YouSaid · the spoken record

Seyoum MESFIN

lines on the record: 255
first: 1994-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
sittings or episodes: 14
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

“Of particular significance is the ongoing cooperation and consultation between the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, in line with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We should continue that cooperation, and Ethiopia will do whatever is necessary in that regard. In conclusion, let me reiterate, as a founding Member, Ethiopia’s enduring commitment to the ideals of our Organization and the fulfilment of its objectives, as set out in the Charter, which remains a living document and a source of inspiration for the international community.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“There is no gainsaying the fact that if the United Nations did not exist, we would have had to create it. It is an indispensable Organization, particularly for us in the developing world. However, while underscoring its importance, we should not lose sight of the need for its reform, which is an ongoing process. That is how we can ensure the Organization’s viability. Ethiopia will always be ready to give whatever support is necessary to that end. When we talk of the United Nations as a global actor, the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and our continental organization, the African Union, need hardly be emphasized.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Consistent with its innate character, the regime committed acts of aggression against practically all its neighbours in the space of only a few years after its independence. That is unprecedented for any newly independent State, giving Eritrea the dubious distinction of being an international pariah in the family of nations. Therefore, if we are to achieve a breakthrough in Somalia, the time is long overdue for the Security Council to take resolute action and see to it that its decisions are complied with. Since its founding more than six decades ago, the United Nations, as the principal global player on the international scene with multifarious responsibilities, has, under the circumstances, lived up to the vision set for it in the Charter.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is indeed regrettable that the Security Council is not taking the necessary steps to compel Eritrea to live up to what is expected of it under Council resolution 1907 (2009). Despite the sanctions, Eritrea is still the principal architect of the complicated situation in Somalia, through its training, arming and nurturing of extremist elements such as Al-Shabaab and Hizb al-Islam, who are causing havoc in that country today. That reprehensible conduct on the part of the regime has been by no means isolated or confined to our subregion. On the contrary, it has been standard behaviour for the Eritrean regime, extending far beyond the subregion, to other parts of the continent and sometimes even outside it.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is why it is of paramount importance that negotiations on post- referendum issues should be conducted in earnest and with the seriousness of purpose that the issues deserve. When we talk of security in the Horn of Africa region and the southern Red Sea, we cannot avoid raising our concern once again about the destructive role that the Government of Eritrea has continued to play since independence. We in the IGAD region have time and time again warned the United Nations, as well as the international community, that the Eritrean regime is the principal destabilizer in our subregion, with its utter contempt for international law and the norms of international behaviour.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We would like to express our appreciation to the Secretary-General for holding a timely high-level meeting on the Sudan here on 24 September. The outcome of the meeting has been encouraging. 13 10-55396 It goes without saying that the referendums in Southern Sudan and Abyei should be held on time and strictly in conformity with the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. However, we believe that, irrespective of the outcome of the referendums and without in any way detracting from the historic significance of that date, the parties should not fix their minds solely on 9 January 2011. The parties ought to recognize that here are several commonalities, interests, bonds and values between the peoples of the Sudan, north and south, that transcend the decision to be taken in January 2011.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Furthermore, the Council of Ministers reaffirmed the Djibouti process as the sole basis for peace and reconciliation in Somalia, expressed concern about the proliferation of initiatives and urged the United Nations and other stakeholders to engage within the region and with IGAD. With regard to the situation in the Sudan, Ethiopia is of the firm view that conceivably there is no other conflict on the continent today comparable to that of the Sudan. Hence, we believe that success in the Sudan will mean significant success for Africa as a whole. By the same token, failure may entail a serious catastrophe for Africa. That is why the African Union has given its unreserved attention to the issue, as illustrated by the effort of the High-Level Implementation Panel led by former President Thabo Mbeki.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“On the other hand, it is clear that there is little chance for making progress in Somalia until there is harmony and greater seriousness of purpose at the highest level within the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia. The Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which met here in New York on 22 September preceding the mini-summit on Somalia convened by the Secretary-General on 23 September, expressed its regret with regard to differences within the leadership of the Transitional Federal Government. It called upon them to strengthen their cohesion and work together to address the multiple challenges facing the country.