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

“During last year’s session I referred to work in progress in my country towards the goal we set for ourselves to become an emerging country by 2025. Since then that initiative has begun to produce results in the creation of strategic infrastructures, strengthening the rule of law and social, political and economic reforms. We continue to take steps to diversify our economy through local promotion of the natural resources we export, which encourages wealth creation and employment. Those efforts must be based on sustainable management of our forests and their biodiversity, which plays an important role in the global environment. In that vein we are fighting poaching and the illegal trafficking in protected species.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Gabon will therefore follow with great interest the issue of an increased role for the Economic and Social Council. Many countries remain concerned with economic conditions. We must therefore rethink our approaches to sustainable development initiatives. We must reflect clearly on the post-2015 development agenda, especially on how to coordinate the Millennium Development Goals and the sustainable development goals enunciated in the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) (resolution 66/288). It is also crucial to break the impasse in the World Trade Organization by rethinking the basis for negotiations. We will thereby be better able to promote the tripartite model of aid together with investment and trade towards sustainable development.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is why we are working along with other countries in Central Africa to put in place confidence-building measures, including the early warning mechanism for Central Africa. We greatly appreciate the support offered by the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, which my country hosts, in promoting peace. During my tenure as Acting Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, I will emphasize regional integration as a means to common economic development and strengthening peaceful connections among member States. We know that the conflicts shaking the world have numerous and complex causes. Any lasting settlement of those crises requires an approach that combines support for institution-building and governance in the affected countries with initiatives to revitalize their economies.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We must strengthen the Assembly’s role as an active force and as the premier forum for global democracy. Likewise, in its commitment to Security Council reform, Gabon continues to support permanent and equitable representation for Africa. As we did during our recent tenure on the Council, we will continue our focus on mediation, prevention and the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts. We believe action must be taken before disputes escalate into armed conflict, sparing the heavy expense of peacekeeping operations. But current realities force us to focus also on new, cross-cutting threats to peace and security, including trafficking in small arms and light weapons and maritime piracy, which is ravaging the Gulf of Guinea.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The General Assembly has many times spoken out on the side of those two peoples’ aspirations, through numerous resolutions, which my country has unequivocally supported. To fulfil the aspirations of all peoples, we need global governance that is more balanced, more democratic, better structured and based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Such governance must be founded on the primacy of international law and respect for the sovereignty of States in their quest for democracy and development. Throughout the coming sixty-seventh session we will focus on certain priority issues, starting with various reforms of the Organization, especially the revitalization of the General Assembly, to make it better able to play its part given the changes and current realities in the world.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“All of us know of his work for peace in Somalia and the Sudan, his commendable tenures as Chair of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee and his focus on climate change. It goes without saying that the crises and conflicts that continue to ravage the world constitute a profound betrayal of the cry-from-the-heart aspirations of all peoples for peace and security, justice, development and the equal sovereignty of States. Those cries come from the people of Palestine and Cuba, who long for a better future. One wants recognition of a State living in peace and security with its neighbours, within secure, internationally recognized borders, while the other wants an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo it suffers under.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I welcome the progress made in Somalia with the adoption of its provisional Constitution and the election of the new President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whom I congratulate and commend. Gabon will continue to help Somalia, as it did last year with humanitarian contributions. I commend United Nations and African Union involvement in Somalia. Thanks to the African Union Mission in Somalia and to Government forces, security is improving even far outside Mogadishu. I have the highest praise for the country, whose troops pay a heavy price on the ground. I honour the memory of the first Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, who passed away on 22 August.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I urge the Security Council and Member States to support the United Nations integral regional strategy on the Sahel, which addresses issues of security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian concerns. When we served on the Security Council, we joined other members in responding to the appeals of the Libyan people. The situation there is still dire, and we encourage the United Nations to continue to work to promote political stability and reconstruction efforts. We reiterate our condemnation of the attack on the United States Consulate in Benghazi. With regard to the ongoing tensions in the eastern part of our brother country the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our collective support for the Congolese State must be maintained in security, political and humanitarian matters.