YouSaid · the spoken record

Fritz Longchamp

lines on the record: 78
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
sittings or episodes: 5
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

“The United Nations cannot spend another 55 years talking about development: it is time now, it is high time to make development a reality. The entire credibility of the Organization hinges on this issue because, basically, development is another name for peace. Despite the many obstacles we face, Haiti hopes that the community of States will manage to build in this century and in this millennium a world where basic needs will be met, where nature will be protected, where the scourge of drugs and organized crime will be controlled, with opportunities for all, with hopes for a more promising future, in particular for young people and for the disadvantaged.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The World Bank tells us also that the 20 richest countries have an average income which is 37 times higher than that of the 20 poorest countries and this gap is twice what it was 40 years ago. And yet, these last 40 years were all decades devoted to development by the international community. There is, therefore, a problem here that I would call the paradox of the twentieth century. Never has humanity attained such a capacity to produce all kinds of goods and riches, and yet never have there been so many people unjustifiably going hungry. The essential challenge today is for the twenty- first century not to resemble the twentieth in this respect. To make this happen, the mind-boggling constant increase in scientific knowledge must be properly harnessed to the fight against poverty in all of its various manifestations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It is only right that the 9,000 inhabitants of that country be properly represented in our world Organization. Therefore the situation of the 23 million Chinese of Taiwan is a matter of concern to us. We welcome the fact that the dialogue-based approach continues to prevail on both sides of the Straits of Taiwan. While we wait for the dialogue to produce satisfactory results for both sides, we think that the question of the representation of these 23 million people deserves the attention of the United Nations. Allow me to conclude by referring to a few figures. According to the latest report on development, produced by the World Bank, one fifth of the world's population, no less than 1.2 billion people, are living on less than one dollar a day. One out of five children die before reaching the age of five.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Accordingly, it is essential to strengthen the functions of the Economic and Social Council that relate to the coordination of funds and programmes. The strengthening of the role of, and the functioning of, the Economic and Social Council is particularly crucial in this era of globalization. Only the definition and implementation at the multilateral level of coordinated plans of action will make it possible to help, in a meaningful way, the efforts of States to eradicate poverty and to establish a solid basis for comprehensive sustainable development. Our Organization is rightly called a universal Organization. This is why the Republic of Haiti welcomed enthusiastically our unanimous decision to 21 admit Tuvalu as the 189th Member.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It would also be an ideal time to give thought to a thorough reassessment of the veto, which is no longer in keeping with the current state of international relations. The attainment of these goals will make it possible for our Organization to discharge its twofold mission: guaranteeing peace among nations and assisting the peoples of the earth to develop their potential. Likewise, the reform of the Economic and Social Council is essential if we want to give the United Nations the tools it needs to confront the challenges of the twenty-first century. This reform should seek to avoid or eliminate the functional overlapping of programmes of action of the agencies of the United Nations system, while developing a policy of partnership for development.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The great challenge today is to work out and implement a programme for human security that establishes, as a yardstick for its success, its ability to release men and women in our world from the slavery of poverty. In our search for solutions to current problems, we need to envisage the reform of our Organization and, in particular, the reform of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Questions of development are linked to questions of international security and therefore neither of these reforms should be neglected. After years of negotiation and debate, it is time now for the international community to reach a consensus on the democratization of the Security Council to make it better adapted to the new international realities.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“However, we think that it is important to welcome the idea of integrating them into a wider conceptual and operational dimension — the dimension of human security which places the human being at the very heart of international priorities. Far from harming the interests of the nation-State, human security fully meets its concerns. In fact, human security goes beyond, formally speaking, the natural sphere of action of nation-States to deal with transnational phenomena such as the degradation of the environment, natural disasters and international crime in all of its many aspects which pose serious threats to the control over, and managing of, national affairs.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's constitution states explicitly that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. It is therefore essential that the concept and the practice of peace become a real culture so as to enable societies and individuals to develop and enrich themselves through their cultural diversity. We welcome the proclamation of 2001 as the “Year of Dialogue among Civilizations”. Social development and the worldwide dissemination of a culture of peace are definitely basic elements here.