YouSaid · the spoken record

Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

lines on the record: 45
first: 2002-09-24
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

“On behalf of the people of Equatorial Guinea, I wish to thank those countries that have been cooperating with my Government in developing our economic and trade relations, in particular the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Cuba, France, Brazil, Russia and Morocco. In conclusion, and with the fervent wish to see the United Nations recover its leading role in delivering peace, security and global development, I wish the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly every success.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In this spirit of ensuring the participation of all citizens of Equatorial Guineans in the management and administration of public affairs, our Government has extended an invitation to all political parties — those within the country and those in the diaspora alike — to attend a national dialogue that will be held in November as an opportunity to strengthen democracy in our country as a positive experience in our democratic experiment, which has yielded fruit since its inception in 1982. Concurrently with this political process, and thanks to the peace and political stability that we have achieved, our Government has undertaken economic initiatives to develop our natural resources and position Equatorial Guinea as an economically emerging country by 2020.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“With this as our vision, in 1982 the Republic of Equatorial Guinea adopted the theory of democratic experimentation, which gave our own citizens, through community councils, a hand in designing their own political development, the implementation of which has given rise to the current climate of peace, stability and economic prosperity through successive political reforms. The latest of these reforms is making Equatorial Guinea a modern democratic State in which popular participation and representational politics are ensured at the highest possible level. The transfer of power is guaranteed by equal rights for all political options. Public affairs are administered with the utmost transparency, accountability and responsibility, and human rights are protected and monitored by reliable institutions.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We must distinguish clearly between support for a genuine internal democratic process and interference perpetrated through pressures that lead to misunderstandings, intolerance, exclusion, resentment, hatred among citizens and fratricidal wars. In Equatorial Guinea we say that democracy is not an imported product and cannot be designed in the offices of other countries. Democracy is shaped by the application of the positive values characterizing a society, and only the people are entitled to define the model that best suits them and to beat their own path towards their own development.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Ultimately, the United Nations will not be able to find satisfactory solutions to these problems as long as the current system of the rule of force in international relations persists. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is therefore very concerned by the proliferation of acts of intervention that do not respect the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States. These interventions interrupt the process of genuine democracy in the affected countries in that they ignore the essential characteristics and idiosyncracies of those societies, thereby further fuelling divisions and the sociopolitical instability of nations.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Given Ebola’s deadly effects and the lack of adequate resources to combat it, on the occasion of the award of the second UNESCO Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in Life Sciences, the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea announced a donation of $2 million to the World Health Organization to finance programmes to combat Ebola. The United Nations will not be able to find solutions to these thorny problems unless the role of the General Assembly, which in recent years has grown routine, is strengthened and revitalized. The United Nations will never be able to find lasting solutions to these problems if the Security Council is not governed by rules that respect the spirit of democracy and international justice.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We also wish to convey our sincere appreciation and congratulations to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his outstanding work at the head of the global Organization in very difficult international circumstances marked by terrorism, piracy, mercenary activities and major epidemics affecting the world today. Indeed, this session of the General Assembly bears the heavy responsibility of finding solutions to the problems of the poverty and hunger prevalent throughout the world, violence and armed conflicts, terrorism, piracy and mercenary activity, and major epidemics, such as the recent Ebola epidemic that is now laying waste to some countries in Africa.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Indeed, your decision to devote this session of the General Assembly to the theme “Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-2015 development agenda” is testament to Uganda’s interest in overcoming the current problems of underdevelopment throughout the world. Equatorial Guinea recognizes the relevance and importance of the topics to be debated at the two high- level meetings proposed for 2015 — one in February, to consider ways of implementing the post-2015 development agenda, and the other in March, on gender equality and the empowerment of women.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I bring with me to this session of the General Assembly greetings of peace, friendship and solidarity from the people of Equatorial Guinea and the full readiness of their Government to contribute to our common task of maintaining peace and stability throughout the world, and promoting the harmonious development of humankind. Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your brilliant election to preside over the work of this sixty-ninth ordinary session of the General Assembly. Your well-deserved election is justified by the policy of peace, respect for the principles of international law and the promotion of development advocated by your country, the Republic of Uganda.