YouSaid · the spoken record

Pakalitha Bethuel MOSISILI

lines on the record: 180
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2016-09-24
sittings or episodes: 11
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We also wish to encourage the nuclear- weapon States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the NPT and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to become parties to those important treaties. The notorious use of small arms and light weapons in armed conflicts is well documented. Lesotho therefore regrets the inability on the part of the Open-ended Working Group on small arms to adopt a legally binding document. We also attach great importance to the issue of prevention of internal armed conflicts by the international community. While we support the moral obligation behind the proposed new concept of the “responsibility to protect”, we suggest that the issue should be subjected to further consideration by Member States, guided by the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors, the existence of nuclear weapons, and armed conflict top the list of global security issues. There is, therefore, an urgent need to conclude a comprehensive convention on terrorism. My delegation hopes that the General Assembly will soon initiate negotiations on an international instrument to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors. We regret the fact 13 that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was not able to reach consensus. However, we wish to emphasize the need for all States parties to adhere to the three pillars of the Treaty — namely, disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“However, we appeal for debt cancellation for all least developed countries in order to enable them to redirect their meagre resources to national development programmes. It is an irrefutable fact that a substantial percentage of the national budgets of least developed countries that do not fall within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt (HIPC) Initiative category is consumed by servicing their debts. Lesotho supports the launching of a series of “quick wins”, as recommended by the Secretary- General in his report, as this would go a long way towards broadening commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promoting economic growth in many developing countries. In our view, the criteria for the selection of countries for the implementation of the “quick wins” should be fair and transparent.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“However, we reiterate our appeal that developed countries abide by their commitments to help developing countries in all the relevant areas. They have to accelerate and increase the flows of ODA and foreign direct investment. They also have to adopt appropriate measures to fully integrate small and vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system, cancel debt, transfer technology, render financial and technical assistance and provide capacity-building programmes for developing countries. On this auspicious occasion, my delegation expresses sincere appreciation for all initiatives recently taken to address the needs of developing countries, especially the debt cancellation extended by the G-8 countries to highly indebted poor countries.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Africa presents a classical example of how those menaces compromise not only peace and security, but also development, thus militating against respect for human rights. Indeed, it is no coincidence that development has been one of the key objectives of most, if not all, major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields. Hence, my delegation welcomes the efforts of those donor countries that have achieved the 0.7 per cent target of gross national income as official development assistance (ODA), with 0.2 per cent of gross national income for the least developed countries. We also welcome initiatives by some countries to set up timetables for fulfilling their ODA targets.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“As a result of this trend, we foresee an emerging, untenable and, indeed, unwarranted situation with the potential to divide regions and/or continents and to adversely affect cordial relations between States. In order to move in unison, the international community should strive to advance the global development, human rights and security agendas simultaneously. All agree that the HIV and AIDS pandemic has emerged as a major threat to development, reversing, as it does, all the gains that have been made so far. We all also agree that the ravages of extreme poverty continue to haunt us. Needless to say, extreme poverty constitutes a violation of human dignity. Armed conflicts also hamper development.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Against this background, my delegation pays tribute to the Secretary-General for his report entitled “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all” (A/59/2005). That report formed the basis for discussions by Member States as they prepared for the five-year review of the Millennium Declaration and for this sixtieth session of the General Assembly. It raises critical issues regarding the reform of this world body to enable it to meet the challenges and threats of the twenty-first century — a daunting task indeed. However, we have noted with regret that some Member States have relegated to the back burner critical issues of development, giving priority instead to security issues, particularly the reform of the Security Council.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“My delegation associates itself with the compliments extended to you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of this session and to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping of Gabon. The United Nations was born 60 years ago when the brutality of war impressed itself on all as far 12 beyond human comprehension and tolerance. The Organization became a source of hope, founded as it was on the inalienable, interlinked and mutually interdependent pillars of development, human rights and security. Member States of this Organization have increasingly yearned for its reform in order to make it more democratic and responsive to the needs of all nations, rich and poor, big and small, strong and weak. We should recall that the last reform of the United Nations was in 1963, a good four decades ago.