YouSaid · the spoken record

Musyoka

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS MUSYOKA

lines on the record: 57
first: 1993-09-24
most recent: 1995-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“Kenya has offered to host in Nairobi the secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to make it possible to utilize the expertise and capacity which UNEP has developed over the years. We look forward to the support of the international community in this regard. Let us not lose the opportunity offered by the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations to renew our resolve to make the Organization fulfil the aspirations of peace, hope and stability that inspired the founding fathers of this Organization. As we move into the next millennium, we must endeavour to make this world a better place to live in. Kenya will play its part as necessary.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“All meetings and conferences under the auspices of United Nations bodies should, to the extent possible, be held in Nairobi — the only United Nations Centre in the whole of the developing world. We are, indeed, concerned about the very low utilization rate of the conference facilities in Nairobi pointed out by the Secretary-General in his report on United Nations Conference Services. In this regard, Kenya wishes to see the United Nations make full use of the facilities available at the United Nations Centre in Gigiri, the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT).”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Irrespective of the outcome of the reform process, the timely payment of United Nations apportionments will continue to be of crucial importance to the financial soundness of the Organization. The financing of the 14 Organization is a collective responsibility of all the Member States. Unilateral actions relating to budgetary contributions are therefore inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter. It is only through necessary and thorough assessment of the individual countries’ capacity to pay that the scale of assessments can be adjusted. As the United Nations continues to introduce measures to ensure the reduction of waste and to deal with the financial crisis, it is imperative that the Organization ensure the maximum and rational use of the existing facilities.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“There is consensus on the need to expand the membership of the Council. Kenya urges greater flexibility in the positions taken so that agreement can be reached on the number and distribution of the additional seats on the basis of equitable geographical distribution for all categories. This could be achieved through expansion of the membership to include more countries from the regions that are currently underrepresented and by effecting periodic reviews of the permanent membership to take account of the evolving realities of the world situation. With regard to the question of financing, we are concerned that the operations of the Organization have been greatly hampered by the failure of many Member States to honour their budgetary obligations in full and on time.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The United Nations, therefore, does not require radical transformation but, rather, the strengthening and modification of its structures and organs to enhance its effectiveness and responsiveness to new priorities and strategies. It is vital that the Organization continue to cater adequately for both international peace and security and cooperation for development, in accordance with the Charter. Revitalization of the United Nations entails not only the need to streamline the administrative structures of the Organization but also the need to ensure that it is provided with adequate resources, on a regular and assured basis, to enable it to execute the mandates entrusted to it by the Member States. The report of the ad hoc Open-ended Working Group on reform of the Security Council has highlighted the pertinent areas requiring reform.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“At the global level, the United Nations Economic and Social Council should not only assume effective coordination of the international policies and activities of the specialized agencies but also ensure the mobilization of resources for operational activities which are critical for the realization of socio-economic development. The fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations provides a great opportunity for the international community to focus constructively on the measures that should be taken to revitalize the Organization on the basis of the experience gained and the challenges ahead. Kenya is of the view that the Organization has proved its effectiveness and flexibility in dealing with complex and wide-ranging international issues.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is also important that HABITAT II come up with a concrete plan of action that will give HABITAT, as the United Nations agency responsible for human settlements, an enhanced mandate, with an effective capacity to assist Member States, particularly developing countries, to deal with the increased problems of human settlements and thus enable them to have adequate shelter — one of the fundamental human rights. It is imperative that the Agenda accord the highest priority to the development of national and regional capacities. It should also be people-centred, with the emphasis on human-resources development, the application of science and technology and the expansion of employment and income-generating opportunities.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“African countries therefore need support if they are to diversify their economies. It is pertinent that “An Agenda for Development” should embrace all the programmes to which the international community has already committed, or will commit, itself in the various international conferences, including the Rio Conference on Environment and Development, the Cairo Conference on Population and Development, the Copenhagen Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II), to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Kenya believes that a lasting solution to the debt burden is a bold initiative for a more effective reduction, or cancellation, of both the bilateral and the multilateral debt of the heavily indebted low-income countries, particularly in Africa. While the liberalization of world trade, in the context of the World Trade Organization, is expected to benefit the international community, there are strong indications that the results may not benefit all regions. The opening of the African market to external competition has already put serious strain on the fragile industrial sector of these countries. Furthermore, the phasing out of the preferential trade arrangements extended to African and other developing countries poses a serious threat to their traditional markets.