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is shown by the situations in the Middle East and Africa, which are still of concern to us. The Syrian crisis, which arose as an extension of the Arab Spring last year, is having a destabilizing impact on several countries of the Middle East region. We hope that the efforts undertaken by the Joint Special Representative, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, will help put a stop to confrontation and will open up a dialogue. With respect to the situation in Mali, we condemn the attempts to divide the country and the destruction of the World Heritage sites in Timbuktu. Gabon supports the efforts of the new transitional Government, the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to try to re-establish territorial integrity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“During this session, we are called upon to redefine the outlines for better management of global challenges. I would like to welcome the theme chosen by the President for this session, namely, “Bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means”, which will remain at the heart of our common efforts and is indeed an ongoing quest. The debate we held yesterday on the rule of law at the national and international levels was also a discussion of the conditions for peace in our countries and around the world. By maintaining our focus on that goal and working together, we can better tackle the challenges of an international context that is still marked by multifaceted crises, illustrated by many hotbeds of tension around the world.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I warmly congratulate the President on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. His election demonstrates the esteem in which he and his country, Serbia, are held on the international scene. I can assure him that he has the support of my country, Gabon. I also commend the outstanding work done by his predecessor, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, during his presidency of the Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. And I would like to reiterate our confidence in the efforts that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is undertaking as the head of the Organization. Our world more than ever needs a dialogue of civilizations and cultures. In order to build a more peaceful world, it needs more tolerance, more understanding and more respect among peoples.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The people of Gabon are therefore ready to exchange, create and build with the rest of the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It should also be said that the participation of women is important in all aspects of mediation, since they are always the first victims of conflicts, along with children. Finally, the United Nations must enhance its cooperation with all the other actors playing a role in this area. In Africa, the African Union, which continues to enhance its mediation capacities, is an essential player. I would like to conclude by recalling the motto of my vision for our society aimed at making Gabon an emerging country: peace, development and sharing. The climate of peace and stability that Gabon is now enjoying will be invaluable as our country enters a new phase of rapid modernization. More than ever before, Gabon wishes to cooperate with other countries. We are deeply committed to peace.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are well aware that mediation has its limits, and the international community must always be ready, if necessary, to consider other ways of ensuring conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Conflicts will be more complex and multidimensional in the future. Economic crises, environmental crises and aspirations for democracy and freedoms, which are taking on new forms, will worsen tensions, and we must follow these developments closely. Gabon will continue to support and contribute to the mediation efforts and good offices of the Secretary- General on several different fronts and in the various areas of the world where there are conflicts. Those efforts are essential. They must be enhanced by increased resources and be carried out in an impartial way, with full respect for the sovereignty of States.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Gabon is historically attached to mediation and to the peaceful settlement of disputes. This approach has always been one of the bases of our relations with our neighbouring and brotherly countries in the Central African subregion and has played a part in our contribution to the resolution of conflicts in Africa. My country will never depart from that path, in particular at the very moment when Africa is striving to achieve political and economic integration. Our commitment to the peaceful settlement of conflicts is also part of the commitments that we have undertaken under a number of conventions and treaties 11-50871 24 on human rights, humanitarian law, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, and international cooperation and solidarity.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Aid should be accompanied by more direct investment and more fair and equitable trade. To mobilize new resources, we encourage and support the efforts under way aimed at institutionalizing innovative mechanisms for funding development. The President of the General Assembly has asked us to discuss the issue of mediation. This issue is at the heart of the very raison d’être of our Organization, which is to guarantee peace and security throughout the world. Mediation and conflict prevention must remain our primary means of collective action. We all feel the need, in a complex world, to achieve greater democracy, a world where economic and cultural exchanges are better balanced and where crisis prevention, whether it be of political or other crises, is better organized, with, in particular, better early warning systems and mediation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The impact of the international financial crisis on public investment in basic social sectors, such as education, health and the provision of drinking water and electricity, is constraining our efforts to promote human development. Despite significant progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, the deadline of 2015 remains for many countries, including Gabon, a difficult challenge to meet. The Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved unless additional funds are mobilized before 2015. Development assistance is stagnating, and I see real concern as a result of the situation. The international community must make an effort to live up to the commitments it agreed to in Monterey, Doha, Gleneagles, Paris and Accra. We need a new global partnership for development to ensure lasting economic growth in our countries.