YouSaid · the spoken record

Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy

lines on the record: 48
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2015-09-24
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

““But Members should know that such action alone is not enough to compensate for the untold loss of life, limb, talent and resources that are vital for Africa to become a more developed and sustainable nation. It would, rather, amount to a fairly acceptable gesture of restoration and justice for what Africa cannot reclaim.””
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Nevertheless, increased terrorism threats, hunger, poverty, crime and disease continue to expand faster than our intelligence, resources and might. Global peace, it would therefore seem, depends on our efforts to take corrective measures against rampant injustice. “It is with this serious concern in mind that I suggest that, on the basis of the brutality and inhumanity of the slave trade, the lingering influences and effects of colonialism, the pervasive destruction of human capital, and the theft of native African resources that are often rare and existing only on that extraordinarily diverse continent, this Organization should now consider remitting an invoice of reparations to the entire world and made payable to the sovereign Governments of Africa.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““I must underscore my Government’s gratitude to the Russian Federation for sponsoring the Moscow-Africa Anti-Drug Dialogue, held in the Gambia on 23 July with the objective of mapping out the best means of approaching the hazard in the African continent and the world over. The meeting was a resounding success, and once again I stand to sincerely extol the special part played by the leaders and Government of Russia for a job well done. “In conclusion, at the forefront of our agenda we should aggressively discuss how we can cope with the evolution of enduring issues that coexist in our societies, such as trespassers and pillagers on free soil, willing to take what does not rightly belong to them. For centuries, the African continent remained the target of intrusion, theft and enslavement by foreign Powers.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Therefore, the inherent threats of drug trafficking and its related problems require urgent action on the part of this international body. “At the current rate, drug trafficking is likely to become an epidemic that no country can escape because it is steadily rising to become a borderless threat. I therefore strongly urge that we approach this threat much more aggressively, with a comprehensive plan that involves accountability, full international commitment and support. Moreover, not just tougher laws and penalties are necessary; critical efforts are also vital to containing the spread of the use of drugs, as is the need for adequate rehabilitation measures for enduring solutions.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“This long overdue exigency, which is backed by myriad United Nations resolutions — not least, the recent resolution 66/225, of 29 March 2012 — continues to be my Government’s position on this particular issue. “The fight against drug and human trafficking should be seen as linked to international security because it is a serious threat to all societies. We know that the use and sale of drugs are deeply rooted in violence and organized crime. We also know that drug trafficking is linked to terrorist activities and other crimes, including money-laundering and the sale and trade of arms. Wide-scale corruption exists within organized groups with pervasive 4/23 15-29595 29/09/2015 A/70/PV.18 criminal mindsets.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““It is heartbreaking to live with the sad reality that the United Nations cannot gain much traction in arresting the state of incessant violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is evident as a result of the continuing policy of settlement expansion and the climate of impunity relating to the activities of the settlers. Although there is an overwhelming increase in the number of areas of conflict in the Middle East, which in many ways has impacted the priorities of the United Nations there, our attention must never be distracted from the suffering of the Palestinian people. Their right to a State with secure borders and East Jerusalem as its capital will not be compromised.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““In fact, my Government and other States have made an iron-clad promise to our citizens that this is our time and our era. It is time for Africa to reap the benefit of its divine inheritance. It is time for Africa to dispel the myths and falsehoods about its history and people. It is time for Africa to stop people from taking advantage of our glorious and rich natural resources, and to stand up for what it believes in, what it is interested in and what is better for its people. No longer will we as a continent be robbed of our very means to progress and prosperity.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Therefore given the natural structure of human nature and society, we must not allow ourselves to depart from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights norm by entertaining deviant beliefs that reduce the family to Government approval of adult sexual and emotional desires, instead of recognizing them as central agents to achieve the common good of spouses, children and society at large. “I wish to shift attention to the great continent of Africa, whose human and vast natural resources have always been the target of trespassers who have trampled our economic, social, political, and human rights. Although there has been a steep learning curve with regard to becoming self-sufficient, there has always been and will always persist a desire for Africa to remain forever independent of colonial rule and subjugation.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““For 70 years since the founding of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has continued to maintain the same language as the mainstay of literally every United Nations resolution and conference that has to do with the family, namely, that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society. So that spirit has excluded and still should exclude any international acknowledgement of relationships between persons of the same sex to signify a family, as in the case of homosexual civil unions and so-called same-sex marriages.