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

1. “With regard to my country’s ongoing commitment to those key issues, I have agreed to lead the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change for the next two years, following the term of my Egyptian brother President Al Sisi. I will be responsible for bringing Africa’s voice to all climate-change negotiations. At the subregional level, my peers have also appointed me Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). My task will be to spearhead an institutional reform process in that important regional integration body. We are even more determined to ensure economic integration in our subregion because we believe that joint development is needed in order to deal with the fluctuations in the international market.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

2. “I would like to take this opportunity to express the condolences and moral support of the people of Gabon to the countries that have been victims of the recent hurricanes and cyclones, as well as the victims of the earthquake in Mexico. Gabon will not deviate from its path. Our public policies will continue to be aimed at managing our resources responsibly and sustainably. In that spirit, my country has just created 20 marine protected areas in addition to our existing 13 national parks on land. I have also instructed the Government to strengthen its reforestation policy so as to ensure the sustainability of our forests.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

3. “The future of our planet will depend on our determination to honour the commitments that we undertook in the Paris Agreement during the twenty- first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We do not have the right to disappoint our peoples at this historic moment, because the challenges posed by global warming are not simply environmental in nature — they are also political, economic and security challenges. We have even less right to disappoint our peoples, given that the reality that we may wish to ignore calls attention to itself every day with increasingly brutal force, in the form of all the recent environmental disasters.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

4. “In response, we have adopted an economic recovery programme aimed at providing new economic momentum through measures that adjust the budget, develop infrastructure and encourage the private sector to leverage our economy’s diversification and transformation. Nevertheless, my Government is striving to offer the people of Gabon better living conditions through a number of measures, ranging from reducing the prices of food staples to building new hospitals. I have also initiated an equal-opportunity programme that will enable all Gabonese people to enjoy the same resources as they embark on a path of personal and collective fulfilment. To that end, I have placed women’s empowerment at the heart of the Government’s agenda.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

5. “As for Gabon, the new Government is operating under a framework entitled “Emerging Gabon 2025: a vision, a strategy, a road map”, aimed at achieving sustainable development and diversifying the national economy. That approach, which seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on extractive industries and dampen the volatility of raw-material prices, is already taking shape through an industrial base that is creating jobs and wealth, the Nkok special economic zone. Gabon has not been spared from the crisis that has affected our entire planet and that has been reflected in an economic slowdown that has had a negative impact on employment, particularly for young people.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

6. “Moreover, the implementation of the conclusions of the political dialogue has already begun, with the recent formation of a new Government that includes representatives from the opposition and civil society. With the adoption first of the Millennium Development Goals and, subsequently, of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Organization is continuing its efforts to mobilize the international community in order to offer humankind a decent life on a preserved planet. Beyond such declarations, however, if we are to achieve the SDGs, the time has come to give the Organization the resources it needs to carry out its work through predictable and sustained financing.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

7. “Inasmuch as peace is essential at the international level, peace and security at the national level are the basic ingredients for development and for the participation of all in the democratic debate. Gabon is a country that bears the stamp of peace, and we want to remain the haven of fraternity and solidarity that we have always been. That is why, at the beginning of the year, I convened a political dialogue to which I invited all of the nation’s most prominent persons. Everyone who participated in the dialogue was able to candidly discuss all of our country’s important issues and desired reforms. We reached compromises that were difficult but also dynamic and necessary — on the voting system, electoral procedures and the organization of powers.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

8. “It reminds us all of the place that the human individual must occupy in our respective actions and of our obligation to reconcile development and durable peace with the preservation of the environment for present and future generations. It is up to us all to act to fashion a human species for whom a decent life for all will be self-evident. Along with security, peace is an essential prerequisite for the development of Africa, including my country of Gabon. In that connection, Africa continues to occupy the lion’s share of the Security Council’s agenda, and my country therefore endorses the African position in favour of a permanent seat for Africa on the Council.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

9. “At the outset, let me congratulate Mr. Miroslav Lajčák on his outstanding election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. I wish to assure him of Gabon’s support in his fulfilment of the mandate entrusted to him. I also commend the valuable work of his predecessor, Ambassador Peter Thomson. It is a privilege for me to convey my warm congratulations to the new Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres. I believe firmly that his rich and long experience is a valuable asset to our Organization, and I welcome his special emphasis on conflict prevention in his inaugural speech. The theme of the general debate of this session, “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”, lies at the very heart of our priorities.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

