YouSaid · the spoken record

João Bernardo Vieira

lines on the record: 34
first: 1990-09-24
most recent: 2008-09-24
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

“We equally support the reform process undertaken by the Member States of our Organization in order to democratize the United Nations system, in particular the Security Council, the enlargement of which remains a priority for us all, considering the new economical and political reality of today’s world and above all the need to address the historic injustice done to the continent of Africa for more than 60 years.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Although confronted with complex international situations, the international community has ways of facing those challenges. However, real political will is needed from us all. The United Nations can play an even more decisive role in preventing and resolving conflicts, in protecting our planet and in creating better living conditions for millions of people. Thus we need a United Nations that is better organized, less bureaucratic and better suited to confronting those many challenges. We reiterate our full support for the Secretary- General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, in the implementation of much-needed reforms for the greater efficiency, capacity to respond and credibility of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We need dialogue and negotiation to defend and protect the most vulnerable, in particular women and children, by promoting and ensuring respect for human rights, the principle of democracy and the rule of law. At the national level, we need dialogue aimed at creating appropriate conditions for the consolidation of democracy through free, transparent and credible elections, as we intend to do in Guinea-Bissau on 16 November. Finally, we should further dialogue and negotiations with the view to promoting a policy of inclusion that guarantees the active participation of all stakeholders, above all women and youth, and civil society in general, in building peace and political stability and in creating the necessary conditions for development.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We need cooperation in order to face climate change and to mitigate the effects of natural disasters such as the terrible hurricanes which have caused so much destruction in countries in the Caribbean, such as Cuba and Haiti, and also in Houston, Texas. Our main goal should be to foster dialogue in all circumstances — dialogue among the countries, peoples, cultures, religions and civilizations of the world. It is only through dialogue that we will be able to identify our differences and find solutions in our common interest. We need dialogue and negotiation at the international level to prevent and solve conflicts, such as the conflict in the Middle East, and to preserve the lives of human beings in danger, in Darfur and in Somalia, for example.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In an interdependent and globalized world, we have to strive to establish and ensure respect for rules capable of regulating the international, financial and trading system without impeding the free flow of capital. But the international financial system, which is already affected by serious distortions, cannot be based only on a quest for speculative profit and on unlawful behaviour, which can have enormous consequences, as is the case now in many countries, where thousands of families have financial difficulties, particularly in the area of housing credits. Unfortunately, the consequences of these poor practices are not limited to a few countries. The international community must react to all of these challenges. But how can we succeed without close cooperation among all countries of the world?”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We need to be reminded that the right to food is a fundamental right and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose sixtieth anniversary we are celebrating this year. Every country should be able to guarantee food autonomy. We therefore need to examine and reformulate conditions for obtaining agricultural credits in particular. 5 08-51851 A food shortage can pose a serious threat to the peace and security of a country. At the international level, we need to seriously discuss how to improve our capacity to respond effectively to the food crisis by putting into practice new scientific knowledge and by applying technologies suited to the climate conditions of the various regions of our planet and to the social and economic realities of our respective peoples.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“How can we invest in and improve our infrastructure in such vital areas as health, education and agriculture if we are continuously compelled to spend enormous resources from our already limited funding to purchase fuel? Moreover, the tremendous increase in food prices on the international market and the hunger and malnutrition which could affect many countries, in Africa in particular, are also matters of great concern and impel us to take action and implement appropriate agricultural policies with sufficient financial means so that we can invest in the creation of modern and affordable means of production. Saying that agriculture is a priority should not be a mere slogan.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In my country, Guinea-Bissau, for example, the lack of energy seriously compromises all socio- economic activities, particularly hospital care and the distribution of drinking water, which is essential for guaranteeing hygiene and public health. How can a poor country like ours face the unjustified increase in the price of oil? What means do we have at our disposal to face the adverse consequences of a system which has been poorly based on speculation and which has nothing to do with the law of supply and demand? Is it not the right time for us to think about creating a world fund to mitigate the effects that are jeopardizing our ability to reach the Millennium Development Goals?”