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Among the challenges that the international community faces in the area of peace and security is the scourge of terrorism. Like many other countries, we have been at the receiving end of this problem. We believe that unreserved international cooperation is the only viable way to combat terrorism. Ethiopia will continue to do its level best in that regard. Any discussion of peace and security on the international scene today will inevitably have to take up the situation in the Horn of Africa. It is regrettable that we still cannot talk about the situation in Somalia with a great deal of optimism. On one hand, the threat of extremism continues unabated in Somalia, as does the danger posed by international terrorist networks and their sponsors to Somalia, and beyond.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Given the urgency of this dire situation, we fully support the goal of universal energy access by 2030, as set by the United Nations. As the prevalence of conflicts around the world clearly indicates, international cooperation is of paramount importance to complement the efforts of the United Nations in the area of peace and security. In that regard, Ethiopia, as a founding Member of the United Nations, has always been at the forefront in discharging its responsibilities in the area of peace and security. Since the early 1950s, Ethiopia has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping operations. At the moment, Ethiopia is among the major troop-contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping missions.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We believe that time is running out, and we are concerned that national agendas of zero-sum preferences are overshadowing the real urgency of addressing the matter in an accelerated and coordinated manner. The upcoming Cancún meeting on climate change should be different from its predecessors. It should come up with a legally binding commitment, coupled with the political will, to allocate the necessary resources for adaptation and mitigation efforts, especially for the most vulnerable and exposed countries. On energy and development, it has always been self-evident that access to energy is key to fighting poverty. It is central to development. Yet, 1.4 billion people worldwide are without electricity, 80 per cent of whom live in rural areas.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The most important point he made was that he believed in Africa and that Africa can be a global pole of growth and attract investment on African terms. That is what we have been saying all along. He also said that one needs to work with developing countries as clients, not as development models from textbooks, and to help them to solve problems, not to test theories. We in Africa know what we can do; we want to know what the rest of the world will do to help us achieve our goals. The issue of climate change remains among the most critical challenges facing humankind today. Much has been said, from Rio to Kyoto to Copenhagen. What has been promised has thus far resulted in far less than the urgency of the matter merits.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The results so far have been very encouraging. Over the past seven years, the Ethiopian economy has performed well, having achieved an annual average growth rate of 11.6 per cent. The robust economic growth we have achieved has created the basis for similarly robust growth in social indicators, and hence on progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Assessing the state of the MDGs today would not be complete without some reflections on Africa from the perspective of economic and social development 10-55396 12 and its organic link to the MDGs. In that connection, I can do no better than to refer to what Mr. Zoellick, President of the World Bank, said at the High-level Plenary Meeting on the MDGs (see A/65/PV.3).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As regards the Millennium Development Goals, the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, held here in New York just last week, was timely. The outcome document of that forum (resolution 65/1) should not be just an appeal but a new pact, binding on stakeholders with respect to renewed commitment to ensure that the collective promises made at the dawn of the new millennium are kept. The action agenda designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 must ensure the mutual responsibility and accountability of all stakeholders. We in Ethiopia have made substantial progress on all fronts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We have taken full charge of our destiny, devised our own strategy and maximized the mobilization of our domestic resources to achieve the MDGs.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The objective of that plan is to lay the necessary basis for nation-building by creating and strengthening a stable, democratic, developmental State and to achieve the economic and social goals in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the end of the five-year period the net result of all our efforts will be that poverty in our country has been made history. We are confident that by that time our people will celebrate, together with the international community, the end of an era of food insecurity and dependency on food aid. That historic event will give us an opportunity to extend our deep gratitude to all our partners for their assistance in our difficult times. We pledge to redouble our efforts and utilize their assistance for rapid development of our country that will extricate us from food insecurity once and for all.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The whole purpose is to create an environment conducive to bringing about a better life for the people. That inevitably leads me to our economic policy and strategy. Today in our country accelerated development is in full swing, while a democratic culture and its institutional underpinnings are developing at the grass-roots level. The successful results achieved during the last seven years and the challenges and experience gained in the process of implementing the previous five-year economic plan have helped in the formulation of the next five-year plan — officially called the Growth and Transformation Plan — covering the period of 2011 to 2015.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Such a review should of necessity begin with the democratization process in Ethiopia, which is now almost completing its second decade. In the political transformation in Ethiopia over the past two decades, our single-minded focus has been on building institutions of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. The essence of all our endeavours in that regard has been the devolution of power to the people. Our federal democratic order, built on the basis of unity in diversity, has laid the foundation for lasting peace and security. The democratization process that Ethiopia has embarked on is irreversible and is taking deep root at the level of the State and the society at large. Still, a democratization process in any country is not an end in itself.