10. “An international system based on power, whether balanced or coordinated, has the disadvantage of promoting hierarchy and the marginalization of small States and accentuating the absence of reciprocity. On the other hand, multilateralism, of which the United Nations is the guarantor, favours collective security over the balance of power, inclusion over selection. Seventy years after the establishment of the United Nations, the growing number of its States Members shows that the world has definitely opted for multilateralism. Such intention necessarily involves an innovative political plan based on the principles of equality, inclusion, indivisibility and reciprocity. That is the primary goal of the United Nations. May the Almighty help us to achieve it.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

11. “Over the course of recent decades the world has changed at a fast pace, an evolution that unfortunately is in contrast with the inflexibility of the ideas, institutions, rules and practices that form the framework of global governance. A new architecture whose legitimacy is founded on the participation of all in the management of the affairs of the world is now necessary. The United Nations must resolutely embark on the path of reform if it wishes to continue to play a strategic and diplomatic role at the highest global level. Now that democracy is a cardinal value, the organization of world affairs should no longer be based on the precept of balance of power.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

12. “It is therefore important that the international community mobilize to set up coping mechanisms to mitigate the effects of global warming. Since the Copenhagen Conference, Gabon has, through me, has continued to call for the adoption of a universal and binding agreement on climate change. The upcoming Paris Conference in December will enable us to achieve that vital objective. To achieve it, we must avoid the mistakes made in Copenhagen. The crucial nature of the Conference is such that it cannot be postponed for another year, because what is at stake is the survival of humankind. If we postpone it, it will be too late.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

13. “That is why I appeal to the Heads of State and Government of those two regional poles to conduct constant consultations during the Paris negotiations. It is commonly said that climate change has a close connection with the migration crisis. The fight against climate change will certainly help reduce extreme poverty. The desired solutions involve, among other things, the development of the energy and water sectors, but they must also include increased Government investment in such areas as education and professional training. Africa needs electricity and water. Africa also needs to create jobs to improve the well-being of its populations. Providing responses to the climate change through the development of a new economic model will enable people to remain in their home countries.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

14. “The gravity of the situation requires that we, leaders of the world, be able to courageously overcome our differences and make every effort to reach agreement in Paris. The climate situation continues to deteriorate. In the opinion of the experts, the year 2014 was the warmest ever, and everything suggests an increase of 4°C, 5°C or 6°C in global warming if nothing is done today. It is therefore time for us to assume our responsibilities and make the right decisions, the decisions that our peoples expect of us. It is a question of the survival of humankind and the legacy we bequeath to future generations. Africa and South America, which are the two lungs of the planet, have a fundamental role to play in the negotiations.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

15. “Climate change, another new threat to international peace and security, is increasingly affecting our ecosystems and the survival of the planet. If we do not act today, the consequences will be devastating — floods in some areas, droughts in others and even breaches of the peace in certain cases. My country notes the relative progress made in the process of negotiations in Bonn. However, I note that just two months before the upcoming twenty-first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Paris, those negotiations are far from attaining any preliminary agreement before we set to work in earnest to conclude an agreement at the Conference.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

16. “In certain circumstances, the mandates must be more robust, especially when there is no alternative but to impose peace. In that case, based on Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, we should be able to provide peacekeeping operations with mandates that authorize the military to resort to force to impose peace. We must be able to give peacekeeping operations the mandate to create conditions for peace rather than to maintain a fragile peace framed by a ceasefire agreement. The revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is another aspect of United Nations reform desired by the majority of Member States. I welcome resolution 69/321 on that issue, adopted on 11 September 2015. I am convinced that the resolution will strengthen the Assembly, which is the most representative body of the United Nations.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

17. “For several years, peacekeeping operations, which are the specialized arm of the Security Council, have been the subject of profound restructuring. I welcome the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. I am particularly interested in the recommendations concerning the use of new technologies and improved communications between local populations and mission personnel, on the one hand, and between the Secretariat and contributing countries, on the other. I also support that sustainable development during the post-conflict phase is being taken into account. Furthermore, in order to be more effective, peacekeeping missions should receive predictable financing and clear mandates of limited duration so as to avoid their becoming unduly long.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

