impartiality, integrity, non-interference, sovereign equality and non-selectivity to maintain a working multilateral system rooted in the Charter of the United Nations. We need to reform our global institutions to reflect current realities. We need to make them more representative and responsive to the demands of our times. Only through genuine solidarity and concerted action can we ensure collective security and prosperity. I am grateful for this opportunity to address the General Assembly and wish the President every success in this session.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“However, that requires reform of the global financial architecture to ensure more equitable, speedy and collaborative cooperation, based on the needs and potential of the least developed countries. More importantly, we must actively support Governments that work to create an environment conducive to the prosperity of their countries. In addition, Africa’s effort to chart its destiny must not be complicated by competition among Great Powers. Allow me to conclude by re-emphasizing the need to scale up international cooperation. The gravity of the challenges we face today demands that we come together in search of collective solutions. We need more, not less, multilateralism.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We call for enhanced focus on and support for national efforts aimed at improving agricultural and manufacturing productivity, increasing investment, facilitating technology transfer, fostering fair trade, redoubling debt cancellation and restructuring, and enhancing international finance for national priority projects. Furthermore, we should enhance efforts to combat illicit financial flows, unlawful extraction of and trade in minerals, and corruption. Africa’s young population and its vast natural resources should be a source of growth and better jobs. Africa can be the showcase for green and sustainable development. It can feed and power itself and the world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We will continue the trilateral negotiation under the auspices of the African Union in good faith so as to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. Over the past three years, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has encountered serious setbacks. The global coronavirus disease pandemic has tested our health systems. Global trade in goods and services was halted causing great losses in our economies. The response by international financial institutions has been beneath the level required and did not account for the special vulnerability of least developed countries. As the Secretary-General put it, it is necessary to turbocharge the implementation of the SDGs.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We also urge respect and support for the AU-led peace process. Any other approach, including the politicization of human rights and unilateral coercive measures, will not yield a positive outcome. The past year has also been a milestone for my country and, we believe, for the entire Nile River basin. Our project, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, commenced lighting our homes and fulfilling our intergenerational aspirations. All the glory and gratitude go to the people of Ethiopia, who financed this project. The dividend goes far and wide to the entire region. Taking this opportunity to do so, I reiterate Ethiopia’s commitment to equity and cooperation in the use of transboundary rivers to bring about shared prosperity with all riparian countries.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The criminal group that remains hell-bent on destroying the societal foundation of our country colluded with external actors opposed to our development aspirations. The insecurity this group created has been very tragic and costly. Although the Government of Ethiopia earnestly tried to avoid this conflict, our efforts to prevent it from being ignited were regrettably unsuccessful. Thanks to the resolve and determination of Ethiopians, the designs of the adversaries against Ethiopia’s progress have been frustrated. We have also paved a path for peace and recovery, relying on the ability of the peace-loving people of Ethiopia to reconcile, make peace among ourselves and start the process of healing. We therefore call for support for our agenda for peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is only when we do this and uphold regional solutions that we will be able to start reducing the proliferation and seemingly unending presence of African issues on the Security Council’s agenda. Over the past four years, Ethiopia has made significant progress in its socioeconomic development and democratization. At the same time, these years have brought forth challenges that have tested our survival as a nation. In November 2020, a most heinous and treasonous attack was made against the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, which had endeavoured not only to protect the peace and stability of Ethiopia but also to help keep peace in other countries, on behalf of the United Nations and the African Union (AU).”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We are gathered in this Hall because our forefathers, learning from the tragic episodes of human history, decided to establish the United Nations as the guardian of peace. However, we have yet to achieve true universality in the main organs of the United Nations. Africa has no permanent seat at the Security Council, and our quest for African solutions to African problems has yet to be given the respect and support it deserves. We believe that these considerations underpin the credibility of the Council on the continent. African problems are sustainably addressed when approached in the true context of the region and when full account is taken of the strategic interests and aspirations of the countries concerned.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That requires focused coordination, non-politicization, the avoidance of securitization and good-faith cooperation among all stakeholders. I must emphasize that Africa is not responsible for the historic emissions that caused the climate crisis; yet we are the ones making the most tangible contribution to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In Ethiopia, our afforestation programme, the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative, saw the planting of billions of seedlings and created a strong culture of afforestation. We are also on a path to sustainable energy transformation and green growth. These proactive programmes deserve recognition and tangible support. We have a shared planet and a common destiny. Overcoming our collective challenges requires concerted effort and trusted global leadership.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Nevertheless, international cooperation is not nearly at a level that is commensurate with the gravity of the challenges. Although climate change and the resulting extreme weather conditions occur throughout the globe, the crisis largely affects the minimally resilient and those least responsible for causing the problem. A case in point is our region, the Horn of Africa, which is badly hit by record-level drought in some parts, while sustaining extreme flooding in other parts. Climate disaster and its insufferable impacts are preventable. I therefore make an urgent call to all States gathered here to translate rhetoric into action. We must realize our climate financing commitments in order to build resilience and mitigate the impacts. We should act to meet our emission-reduction targets.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I congratulate the President, as well as his country, Hungary, on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session. I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid for his service and leadership during the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly. I have the greatest honour to address the Assembly on behalf of my country, Ethiopia. We are at a historic crossroads in the evolution of our multilateral system. Humankind is facing multiple and complex challenges, ranging from climate change, extreme poverty, conflicts, terrorism and geopolitical tensions. The consequences of those global challenges are of epic proportions and leave adverse sociopolitical impacts across the world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)