YouSaid · the spoken record

Hailemariam Desalegn

lines on the record: 55
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2017-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“We know that we have the resources and the capabilities to achieve a world free from poverty. We have begun implementing the SDGs, albeit unevenly, but time is of the essence. We must accelerate the process if we are to leave no one behind. That has enormous meaning for peace, security and prosperity as well. Poverty and economies that fail to produce employment opportunities are not fertile ground for peace to grow in and be nurtured.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That is why I said earlier that climate change is real and poses a clear danger for humankind, because it undermines development gains. We are doing everything that we can to mitigate its negative effects, with the continuing and much appreciated support of our bilateral and multilateral partners. While we are committed to addressing our current humanitarian emergency, we will also continue to implement our national strategy to build a green and resilient economy. Countries such as Ethiopia that are fully committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Agenda require an international environment that can help them succeed in their fight against poverty. Ending poverty, achieving prosperity for all and preserving our planet are attainable goals.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Now is not the time, therefore, to doubt their devastating impact, while millions of our fellow humans are losing their lives and their hard- won development achievements. That is happening all over the world. It is high time to act urgently and decisively to combat the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly its disproportionately bad effect on the most vulnerable countries, which, as has been repeatedly pointed out, bear almost no responsibility for causing climate change. Climate change, not just poverty, is our major challenge. The current climate-induced drought is affecting millions of people. For the third consecutive year, after successfully dealing with the El Niño-induced drought in 2015, Ethiopia is confronting the adverse effects of climate change.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Ethiopia is therefore projected to be the fastest growing economy in the world by the end of 2017. That should, of course, not be a source of complacency; it should rather drive us further to redouble our determination and endeavours to accelerate the full implementation of our current national development policy, which integrates the SDGs, and we will remain fully committed to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, to responding to the legitimate development demands of our people and to addressing our multifaceted development challenges. That is not easy, nor are our challenges uncomplicated, most particularly those related to natural phenomena. We in Ethiopia, like many other countries, are dealing almost every day with the adverse effects of climate change.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For our part, we have fully embraced and begun to record encouraging initial results in implementing the 2030 Agenda. We have continued to invest in our people so as to improve their well-being. In order to achieve structural transformation and diversify our economy, the Government is expanding our manufacturing sector and infrastructure facilities, which have continued to attract an increasing amount of domestic and foreign investments. In order to finance our ambitious national projects, we are mobilizing domestic resources while maximizing the positive impacts of foreign assistance. By implementing integrated, pro-poor policies, we have been reducing poverty and enhancing the quality of life, and we have sustained our rapid and inclusive economic growth.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were further reinforced by the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which entered into force last November, thereby strengthening the global response to the threats posed by that phenomenon. Today, however, it is no longer the time to celebrate those achievements; we need rather to reflect where we are in terms of their implementation. Though the SDGs were endorsed by all with much optimism, the current state of affairs is far from reassuring. The global situation since their adoption has not been conducive to ensuring their reasonably effective implementation. That is a major disappointment for all those who have been hoping to see renewed global partnership in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The links connecting peace, security and development have long been recognized, and that was also the other clear key message emanating from the three major peace and security reviews. More peaceful and inclusive societies generate an environment conducive to sustainable development, and sustainable peace is both an enabler and an outcome of sustainable development. The year 2015 was indeed seminal in that regard. The commitment that we made in this Hall to the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to inclusiveness, leaving no one behind, was the result of our shared conviction that our fates and futures are linked and that poverty is a shared challenge.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That is because without the political will and commitment of the conflicting parties to finding a political solution through dialogue and negotiation, peace is bound to elude us. A common purpose and resolve on the part of all external actors involved in the search for a political solution to conflict and crisis situations are also absolutely vital. What current global security requires is a stronger and more effective global and regional partnership in the service of conflict prevention and peace. What we have repeatedly seen is that in the absence of that partnership, which must be underpinned by the principles of complementarity and coherence, no meaningful progress can be achieved. The United Nations should be able to play a leading role in forging those kinds of partnerships and in sharing the burden in accordance with the Charter.