18. “Gabon reiterates its support for making the Security Council more democratic so that it involves all regions when it developments and implements its decisions. It is from that perspective that we reiterate our full commitment to the African position, as expressed in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, and to the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on the issue. The time is opportune to translate the reform, which has been accepted and desired by all, into action. The question of the use of the veto is an integral part of the Security Council reform process. My country supports the initiative of France and Mexico on the rational use of the veto by the Council’s permanent members.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

19. “The support that Member States gave the Gabonese presidency of the Council enabled Gabon make significant progress towards achieving the objectives intended by that reform. I wish to thank Member States for that support. For my country, the improvement of human rights must first be considered from an educational, not a political, point of view. The United Nations must engage in an ongoing dialogue with Member States to help them overcome the challenges that they face with regard to respect for human rights. Confrontation in that area does not appear to be constructive to me. The maintenance and consolidation of peace necessarily depends on the reform of the Security Council. That ambition also calls for the reform of peacekeeping operations.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

20. “With good international cooperation we could benefit from the increased monitoring of the financial flows that fuel the phenomenon. My country reaffirms its solidarity with all initiatives to combat international terrorism in all its forms. There has been significant and undeniable progress in the area of human rights worldwide. Through United Nations assistance, political systems have become open and national institutions ensuring equality and justice for all have been put into place within nations. At the request of the Member States, the United Nations undertook the reform of the Commission on Human Rights and transformed it into the Human Rights Council. The goal was to make the body more proactive, less politicized and, above all, more effective. I welcome the part that my country played in that effort.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

21. “That is why I welcome the recent agreement between the international community and the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning its nuclear programme. The terrorist threat continues to expand throughout the world. Besides the Middle East, Africa has become a new theatre of operations for a number of terrorist groups. In West Africa and Central Africa, the Boko Haram sect spreads terror and resists countermeasures by the countries on the front line. In East Africa, especially in Somalia, Al-Shabaab commita devastating atrocities and continues to challenge the African Union Mission in Somalia. If we are to be more effective in the fight against terrorism, we must necessarily strengthen international cooperation. We must pool our efforts to address that scourge.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

22. “I would also like to welcome the positive developments this year in the relations between Cuba and the United States of America in the wake of the normalization agreement and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. I would like to believe that this development will soon result in the lifting of the embargo against Cuba. The nagging question of the ongoing threat posed by the excessive accumulation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, can be resolved only within the framework of multilateral mechanisms, such as the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). My country remains firmly committed to the international system of non-proliferation, as enshrined in the relevant instruments, such as the NPT.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

23. “The international community must work together to assist the Central African Republic in holding elections before the end of the year. That country will then be able to put an end to the current troubled period in its history. In the Middle East, the situation between Israel and Palestine remains a source of concern. The international community must become more involved in efforts to resume the peace negotiations. Resolving other, similarly complex situations in other regions of the world has proved that there is no challenge that cannot be overcome. The establishment of a Palestinian State remains the only viable prospect for guaranteeing peace in the subregion. We must work together to ensure that the State of Palestine and Israel can coexist in peace and mutual acceptance.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

24. “Gabon would like to encourage the Organization, particularly the Security Council, to continue efforts to overcome those threats, with a view to developing more suitable and comprehensive responses to the current security challenges. Several crises continue in Africa despite the efforts of the Security Council, the African Union and subregional organizations. In the Central African Republic in particular, despite the progress made this year, the situation remains fragile and a cause for concern. Events in recent days have proved that the stability in the country must be strengthened. We must redouble our efforts to move towards a transition. I invite the stakeholders to exercise greater restraint and to prioritize dialogue so as not to undermine efforts being made to restore peace in the country.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

25. “In that same vein, I would like to mention the Security Council presidential statement on the illicit circulation of small and light weapons in Central Africa (S/PRST/2010/6). On the initiative of Gabon and Germany, the General Assembly adopted, on 30 July 2015, a resolution on illegal trafficking in wildlife (resolution 69/314). I am delighted at the large number of sponsors, which reflected an unprecedented level of support from the international community on the matter. That resolution also reflected our willingness to pool our efforts — countries of origin, transit and destination — in order to end that phenomenon. I believe that we will be more effective if we work together.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