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The international commitment relating to the fulfilment of the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product should be given the necessary impetus to reverse the declining trend. Kenya appeals to the industrialized countries to meet the official development assistance target and to provide new and additional resources to finance the programmes adopted by the various United Nations Conferences. 13 Debt-servicing obligations should not become an obstacle to efforts aimed at the creation of employment, the reduction of poverty and social integration. While we welcome the various measures taken by the international community, on bilateral and multilateral bases, to mitigate the debt burden, it is evident that these measures have achieved only limited results.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The continent remains highly vulnerable to adverse international economic policies, as well as natural calamities, owing to its limited capacity to respond. Kenya and many other African countries have undertaken major political and economic reforms despite the enormous short-term adverse effects on the vulnerable social groups, particularly in regard to the escalating costs of, for instance, education, health and housing. These efforts, however, have been hampered by the decline in both bilateral and multilateral financial support, resulting in limited prospects for economic growth. In this regard, we urge the international community to provide adequate resources to support these reforms. As the United Nations celebrates its fiftieth anniversary it is imperative that development support be accorded the priority that it obviously deserves.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The commitments and the security assurances made by the nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear- weapon States should strengthen the resolve of the international community towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. It is therefore necessary that these commitments be translated into binding international legal instruments. Kenya looks forward to the conclusion, by 1996, of the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty. We join the international community in reiterating the call for strict observance of the moratorium on nuclear testing pending the conclusion of that treaty. The world economy as a whole continues to show modest growth, with the highest performance being experienced in South-East Asia. However, many economies in the African region are still sluggish, although there are signs of recovery.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Kenya stresses the importance of reconciliation and tolerance and appeals to the international community to continue to assist the countries of the Great Lakes region to deal with the root causes of the problems that have bedevilled them for many years, as well as with their reconstruction efforts. In particular, the security of populations and the resettlement of refugees must be adequately and comprehensively addressed. The results of the Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in May this year, constitute a significant contribution to the realization of a nuclear-free world.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I wish to pay tribute to all United Nations military, civilian and humanitarian personnel for the sacrifices they have made to advance the cause of peace in that region. Kenya has made a significant contribution to peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia, having contributed one battalion as well as military observers and civilian police over the last four years. We welcome the establishment of the International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the assassination of the former Head of State and senior Government officials and the subsequent massacres of civilians in Burundi. We would also welcome the establishment by the Security Council of a commission to oversee compliance with arms embargos against groups and individuals undermining peace and security in the Central African region.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“While we commend humanitarian efforts in Somalia, we are deeply concerned that there has been no tangible progress in national and political reconciliation in that country. We call on the factional leaders to put the interests of the Somali people first and to be cognizant of the fact that a lasting solution to the Somali problem lies with the Somali people and their leaders. The conflict in the former Yugoslavia poses one of the greatest challenges to the capacity of the United Nations to facilitate the search for durable peace. We appreciate all the diplomatic initiatives which have been undertaken to bring about a negotiated settlement, and we encourage all the parties to intensify their efforts for lasting peace.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“12 In the Middle East, the process towards durable peace achieved another important milestone with last week’s signing of a further agreement between Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), extending Palestinian self-rule over the West Bank. We commend the vision and courage of these leaders and encourage them and other leaders in the region to broaden the peace process. The situation in Somalia continues to be a matter of great concern to Kenya. As long as the situation in Somalia remains unstable, the countries of the region, and in particular my own, will continue to experience problems associated with the influx of refugees and with a lack of security in the border region.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“With respect to Liberia, we welcome the recent signing of an agreement by all the warring parties, in which they have committed themselves to a programme for the restoration of democracy to culminate in general elections in a year’s time. