YouSaid · the spoken record

Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh

lines on the record: 87
first: 2004-09-24
most recent: 2014-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“We believe that this Organization was established in the first place to find lasting solutions for peace and the protection of human life. Informed and honest decisions should be made instead of those driven by the interests of a few self-appointed gods, thereby causing irreparable damage to the social fabric and economies of countries in conflict. My Government supports the view that the regional organizations in the Middle East should take the lead in the negotiations towards the resolution of the crisis in Syria. The tragedy unfolding in Syria has become a scar on our conscience as civilized people, and that war must be stopped by any means necessary. All that we hear is the talk about chemical weapons and the need to ensure that they are not used by anyone. This does not make any sense as long as this barbaric war lasts.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Unfortunately, some Member States continue to disregard resolutions necessary for the maintenance of world peace and even question or disregard with impunity resolutions adopted by the Assembly. The United Nations continues to be incapacitated as a result. This certainly calls for an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses, with a view to rendering it more effective. Civil strife and terrorism caused by the negative behaviour of some world Powers are undermining human security and even the viability of States. Poverty, hunger and disease still decimate countless communities, while our capacity to respond to these man-made humanitarian crises remains discriminatory and inadequate. This is demonstrated yet again in the case of Syria.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I take this opportunity also to convey our heartfelt condolences to the President, the Government and the people of Kenya, who have suffered one of the most heinous crimes against humanity. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. This is a clear manifestation of the fact that terrorism in all its forms cannot be accepted. This also has nothing to do with our noble religion, Islam. As we gather for the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly, we must pause and take stock of our collective record in responding to the many different global challenges with which mankind has had to grapple. Our global body, the United Nations, has indeed adopted countless resolutions, which, if implemented to the letter, would have made the world a much better place for the whole of mankind and, indeed, for all other creatures on our planet.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We praise the almighty Allah for making possible yet again this gathering of world leaders. I would like to congratulate President Ashe on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. His impeccable credentials and extensive experience in multilateralism will undoubtedly enrich the debates and proceedings of this session. He has the full support of my delegation. In the same vein, I wish also to pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Vuk Jeremi., for his sterling leadership during the sixty-seventh session. Our special thanks go to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his stewardship and for the commitment he has manifested to the welfare of humanity, particularly of the third world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“My delegation therefore urges the President of the General Assembly to make more effort on the issue during the sixty-fourth session and to ensure that the continent of Africa has at least two permanent seats on the Security Council with full veto powers; if it does not, any resolution adopted by the Council will not be binding on Africa or any African Union member State by the end of 2010. Africa, a continent 10 times the size of Europe, does not have a single permanent seat on the Security Council, while Europe has more than one. Africa has been subjected to discrimination, marginalization, exploitation and humiliation for a very long time. We Africans are no longer going to accept that status quo. We will put an end to it very soon. Members should take my words seriously.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“On the question of the Moroccan Sahara, we remain convinced that the proposal of the Moroccan Government to grant substantive autonomy to the Saharan region on the basis of the negotiations initiated by the Security Council and conducted and agreed by the parties would lead to a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict. Finally, my delegation has been following keenly, but with deep dismay, the protracted negotiations on reform of the Security Council and a seeming connivance to prevent such reform. Africa would like to see Council reform undertaken, with balanced representation of all continents in the Council.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“My delegation also hereby calls on the United Nations to urge the United States of America to immediately and unconditionally lift its embargo on Cuba, in accordance with the wishes of more than 09-52425 30 98 per cent of the membership of this body. That trade embargo continues to hurt Cuban women and children. The Cuban children born into those extreme hardships have committed no crime. The punishment of women and children because of political differences is a very serious violation of their rights. Thirdly, my delegation renews its full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The United Nations must not be turned into an “animal farm”. Secondly, there is also the lingering issue of the Republic of China on Taiwan. My delegation holds the position that Taiwan should be invited to participate in all meetings and activities of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization, among other bodies. Taiwan has a legitimate right to full membership of all United Nations specialized agencies, since even non-governmental organizations have either full membership or observer status in those agencies. Taiwan, a democratic State with a population of 23 million, is still being denied this fundamental human right, which the United Nations is supposed to uphold and protect in the first place.