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are striving to develop our timber industry, while preserving the ecological wealth of our immense tropical forest. We should also recall that the issues of the environment and international security will face us in the future. At the coming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, in South Africa, we will have to deal with that complex of issues in our work and bear in mind the link that exists between the environment and international security. Finally, we are closely following the efforts under way to delineate the limits of the continental shelf. Given the potential of undersea resources, we should ensure that their future exploitation does not lead to natural disasters. Gabon is concerned by the impact of the economic crisis on countries of the South, particularly in terms of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This expectation on the part of Africa and even other regions of the world is part of our aspirations for a true democratization of global political and economic governance. As you know, Gabon is fully committed, including within the framework of the United Nations, to protecting the environment and combating global warming. Since I assumed the highest office in my country, Gabon has taken major steps to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to increase the carbon sequestration rate of our forests. My Government has committed itself to modern ways of preserving our tropical forests and biodiversity within our 13 national parks, which cover a little more than 11 per cent of our territory. Gabon has thus launched an extensive campaign to prevent the pillaging of its natural resources and the poaching of its protected species.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The peaceful future of these two peoples is essential for the future of the Middle East and for peace in the world. Syria represents a new situation that requires efforts on all our parts. We hope that the Arab League’s 23 11-50871 mediation efforts will ensure a peaceful and democratic outcome as a matter of urgency. Gabon will be particularly attentive to the priority issues throughout this sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. Gabon is, of course, in favour of reform of the Security Council and reform of the United Nations system in general. We must enable our Organization to better discharge its mission of peace, cooperation and justice throughout the world. Africa should, in a manner that remains to be determined, have a permanent seat in the Security Council. Africa’s voice must be heard more on the international stage.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Everything must be done to deliver humanitarian aid to those who need it in the towns and villages in Somalia itself. Gabon responded to the appeal of the international community and has made a contribution. The issue of Palestine affects us all, so far- reaching are its implications for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world. It is important to stress that we all share the goal, which is the existence of two States, Palestine and Israel. On this question, I wish to express my desire, as I did here in this Hall last year and do this year with even greater hope, namely, to see soon a Palestinian State that exists in peace alongside Israel, within secure and recognized borders. The Israeli and Palestinian peoples, both friends of Gabon, aspire to live in peace and security.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Today, it is important that Libya emerge from this crisis in order to begin reconciliation for all Libyans and the reconstruction of the country. It is with this aim in mind that we took part in the conference of friends of Libya in Paris. We welcome the role played by the United Nations. It is important to work together with the African Union and other stakeholders. We are ready to contribute to the efforts of the international community in Libya. South Sudan has also joined the international community. Gabon congratulates the authorities of that newborn sister country and assures it of our support. We welcome the clear determination of Sudan and South Sudan to seek a peaceful way to settle their post- referendum issues. In Somalia, we must act resolutely because of the serious and urgent nature of the situation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Turning to Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon has endorsed the actions taken by the United Nations, aimed at respecting the will of the Ivorian people and ensuring the return to a peaceful political environment. We must now support the efforts of the new Government to achieve national reconciliation and reconstruction in our sister country. With regard to Libya, Gabon has recognized the National Transitional Council and welcomes Libya’s return to the African Union and to the international community at the United Nations. In the Security Council, along with the other two African members, we approved resolution 1973 (2011). It was incumbent on the international community to prevent the bloodbath that threatened to take place in Benghazi. We also needed to cut short a conflict that posed great danger to the civilian population.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In addition, we are also making progress with policies to support the service sector. In terms of agriculture, we intend to develop agro-industries, and to support food production and sustainable fishing, which are both so valuable for our food security. Finally, we are working on a daily basis to implement our steadfast commitment to sustainable development in the context of a green Gabon. With regard to international peace and security in Africa and throughout the world, Gabon has reiterated its commitment and has contributed according to its means. Since 2010, we have had a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. Last June, Gabon held the Presidency of that body, a role that we discharged with responsibility and commitment.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Because the people of Gabon enjoy peace at home, as well as with their neighbours and the world as a whole, we are able to achieve new development goals. This firm belief, which I proposed to my compatriots when I was elected as head of Government, lies at the heart of Gabon’s future vision for development. Since my last statement before the General Assembly a year ago, my Government has moved to take action. We are humbled by the scale of the task and the time required to ensure further progress. We are already building strategic infrastructure, including preparations for the African Cup of Nations, which Gabon will host in 2012 together with Equatorial Guinea. We are also moving forward with industrial processing projects, beginning with wood, manganese and gas.