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Whereas materialism, terrorism, crime, obsession with weapons of mass destruction, and deviant lifestyles seem to be the order of the day, we must make no mistake that there are still right and wrong deeds, and positive and negative consequences. As much as some behaviours are clearly in violation of laws and societal norms, there are others that are a direct insult to our respective religions. I maintain that all of the aforementioned behaviours are displeasing to the Almighty Allah and against the principles that govern peaceful and loving Muslims and Christians alike.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“15-29595 3/23 A/70/PV.18 29/09/2015 “It has been 15 years since 2000 and the initial development of the Millennium Development Goals, and, though progress in various degrees has been accomplished among Member States, with broader, more reliable and sustainable goals we must continue to build on proposed motions so as to ensure the real achievement of the goals that we set for ourselves. “Despite the marked evolution in human diversity, there are some tenets with respect to people’s religious beliefs and values that are sacred and no country, big or small, should be allowed to insult another country or bully it for honouring the traditions that govern its people. To do so is both disrespectful and dangerous.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In order for the Security Council’s multifaceted reform to realize its desired objective of increased efficiency and effective representation in an atmosphere governed by democratic working methods, top priority should be given to increasing the representation of African countries in particular, which will provide us with better opportunities to participate in the Council’s decision-making process. “We must bear in mind that African nations represent more than 1 billion people in this body and constitute 54 sovereign States here, making it ever more important and more qualified for the allocation of the two permanent and two non-permanent seats that Africa rightly deserves. But our calls have never heeded despite persistent appeals, as articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, among others.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“As clearly articulated in decision 62/557 adopted by a consensus of Member States, we, the stakeholders, all support the laudable idea that the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform should be driven by Member States themselves and that the positions of Member States should form the foundation of the negotiations in the first instance. “We are, however, yet to realize a reflection of such principles and consensus in the Council’s general approach and framework document.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““This body must act with greater commitment and resolve to establish sustainable conservation programmes, with production patterns aimed at effectively combating climate change, restoring our ecosystems, promoting forest management and reversing desertification and land degradation. It is also the obligation of the United Nations to be resilient in ensuring the reduction of the risks of man-made disasters that often cause massive pollution to our seas, oceans and fresh water sources. “Therefore, my Government continues to reiterate the significance of how Security Council reform bears on the global interests of all Member States and the enduring interests of the Organization as well.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The planet is, after all, our only home, which we must passionately protect for the benefit of present and future generations. “That, in essence, demands from all of us the steadfastness to soundly manage our natural resources for both economic and social development. We can no longer continue to pretend not to know or live in denial of the challenges faced by humankind from the adverse impact of the depletion of our natural resources, as manifest today in the form of desertification, drought, land degradation and ocean acidification though activities of State-owned and multinational companies, mostly from the West and the developed world.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Obviously, we cannot but continue to express our sincere appreciation for the timely and effective intervention of the Cuban Government, the Russian Federation and the United States Government, whose rapid deployment of the necessary logistics, including medical teams, to the worst-affected areas helped immensely in stopping the spread of the disease. “Despite persisting challenges, Africa and the Gambia continue to make effective gains in achieving many aspects of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. To begin with, protecting our environment must emphatically remain a major priority for this global body because registered climate changes over the course of history have significantly impacted negatively on our planet Earth and demand our immediate and permanent attention.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The slow reaction times for response efforts, human fear and media reports have had a wide-scale negative economic impact on a large number of countries. As a result of continued reductions in trade and foreign investment, border closures and flight cancellations, the United Nations Development Group has projected that West Africa stands to lose more than $3.6 billion annually over the next three years. As the virus still poses a threat to the world, there are a number of solutions that the United Nations could support to contain and prevent the disease from re-emerging and spreading. “Critical among such approaches is the need to invest in awareness campaigns, education and vaccinations to ensure the safety and security of the whole world community.