YouSaid · the spoken record

Ali Bongo Ondimba

lines on the record: 142
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
sittings or episodes: 9
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

“To that end, I reiterate my country’s solemn appeal to all members of the international community to live up to their shared commitments in order to ensure peace, security and dignity for the peoples of the world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In the light of the strong interdependence of nations, it is crucial that we put an end to the use of sanctions, while working instead to build bridges of prosperity. As such, I call once again for the total lifting of the embargo that has affected the Government and the people of Cuba for several decades. Inevitably, the principal victims of any embargo are the weak and the vulnerable. In the Middle East, Gabon has always believed that the two-State solution is the only way to achieve peace and security. It is the responsibility of our generation to resolve that problem. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Gabon’s commitment to the principles and values of solidarity at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Access to education for children should be considered sacred. Therefore, I would like to express my country’s resolute support for the sanctuarization of schools and places of education, particularly during armed conflicts. To compromise education is to place a mortgage on future generations. It is in that vein that I have made the promotion of women and young people a key priority. In 2015, I launched the Decade of the Gabonese Woman, which aims to reserve a place of choice for women and children in all aspects of governance in Gabon. Internationalism is at a turning point. We need to reform the United Nations to ensure better consideration of the aspirations of Africa. That is particularly applicable to the Security Council, where Africa’s role needs to be consolidated. Africa has waited long enough, and we will not wait any longer.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Faced with the proliferation of armed groups, restricting their access to arms will be at the heart of my country’s priorities during its presidency of the Security Council in October. In that regard, I would like to reiterate my country’s call for a robust partnership to ensure greater security in the Gulf of Guinea. Many countries face humanitarian crises that are exacerbated by armed conflict. That is the case in Ukraine, where the war has led to a worsening of the situation in countries and regions that were already experiencing food shortages. That is why my country has clearly expressed its opposition not only to that bloody war but to any form of war. Gabon, which has never experienced armed conflict, will continue to advocate and favour dialogue and negotiation over confrontation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The fifteenth COP to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Montreal, will be a decisive moment for humankind, and it is critical that we adopt an ambitious global biodiversity framework. The time has come to transition from billions to trillions by mobilizing 1 per cent of global gross domestic product to benefit the natural environment. Thirdly, pollution has become a chronic problem for our cities, rivers and oceans. We must waste no time in adopting a binding international agreement on plastic pollution, as well as a treaty of the high seas. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, our international agreements and national policies must address the interdependence of those crises. Threats to international peace and security continue to increase exponentially.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“First, with regard to climate change, thanks to its 88 per cent forest cover and a rate of deforestation well below 0.1 per cent, Gabon is an exemplary high- forest, low-deforestation country. Since the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was held in Copenhagen in 2009, Gabon has net absorbed more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide. We absorb more than 100 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. In other words, we have already achieved and indeed have exceeded the Paris Agreement on Climate Change objective of carbon neutrality. We are counting on the creation of a net carbon sequestration market to enable us to maintain that performance through 2050 and beyond. Secondly, I find the biodiversity crisis extremely alarming.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Through the union that she loved so deeply, the Queen offered respect, friendship and wise counsel to many independent nations around the world, small or large. She promoted peace, liberty and shared values and fostered a spirit of cooperation. As the new Head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty King Charles III can be assured of my full support and that of the Gabonese people. As a dear friend of Gabon for many years, King Charles III shares my enthusiasm for protecting our natural environment and biodiversity and my concerns about global climate and sustainability. Fifty years after the Stockholm Conference, humankind faces an unprecedented triple environmental crisis — climate change, the biodiversity extinction crisis and pollution, notably by plastics.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We are the newest member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is home to 2.5 billion people — one third of the world’s population — with shared values of respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. My country is broadening the horizons of its citizens and seizing the chance for our young people to benefit by studying, travelling and building business relationships far beyond our own borders. At the same time, Gabon takes its place on the world stage — not alone but as a proud African nation. However, the problems that our world faces today are global, as are the solutions. We must all be outward-facing, not inward-looking, as we confront the difficulties of a world in which resources are finite and populations are growing. This month, our Commonwealth family lost its leader — Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“A threat just as insidious now looms over our economies: inflation. Around the world, it is reaching tragic record levels. No one is spared — neither businesses nor households, neither the North nor the South. Its effects are devastating. As such, we must take action. Of