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The economy of the twenty-first century will increasingly be based on new information technologies and this will be an enormous challenge for the developing countries. Because of this, maximizing cultural resources and local genetic resources for development and for preserving traditional knowledge will become essential for sustainable development, since it offers an appropriate legal framework to enable countries of the South to preserve their intellectual property rights to their genetic resources. Implementation of a global policy for economic development will have no really significant effect on real development of the human being if the question of peace is neglected. Peace and development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Statistics remind us daily that the countries of the North and the countries of the South are moving further apart as the changes brought about by globalization continue swiftly. This situation is politically, economically and ecologically dangerous 20 for the stability of the international system; this could lead in the long term to the spread of areas bereft of law, to sudden migratory flows and to the continued use of armed conflicts and violence as a way of conducting relations between and within nations. Haiti therefore welcomes the fact that a central theme of next year's second high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership will be the identification of ways to integrate developing countries into the world economy in the twenty-first century.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“But we know that we are far from reaching acceptable levels of social development. That is why the Haitian Government continues to devote special attention to implementing the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s. The Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries will be held at Brussels in May 2001. It will, inter alia, assess what has been done to strengthen the human and institutional capacities of the least developed countries. Unless these are strengthened, it will be extremely difficult for least developed countries fully to attain goals of the Copenhagen Programme of Action. Beyond its social aspects, the question of development will be decisive for the peaceful future of international relations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The fact is that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action were formulated in response to a world socio- historical situation marked both by a widening gap between North and South and by a distinct incongruity between the positive economic aspects and the negative social aspects of globalization. Social development therefore gains in urgency as the process of globalization accelerates. In spite of all the political and economic difficulties facing the Republic of Haiti, it has made constant efforts to attain the goals of the Copenhagen Summit, as witnessed by the seemingly minor but actually important fact that between 1997 and 2000 Haiti's ranking in the United Nations Development Programme human development index rose from 156 to 150.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“But we know very well that this lack of effectiveness is the result of several factors, including a lack of resources and poor management of those that are available, and overlap in the functions of United Nations institutions and agencies. We think it is important to continue to rationalize the functioning of the Organization in order to secure the best results from existing resources. We must remember that entrusting the United Nations with a mandate without providing it with the proper means for fulfilling it has the inevitable and negative consequence of undermining the Organization's credibility. Last June in Geneva, we took stock of the outcome of the Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development. The assessment was very mixed, not to say negative.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“There is no question but that this session should focus on how to implement the decisions taken by our heads of State or Government during the Millennium Summit with a view to forging a policy of effective global cooperation for the twenty-first century. Despite all the criticism one could legitimately level at the Organization after 55 years, the United Nations system remains the sole worldwide structure that can provide collective solutions to the problems facing us in the spheres of international security, the environment and economic and social development. The Organization is often found lacking in terms of solutions to problems.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Republic of Haiti wishes to add its voice to all those who have already congratulated Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. We take this opportunity also to pay tribute to Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab for the success with which he guided the work of the fifty-fourth session. I convey warm regards to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, who has made a remarkable contribution to enhancing the confidence placed in the Organization. The Republic of Haiti welcomes the admission of Tuvalu to membership of the United Nations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“On the eve of the third millennium what should unite us more than ever, beyond our differences and often highly divergent interests, is the laying down of foundations to bring about the security of all and the elimination of poverty as the initial phase of a planetary process of true sustainable development.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“19 President Gurirab recently echoed the feelings of the vast majority of developing countries when he noted that globalization might open the floodgates of competition in such a way that certain States would be wiped off the map. Therefore it is up to the United Nations and to each country to examine attentively the means of remedying the ill effects of globalization on the social and economic structures of every country — and particularly its effects on small developing countries. Certainly globalization has its positive side, bringing human communities closer together politically, socially and culturally. But it must not be used as a pretext for a standardization that might neutralize the diversity that is the very strength of humanity.