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should be congratulated for the efforts and sacrifices it has made in the search for a lasting solution to the Liberian conflict. United Nations involvement in the resolution of the Liberia conflict, which has been minimal so far despite the magnitude of the problem, should be enhanced. It is, therefore, important that the United Nations should enhance its support to the peace efforts in Liberia to ensure that the momentum for peace is sustained.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“With regard to regional conflicts, Kenya welcomes the important steps towards long-lasting peace that we have recently witnessed in the southern part of Africa. Following the positive resolution of the conflict in Mozambique, recent developments in Angola give us high expectations for a durable solution of the protracted conflict in that sisterly country. At a time when the world is championing the cause of peace, democracy and human rights, it is totally unacceptable that a band of mercenaries should overthrow the Government of the Comoros and hold the President and Government officials captive. Kenya condemns this act in the strongest terms possible and calls on the Security Council to take necessary measures to rectify the situation.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“We note the recent initiatives taken with a view to strengthening the role of regional organizations in conflict resolution and conflict management. Kenya, however, wishes to reiterate that the thrust of the contributions of regional organizations and arrangements should be targeted towards preventive diplomacy and peacemaking. We submit that peace-keeping and peace enforcement should remain the primary responsibility of the United Nations. These responsibilities are enshrined in the Charter and cannot be transferred to regional organizations. We encourage closer cooperation in this regard between the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations on the basis of the Charter and the agreement on cooperation between the two organizations.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“At the forty-seventh session the General Assembly mandated the Secretary-General to pursue preventive diplomacy and to strengthen the Secretariat’s capacity to cope with situations likely to endanger international peace and security. To that end, the Secretary-General’s initiatives “An Agenda for Peace” and the subsequent Supplement to that document have made a significant contribution to this important subject. I wish to record Kenya’s appreciation to the Secretary-General for his personal efforts and initiatives in search of lasting international peace and security. We look forward to the results of the work of the informal working groups that have been set up to consider in greater depth the various elements contained in the Agenda.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“These conflicts have posed serious challenges owing primarily to complexities associated with their internal character. We nevertheless appreciate the flexibility with which the United Nations is dealing with these conflicts and the commendable successes which have been achieved in resolving a good number of them. These achievements include the resolution of the conflicts in Namibia, Cambodia, Mozambique, El Salvador and Haiti. Success becomes even more pronounced when we consider the extent to which the United Nations has effectively mobilized international humanitarian assistance in virtually all conflict areas, through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other United Nations agencies.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In the time since its inception, the United Nations has evolved into a truly global organization, as envisaged in the Charter. Its membership has grown from 50 at its inception to 185 today. Its activities have ranged from decolonization, the codification of international law, disarmament and conflict resolution to global humanitarian activities and international economic cooperation. The achievements in these areas are, indeed, self-evident. The demands on the Organization have, however, exerted maximum pressure on its ability to cope. Hence the need for the Organization to be revitalized at this opportune time. Five years after the end of the cold war the international community still faces a number of conflicts, which are of great concern as they continue to undermine international peace and security.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Africa deserves credit for its arduous struggle against external domination. We are determined to create cohesive and prosperous States after many years of destructive colonial policies of divide and rule, which constituted gross violations of human rights. 11 I wish to assure the Assembly that the Government and the people of Kenya are determined despite the odds to continue the struggle to forge national unity and to accelerate socio-economic development. Our commitment, which I underscore, to the principles of democracy, good governance, the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law remains firm. It is against that background that I wish now to address some of the issues on the agenda of the General Assembly.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Our democratic institutions have developed the necessary flexibility to cope with the new situations and to ensure continuity of the political stability which the country has enjoyed since independence. We have observed a systematic campaign to denigrate African countries. It is as though there were an agenda to bring them into international disrepute. We reject these destructive approaches designed to promote divisive elements and to manipulate domestic public opinion with a view to pitting people against their own Governments. Kenya also condemns in the strongest terms the tendency in certain sectors of the international press to present the image of African countries in terms of tribal superiority or inferiority, to inflame ethnic conflicts and to depict the continent as replete with corruption and catastrophes.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Indeed, Kenya’s motto, “Harambee” which means “pull together”, and the national philosophy of peace, love and unity, are fitting expressions of what the United Nations and the Kenyan people aspire to. Kenya has always championed the principles of democracy and the pursuit of socio-economic development to enhance the living standards of the people. Under the leadership of His Excellency President Daniel T. Arap Moi, Kenya has undertaken far-reaching political and economic reforms, whose benefits we are beginning to see. Our economy is now totally liberalized in keeping with our tradition of providing an environment conducive to enterprise development.