course, we must take individual action, which is precisely what Gabon is doing by subsidizing certain commodities and controlling the price of others. Nonetheless, it that regard too, we will be successful in overcoming that problem only if we take collective action in a coordinated manner and in solidarity with each other. It is yet another challenge the world must face. We must all meet that challenge together. This year marks many new beginnings for Gabon, as we arise from the tragedy and forced inertia of the coronavirus disease pandemic and reopen to the world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In the light of the rivalry among Powers and the multifaceted challenges that affect us all, it would be dangerously naive to continue focusing on power struggles or unilateral positions. The interconnected nature of global issues and national economies compels us to engage in dialogue in order to respond appropriately and above all collectively to the most serious threats to international peace and security. We are in the last quarter of a year of increasingly difficult global challenges that have thwarted common and individual efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. With fewer than eight years left until the deadline for reaching those goals, it is crucial that we assess our progress in the light of the ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus disease pandemic to our economies.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I warmly congratulate the President of the General Assembly on his election and wish him every success. I also pay tribute to and congratulate his predecessor, Mr. Abdullah Shahid, for his commitment during the seventy-sixth session. I reiterate my country’s full support to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as he serves our Organization. I am delighted once again to speak in earnest, for the situation demands just that. Indeed, the international system is at a critical juncture as the world struggles to recover from a pandemic and remains in the clutches of a multidimensional crisis. The emergence of new centres of influence results in entrenched positions and demands that we prioritize ongoing dialogue, instead of power struggles, to reach global consensus in addressing controversial issues within the multilateral system.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“President, The results of our efforts to build a better world will always be variable while so many peoples remain subject to harmful sanctions. I would therefore like to reiterate a solemn appeal for the total lifting of the embargo that has been imposed on the Government and people of Cuba for several decades. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm Gabon’s commitment to multilateralism and to greater international solidarity, which I am convinced remain our most reliable assets for building a more resilient Organization that is able to effectively face the challenges and threats facing humankind. I thank you.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“All of that will inevitably lead to the gradual disengagement of foreign forces operating in the Central African Republic on the basis of bilateral or multilateral agreements. It is also essential to continue the operationalization of republican institutions in order to make a significant contribution to guaranteeing the non-recurrence of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the country. Moreover, it is necessary to support the efforts of the Central African Republic authorities to strengthen social cohesion and the economic recovery of the country in order to consolidate the gains made and guarantee lasting security. To that end, we call on the international community and donors to maintain adequate financial support in order to establish stability and restore hope to the Central African people. Mr.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“President, Gabon remains resolutely committed, within the United Nations, as it has always been, to the promotion of stability and peace at the continental level and in Central Africa, in particular in the Central African Republic. The reform of the security sector in the Central African Republic should be supported in order to enable the country to equip itself with republican defence and security forces and the appropriate human, material and logistical resources. The aim is to allow for the strategic deployment of those forces throughout the country in order to restore State authority, ensure the security of people and property and encourage the return of displaced persons and refugees.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Indeed, a country must be able to identify, co-opt and promote its talent and intelligence, regardless of gender. Mr. President, Development cannot be sustainable without peace and stability. Yet, unfortunately, peace continues to be severely tested in many parts of the world. The price of instability, due to the impact of terrorism and armed groups, is particularly heavy for many African countries, which find themselves forced to devote substantial resources in that regard. Those phenomena are fuelled, among other things, by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the trafficking of wild species. I believe that a global and united approach is essential in the fight against those sources of instability and fragility in various regions of Africa. We must acknowledge the fact that a threat to one nation is a threat to all. Mr.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The scope of our political programme for equal opportunities, which I have promoted in favour of more equitable development, places particular emphasis on the appreciation of women and young people, while ensuring that no one is left behind. As for the question of gender parity, Gabon is one of the countries in Africa where women are the most present and well represented in public life, including as Prime Minister, President of the Senate, President of the Constitutional Court, Mayor of Libreville and as Governors, inter alia. All of those positions, which are among the most prestigious in the Republic, are held in my country by women, in whom I reiterate my full confidence. My firm belief is that, in a globalized and competitive world, parity is a matter of social justice, equality, equity and efficiency.