YouSaid · the spoken record

Baboucarr-Blaise Ismaila Jagne

lines on the record: 95
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2003-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“As we move into the business of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, my delegation prays that the Almighty Allah crowns our endeavours with success. We pray that this session proves to be the turning point in our efforts to render the United Nations more relevant, more effective and truly all- inclusive. We pray that at this session, any doubts as to the utility of the United Nations to each and every one of us be put to rest once and for all. We pray that by the close of this session, we shall all have emerged secure in our conviction that only through fuller recourse to the United Nations can we expect to have our global 38 problems of conflict, peace and security and, indeed, development, frontally addressed, fully contained and completely resolved.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“After more than a decade, little progress has been made in our attempts to reform the Security Council so that it is truly reflective of the realities of the international system in the twenty-first century. My Government reiterates its stance — indeed the stance of the entire African region — that the composition of the Security Council has to be revamped and democratized. Membership of the Council must be expanded, with Africa occupying at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats. We therefore wholeheartedly support the timely proposal of the Secretary-General to establish a high- level panel of eminent personalities to make concrete recommendations, inter alia, on the reforms of the Organization.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation would like to express its gratitude to the Governments of Japan and Luxembourg and the Food and Agriculture Organization for the assistance that they provide to our fisheries sector, and to fully endorse the Secretary- General’s recommendation that technical and financial assistance to developing countries for the conservation and management of fisheries resources should be provided in a comprehensive manner. We call for greater assistance and cooperation in our efforts to promote sustainable practices in the fisheries sector of our economies. On the crucial topic of United Nations reform, my delegation welcomes the efforts aimed at the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Scientific and technological research must be conducted in support of the essence of life. In the course of this year, we have heard several claims as to the successful cloning of human embryos. These claims, whether genuine or not, are indeed a wake-up call for all of humanity. The international community must close ranks to address them in a manner that ensures that no one is allowed, for whatever reason, to tinker with science and technology in ways that may upset or threaten nature’s fragile balance. The phenomenon of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing remains a challenge to coastal African States such as The Gambia. It has generated enormous concern at the international level, as is evident from the adoption of various international instruments to combat it.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The international community must have been satisfied with our efforts and achievements in this domain, since the World Economic Forum, meeting in South Africa, decided to classify The Gambia third in Africa, for its performance on good governance. We are indeed honoured by this recognition, and feel encouraged in our resolve to do even better. Advances in information and communication technology have come to make our world a truly global village. This is indeed remarkable. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that even in this area there is a great deal of catching up to be done by the developing world. Global initiatives geared towards bridging the digital divide between the developed and developing worlds should be pursued with unrelenting vigour.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The United Nations system as a whole can be mobilized further to broker such support for poor countries, and especially for those among them that show promise and positive signs of progress. My Government has been increasing its efforts to deepen democracy and strengthening good governance in The Gambia. To that end, our intent is to continuously bring improvements to the performance of all arms of government. Our multiparty democratic system forms the backbone of our political dispensation. We continue to conduct free and fair elections at all levels of popular representation. Our courts operate independently. We have encouraged the mass media to grow and expand, with increasingly higher levels of private participation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“A third plank of our programme of empowerment in the agriculture sector is to diversify activities away from the traditional crops by placing greater emphasis on food production as well as on 37 other non-traditional crops for export. Finally, with all of these objectives already well on the road to success, we are beginning to increase market access, both locally and abroad, for our producers. Attaining the Millennium Development Goals will depend to a large extent on how well poor countries perform in the areas I have just referred to. It would also depend on how far they themselves are empowered, and made capable of performing, through the requisite support measures from the international community.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is the leading cause of mortality and a major cause of morbidity among pregnant women, contributing to anaemia and low birth weight. Today, with the cooperation of a Cuban medical and health team, The Gambia is number one in Africa as far as its malaria control programme is concerned, according to the World Health Organization. In the area of agriculture, our objective is to achieve a total transformation of the sector. Our priority is to reduce the drudgery of production and increase productivity through a systematic programme of mechanization. Added to this is our bid to reduce our dependence on rain-fed methods of production, in favour of greater irrigation, using the abundant water resources that the Gambia River and its tributaries provide.