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

“However timely they may be, reforms alone will not make the Organization more efficient if it does not have adequate financial resources to carry out its activities. We are convinced that the financial crisis of the United Nations may reduce its capacity to cope with the serious problems it faces. We need a strong and efficient United Nations, capable of finding solutions to current problems and facing the challenges of the next century. It is through the orchestrated, collective action of the United Nations that we will be able to overcome our numerous current problems, which threaten international peace and security and compromise the well-being of our populations. There we refer first to the many armed conflicts which are raging in all regions of the world, some of which seem to resist any attempt at a negotiated settlement.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Any reform must give development the priority, resources and political commitment it deserves. The question of Security Council reform, which is still being studied, is another matter on which we must make progress, given the Council’s role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Haiti continues to call for more transparency and participation in the Council’s work, so that the views of States which are not members of the Council are considered in the decision-making process. Any expansion of the Security Council should be carried out in a way that guarantees a fair and equal geographical representation. Everything should be done so that the universality of the inhabitants of our planet is recognized in the United Nations system.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Consequently, the Secretary-General is now proposing a programme of reforms to strengthen the role of the Organization and to give it a new impetus. We thank the Secretary-General for this initiative, to which we give our full support. This bold and innovative proposal will enable the Organization to become more effective and carry out its mission fully. Some of the measures presented have drawn our particular attention. For example, there is the idea of regrouping the activities of the United Nations around five major themes: peace and security, economic and social development, development cooperation, humanitarian affairs and human rights. However, we must ensure that development issues, which are crucial for the majority of Members, are given the same attention as other themes — if not more.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The Government believes that agrarian reform will facilitate the social integration of citizens who have long been marginalized. This programme falls within an anti-poverty campaign led by the Government in order to assist the poorest sectors of society. As can well be imagined, the democratic process in Haiti is being pursued, but it remains fragile because of the precarious situation and the great poverty of the people. It is quite obvious that, if it is to be viable, it must be maintained, nurtured and supported by sustainable development. The Heads of State and Government who met here during the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations two years ago committed themselves to enabling the Organization to carry out its mandate properly.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For example, it has been decided to modernize public companies. Hence, the creation of the Council to Modernize Public Companies. Cooperation with Parliament has already led to the creation of legal instruments aimed at maximizing the potential of these companies to the great profit of users and the consumers of the goods and services they produce. Similarly, the fiscal and financial system is being reformed and trade liberalized. A bill on customs tariffs is currently under consideration by Parliament. In order to invigorate national production, an agrarian reform programme has been launched that aims at bestowing ownership on the peasants of their means of production. It works on three levels: access to land, access to credit and availability of technical training.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“It is already gearing up to ensure security and stability throughout the country when the mandate of 17 the United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti ends in late November. The judiciary, for its part, has enjoyed special attention, given the desire for justice expressed by the populace. Parliament is currently considering a bill that will allow the necessary deep-rooted reforms to be undertaken to improve the administration of justice. While the political situation in the country has stabilized, economic and social performance has lagged behind. The gaps created by the crisis of 1991-1994 have yet to be breached. Democratic institutions are up and working, it is true, but they remain fragile because certain needs of the public have yet to be fulfilled. Nonetheless, efforts are being undertaken to revitalize the economy.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Socio-professional associations and pressure groups are playing an ever more active role. In the field of human rights, no effort has been spared to end the repressive practices that characterized the former dictatorial regimes. Arbitrary arrests, summary executions and abuse have practically disappeared. The structures of oppression have been dismantled and replaced by institutions sensitive to the need to respect citizens’ rights. This is the case with the National Police force that has replaced the Haitian Armed Forces, which were the main perpetrators of human rights violations in the country. Created barely two years ago, this Police force continues to acquire the experience necessary to carry out its responsibilities for keeping the peace and public safety.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For some time, the gist of statements made in this Organization about Haiti was a plea for the restoration of a state of law and an end to the violence and brutal authoritarianism. Today, I am pleased to convey the message that the Haitian people has been greatly relieved by the reestablishment of democratic institutions, assisted by the international community, and the United Nations in particular. I wish to highlight some of the progress that has been made in the political sphere and the efforts exerted to consolidate the gains of the new democratic deal, whose rules of play are being increasingly respected. The transition of power has been recognized and accepted as a cardinal principle of political life. The state, quasi-state and civil institutions are being further strengthened.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Ambassador Razali Ismail for the achievements of the fifty-first session. To our new Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, I convey our satisfaction at the dynamism with which he has infused the Organization since he assumed office. Three weeks ago, the wreck of a passenger boat, which killed more than 100 of my compatriots, threw the country into grief and the entire world into dismay. Messages of sympathy arrived from every corner, as did assistance that helped us to cope with this tragedy. On behalf of the Haitian people and Government, I wish to express our deep gratitude to the international community, which, yet again, has demonstrated great solidarity with my country.