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Paradoxically, however, their persistence constitutes highly valued gains for some unscrupulous enemies of peace, as the belligerents and opposing factions are supported by States, entities and individuals for geopolitical, economic and military strategic interests based on greed and hatred for the rest of humankind. “I would also urge that the United Nations address the post-Ebola 2014 virus epidemic, which 2/23 15-29595 29/09/2015 A/70/PV.18 claimed and maimed thousands of lives, mostly in the hardest-hit West African subregion. While the sizeable monetary, medical personnel and supply contributions had a huge impact on its containment and treatment, there are invariably vast rippling effects for almost the entire continent.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““While we welcome the Iranian agreement to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the need remains to address perennial conflicts with a high human cost to our youth, women and children, and to defuse persistently tense situations with high potential for escalation into a nuclear conflagration. I therefore call upon this global institution and regional organizations charged with the responsibility of conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding to firm up our commitment to international peace and security. That is imperative in order to end the dangerously escalating acts of violence, terrorism and banditry in simmering trouble spots the world over. “The continuation of these conflicts calls into question the efficacy of the United Nations in executing the principal function for which it was first created.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I therefore call upon Member nations to fully commit to the Organization’s basic tenets regarding the solidification of enduring solutions that protect and sustain all human life. As true Muslims and Allah- worshipping people, we must understand that these are unconscionable acts that should be subjected to the toughest penalties. “In recognition of the need for world peace, my Government respects the recent landmark agreement on the Iran nuclear issue, outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in which Iran has agreed — along with the United States of America, Russia, China and Germany — to limit its nuclear programme as specified. My Government believes that it is an important achievement with the right measures, particularly if they are put in place, for monitoring and accountability purposes.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““Let me say again as I have said in this forum and many others elsewhere that the propaganda and propagation of these Satanic ideologies are not only a fraudulent misrepresentation of Islam — a noble religion indeed — and a mockery of democratic ideals, but an insult to the Almighty Allah himself, making it ever more necessary to nullify their existence by all means possible. Their baseless claims and increasing attacks on peaceful regions require the United Nations in particular to come together to exterminate these barbaric monsters, as they have no regard for the sanctity of human life in the first place. “Countries that are caught at the crossroads and are embroiled in conflicts with terrorism deserve our unfettered and unmitigated support.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
““I remain firm in my constant recommendation for the whole world to stand together against the continued barbarism and brutality of indiscriminate terrorism perpetrated against innocent men, women and children, causing undue suffering and losses that often render the victims helpless, homeless and hopeless. As genuine Muslims worshipping the Almighty Allah, whose message in the Holy Koran repeatedly draws our attention to the need to live together in peace for our common humanity, we the majority must not remain indifferent or silent with respect to those particularly sadistic sons of Satan who are committed to desecrating Islam itself with only one objective and inclination — to wreak havoc on their fellow human beings.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is therefore imperative that, as an agent of change, the United Nations not fail to account for and cement the implementation of critical resolutions designed to assist our Member nations and, indeed, the entire universe for the improvement and sustainment of a better quality of life for all. “In order to effectively achieve the goals set forth by this world body for the stability and maintenance of world peace, all Member States, be they big or small, must be promptly and strongly reprimanded or censured for violations that are in direct conflict with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1).”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We are very proud of him and will continue to wish him the best and give him all our support in his future undertakings. “Last but not least, I wish to register our special commendation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of his entire supporting team who, despite difficult challenges, continue to perform their duties with notable success. “There has never been a moment better than this for our Organization collectively to reflect and resolve to respond with a special sense of urgency to the increasing complexities of global challenges that threaten to derail hundreds of years of peace, progress and prosperity for humankind.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Mogens Lykketoft in his new position as the elected President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session and to further wish him all the best in his official endeavours throughout his tenure. The entire Gambian delegation and I are pleased to support his presidency during the course of these deliberations. By being entrusted with such a special responsibility, it is fair to say that the world has, in a position of consensus, identified his exemplary qualities and abilities as the perfect person to oversee the current global agenda for the building of a more caring world free of war ravages and underdevelopment. “I also wish, on behalf of my delegation and on my own behalf, to convey my special thanks to his predecessor, Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, for his remarkable performance during his tenure in office.