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The clear conclusion of the three major reviews was that the primary United Nations approach to resolving conflicts should be a political one. Indeed, the many conflict and crisis situations around the world cannot be resolved other than through political means. That holds true not only for the crisis in South Sudan, close to my country, but also for the conflicts that are raging in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen, as well as the dangerous situation on the Korean peninsula. It is therefore only by reaffirming our commitments to the letter and spirit of Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations, on the pacific settlement of disputes, that we can effectively respond to the global peace and security challenges we are facing today. However, that is obviously easier said than done.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is posing a real threat to global peace and security. Terrorism and violent extremism continue to wreak havoc across various parts of the world. Global income inequality is no longer just a development challenge; it is also a security threat. Climate change is not a fiction but real, and we are witnessing its devastating consequences for humankind and the planet. Countries such as my own continue to face that horrendous challenge to their development. Three major peace and security reviews were conducted only two years ago, providing valuable recommendations, which, if implemented, could help the United Nations keep pace with the changing global security dynamics and respond effectively to new and emerging peace and security challenges in a comprehensive, systematic and coordinated manner.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As a leading troop-contributing country, Ethiopia attaches great importance to strengthening the role of United Nations peacekeeping in addressing challenges to international peace and security. In that regard, we welcome the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 2378 (2017), which we introduced on Wednesday, and we thank all delegations that sponsored the resolution, which reaffirms the central role of United Nations peacekeeping as one of the most effective tools available to the world in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. That the world is facing unprecedented challenges to its peace and prosperity has been all too apparent for quite some time now. Geopolitical tensions reminiscent of the Cold War are increasing.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Let me stress here we are behind the Secretary-General in his efforts to reform the Organization in the three interrelated areas of development, peace and security, and management. It has been indeed a great pleasure and honour for Ethiopia to preside over the work of the Security Council during this important month, when world leaders gather in New York for the new session of the General Assembly to discuss issues of global peace, security and development. We would like to express our gratitude to all the delegations that participated in the high-level open debate of the Security Council on Wednesday, 20 September, on the reform of United Nations peacekeeping operations (see S/PV.8051).”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I would like to join other delegations in congratulating the President on his election to preside over the work of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session, and I wish to assure him of the support and cooperation of my delegation in the discharge of his responsibilities through the course of the session. Let me also take this opportunity to express appreciation to his predecessor, who effectively guided the work of the General Assembly at its previous session. We welcome the appointment of Mr. António Guterres as the new Secretary-General and support his call for a surge in diplomacy for peace in addressing the many crisis situations that the world is facing today.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It is with that deep sense of optimism that I want to conclude by once again reiterating my country’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as well as to continuing to play an active and constructive role in realizing its noble objectives.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“But we have also made the best use of the development cooperation we have had with the United Nations and our other partners. Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious transformative agenda, with a view to achieving middle-income status by the year 2025. We intend to do so based on carbon-neutral growth through a climate-resilient “green economy” strategy that is fully integrated into our national development plan. The results achieved over the past five years are quite encouraging, and have inspired us to do even more by implementing a second growth and transformation agenda that we will embark on soon. We therefore look at the possibilities that lie ahead with great optimism, the more so because we also trust that we are all determined to adhere to the commitment we entered into at the Summit concluded yesterday.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In that context, it is only proper that we seize this opportunity to once again echo Africa’s call to be fully represented in all the decision-making organs of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, as expressed in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. We in Ethiopia remain fully committed to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We are very grateful for the support and partnership of the United Nations in our development endeavours. The reason for the remarkable progress that we have made over the past 15 years, including achieving all of the Millennium Development Goals, is to be found in the fact that we have taken charge of our own destiny, devised our own development strategy and mobilized domestic resources for their implementation.