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Sanctions and embargoes, whatever their real nature, should always take into account the humanitarian component with regard to the people who are suffering. Therefore, we would suggest that the rights of the individual be given priority whenever any kind of sanctions are adopted. Accordingly, we appeal for the suspension of the embargo against Cuba. We will return to Equatorial Guinea with the sincere hope that the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly will be a milestone in the process of humanizing international relations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“One cannot have the best of both worlds. We do not believe there to be a threat from other planets of the solar system or other bodies in outer space. The possession of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction is a disgrace to today’s humankind, which is preparing its own destruction. So who should arm themselves and who should be disarmed? The end of the Cold War was supposed to also mean the end of the arms race. It is now time for humankind to build its own future instead of wasting resources on extermination plans. Those that adopt embargoes against certain Governments should not be insensitive to their repercussions and to the suffering that they cause to the population, in particular the most vulnerable sectors. Such measures run counter to the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Democratic principles and the law are advocated at the United Nations. Africa claims its rights, including in the Security Council. Africa wishes to participate in the taking of decisions that affect its future. With the assistance of all, we will succeed in adopting appropriate measures to reduce the tendency towards unilateralism and hegemony in international relations. We will succeed in mitigating the effects of policies that threaten the peace and sovereignty of States and that oppose the economic and social development of peoples, thereby significantly violating the principles of international law. With regard to disarmament, which Equatorial Guinea fully supports even though it is neither a manufacturer nor a consumer of any sophisticated weapons of mass destruction, we believe that there should be no ambiguity on that issue.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Those norms are the basis for promoting justice and law in international relations, and no State or group of States should step forward to police their implementation. Such an act usurps the authority of the United Nations and undermines its effectiveness. The United Nations should impose its authority at the international level, avoiding any possible manipulation through external pressure from those that violate the spirit of its principles. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea endorses the wishes of the entire African continent to obtain a response to one of its legitimate demands, made on various occasions, namely, Security Council reform by increasing the number of Council members in both categories and reserving two seats as permanent members and five as non-permanent members for the African region.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Equatorial Guinea therefore established the Equatorial Guinea UNESCO prize to encourage the scientific community to research the possibility of finding life-saving cures, in particular for those suffering from AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The Director-General of FAO agreed to the initiative to set up such a fund. With regard to the other important items on our agenda, we understand that international peace and security essentially depend on respect for the principles of international law: respect for the independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of each State; the sovereign equality of nations and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States; respect for, and compliance with, international commitments; and the promotion of mutually beneficial and fair friendship and cooperation relations among States.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Lastly, an authority to protect and ensure human rights is being set up. A transition Government has been formed to implement those reforms within eight months. My Government has always been very responsive to the issue of humanitarian assistance. In that regard, Equatorial Guinea proposes the establishment of a trust fund of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for food security in Africa that will be open to less developed countries. From this rostrum, we announce an initial contribution of $30 million. We call on African countries and other donors to make their contributions in support of that initiative. My Government’s humanitarian spirit has always aspired to setting up initiatives that support humankind’s development.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In parallel to that programme, we have adopted radical political reforms, appropriate to the rapid development that the country is experiencing, so as to ensure the strictest possible control of the Government’s activity, to give greater freedoms to the people and to protect human rights to the utmost. Under those reforms, a leader may not remain in office for more than two terms. Parliament is being expanded for a more universal representation of the people. Economic and social decisions are to be taken on the basis of technical criteria and in the interests of society. The President must by law be assisted by an advisory body. The independence of the judicial and legislative powers is being strengthened. A body to monitor and audit public and private economic activity is being established.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We ourselves in Equatorial Guinea are very happy with the progress made in our economic development programme, which seeks to achieve an emerging economy by 2020 through the use of the resources provided by the exploitation of oil and natural gas. Thanks to those resources, we are more than meeting most of our needs in infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, schools, vocational training centres, universities, ports, airports, the drinking water supply, telephone communications, air, sea and land transportation, urban development, housing and electricity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“There can be no question as to which comes first, human rights or economic development. We must recognize that human rights cannot be be enjoyed by people engulfed in underdevelopment. With respect to combating underdevelopment, we welcome the fact that Africa has already begun promoting programmes for economic development and modern democratic systems, which are liberating their peoples from underdevelopment despite many obstacles that still obstruct progress and attempts at perpetuating new colonialist interests in Africa. Most of the internal conflicts in Africa are supported by foreign interests that try to ensure their continued presence in the continent. As the saying goes, “If the river runs backwards, it is the fishermen who win”.