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“At the outset, I wish to convey the pleasure of the Haitian delegation at faithfully attending this great annual meeting, which always has a particular importance for us. It is yet another opportunity to participate in the discussions on the great questions before us and to seek better solutions in our quest to preserve international peace and security and promote economic and social progress. The consideration of various subjects will certainly entail difficult debates, but Mr. Udovenko’s long experience and solid understanding of international problems are sure guarantees for the successful outcome of our meetings. In congratulating him on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-second session, I wish him every success in his guidance of our work.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“While recognizing the positive actions of the Economic and Social Council in various aspects of development over half a century, the Haitian Government believes that it is possible to improve its operation in order to make it a more effective instrument to promote sustainable development. We stand at a turning point in history where we are faced with grave dangers as well as many signs of hope. In Haiti we are striving to restore hope to our people in order to make a complete break with a past of suffering and deprivation. It is also the responsibility of all States to make the reform of our Organization a reality so that it can usher in a better world for future generations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“3 Last year the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization allowed us not only to take stock of its record and of the activities it has undertaken but also to reopen the question of the reform of the United Nations necessary to tackle the challenges of the approaching twenty-first century. As far as the expansion of the Security Council is concerned, the Haitian Government would like a consensus to be reached on a new configuration of that important body that would favour active participation for all States in the activities of maintaining international peace and security. At the same time, we need to find ways and means to revitalize the Economic and Social Council.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In the area of international drug control, I would like to note that the Republic of Haiti is aware of the effort being made by the international community to tackle the phenomenon of drug abuse and drug trafficking. It is increasingly necessary for us to define, by means of appropriate conventions, an integrated framework for the relentless struggle that we need to wage against drugs in all phases: production, consumption, abuse, money- laundering and money-recycling, extradition and international prosecution of traffickers and confiscation of goods.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“However, along with laws and criminal punishment, we must also try to find a solution to the problems at their source. Mindful of the gravity of the situation, the member countries of the Organization of American States convened a specialized conference on terrorism that met in Lima, Peru, from 23 to 26 April 1996. The Republic of Haiti signed the Declaration adopted on that occasion with a view to preventing, combating and eliminating terrorism within the overall framework of the applicability of international law, respect for the sovereignty of States, the principle of non-intervention and strict compliance by States with their rights and duties. The Haitian Government also subscribes to the new actions recommended by the Ministerial Conference held in Paris on 30 July 1996.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“That is why, two weeks ago, on behalf of my country’s Government, I signed the text of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, whose adoption by 156 States Members of the Organization eloquently attests to the profound desire of all nations to build a safer world for future generations. Terrorism and illicit drug trafficking also represent grave threats to international peace and security. Coordinated action involving all members of the international community will be increasingly necessary in order to eradicate these scourges. As far as terrorism is concerned, the Haitian Government has always vigorously condemned indiscriminate acts of violence against innocent individuals and believes that the international conventions adopted on this question provide a legal framework for the prosecution of the perpetrators of such crimes.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The Haitian Government commends the United Nations on the leading role it has played in that peace process. Our Organization should not only intervene in regional and inter-State situations that pose a threat to international peace and security but also contribute to help eradicate such dangerous evils as international terrorism and illicit drug trafficking or to assist in finding solutions to certain problems that threaten mankind’s survival, such as the nuclear-arms race. In that regard, my Government followed with interest the negotiations held within the framework of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and decided to become a sponsor of the draft resolution submitted to the General Assembly, in the conviction that the Treaty was already a step towards nuclear disarmament.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The initiatives taken by the Organization, in particular the creation of the United Nations Protection Force and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, have greatly contributed to creating a climate favourable to peace and ethnic reconciliation in that country. With regard to the Middle East, my Government wishes to express its satisfaction at the resumption of dialogue there. It encourages the two parties to continue their efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region, in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolutions. On our own continent we welcome the prospects of peace that have appeared in Guatemala, after 35 years of armed conflict.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“On the subject of international peace and security, the international community has once again this year been torn between fear and hope as it has confronted developments in situations in various parts of the world. Long-standing conflicts have shown encouraging positive signs, while new outbreaks of violence have exacerbated world tensions. Thus, the Haitian Government welcomes the positive developments in the situation in the former Yugoslavia, marked by the holding of general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is truly heartening to see that the peace process has once and for all, we hope, replaced the spiral of warfare and hatred, with its concomitant systematic violations of human rights.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Over the next four years the Government intends to achieve a significant increase in the number of children attending school. Here, we should note that particular attention is being put on improving health conditions in the country, and in that regard a 2 programme of action has been developed that will be implemented by mobilizing all available resources and with the support of certain bilateral and multilateral partners. The task before us is enormous, but we are confident that we can meet the challenge, thanks to the determination of the Haitian people and the continuing support of the international community, which has been unstinting in its efforts to help resolve problems that threaten international peace and security.