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is clear that if we do not undertake the necessary reforms, we will not be able to deliver the transformative agenda we have set for ourselves. That is the reason why it is not enough to adopt the next generation of Sustainable Development Goals, whose ambition and transformative aspirations make them truly historic. It is also vital that the United Nations be made fit for the post-2015 era. A comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, particularly the Security Council, is indeed imperative if we are to reflect current geopolitical realities and make the United Nations more broadly representative, legitimate and effective.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“At the same time, not only has the membership of the United Nations changed dramatically over the years, but so have the geopolitical and economic realities of our planet. Today, with rapid globalization and a dramatic revolution in information technology, we are living in a much more interconnected and interdependent world. That is why the United Nations needs the tools necessary to deal with those challenges and realities so that it can better serve the needs of our peoples and nations in a new and completely different era. The need for reform of the United Nations system has long been recognized, but forging the necessary compromise among the wider membership has not been easy. However, it can be delayed no longer.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is therefore up to us to empower the Organization to fulfil its promises in a new era. The United Nations is indeed a creation of the post-1945 world order and the devastating experiences of the Second World War and the Great Depression that preceded it, and that unquestionably inspired the letter and spirit of the Charter. The world has changed tremendously since then, however, and the complex and multifaceted challenges we face today — in particular, obviously, the threat of terrorism and violent extremism, the devastating consequences of climate change and other emerging challenges of our time — are quite different from those that the founders had to deal with in the immediate aftermath of the war.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In spite of its shortcomings, it remains the only universal Organization we have, whether we are big or small, rich or poor, providing us with a unique platform for advancing our common objectives and addressing the myriad problems we collectively face. The challenge that we have to address at this juncture in the history of the Organization is more or less obvious. It has to do with how we can make it relevant and effective as we collectively strive to meet the needs and aspirations of our people in the twenty-first century. That, I believe, is the main essence of the anniversary celebration aptly captured in the slogan “Strong UN. Better World”. But the United Nations is, after all, an intergovernmental Organization whose strengths and weaknesses cannot be understood independently of the role of its members.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The Organization has done commendable work to foster international cooperation for development, promote respect for human rights and address humanitarian problems. Nonetheless, what has been achieved so far is a far cry from the Herculean challenges we face today. Nor can we overlook our many failures as an Organization, something that, as has been so ably established by the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, is very apparent in the area of peace and security, as well as with regard to the creation of a level playing field in international economic and trade relations. Despite all this, however, one thing is self-evident. The United Nations is an Organization that none of us can afford to live without.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It gives us great satisfaction to note that Ethiopia is now the second-largest contributor of troops to United Nations peacekeeping, and I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to playing an active role in helping to ensure that the United Nations becomes more effective and secures greater legitimacy. As we mark the seventieth anniversary of our Organization, it is only fitting that we take stock of the achievements and challenges of the past seven decades and draw appropriate lessons from history as we move forward. That the world has made tremendous progress in a wide range of areas by advancing the noble objectives enshrined in the Charter is not in doubt.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Although in our hour of need we could not count much on the support of the League of Nations, of which we were also a member, Ethiopia has nonetheless never lost confidence in multilateralism and has remained a staunch supporter of the principle of collective security enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. It is on the basis of that conviction that Ethiopia has been an active contributor to advancing the principles and purposes of the United Nations, including by deploying its forces as part of the Blue Helmets since the Organization’s early days.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We are confident that the same collective resolve will be demonstrated by Member States as we take up the challenge of an equally transformative change in United Nations peace operations. The political will and commitment that we have demonstrated in adopting the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda give us hope and optimism that we can secure a new globally binding climate agreement in Paris in December under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In that regard, Mr. President, I would like to assure you of my delegation’s full support in helping you to discharge your heavy responsibilities during this momentous and historic year. Ethiopia is indeed proud to be one of the founding Members of the United Nations.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“His contribution to facilitating those processes and advancing the agenda of the United Nations was indeed significant, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his tireless efforts. I would also like to pay special tribute to the Secretary-General for his dedication and tireless efforts to realize the aims and purposes of the United Nations. What we have achieved so far this year through difficult negotiations and compromise, by adopting a compact for global partnership within the framework of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in July, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) at the historic Summit we have just concluded, has made it evident that we are indeed potentially at a watershed moment in the history of the United Nations.