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In view of all those adverse circumstances, we propose that the Economic and Social Council adopt special programmes to assist the least developed countries, with a view to their overcoming the lack of basic infrastructure which is hampering their development — programmes that the more developed countries should commit to supporting and that could serve as a basis for mutually beneficial cooperation among affected States. We cannot imagine the promotion of human rights in a society subject to the restrictions of underdevelopment. From basic human dignity itself to all the other rights necessary for a dignified existence, including physical and moral integrity, freedom and, finally, well-being — these are what determine whether people fully enjoy their universally recognized rights.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The annual victims of hunger and the diseases in the developing world exceed the number of victims of hostile confrontations recorded each year worldwide. The adverse effects of illiteracy, the lack of housing, and malnutrition experienced in developing countries are greater than those caused by natural disasters. In our times, ignorance and the lack of scientific and technical know-how owing to underdevelopment are more detrimental to a human being than terrorism and drug addiction.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In point of fact, the Secretariat has stressed the main outlines of the problems, which constitute the agenda for the current session — for instance, developing countries’ need for economic growth, the maintenance of international peace and security, the development of the African continent, the promotion of human rights and the provision of humanitarian assistance, the promotion of justice and international law, disarmament, and the need to combat drug trafficking, terrorism, the use of mercenaries, piracy and other crimes. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea wishes to stress that of all those problems none has been more destructive than underdevelopment, which the United Nations must not look upon with indifference.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The current session of the General Assembly is being held at a time of turmoil, when many States are experiencing internal tensions, there is an acute economic crisis, developing countries and their emerging economies are encountering difficulties, the environment and the atmosphere are deteriorating, and other major catastrophes have caused the loss of human lives and the destruction of infrastructures vital to humankind. The major efforts made by the Secretary- General through the United Nations system have not been sufficient to have a decisive impact. Greater commitment, joint action and unified approaches on the part of all States are required to combat with determination the problems of concern to everyone today.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I wish first to express my Government’s congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremić, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and a former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, on his country’s election to preside over the Assembly. We are very happy about that because, both in the past and currently, his country has played an active role in eliminating tensions and inequality and in strengthening the rule of law in international relations. We are firmly convinced that, during his tenure, the proceedings of the General Assembly will be conducted in a climate of consensus and solidarity among Member States.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Therefore, let us turn our backs on greed, hegemonic ambition and the lack of sensitivity to the sight of such horror and misery that is rife in our world, so that we can respond to this system of injustice and inequality, and so that, as human beings, we will be able to join hands and face, with solidarity, intelligence and wisdom, the challenge to spare humanity from the scourges of war, poverty and underdevelopment.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In that regard, I noted at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly that if the responsibility of transparency is to be borne equitably, there is a need to demand the same from the operators of the extracting industries and compliance with the contracts and regulations that guarantee equal benefits between the parties concerned. To conclude, the message from Equatorial Guinea is that we must respond as human beings, because we still have time to make this planet Earth a better place for human beings.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Fortunately, our security services were alerted in time and were able to prevent the anticipated genocide. Those directly responsible for the attempted coup are serving time in prison, while the brains behind the whole thing are still at large and thumb their noses at justice. Nevertheless, my Government does not believe that this natural resource belongs to us alone. My country benefits from barely 30 per cent of the proceeds from that exploitation, because, as we have explained time and again, due to an unjust system of exchange, the operating contracts give the lion’s share of those profits to our partners of the North.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Those who seek to monopolize resources that belong to humanity and who still believe in the larceny of the past, or rather in their own ability to perpetuate illegal exploitation by force, are the same people who today support and maintain vast mercenary organizations that fall upon the weaker nations in order to create internal political instabilities for their own selfish interests. Indeed, my country has been a victim of such plotting because we own crude oil, the product that is today dividing and destroying the world. My country was able to avert a mercenary invasion on 6 March, 2004, that was organized by powerful countries that continue to dispute among themselves and to nurture ambitions to gain free control of the world’s petroleum.