YouSaid · the spoken record

Lamime Kamara

lines on the record: 45
first: 1997-09-24
most recent: 1998-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“My delegation believes in the need for the democratization of the United Nations through the restructuring of its principal bodies, such as the Security Council, whose current membership reflects the state of the world in 1945 and no longer corresponds to the political, economic and social realities of the world today. The reform of the principal bodies of our Organization must enable all States to use their national capacities to seek and consolidate international peace. My country is more committed than ever to the honourable mission of our Organization as set forth in the Charter. Given the many challenges facing us, Guinea believes in the need for all of us to work together to strengthen and preserve humankind?s vision of justice, freedom, peace and solidarity. That is what our peoples would have us do.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The new challenges facing us will require the adoption of new, more appropriate arrangements to make the twenty-first century one of peace, justice and prosperity within the context of an equitable partnership that is beneficial to all nations. My delegation is convinced that the United Nations is still the melting pot in which all nations can make their voices heard in the search for just and lasting solutions to their concerns. We therefore believe that the financial capacity of the United Nations must be strengthened. Contributions must be paid on time and in accordance with the established scale. To that end, we must, together, review the way in which the United Nations system functions with a view to adapting it to current and future circumstances.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The results of the recent world summit meeting on drugs will doubtless enable us to further refine our methods to combat the production, distribution, sale and consumption of drugs, which are a real scourge. 17 The recent adoption in Rome of the Statute of the International Criminal Court was a major milestone in the progress of humankind towards the elimination of serious violations of humanitarian law committed during international or internal conflicts. As our community prepares to enter the third millennium, it is now more necessary than ever to adapt the United Nations to the requirements of international life.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We invite the other regions of Africa to support this initiative and to work to establish appropriate structures in order to put an end to the illicit trade in small arms and make Africa a zone of peace and security. The Republic of Guinea welcomes the adoption and signing of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The National Assembly of Guinea has already ratified this important Convention to show its support for the elimination of landmines, which cause so much suffering to innocent victims. It is reassuring to note the greater awareness at the global level of the need to end drug-trafficking, whose many consequences dangerously threaten the prosperity of nations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Countries that already possess nuclear weapons have a special responsibility for the preservation of international peace and must shoulder their responsibilities by taking a more active part in strengthening prevention and peacekeeping mechanisms, resolving existing or latent conflicts, ensuring more equitable treatment for States involved in conflict and, finally, making a more substantial contribution to the development of less fortunate nations. The Government of Guinea believes that only general and complete disarmament can prevent the risk of proliferation. In the subregion of West Africa, the trade in small arms endangers the internal equilibrium of our States. Within the context of conflict prevention in West Africa, subregional cooperation is under way to eradicate this scourge.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In this respect, the Agenda for Development should be strongly supported, with a view to its effective implementation. The question of disarmament and the non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is still a concern for my Government. While the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was a significant step forward for the preservation of peace, recent developments in the international arena require the international community as a whole to consider more deeply the underlying causes of the nuclear arms race. It seems clear that as long as imbalances and injustices are not put right, the spectre of proliferation will continue to threaten international peace.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Despite considerable efforts by African countries towards political and economic restructuring, and towards strengthening their credibility and making their economies more competitive, the economic situation in Africa continues to be critical. If urgent and appropriate measures are not taken, the sacrifices made risk having been in vain. My Government has already undertaken far-reaching political, economic and structural reforms and hopes that special attention will be given to the situation in Africa. We appeal to the international community and the developed countries to continue to increase official development assistance. Sustained assistance to African countries will enable them to consolidate what they have already achieved and thereby to enter the next millennium with a greater sense of calm.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While tangible political progress has been made in Africa over the last decade, African States still face the challenge of development, indebtedness and the negative impact of a globalization which is not yet fully understood. This terrible situation, aggravated by the negative impact of internal conflict, is significantly weakening our States and opening them up to new and dangerous forms of foreign greed. The implementation of a policy to gradually reduce the imbalances between rich and developing countries would contribute to the emergence of a true global market by the creation of centres of development on all continents. Each country in the world should be given every opportunity for development and helped to become part of the world trade system.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The Republic of Guinea is closely following recent developments in the political situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My delegation is deeply concerned by the risk that the conflict will spill over into the subregion. We urgently appeal to all the parties to the conflict to call an immediate ceasefire and to respect the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with the recommendations of the summit of heads of State of the subregion held at Victoria Falls on 7 and 8 September this year. Promoting the right to development is part of the overall search for greater prosperity for the human race.