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“That must be done against the background of multilateralism, upon which international peace and security is premised. In that regard, allow me to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Julian Hunte, President of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, for the hard work and commitment he displayed as the Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on the Reform of the Security Council. In conclusion, let me reiterate that it is only through solidarity, unity of purpose and honesty among us Member States that the United Nations will defeat in our time the greatest challenges ever to face humankind. Otherwise, as Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed in his opening statement, history will indeed judge us harshly.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We would indeed live in a safer world if State parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adhered to it, and if the Court attained universal jurisdiction. My delegation encourages States that have not yet ratified the Statute to do so as a matter of urgency ó indeed, as a matter of common sense. We are pleased to note that the ICC has commenced investigations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. We congratulate both these sister countries for their cooperation with the ICC. In order for the United Nations family to address todayís challenges effectively, the Organization must be reformed, with the Security Council being the central focus of that effort. The Security Council must reflect the reality of the international community in the twenty-first century.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We therefore remain in the dark as to what might justify the victimization of millions of Cubans by the unilateral economic blockade, for we contend that it is the sovereign, democratic and, indeed, sacred right of the people of Cuba to determine the system of Government most appropriate for their country. Accordingly, we urge that normalcy be restored to Cuba through the removal of the economic blockade. The coming into operation of the International Criminal Court signifies, in our view, an end to impunity. We are elated that there now exists an international body that can take over when national courts are unable or unwilling to try perpetrators of the most egregious violations of human rights.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have therefore noted with appreciation the latest reaffirmation by the Security Council of its support for the 1991 settlement plan, allowing the nations of Western Sahara to determine the future of the disputed territory in a referendum. We hope that the referendum will be held soon, and urge that this be the case. By the same token, the unilateral economic embargo against Cuba is causing untold misery to the people of that country. My delegation believes that, when two countries are at war with each other, or when a country has been condemned by the international community for gross misconduct, an economic embargo could be justifiable. However, we are not aware that any war has been declared against Cuba, or that the Government of Cuba has compromised or broken international law.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“My delegation reiterates the call for increased support for the New Partnership for Africaís 13 Development (NEPAD), the framework for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. It is yet another mechanism that will enable African countries to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to eradicate poverty and to reduce the high unemployment rate. In the same context, the Millennium Challenge Account is indeed a worthy and commendable initiative by the Government of the United States of America to launch the least developed countries on the road to sound and sustainable development. The prevailing situations in Western Sahara and in Cuba continue to be of major concern. My de1egation will ó because it must ó repeat the statement we have made on many previous occasions: that the people of Western Sahara have suffered long enough.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have not been alone in that fight, fortunately. It is in that spirit that we wish to recognize and appreciate the dedication of Mr. Stephen Lewis, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Africa, and of Mr. James Morris, Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa. Through his advocacy, Mr. Lewis has helped Lesotho start a robust programme of antiretroviral treatment, while Mr. Morrisís initiatives have ensured food supply for vulnerable and orphaned children. Interventions of this nature give credence to the lofty declarations adopted at various international summits on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as they complement and strengthen our own initiatives and limited resources.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We set time-bound and measurable goals for combating, inter alia, poverty, hunger, disease, the spread of HIV and AIDS, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. Needless to say, we are today, as we were then, committed to the achievement of those goals. However, we did not anticipate that, as we approach the comprehensive review in 2005, the HIV/AIDS pandemic would have become the greatest threat to life itself, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Undoubtedly, the HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens to render futile and irrelevant all our efforts at the betterment of humankind, including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. As early as the year 2000, Lesotho had declared HIV/AIDS a national disaster, and various measures were being taken at the national level to control and manage the pandemic.