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We would like to see democracy, equity and solidarity in a more harmonious world become the rule that would enable international relations to function, especially those governed by the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization, the relationship between the European Union and the nations of the African, Caribbean and the Pacific, and all other economic relations between the North and the South. Moreover, nature has endowed the world with immense natural resources that are perfectly sufficient to allow all to live in dignity. We do not have to resort to draconian rules of exchange that favour some and discriminate against others.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We ought not be surprised, then, by the phenomenon of terrorism that threatens the world today, because, although its methods and destructive effects on humans are condemnable, it remains the recourse of the oppressed and a reaction of those who oppose prevailing injustices that have been denounced throughout the last quarter of a century. The ongoing mass migration of peoples from the South to the North is another consequence of the huge imbalance caused by the present unjust international economic system. That migration will never cease if the North does not help the South to develop with programmes of support and solidarity.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We must also set an objective value to the globalization of politics by adopting new, equitable political and economic strategies to protect the legitimate interests of the weakest States. If we do not, we must be prepared to endure a world crisis as a result of our inability to sustain the current pressures and jarring disparities among nations. Many conferences held in various political, economic and social forums have identified a number of strategies to reduce the gap that separates us all, but such strategies have always been met with the complete indifference of those who are supposed to execute them.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Those and similar questions must be the focus of attention of politicians and this world body if we are to straighten this crooked path in international relations. Presently, there is no judge capable of adjudicating any international conflict equitably and impartially. From 23 06-52885 our point of view, the authority of the United Nations has been taken hostage by certain interests that are monopolizing the world. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we still have time to rescue the situation if we do not wish to see the international community completely derailed, because the results obtained to date are not satisfactory. We must first democratize this world Organization by reinstating its rightful authority on the international scene.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Humanity today finds itself in a complex situation that raises several questions. What is the current role of the United Nations, given the absence of priorities in its decision-making process? What has been gained since the end of the cold war? What kind of future can humanity hope for in a world of so-called globalization, governed by a political and economic system characterized by inequality and a lack of cooperation in eradicating poverty in the weakest nations? What kind of future is there for the developing countries when the gap in the acquisition of technology for development continues to grow, or when sprawling intelligence services are constantly devising plans to keep the world under the political dominance and economic influence of the most powerful nations?”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We should also like to welcome the election of Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, Legal Adviser to the Royal Court of Bahrain, who will preside over the General Assembly at this session. We believe that her election is an implicit recognition of the seriousness, dedication and dynamism that characterize her country’s quest for global equilibrium and its respect for the principles of international law, human freedom, the right of peoples to self- determination, national independence and sovereignty, mutual respect among nations, and international cooperation to promote development and respect for human rights. This session opens at a time of uncertainty for humanity, due to the many conflicts and the increasing socio-political imbalance threatening the lives of millions of people throughout the world.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Equatorial Guinea is participating in the debates of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly in the firm conviction that this world Organization remains the only forum with the authority necessary to resolve any situation facing the international community. Attempting to usurp that authority is irrational; it means negating the universal principles of international law, which govern our world with justice and equity. That is why, before addressing any of the issues on our agenda, I wish to pay a well-deserved tribute to His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General, and to His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, for the arduous task that they accomplished in the face of the conflicts that have threatened the peace and stability of the planet during 2006.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“This General Assembly session, just like the meetings at Johannesburg and other summits, provides an excellent opportunity, not for reviving an anachronistic confrontation between nations, but rather 16 for moving deeper into the area of reaching agreement and of holding a dialogue in the great debate for the progress and prosperity of all peoples in the world.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“This General Assembly faces the challenge of resolving burning issues, such as combating HIV/AIDS and implementing the goals of the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Consensus. My Government shares these concerns and urges that top priority be given to strengthening the democratic process and the rule of law, protecting human rights, ensuring good governance and achieving sustainable development. We also believe that the peace process in the Middle East should be encouraged, along with the dialogue under way between North and South Korea, with a view to peaceful reunification. We also encourage democratization in the United Nations itself, so that it can strengthen its efforts in the world as the principal guarantor of international peace and security.