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The three main elements of the crisis — energy, food and international finances, to which we would add the disastrous consequences of climate change — call for a better coordination of our efforts in the pursuit of innovative, courageous and adequate solutions leading to the establishment of a new world order, one which is more just and equitable and which is capable of responding to the realities of an interdependent and globalized world. The increase in oil prices has destabilizing effects on our economies. The cost of producing electrical energy in particular has become an unsustainable burden for the poor countries and a major obstacle to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We agree with him that in order to more efficiently solve the numerous problems of our planet, we need an organization which is less bureaucratic, capable of adopting new technologies and possessing sufficient financial means and competent and highly motivated staff. We support the efforts of the Secretary-General with a view to increasing the Organization’s capacity to maintain peace and to address global issues. We also support his proposal to introduce, in the Secretariat in particular, new working methods based not only on the recognition of individual skills, but also on an emphasis on teamwork. The present international situation demands serious reflection about the cause of the present crisis which greatly affects our countries.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I count on his wisdom and balance, in the conviction that spiritual force will always inspire him and help him preside over our deliberations with success. He can count on my personal support and on the cooperation of the delegation of my country, Guinea- Bissau. Allow me also to thank his predecessor for the results achieved at the last session. I would also like to express our appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his dedication and for the spirit of innovation he has shown in fulfilling his duties. His report on the international situation (A/63/1) emphasizes the gravity of the major challenges the world is facing as well as the complexity of the reforms that are needed to improve the functioning and efficiency of the Organization and the working conditions for its staff.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest congratulations to Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. In electing him amidst this rather complex global scenario, the international community places confidence in his qualities as a statesman, a spiritual leader and a defender of the most disenfranchised. For my part, I am convinced that the experience that Mr. d’Escoto Brockmann gained at a historic time and in the particular circumstances in the lives of the friendly people of Nicaragua will serve him well in analysing and better understanding the challenges we face in this, the first decade of the twenty-first century.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We hope that a new spirit of cooperation will prevail within the international community so that a lasting solution and peace can be found in the Middle East. We therefore need an effective Organization that represents the geographical, cultural and religious diversity of the world, an Organization that takes into consideration and defends with equal commitment and determination the legitimate aspirations of a large number of countries for just representation and participation in the deliberations and decision-making of the Security Council.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We support the peaceful settlement of disputes and the promotion of dialogue in all circumstances and situations. History teaches us that change, because it is inescapable, cannot be hindered indefinitely. China is one nation, one people. The People’s Republic of China’s contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security and its partnership, especially with regard to cooperation for development, are exemplary. The People’s Republic of China is the sole, legitimate and true representative of the Chinese people. We are aware of the problems and the difficulties which we confront in the world in general, and in Africa in particular, where conflict situations and humanitarian crises persist, as in Darfur and in Somalia.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Indeed, our eight countries Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea- Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste are committed to pooling together their affinities and their cultural identities in order to establish a forum for exchange, in a spirit of constant and active solidarity. My country, Guinea-Bissau, has benefited from the support of these sister countries in tackling the many difficulties I have outlined. On behalf of the people of Guinea-Bissau, I warmly commend the leaders present here, and thank them, reiterating our determination to strengthen the historical ties of friendship and cooperation among our peoples. Allow me also to reaffirm our determination to contribute to strengthening the role of the United Nations in attaining peace, international stability and development.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I wish to express our thanks for the contribution of the United Nations system in general, as well as that of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) in particular, in the process of establishing peace and political stability in our country. The relationship between the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the United Nations has been developing in a steady and satisfactory manner. We draw attention to the progress already made in consolidating democracy and the rule of law as well as in promoting respect for human rights in the Community. This constitutes a marked change in the life of the peoples of its member States.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Allow me to pay tribute to subregional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States and the West African Economic and Monetary Union for their constant support and solidarity, from which we have benefited in our efforts to confront the enormous political, economic and financial difficulties we face. I would also like to welcome the important contribution made by the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau to improve dialogue between international development partners and to mobilize external assistance for my country at a particularly difficult moment in our recent history. It is also important to emphasize the role played by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau of the Economic and Social Council.