26. “Despite our many efforts, however, international peace and security unfortunately continue to be threatened, as we witness in the emergence of new challenges. Our Organization must adopt a new structure in order to adapt to the new international environment. New threats have emerged in the form of terrorism, maritime piracy, trafficking of all kinds and smuggling. Such threats call for new kinds of responses. My country welcomes the fact that the Security Council is taking those new threats under its consideration. It is in that regard that Gabon contributed, when we were a member of the Security Council in 2010-2011, to adopting a historic resolution on the impact of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic on international peace and security (Security Council resolution 1983 (2011)).”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

27. “We should underscore, in passing, that in 2010 the General Assembly, on Gabon’s initiative, adopted the resolution to establish International Widows Day (resolution 65/189). We have come together to respond to humanitarian emergencies, global warming and other cross-border threats. Together, we are working to effectively respond to the many security challenges stemming from terrorism and other cross-border threats. Together, we have made progress in the area of international criminal justice in order to be more effective in combating impunity. Working together, we have also fostered dialogue among cultures and civilizations, strengthened relations among the peoples of the world and lowered identity barriers.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

28. “The topic of this session provides us with an opportunity to take a look at how our Organization works. It also affords us a chance to develop forecasts and new prospects for the Organization’s future activities, by basing them on the main pillars of its agenda, namely, peace, security and human rights. It is time to acknowledge the solid nature of the United Nations and its leadership, expressed through Member States constantly working together to manage international affairs. Together, we organized the fight against poverty and major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and we are now conquering Ebola. Together, we have fought for the rights of vulnerable persons such as the disabled, the elderly, indigenous peoples and women and children, including widows and orphans.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

29. “This session is being held at a time when humankind is facing numerous challenges, some more difficult than others. Migration crises, humanitarian crises, immigration crises, deadly conflicts, terrorism, economic crises, climate change and pandemics are the challenges we face. It is obvious that, 70 years after the establishment of the United Nations, we are increasingly aware of the dangers that those situations pose, both for us and for future generations. That explains our presence and activities here and elsewhere in an effort to coordinate our many actions. More than ever before, the eyes of our peoples are on the United Nations. More than ever before, our Organization has shown itself to be a unique forum that is universal in nature and where humankind’s diverse concerns and aspirations can be wholly expressed.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

30. “On the basis of those convictions, Gabon will continue to be committed, within the Organization, to working for peace and development, which is also at the heart of the vision that I have proposed for the future of my own country, a future I wish for all countries.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

31. “With regard to the embargo on Cuba, Gabon reiterates its position in favour of lifting that ban because of its negative impact on the well-being of the Cuban population. It is our obligation to transform our international institutions in order to make them more equipped to meet current challenges. The reform of the Security Council, enhancing the role and authority of the General Assembly and the reform of the Economic and Social Council are all to be wished. It is essential for our common future that we assume that responsibility, in the spirit of the Charter. Assuring such a future calls upon our shared but differentiated responsibility and forces us to act for the well-being of humankind.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

32. “We strongly condemn the use of such weapons, and Gabon calls for the destruction of all stockpiles of chemical weapons throughout the world. With regard to the investigations being carried out by United Nations inspectors in Syria, we call upon all parties to fully cooperate. Furthermore, Gabon supports all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a political solution that will allow us to emerge from that crisis. In the event that its efforts are blocked, the Security Council must take measures. With regard to Palestine and the State of Israel, the possibility of resuming talks with the impetus of the United States must be welcomed. Gabon still supports the broadly accepted view of two viable States, Israel and Palestine, coexisting in mutual security and respect within recognized borders.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

33. “In the face of those new threats, it is important for the United Nations to continue to enhance its cooperation with regional African organizations. Furthermore, we must ensure the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, which was the first legally binding instrument on the matter adopted by the General Assembly, in May. In a world stricken by tensions and crises, we must continue to work towards ensuring that the Organization can better fulfil its mandate in the area of international peace and security, with a particular emphasis on conflict prevention, while supporting peaceful resolutions to emerging crises. The crisis in Syria has already claimed many lives, and we have seen an unacceptable escalation in the form of the use of chemical weapons.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

34. “Following the Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, which was held in June in Yaounde, we adopted a strategy for combating those threats. Gabon is ready to make contributions towards the measures that were adopted at the Summit. I also welcome efforts by the Security Council to address the problem, particularly through resolution 2018 (2011). Africa cannot face up to the challenges of peace and security alone. Its efforts must be given better support, because instability in Africa will have repurcussions in other regions. I thank our partners, particularly France, Japan, Germany, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union, for their significant contributions towards such efforts.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