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We greatly appreciated the recognition by the international community, through the United Nations system, of the great sacrifices made by the people of Guinea to help the refugees from neighbouring countries, and especially the will of the United Nations system to mobilize resources to strengthen Guinea?s economic capacity and preserve its stability, so that we can continue to be a small island of peace and prosperity. I should like to take this opportunity to urge multilateral partners, all our partners, to continue to pursue with us the activities undertaken in support of Guinea, particularly in the area of the environment, which 16 has been seriously degraded by the long-term mass presence of refugees. The future of the water supplies of West Africa is at stake here.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“I would like to reiterate here the appeal made by the Government of Guinea for substantial assistance, in accordance with Security Council and ECOWAS resolutions to help the Republic of Guinea bear the burden of these refugees. On behalf of the Government of Guinea, I should like to express our gratitude to those States that have already responded favourably to this appeal. Concerned about the situation, the United Nations Department of Political Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme organized a special meeting on the Republic of Guinea on 9 and 10 July this year in New York. The Government of Guinea appreciated this welcome initiative by the Secretary-General.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The implementation of such measures will help to strengthen preventive diplomacy and to preserve peace and security within our States, with respect for fundamental human rights. I cannot end this section of my statement without mentioning the thorny issue of refugees and displaced persons, who are the victims of these crises. My country, the Republic of Guinea, because of its geographic location among three countries facing civil war, has of all the countries in the world the highest proportion of refugees within its territory. Over the last decade, Guinea has taken in more than 700,000 refugees, which is one tenth of our population. This massive and prolonged concentration of people has had serious social, economic and environmental consequences in the areas of Guinea concerned, and is weighing heavily on my country and its economy.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Faithful to our policy of peace and dialogue, the Government of Guinea has been working since the beginning of this crisis in the ECOWAS Committee of Seven to find a just, negotiated solution. We believe that complementary action by the Economic Community of West African States and the contact group of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries will make it possible for us to achieve the objective of restoring peace and security in Guinea-Bissau. If we are to preserve the achievements of democratization in Africa, the international community must adopt new, more binding legal instruments prohibiting any seizure of power by force and banishing those responsible for such actions at the international, regional and subregional levels.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While ECOWAS and the international community were seeking ways and means to consolidate peace in Sierra Leone and Liberia, another conflict erupted on 7 June 1998 in Guinea-Bissau. The Government of Guinea, which has always advocated dialogue and consultation to resolve conflicts, expressed, from the beginning of this crisis, its grave concern because of the geographic, historical, social and cultural ties uniting Guinea-Bissau and my own country. The existence of a mutual defence assistance pact, signed on 25 January 1980, and the explicit invitation by the Guinea-Bissau?s democratically elected President, President João Bernardo Vieira both justified the sending of a Guinean contingent to Guinea-Bissau to preserve constitutional order and help end the war.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Here, I would appeal to the international community for more cooperation with and assistance to the peacekeeping mechanisms initiated by subregional organizations. There is a need to consolidate the great achievements of the restoration of peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone through massive assistance for their speedy reconstruction, the return of refugees and national reconciliation. If the young people who have been demobilized in these two countries do not quickly find some activity in civilian life, the temptation to return to disorder will remain. To strengthen peace and security in the West African subregion, the international community must help the economies of Liberia and Sierra Leone return to the path of growth.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The African continent continues to be a central concern of the international community. There is no need for me to enumerate the many internal conflicts that have occurred in Africa in recent years. In West Africa, the collective awareness of the member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of the need to make our subregion a zone of peace, security and stability has 15 contributed, thanks to the resolve shown by our heads of State, to restoring peace in Liberia and has allowed for a return to constitutionality in Sierra Leone. These achievements, which are the result of the unanimous desire of our peoples to manage their own affairs, also attest to the vitality of the institutions of regional integration as instruments for conflict prevention, management and resolution.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The search for peace in the Middle East is a matter of concern to all States, first and foremost the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which on several occasions has called on the Security Council and the General Assembly for greater United Nations involvement in achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through the return of the occupied Arab territories, the creation of a Palestinian state and respect for the rights of all States in the region to peace and security. My delegation appeals to all parties concerned, particularly the authorities in Tel Aviv, to ensure strict implementation of the Oslo and Washington agreements, with a view to saving peace and thereby avoid the threat of another crisis that jeopardizes the balance in the subregion and international peace as a whole.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It has been shown that respect for fundamental rights, including promotion of the right to development, which underlies all other rights, is an excellent instrument of preventive diplomacy today. Our session is opening at a time when the Middle East peace process is completely deadlocked. My country is following with great concern recent developments in that part of the world, particularly in the Arab territories occupied by Israel. My delegation is convinced that unless the rights of all the interested parties are taken into account, peace will remain elusive.