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We are aware of our responsibilities to manage transparently the meagre resources at our disposal and to combat corruption through good governance based on true democracy. The disbursement of pledges made during the donors’ conference for Guinea-Bissau in Geneva last November is much-needed in the political and institutional stabilization of our country. It goes without saying that without the firm support of the international community, it will be difficult for us to put in place the conditions necessary for the consolidation of stability and for the promotion of true national political reconciliation, which is essential if we are to preserve peace and achieve sustainable development in Guinea-Bissau.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In that regard, I welcome the efforts of the United Nations system to establish a genuine international network to eradicate this scourge. The Government of Guinea-Bissau has decided to launch programme to address problems in the financial sector that will serve as an adjustment instrument vis-à-vis international financial institutions. That step will certainly allow us to re-establish and strengthen the framework for interaction and external partnerships of cooperation for development. The approval of a post-conflict programme by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund will be an important step towards achieving the country’s economic recovery and stabilization.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Unfortunately, however, we do not have the trained human resources or the material and financial means needed to carry it out. I am pleased that an international conference on drug trafficking in West Africa will take place soon. We would like to thank the Portuguese Government for its willingness to host it in Lisbon. Likewise, a regional conference to be held in Dakar will seek to promote better coordination between the countries of the subregion. I would like to launch an appeal to all countries able to share their experience and technology relating to drug trafficking and organized crime to assist us in the fight against those criminal activities, which jeopardize the internal security and stability of our countries and pose a great danger to our young people.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The weakened infrastructure of the State and the problems we face in controlling our borders in particular our waters have made it possible for drug traffickers and other organized crime elements to flourish in our country. That has resulted in many sorts of difficulties for our authorities, to the point of damaging Guinea-Bissau’s image and putting at risk our relations with the international community. Despite the Government’s political will and determination to combat drug trafficking, we have not been able to put an end to this scourge. Its eradication will only be possible through international cooperation. The emergency plan to combat drug trafficking developed by my Government illustrates my country’s determination to make the fight against the trafficking of drugs and organized crime a national objective.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of international peace and security occupy a central position in the Charter of the United Nations. It is therefore the duty of all Member States to make efforts to achieve those noble objectives. We believe that the establishment of an international coalition for peace, international security and the promotion and defence of human rights is the ideal way to promote efforts towards the resolution of conflict. Terrorism and drug trafficking are scourges that threaten all of us and can even gravely affect the stability of a country. Guinea-Bissau, like many other countries in West Africa, is confronting the phenomenon of drug trafficking.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“First of all, I would like to congratulate the President on his election to the presidency of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly. His great attributes will contribute greatly to the success of our work. I would like to assure him of the constant support of the delegation of Guinea-Bissau in the realization of his noble mission. I would also like to extend my warm congratulations to the President’s predecessor, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, for the talent and competence she displayed during her tenure. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the excellent work he has done since his election. We fully agree with the contents of his report and with his analysis of the international situation. We endorse the measures he has recommended.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The positive trends in the world today must be seized in order to guarantee a constant climate of dialogue among nations. We must, therefore, individually and collectively respect the principles of the Charter and international norms governing relations among States which have established the primacy of law over force and advocate negotiated solutions for all conflicts.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“We would appeal to the parties to the conflict to put an end to this fratricidal war which is tearing the country apart, causing the loss of innocent lives and destroying material property necessary for the development of the country. The persistence of the occupation of East Timor the inter-community confrontation in Lebanon, differences in the solution of the Cambodian problem and tensions in different parts of the world, in particular in the Korean peninsula and in Cyprus, are also grounds for concern. I should like to stress once again the effective action of the Secretary-General Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar for the United Nations and, in particular in the search for a peaceful solution for Western Sahara, and also his personal contribution to the strengthening of the role and prestige of the Organisation.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“The independence of Namibia, which we would like to welcome once again, has breathed new life into the process off the peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the problem of southern Africa, and has opened up encouraging prospect of peace in Angola and Mozambique. We welcome the changes which have occurred in South Africa and the process of dialogue which is under way. However, it is urgent to put an end to confrontation and violence so as to permit the establishment of a climate propitious for the continuation of the negotiating process, which should lead to the establishment of a non-racial and democratic system that would promote fraternal relations and relation of good understanding among all South Africans. Bloody clashes in Liberia are another source of profound concern.