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“First and foremost, I bring greetings and best wishes from His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Babil Mansa, President of the Republic of the Gambia, who has also directed me to read out his statement on his behalf, as follows. “I wish to first and foremost praise the Almighty Allah for granting me this opportunity to once again be part of this 2015 General Assembly with leaders from around the globe. I also pray to the Almighty Allah to guide us throughout this session and provide us with the necessary wisdom, courage and blessing for the fulfilment of our objectives. “But before speaking any further, please allow me to first extend my warmest congratulations to Mr.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Although we are mindful of other positions, we are convinced that negotiations must lead to a just outcome. Security Council reform is long overdue, and the lack of it is undermining the credibility of our Organization and the legitimacy of the Council’s decisions. In conclusion, my delegation would like to repeat what we said before. Reform of the United Nations must recognize the geopolitical realities of the African continent and its peoples. Africa is no longer the colony of any country and must be respected and treated as such. The system of veto power and flawed representation in the Security Council is not acceptable, can no longer be tolerated and in fact runs counter to the spirit and letter of the basic principles of equality and fair play as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In 2005, as we all remember, a draft of reform measures was introduced by the General Assembly, which led to reforms in management of the Secretariat, human resources administration, the creation of the Human Rights Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the elaboration of new norms. The then Secretary-General remarked that no reform of the United Nations is complete without reform of the Security Council. Let us not delude ourselves. The Security Council urgently needs comprehensive reforms. A major element in the reform of the Council is the glaring underrepresentation of Africa, for example, in all its categories of membership. Africa certainly needs to be adequately and properly represented, and we will not give up on what is a legitimate demand. What is even more appalling is that negotiations are progressing at a snail’s pace.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Issues such as natural disasters, terrorism, climate change, epidemics, financial meltdowns and many others require the engagement of every member of the international community, including Taiwan. We therefore urge the United Nations to find a suitable way to allow for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the specialized agencies and mechanisms of the United Nations system, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Climate Change Conferences immediately. Reform should be a permanent feature on the agenda of all international organizations. Cosmetic reforms or the deliberate stalling of overdue reforms seriously undermine the effective responsiveness of organizations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“For example, over the past three years, Taiwan has engaged mainland China in dialogue on a wide range of issues ranging from agriculture and health to intellectual property rights and economic and commercial cooperation, among others. Furthermore, since 2009 Taiwan has been invited by the World Health Organization to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. That practice and the related arrangements have established what has been termed the WHA model, which sets a useful precedent for Taiwan’s greater participation in the United Nations system generally. Given that Taiwan is today one of the leading technological and economic powerhouses of the world, its participation in global affairs is quite relevant, bearing in mind the numerous issues that we collectively confront. We must give it the prominence that it deserves.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There is universal agreement that the embargo needs to come to an end without precondition and be replaced with good-neighbourliness, tolerance and respect for the legitimate right of Cubans to have a political system of their choice. We therefore once again call on the United States of America to lift the sanctions and embargo on Cuba now. The case of Taiwan deserves better scrutiny by the international community. Taiwan, with a population 17 11-51384 of 23 million people, continues to play an active and positive role on the international stage. In a highly integrated and interconnected world, almost all issues demand the full participation of and cooperation among all nations. Taiwan’s efforts in promoting peace, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, deserve commendation and further encouragement by the General Assembly.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Poverty should not be a pretext for violent and disorderly change of Government in developing countries. The need for constructive dialogue in finding lasting and timely solutions to transboundary problems, wherever they exist, is more urgent today than ever before. Let us avoid postponing the search for a permanent solution to the decades-old conflict in the Nagorno Karabakh region. It is the responsibility of the international community to work with a greater sense of urgency to address the Nagorno Karabakh conflict without further delay. The developments in Cuba continue to demonstrate to the world the inhumanity of maintaining the decades-old embargo imposed on that friendly country. The embargo is a manifestation of intolerance of other people’s right to a political system of their choice.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Islamic religion, which is synonymous with peace, is misunderstood and misrepresented in some quarters. We condemn those who turn themselves into suicide bombers to kill innocent people or conduct inhuman behaviour in the name of Islam, as such acts are contrary to Islamic values and teachings. Muslims, Christians, Jews and peoples of other faiths must all join hands, for once, in fighting terrorism of all shades. We must also be tolerant and indeed respectful of each other, no matter our beliefs, and live side by side in peace and harmony as one human race and one human family. In the case of Syria, we call on the international community to encourage and support the Syrian Government and people to resolve their internal problems through diplomacy and peaceful means.