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We wish to reiterate to the people of these countries that we share their pain and offer our heartfelt solidarity, having ourselves, unfortunately, experienced such disasters. We take this opportunity to repeat that the Haitian Government is following attentively the evolution of relations between the two countries on the Taiwan Strait. Our Government notes with satisfaction that the two sides are undertaking measures to establish a climate of confidence, respect and prosperity, which will be of the utmost benefit to the peoples who live there. At the dawn of the new millennium, the fight for the elimination of poverty remains one of the most noble tasks of the United Nations system, in order to establish, as we are bidden by our Charter, better living conditions for the human beings living on this earth.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“It is time for this Assembly to reach a consensus on this subject of such crucial importance for the future of our Organization. An equally important point for establishing a genuine culture of peace is the implementation of United Nations resolutions in the realm of international security. Many resolutions have not been implemented when their implementation would be decisive, not only in the context of North-South relations, but also in the context of the indispensable relationships to be developed between States, international institutions and non-governmental organizations. Over the last two months, the Government and the people of Haiti have observed with sadness and helplessness the destruction wreaked and the terrible toll taken by the natural disasters that have struck Turkey, Taiwan, Greece, the Bahamas and the United States.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“We reaffirm our faith in the fundamental rights of man and in the general principles of international law as the basis of norms that govern the relations among States. In the face of the conflicts that threaten international peace and security, it is reassuring that the Director- General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Mr. Federico Mayor, has had the idea of promoting throughout the world the culture of peace, which is so vital to good relations within and between nations. The promotion of a genuine culture of peace is inseparable from the democratization of the international order. One of the fundamental aspects of this democratization lies in the solution to the question of equitable representation in the Security Council.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Agreement signed in Lusaka, under the aegis of President Frederick Chiluba, between the protagonists in this conflict is clear evidence that Africa is in the process of providing itself with the means to become master of its diplomatic and geographical destiny. The Republic of Haiti calls upon India and Pakistan to do everything possible to find a permanent solution to the Kashmir conflict and to put an end to their nuclear arms race, which is indeed a frightening process that diverts tremendous financial resources and brainpower to destruction when they could be put at the service of survival and development. Once again the Haitian Government reiterates its condemnation of all forms of terrorist activities that might cause material and human damage.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“In this regard, the Republic of Haiti is happy to note that the situation in East Timor is improving following the actions of the international community and its cooperation with the Indonesian authorities. We hope that the presence of the multinational peace force will help bring the country out of the chaos into which it has been plunged. We urge the Indonesian Government and its allies in East Timor to fully respect the decision of the ballot box and to take measures to ensure East Timor’s peaceful transition to independence and democracy. The Republic of Haiti also welcomes the end of the state of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The sketch is filled in by the ideal of the peoples of the whole world, as expressed in our Charter: to save future generations from the scourge of war, to ensure respect for fundamental human rights, to promote social progress and to establish better conditions of living in greater freedom. Thus, our task at this fifty-fourth session should be to fully work out, by means of our discussions and the work of the various committees, the concept and ways of implementing this vision. The fifty-fourth session will also be an opportunity for the United Nations to give deeper thought to its mission of ensuring international peace and security and of promoting economic and social development.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Government of the Republic wants to avoid any interruption of the effort to thoroughly reform the judicial system and to promote full respect for all dimensions of human rights. 18 The fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly is undoubtedly a highly symbolic moment. As the last session of this century, it ought to come up with a vision that would make our Organization an essential and efficient instrument for meeting the challenges that await us in the twenty-first century. We know the contours of this vision, as they were sketched after the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen and the Rio Earth Summit.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Of course, as guarantor of the functioning of the institutions, the President of the Republic has considered that the most important thing is the establishment of the physical conditions necessary for well-organized elections, rather than hasty elections the results of which might be called into question because of organizational shortcomings. For President Préval, the holding of the elections must lead to a solution to our crisis and not its perpetuation, or even the creation of yet another crisis. In order to work to consolidate its achievements, the Government hopes that a consensus will be found to continue technical assistance for professionalizing the National Police, in strict compliance with Haitian law.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“But through the will of our people and its Government, the Haitian dream of democracy will become a reality. Above all, the Government of the Republic is still convinced of the critical importance of the renewal of its institutions, in particular of the Parliament, most of whose members had their term of office expire on 11 January 1999. To this end, fair, honest, democratic elections will be organized in the next few months. The head of State, Mr. René Préval, has repeatedly and solemnly affirmed his determination to create the conditions to make it possible for the elections to be organized by the Provisional Electoral Council.