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Significantly improved child health care, especially through an extensive and comprehensive immunization programme, has contributed immensely towards a considerable reduction in infant mortality in the last few years. Infant mortality rates have been reduced by one third. Primary health care programmes have been strengthened across the board. Overall, access to health facilities and services have equally been greatly improved, with the construction of hospitals, health centres, clinics and dispensaries throughout the country. For all these achievements, however, we are humbled by the challenges that still remain. The prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and a host of respiratory illnesses, is part of an unfinished agenda. Malaria, in particular, remains a major problem.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In order to increase opportunities for the girl child in the educational system, we have created a trust fund, entitled “The President’s Empowerment of Girls Education Project”, to provide full scholarships to girls who would otherwise not be able to go to school for lack of resources. That and other measures geared towards assisting women have helped to close the gender gap in education in Gambia. Empowering the rural dweller is another priority of my Government. We seek to do so through measures that lead to an increase in access to resources, infrastructure and services, as well as to knowledge and skills. Most villages now have a primary school, and clusters of villages share secondary education facilities. Our efforts have also been geared towards the improvement of the health of our people.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We have, at the same time, increased non-formal, adult and distance education programmes throughout the country. The net result has been a dramatic drop in illiteracy nationwide. Transition rates from primary to secondary levels have been significantly improved, from 12 per cent, 15 years ago, to over 77 per cent today. Six years ago there were hardly any tertiary level institutions to speak of. Today they abound, and include the new University of The Gambia. That has been made possible by the visionary leadership provided by Al Hadji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, President of the Republic of Gambia. Recognizing the important role women play in the family, in the community and in the nation, my Government has sought to pay special attention to the empowerment of our women through education, training and special income-generating projects.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In a resource- strapped economy such as The Gambia’s, getting all the relevant indicators to perform well towards poverty reduction is a daunting challenge. It is, however, a challenge my Government is prepared to take up. Our special focus is on the empowerment of our people, and we seek to do so by giving priority to our education, health and agricultural sectors, as well as by building capacity among our women, who are the architects of stable and strong nations. That strategy has so far yielded dividends, as evidenced by my country’s showing on UNDP’s Human Development Report 2003. In the education sector our goal is to achieve full enrolment well before the Millennium Declaration’s target year of 2015. As of now, we have taken the gross enrolment rate from 44 per cent, eight years ago, to over 90 per cent today.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The paradox, in our view, is the fact that, while the means to attain the Goals are available, it would appear that the political will to do so is lacking. Let me again quote from the Human Development Report 2003. 36 “Today’s world has greater resources and know-how than ever before to tackle the challenges of infectious disease, low productivity, lack of clean energy and transport and lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation, schools and health care. The issue is how best to apply these resources and know-how to benefit the poorest people.” (ibid, p. 3) In The Gambia, my Government’s focus is on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. The strategy we have designed to that end is detailed in our poverty reduction strategy paper.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is gratifying to note that the Human Development Report 2003 is devoted to the Millennium Development Goals. In that way, the fight against poverty is kept high on the international community’s agenda, because we still have a very long way to go. For instance, as stated in the report, “Regionally, at the current pace Sub-Saharan Africa would not reach the Goals for poverty until 2147 and for child mortality until 2165. And for HIV/AIDS and hunger, trends in the region are heading up — not down.” (Human Development Report 2003, p. 2) It is indeed true that sub-Saharan Africa is being left behind. That state of affairs is alarming and, as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has rightly stated, the Millennium Development Goals will not be realized with a business-as-usual approach.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Stronger earning power in the developing world would stimulate world trade in ways that would be most beneficial to rich countries. My delegation calls on all concerned to ensure that we return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, and with greater determination on both sides, to reach a just and fair agreement on all the issues involved. Official development assistance (ODA) still falls short of the internationally agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product. We commend the countries whose ODA has risen to that level, in particular Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. My delegation urges all of Africa’s development partners to address those issues with sincerity and commitment, with a view to meaningfully assisting in kick-starting the sustainable human development process in African countries.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The debt issue is far from being resolved and the procedures for accessing the benefits of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative (HIPC) are too cumbersome for many poor countries to follow. The only realistic approach to the debt problem as a major impediment to development is to cancel it unconditionally for HIPC countries and for low-income countries under stress. We have just ended at Cancún another attempt at negotiations on world trade. My delegation deeply regrets the failure of the talks, as well as the fact that the developed world could not see eye to eye with the Group of 21 on the issue of subsidies. It is in our collective interest to dismantle global trade barriers and allow markets to expand, for incomes to rise in the developing world and poverty to be reduced.