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We also urge the Security Council to ensure that its resolutions are respected by all States and enforced to the letter and spirit by the United Nations, and not to allow certain States to choose not only to ignore these resolutions, but to violate them with impunity, while other States face drastic and devastating military action if such resolutions are adopted against them and they so much as ask for clarification. The State of Israel has ignored and violated all United Nations resolutions and conventions with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not only with impunity, but also with the support and protection of certain world Powers, while other countries have paid a very high price merely for not having fully complied with a Security Council resolution. The Council should stop employing these unfortunate double standards.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“And in the interest of our collective security, the United Nations should see to the total elimination of racism and hatred in all their forms, whatever it takes, so that we can bequeath to the generations of humanity yet unborn a very peaceful and prosperous world devoid of destitution, exploitation and marginalization. In this context, my delegation would like to see a speedy resolution of the plight of the Palestinians. We call on the State of Israel to accept and respect the two-State solution that the international community has so clearly articulated without preconditions.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Extremist hate-mongers are increasing in number and rising in rank. Instead of being condemned as criminals and terrorists, they are labelled the far right, neo-Nazis or supremacists, and tolerated and even encouraged by the same Powers that would happily bomb them back to the Stone Age if they were Muslim, black African or Asian. As long as this status quo persists, peace and security will continue to be an elusive dream as people, rich or poor, Muslim or non-Muslim, black or Asian, are bound to defend their human dignity at any price. My delegation therefore calls for a united front against this dictatorship of a few over the rest of humanity.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Diverse as we may be, we are part and parcel of the one human family created by the one and only God, Allah. If we accept the principle that we are all human beings equal before the only God that created us, and that differences in religion and skin colour do not make one person less human than another, then we will all live in perfect peace and harmony in this global village called the world. The problem is that some play God and believe that, by virtue of the colour of their skin, they are better than the rest of humanity and therefore should dictate to them how they should live and how they should worship God. They impose their value systems on the rest of humanity. This unacceptable dictatorship is the source of all the world’s major conflicts and a contributing factor to persistent threats to world peace. Racism is on the rise.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Their insatiable appetite for massive wealth at any cost has pushed them to the point of blindness, insensitivity to human suffering and the loss of human life in the developing world, especially in Africa. With regard to international peace and security, my delegation calls once again for stronger and more honest international cooperation and dialogue in addressing conflict prevention, the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for the cultural values, norms and ways of life of others. We must respect the fact that humanity was created to be diverse, just as planet Earth has different regions, each with its own diverse climatic and ecological system. Therefore, there is bound to be diversity in the colour of our skin, diversity in the way we live and differences in our beliefs.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“While I would like to reiterate my delegation’s support for the work of the Global Fund in fighting these diseases, I wish to call for concerted efforts to mobilize resources to support international research on traditional medicine and alternative disease treatment programmes. These traditional systems are in most instances more cost-effective, yet they have been abandoned due to the sort of criticism that come from multinationals threatened that certain traditional 29 09-52425 breakthroughs would be detrimental to their corporate existence and interests. These multinationals value their monetary gains more than human life. They should not be allowed to hold humanity to ransom.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We, the new generation of African leaders, will seek to put an end to this humiliating, degrading and racist treatment by any means necessary. The world will not live in peace and security as long as this dehumanizing and racist status quo continues to prevail with regard to the continent of Africa and to Africans. We have been forced to endure this for far too long and now we are going to put an end to it, as we have ended apartheid in South Africa, by force if necessary. We will defend our humanity, our dignity, our resources, our interests and our culture from this moment forward. HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are killer diseases.