YouSaid · the spoken record

Mesfin

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS MESFIN

lines on the record: 78
first: 1992-09-24
most recent: 1995-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“It is my delegation’s earnest hope, therefore, that at this session important steps will be taken to make the United Nations more credible, more legitimate and more effective. I wish to close my statement by reiterating and reaffirming my country’s commitment to the United Nations and its devotion to efforts designed to protect and to revitalize the Organization.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“We also long for increased contributions to the promotion of the sacred principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, whose implementation is so vital for ensuring peace, security and development for all. If the global community could not effectively respond to the call for poverty alleviation, economic and social development, the achievement of peace and 31 stability, nothing less would be at stake than the survival of our Organization itself. This unique opportunity should be seized to chart a new path for the Organization - a new beginning whose features should be a more democratic and a more representative United Nations. The various organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council, should conduct their business with absolute transparency and accountability.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“There are many reasons why the countries and the peoples of our subregion should and must be preoccupied with the need to establish durable peace. But this is by no means an easy task, particularly when some find it difficult to live within the bounds of international legality, to respect the principles of international law governing inter-State relations and to observe the norms of civilized international behaviour. But no matter how challenging the task, Ethiopia will continue to be committed to promoting peace, stability and cooperation throughout Africa in general and in its subregion in particular. This is a very historic session of the General Assembly. We are preparing to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of our Organization. As a founding Member of the United Nations, Ethiopia takes pride in its achievements.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“This is an Ethiopia inspired by grass roots democracy and a genuine devolution of power within a federal system as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia - a country which would be one of the pillars of peace and cooperation in its own subregion and in the African continent as a whole. My country attaches great importance to full cooperation with countries of its subregion with a view to promoting peace and laying the foundation for joint efforts aimed at the economic revival of our area. No part of our continent has suffered as much as the Horn of Africa in the past two decades, as a result of civil wars and instability. Some of the conflicts in our subregion still remain unresolved.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“For our new Government, which was established soon after the overthrow of the military dictatorship, the responsibilities of restoring peace and security to the country, introducing democracy and respect for human rights, and rehabilitating and reforming the economy were daunting tasks that needed to be tackled simultaneously and immediately. But we feel that we have passed the test, and our success in putting in place in our country the first-ever democratically elected Government in the long history of Ethiopia is a source of great satisfaction to our peoples. Our vision for Ethiopia is one in which all its peoples would be proud of belonging to it.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Nor can it be denied that some of the conflicts in our continent have been caused by ill-governance and by the denial of democratic rights to the peoples of the continent. The path that my own country, Ethiopia, has traversed during the past two decades is very instructive in this regard. It was little more than four years ago that the Ethiopian peoples managed to get rid of a military dictatorship that had for 17 years brutalized the society, brought its social fabric to the breaking point, almost destroyed the country’s economy through mismanagement and the imposition of stifling State control, and militarized the society.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“This is most particularly true with respect to food security, without which Africa, including my own country, can never regain its self-respect and dignity and be taken seriously as an effective actor on the international scene. I wish, in this regard, to commend the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its proposal to convene a world food summit in 1996, a move which has been fully endorsed by African Heads of State and Government. It is true that we in Africa also need to put our own house in order. We cannot afford to look for external excuses for maladies that are sometimes of our own creation. In this respect, Africa’s economic ills are not totally unrelated to the mismanagement of its economies by its own leaders.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The newly created situation in world trade following the establishment of the World Trade Organization has made the difficulty faced by Africa and other developing countries in this area all the more complex and daunting, and if flexibility in the application of agreements is not introduced, in favour of African countries, the consequences could be very serious. It is the conviction of the Ethiopian delegation that, in the final analysis, each of our countries, including those of Africa, should assume full responsibility for the economic and political future of its peoples. The call on the international community to do the maximum possible for Africa in the economic area is an appeal to help remove the obstacles hindering the development of the continent so that Africa can regenerate itself through the efforts of its own peoples.