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at this important juncture in the history of the United Nations. This has indeed been a seminal year. Not only is it one in which we are commemorating the seventieth anniversary of our only universal Organization, it has also been a year when bold actions have been taken for the sake of our people and planet. I would also like to express my profound appreciation to your predecessor, our brother from Africa, who successfully steered the work of this body for the past year, a period that witnessed some difficult intergovernmental negotiation processes.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“There is no greater human rights violation than attempts to put obstacles in the way of the success of the ongoing transformations of Africa, which will have enormous salutary implications for hundreds of millions of Africans. Africa is no longer the marginalized continent of the 1980s or even of the period a little later than that. Ethiopia will continue to play its part to ensure the success of the transformation and the success of multilateralism under the auspices of the United Nations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Nevertheless, we look forward to meaningful and effective work by the working group on sustainable development, to which we are ready to contribute as best we can. We are also hopeful that the intergovernmental process under the auspices of the General Assembly in connection with financing for development will not turn into a filibustering exercise without any impact on this issue, which is so critical for the development of low-income countries. As I conclude, I wish to express my agreement with previous speakers that the twenty-first century is indeed an African century. As mentioned by my brother, the President of Ghana, out of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world last year, six were African countries. I should also mention that Ethiopia was among the six. Africa is indeed changing, and changing for the better.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The response should rely on full commitment to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. However boring it may be, something that is universally acknowledged bears repeating. Countries such as Ethiopia which did not contribute to climate change are nonetheless those most affected by it. But, still, we recognize our obligation. That is why Ethiopia has already opted for a green growth path, and our current five-year Growth and Transformation Plan is based on developing a green economy, the strategy for which has already been issued and is being implemented. We seek effective cooperation in this endeavour. We had hoped that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development would achieve more than it did.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“At the end of the day, regardless of other impediments to development, the major bottleneck for countries such as Ethiopia for ensuring sustainable development and successfully achieving the Millennium Development Goals is related to shortfalls in development finance. We said as much in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action, and, recently, in the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, but the results have been few and far between. In our view, the current global economic situation should never be allowed to detract attention from the critical need for development finance of low-income countries. The challenge in this area is compounded and made even worse by climate change, which is a global challenge calling for responsible and wise leadership at the international level.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The most difficult challenge we face here in developing the most effective means to wage that war is that of ensuring that the rule of law is observed, both in inter-State relations and in the domestic sphere. At its most fundamental level, the struggle against extremism is one aspect of the struggle to ensure that the rule of law is respected and the principles of tolerance are adhered to. Wherever an act of intolerance or a violation of laws occurs, sometimes in an egregious manner, as in Benghazi, it needs to be condemned. The second challenge we face in sustaining our development agenda relates to a host of issues impinging on our capacity to ensure sustainable development. Let us be frank and admit that there is a huge deficit in international cooperation for the development of both low-income and least developed countries.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That was an issue that our late Prime Minister, even as he was struggling for his life, was following with the same intensity as before, and he continued to offer whatever added value he could bring to bear on the peace process. Let me thank both the Sudan and South Sudan for placing their trust in us, as has been so manifest in the deployment of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. Indeed, we are proud of our troops in Abyei, as we are of all our people serving under the United Nations f lag, including those in Darfur. Before I move on to the second challenge we face, I wish to say a few words on broader issues that help put in perspective the challenge our region faces in securing sustainable peace and stability. The major war we have to win is undoubtedly the war on poverty.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“What has been achieved by the two parties over the last few days, which culminated in the signing of the much anticipated agreements on vital matters, is a significant breakthrough, which needs to be consolidated and used as a basis for resolving the issues still remaining. We are confident that the two parties appreciate how vital their joint effort for a win-win outcome is, not only for their peoples, but also for us all. Peace between the Sudan and South Sudan and a close partnership between the two, above and beyond the benefit it has for us all, has for us Ethiopians an additional emotional and sentimental value.