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, on 9 July 2004 rendered its advisory opinion that such construction was contrary to international law. We therefore appeal to Israel to implement the important resolution adopted by the General Assembly in view of the Courtís advisory opinion. Moreover, it is our submission that, unless and until the issue of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is addressed vigorously, urgently and truthfully, peace and security will remain elusive in the Middle East. We should perhaps recall that, four years ago, we gathered in this very Hall with hope for, and anticipation of, a better life for all humankind in the twenty-first century, as we adopted the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“It is worth mentioning that, at the regional level, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of State or Government, at their recent summit in Mauritius, mandated the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation actively to remain seized of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My delegation has never condoned the killings of Israelis by the Palestinians or of Palestinians by the Israelis. We have always considered the root causes of the problem in the Middle East, which is the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel. That problem has been exacerbated by the construction by Israel of a separation wall in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“This situation has been exacerbated by the recent massacre of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the Gatumba refugee camp in western Burundi. We hope that the fact that the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) have claimed responsibility for the killings would make investigations easier. The peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains elusive, at a time when we had thought that the gains that had been made from the Congolese dialogue, in South Africa, could be consolidated. We reiterate the call by the Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for renewed commitment by the Transitional Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council and the international community to work in full partnership to see the transitional process through to elections scheduled for 2005.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“A lot has been said about that 12 grave situation, but not much has been done to contain the humanitarian and political crises. However, my delegation is hopeful that words will finally translate into action. We had hoped that, with the help of the African Union mediators, the representatives of the Government of the Sudan and the two rebel groups - the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) - could be persuaded to sign and respect the protocol on security. We reiterate our call to all concerned parties to enter into negotiations. We wish to remind the Government of the Sudan that it is its primary responsibility, first and foremost, to protect the civilian life of its nationals. The Great Lakes region remains politically volatile.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The swearing- in of Somalia's transitional parliament on 22 August 2004, in Nairobi, Kenya, paves the way for genuine recovery for Somalia. In that regard, my delegation compliments the Government of Kenya, the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development, the African Union and all other stakeholders for their efforts to bring about normalcy in Somalia. We must not allow the momentum to decrease, or the process to be derailed by those who seek to fuel hatred, division and the killing of the people of Somalia, including as a result of the smuggling of arms, which takes place despite the arms embargo. The humanitarian and security crises engulfing the Darfur region in the Sudan are a cause for serious concern to all of us.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“When, in July 2003, the Assembly adopted its historic resolution 57/337, on the prevention of armed conflict, it recognized that multilateral cooperation, under the auspices of the United Nations, could be an effective means to prevent armed conflict and to address its root causes. Furthermore, it acknowledged the responsibility of the United Nations to stand up to the challenge of preventing, rather than just responding to, conflict. I should like to take this opportunity to express my delegationís appreciation to the Secretary-General, for the comprehensive report to be presented at this session on the implementation of that important resolution. For years now, the situation in Somalia has posed a threat to international peace and security.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We submit that yet another, equally pragmatic, solution may be found in the answer to the question: what is it that drives an inherently good human being to commit such inhuman and senseless acts of State terrorism, organizational terrorism or individual terrorism? In short, we must confront the causes of terrorism, honestly and without malice to anybody. Lesotho is deeply concerned by the fact that armed conflicts continue to cause suffering and hinder economic growth in Africa and elsewhere. However, we commend the United Nations for all its efforts aimed at the elimination of human suffering in armed conflict situations.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Equally, the recent massacres of men, women and children in refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and the Sudan are not only dastardly in the extreme, but stand in stark contrast to everything that modern civilization, humanity and morality espouse. Our world will continue to be insecure for as long as terrorists continue to be harboured and financed by some States Members of the United Nations. We must recognize that none of us is immune from terrorism. But a more honest and practical solution would be for all States Members of the United Nations to commit themselves not to harbour or finance terrorists and their organizations. In that way, terrorists would have no safe haven, thus rendering it possible to chase them from pillar to post until terrorist organizations are eliminated from our world.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Never before has our world been so insecure or faced such enormous challenges. Sadly, this insecurity results from manís inhumanity and his insensitivity to human life. Yet it is also through man's efforts that the effects of such challenges can and must be mitigated or - better still - defeated. It is common knowledge that the root cause of the world's insecurity today is international terrorism and armed conflict. Terrorist actions continue to haunt and to shock us. The recent murder of innocent, young, defenceless school children in Beslan, Russia; the bombings in Indonesia; and daily killings in Iraq, Palestine and Israel, are simply too ghastly to countenance.