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation welcomes the Africa Action Plan of the G-8, the African Growth and Opportunity Act of the United States of America and the “Everything But Arms” initiative of the European Union, all of which commit their sponsors to well-defined forms of support for Africa’s development. There are, however, many barriers to the implementation of those initiatives, which are caused by certain protectionist policies pursued by our partners, as well as other policy and structural constraints. The problem of farm subsidies just will not go away. Agricultural economies in our part of the world must be allowed to compete if the global trading system is to function in favour of the eradication of poverty.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“For the international system to successfully address those factors of underdevelopment, more serious attention must be paid to the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, and more attention must be focused on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. We must also give effect to the commitments made at Doha, Monterrey and Johannesburg. There is no shortage of blueprints for development. What is in short supply, and what needs to be urgently mobilized, are resources. So far, there is still a big gap between commitment and action. Africa’s development partners must make good on their pledges to support Africa’s development.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We hail its progress so far, and I would like to seize this opportunity to call on all to cooperate with the Court in order that, together all around the world, we can say no to the culture of impunity. 35 While still on the subject of justice, let me reiterate my Government’s view that the sanctions being imposed on Cuba should now be lifted. They are counter-productive anyway. Cuba is a peace-loving member of the international community whose people do not deserve the punishment that has been meted out to them for almost four decades now. Let me now turn to development issues. In Africa, our efforts to achieve sustainable development continue to be seriously undermined by a variety of factors, prominent among which are conflicts, structural weaknesses, natural disasters and disease.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is gratifying to note however, that the international community is sensitized to that fact and that initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have been put in place. Consequently, more money, resources and attention must be given to research and development. Contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have slackened, and developing countries are paying a colossal price in human and material terms. The initiative of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization equally requires adequate funding. The pursuit of justice and the international rule of law have never been as pressing as it is today. My Government strongly supports the International Criminal Court as it embarks on its crucial mandate of delivering justice.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We urge them both to reduce the arms build-up on their respective sides of the border and to strive harder to reach a mutually acceptable solution to their differences, in particular with regard to the issue of Kashmir. Similarly, we reiterate our support for a peaceful reunification on the Korean peninsula. Human security is not threatened by conflicts alone. The scourge of HIV/AIDS continues to be elusive, and now poses a serious threat to the viability of some societies in Africa. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has slowly evolved from a health and humanitarian issue to a development and security problem. The pandemic has compounded the problems African countries face in the fight against other scourges, such as malaria and tuberculosis.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We continue to follow closely the situation in the Middle East, and we deplore yet again the recent spate of vicious attacks and counter-attacks between Israelis and Palestinians, thus negating hope for an early settlement within the framework of the road map. Trust and confidence-building measures must be reinforced and made to attend to every stage of the implementation of the road map, if the peace process is to endure. Suicide bombings that target innocent civilians must be stopped. The occupation of Arab lands must come to an end. In reiterating our position on the Arab-Israeli conflict, we call for the creation of an independent Palestinian State living in peace alongside the State of Israel. My Government firmly supports the initiatives being taken to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, two great friends of The Gambia.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The people of Iraq and Afghanistan need urgent international assistance to shore up security, re-establish the rule of law and embark on an effective programme of reconstruction. My Government welcomes the adoption of resolution 1500 (2003), in the hope that the establishment of the Governing Council of Iraq will lead towards a real political transition for the Iraqi people. While a speedy end to the occupation of Iraq is both desirable and urgent, as clearly underscored in resolution 1472 (2003), outstanding issues emanating from Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait should be comprehensively dealt with once and for all.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The recent developments in Guinea- Bissau should be seen not so much as a constraint, but rather as an opportunity to re-engage the international community, in partnership with the people of Guinea- Bissau, in the resolution of their problems of governance and development. Now that concerted efforts are being made by all the major actors to agree on transitional arrangements for the preparation of parliamentary and presidential elections in the not-too- distant future, we call on the rest of the international community to provide the support necessary to stabilize the situation and keep the process on course to a successful outcome. Problems of security and peace in my part of the world have not in any way diminished our concerns over similar problems elsewhere.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My Government appreciates the special attention that Guinea-Bissau has received from the Security Council, especially through the Council’s Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa. We also commend the remarkable efforts of the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau. As Chairperson of the Group of Friends of Guinea-Bissau, my Government acknowledges the groundswell of support and good will that Guinea-Bissau enjoys from the Organization. Unfortunately, that has not yet been adequately translated into material and financial forms of assistance, which the people of that country so desperately need.