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Let me, at the outset, congratulate His Excellency Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral on his unanimous election as President of the fiftieth session of the General Assembly. His wide diplomatic experience and intellectual abilities reinforce our confidence in his stewardship. I wish him success in the heavy task before us. I also pay tribute to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, who ably presided over the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly. We commend the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for the untiring and visionary manner in which he is managing the affairs of the Organization. Kenya is fully committed to the ideals of this Organization.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In this endeavour, our differences should strengthen rather than weaken us, for in unity lies our strength. In the words of our beloved President, His Excellency Daniel Teroitich Arap Moi, love, peace and unity are the pillars for development and progress.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“As to the social issues, I wish to assure members of our cooperation with the international community in the preparatory work for the forthcoming Conference on Population and Development, to be held next year; the Fourth World Conference on Women, also to be held in 1994; and the World Summit for Social Development, set for 1995. We need to put all our energies into the preparatory work of these Conferences to ensure that they achieve their intended objectives. In conclusion, the international community, through this Assembly, must make every effort to face these challenges and many more which are yet to come. We owe it to posterity and to future generations to leave this world a better place to live in. We have neither excuses nor reasons to fail. And if we do fail, history will judge us harshly.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“As a host country, Kenya shall continue to provide all the necessary assistance to UNEP to enable it to play its central and, indeed, its rightful role. As the Secretariat of the United Nations undergoes restructuring, we should be mindful of the mandates of various agencies and bodies in order to avoid the possibility of losing the original objective. Kenya is concerned that the role of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), whose Headquarters are in Nairobi, is being eroded by the undue delay in filling the post of Executive Director, despite the concerns expressed by the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. The filling of the post will give the required impetus to the Habitat secretariat.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“On institutional arrangements, while Kenya supports the mandate given to the Commission on Sustainable Development in regard to monitoring progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) must continue to play a central role owing to the experience and expertise it has accumulated over the years in the area of the environment. The need to strengthen UNEP to enable it to participate effectively in the implementation of Agenda 21 can therefore not be overemphasized. Accordingly, the conference facilities at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi must be put to full use. It is neither economically sound nor in keeping with the objective of strengthening UNEP to have many meetings initiated by the Organization held outside its Headquarters.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The first substantive meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development, held in June this year, made tangible progress in adopting crucial decisions on its work programme. Kenya welcomes the progress being made towards ensuring the effectiveness of the Global Environmental Facility as an important instrument for funding incremental costs related to the implementation of Agenda 21. However, we are concerned that adequate financial resources for the implementation of the programme have fallen short of expectations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It recognized development as a basic human right. Democracy, development and human rights go hand in hand, as experience has shown that it is difficult to guarantee some basic rights, especially economic and social rights, in situations of abject poverty. As I emphasized in my statement at that Conference, the existing international institutions for human rights need strengthening. At the same time, developing countries require support and assistance to strengthen their domestic institutions and build strong foundations for the rule of law and the administration of justice. Since the Rio Conference on Environment and Development, Governments and international agencies have focused their attention on the implementation of Agenda 21.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The burden of debt-servicing drains the continent of over $10 billion annually, thus diverting resources badly needed for investment and alleviation of poverty. On trade, it is gratifying to note that, after six months of stalemate, multilateral negotiations of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) have resumed. We emphasize, however, that the outcome of the negotiations should be balanced to take account of the particular needs of the poor developing countries. The World Conference on Human Rights, which was held in Vienna, Austria, in June this year, marked a significant watershed for the international community on the important question of human rights. That Conference emphasized that human rights are interdependent and 24 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session indivisible.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The United Nations new agenda for the development of Africa in the 1990s, adopted by the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session, commits the international community to implement concrete and effective measures to support Africa’s own efforts in the process of economic reforms and development. The success of the implementation of the programme will depend, first, on the efforts of the African countries themselves and, secondly, on the back-up resources from multilateral and bilateral donors. We are concerned that these resources are shrinking owing to diversion and what appears to be a subtle disengagement from Africa. The acute external debt of African countries and the heavy and unbearable burden of servicing that debt are among the matters on which concrete action is needed.