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Equally aware of the role played by the tourist industry in the world economy, the Government has devised a set of directives covering the principal elements of national tourist policy. It is encouraging to note that activities in that sector are beginning to pick up. On the social level, the Haitian Government believes that there is a vital need to combat poverty, illiteracy and deficiencies in health care. The struggle against poverty entails a demonstration of strong political resolve to distribute the country’s scanty resources on a fairer basis and to take steps to combat unemployment and encourage private investment. The persistence of a high rate of illiteracy is a major handicap when it comes to improving economic results and raising social standards.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“A strategy has been developed to restore a climate favourable to business, which is a necessary condition for promoting investment, which is the driving force of industrial development. There can be no question that such an objective can be achieved only through close cooperation between the country’s various sectors. We believe, inter alia, that a dynamic private sector open to foreign investment is a necessity for economic growth. The present Government recognizes that future development can be achieved only if we protect our natural resources. Thus, it intends to take steps to curb deforestation and soil degradation. Safeguarding our environment is one of our priorities.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“That programme, which is supported by the international financial institutions with which we have worked out clear-cut modalities for negotiation and cooperation, will enable us better to meet an economic and social future that will be more promising and that will better favour the integration of the Haitian economy into the world scene. A production-oriented policy should emphasize increased agricultural and industrial output. However, we must take into account that Haiti’s agriculture is in crisis because it is unable to meet its two main goals: food security and increased export earnings for the country. Thus, the Government is striving to establish technological and social conditions that can relaunch national agricultural production. In the same spirit the Government is giving special attention to relaunching industrial production.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“For some time now Haiti has been experiencing an acute economic crisis. National productivity is declining. Infrastructures are seriously dilapidated. Real gross domestic product fell an average of 5.11 per cent from 1991 to 1995. The country’s balance of trade is in chronic deficit, amounting to $440 million, or 22 per cent of gross domestic product for fiscal year 1994-1995. Exports have dropped to less than $100 million. At the macroeconomic level, the Government is currently pursuing an economic policy that takes into account the need to curb inflation, balance the budget, reform financing, combat corruption, impose austerity on public administration and ensure equilibrium among the macroeconomic variables.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Those factors have combined to create a state of affairs favourable to those forces that are against change, which have not yet abandoned their plans to destabilize the Government. With respect to the reform of the justice system, the Government is mindful of the urgent need to end the incompetence and corruption of most magistrates. To that end, on 3 October of this year it submitted to Parliament a bill outlining the substance of the reforms to be undertaken to correct the discredited justice system and make it more credible and accessible. An independent judiciary will be a crucial element in the reform. The Government is taking every step to ensure the elimination of any hindrance to judicial impartiality and integrity. Similarly, it is doing its utmost to provide the system with the means it needs to function properly.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The general elections held on 17 December 1995 led to the installation on 7 February 1996 of a new Government and to the renewal of Parliament. The new Government team is striving to ensure respect for public freedoms and human rights, in spite of the various constraints it is facing. It is encouraging free expression of opinion and the establishment of organized bodies to improve the functioning of civil society. However, in its efforts to establish a democratic society and the rule of law, the Haitian Government must labour under two constraints: the economic problems that worsened after the coup d’état and the shortcomings of the judicial system, which have given rise to frustration among the population.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Diogo Freitas do Amaral for the work that he accomplished as President of the fiftieth session. I also wish to pay sincere tribute to the Secretary- General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, whose tireless efforts are breathing fresh life into the Organization. The Government of Haiti acknowledges his active role in resolving the Haitian crisis. His latest report on the situation in our country reveals the perceptiveness of his analysis and his profound understanding of Haitian affairs. Since the international community, through the United Nations, has invested in Haitian renewal, we have a duty to report to the Assembly on the progress made by the Haitian Government and the difficulties it is facing, and on its commitment to national development and to international peace and security.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Thus, the thorny question of socio- economic recovery — the true prerequisite for the consolidation of democratic gains — is more pressing than ever. The United Nations has since 1991 been a focal point for the Haitian people, because the Organization did everything in its power to give full force to the rule of law in my country. That is why I attach great importance to the outcome of the fifty-first session, which should confirm the commitments we made last year, at the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization, to peace, international security and development. I am certain, Mr. President, that your leadership, your experience and your personal qualities will ensure the success of our work. I should like to take this opportunity to pay a well- deserved tribute to His Excellency Mr.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Almost two years have passed since the establishment of constitutional order and the rule of law in Haiti. The spectre of an illegal government and the acts of violence it perpetrated has vanished. The Haitian people, with the support of the international community, have succeeded in demonstrating in a country that the rule of law is more important than effectiveness where political shake-ups are common. Today, democracy and tolerance are part of the Haitian scene, breathing new life into the struggle to preserve freedom. However, for this success to be complete, it must lead the way to security, knowledge, expertise and hope and to the well-being of seven million Haitians, who are still waiting for the realization of the dreams inspired by the return to democracy.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)