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Without the determined action of the United Nations and its Members, contemplating this sad and deadly event would have been even more painful for the people of Haiti today. We would therefore like to express once again our gratitude to the international community for having ensured the restoration of democratic constitutional order in Haiti. Since that restoration of democracy, the Government and the people of Haiti, helped by the international community, have worked zealously to ensure an environment favourable to the blossoming of democracy and economic progress. This effort has not yet yielded the results we had hoped for, because over the last five years the Republic of Haiti has had to confront problems arising from the complexity of its situation.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“Kofi Annan, who, at a time when our world is facing many challenges, has known how to use his intelligence and the wisdom of his great experience to help the community of nations face up to the inevitable changes of the twenty-first century. We also welcome, with great satisfaction, the admission of the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru and the Kingdom of Tanga as full-fledged Members of our Organization. They will strengthen the universal nature of the Organization and enrich its diversity of points of view. We take the floor this 1 October, one day after the anniversary of the bloody coup d’état of 1991, a genuine act of assassination of democracy and of the dream of an entire people.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“The Republic of Haiti finds it a source of genuine satisfaction that the fifty-fourth regular session of the General Assembly is being presided over by Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, a man for whom we have a great deal of admiration. With positive results, he has competently and responsibly served his country, Namibia, which is quite rightly considered one of the symbols of the success of our Organization. We take this opportunity to wish him every success in the tremendous and noble task he has undertaken. We pay tribute to Mr. Didier Opertti, Foreign Minister of Uruguay, who so effectively conducted the proceedings of the fifty-third session. We also take this opportunity to convey our most sincere greetings to the Secretary-General, Mr.”
1999-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 54 (1999)
“He will do everything in his power to guarantee the participation of all sectors in these elections, which, duly carried out, will help us overcome the governmental crisis that has arisen. Despite the unfavourable circumstances that have darkened the horizon at the dawning of the third millennium, we must not lose hope in a better world. In order to do that, we must further develop cooperation, strengthen our partnerships and work together to improve our peoples’ standard of living in a world where so many natural disasters and environmental phenomena remind us of our duty to solidarity. The United Nations is the ideal framework for joining our efforts to achieve this common goal.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Democratic institutions necessarily have a role to play, but given the regrettably slow process of democracy- building, the hoped-for results have not yet been achieved despite the numerous initiatives undertaken. It is encouraging to note, however, that these expectations and initiatives have been undertaken within the framework of the provisions of the Constitution, which guarantees that a viable solution will be found. Similarly, the head of State has consulted all levels of Haitian society in order to set up a new electoral council that will be responsible for organizing, in accordance with the Constitution and as soon as possible, free, fair and democratic elections at the municipal and legislative levels.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We must work to ensure full respect for that right by establishing programmes and by mobilizing sufficient resources. Today human rights are a reality that no Government can ignore. In Haiti respect for human rights is guaranteed in the Constitution, and the Government is committed to ensuring the full enjoyment of those rights by all. In this context, reform in the judicial machinery that will allow for the consolidation of the state of law is now being implemented. Regrettably, however, the very complex situation resulting from a twofold electoral and governmental problem has made it difficult for institutions to function normally and to cooperate with the international community. To overcome this handicap, the President of the Republic, Mr. René Préval, is resolutely undertaking every possible effort.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In this respect, we welcome the dialogue between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. A positive outcome to this dialogue will allow for progress in this area. This year we are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human 9 Rights. By enshrining the principle of the respect of fundamental human rights and by ensuring their promotion, the United Nations has made a considerable contribution to the development of an international system to protect the fundamental freedoms and ensure the emancipation of peoples throughout the world. Along these lines, my delegation welcomes the fact that the international community has finally acknowledged that the right to development is an intrinsic part of fundamental human rights. But that acknowledgment is not sufficient.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Reform in the Security Council, which has been discussed for five years now, is of capital importance given the role played by that organ in the maintenance of international peace and security. Haiti continues to call for greater openness in the functioning of the Council and for greater participation in the decision-making process, so that its decisions reflect the general opinion of the international community as a whole and not only the position of the members of the Council. In this context, the envisaged increase in its membership must take into account more systematically the principle of equitable geographical distribution. Every effort must be made to ensure that the universality of all the planet’s inhabitants is reflected in the United Nations system.