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Otherwise, we Africans stand ready to liberate ourselves from this eternal bondage at any cost. From now on, the African Union will work towards ensuring that African nations and our farmers receive their rightful share of our God-given natural and agricultural resources. We will no longer accept less than 65 per cent of the proceeds from our natural resources. We Africans have been suffering for too long at the hands of Westerners and we will put an end to this. It is African sweat, blood, tears and natural resources that have built the North throughout almost five centuries of merciless and racist exploitation that continues today. Enough is enough. Instead of being respected, we are being called all sorts of names and given all sorts of unsolicited titles — dictators, corrupt leaders, failed States and even rogue States.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“African resources have been looted continuously from the eleventh century to date. Everything in Africa that the locusts set their eyes on is looted even today. Even dead bodies have not been spared by the locusts. Graves were and are being desecrated and human bodies called mummies have been stolen from Africa. In such a situation, where even Africans in their graves are not spared by these rampaging locusts, who in his right mind could expect us in Africa to develop and become rich? In Africa, “R.I.P.” on a tombstone, which normally means “Rest In Peace”, has never been respected. “R.I.P.” really means “Respected If Poor” — that is, the body in the tomb will rest only if it was not buried with any precious jewellery. The United Nations must come to the rescue of Africa.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The treaty that makes it impossible for us to do anything about it is called globalization, which means the exploitation of poor third-world countries’ resources by the rich first-world countries. With regards to the drought — that is, the debt burden — very few rich countries have cancelled the debt owed them by third-world countries. This excruciating burden of debt consumes 80 per cent of the 3 to 5 per cent left by the multinational companies. Our agricultural produce, such as tea, coffee and cocoa, is bought at prices fixed by the buyers, in most cases at an average price of less than $1 per kilo. The same produce is then sold at more than $15 per kilo when processed. Thus, for every kilogram of our agricultural produce worth $15 on the Western market, we get only $1. How can Africa develop and emerge from this abject poverty?”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The locusts I am talking about are the multinational Western companies that exploit our natural resources and agricultural produce, taking 95 per cent of their financial value and leaving us, the owners of the resources, with 5 per cent or less at most. Is it not interesting that, with respect to the mining of African mineral resources, only four African countries receive more than a 3 per cent royalty from these multinational mining companies? The rest receive only a 3 per cent royalty or even less. In the case of petroleum exploitation, few African countries receive above a 15 per cent royalty. There is nothing African countries can do about this because these locusts have an absolute monopoly of the technologies used in the extractive industries.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“This situation has been brought about by the perennial invasions of the locusts and their permanent presence in Africa. They devour 90 per cent of our useful resources, from agricultural and mineral to flora 09-52425 28 and fauna. These locusts are present in all resource-rich African countries today. This devastating permanent invasion is exacerbated by another destructive phenomenon — the permanent drought that affects all African countries without exception. We cannot do anything about these two deadly scourges of the African continent. In the case of the locusts, they are protected by a one-sided international treaty imposed on all third-world countries, not only Africa. As for the drought, it is even worse, since no irrigation system in Africa can eradicate it.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“There cannot be justice if there is merciless exploitation, suppression and criminal invasion of sovereign States. There cannot be peace if there is no development as a result of marginalization, injustice and racism. Unfortunately, injustice, racism, merciless exploitation and marginalization, especially as inflicted on developing nations by developed nations, are the order of the day. Africa and Africans are the poorest of the poor, despite the fact that the African continent is the world’s richest in terms of mineral and other natural resources. The sad truth is that, despite the fact that the African continent is the source of 90 per cent of the precious minerals, gemstones and strategic raw materials for the industrialized North, we Africans are the poorest of the poor. It is no fault of ours if we Africans are poor today.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As long as this continues to be the order of the day, the United Nations will remain united in name only, unable to achieve in full the fundamental objectives for which it was established. The modus operandi of the Organization therefore needs urgent reforms to ensure that such impunity is eliminated and that the principle of equality among nation States, irrespective of their geopolitical size, location, economic circumstances, race or religion is safeguarded. Double standards have no place in the United Nations. There cannot be peace and security in the absence of justice for all. There cannot be justice in the face of abject poverty characterized by hunger, starvation, disease and a lack of basic social services as a result of exploitation.