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I would like, on behalf of my delegation, to join previous speakers in congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. At the same time, I would like to extend our compliments to your predecessor, Mr. Julian Hunte, as well as to the Secretary-General, for a job well done. If there has been one consistent and predictable area of convergence in our debates during General Assembly sessions of the past, as well as during the current session, it is the compelling need for a peaceful and stable world - a world where humankind lives in harmony, mutual tolerance and respect for the collective benefit. For if we have peace and stability at the national, regional and international levels, humankind will be able to concentrate on the real issues of the development of this, our only world.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“My delegation cannot in all honesty and without malice to anyone understand how and why leading champions of democracy can cling so desperately to such an outmoded, primitive and unjust system. The same sacred convictions, truths and beliefs that guided and forced our forbears to abolish slavery, to declare racism and genocide crimes against humanity and to preach and uphold the equality of all humans must of necessity guide us in this instance. Otherwise, history will judge and chastise us severely but justifiably as dishonest. Such is the naked truth staring us in the face.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is our hope that the recommendations of that panel will pave the way to a better international order. It has been almost 10 years since the establishment of an open-ended working group to study all questions relating to equitable representation in the Security Council, including increasing the membership of the Council. My delegation is of the view that there is an urgent need to accelerate the pace and to redouble our efforts to bring this matter to a conclusion. Let us face it: the very concept and practice of a veto in the Security Council is simply untenable and is totally at variance with the democratic principles of our modern times. For one member with a veto to overrule 14 others is simply undemocratic. It is patently unjust and contrary to every principle underpinning fair play and world order.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Those truths must be confronted and discussed in honesty and without malice towards anyone. Otherwise, our credibility and our raison d''tre are called into question. In conclusion, I wish to refer to the question of the reform of the Security Council. It is now a trite fact that the credibility of the United Nations including its adherence to multilateralism is being openly questioned. It will take a lot of work to change that perception on the part of many, especially in the developing world. The Secretary-General, Mr. Annan, has on several occasions stressed the need for radical reform to restore United Nations credibility. We therefore applaud the statement that he made before this body yesterday that he intends to establish a high- level panel of eminent persons to look into the challenges to peace, security and other global issues.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The international community must intervene so as to bring finality to the status of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. The brotherly people of Sahara have suffered unduly and long enough. On a positive note, we welcome the lifting of sanctions against Libya by the Security Council. Nevertheless, it is our contention that the lifting of the sanctions would have been more significant if all the members of the Security Council had raised their flags in favour. By the same token, it is now time to collectively address all issues relating to the unilateral economic blockade against Cuba. It is simply untenable for the United Nations to look on helplessly when a Member State strangles another Member State of this body, simply because it holds or practices different economic philosophies or political viewpoints.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“But then two stark realities must be addressed: first, that the root cause of the problem is the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands; and secondly, that no one country can be an honest broker in the Middle East. History itself positions some countries so much with one party to the conflict that they cannot even with the best of intentions be non-partisan. Consequently, my delegation strongly urges the United Nations to take the initiative and to lead the process, and thus to lend legitimacy and credibility to the efforts to find an abiding solution. The same goes for the people of Western Sahara. In the civilized world of the twenty-first century, it is simply untenable that we still have colonizers in some parts of the world, in disregard of the widely accepted principles of self-determination and democracy.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Although there have been positive indicators in the search for a peaceful and acceptable solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, we are concerned that the recent resumption of the cycle of violence will render the road map for peace futile. The drastic and repressive measures, the unilateral erection of a wall dividing the two, the reoccupation of Palestinian towns and villages, and the targeting of Hamas leaders with the aim of killing them are all measures which cannot help the course of peace or ensure that the Palestinian people enjoy their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination in a sovereign and independent State. In like manner, the continuing suicide missions by militant groups to kill Israelis indiscriminately cannot, and must not, be condoned or justified.