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It did not decide that Taiwan was, or should be, a part of the People’s Republic of China. Nor did it confer on the People’s Republic of China the right to represent the Republic of China (Taiwan) or the 23 million Taiwanese people in the United Nations and related organizations. Resolution 2758 (XXVI) has since been misused to justify the exclusion of Taiwan from the United Nations. That runs counter to the claim by the Government of the People’s Republic of China that it represents the interests of all Chinese, not to mention those Taiwanese who are in the Republic of China (Taiwan). If we are to comprehensively deal with the 34 problems engendered by exclusion in whatever form it takes, I call on the international community to revisit that issue urgently.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“All affect the greater majority of humankind. They also give rise to all the urgent situations that the world is faced with today — situations of conflict and civil strife; in short, of the absence of peace. A peculiar situation of exclusion was created by General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI) on 25 October 1971, which relates, through its direct effects, to Taiwan. From 1949 to 1971, the Republic of China (Taiwan) was a bona fide member of the United Nations, recognized by the comity of nations. If the Republic of China (Taiwan) could be a member of the United Nations then, why could it not be a member now? The General Assembly adopted resolution 2758 (XXVI), which addressed only the question of the representation of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations and related organizations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My Government, under the wise leadership of President Jammeh, has in the past contributed, and will contribute in the future, to subregional efforts to keep the peace in West Africa. We have continuously participated in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) since its inception. We stand ready to contribute our own modest share to any other United Nations peacekeeping operations designed for the West Africa subregion, as we are doing now under the ECOWAS Military Mission in Liberia (ECOMIL). In that regard, we welcome the adoption of Security Council resolution 1509 (2003), establishing the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). I just made mention of the unfinished business of the preceding millennium. Those are thematic issues of political exclusion, disenfranchisement, economic exclusion and abject poverty.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My Government strongly supports any measure that would treat as accomplices to war crimes and crimes against humanity illegal brokers who knowingly supply arms and weapons to militias and other insurgents in West Africa. Conflict zones elsewhere in Africa that tell a similar story should also be assisted in that manner. We warmly congratulate our brothers in Sudan on the recent signing of the Naivasha peace accord, which promises to bring the long-drawn fratricidal conflict in that country to an end. Meanwhile, my Government continues to play its part in the search for solutions to the problems of peace and security in Africa. We participate actively within the context of the initiatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to contribute to the subregion’s collective efforts in that area.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“That would also have a salutary effect on the situation in neighbouring Sierra Leone, where we note with satisfaction the consolidation of the peace process. However, the problem of conflicts in West Africa continues to be compounded by the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, as well as by roving bands of mercenaries. International efforts could serve the region best by developing comprehensive disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation programmes that target militias and that are region-specific rather than country-specific. We must endeavour to address the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons with greater determination. An arrangement similar to the Kimberley Process in blood diamonds is what is urgently required to effectively stem the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“While terrorism poses a real threat to international peace and security, other violent conflicts continue to rage around the world, leaving death, destruction and desolation in their wake. The situation in the Mano River Union region remains volatile as I speak. Even though former President Charles Taylor of Liberia has left the scene, as was required of him, and there appears to be some laudable progress towards reinvigorating the democratic process in that country, we should be under no illusion as to the extreme fragility of the situation in Liberia, and indeed within the West African subregion. We commend all the parties that recently signed the Peace Agreement in Accra, Ghana, for their determination and patience, and urge them to do all in their power to stay the course.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We shall never achieve global peace, security and prosperity without working together in a forum such as the one provided by the United Nations, a forum that is all-inclusive and which permits each and every nation — big or small, rich or poor — to expound on matters of concern to them. The ideals and principles that were the basis of the founding of the Organization are as relevant today as they were 58 years ago. Let us therefore demonstrate our commitment to multilateralism by always turning to the United 33 Nations. My delegation therefore urges all Member States to maintain confidence in the United Nations and to have recourse to the Organization for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the settlement of disputes.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Apart from the recent terrorist attacks against the United Nations in Baghdad, other such incidents in Indonesia, Kenya, the Russian Federation, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, coming in the wake of the attacks of 11 September, are reminders of the enormity of the tasks ahead. The fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly has been convened at a time when our approaches to the management of global issues have come under sharp scrutiny. Those issues are the unfinished business of the preceding millennium. The United Nations — the premier, overarching venue for multilateralism — cannot but be the only vehicle through which the world’s peace and security problems can be solved. The recent events in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere only serve to underscore the need for the nations of the world to strengthen, not weaken, multilateralism.