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Our experience in Kenya in implementing structural adjustment programmes is that the reforms have inherent negative short-term effects, particularly on the poor and the other vulnerable members of society. These include the fall in their purchasing power owing to the liberalization of prices, job losses through a reduction of manpower in the public sector, and the reduction of government expenditure on such essential social services as health, education and other infrastructures. The donor community needs, therefore, to balance the aid conditionalities with the socio-economic realities obtaining in the countries implementing structural adjustment programmes, particularly by addressing the social dimensions of such programmes in concrete and human terms.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We wish, therefore, to underscore the need for the international community to seize the opportunity created by the positive changes taking place on the continent and give Africa real support so that the gains made for economic and democratic reform will be sustainable. At the same time, African countries should continue to strengthen their regional integration efforts within the regional bodies already established, such as the Preferential Trade Area for the Eastern and Southern African Countries (PTA), the Inter-Governmental Authority for Drought and Development (IGADD) in the Horn of Africa, and the ongoing efforts to revive East African cooperation.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Despite the far-reaching economic and political reforms which have been put in place by most African countries in the last three years, the situation continues to be grim, since the region continues to experience economic growth of less than 2 per cent. The current trends, if not reversed, threaten to marginalize further the participation of African countries in the global economy. The liberalization of the African economies and the hard work of the African people are not in themselves sufficient to transform the socio-economic situation in Africa. The continent is not playing the international economic game with other continents on a level ground.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In this regard, a timely and effective response by the United Nations will largely depend on the availability of adequate resources, at least in the initial stages, to cater for the critical time lost in negotiations for the financing of peace-keeping operations. It is also important that a formula be developed to establish a more predictable financial basis for the peace-keeping operations. The uncertainty prevailing in the world economy today is a cause for serious concern. Insufficient growth in the developed countries has contributed to the unfavourable external conditions that threaten the political, economic and social stability of many developing countries. These include renewed pressures for increased protectionism, falling commodity prices and the decline in financial flows, among other conditions.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In this connection, the serious concerns expressed by the Secretary-General and his urgent appeals to Member States to pay arrears of contributions must receive a concrete and speedy response from all the Members of this Organization. The formula for apportioning contributions should reflect the special responsibility of the permanent members of the Security Council and of other developed countries and take into account the relatively limited capacities of developing countries. A dramatic change in the formula of contributions could, I submit, complicate further the problem of arrears. The establishment of the peace-keeping reserve fund would go a long way towards making peace-keeping operations more efficient.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Peace-keeping operations have increasingly become among the most utilized and widely acceptable instruments of the Organization, especially in discharging its primary responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security. The operations have also increasingly taken on new and broader assignments and responsibilities. Kenya is happy to be closely associated with peace-keeping operations. We have contributed military and police personnel to many peace-keeping operations world wide. The enormous rise in the number and scope of peace-keeping operations requires that the ability of the Secretariat to manage such large-scale operations be Forty-eighth session - 5 October l993 23 strengthened and also that Member States be ready to finance the operations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The Security Council must also be reformed so that it is more transparent, more representative and more democratic in its decision-making process, while at the same time its effectiveness is ensured. The ongoing restructuring and revitalization of the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields should strengthen the Council and enable it to play a central role in providing policy recommendations to the General Assembly. Similarly, the ongoing efforts to restructure the Secretariat must be balanced and accord appropriate priority to development concerns. Operational activities of the Organization must be provided with adequate resources on a sustainable basis to enable it effectively to promote socio-economic progress in accordance with its Charter.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The widespread availability of deadly conventional weapons constitutes the most important factor in the prolongation of regional and civil conflicts. With its increased responsibilities and challenges, the United Nations needs to be restructured and revitalized so that it can effectively discharge its responsibilities. It must also be provided with adequate resources. The tasks ahead demand that the energy and attention of all components of the United Nations be engaged fully and appropriately. The General Assembly must be enabled to play its full role in decisions affecting international peace and security. There is a need to establish a balanced relationship between the Assembly and the other principal organs of the United Nations, and to ensure logical accountability of the principal organs, in particular the Security Council.