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Allow me, Sir, at the outset, to extend to you my delegation’s warm congratulations on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. I would like to assure you of my delegation’s full cooperation in the discharge of your high responsibilities. My delegation would like to register our appreciation to the outgoing President, Mr. Ali Treki, for his able leadership during the sixty-fourth session. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for his tireless efforts to ensure that the Organization lives up to the purposes and principles set out in its Charter. Allow me to begin my statement today by reviewing some salient aspects of the political and economic transformation in Ethiopia.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is for that reason that I wish to conclude by reiterating Ethiopia’s commitment to the United Nations and by affirming our commitment to all efforts at reforming the Organization, including the Security Council.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In our own region, along with other members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, we have done whatever is necessary and within the limits of our capacity to help Somalia achieve peace and to shield it from the onslaught of extremist forces. As part of the African Union, we continue to discharge our 09-52592 40 responsibilities to maintain the pan-Africanist tradition, to contribute to the peace and security of the continent, and to accelerate the integration process of the continent brick by brick. The United Nations is an Organization which we cannot live without. We benefit from the Organization in more ways than one. We also take our obligation to it very seriously. It is in that spirit that we continue to strengthen our contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. In this we shall continue without fail.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Ethiopia’s first real attempt at economic development coincided with the period when market orthodoxy made the role of the State anathema. Perhaps times have changed. We could have achieved more over the past 18 years, but what we have indeed achieved in the democratization of our society and in economic and social development is not insignificant. In fact, as I have already stated, what we have witnessed in Ethiopia over the past decade and a half is no less than a change in the trajectory of the country’s development. Moreover, we have also continued to discharge our multilateral responsibilities in our own subregion, on our continent as members of the African Union, and in the world beyond in connection with our obligations to the United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We have had yet another challenge to our development and to the effort we have been making to deepen the progress of democratization in our country over the past 18 years. This has to do with the less- than-conducive international economic — and, I might add, political — environment within which we have to operate. What we have faced on both scores, economic and political, has been a lack of tolerance for diversity, policy-space experimentation and independent thinking. Unjustified conditionalities have abounded, both for economic and political reasons — on the one hand because of strategies derived from market fundamentalism and on the other because we dared defend ourselves against unjustified aggression.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Let me take this opportunity to thank all those partners who have stood with us to address and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on our agricultural activities. I wish to thank in particular Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for organizing a meeting on partnering for food security on this very day. As for the Copenhagen climate change summit, it is indeed gratifying that we in Africa have decided to be innovative with respect to our representation and in connection with our approach to negotiation. Africa has decided to be represented by a single team of delegates which will negotiate on the basis of a common African position. It is an honour for Ethiopia, in the person of its Prime Minister, to lead the African negotiating team. We expect much from Copenhagen.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is gratifying to us Ethiopians that this challenge is drawing the attention of the world more than ever before. I wish to reiterate our appreciation of the effort deployed by the Secretary- General in this regard. We look forward to the international community’s taking resolute action in Copenhagen on the basis of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We in Ethiopia have been affected by climate change in the most difficult and complex ways. The effect on our agriculture and on our plan for food security has been enormous. It is no longer every decade or so that we face drought, but rather every three to four years. If not drought, then we face floods. Either way, the consequences have been enormously damaging to our plan to ensure food security.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“That is why the peace process in the Sudan, and in particular the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, is so critical for us. The Horn of Africa cannot afford the consequences of failure in the Sudan peace process. We are very close to both parties in the Sudan, and that is an asset that we want to use wisely. It would be naïve to believe that the conditions of peace and stability in our region have no influence over our domestic agenda. They do. Open societies are manifestly vulnerable to the kind of situation prevailing in the Horn of Africa. The mix of extremist forces and rogue States is not conducive to the growth of democracy in close proximity. We have other challenges as well. One has to do with climate change.