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The picture of conflict and instability in the world today stands in stark contrast to our desire to encourage economic development and prosperity for all countries of the world. Just a few days ago in Johannesburg, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the international community undertook to work in solidarity to achieve the goals set at Rio de Janeiro, the Millennium Summit and Monterrey. To that end, it is essential that a new civilization and a new political culture bud and take root in the consciousness of the international community, recognizing once and for all that all nations of the world, rich and poor, large and small, enjoy the same rights to peace, stability and prosperity. This is essential if we are to survive the current crisis.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“However, as concerns these manoeuvres, I would reaffirm to the international community our resolve to preserve the spirit of trying to reach consensus with all the political groupings in our country to ensure that the forthcoming presidential elections proceed smoothly. The situation we have just described is not peculiar to Equatorial Guinea, because the same situation can be seen in several countries in our subregion. My country is resolved to ensure that Central Africa becomes an area of peace, solidarity and cooperation. We hail the initiatives under way to restore peace to Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, and we commend the work of the United Nations to that end.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Yet, some pressure groups with undeclared interests in Equatorial Guinea have spoken out and have been trying to use the forthcoming trial as a basis for launching a new campaign of defamation against my country in the face of these acts of destabilization. In addition, these groups are still seeking to confuse the issue and to keep the international community uninformed as to the true political, economic and social developments in Equatorial Guinea. These groups have been trying to disrupt a good climate of dialogue and understanding between our Government and the political forces in our country.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In the specific case of Equatorial Guinea, I would like to say that for over 25 years it was under United Nations supervision, vis-‡-vis human rights, but that on 19 April 2002 at the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/11 was adopted. The resolution ended the Special Rapporteur's mission for human rights in Equatorial Guinea. The Commission on Human Rights therein explicitly recognized the efforts made by our Government and the progress made by our country in the area of human rights and strengthening democracy. However, we were deeply distressed a few days later to see that our country was a victim of attempted terrorist action against the life of individuals and social peace. Those responsible were arrested and will now be tried under our law.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Because of its geography, Equatorial Guinea is seriously concerned about constant serious threats to the maintenance of peace and stability in Central Africa resulting from disputes and greed for the enormous natural resources located there. Because of the geo-strategic importance of the subregion, we want to preserve a balance of force in the Gulf of Guinea, and we want to preserve our area as a haven of peace, stability and prosperity for our peoples. The United Nations must be vigilant, given the threats to peace, security and stability in the Gulf of Guinea.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The demands made on our countries and the conditionalities imposed on us in the name of promoting democracy and human rights must not serve as a pretext for encouraging intolerance or political extremism or for instigating confrontation among the various social groupings in a country so as to weaken its sense of unity and solidarity. 15 Time and again we have stressed the imperative need to preserve peace and security in the world. The international community has to reactivate its machinery for conflict prevention and settlement, because these conflicts are a scourge on vast areas of the world in general, and to the African continent in particular.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Indeed, terrorism has become a sophisticated network of political, economic and technical plotting that transcends national borders. These are real organizations that have the resources to carry out criminal activity. Even more disturbing are manifestations of covert terrorism carried out under the pretext of defending and protecting democracy and human rights. This leads us to declare that one cannot combat terrorism in certain areas and encourage it in others, depending on who the potential victims may be. Equatorial Guinea and other countries in our subregion continue to be victims of this ambiguity and contradiction.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We also welcome the forthcoming admission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations. I wish strongly to join Equatorial Guinea's voice to the expressions of support and solidarity that have been heard from this rostrum towards the people and the Government of the United States of America one year after the horror and the barbarity caused by the shameful terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. We reaffirm once again Equatorial Guinea's firm commitment to the ceaseless fight against international terrorism and organized crime in all its forms and manifestations, because this is a fight that involves all the nations of the world, united by the ideal of maintaining peace, and because terrorism represents a serious challenge to humanity as a whole.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The delegation of Equatorial Guinea congratulates you, Mr. President, and the other members of the Bureau of this session of the General Assembly on their election to their posts. We wish them every success and offer them our full cooperation. We also wish to convey to the outgoing President and Bureau the appreciation of Equatorial Guinea for their excellent work at a crucial time in the history of the United Nations. The delegation, the people and the Government of Equatorial Guinea welcome the admission of the Swiss Confederation to full membership in the United Nations. Switzerland is a country with which Equatorial Guinea has excellent relations of friendship and cooperation. This was indeed a historic event that strengthened and reaffirmed the principle of the universality of the United Nations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)