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We are encouraged by the assurances that this is the first tangible step towards the establishment of a Palestinian State alongside Israel. We wish the Palestinian and Israeli people happy and peaceful coexistence. Further afield, we welcome the successful holding of the elections under United Nations auspices in Cambodia, the conclusion of the Governors Island Agreement on the restoration of a democratically elected Government of Haiti, and the progress towards the establishment of lasting peace in El Salvador. The experience of Somalia and other regional conflicts convinces us that there is an urgent need for the United Nations to re-evaluate the existing international control systems for conventional-weapon production and trade.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We are also greatly encouraged by the developments that have taken place in South Africa. The agreement reached for the creation of the Transitional Executive Council and the setting of a date for the first democratic elections pave the way for the establishment of a truly non-racial, democratic South Africa. We support the recent call by Mr. Nelson Mandela, the President of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), for all diplomatic and economic sanctions against South Africa to be lifted. The recently concluded, momentous agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) marks a turning point in the process of finding a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian and, indeed, the Middle East problem.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We are confident that the people of Mozambique, Rwanda and Liberia will realize their dreams of peace through the process of dialogue. Greater involvement by the United Nations in the Rwandese peace process is pertinent at this stage. It is essential that the peace accords signed in these countries be honoured by all the parties, with effective support from the United Nations, the OAU and regional bodies, and with generous assistance from friendly countries. The situation in Angola is very disturbing. The ongoing bloodshed could easily have been avoided if the UNITA leadership had accepted the verdict of the people in the elections. We appeal to UNITA to agree to a dialogue for a peaceful political solution, with the mediation and increased support of the United Nations, OAU and the sponsors of the Peace Accords.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Sudan is another neighbouring country that has for a long time now been suffering devastating civil strife. The problem has been of great concern not only to the neighbouring countries but also to the Organization of 22 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations. There is an urgent need for the United Nations to support the ongoing regional efforts spearheaded by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Afwerki of Eritrea and Zenawi of Ethiopia under the chairmanship of President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya. We appeal to all parties involved in the conflict to be flexible in the search for a just and lasting solution. Elsewhere in our continent, efforts to find solutions to ethnic and other conflicts have shown encouraging trends.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“As peace is being restored in Somalia, we are cooperating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to accelerate the voluntary repatriation of refugees. At the same time, we are requesting the United Nations and the donor community to urgently assist Kenya with programmes for the rehabilitation of the physical and social infrastructures as well as for the restoration of the ecosystem in the region. We are also requesting the Secretary-General to reinforce the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) patrols along the Somali side of the border so as to complement the efforts of the Kenyan security personnel on our side. We believe that the joint security efforts will significantly scale down the flow of armed gangs and individuals into Kenya.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The very heavy influx of Somali refugees into Kenya has had a devastating effect on the most ecologically fragile parts of the country. The border region has suffered serious environmental destruction as a result of excessive cutting of trees for building materials and firewood. The physical and social infrastructures have been overstretched by excessive usage and overloading. Most seriously, our people and security personnel have been subjected to numerous acts of banditry by armed gangs crossing into Kenya from Somalia, causing general insecurity in the border region. We have continued to lose both civilians and security personnel at an unacceptably high rate as a result of attacks by bandits. Huge numbers of livestock and huge quantities of other property have also been lost to them.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The highest priority is to assist the people of Somalia in furthering the national reconciliation process and to promote and advance the re-establishment of regional and national institutions and civil administration in the entire country, as set out in Security Council resolution 814 (1993). This requires improvement of the dialogue between the United Nations personnel in Somalia and the general Somali public as an essential element in confidence-building to facilitate reconciliation between the various factions. Kenya shares an 800-kilometre-long border with Somalia. In many ways, we are extremely exposed to the Somalia problem. Somalia is a sister country with which we share family relations as well as ethnic and cultural affinities.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We note with appreciation the Secretary-General’s report that, despite several incidences of violence in Mogadishu, there are improvements in the overall situation, including eradication of starvation, establishment of a large number of district councils, opening of schools and resumption of normal life in most areas of the country. We also welcome Security Council resolution 865 (1993) of 22 September, by which the Council, inter alia, invites the Secretary-General to consult the countries of the region and regional organizations concerned on means of further reinvigorating the reconciliation process. We believe that the regional peace initiatives can effectively complement the United Nations efforts in facilitating reconciliation between all the factions in Somalia.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)