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We will continue to assist Somalia and the new President of the country, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the people of Somalia can count on that. We are pleased that there is also major progress in the peace process between the Sudan and South Sudan. We are confident that the two parties will maintain the momentum towards durable peace, which is the basis for ensuring the viability of both. We are indeed indebted to former President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union High-level Implementation Panel for their perseverance and commitment to peace between the two sisterly countries.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We salute all those, most particularly the contributors of troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia, for the sacrifice they have made. The African Union (AU) has made an enormous contribution to laying the basis for the progress that Somalia has made. We also acknowledge the very useful cooperation between the AU and the United Nations, including their two Councils responsible for security. We have to recognize the role of partners as well. But much more needs to be done in Somalia to ensure that the new Government stands on its own feet. We would be naive, however, if we believed that the enemies of peace of Somalia and the region are completely defeated. That is why it is so critical that the momentum is not lost in Somalia and Somalia’s ownership of the process of national reconciliation is strengthened.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We have already gone some distance in playing a catalytic role in laying the infrastructural basis for consolidating economic ties with the countries of our region. The electric power interconnections and the road and railway networks that we have built and are in the process of building with Djibouti, the Sudan, Kenya and South Sudan are emblematic of our resolve to play our part in regional integration. We are confident that Somalia and others, without exception, will follow suit. But our success hinges on a number of conditions being met, none of which is amenable to our unilateral initiative. First is the question of peace and stability and the challenge of extremism. Here, also, we have made much progress. Somalia is gradually coming out of the woods.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Never before in its modern history has Ethiopia had the kind of rapid economic growth that it has witnessed over the last decade or so. Indeed, for the first time in its modern history, Ethiopia has begun to see a bright light at the end of the tunnel in terms of real prospects for economic transformation. We are, for sure, on a hugely promising trajectory. Our Growth and Transformation Plan, to which our late Prime Minister was devoted, and which is now embraced by our people, is designed to catapult our nation to a destination thathas long eluded it but is now within reach. We go forward with full recognition of our responsibility, as the second most populous country in Africa, to contribute to regional integration. We foresee huge possibilities for bringing the countries of the greater Horn of Africa together.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“But the people of Ethiopia — from north to south, from east to west, across the length and breadth of the country — were categorical in stating in unison how much they embrace the unity of the country, unity that celebrates their diversity and is built on the bedrock of their federal Constitution. Let me take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Ethiopian people and myself, all those leaders and heads of delegation who came to Addis Ababa to be with us at our time of grief. We cherish your friendship. I wish to reiterate my condolences to the peoples and Governments of Ghana, Malawi and Guinea-Bissau, who have also lost their leaders recently. We Ethiopians are confident that we have come a long way.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It is an honour and a blessing to be the leader of a people who are generous in paying tribute to those, like Prime Minister Meles, who served them self lessly; a people who have the maturity and wisdom to see, and even lucidly articulate, who has done what for the nation and for the people of Ethiopia. That would naturally make any human being who is given the opportunity to lead a country ask himself what more he can do for his people — not in words but in deeds, as our late Prime Minister often emphasized. As might be expected, doomsday scenarios for Ethiopia’s future were bandied about.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“He was a man of prodigious intellect who was uncompromising in his insistence that Ethiopians and Africans should own and protect their development strategies and their approaches to governance and democratization. The late Ethiopian Prime Minister, and the party he led, have facilitated the emergence of a new Ethiopia, rekindling the hopes of Ethiopians for the future and strengthening their confidence in their ability to overcome adversity. Ethiopians proved their mettle, and what they are made of, when they received the unexpected news of the tragedy with which the nation was faced.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I would like to congratulate the President on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session, and to thank him for the inspiring speech he made at the opening of the general debate (see A/67/ PV.6). We are confident that the spirit exemplified in that speech will guide him during his presidency. Let me also take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the outgoing President. The reason I am here on this rostrum, making my maiden speech to the General Assembly as Head of Government of the new Ethiopia, is because we lost our leader only a little more than a month ago. The passing of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is a huge loss for Ethiopia, and undoubtedly for Africa as well.