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In this regard we emphasize the urgency of implementing the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, which aims at the eradication of poverty. We also appreciate the concern voiced on the preponderance of poverty at the recent Group of Seven Summit in Halifax, Canada. It is also imperative that Africa’s partners in economic cooperation take the necessary steps to ensure that full access to their markets is ensured to Africa’s exports. We still have to contend with the paradox that while liberalization is promoted as a condition for partnership with Africa, the same nations that lay down 30 such prescriptions are often seen to be failing to live up to those standards.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“But the magnitude of the problem faced by African countries is such that nothing less than the most determined effort, political will and commitment by creditor nations to assist Africa overcome this major constraint would suffice for Africa to relaunch and revitalize itself for economic growth and development. On the eve of the twenty-first century, one-fifth of the world’s population is struggling amidst abject poverty. All the circumstances indicate that unless the problem of massive poverty is solved, it will be difficult for people to actively participate in development in any meaningful way under conditions of freedom and democracy. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to assist poverty-eradication measures in African countries in an integral and multidimensional manner.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“As a minimum measure, developing countries, particularly African States, which dominate the list of least developed countries, need to be freed from the various impediments retarding and stunting their economic growth and development. One such very critical problem faced by African economies is the debt burden and the debt-servicing obligations, which continue to frustrate the ability of African countries to pull themselves out of the economic crisis that they have been facing for well over two decades. No part of the world has been as much affected by the debt burden as Africa. We do acknowledge some steps that have been taken, and the promises made with respect to bilateral debt, including at the Group of Seven Summit in Halifax.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In an era when the interdependence of nations is all too apparent and at a time when we all acknowledge that peace and security have become indivisible, the lack of sufficient commitment to the removal of obstacles to the development of Africa and other areas experiencing a similar situation, should be seen as a source of serious concern, with its immense implications for regional and international peace and security. To the extent that, in areas of the world such as Africa, peace can never be made to be durable without development, the best approach to and the most effective method for the prevention of conflicts is one that focuses on preventive measures in economic and social fields.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It was largely as a result of the precipitous decline of the economies of African States in the 1980s - rightly characterized as a lost decade for Africa - that the General Assembly adopted in December 1991 the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s as a framework of partnership between Africa and the international community. It is now obvious that the commitments made by Africa’s development partners have so far remained unfulfilled. However, the majority of African countries have made substantial progress towards meeting their commitments in political areas and in carrying out the functioning of their economies more efficiently.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In Africa, certainly, and this could be true in other parts of the world as well, the major sources of conflicts are in one way or another intertwined with economic hardship and social problems confronted by the majority of our peoples. It is impossible to assume that the difficulty we have had in freeing the African continent from the scourges of war is unrelated to the despair and the loss of confidence in the future on the part of the majority of our peoples - despair and lack of confidence in the future, the explanation for which lies in the ever-deteriorating economic situation faced by the overwhelming majority of our countries.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In this regard, on its part as the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, Ethiopia is fully committed to the promotion of full cooperation between the two organizations. It is the view of my delegation, however, that no matter how effective the United Nations becomes in mobilizing resources for peace-keeping, no matter how refined the techniques utilized are, the achievement of peace would remain as remote as ever as long as the underlying causes of conflict, in Africa or elsewhere, are not removed or mitigated. The search for peace, it is said, is in our minds; but it also has to do with conditions under which people live.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“We, member States of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), have, in the course of the past few years, been in the process of augmenting OAU’s capacity to play a meaningful role in the area of the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on our continent. This effort will continue. But it is vital that the international community lend its support to this African initiative as some have already done. Above all, it is imperative that a more effective cooperation be created between the United Nations and the Organization of 29 African Unity in this area, and we are looking forward to the consultation at the highest level between the two, which is scheduled to take place soon.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The types of conflicts that have been manifesting themselves in recent years, not only in Africa, but also in other parts of the world, have been more of an intra-State than an inter-State nature. The Secretary-General of our Organization has justifiably argued in a convincing manner in his “Supplement to An Agenda for Peace'” (A/50/60) how difficult it has become for the United Nations, under these circumstances, to fulfil effectively its peace-keeping obligations. No doubt, no matter how difficult the task, the United Nations should and must continue to assume major responsibility for international peace and security in all parts of the world, including Africa.