35. “I would like to wish him all the best, and I call upon the international community to support the reconstruction of Mali. With regard to Western Sahara, Gabon welcomes efforts to bring about dialogue and negotiations by the Organization. My country would also like to reiterate that it supports the Moroccan initiative for Western Sahara, which we believe is a courageous and realistic proposal, one that could lead to a lasting settlement. We call upon the different players to reach a constructive and dynamic compromise, the results of which will benefit the unity of Africa. Africa should be able to respond to new threats to peace and security, including transnational crime, the illicit trafficking in small arms, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, which the Atlantic coast is now experiencing.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

36. “We welcome the establishment of the International Support Mission to the Central African Republic by the African Union, which will take over from the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic. Gabon calls for a contingency plan to be put in place for the new mission. I would like to thank France, which is supporting efforts on the part of the subregion to ensure that peace returns to the Central African Republic. In Mali, at the height of the crisis, Gabon responded to a funding appeal by the African Union, which was launched to support its efforts in that country. We commend the positive political change that has taken place in Mali, proof of which can be seen in the presidential elections and the decision by the people of Mali to elect President Keita.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

37. “We welcome the increased efforts on the part of the United Nations to implement Security Council resolution 2098 (2013) and the commitments made by the parties to the Framework Agreement signed in Addis Ababa. All countries in the Great Lakes region must support efforts by the United Nations. We would also encourage the efforts on the part of the Government to ensure that elections are held soon. Gabon supports the transition in the Central African Republic, for which we have worked with members of the Economic Community of Central African States. We hope that the numerous stakeholders will adhere strictly to the transition framework. Nevertheless, we are still concerned by the humanitarian and security situation in the country, as well as by the renewed activities on the part of the Lord’s Resistence Army.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

38. “During this twentieth anniversary year of the Vienna Declaration, Gabon will promote economic, social and cultural rights and seek to combat racism, hatred and violence throughout the world. It is on the basis of those commitments that Gabon will present itself as a candidate for the presidency of the Human Rights Council in 2014. Africa is more hopeful for its future, but if that hope is to be realized throughout the continent Africa must be able to resolve crises preventing its development. Allow me to list some crisis situations. First of all, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon is still concerned by fighting in the eastern part of the country, where women and children are paying a high price.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

39. “I also call on the United Nations to integrate that issue into its cooperation efforts with the African Union. In May in Marrakech, Morocco, in the presence of the African Development Bank, I proposed the creation of a trust fund aimed at strengthening capacity-building in Africa and other efforts. Clearly, sustainable development must be based on good governance, equality, access to justice and the protection of human rights and democracy. In Gabon we are striving, with all national stakeholders, to strengthen those areas. We are collecting biometrical data in order to enhance election transparency, thus strengthening democracy. Furthermore, our election to the current Human Rights Council is in line with our commitments, particularly in terms of promoting and protecting the rights of women and children.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

40. “That question should cause greater concern. That is why I fully support the Secretary-General’s initiative to convene a summit on climate change in 2014. In addition to climate, biodiversity is threatened by poaching and the illicit trade in protected species. Elephants and rhinoceros are especially threatened owing to the illegal trade in ivory and horns. That phenomenon has become both an ecologic and an economic challenge; it is a transnational crime that threatens States’ security. Along with the Federal Republic of Germany and other States, we have initiated a debate on that issue. On 26 September, here at the United Nations, an event will take place on the sidelines to mobilize support on the issue. We would be honoured by the presence and participation of members of the Assembly in the discussions.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

41. “In the context of the post-2015 development agenda, improved assessment and monitoring of countries’ progress will become important. To that end, Gabon has proposed a sustainable development index that will combine the human development index and countries’ ecological footprints. Our quest for sustainable development must also ensure a binding climate treaty. Our best global experts tirelessly draw attention to global warming. The very existence of some States is threatened. It is necessary to state that we remain prisoners of our own interests and climate sceptics. For its part, Gabon has assumed its responsibilities by implementing measures such as our land-use programme and our environmental programme. Can we advance towards a post-Kyoto agreement in 2015 through strong and courageous steps in the interest of future generations?”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