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It must be able to play the role that has been entrusted to it in order to create a global situation of peace, which will facilitate development through cooperation for all peoples. It must respond to this challenge by using its resources effectively and by adapting itself to changes in international relations. In this regard, the delegation of Haiti welcomes the reform process initiated by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to breathe new life into the Organization and to better enable it to face the increasingly complex problems of today’s world. The initial measures approved by the General Assembly have enabled United Nations bodies to work more coherently and consistently. We hope that further measures to be considered at this session will strengthen the capacities of the United Nations to carry out its activities.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The feeling of despair is increasingly spreading among younger generations facing a seemingly gloomy future. All of this poses serious threats to the very stability of our countries. This situation cries out for the international community to redouble its efforts to combat poverty. United and concerted long-term action that mobilizes considerable resources is essential if we wish to achieve satisfactory results. The magnitude of current problems poses a major challenge to the international community. The United Nations, whose primary mission is to ensure world security and to promote economic and social progress for people, is the ideal forum to discuss these questions and to search for solutions that take everyone’s interests into account.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The income gap between North and South has continued to widen. In 1965 the average per capita income in the G-7 countries was 20 times that of the world’s seven poorest countries; by 1995 that figure had almost doubled. Today poverty continues to grow throughout the world. Entire populations are victims of the serious problems of malnutrition and abject poverty. Health care and education are inaccessible to millions of people. There has been further destruction of the environment throughout the world, threatening the very survival of mankind. Even more than the countries of the third world, which have been battered by these global developments, the least developed countries — including my country, Haiti — find themselves ever more marginalized and must face a worsening of the standard of living of their peoples.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It will continue to support wholeheartedly the efforts of the international community for their complete elimination. In this connection, Haiti deplored the nuclear tests recently carried out by India and Pakistan, which have contributed to increasing tensions in that part of the world. It invites those countries to become parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The global economic situation at the end of this century has also given rise to many concerns. The phenomenon of globalization, which is characterized by a liberalization of market forces, which, according to numerous observers, should accelerate growth and promote development, has above all been marked by greater inequality and sluggish growth.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Haiti, 8 which has unfortunately been used as a transit country for some of the drugs headed for markets in consumer countries, has adopted a vigorous policy that has already begun to bear fruit. This involves the drafting of legislative measures against drug-trafficking and money-laundering; the establishment of a body entrusted with combating trafficking in narcotic drugs; the development of cooperation with neighbouring countries; and accession to international instruments in this area. In speaking of the dangers threatening the future of mankind, I must refer here to the existence of considerable stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons. The Republic of Haiti welcomes the recent progress achieved in the reduction of these weapons.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In condemning these acts, Haiti calls on the international community to adopt effective measures to combat this threat to international security. Elsewhere, the world is facing a real challenge whose consequences are incalculable on more than one front. I am referring to drug-trafficking and its related crimes — arms-trafficking, organized crime and money- laundering. The problem of drug-trafficking continues to threaten the integrity of our territories, to weaken the foundations of our societies and to undermine the health of our peoples. Combating this scourge requires further cooperation at the bilateral, regional and international levels, as was highlighted at the special session of the General Assembly devoted to the drugs problem.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“That is the case in the Middle East, where we hope that the recent discussions held this week in Washington will serve to permanently revive the peace process that has been stalled for more than a year. We deplore the armed conflicts that have brought untold suffering on populations, be it in Kosovo, Angola, Afghanistan, the Great Lakes region or elsewhere. The Republic of Haiti invites the parties concerned to seek a solution to their problems through dialogue. The international community must also continue to carry out efforts to restore peace to these regions. International terrorism, of which we had hoped to have seen the last, has re-emerged in a troubling fashion with the terrible events that have taken place in Africa and Northern Ireland.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The lessening of ideological confrontation and the strengthening of interdependence among nations have provided new opportunities for closer cooperation among States. The phenomenon of globalization, which is characterized by unprecedented ties between human activities throughout the world, has expanded further and has been propelled by spectacular growth in communications. Some had anticipated a more peaceful and united world in the next century. Yet, less than 500 days away from the year 2000, the international picture is frankly disconcerting. New hotbeds of tension have arisen in many regions of the world, while no substantial progress has been made to resolve various age-old conflicts.