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“African heads of State and Government endorsed unanimously the IGAD call for the Security Council to 39 09-52592 stand up and be counted in support of the fight against extremism in Somalia. However, it appears that the Council does not consider Somalia to be a priority. In the meantime, those supporting extremism have made Somalia a priority. It is critical that the international community wake up before the hijacking of Somalia by extremism is fully consummated. It is therefore unlikely that the Horn of Africa will soon rid itself of the crisis in Somalia, and there will be consequences for the work we have to do in our country in terms of development, fighting poverty and speeding up the process of democratization.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Today in Somalia, there is greater coordination and cooperation among those who assist the extremists than among those who profess support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia. The consequences are obvious. As the latest horrific suicide attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia has shown, those destroying Somalia are being emboldened and their supporters rewarded. Conversely, the TFG authorities continue to lose confidence, as pledged support continues to dwindle in practice. The international community is being stingy even with the symbolic steps of showing resolve against extremists and spoilers in Somalia. The countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) spoke with one voice and appealed to the United Nations Security Council.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Theirs is an ambition that goes well beyond Somalia, and they say that loud and clear. Those who advise them not to be so blunt have not succeeded. The Somali crisis has been with us as long as the new Ethiopian Government has been around. It is not just that we lost a partner because of the absence of a functioning Government in Mogadishu. We have also been directly affected by the crisis — a crisis, let us not forget, that is assisted and abetted by others, including by States whose authorities move with ease in and rub shoulders with members of civilized circles. It is not only rogue States, but also States that are ostensibly decent that continue to fuel extremism in Somalia and to fund its activities. Let us call a spade a spade.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“However, over the last 18 years we have had many challenges whose negative effects cannot be overlooked. I would like to say a few words about each of the challenges that we have had, and continue, to face. The first is in the area of peace and security. Obviously, Ethiopia is part of the Horn of Africa. As a neighbour sharing a longer border with Somalia than any other country and with a large population of Ethiopian Somalis, we have been affected by what goes on in that sisterly country; indeed, it would be a miracle if that were not the case. Now, speaking of Somalia, it is time that we abandon the fiction that the war there is just among Somalis. It is not. Somalia is being hijacked by foreign fighters who uninhibitedly proclaim that their agenda has nothing to do with Somalia.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“That would constitute our sixth consecutive year of such a level of achievement, and it has been attained despite pressures coming from the global economic crisis. In democratic governance, the new Ethiopia has irrevocably split from the old Ethiopia in terms of both individual and group rights. With respect to the latter category of rights, Ethiopia, as has so emphatically been asserted in our Constitution, is no longer a prison of nations and nationalities. In terms of respect for individual political and human rights, if hard facts — and not an extraneous political agenda — are the measure, Ethiopia is now, all things considered, not at the tail end of countries, but in the vanguard, for its commitment to this value as well as in practice.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“However, the challenges of the last 18 years have not been limited to the weight of the past, to our legacy, in both the political and economic areas. We also had to face other challenges which have not been inconsequential in terms of affecting the tempo of our democratization and development. These challenges, however daunting they are, do not undermine our achievements, over the last 18 years, to democratize our country and lay the basis for rapid economic development. In both areas, the historic trajectory of the country has shifted. No matter what detractors might say, Ethiopia is now a country with a future and great hope. During the entire long history of the country, we have never witnessed two-digit economic growth, yet we are slated to register that rate of growth this year.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The consequences of lack of democracy within the context of great diversity are all too apparent. Ethiopia’s diversity leaves no room for autocracy, dictatorship, military — of whatever variety — cannot mix with the sociological make-up of the country. That was the explanation why Ethiopia was at the edge of the cliff during the last years of the military Government. The last 18 years have not been easy for Ethiopians. We had to begin again in every aspect of our lives, without exception. There was hardly any economic development throughout the entire 17 years of military dictatorship. Even prior to military rule, Ethiopia faced not just the lack of democracy, but also a stagnant economy and lack of development.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is indeed a great pleasure for me to extend my warmest congratulations to Mr. Ali Treki on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. Permit me also to express my appreciation to the outgoing President for his effective leadership during the course of the previous session of the General Assembly. We are grateful to our Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for the tireless efforts that he exerts to ensure that the United Nations fulfils its purpose during this complex and crucial period in our collective history. I wish to thank him, in particular, for the initiative he took to convene the special Summit on Climate Change this past week. It has now been 18 years since we, Ethiopians, managed to remove a military dictatorship of 09-52592 38 unprecedented cruelty.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The United Nations is the custodian of multilateral diplomacy. At no time since the Second World War have multilateralism and genuine cooperation been as critical as they are today. That is why we need the United Nations as never before. It is a body that remains vital to the future of us all, developing and developed countries alike.