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Reintegration and rehabilitation assistance to Angola, therefore, should, in the main, target those groups. The future of Somalia continues to hang in the balance, despite the efforts by Kenya, the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development, the African Union and all other stakeholders to put an end to the carnage in that country. Somalia has been turned into a breeding ground for warlords who have no respect for human life but are greedy for power and money. We tend to agree with those who argue that the deployment of an international force would help to facilitate the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. 20 At the end of the day, however, the responsibility for bringing peace and reconciliation to Somalia lies with the Somalis themselves.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation is confident that, with the necessary support, the Government of National Unity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will restore peace and security in the country and heal the deep wounds caused by war and ethnic hatred. We are also gratified that the Security Council has mandated a special Panel to investigate the plunder of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is our hope and wish that those responsible will be brought to book. The people of Angola have peace at last, now that one of Africa's longest-running fratricidal wars has come to an end. The scars of war in Angola will remain forever, deeply embedded in the memories of the most vulnerable of the population the women and children of that country, where motherhood was abused and children were deprived of their childhood.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The continent must never again have to witness acts of violence and atrocities such as those that were recently committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. We hope that the international community will continue to support all endeavours aimed at attaining lasting peace, security and stability in those countries. My delegation is encouraged by the progress to date to restore law and order in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the establishment of an all-inclusive transitional Government of National Unity. The international community must intensify its efforts to assist millions of Congolese people who are not only displaced but also facing serious food shortages.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We have also been shocked by several reports of an extreme lack of respect for the basic principles of international humanitarian law on the part of parties to armed conflict. Equally regrettable are incidents of egregious violations of the rights of women and children. We therefore commend the United Nations for all its efforts aimed at the elimination of human suffering in armed conflict. Indeed, the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunals, the birth of the International Criminal Court and the setting up of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, are cause for considerable optimism and prove beyond any doubt that the world has grown weary of impunity. It is our fervent hope that Member States will continue to provide the necessary support and cooperation to those institutions. Africa hungers for peace.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We are aware that Iraq today dominates the world spotlight, as was confirmed in recent testimony before the Congress of the United States of America, which was asked to approve $87 billion for the rehabilitation of that country. In sharp contrast, an injection of only about $6 billion into NEPAD would go a long way towards achieving what is a continentwide agenda. African leaders need extensive support as they address, inter alia, the root causes of the agricultural crises in the continent. For us in Africa, agriculture is the engine of overall growth, as it is at the very core of people's livelihoods, especially in the rural areas. It is linked to issues of food security and affects growth in other economic sectors. Lesotho is deeply concerned that armed conflicts continue to hinder economic growth in Africa and elsewhere.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation therefore wishes to reiterate its appeal to the developed countries to fulfil the commitments made at all the major United Nations conferences, as well as at the Millennium Summit. Furthermore, we wish to stress the need for a review of the list of heavily indebted poor countries and those on the borderline, so that all poor countries that, like Lesotho, face debt servicing difficulties, can be considered under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative. My delegation also shares the view that debt cancellation for the least developed countries should be considered as a viable option so that such countries can inject that money into their economies. My delegation reiterates the call for increased support to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Indeed, this critical state of affairs is highlighted in the Economic Report on Africa, 2003, which indicates that in 2002, of the 53 countries in Africa, only five achieved the 7 per cent growth rate required to meet the Millennium Development Goals, while 43 countries registered growth rates below 7 per cent and five countries registered negative growth rates. Against the backdrop of a democratizing continent a precondition set for assistance by the developed North there is a growing consensus that the decline in official development assistance and other financial flows to Africa is increasing the 19 marginalization of the continent in the global economy. Without new inflows of external resources, the pace of development in Africa will forever remain elusive.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We therefore stress the need for urgent assistance to Lesotho and the southern African region and increased supplies of the anti-retroviral and other related HIV and AIDS drugs, in order to curb the scourge. Lesotho and the region also need financial and technical resources for training and capacity-building in HIV and AIDS programme implementation and management. Lesotho is concerned that the goal of poverty eradication, which is the first Millennium Development Goal and one of the cross-cutting themes of all major United Nations conferences and summits, could elude the international community.