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“How can one ensure peace and the harmonious development of our States if the international community will not firmly commit itself to identifying and eradicating the deep causes of the many conflicts and imbalances that continue to impede mankind?s progress towards greater well-being? At a time when we are preparing to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world?s conscience is still troubled by the indifference of the major players in the international arena in the search for appropriate solutions to the challenges that face us all. In a number of countries, peoples and individuals are deprived of fundamental rights. Civil wars continue to cause great suffering to innocent victims.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Kofi Annan, the confidence of the Government of Guinea, which greatly appreciates his perceptiveness, his great wisdom and his hard work, which together are opening up new horizons for this Organization. Despite encouraging results in many areas, the United Nations still faces many challenges that threaten international peace and security and jeopardize the sustainable development of nations. It is the responsibility of the United Nations, in accordance with its purposes and principles, to become more involved in the enduring search for peace, so that the human race, on the eve of the third millennium, can establish a real foundation for the prosperity of all States.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“On behalf of my delegation, I should first of all like to congratulate Mr. Opertti warmly on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. My country, the Republic of Guinea, is pleased with this expression of confidence, eloquent proof of the international community?s recognition of the very positive role played by his country, Uruguay, in working for the noble ideals of our Organization. I am sure his personal qualities and great experience will ensure success at this session. I should also like to take this opportunity to convey our great appreciation to Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, President of the General Assembly at its fifty-second session, for the skill, open-mindedness and efficiency of his presidency. I should also like to extend to the Secretary-General, Mr.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The Republic of Guinea is confident that the current session will produce decisions enabling our Organization fully to carry out its noble mission as we approach the third millennium. I conclude on that note of hope and optimism.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The needs of economic development have compelled all African countries to adapt their State institutions and redirect their policies to cope with the changes of the new era. 20 Today, there are many bilateral and multilateral initiatives to help Africa get off the ground. Most of those initiatives draw on the lessons of the past and, happily, avoid the imposition of patterns or stereotypes; they take into account the real needs of the African people, who are increasingly involved in the choice of development plans and programmes. Measures to convert, suspend or write off debts are part of that process. We face major challenges, whose diversity and complexity concern us and call for urgent solutions commensurate with the expectations and aspirations of our peoples.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The only way to achieve that is through negotiation. In the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, Africa is increasingly shouldering its own responsibilities. This new approach is in keeping with current developments, and the international community should encourage and support it. The Republic of Guinea, which pursues a policy of peace and economic development under the leadership of a man of peace and tolerance, the President of the Republic, Brigadier General Lansana Conté, will be prepared, as in the past, to bear its share of responsibility for solving African problems. A dark cloud always has a silver lining. It is comforting to note that life on the African continent is not confined to crises and conflicts. The struggle of African peoples to emerge from poverty has made striking progress in recent years.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Turning to Western Sahara, the Republic of Guinea welcomes the appointment of a new Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and hopes that the personal input of that diplomat will foster the peaceful implementation of the United Nations settlement plan. Other parts of the world are also experiencing unrest that threatens international peace and security. We shall confine ourselves here to the situation in the Middle East. The Republic of Guinea encourages the efforts being made to find a just and lasting settlement in the Middle East. Notwithstanding current difficulties, we must persevere. Peace, a just and equitable peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours, is essential. Peace will remake that region in the interests of all its peoples and turn it into a magnet for all the nations of the world.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I would be remiss if, out of a desire to inform the Assembly of the problems of western Africa, I failed to give due attention to conflicts tearing other African countries and other regions of the world asunder. With regard to the Great Lakes region, my delegation would encourage all initiatives to establish a climate of peace and stability in that area. Similarly, we would like to voice our concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Congo. While urging the parties to the conflict to observe the ceasefire and persevere in their efforts at negotiation, we reaffirm our support for the tireless efforts being made by all those of goodwill to reach a settlement of that crisis.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In the border areas the environment and infrastructures have deteriorated under the demographic pressure. Schools have been closed to serve as shelters for refugees. We have also had to cope with many health problems of all kinds. Because of this exceptional situation the members of ECOWAS, meeting at Conakry on 26 June 1997, launched an appeal for emergency assistance for the Republic of Guinea. That appeal is beginning to be heeded by many countries and international organizations.Here we would like to thank most warmly the People’s Republic of China, the State of Kuwait, the United States of America, France, Canada, Qatar, Italy and the Organization of African Unity, which have already demonstrated their solidarity with us.