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have used former Heads of State as mediators in Africa and in councils of the wise, and some of those efforts have proven to be very successful. One of the most intractable conflicts of our time is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The sad reality is that numerous United Nations resolutions continue to be flouted. The daily killing, collective punishment and humiliation of Palestinians are going on unabated. Denial of humanitarian assistance, essential medical supplies and construction materials to Palestinians has become the norm. For that reason, my delegation not only supports but recognizes an independent and sovereign Palestinian State within the confines of the 1967 borders. An independent Palestinian State with full rights and privileges like any other is long overdue. That is the only guarantor of lasting peace in that region.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The disorderly change that is sweeping across the region is a cause for concern as livelihoods are shattered and industries like tourism are destroyed, thereby creating more unemployment and entrenching endemic poverty. With regard to the Arab Spring, my delegation fully supports and hereby salutes the leadership role of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council in finding peaceful resolution to those conflicts through mediation, diplomacy and brotherhood. In the same vein, we salute the role the AU has been playing in bringing to an end some of the most violent conflicts in human history on the African continent through mediation and in some cases through military intervention as a last resort.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have faith in that leadership and are convinced that it will institute the necessary reforms that the Libyan people have so valiantly fought for. As Libya embarks on the crucial task of reconciliation, reconstruction and nation building, we — as the first African country to have officially announced its recognition of and support for the National Transitional Council — would like to assure the Libyan leadership of our full collaboration and solidarity at all times. The conflicts in the Middle East, both recent and long-standing, require fresh and honest mediation efforts with a view to stabilizing the region once and for all.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The science is solid and there for all to see, and the solutions are very clear, so let us embrace them by fulfilling our international obligations. The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) should be about the implementation of commitments and not about reneging on them. It should also be about the announcement of workable initiatives and not about the 11-51384 16 repackaging of previous unfulfilled commitments. Rio+20 should ultimately be about binding commitments. Let us bequeath to our children, and their children an Earth that is resilient and a better world for them. My delegation would like to congratulate the delegation of Libya, especially the leadership of the National Transitional Council, on being steadfast in their drive to rescue Libya from the brink of the abyss.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In addition, we have to revisit the various programmes and strategies adopted by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and other global forums in order to comprehensively address the food security needs of developing countries. The small-scale farmer — including the female farmer — must be placed at the centre of the new Green Revolution. The impact of climate change continues to pose a formidable challenge to all of us. The solutions to reversing the negative impacts of climate change through adaptation and mitigation initiatives are well known. Our problem today is the refusal of the biggest polluters to assume their responsibilities in reversing the negative trends of climate change occasioned by human activity. We cannot afford to be in denial for long.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We must not allow it to suffer the fate of its predecessor, which suffered from weak implementation. It is our hope that our partners from the North will do all in their power to support the enhancement of our productive capacities. We also call on the emerging economies of the South to enhance their cooperation with us in ways that will render true meaning to South-South cooperation. My delegation is ready at all times to forge meaningful partnerships across the North and South in order to bring food security to our people, tackle youth unemployment through education and skill development, and enhance the quality and coverage of our health-care delivery systems.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We know for certain, for example, that the critical element for achieving all MDGs on the target date will remain international donor support and collaboration. We have just embarked upon our new programme for accelerated growth and employment, which is our blueprint for development in the Gambia for 2012-2015, which we earnestly believe will be generously supported by all our development partners and friends. It is no secret that the ongoing financial and economic crisis, worsened by market volatility, is taking a huge toll on the meagre economic gains of our fragile economies. In view of our situation as least developed countries and of the vulnerabilities that we continue to encounter, it is urgent that we all support the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me also take this opportunity to encourage our brothers in Guinea and Niger, after successful democratic transitions, to bury the hatchet and move forward as united peoples. National reconciliation efforts should be diligently pursued by all stakeholders. We therefore call on the international community to render them all the support they need as they try to bring peace and development to their countries. As a developing country, like all others we have our eyes set on the countdown to 2015, a landmark year for all of us. The Gambia and the entire international community have only a few more years before we can tell how many of the MDGs we have met. What is evident from all the reviews, however, is that we are surely on track to meet some of the MDGs but still struggling to meet others.