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“Accordingly, my government wishes to express its deep concern at the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq which constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security. Aware as we are of the perils inherent in the situation in the Gulf and its unforeseeable consequences, Guinea-Bissau exhorts Iraq to respect the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. Efforts must be continued and all the Machinery capable of bringing about a peaceful solution to the conflict must be brought to bear. The question of the Middle East has now assumed a new dimension tension in the light of new developments in the region. In this regard, we continue to support the idea of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of all the parties concerned.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“I am convinced that the response of the international community and the United Nations system will always live up to the nature and diversity of the problems to be faced. Profound political changes are causing upheaval throughout the world. They are marked by the end of the cold war and the establishment of constructive dialogue among nations. However, the process of detente and the strengthening of world peace in a complex and long one, and should be viewed as a permanent task for all our countries. The Republic of Guinea-Bissau, committed to the principles of the United Nations, wishes to repeat its condemnation of the violation and annexation of any country by another State Member of our Organisation. The threat or the use of force in international relations is unacceptable.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“Given the gravity of these problems, serious problems confronting the countries of the Sahel, I am glad to stress, on behalf of my distinguished colleagues wad brothers, who are Heads of States members of CILSS, that our Governments are seeking appropriate ways and means of effectively combating these scourges so as to improve the living conditions of our peoples. We are convinced that we can count on the international community, which has given us its support over the last few years. We welcome the convening of an international Conference on Environment and Development, which has aroused considerable hope among our peoples. I would like to take the opportunity to express the gratitude of the peoples of the Sahel and of our respective governments for the aid and solidarity which have been proffered.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“Many challenges remain to be confronted in this region the economic situation, the preservation of the environment, health and education, The effects of drought together with the world economic crisis constitute serious obstacles which our countries have to overcome in the difficult struggle for development and the ultimate materialisation of the objective of improving the living conditions of the peoples. The effects of development of the CILSS countries have been seriously jeopardised by the ill effects of the world economic system, characterised by the decline in the term of trade, the drop in commodity prices, the drop in aid for development and the weight of external debt.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“In this context, I must also mention that it is necessary to support the efforts of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which, by establishing the Sahel Club, has created an important instrument in the co-ordination of the efforts of the Members of this Organisation. The first generation programme, produced by CILSS, made it possible to mobilise considerable financial resources from 1976 to 1982 in order to accelerate the development of the region. In spite of these measures, which are considerable, we have to note that they have been inadequate because of the innumerable difficulties confronting the Sahel.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“The tragedy which has afflicted the peoples of the Sahel underlies the establishment by the United Nations of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office (UHSO), a body that tackles the problems of drought and desertification and its ill effects on the process of the development of these countries, which are confronted by the horrors of poverty, hunger and illiteracy. It is fortunate that we can state that, in order to reduce the negative effects of these natural disasters that have afflicted the Sudano-Sahelian countries, the United Nations has recognised the importance of food security in the struggle against drought. The establishment of CIŁSS in 1973 and its adoption of a campaign against desertification reflect the importance which these States attach to this problem.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“The peoples of the Sahel, through me, therefore, wish to express their pleasure in participating in this forum, and welcome the clarity with which the gravity of their specific problems has been perceived. The nine States members with a population of 40 million human beings are pooling their efforts, and have been doing so for "most two decades, against the consequences of drought and desertification. But in the face of this challenge, they have never been alone. We must stress the unswerving solidarity which the Sahelian countries have enjoyed from the Members of this universal Organisation.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)
“It is my pleasure to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the forty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly. Your personal qualities have brought you to this lofty office and augur well for the success of our work. I should like to welcome the delegation of Liechtenstein on that country's admission to membership of the United Nations. My distinguished colleagues and brothers, Heads of States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), have done me the honour of entrusting me with the task of addressing the Assembly in order to mention the situation in the Sahel.”
1990-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 45 (1990)