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We would also like to salute here the support being given by the international community to ECOWAS for the restoration of constitutional legitimacy in Sierra Leone, which was the victim of a coup d’état on 25 May 1997. The consequences of the conflicts in Liberia, which lasted for seven years, and in Sierra Leone, which has been going on for six years, have weighed heavily on the Republic of Guinea. These are two neighbouring countries that share hundreds of kilometres of frontiers with Guinea. We have had to take in hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons. The Republic of Guinea, a country of 7 million inhabitants, has up to 650,000 refugees, or one tenth of its population. In taking in the refugees it has had to pay a heavy price and make enormous sacrifices.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We welcome the Ministerial Meeting of the 19 Special Conference on Liberia that is taking place today in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, and we hope that it will lead to the mobilization of substantial resources for the rebuilding of that fraternal country. The consolidation of peace and stability there is at stake. The Republic of Guinea, faithful to its policy of peace and good-neighbourliness, has worked unflaggingly for the success of such efforts. For the record, it will be recalled that this is the first time that an African subregional organization, determined to shoulder its responsibilities, has managed to initiate, lead and successfully carry out a peacekeeping operation.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“While bearing in mind that our common destiny should be the background to our statements before the Assembly, I would like to point out that each region and subregion comes to this rostrum with its own pressing concerns. The subregion of western Africa, to which my country, the Republic of Guinea, belongs has been shaken by two fratricidal conflicts in Liberia and in Sierra Leone. In Liberia, the recent democratic and transparent elections held on 19 July 1997 under the aegis of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the support of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations and such friendly countries as the United States of America, the Netherlands, Denmark and France, have been crowned with success.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Structural reform, however perfect, cannot be fully effective without adequate financing of the Organization’s operations and, above all, of its activities. Reform must necessarily be accompanied by consistent funding. Without reducing this important aspect of the question solely to the payment of the contributions owed by many countries, the delegation of Guinea wishes to state that its reaction to the statement by the President of the country that is the largest contributor was a positive one. Nevertheless, in keeping with the principle that the rules that have hitherto governed the Organization are still in effect, the payment of arrears by all Member States must precede the opening of negotiations to work out a new scale of assessments satisfactory to all.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In the debate this session, Africa, in its constant quest for consensus, has modest ambitions. We would consider two permanent seats in the Security Council, with the same rights for all, pursuant to the resolutions of the summit in Harare, as positive results. The delegation of the Republic of Guinea will fight for this during what it hopes will be a calm and constructive debate. The United Nations is essential for today and tomorrow. If it did not exist, we would have had to invent it. The United Nations, as a special and irreplaceable place for 185 States to meet, work together and cooperate, must lay down rules of law recognized universally by all so that international relations can continue in a coherent, equitable and efficient manner.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In the process, many countries which not long ago were considered small because of the size of their economies are outstripping nations which have seen their former glory fade. The formidable progress in communications has inexorably reduced distances and gulfs separating the levels of knowledge and development in the different parts of the world. Together, let us square up to these new realities, with justice and democracy as our point of reference but above all, with a clear view of humanity united on the basis of a fruitful and trusting partnership, ensuring progress and well- being for all. And let us courageously decide now on what is possible, even if it means postponing matters until the year 2000, when we can put the finishing touches to what we will not have done today.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“But, once peace has been achieved, it would be pointless if time were not able, after half a century, to heal the wounds of defeat and cast out the memories of war. Security Council reform must be one of the major proofs of a reconciliation patiently achieved. This is only one aspect of the issue. If the desire to disarm is sincere and universally shared by all members of the international community, as decisive progress could lead us to hope is the case, then the concept of power should no longer be measured by a country’s mass destruction capabilities. After the cold war, the end of the arms race and of the confrontation of ideologies, the struggle — perhaps we should say “competition” — is shifting to other arenas, particularly the economic arena and ensuring people’s happiness.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Nevertheless, when we deal with this important and delicate issue, we should avoid confrontation between regions and different groups and try not to resort to useless polemics. On the one hand, we should perhaps understand that we will not be able to do everything at once, or else we will stymie the debate. Our main goal should be significantly to change a status quo which we all feel has had its day. On the other hand, if we put ourselves in the shoes of those who are enjoying permanent seats and the right of veto, we should recognize that it is difficult, even human, but not impossible, to agree to give up, without a fight, the considerable advantages won after the war after a brave struggle.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“It should be the sacred duty of the international community to ensure the lasting health of our planet for ourselves and for future generations. This is why we welcome the organization of a special session on the environment and development. We have presented the proliferation of small arms as a subject of concern to African countries. These weapons, which unfortunately lend themselves to all types of conflict, large or small, pose a real danger. We therefore strongly support the idea of creating a Department for Disarmament and Arms Regulation. If it is to be fully effective, it should be given adequate resources and genuine power to monitor the cross-border movement of these weapons. 