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In addition, Gabon is strengthening its energy capacities through the imminent completion of new solar and hydroelectric power plants in order to lend new impetus to its industrialization process. Beyond the development of infrastructure, the intended effect of the implementation of our recovery plan is to ensure budgetary adjustment and the promotion of the private sector as levers for the diversification and transformation of the national economy. In the education sector, the Government continues to mobilize significant resources in order to optimize the education system and bring it into line with the real requirements and needs of the labour market. Mr. President, Inclusion is another major concern in terms of my country’s political orientation.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners and friendly countries, as well as all others who, through their multifaceted support, accompany our efforts to conserve and manage our forests sustainably. Mr. President, Gabon, like many oil-producing countries, has suffered the full impact of the drastic fall in commodity prices. That situation has led to the slowing down of our economic activity. In that context, I have instructed the Government to put in place the Transformation Acceleration Plan (TAP). That programme aims to revive our economy by accelerating the transition to a post-oil era and by focusing on new growth engines with the potential to be increased. Those include the mining, forestry and agricultural sectors.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Achieving those commitments is crucial to support the efforts of countries like Gabon, which has substantially mobilized its domestic resources in the implementation of climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation projects. In its investment for climate security, Gabon saves the equivalent of 140 million tons of carbon each year, while emitting only 35 million tons. Therefore, with a difference of more than 100 million tons of carbon each year, Gabon’s action is crucial for the future of all humankind. The inscription of Ivindo National Park on the World Heritage List, following Lope National Park, affirms the universal and exceptional value of our protected.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Those reforms are indispensable as they are likely to have a considerable impact on the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, including the response to the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples contained in Agenda 2063. Mr. President, The hope of rebuilding our governance models in a sustainable way and to meet the needs of the planet requires the commitments made to be respected and put into practice. I am thinking in particular of the transfer of so-called clean technologies and the improvement of people’s access to renewable energies in order to accelerate their transition into decarbonized, environmentally friendly industries.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Gabon will seize every opportunity to call for the advent of a fairer international order, marked by a reform of the United Nations Security Council that includes both equitable representation within the Council and an improvement in its working methods, in line with the Common African Position expressed in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. In parallel with greater international solidarity and the expected reform of the Security Council, the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and ECOSOC must also be carried out in order to give a new impetus to our Organization.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As members are aware, Gabon has always been committed to peace and climate security. That commitment will remain intact throughout my country’s term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022-2023. Welcoming the confidence of the international community, I would like to reiterate my firm commitment to work tirelessly to silence the guns everywhere and to take resolute action in the ongoing search for a global consensus that will ensure the security, dignity and prosperity of the peoples of the world.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Those phenomena interact with socioeconomic and political problems in our countries, highlighting risks such as political and economic instability, food insecurity and large-scale migration, inter alia. States and communities should now adapt to face the challenges of climate change. Therefore, without prejudice to mitigation, the international political agenda needs a significant increase in resources for adaptation to climate change. I remain convinced that no single Government can take on climate change adaptation alone. International cooperation is therefore, in my view, essential to support local action, both as a means to enhance international security and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The link between climate change and insecurity also appears obvious to me.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, should therefore be an unprecedented moment of action. I recall that the objective is to halve greenhouse gas emissions and preserve biodiversity while promoting investment in green infrastructure in developing countries to stimulate and decarbonize their economies. Indeed, the consequences of climate change, notably sea-level rise, earthquakes and recurrent forest fires, are putting our societies and communities under pressure and should make us aware of the urgency of acting collectively.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Once again, I call on world leaders to step up multilateral efforts in order to build together a global economy that takes into account the aspirations of peoples who want to see a more equitable sharing of vaccines and technological progress. At such a pivotal phase of the dynamics of coming together, it is fundamental to meet the just demands of the universal conscience, including an equitable distribution of the benefits of technologies. Otherwise, we run the risk of seeing an international order that constitutes a source of human fragility, mistrust between nations and global insecurity. Another issue that calls for our solidarity and is a priority for us today is the climate security of our planet.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We also need to train quality human capital, invest massively and urgently in health infrastructure and finally break the vicious circle of dependence on raw materials. Our economies must therefore industrialize in order to create more wealth by taking full advantage of our human capital and natural resources. To that end, the rigorous and transparent management of debt and resources linked to the export of raw materials is essential in the transition phase. Finally, it is more vital than ever that we accelerate the digital transition and mobilize internal resources by strengthening financial inclusiveness, particularly in favour of women. All in all, we must learn the lessons of the pandemic and rebuild our societies in a more sustainable, just and inclusive way.