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Much can be achieved only when we all collaborate and work together within the framework of multilateralism based on mutual understanding, respect and, above all, sincerity, strong commitment and universal justice under the same rule of law and equity. Our global body, the United Nations, has indeed adopted countless resolutions, which, if implemented to the letter, would have made this world a better place for all humankind and indeed other creatures on our planet. Unfortunately, there are some Member States that block well-meaning resolutions necessary for the maintenance of world peace and even question or disregard with impunity resolutions adopted by this body.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Our special thanks go to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his stewardship and the commitment he has shown to the welfare of humanity, particularly of Africa. “Effective responses to global crises: strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development”, the theme adopted for this year’s session, is indeed apt and relevant. It calls on every nation, big or small, to adopt multilateralism and dialogue in fostering international partnership on all matters of common concern surrounding global peace and development. The complexities of today’s world are such that no nation can successfully confront them alone. Some issues cannot even be resolved by regional groups acting independently.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I would like first of all to thank almighty Allah for granting us yet another opportunity for a gathering of world leaders. My delegation would like to thank President Obama, the Government and people of the United States of America, and the leadership of the United Nations for their warm welcome and the facilities placed at our disposal since our arrival. Permit me also to congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his inspiring leadership and on conducting the affairs of the sixty-third session so well. By the same token, I extend warm felicitations to Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this important sixty-fourth session. He has the full support of my delegation.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Indeed, as far as I know, there is no licensing authority for the possession of nuclear weapons; therefore, no one can decide who should and who should not have them. We should take a bold step to ensure that no one has nuclear weapons. In this forum, on behalf of the worldís children, I appeal to those who aspire to possess nuclear weapons that that is the wrong path to take. Peace and stability cannot be ensured through the possession of nuclear weapons. The strength of a nation is not based on its firepower or its nuclear arsenal, but is determined by its ability to make the world a better place for humanity, including its own citizens. Nuclear weapons are not a solution.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I know that, during the 1980s, there was a campaign to promote nuclear disarmament. Today, in the new millennium, that campaign should be strengthened through a United Nations resolution making it illegal for anyone to possess nuclear 6 weapons. We have seen conflicts simmering that will have drastic consequences for humanity - conflicts aimed at preventing certain States from acquiring nuclear weapons. Now that the Soviet empire no longer exists, all nuclear weapons - whether they are possessed by the Gambia or by any other country - should be eliminated. Just imagine one bomb killing millions of people. And here we stand, telling everyone that the world will be a better place for mankind. I believe in the peaceful resolution of all conflicts.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have seen double standards being applied when resolutions are adopted for the good of humanity by the international community ó which is represented here ó and, in some cases, are enforced to the letter, whereas a few States are above international law and United Nations resolutions. That brings me to the issue of nuclear weapons. As a human being and as a peacemaker, I believe that, following the end of the cold war, no nation should have been able to justify the possession of nuclear weapons, much less become a new nuclear Power. If powerful nations continue to keep their nuclear weapons - and there are many double standards in the way we deal with one another ó that will only become an enticement for others to opt for nuclear weapons because they think such weapons will serve as an insurance policy against attacks.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“If poverty is not addressed, there will be desperation and hunger. And, if human beings are desperate, they can resort to actions that are horrific to the rest of us. We have seen that some parts of the world are very rich and that other parts - including Africa, where I come from - are becoming poorer and poorer. If the world's wealth is not distributed equally, there will be imbalances and inequities, and there will be people who are desperate. If people are desperate, they will do anything to survive. However, that does not mean that one can justify violence. I do not justify violence in any form, because I believe that peace and stability would augur well for our children. The fight against terror is global. Let us be mindful of the consequences of allowing terror to be seen as a legitimate act.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Even if we believe that the war was wrong, it is the responsibility of the entire human race to help put an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people. We have seen children being butchered in Beslan, Russia; we have seen Palestinian and Israeli children being butchered. The problem is not a religious problem but a political one, because we, the leaders of the world, want to teach others a lesson by making them suffer. That is a human tragedy. We cannot be diplomats here if we want to solve the worldís problems. It is amazing that, when certain actions that are described as terrorist acts are carried out by other parties, they are described as retaliation for something. An unlawful act that destroys human life is a terrorist act, regardless of its objective or the rationale behind it.