18 What is true of the Organization as a whole is even more true of the Security Council. The times we live in have made its reform essential.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“My delegation supports other aspects which are equally important for the restructuring under consideration, especially the merger of institutions in the Organization with similar activities, such as the creation in Vienna of a single Office to combat transnational crime, drug-trafficking and terrorism, evils we should all fight against wherever they may rear their head, and the amalgamation of the Centre for Human Rights with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The problem of the environment knows no boundaries. If we are not careful, this may be the greatest danger we face, since many perils are lurking, smouldering beneath the surface of the anarchy in this matter.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We also set great store by the proclamation of the International Decade to Eliminate Poverty and especially in concrete measures to eradicate the evil of poverty. The Republic of Guinea puts women and children at the heart of its development, and welcomes the attention given to the promotion of women and children. In the same vein, Guinea supports the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We will not go into all the positive aspects here; we will simply confine ourselves to a few points, especially those that directly affect developing countries. I begin with the economy, the new cornerstone of the system after disarmament. Several economic measures go in the right direction. We support the initiative to create a United Nations Development Group, an Office of Development Financing and a new system for multi-year pledges for development cooperation thanks to savings on administrative expenses, the first fruits of reform. The same applies to strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council and promoting dialogue with the technical ministries of our countries to give impetus to macroeconomic policies.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Courageous and consensual reform of the United Nations could help us to do away with these ills, which are compromising, through uncertainty, the future of many nations represented here. We must reassure our peoples, not just by drafting new standard-setting instruments that are legally binding on us all, but, above all, by taking drastic action, channelling our will and joint efforts to change the situation on the ground. The spirit of the Marshall Plan, which the United Nations should espouse, should not die with the century that saw its birth. For all these reasons, the Republic of Guinea approves the reform proposed by the Secretary-General. For all these reasons it is also deeply involved in the debate that will make it a reality.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Many countries are still labouring under the burden of debt, which is crippling their economies and thereby compromising their development efforts. In full view of the international community, thinly disguised protectionism prevents our products from gaining access to buoyant markets. When, taking one year with another, some of our products manage to overcome these barriers, they often succumb to prices stemming from rules that are sometimes fixed unilaterally or flouted with impunity. This is compounded by the harmful effects of the decline in official development assistance in spite of the Rio commitments. So-called small arms are proliferating on our borders and are posing serious threats to the peace, security and stability of many countries. This short list does not nearly cover all the defects we have to correct.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The international community has also made a firm and prompt commitment to the Ottawa process on banning anti-personnel landmines, a process in which the Republic of Guinea took a particularly active part. We should also welcome the implementation of peacekeeping operations in many parts of the world and, an extremely positive sign, an improvement in public administration, increased democracy and the strengthening 17 of the ability of nations to promote human rights in the interests of better governance. But, in spite of this considerable progress, many imbalances remain, major challenges are still before us and the nascent globalization is not, as a spirit of international solidarity would demand, benefiting developing countries, which have tended to fall by the wayside on the road to progress.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The document (A/51/950) submitted for debate, “Renewing The United Nations: A Programme for Reform”, has been examined extremely carefully by my Government. We must admit that the United Nations in its current form is a long way from corresponding to the geopolitical realities of today’s world. Since its creation 50 years ago, and in particular since 1989, the world has changed greatly. We cannot fail to change along with it. It is true that results in the area of peacekeeping and international security have been extremely positive. Many major treaties and conventions have been concluded, including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Furthermore, I should like to express the deep appreciation of my delegation for the effectiveness and competence shown by his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Razali Ismail, in conducting the debates of the General Assembly at its fifty-first session. I should also like to congratulate the Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on the outstanding work he has accomplished since the beginning of his term, and on the submission on 14 July this year of his programme for reform. I should like to assure him of the confidence and support of the Republic of Guinea. In addition, I wish to pay tribute to the former Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who deserves credit for beginning consideration of the subject. Some have wished to call this fifty-second session the Assembly of reform, and we are in agreement.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I extend to the President of the General Assembly at its fifty-second session the sincere congratulations of the delegation of the Republic of Guinea on his election. At the same time, I have the pleasant duty to transmit to him the warmest greetings of the people and Government of Guinea and, in particular, of the President of the Republic, General Lansana Conte. Mr. Udovenko’s wealth of experience in multilateral diplomacy, to which he has devoted a major part of his life, together with his outstanding personal qualities, ensures the success of our deliberations. As Vice- President of the General Assembly at its fifty-second session, and because of the long-standing and excellent relations of friendship that link my country with his — Ukraine — I assure him of the full cooperation of my delegation.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)