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Joining forces to overcome the coronavirus pandemic is, in my view, an opportunity to overcome other major crises facing humankind. Indeed, COVID-19 has revealed the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of our economies and health systems, forcing us to rethink our development models in order to render them more resilient. Some developed countries are already planning to relocate all or part of their strategic productive fabric in order to reduce their external dependence. Africa should also be part of that paradigm shift in order to break away from the crises that are hindering its development. That also requires the capacity to build basic infrastructures that guarantee the security of populations, a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and the efficient management of public resources.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The proposed theme for the general debate of our session, “Building resilience through hope — to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations”, provides me with an opportunity to share our thoughts on major current issues. As we all know, the unprecedented health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still prevalent, has completely destroyed the structures our societies, our economies and our way of life together. The development of several vaccines through international collaboration and the ongoing vaccination campaigns in many countries are a ray of hope for humankind. Vaccination is the only truly effective way to stop the spread of the virus.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Mr. President, Majesties, Heads of State and Government, Ministers and Heads of Delegation, Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin by extending my warmest congratulations to Mr. Abdulla Shahid on his brilliant election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- sixth session. I am delighted to see the hope generated by his vision and his perfect knowledge of international issues. I would also like to congratulate his predecessor, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, for the remarkable work he accomplished in a particularly difficult context. To the Secretary-General, I reiterate my warm congratulations on his reappointment and my full support for his dynamic action throughout his first term of office, as well as my confidence in his leadership in the search for lasting solutions to the many threats and challenges facing our Organization.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“President, “The future we want and the UN we need” will remain mere unfulfilled wishes while so many people and human beings continue to be burdened with unfair and often unjust sanctions. In this regard, I would like to reiterate the solemn call for the complete lifting of the embargo that has been affecting Cuba for several decades, in order to enable this country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. I cannot conclude my remarks without reaffirming Gabon’s commitment to multilateralism, which is the only way forward in our legitimate quest for a secure future, and in our common ambition to build an Organization capable of meeting the complex challenges of sustainable development. Ultimately, an Organization that finds appropriate and lasting solutions to the challenges and threats facing humanity. Thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“This is the aim of the political programme for “equal opportunities” that I am promoting in favour of more just and equitable development, enhancing the value of women, young people and the most vulnerable so that no one be left on the margins of my country’s development. In this spirit, I recently appointed a woman to the post of Prime Minister, Head of Government. As a result, three ladies of utmost value, among many good women, now hold very high responsibilities at the highest level of the State. This is the case notably at the Constitutional Court, the Senate and the Office of the Prime Minister. They make an invaluable contribution to consolidating our democratic gains and our march towards progress. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In this context, my country has pursued reforms in order to offset the imbalances through economic stimulus measures earmarked for fiscal adjustment, infrastructure development and supporting the private sector as levers for diversifying and transforming our country’s economy. Today, we welcome the promising signs that are emerging following the implementation of our Economic Recovery Plan. Indeed, thanks to the return to economic growth driven by these reforms, Gabon is gradually regaining room for manoeuvre. These are necessary so as to finance the most urgent areas of investment, particularly in health care, education, training, employment and infrastructure. Mr. President, Inclusion is a major concern in my country’s political direction.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“To this end, ECCAS’ revised Treaty entered into force on 28 August 2020, and the ECCAS Commission, the new Executive Body of our Community Organization, was established on 31 August 2020, with all of its members having taken an oath. During its 17th Ordinary Summit, ECCAS adopted a community action Plan for the implementation of United Nations Resolution 1325, including the community’s strategy in response to COVID-19. It also harmonized a set of rules relating to telecommunications, information and communication technologies, cybersecurity and cross-border interconnection. Mr. President, At the national level, Gabon, like many countries, has suffered the impact of the drastic fall in commodity prices, exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — a situation that has led to the slowdown of its economic activity.