42. “It must promote the transformation of our economies with a view to inclusive and sustainable growth. Such an approach has led me, as the Chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, to propose to my peers — who have accepted — the creation of a fund of $200 million for the training and employment of young people, entitled “Train My Generation”. Its goal is to enhance the role of youth in our countries’ development efforts. In that spirit, at the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, I proposed to my peers that by 2020 Africa should be able to convert its raw materials prior to exportation. Using that approach, Gabon is already processing 40 per cent of its timber locally, thereby doubling employment in that sector.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

43. “In that context, Gabon draws two main conclusions: the importance of strengthened governance and the need for further efforts in education and health aimed at more equitable and inclusive growth. As members begin to consider the post-2015 development agenda, I wish to note that Gabon seeks a post-2015 development agenda with a particular focus on Africa’s priorities; it would include the unrealized MDGs among the future sustainable development goals and would take into account specific issues such as energy, access to clean water and sustainable agriculture. My country also seeks an agenda based on predictable funding that combines public and private funding, innovative financing and global partnerships. That agenda should stimulate direct investment and increase our share of international trade.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

44. “I therefore welcome the opportunity at this session to set the stage for the post-2015 development agenda and consider the necessary action remaining to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs have provided a global solidarity pact for our countries’ socioeconomic development. I would like to emphasize here that Gabon has achieved noteworthy progress in poverty reduction, food security and education. We have significantly reduced infant and maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS prevalence and malaria mortality. We have strengthened women’s participation in the political and economic life of the country. Despite the efforts made by States, it must be recognized that some of the MDGs will not be achieved as expected, owing mainly to unfulfilled commitments and reduced funding.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

45. “This session has opened in a context marked by the terrorist attack against a shopping centre in Nairobi that killed many innocent people, including children. It was an intolerable act and I express, here in the Hall, my country’s strongest condemnation of the perpetrators. I also express my own and my country’s deepest condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Kenya. Gabon offers its support to the Government of Kenya at this trying time. As a target of terrorism, Africa should receive the international community’s full support and solidarity in its fight against the threat. Poverty fuels extremism throughout the world, and the fight against that scourge must remain at the heart of our policies. Our peoples, especially the youth, demand greater socioeconomic progress from us.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

46. “I am honoured to take the floor on behalf of Gabon at the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly. I warmly congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President and I assure you of Gabon’s full support. I also pay tribute to the remarkable work of your predecessor, Mr. Vuk Jeremi., President of the General Assembly at its sixty- seventh session. I wish to reiterate our confidence in the cross-cutting work of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, as well as the important organizational reforms undertaken. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Boubacar Keita of the Republic of Mali and His Excellency Mr. Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran on their elections in their respective countries.”

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)

47. “It is in that spirit that my country will continue to make its contribution both in our Organization and in our common work for peace, security, development and prosperity for all.”

    2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)

48. “Together, those actions strengthen the climate of peace bequeathed to us by my illustrious predecessor, thereby creating an environment conducive to the well- being of citizens and to the security of investments needed for the development of the country. We are therefore ready to welcome diversified and mutually beneficial partnerships and look forward to doing so. Our countries and the international community as a whole must today overcome considerable challenges. Our efforts can fulfil the aspirations of our peoples only if we cooperate to achieve global governance based on respect for the rule of law, dialogue among peoples, conflict prevention, protection of the environment and biodiversity. Our ultimate goal must be, above all, the well-being of our peoples.”

    2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)

49. “Given current economic challenges, I recently instituted measures to improve the daily lives of my fellow citizens by tackling the cost of living — for instance, by suspending customs duties and the value added-tax on several basic items and building materials. In the social arena, we have put in place a national system of health coverage for all strata of Gabonese society. That coverage, which is part of our fight against HIV/AIDS, includes free antiretrovirals and prenatal and maternal care for all infected pregnant women. At the political level, we have introduced biometrics to improve the organization of the next elections. We continue our efforts to talk with all leading players in the nation, in particular through the National Council for Democracy.”

    2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)

50. “I am also pleased at the adoption, on 21 June, of the outcome of the Rio+20 Conference, which reflects the international community’s recognition of the need to work together to promote sustainable development through the joint efforts of individuals, Governments, civil society and the private sector. Along those lines I have instructed my Government to rethink our country’s institutional framework for sustainable development, with an eye to enacting legislation on the subject. Gabon is also pursuing the opportunities offered by a green economy in eradicating poverty. We are also continuing to develop our human resources, our financial services capabilities, new information technologies and ecotourism.”

    2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)