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“All those devoted to peace must and should, within the United Nations and other forums, continue to contribute their due share towards ensuring that humanity is absolutely secure from the potential dangers posed by nuclear weapons, a noble task towards the achievement of which a genuinely comprehensive test-ban treaty constitutes a major step forward and a top priority. It is the earnest hope of Ethiopia and of Africa that this goal would be attained as soon as possible. However, as much as we derive satisfaction from the removal of threats to peace and security associated with the period of the cold war, what the past few years have made abundantly clear is that the challenges we face in ensuring peace and security are no less daunting, and no less of serious concern today, than they were in the cold war period.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“We pay tribute to the Secretary-General for having accorded these two major concerns of the international community the importance they so rightly deserve in his Agenda for Peace and Agenda for Development. The few years that have elapsed since the end of the cold war confrontation have made us all realize that peace and security can hardly be ensured through mere concord between and among the major Powers. The removal of the threat hanging over humanity that was the undesirable symbol of the cold war is, and will remain, a major achievement that can never be minimized.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for all the efforts he has been making to ensure that the United Nations is as effective and as efficient as possible. As we enter the second half of the last decade of the twentieth century, there are two interrelated and vital issues which will continue to pose major challenges to the international community: peace and development. There can be no doubt that the degree to which the United Nations is effective in promoting peace and in ensuring development for all is the most appropriate yardstick for judging how effective and vital the United Nations has been and will be in fulfilling the purposes for which it came into being.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I would like first of all to extend sincere congratulations to the President on his unanimous election at this historic fiftieth session of the General Assembly. While expressing my delegation’s full confidence that he will steer our deliberations to a successful conclusion, I wish also to seize this opportunity to assure him of my delegation’s full support and cooperation in the discharge of this heavy responsibility entrusted to him. It gives me great pleasure to commend my colleague, your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy, Foreign Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, for the very able and outstanding manner in which he presided over the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session. Let me also take this opportunity to pay tribute to our Secretary-General, Mr.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The role of the United Nations in world affairs is all-inclusive. For this role to be effective, it is important that the Organization’s methods of operation be characterized by accountability and transparency. Ethiopia subscribes to the calls for democratizing the decision-making processes of the United Nations system and for streamlining its bureaucracy. I am hopeful that at this session the General Assembly will review and assess these priority issues with a view to revitalizing the Organization so that it can meet the imperatives of the time.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“I wish therefore to reiterate the continued faith of my country in the collective wisdom of our global Organization and to pledge anew our unreserved support for the laudable efforts of the United Nations system. We believe that as the guarantor of international peace and stability, the United Nations should expand its efforts by stepping up its activities in the field of preventive diplomacy. It should develop new, more effective machinery to coordinate actions aimed at enhancing respect for the norms of international law and ensuring the security and interests of all States. Alongside the maintenance of international peace and security, we welcome United Nations efforts in assisting the developing countries in their endeavour to achieve a greater degree of economic development and self-reliance.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“"Prisoner of conscience" and "prisoner of poverty" are one and the same. The right to freedom of expression and the right to education 36 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session are indivisible. Concern for human rights is virtually meaningless without corresponding action on the alleviation of poverty, ignorance and other causes of deprivation. Ethiopia therefore appeals to the international community to cooperate in addressing the issue of human rights in the context of these general principles. Our democratic outlook with respect to our relations with neighbouring countries and peoples has borne fruit. Ethiopia has never enjoyed such harmony, both internally and in its relations with its neighbours. Ethiopia has attained the requisite self-confidence that makes it a true partner in the community of nations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“When the constitution is approved, multi-party elections are planned, on the basis of which permanent State structures will be put in place. Already, an independent judiciary is functioning, and legality is assuming a prominent role in guaranteeing the human rights of the people. Peaceful political activity, a free press and freedom of expression and of conscience are established features of Ethiopian life today. Our democratic attitude is working. It is working in consolidating peace and stability and in generating investor and business confidence. It has worked in restoring the confidence of the people in their own future. Ethiopia is committed to the observance of all aspects of the protection of human rights. Protection of the dignity of man also means freedom from poverty.