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Allow me, first of all, to warmly congratulate the President on his election. His human qualities, along with his experience, will be invaluable throughout this sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. To his predecessor, His Excellency Joseph Deiss, I wish to 11-50871 22 express our gratitude for his extremely skilful presidency. I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on his unanimous re-election, and reiterate Gabon’s full confidence in him. Allow me to recall that Gabon has always striven to contribute to peace and the peaceful settlement of conflicts through dialogue and mediation. We firmly believe in the link between peace and security, on the one hand, and development and democracy, on the other.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Africa’s destiny assuredly hangs on compliance with the commitments undertaken in Monterrey, Gleneagles, Doha, Paris and, more recently, in Muskoka and Toronto. Those commitments should not be postponed indefinitely. As humanity is one in its essence and varied in its forms, it is important that the management of the world’s affairs be done with the collaboration of all, in order to ensure that the generations to come can look to the future with confidence.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Indeed, we believe that it is an anachronism that Africa is under international pressure to reaffirm democratic values while those same laudable values cannot be applied within our own Organization. I believe the time has come for Africa to shoulder all its responsibilities, stop its continual reliance on assistance from its partners and take its own destiny in hand. This affirmation of Africa’s place on the international scene leads me to call for its permanent presence in the Security Council. We are prepared to meet that challenge in order to treat the wounds of a history replete with injustices done to the continent. Beyond the democratization of the United Nations system, which we wholeheartedly call for, the credibility of our efforts also requires that we meet the development promises made to humankind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“From that standpoint, I reaffirm the need to adapt our Organization to the changing international context. Revitalizing the work of the General Assembly, reforming the Security Council and ensuring the coherence of the United Nations system are areas that have to be dealt with to strengthen the central role of our Organization. At a time when we are realigning our common efforts with the current international environment and when democratizing global governance is emerging as a necessity, I would like to reaffirm, from this rostrum, Africa’s aspiration to fully take its place among the family of nations. We fervently call for the democratization of the United Nations system in order to adapt it to today’s realities.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The recent establishment of a new institution called UN Women, the primary mission of which is to better coordinate all the activities related to gender issues, clearly illustrates the fact that our Organization is addressing this concern. I take this opportunity to convey my sincere congratulations to an extraordinary woman, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, for her appointment as head of this new entity. Given the many challenges facing humanity, we owe it to ourselves to work together in a coordinated manner to provide a global response that matches the aspirations of our peoples. The universality of the United Nations symbolizes the shared destiny of the world’s people, and the Organization thus has a central role to play, both in global governance and in the emergence of a more just economic and social order.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We commend the efforts already undertaken by the United Nations in this area, particularly the strengthening of the legal regime and mechanisms to counter those threats. With respect to the issue of climate change, together with other heads of State and Government in Copenhagen, I undertook the quest for a consensus on the idea of a legally binding instrument. We support the negotiations undertaken in Copenhagen and continued in Bonn and hope that they will lead, in Cancún, to the reaffirmation of the commitments taken, particularly in terms of financing for the fight against climate change in developing countries and the 20 per cent reduction of greenhouse gasses in the industrialized countries by 2020. The advancement of women is undeniably one of the areas in which the United Nations has made genuine progress.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is my hope that these consultations will continue and lead to the establishment of a Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel within secure and internationally recognized borders. The terrorist threat, unfortunately, continues to weigh heavily on international peace and security. No nation large or small is spared. Defeating this scourge will require effective cooperation among all Member States, with the assistance of the United Nations and its specialized institutions. We will also need to give ongoing attention to other cross-cutting threats to international peace and security, such as piracy, the proliferation of weapons, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“With respect to the situation in Western Sahara, I encourage the parties to restart the Manhasset talks, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, in order to end the current stalemate and move towards a political solution acceptable to all. Finally, with respect to Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Madagascar, I urge the international community to support them in holding free, democratic elections in accordance with the various arrangements reached to that end. The search for peace in the Middle East is another area of concern to the international community. I commend the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the United States, which have brought about the resumption of direct talks between Israelis and 9 10-54959 Palestinians. I also thank the other Quartet members and Egypt for their involvement in that process.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the reconfiguration of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo — now the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — essentially aimed at enhancing protection for civilian populations, should be highlighted. It demonstrates the willingness of the United Nations to adapt to changing situations on the ground. I call on the countries of the region and the international community to support the efforts of the Congolese Government in its determination to ensure security and stability throughout its territory.