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“But let me assure the Assembly that the war in Iraq has more far-reaching consequences for humanity ó and particularly for the children whom we pledged to support at the World Summit for Children - than for anything else. We have seen our economies collapse because of high oil prices that rise higher every day. It is our collective responsibility to put an end to the war in Iraq. We have seen the rise of global terrorism; the world is a more dangerous place today than during the cold war. The war in Iraq ó regardless of whether or not we supported it ó is a human tragedy, and it is not in our interests, as the human race, to let that war continue because we disapprove of what has happened. Two wrongs cannot make a right.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The insatiable appetite for world domination and intolerance - those are things that face humanity today. Our problem is not a confrontation between Islam and other religions. The problem of terrorism is a human characteristic. No good Muslim would ever commit a terrorist act. But, because the world has become so bad, lawlessness is rampant, and those who want to take out their frustrations on other human beings can do so in the name of Islam or any other religion. I have listened to my colleagues who have spoken here. But, as long as certain issues are not addressed, there will be no peace, and the war against terror will become an elusive fight that we will always lose. Some of us believe that, because we disapproved of the war in Iraq in the beginning, it is not our business to help solve it now.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The problem of development can best be summarized thus: as long as there is violence and as long as there is no peace or global security, we, the poorer parts of humanity, will always become poorer and poorer, while the richer nations will become richer and richer. 5 There cannot be any development without peace and stability. There cannot be peace or stability without democracy, justice and equality. The main problem of humanity today ó which is creating all our other problems - is a result of four human tendencies: greed, double standards, intolerance and hypocrisy. None of us here can look into the faces of our children and assure them of a bright future or of their safety. Because of greed, human life has been reduced to naught. People want to become rich at the expense of human life. Greed can come in many forms.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Children are being butchered throughout the world. Childrenís rights are being violated. Children are being sold into slavery, and they are being terrorized by adults ó we, who are supposed to take care of them. We have seen the economies of small States collapse as a result of rising oil prices. I come from a volatile part of the world, but I do not represent only Africa; I represent the young people of the world, whose future is very bleak if the status quo is not addressed. What are the problems of humanity today? They are man-made problems, and, because they are man- made, we will be able to resolve them. The solution to those problems lies with us, human beings ó irrespective of race, colour, creed or religion.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“My statement is very long, and is divided into two parts: one part will be circulated to representatives; I will read out the other part. World leaders have stood at this rostrum on many occasions, addressing the world. We made pledges to the children of the world during the twenty-seventh special session ó the childrenís summit ó in 2002. During that special session, we pledged to create a better world and an environment conducive to the wellbeing of the children of the world. We have also come up with objectives for global development so as to make the world a better place for humanity by 2015. So far, there is no indication that those objectives will be achieved in the next 2,000 years. What are the problems? Since the childrenís summit took place, we have seen the condition of the worldís children become more and more desperate.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Hunte, who conducted the business of the fifty-eighth session with gusto, dedication and courage, and who helped us to address some difficult issues. My delegation wishes him all the very best in his future endeavours. To our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, I express my deep appreciation for yet another year of dedicated service to the Organization ó indeed, to humanity at large. Some of the problems that were laid before him were not easy to resolve but, as expected, resolved they were. I hope that his efforts to ensure the triumph of multilateralism, the resolution of disputes and the pursuit of meaningful cooperation among nations will be further bolstered during the session that is just beginning. I stand here representing the young people of the world.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I should like, Sir, to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. This session might well prove to be epoch-making in that this body will be called upon to consider and to make far-reaching decisions on what ought to be done to revitalize our Organization and to better align it to fit todayís imperatives for global security, peace and development. I have no doubt that you will live up to our expectations and that, given your wisdom and vast experience, you will guide our deliberations to a successful outcome. You may rest assured, Mr. President, that you will receive my delegationís fullest cooperation. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to your predecessor, the very energetic and dynamic outgoing President, Mr. Julian E.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)