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The policy on equitable power-sharing among the various regions and nationalities has succeeded in ensuring peace and stability throughout the country. These, coupled with the implementation of liberalized economic reforms, reconstruction programmes and improved weather conditions, have brought about encouraging improvements in the economy. The supportive role of international financial institutions and the donor community have had a useful impact on the positive outcome of Ethiopia’s reconstruction and recovery efforts. Therefore, in a brief period of two years, Ethiopia has emerged from a state of despair to one of recovery. We are now looking to the future with considerable confidence. With respect to political programmes, Ethiopia has launched the final phase of the transition period with work on drafting a constitution.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In particular, Ethiopia appreciates the international community’s support for the effort to combat desertification and drought, which are causing extensive environmental degradation in Africa. We appeal to all Member States to support fully the efforts of the intergovernmental negotiating committee for the elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification. Environmental degradation is a major development bottleneck which must be addressed as a matter of urgency. This occasion provides me an opportunity to share with this Assembly a few thoughts on the situation prevailing in Ethiopia since the establishment of the transitional Government two years ago. The process of democratization and self-rule has been consolidated through local and regional elections.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Promises of special programmes for the least developed countries, 10-year action programmes and so forth agreed upon by the international community have so far made little difference by way of alleviating poverty. In Africa, overall economic growth continues to lag behind population growth. And the continent remains the poorest of all. Since there can be no stability or better prospects for the world without reducing the disparities in levels of global development, both developed and developing countries should conduct a constructive dialogue on practical measures for stimulating development. Environment and development are the two major concerns to which the international community has turned its attention.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Although we are far from being satisfied, the newly emerging international situation indicates some encouraging prospects in the area of political relationships. In the field of international economic relations, however, the situation is far from encouraging. Our world still faces the uncomfortable reality of its division into two blocs: the affluent and the poor, the North and the South. Poverty still represents the greatest threat to democratic governance and world peace and security. Political instability, corruption, hunger, illicit drug trafficking and a litany of other evils trace their roots to mass poverty. And the international community is not unaware of the factors that have conspired to frustrate the hopes and aspirations of poor countries.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In full recognition of the fact that an end to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the hands of the combatants themselves, we appeal to them to cooperate with international mediation efforts. Humanity wants peace. Thus, humanity is looking to the United Nations and hopes that this Organization’s resources and fortitude will make the desired impact through preventive diplomacy, conflict management and conflict resolution. At the regional level, the Organization of African Unity, at its twenty-ninth summit, held in Cairo last June, decided to establish a mechanism for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. Ethiopia is committed to work vigorously for its effective implementation and for its success.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We warmly congratulate the leaders of both sides on their courageous move, and hope that the momentum towards a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict will pick up speed as a result. Forty-eighth session - 4 October l993 35 However, it appears that our hopes in some areas of the world are destined to be tempered by virtual despair in others. I am referring here to the tragic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the senseless killing that seems to have no end. I call it senseless not with the intent of passing judgement on the legitimacy of the respective positions of the parties to the conflict, but rather to underline the universal belief that the dividends of peace are so much greater than the gains of an enormously destructive war.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We appeal to the parties concerned to resolve their differences at the negotiating table, taking into account the elections, which have been declared free and fair by international observers, as a reference for a political settlement of the Angolan conflict. On other areas of conflict in Africa, Ethiopia appeals to its brothers in Rwanda, Mozambique and Liberia to continue the momentum towards the establishment of peace in their respective countries. Likewise, it is Ethiopia’s fervent hope that our brothers in the Sudan will soon discover the happy medium that brings peace and tranquility. On the Middle East, Ethiopia welcomes the first step towards a settlement embodied in the historic agreement signed in Washington by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“My delegation welcomes the decision on the establishment of a Transitional Executive Council responsible for supervising the process of transition towards a non-racial, democratic South Africa. We commend and support all the political leaders for their bold actions in paving the way for a peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa. Regrettably, however, there are areas of grave concern where peace has yet to materialize. In this regard, the resumption of hostilities in Angola is a blow to the stupendous efforts made by the international community and by Angolans themselves to restore peace in that country.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Those who hamper the delivery of relief aid to the needy are criminals. Likewise, those who hold human survival hostage to their political agendas cannot and must not be regarded as anything but criminals. It may be possible to put pressure on the recipients with a view to adjusting their positions in ways that would facilitate the delivery of relief aid. But the thought of applying pressure on the donors is, to say the least, nightmarish. I would like to stress that humanitarian work should be absolutely depoliticized. With respect to other issues of concern to the international community, I would like to refer to the promising developments in South Africa.