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Ethiopia stands firmly committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Eritrea through peaceful, political, legal and diplomatic means. Terrorism is a scourge that impedes peace and development in any part of the world. As its occurrence in any form threatens global security as a whole, Ethiopia believes that it should be addressed collectively. In that regard, we attach great significance to the ability of dialogue among civilizations to build a culture of tolerance that will enable us to create closer understanding among nations — all nations. Ethiopia remains committed to the United Nations reform process and its revitalization. They are critical to the credibility of the United Nations and the future of multilateralism. As a founding Member of the United Nations, Ethiopia will always remain loyal to its purpose and principles.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“At the same time, we urge the Security Council to discharge its responsibility by deploying a peacekeeping mission to Somalia as soon as possible or at least by allocating the necessary resources to strengthen the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). We commend the deployment of troops from Uganda and Burundi to AMISOM. It is never too late for others to follow their example. Ethiopia appreciates the progress made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the Sudan. We urge the parties to do more in overcoming the challenges facing them. However, we must emphasize that the international community should also bear its shared responsibility in that regard. Ethiopia fully supports the African Union 08-53141 6 position on Darfur and the handling of the International Criminal Court-Sudan issue.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As the current Chair of IGAD, Ethiopia is determined to ensure that its revitalization will become a reality, enhance regional integration and promote peace, security and development. We know the dangers of continued conflict in our region. That is indeed why we have committed ourselves to peace in Somalia ever since we helped organize the first broad-based peace conference in 1992. We have consistently supported all efforts to bring about an effective Government in that country. In that regard, we are encouraged by the latest positive political developments in Somalia. The Djibouti Agreement and the Addis Ababa road map open the way for further progress in the peace process. We now look forward to the planned IGAD summit in Nairobi early next month to help Somalia’s leaders do more for national reconciliation.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The objectives of the Millennium Development Goals make it clear that global affluence and welfare are inseparable and that prosperity cannot coexist with abject poverty. In the context of the present world trading system, we urge realistic preferential terms of trade, especially to least developed countries, including quota- and duty-free market access for all their goods and services. Ethiopia has consistently helped to promote peace and stability in our region. We have no doubt that sustainable development will be possible only with durable peace and security. Those form the very foundation of our subregional organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“For the first time in its history, Ethiopia is making real and meaningful economic progress. It is the fastest growing non-oil economy in Africa. Ethiopia is both landlocked and one of the least developed countries. Accordingly, we attach great importance to the full implementation of both the Brussels and the Almaty Programmes of Action. While we appreciate all external assistance, we are equally conscious of the need for predictable, strong and enduring partnerships for mutual benefit. We need economic relations that no longer penalize poor countries and ones that provide greater flexibility in development aid, the transfer of capital and the removal of excessive indebtedness.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The Millennium Development Goals provide the critical minimum for our survival as a nation and the basis for the profound transformation in which we are currently engaged. Ethiopia’s priorities remain the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and ensuring good governance, democracy and respect for human rights. Those are not a choice, but a necessity for our survival as a nation. We have laid the foundations for continued growth and democratization, building democratic institutions from the grass roots and providing the necessary political space for responsible democratization. Our average of 10 per cent growth over the last five years is continuing despite the setbacks of recent months. We continue protecting poverty-targeted outlays and increasing capital expenditure on infrastructure, education, health and pro-poor sectors.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In that regard, decisive and timely action must be taken by developed and developing countries alike to live up to their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. Food insecurity could undermine core democratic values and ruin national development efforts. Governments should therefore take the lead and work together in the economic sector to resolve the current global food crisis. The Monterrey Consensus on financing for development, integrating aid, debt relief, market access, good governance and foreign direct investment is a litmus test for the success of global partnerships. We call on the developed countries to honour their commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross national income to overseas development assistance.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“A central element of our millennium celebrations has been the initiation of numerous development activities for the war on poverty and our commitment to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the Secretary-General has noted, progress towards the MDGs in Africa has been uneven. It is indeed alarming that no country is likely to reach all the MDGs by 2015. We are at the moment at the midway mark and we all recognize that we are behind schedule. We hope that the high-level event on the MDGs has 5 08-53141 achieved its objective of creating global awareness and renewed commitment, with particular focus on Africa. I concur with the Secretary-General that we are facing a development emergency.