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“With over 60 per cent of our agricultural production destroyed, the outlook is extremely bleak. We fear that once emergency aid is no longer being provided in the coming months there will be a severe shortage of foodstuffs and basic goods. We therefore appeal to the international community to extend considerable assistance to our efforts to restore and rebuild the affected zones and to support our measures to solve the public health problems that will arise. In this regard, we invite delegations to support draft resolution A/53/L.2/Rev.1, which will soon be introduced to the General Assembly, as a first step in this direction. Profound changes have taken place in international relations in the course of the last 10 years.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“I wish to express deepest sympathy, on behalf of Haiti, to our brotherly Governments and peoples who, like us, were so hard hit by this unavoidable disaster. The provisional toll in Haiti is quite heavy: 150 dead and dozens missing — more than 500,000 victims all told. There was considerable material damage to agriculture and to infrastructure: roads and bridges were destroyed and crops devastated in several regions. The total cost of these losses is estimated at approximately $200 million. International solidarity was quickly displayed in the wake of this disaster. I would therefore like to thank all the friendly Governments, international institutions and non- governmental organizations for the support they have given us thus far. While the present situation is serious, our concern for the future is even greater.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It is a true pleasure for me to address the General Assembly once more. I wish first of all to echo previous speakers in congratulating you most warmly, Sir, on behalf of my delegation, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session. I take this opportunity also to express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko for the excellent work carried out under his presidency. To the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, we reaffirm our confidence in his outstanding endeavours to preserve peace and to promote development. To all participants in the fifty-third session, I wish the greatest success in the interests of all our peoples. Ten days ago hurricane Georges passed through the Caribbean region, striking several of our countries with its fury and leaving considerable damage in its wake.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“By getting the train of integration under way, my country intends to contribute in a significant manner to the realization of the objectives of the Community, because Haiti is aware that a strong, open-ended, united CARICOM will largely determine the socio-economic performance of the Caribbean region. In this context, we urge the international community to continue to support the reconstruction of Montserrat. Fifty-two years ago at San Francisco we undertook to work for the progress and happiness of our peoples in a world where peace and security would reign. We should therefore work to realize their dreams and meet their expectations and aspirations.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The battle against poverty must also be a struggle for human dignity, sustainable development and peace. With a view to strengthening international peace and security, the Republic of Haiti has pursued a policy of good neighbourliness which has enabled it to come closer to countries in the region. It has established with the Dominican Republic a mechanism for consultations through a joint Haitian-Dominican Commission. This is an excellent tool for cooperation and working together to find a solution to the various problems of the island. We would like to see this important forum continue, as it represents a necessary stage towards greater mutual understanding between the Haitian and Dominican peoples. Likewise, Haiti recently rejoined the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Nevertheless, poverty continues to gain ground. According to the 1997 Human Development Report, more than 1.5 billion of the planet’s inhabitants live in a state of extreme poverty, particularly in African countries and less developed countries, which see themselves increasingly marginalized. The eradication of poverty, especially in the least developed countries, should go beyond simple speeches or resolutions. It requires a strong political will, adequate resources, well defined strategies and the implementation of appropriate programmes. It also requires the sincere support of the international community, especially the support of international institutions and the leaders of the industrialized countries, namely, those who possess technology and wealth.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“This is an important step in the battle to eliminate these deadly devices, which have caused so much suffering and which continue to take a toll among civilian populations, especially among women and children. The illicit use of drugs and drug trafficking are also problems which the international community must face with determination. They are, in fact, a threat to the internal security of small States because of the violence and criminality with which they are often associated. Furthermore, drug use affects the most vulnerable stratum of society: young people. International cooperation is absolutely necessary to overcome this scourge. Since 1960 several summits and conferences devoted to poverty and development have been organized. Recommendations have been formulated and measures have been contemplated.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Haiti encourages the use of regional and multilateral mechanisms to solve these conflicts. 18 Likewise, the existence of vast arsenals of weapons of mass destruction is a grave threat to our collective security. The progress achieved in the area of disarmament — especially the opening for signature last year of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention — is encouraging. However, we urge the countries concerned to make further efforts to achieve complete and true disarmament. The Republic of Haiti welcomes the recent adoption of the text of a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)