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Let me state that, in spite of our modest achievements in that regard, international cooperation and technical assistance remain critical to the success of our future implementation efforts. The Counter-Terrorism Committee’s assistance unit must strengthen the coordination of its technical assistance portfolio in order to have greater impact. In that regard, we welcome the commitment of the G-8 to provide capacity-building and technical assistance to priority countries. The translation of declarations of commitment into concrete action is the only guarantee of making meaningful headway to counter terrorism.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Sergio Vieira de Mello and his colleagues, who lost their lives, and we mourn the tragic loss of a highly- acclaimed international civil servant at the hands of terrorists. In wishing the injured a speedy recovery, we pray that the souls of all those who died rest in perfect peace. My delegation strongly urges that that cowardly act should in no way weaken the resolve of the United Nations in fulfilling its obligations to the people of Iraq. Resolution 1373 (2001) was adopted unanimously by the Security Council following the attacks of 11 September, and the majority of Member States, including my own, have embarked on implementing its salient provisions. We have ratified the major international instruments on terrorism and, furthermore, have enacted domestic legislation to implement them.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The dynamic Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, also deserves commendation for another productive year of service to the Organization, a year that was fraught with difficulties and incredible challenges. Thanks to his leadership, we have, by and large, been able to weather the storm. We were all devastated, however, by the bombing of the offices of the United Nations in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of so many people. May it never recur — please God — but it shows that we must remain united in our resolve to fight terrorism. Let me seize this opportunity to express once again to Mr. Kofi Annan and his staff, as well as to the relatives of the victims, the heartfelt condolences of the people of The Gambia. We pay homage to Mr.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Please allow me to convey my delegation’s warmest congratulations to Mr. Julian Hunte on his election to the high office of President of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. I am sure that his vast experience on the international scene will be brought to bear on the work of this session, and help direct it with ease to a successful conclusion. The fifty-eighth session promises to be rich in substance, and may also prove to be a watershed in our bid to make the United Nations responsive to the needs of the peoples of the world in the new millennium. I wish to assure the President of my delegation’s fullest cooperation in the discharge of his onerous responsibilities. In the same vein, let me also congratulate the out- going President, Mr. Jan Kavan, for his laudable efforts during the fifty-seventh session.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“But a system that repeatedly frustrates and lets down one portion of its membership will malfunction and eventually become ineffective and irrelevant. We must therefore all do more to ensure that such a fate does not befall our Organization.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The credibility and relevance of the Security Council now depend on the reforms that we all have been calling for. The developing countries must be allowed a much more effective participation in this powerful organ of the United Nations. Africa should have a minimum of two permanent seats. In conclusion, we urge all nations, great and small, to work relentlessly towards preserving the ideals for which the Organization was set up. We should all eschew behaviours that undermine the objectives of the United Nations and that frustrate its efforts. Multilateralism is the only hope left to mankind for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of international peace and security. Let us cherish and nurture it. Multilateralism will thrive only if there is trust and confidence among all the actors.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Still in the same region, with regard to the Korean Peninsula, my delegation would like to reiterate once again our unflinching support for all the efforts geared towards peaceful unification. 21 Finally, my delegation believes that the General Assembly needs to be strengthened so that it could play an even greater role in our quest for a just and equitable world order. We welcome the moves being made to reform this important organ of the United Nations in ways that would render it more effective in discharging its mandate. This is particularly true of the Security Council. We in the Gambia will continue to add our voice to the clamour for the Security Council to be reformed in order to make it more democratic and more in tune with the realities of and requirements for global security in the twenty-first century.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In short, it should be admitted into all branches of the United Nations family because of the tremendous contributions it could make to the ideals and programmes of the United Nations. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy with high ratings on human rights, press freedom and the observance of the rights of the individual. It could contribute immensely to global security and the fight against terrorism. It is therefore baffling that this highly developed, friendly and peace-loving nation has been barred from membership in the United Nations for purely political reasons. My Government will not rest until this injustice is undone and the Republic of China on Taiwan is granted its rightful place among the comity of nations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Logic demands that, for the very same reason, it should also be admitted into the World Health Organization in recognition of its importance as a country of highly sophisticated and developed health services; into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization because of its exceptionally high standing in the fields of science and culture; into the United Nations Industrial Development Organization because of its most advanced industrial and technological development; into the United Nations Children's Fund because of its highly developed child development policies and programmes; into the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme because of its extremely well developed agriculture and its importance as a food producer; and into the United Nations Development Programme because of its huge official development assistance to developing countries for capacity-building and poverty alleviation.