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Let me conclude by asking for the support of all Member States for the draft resolution that the IGAD countries will be submitting requesting observer status for IGAD at the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“When the time comes for us to pronounce ourselves on this signature issue of the sixty-sixth session of the Assembly, the position we take will be based on our objective assessment of all dimensions of the issue in good faith and in line with what we believe is dictated by the cause of justice and sustainable peace. We are passing through a period not only of uncertainty, but also of great historic and momentous change. The world that emerged from the Second World War is almost no more. Periods such as this need to be handled delicately. That is why it is so critical that more attention be paid to the need for preventing conflicts and for mediation. We are pleased that the President Al-Nasser has made this one of his top priorities. We want to assure him that he can expect the full cooperation of the IGAD countries.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In that regard, it is not enough that the right of the Palestinians to a viable State of their own be acknowledged and be paid lip service. It is also necessary that real, tangible and practical steps be taken, and in good time, towards the realization of that objective. That has not been done. No doubt, that is partly the explanation for where we are today and at this moment. On the other hand, while it is self- defeating, and also unjust, to use it as a pretext for delaying the realization of the dreams of the people of Palestine, nonetheless, it is neither proper nor realistic to underestimate and belittle the security concerns of Israel.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why, as we continue to call for the reform of the Security Council, we also remain committed to the revitalization of the General Assembly, the true representative of the people of the world in the true spirit of the United Nations Charter, whose very first phrase is: “We the peoples of the United Nations”. In that same spirit, Ethiopia wants to express its position on the historic turning point that the people of Palestine and the people of Israel are passing through and the challenges that they are facing. We are convinced that no great wisdom is required to realize that, at the end of the day, it is only through peaceful negotiation and mutual accommodation that the two parties can reach the final destination.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“For our part, we have been guided by the objective of protecting and defending the collective security interest of the people of our region. That has guided our policy in the Sudan and in the effort that we have been making to nurture mutual confidence between us and both the Republic of Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan. We have also followed that signpost in conducting our policy with respect to Somalia. Ethiopia is not a newcomer to international diplomacy. As a founding member of the United Nations, we take our responsibility as members of the human family seriously. We view our vocation to be a factor for strengthening international peace and security and for enhancing friendly relations among nations, large or small, on the basis of full equality.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Prime Minister of India could not have been more correct when he said from this rostrum last Saturday: “There cannot be selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or the infrastructure of terrorism. Terrorism has to be fought across all fronts.” () We in Ethiopia have never had a short-sighted perspective on what we need to do to ensure that our national interest and our national security are protected. In this day and age, it is only through collective effort that we can ensure peace, security and stability. Some might imagine that they would benefit 11-51384 38 by encouraging discord in their neighbourhood. The Horn of Africa has suffered because of policies emanating from that kind of mindset for too long. That should be combated. We seek the support of all fair- minded people in that endeavour.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I need not go into the details of what the IGAD countries have requested of the Security Council in terms of support for them to succeed in the effort that they are making for peace in Somalia and to contain those who not only encourage, but also take part in carrying out terrorism. It is particularly vital for the Council to act on the conclusions and recommendations of a body established by the Council itself. Sweet talk, devoid of any behavioural change in practice and on the ground, should not lead the Security Council to wish away concrete evidence presented to it by a committee of its own creation. Let us admit that there are double standards in the fight against terrorism. Our counter-terrorism effort cannot succeed if we are selective in that struggle.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to Uganda and Burundi for the sacrifices that they have made, and continue to make, as the two countries that spearheaded the efforts of the African Union Mission and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to keep those such as Al-Shabaab and their supporters at bay. It must be underlined that it is a fight that has humanitarian and development implications, not only security or political. That is why the successful cooperation of the IGAD countries for stability and security in the Horn of Africa, and in the fight against terrorism and extremism, has been so vital. It requires the wholehearted support of the international community, the General Assembly and, most particularly, the Security Council.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In Somalia, in close collaboration with the East African Community, the African Union and the United Nations, IGAD has been the lynchpin in the effort to assist the people of Somalia in achieving peace, stability and national reconciliation. Now, with the extremists and Al-Shabaab having been driven out of Mogadishu and the tide turning against them, there is new hope in Somalia, which should be sustained. The Kampala Accord laid the basis for a breakthrough in Somalia, for which we owe gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni and Ambassador Mahiga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)