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Specifically with respect to Darfur, I call on all parties to be further involved in the Doha political process. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the State of Qatar for its efforts to that end. In Somalia, I commend the support of the United Nations for the efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia to put an end to instability in that country. Yesterday’s mini-summit on the situation in that country attested to the United Nations ongoing interest in reaching a settlement on the question of Somalia.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The quest for peace and security remains a constant concern in Africa and elsewhere. The imminent referendum on Southern Sudan appears to be clouded with uncertainties. Indeed, the hope of a political settlement to that thorny regional issue is paralleled by the fear of the balkanization of a continent that has already suffered too many divisions. The stakes in the Sudan today perhaps foreshadow a cycle that will mark Africa’s future. I appeal to the parties and the international community, in the interests of the populations involved, to take full stock of their responsibility to ensure the success of a process leading up to the referendum. Here, I commend the commitment of the United Nations and the African Union to supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, to which my country remains committed.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Peacekeeping has not had just successes; quite the contrary, there are many cases in which, for lack of resources and ambition, the United Nations has been unable to intervene and thus abandoned defenceless populations to rebels and other armed groups. It is time for us to move beyond peacekeeping so that we can adopt, when circumstances require, a philosophy of imposing peace. We need to give ourselves the capacity to deploy robust peace missions commensurate with the nature of the conflicts that continue to destabilize certain States. Peacekeeping in and of itself will not be able to meet the challenges of security. I reiterate my call for a culture of conflict prevention, which has the advantage of both averting many casualties and saving the modest resources that are so necessary to our countries’ development.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The theme of our debate gives us yet another opportunity to assess the role of the United Nations in global governance. Our world still bears the scars of the terrible financial and economic crisis of 2008, which spared no country. The rapid and robust mobilization of the international community, and the United Nations in particular, in the face of this crisis demonstrated its ability to respond when it is motivated and supported by genuine political will. Such international solidarity should be made systematic, and we hope it will be renewed in efforts to deal with the emerging challenges that we face today. Given the complexity of the new crises we face today, we need to design a new approach to conflict management.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The many initiatives in which I have engaged my country are aimed in particular at improving governance, fighting corruption, reducing State expenses and preserving the environment, all of which requires international support. We bear in mind, of course, that our future depends above all upon our own 10-54959 8 efforts to manage our resources, achieve good governance and serve the greater good. Beyond our desire to mobilize further national and international resources, we continue to be firmly committed to the quest for peace and security, both regionally and globally. Through our membership in the Security Council, we are fully shouldering our responsibilities and making our contribution to the quest for a world that can look to the future with confidence.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Industrial Gabon draws upon efforts to promote our natural resources, while respecting the basic principles of environmental preservation. Services Gabon highlights the country’s ownership of new information and communications technology, the promotion of tourism, transportation improvements and the development of human resources. In the light of this vision, we have established a climate council to mainstream the issues of climate change into our national development policies. In the same vein, we have just entered into a partnership with Brazil and with France to establish a satellite imaging facility to monitor the forest cover of the Congo basin, which comprises more than 2 million square kilometres of equatorial rainforest.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am also grateful for the many forms of support extended to us throughout Gabon’s process of democratic transition, which has highlighted the credibility and reliability of our institutions and our people’s sense of responsibility. For almost a year now, I have engaged Gabon in broad-ranging economic, social and political reforms centred on promoting our environmental heritage and industrial sector and on making the service sector more dynamic. When I took office, I presented the three strategic pillars of an emergent Gabon: Green Gabon, Industrial Gabon and Services Gabon. By putting Green Gabon at the head of that list, I wanted to underscore the central role that this sector will play in Gabon’s economy. I see Green Gabon as a cross-cutting approach that underlies our overall development strategy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“At the outset, allow me to convey to Mr. Joseph Deiss, on behalf of my country, our heartfelt congratulations on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. His proven experience and skill will ensure that our deliberations are successful. I thank his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, for the excellent manner in which he discharged his mandate. To the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, I reiterate the support of Gabon for his tireless involvement in building a world that is more free, just and united. I take this opportunity to express from this rostrum my gratitude to all here and the entire international community for the solidarity they extended to the people of Gabon when my predecessor, the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba, passed away.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)