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In this regard, we remain resolutely committed alongside the United Nations, the African Union, as well as within the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), to working to promote stability and peace in our States. Mr. President, At the regional level, I received a mandate from my peers to lead the Institutional Reform of ECCAS, to make our Community more efficient so as to tackle the challenges it was created to deal with, in particular those relating to Regional Integration and Development. On 28 July 2020, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECCAS adopted a new nomenclature to reflect the major challenges of the time, notably peace, security and development.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Through my voice and in solidarity with the international community, Gabon clearly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and supports the countries and peoples who fall victim to it. Mr. President, The price of instability, combined with the effects of terrorism, hotbeds of tension and multifaceted destabilization, is particularly heavy for many African countries. Indeed, they are forced to devote significant resources to tackling these phenomena, which are fuelled, inter alia, by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the trafficking of species of wild fauna and flora. It is clear to me that in the fight against these sources of instability and fragility in several regions across our Continent, a global and united approach is essential since “any threat to a Nation naturally constitutes a threat to all”.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“For us, this involves transitioning from a traditional polluting industry to a low-carbon, environmentally friendly industry. For Gabon, this is based on a foundation made up of three pillars: improved living conditions, the implementation of projects to adapt to climate change and the preservation of biodiversity. Mr. President, Development cannot be sustainable without peace, security and stability. Unfortunately, these fundamentals continue to be challenged in many parts of the world. Recurrent terrorist attacks have shown that no nation is immune to this scourge, which is why our response must be based on frank cooperation at the local, national, regional and global levels.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The need for action to ensure a more just and equitable multilateral system bears the upshot of stabilizing the prices of raw materials, which are subject to excessive speculation. This is a source of instability that is difficult to reconcile with the predictability of mobilizable resources, which our countries desperately need to be able to achieve their development objectives. In the same vein, more equitable justice would undoubtedly consist in paying countries that possess raw materials a price that is fair for their natural resources. “The future we want” also requires honouring commitments made. Here I should like to reiterate the urgency that we solidify the commitments made in favour of developing countries. Whether it be in terms of transferring clean technologies or improving people’s access to renewable energy.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, “The United Nations we need” is also dependent on a redefinition of the missions assigned to the Bretton Woods Institutions, in order to make them real engines of development and global growth. These reforms are essential for the emergence of a fairer international order promoting all of our best interests, as they impact our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, including by responding to the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples as contained in Agenda 2063. Mr. President, “The United Nations has a natural vocation” to be a response of the Peoples of the world in the face of threats to their aspirations for dignity, peace and prosperity. The United Nations must therefore be humanity’s response against fatality and injustice.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
““The world in which we live” therefore requires a multilateral system that promotes cooperation for the benefit of all and a pooling of our efforts. In this regard, the reform of the UN Security Council, including equitable representation within it and an improvement in its working methods, has emerged as a necessity and even a critical imperative. Gabon, through me, remains fundamentally committed to the African common position, as expressed by the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Along with greater international solidarity and the reform of the UN Security Council, the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly as well as the reform of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) must also be carried out in order to stimulate a new dynamic in our Organization. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“This is the perfect setting to welcome the important Declaration adopted on the occasion of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN. This reflects the scale of the task before us and the scope of the commitments to be undertaken to ensure no one is left behind. Mr. President, The theme of our work is particularly relevant and timely. “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our commitment to multilateralism” are indeed powerful words that call on our respective consciences. Indeed, Nations operating individually cannot protect themselves from climate change, tensions associated with trade competition, growing inequalities and the increase in terrorist attacks and acts of transnational crime.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It reminds us that the only way to salvation is multilateralism and greater international solidarity. In the light of this reality, the Founding Fathers of our Organization built the conceptual bedrock of collective security that is at the heart of the United Nations Charter. One aspect emerging from the current crisis is the insufficiency of a normative framework in confronting the global challenges facing our world. So, we should reinvent ourselves and act more effectively so as to contain transnational and cross-border threats such as the current pandemic. As our family of Nations celebrates the 75-year existence of the UN, our shared home, we must live up to the values and ideals that guided its creation.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I also express my appreciation to the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for the work carried out in strengthening the effectiveness of our Organization and his commitment to implementing the structural reforms underway at the UN. Mr. President, The world today is at a turning point in its history. We are indeed in the middle of an unprecedented health crisis, which is destroying our societies and taking its toll on every nation. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to exacerbating the political, security and socioeconomic challenges regularly faced by States. So we must learn the lessons from this multifaceted crisis. One of the key observations apparent to us from the very beginning is our interdependence in the face of any threat to the chain of humanity in which we are all interlinked.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Mr. President, Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of Delegation, Mr. Secretary-General, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. President, Allow me at the outset of my remarks to extend my warm congratulations to you on your brilliant election as President of this 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I see it as powerful testimony to the influence of your country’s diplomacy and the high esteem in which it is held by the international community. I can assure you of Gabon’s full support throughout your mandate. I would like to commend the work accomplished by your predecessor, Professor Tijjani Muhammad Bande, who, amid a particularly difficult global health context, was able to mobilize our countries’ efforts in carrying out our agenda.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Finally, and in connection with international solidarity and justice, lifting the embargo that has plagued Cuba for several decades is only fair. Our Organization is blowing out its seventy- second candle. Its universal vocation has been firmly established. I am confident that, with our collective determination, it will be able to overcome the current multifaceted challenges to peace and security in the world. That is why prioritizing human beings by ensuring peace and a decent life for all on a protected planet is no longer a simple ambition but a collective duty.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I commend the efforts by the United States and France to push for a resumption of the peace process. Similarly, we have noted the recent events on the Korean peninsula and remain firmly committed to peace and stability in that part of the world. We call for strict compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions in that regard. Another major human tragedy unfolding before our eyes is the situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar. In the twenty-first century it is simply unacceptable that men, women and children are being killed or forced to flee their country for the mere fact that they belong to a particular religious community. The Assembly’s universal conscience cannot and must not accept that.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“International measures designed to combat the illegal trade in such resources must be properly enforced if we wish to defeat the armed groups that continue to carry out such criminal activities. Working to foster peace also requires eliminating weapons of mass destruction by implementing the relevant international instruments. Some parts of the Middle East have been the focus of the serious threats to international peace and security caused by the nebulous terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, which is exacerbating instability in Syria and Iraq. In that connection, we must address the question of Palestine, which remains a thorn in the side of the international community. In my view, the resumption of direct talks between the two sides remains the only way to reach a solution.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I call on our various partners to support the action plan developed by ECCAS and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, as well as the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme. Similarly, the arms embargo must be lifted for the legal and legitimate Government of the Central African Republic exclusively, so that it can restore security and its authority throughout the national territory. The resilience and defiance of the negative forces that are ravaging the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and other parts of the Central African subregion derive their strength from the illegal exploitation of underground natural resources and wildlife.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In that regard, my country has sponsored an important resolution aimed at pooling our efforts to contain the problem, which decimates our flora and fauna and encourages instability in a number of regions, particularly in Africa. Speedy implementation of the recommendations put forward in the resolution is essential and should guide us in seeking the proper balance between the protection of nature and the survival of local populations, who are actually the main victims of poaching. Among the worrying current situations in Africa, that in the Central African Republic requires our sustained attention. Gabon continues to have a presence in that brother country as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I also commend the initiative taken by the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel to establish a subregional force to effectively combat terrorism and all other threats to peace and security. Combating terrorism is a multifaceted and long- term struggle that requires cooperation among States and solidarity with the victims of such barbarism. The response cannot be exclusively military. I therefore call for the implementation of the relevant provisions of resolution 2199 (2015) in order to reduce the sources of financing for these criminal networks. In addition to terrorism, another serious threat to many countries, including mine, is poaching.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Through its Office in Libreville, ECCAS supports Central Africa in its efforts to deal with the peace and security challenges in the region. In that regard, member countries have confirmed their firm determination to fight the beast of terrorism in all its forms regardless of its motivation. To that end, the subregional counter-terrorism strategy for Central Africa, which was recently endorsed in Yaoundé and is in line with the African Union counter-terrorism strategy, translates our commitment to eradicating that scourge through concrete steps. I take this opportunity to commend the upcoming holding of a joint summit of ECCAS and the Economic Community of West African States on counter-terrorism, which I have always hoped to see happen and which was encouraged by Security Council resolution 2349 (2017).”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)