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We urge UNOSOM to continue with its task until the objectives of the Addis Ababa agreement are fully achieved. The problem of refugees and persons displaced by a host of calamities continues to haunt the Horn of Africa subregion. In this regard, Ethiopia continues to face immense difficulties, the solutions of which are beyond what its meagre resources and capacities allow. On top of this, Ethiopia has to cope with the requirements of settling close to 1 million returnees. It is to be recalled that agreement on principles for the delivery of humanitarian assistance was reached with the donors at the Horn of Africa Conference held in Addis Ababa in April 1992. Those principles should be observed to ensure that relief assistance reaches the needy. Human life is precious. Denying people the right to survival, therefore, is a crime.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“I would like to quote from the Declaration adopted by the fourth summit of IGADD, held in Addis Ababa on 6 and 7 September 1993. "We applaud the positive achievements of the United Nations in Somalia in preventing the death of thousands of Somalis through starvation and conflict; "We reinforce the conviction that caution is required in handling the current very complicated political situation in Somalia; "We further call for a meaningful consultation between UNOSOM and the countries of the subregion and reiterate the need for a more active role on the part of the countries of the subregion; "We fully endorse the mandate given to President Meles Zenawi to follow developments in Somalia on behalf of the OAU by also mandating him to follow up the developments in that member State on behalf of the countries of the subregion." While the implementation of the Addis Ababa agreement is, in our considered view, the only viable avenue towards a political solution to the Somali crisis, we also regard UNOSOM as a guarantor against a slide into anarchy in Somalia.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“My delegation believes that all UNOSOM troops should be materially and spiritually equipped to fight and win such a war, and that whenever there are shortcomings in that regard UNOSOM should be prepared to act promptly to redress them. Ethiopia is ready to contribute its share to such a scenario. It will be recalled, in this regard, that the Organization of African Unity at its summit meeting in Cairo in June of this year gave a mandate to President Meles 34 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session Zenawi of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia to follow up and assist in the resolution of the Somali crisis. This mandate was endorsed by the fourth summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD).”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Such a review should be aimed at restoring the situation that existed before 5 June and at proceeding from there with the implementation of the Addis Ababa agreement. In this respect, it is clear that involving the factions as well as representatives of the various sectors of Somali society in the processes is vital. UNOSOM is the last chance Somalia has. Therefore, it must not be allowed to fail. Its preoccupation with the 5 June incident should not be allowed to divert its attention from its ultimate goal of political reconciliation and economic and social rehabilitation. It must be recognized that, for the objectives of UNOSOM to be achieved, the battle for the hearts and minds of all Somalis must be won.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It was then hoped that implementation of the political aspects of the Addis Ababa agreement would proceed as planned. However, the Somali situation took a tragic turn, particularly when, on 5 June this year, United Nations peace-keepers from Pakistan and many Somalis were killed. That was a deplorable incident indeed, and we continue to be seriously disturbed by the tragic events which have resulted since then in further loss of life with no apparent end to the crisis. Indeed, there is a deadlock and a dilemma as to how to overcome the impasse in Mogadishu. In the view of my delegation, a thorough review of all aspects of the Somali situation by the United Nations is imperative.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The main elements of the agreement included a cease-fire; a programme of disarmament; regional reconciliation; measures on finding a political solution to be achieved through the establishment of elected district and regional councils, to culminate in the establishment of a transitional national council as the highest organ of state; and the principles for the settlement of conflicts relating to property claims. Concurrently, the Addis Ababa agreement of March 1993 provides for modalities of continuing humanitarian relief and the initiation of rehabilitation as well as reconstruction programmes. The United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) was to manage peace-keeping and the maintenance of an appropriate environment for the execution of rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It is to be recalled that the Security Council’s decision to restore order and to open the channels for the delivery of humanitarian aid was put into effect in December 1992 and thereafter. Immediate action was then taken to bring together the warring factions as well as representatives of various sectors of Somali society. The aim was to secure their agreement on a plan of action for the restoration of peace and the establishment of the structures of civil administration. In particular, the reconciliation input of the high-level Horn of Africa Standing Committee on Somalia was brought to bear at the Conference held in Addis Ababa in March of this year. An agreement was hammered out on a series of measures leading to peace and political stability in the country.