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“With strong African leadership, we continue to witness the amicable resolution of many civil conflicts that plague the continent. The key lesson in most of those situations is early intervention by leaders who mediate between stakeholders. Regional leaders should always be put at the forefront of mediation efforts. For that reason, we salute the untiring leadership of the African Union in bringing about peace in the Sudan. We equally salute the leadership of the Sudan for its magnanimity in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Accord, which led to the independence of South Sudan. My delegation encourages both sides to invest in their shared future through a negotiated settlement of the pending issues.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We must therefore pool our resources in the areas of detection, surveillance, law enforcement and prosecution in order to deny the culprits safe havens. In order to do that, we must come together and agree on a framework for cooperation, of 15 11-51384 course with the support of the international community. We look forward to greater United Nations engagement with regional and subregional leaders and organizations in stamping out those menaces. The Gambia will always be an agent of peace through mediation and shuttle diplomacy in West Africa and beyond. As we have done in the past, we will support all efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes within our subregion. We will also continue to contribute to United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world, as we have already done.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Over the past decade, the leadership of West Africa, in close collaboration with the international community, has invested great material and human resources to bring the conflicts that affected that region to peaceful ends. Today, the region enjoys relative peace, but that does not mean that spoilers have given up attempts to derail the peace. We must be vigilant at all times. For example, the evils of drug trafficking, piracy, and the trafficking of illicit goods and arms have reared their ugly heads across our subregion of West Africa. The nature and extent of those crimes call for swift international action to nip them in the bud before it is too late. All these crimes feed on each other and sow the seeds of terror, economic sabotage and indeed the collapse of social order.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Regional ownership of mediation processes is also essential. For example, recent conflicts in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau were all resolved through a combination of interventions by the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. We must therefore always give mediation a chance before resorting to the use or threat of the use of force. The international community must give priority to mediation in any conflict before it threatens military invasion or outright military intervention without giving mediation a chance. It costs less to mediate — we all agree — than to launch a full-scale military intervention, only to have to come back again and rebuild and reconstruct.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is what our experience in West Africa, my own part of the world, tells us. At the national level, for example, in the Gambia we have instituted the alternative dispute resolution mechanism, among other mechanisms we have in place, with a view to settling disputes between and among our peoples and institutions. For us in Africa, the mediation of conflicts, particularly with a view to amicably resolving them, has always been part and parcel of our rich cultural heritage and customary law. We must revive those time-honoured dispute-resolution traditions of our forebears. Experience has also shown that with strong regional and subregional leadership many of the intractable civil, political and electoral conflicts that beset and plague Africa could certainly be resolved through mediation.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We also congratulate Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon on his reappointment and wish him a fruitful second term. My delegation will render him all the support he will need as he helps to tackle the issues that are dear to us, especially the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the resolution of conflicts in Africa, among others. The United Nations was founded as a world body primarily to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, the theme chosen for this General Assembly — “The role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means” — is particularly apt. My delegation is a strong believer in the role of mediation as a conflict resolution mechanism at both the national and international levels. We can all agree that mediation produces results.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We praise Almighty God for making another gathering of world leaders possible. Allow me to warmly congratulate Mr. Al-Nasser on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. His proven leadership and competence will certainly be in great demand as we collectively confront some of the daunting challenges of our time. My delegation also views his election as a demonstration of the strong commitment of the brotherly State of Qatar to the fashioning of a stable and just world order. He will have our full support in the discharge of his mandate. His predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss of Switzerland, also deserves our praise for the sterling work he did as President of the General Assembly. We wish him well in his future pursuits.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)