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I should like to begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency and wishing you every success in the months ahead. I pledge my country’s fullest cooperation and support in the discharge of your duties and responsibilities. I must also extend my sincere appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his effective leadership in promoting global peace, security and development. Last year, this Assembly declared and honoured the opening of Ethiopia’s third millennium. We appreciate that honour. It provided a tangible foundation for the renaissance of Ethiopia, most recently symbolized by the re-erection of the Obelisk of Axum, brought back from Italy to the land of its origin, where it was carved 17 centuries ago. We are grateful to the Italian Government for that right and bold decision.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our obligation is to be true to the principles that underpin those expressions of solidarity. Ethiopia, a founding Member of the United Nations, will continue to be devoted to multilateralism and the fullest cooperation with the United Nations. Therefore, as I conclude, I wish to reiterate, once again, our readiness to cooperate fully, and without reserve, with our Secretary-General in all areas where our contribution is needed and to seek friendship with all nations in the spirit of our New Millennium.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“To be true to the new spirit and to succeed in the rejuvenation of Ethiopia, we feel we have the obligation to stretch a hand of friendship to all of those, near and far, who see wisdom in a positive response to this gesture. We are well aware of the need for a regional atmosphere conducive to the rejuvenation of our region and of ourselves. It is not just the absence of conflict and dispute, but the reality of peace and cooperation, which is, we know, an absolute necessity. Without this we cannot achieve our aims, whether in Ethiopia, our region, or in Africa. Allow me to express our profound appreciation to all those who have helped us make the progress we have made over the past decade. There are those who have been steadfast in their support for our endeavours and who have stood with us through thick and thin. We are indebted to them.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We urge those who wish to meddle in our affairs to remember that they will be held accountable for their action and that they should desist from seeking to place a trojan horse in our society. It is that same spirit of the New Ethiopian Millennium that must guide our foreign policy. We have, over the last decade and a half, worked in good faith for peace in our region. We are more prepared now than ever and, in the spirit of the New Millennium, to contribute our share to achieving peace and understanding among peoples and countries, most particularly in our own subregion. We are indeed fully aware that the basis for the renaissance of Ethiopia, to which we are committed in our New Millennium, cannot be limited to what we do in Ethiopia alone.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In this regard as well, we are entering our New Millennium with even greater and renewed commitment to deepening the democratic process in Ethiopia and strengthening a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding among our people. There is a new spirit of tolerance, dialogue and inclusiveness and of commitment to peace among our people. The further democratization of the country and the nurturing of the rule of law is a pledge that every Ethiopian is making as we enter our New Millennium. This commitment is rooted in the conviction that durable peace in our country and the successful achievement of our objectives in the economic and social spheres can only be viable if we succeed in advancing towards achieving the democratic aspirations of our people.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In this regard, we welcome the proposal of Brazil for a new United Nations conference on the environment and development to be held in 2012. We are also appreciative of the European Union's (EU) commitment to further cut its greenhouse gas emissions and to introduce more responsible and sustainable energy policies. We endorse the EU's support for reforming the institutional framework of United Nations environmental activities. The economic and social progress Ethiopia has made over the past decade has, no doubt, been underpinned by the real and concrete advances we have made in building democratic institutions and fostering the rule of law.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Nor are we oblivious to the spectre of global warming and the threat of climate change. Africa is exceptionally vulnerable to the effects of climate change: so many of us live on the margins that the smallest difference in climate can mean the difference between sufficient food and famine, survival and death. It is a global challenge that requires a global response. However, the need for speedy economic development in countries such as Ethiopia, and in Africa as a whole, should not be compromised simply in order to reverse dangerous climatic situations for whose creation we have no responsibility. It should, nonetheless, be possible, through effective international collaboration, to ensure that the developmental process in countries such as Ethiopia is environmentally friendly.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Primary school enrolment at present is 91.6 per cent. Sixteen years ago, it stood at 19 per cent. We have also begun to ensure that the education available will, in fact, be quality education. We have also committed ourselves to environmental sustainability in a tangible manner. Our New Ethiopian Millennium celebrations and the preparations leading to them have underlined practical expressions to this commitment. The slogan “Two Trees for 2000” has been enthusiastically taken up throughout the country. Popular enthusiasm has led to the acceleration of the process that began earlier, culminating, after just three or four months, in the opening of the New Millennium and the planting of close to a billion trees. This is a process that will continue throughout the year and beyond.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)