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The establishment of peace and stability is therefore a priority agenda in the coordinated efforts of our two Governments and we are determined to pursue our objectives, however difficult the hurdles may be. Nevertheless, we recognize that the Ethiopian and Eritrean situation does not cover all the hopes and expectations for the changes that have taken place in the last few years. As there are encouraging developments in some parts of the world, we are also witnessing painful situations in others. The crisis in Somalia is a case in point. Since this crisis is at the heart of my Government’s concerns, I would like to beg the indulgence of this Assembly to take a few moments to make a brief comment on the disturbing developments there.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Building for shared prosperity is progressing in earnest. Ethiopia believes that the spirit in which the Eritrean problem was resolved, as well as the developments taking place to forge a basis for permanent peace and all- round cooperation, is a unique manifestation of the era of change from conflict to concord. Peace has provided us with the opportunity to concentrate on reconstruction and lay the groundwork for sustainable development in Ethiopia and in Eritrea. The vision of the Ethiopian and Eritrean leaderships and peoples is for economic, social and cultural integration leading to political integration on a new plane. The leaderships of the two countries have a vision for expanding such integration to include the countries of the subregion.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Ambassador Insanally of Guyana on his election to the high office of the presidency of the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly. I am also delighted to welcome the new Members of the Organization. In this regard allow me to welcome especially the State of Eritrea as a Member of the United Nations. At the end of a cruel war the people of Eritrea exercised their right to self-determination and opted for Forty-eighth session - 4 October l993 33 sovereign statehood in a referendum which won praise from the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and other international organizations as being free and fair. Addis Ababa and Asmara took steps immediately to forge a new era of close relationship and cooperation. The healing of the wounds of war has progressed dramatically.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We must encourage and promote the positive trends already evident in international relations, and at the same time guard against certain tendencies which patently carry within them the seed of new crises.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“We therefore call again upon all our friends to provide us with meaningful assistance at this crucial phase in our history. In conclusion, I should also like to reiterate Ethiopia's readiness to participate in all endeavours aimed at enhancing the role of our Organization in the maintenance of international peace and security and in assisting the developing countries in their efforts to achieve a greater degree of economic development and self-reliance. I am hopeful that at the present session the Assembly will review and assess the world situation with a new perspective and take a bold approach in order to meet the imperatives of the time.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Thus, for the first time in several decades, our relations with all our neighbours in the Horn of Africa are being strengthened on a qualitatively new level. Harmonious cooperation in all fields is fast developing in our subregion. Our relations with other countries are also developing on the some basis and are showing encouraging results. In this new experiment of nation-building, Ethiopia has from the outset enjoyed the good will of many countries. Some have also extended material assistance. We wish to express our deep gratitude to all who have helped us in one way or another. Nevertheless, we have, regrettably, to admit the fact that the assistance we have so far received, in particular material assistance, falls short of what is needed to make our effort at socio-economic development a success.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“It is imperative for us to exert the maximum effort to overcome the multifaceted problems facing the country today and revitalize our national economy. However, it is evident that such an undertaking calls for the availability of vast resources which cannot be mobilized at the national level alone. We therefore call on the international community to extend humanitarian as well as development assistance to supplement our domestic efforts to cope with the emergency situation. The positive response and good will demonstrated by various donor countries and international organizations over the past year in support of our economic recovery and reconstruction programme are encouraging. We are hopeful that that support will continue. The changes under way in Ethiopia are having an impact on the country's external relations.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“As regards our economic situation, it has been repeatedly stated that Ethiopia's economic potential contrasts sharply with its socio-economic underdevelopment. In addition to drought, war and famine, the mismanagement of the national economy over the years by the former regime has militated against steady growth by the national economy. Under these rather difficult circumstances, the transitional Government of Ethiopia has embarked upon a comprehensive programme of new economic policy measures and institutional reform aimed at increasing the role of the private sector in the national economy, and is rationalizing the public enterprises by improving their management and generally allowing the promotion of market-economy principles and mechanisms.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The decision to resolve the Eritrean question through a referendum has been subscribed to without reservation by both the Transitional Government of Ethiopia and the Provisional Government of Eritrea. They have also declared in no uncertain terms that they will accept the results of the referendum. In effect, the decision is ours, and ours alone, and belongs in no way to any external force. We are confident that once the people of Eritrea have freely decided their own future, no matter what the outcome of the referendum, the existing and fast-developing economic, trade and social relations between the two peoples based on mutual trust and benefit will be the trail-blazer for economic and social integration in the Horn of Africa subregion, which we hope will materialize in the not-too-distant future.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)