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The people of Taiwan have demonstrated over the years not only that they are peace-loving but also that they can contribute to all the objectives of the United Nations in the fields of global security, financial stability, culture, industrial and technological growth and sustainable development. Taiwan is not an insignificant player in the world production and trade arena. It is the world's sixteenth largest economy. It is equally highly developed in the field of scientific and medical research. In recognition of its importance as a trading nation, it was recently admitted into the World Trade Organization.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In like manner, the multifaceted sanctions imposed on Cuba are still in place despite numerous resolutions calling for their removal. A window of opportunity now exists for them to be finally set aside. It is in nobody's interest to continue to pursue policies against Cuba that have lost their appeal. Sabres are rattling on one side of the Taiwan Strait in the face of 23 million souls, for their merely having claimed their God-given right to be recognized as a political, economic and social entity. The Republic of China on Taiwan is today the only country on earth that is not represented in the United Nations, contrary to the main guiding principle of the United Nations: the principle of universality. Article four of the Charter invites “all ... peace-loving States” to become Members of the Organization.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Thus far, most Governments have been very cooperative and, while repeatedly requesting to no avail that evidence of wrong-doing be made known to them, have nonetheless gone along with the rest of the international community in respecting the decision taken by the Council. Some of those Governments, mine included, are reaching the point of exasperation and have resolved that, unless the evidence being requested of the Security Council is provided, they will refuse to comply with any ban or sanctions imposed on their nationals. We sometimes wonder whether someone out there does not have a hidden agenda. As sovereign nations, we demand more transparency before acquiescing to our nationals being punished for wrongdoings that we have not been shown they have committed. The United Nations Security Council must not be a bully.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Turning now to the issue of sanctions, my delegation firmly believes that the time has now come for us to review the procedure being used to impose sanctions on countries and individuals. The permanent members of the Security Council, who determine who should be placed on a sanctions or travel ban list, do not usually provide evidence, either to the individual concerned or to his Government, to justify their decision. We have come to see that in many cases, such decisions are based on speculation and conjecture and that the individuals in question really did not deserve to be punished and humiliated.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We are therefore calling on them, out of that friendship, to exercise restraint at all times and to withdraw their troops from their respective borders. After years of hard work and tough negotiations, we finally succeeded in establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. We salute the tireless efforts of all those who contributed in one way or another to that huge success. It is our fervent hope that the Court, with the active collaboration of all like-minded States, will act as an effective instrument in the fight against 20 international crimes of all sorts and, by extension, extinguish the culture of impunity.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We have always upheld the view that parties to any dispute should allow the United Nations to assume its responsibility unhindered in our common quest for amicable closure to conflict situations. We therefore note with satisfaction the important statement made by President Bush recognizing the central role of the United Nations and calling on the latter to assume its responsibility. But let us also remember that we, all of us — nations big and small, rich and poor — constitute the United Nations. It can be only what we the Member States want it to be. The choice is ours. In South Asia, we cannot be indifferent to the prevailing situation between India and Pakistan. Those are two great countries with which the Gambia has always enjoyed excellent relations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We also fully support those who have called for the recognition of the State of Israel by all nations, as well as the creation and the recognition by all of a State of Palestine. Elsewhere in the Middle East, there are still some unresolved issues. The situation between Iraq and Kuwait has still not been fully resolved, and we are still seeking a satisfactory resolution of the question of the Kuwaiti prisoners of war and missing persons, as well as the return of the Kuwaiti national archives. Within Iraq itself, we in the Gambia have always called for the alleviation of the suffering of the innocent Iraqi people. With regard to the other unfinished business of weapons inspections, my delegation applauds the decision of the Government of Iraq to invite the United Nations weapons inspectors to return to Iraq to resume their work.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The Security Council must show more leadership in the efforts of the international community to contain and resolve the serious tensions between Israel and Palestine, which pose a grave threat to the stability of the nations in the region and the peace of the whole world. It is unacceptable for the world to stand back and watch as helpless civilians are attacked in refugee camps or are killed or maimed by suicide bombers. The suffering of innocent people in the Middle East must be brought to an end immediately. My delegation strongly urges, therefore, that all the relevant United Nations resolutions on Palestine and the Middle East, notably Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), be complied with without further delay.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)