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In our part of the world, Southern Africa, Governments are overwhelmed by high levels of morbidity and mortality, especially among the working-age group in all sectors, including health and agriculture. HIV/AIDS has become the leading cause of the food insecurity and famine that plague so many of our people today. We are also frustrated because our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of education for all by 2015 through the introduction of free primary education is faltering due to the high rate of absenteeism by both teachers and pupils. Teachers are sick and dying. Children especially girls are dropping out of school to take care of their sick relatives. The number of malnourished, traumatized, orphaned and out-of-school children is increasing at an alarming rate.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Our best hope for success is and should be our collective strength. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations of humankind to pool our resources and strategies to annihilate the scourge of terrorism. In doing so, we must simultaneously and genuinely examine and begin to understand what forces and factors drive an inherently good human being to commit such desperate actions and drastic acts of violence, in the process committing them not only against others, but against himself. Our preventive measures must address such forces and factors in order to disarm potential terrorists. The progress report on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in Lesotho documents that the single greatest obstacle to the development of our nation and indeed to reaching the objectives laid out in the Goals is the scourge of HIV/AIDS.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation associates itself with the compliments expressed to Mr. Julian Hunte on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session; to his predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic; and to the Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan. As we converge upon this city of New York, we are once again reminded of the stark reality of the scourge of terrorism, whose effects have reverberated across the world. Earlier this month two years ago, in this very city, humanity suffered the worst threat ever visited on it by terrorism. We continue to share the grief of those who will forever miss the love and the support of their loved ones. We must therefore reaffirm our resolve to join together in partnership to eliminate those elements which threaten to destroy humanity and its way of life.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It essentially involves a lot of compromise and understanding on the part of those who cherish and uphold the basic tenets of democracy and equality of States. My delegation therefore wishes to reiterate its concern that this organ of the United Nations, which is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, has itself not yet moved to be more inclusive and more representative. Here again, efforts need to be redoubled and the pace accelerated.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We hope that the creation of this special court will contribute greatly to the process of national reconciliation and healing, as well as to the restoration and maintenance of peace in Sierra Leone. The Government of Lesotho reveres the coming into force of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, a momentous period when the countries of the world affirmed their intolerance of those who commit crimes against humanity with impunity. We therefore invite those States that have not yet done so, to become party to the Statute, so that we may embark on this noble but difficult pursuit in solidarity. I should not conclude this statement without making reference to the issue of the reform of the Security Council. The process of democratization is, 6 indeed, very difficult, and yet inevitable.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The Government of Lesotho is committed to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), and, despite financial and technical constraints, we will continue to discharge our obligations, as stipulated in that resolution. The shocking images of atrocities perpetrated in Rwanda and in the former Yugoslavia will forever be embedded in our minds. They have served as a painful reminder to the international community that such crimes should never go unaccounted for and their perpetrators unpunished. In that spirit we hail the landmark agreement reached between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone to establish an independent special court for the prosecution of those responsible for the serious decade- long crimes against humanity committed in the territory of Sierra Leone.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We wish to congratulate the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda for the signing of the peace agreements, which should pave the way for the withdrawal of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We believe that this will also ensure that the security concerns of the neighbouring countries are adequately addressed, whilst at the same time creating conditions that are conducive for the Congolese people to live in peace in their own country. Terrorism has become one of the most pressing concerns of the international community in recent times. The Government of Lesotho has joined other peace-loving members of the international community in waging war against this heinous crime.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We are of the view that a lot more still needs to be done for the Angolan people, including the provision of significant additional resources as called for by the United Nations Secretary-General, in order to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Angola. Despite the temporary disruption of the ceasefire negotiations, my delegation is convinced that the Machakos Protocol signed between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army, remains a viable framework for the realization of durable peace in the Sudan. We urge the warring parties to return to the negotiation table in earnest and in good faith. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has also been a source of concern to us all.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Hence, my delegation urges that efforts to emancipate these nations be strengthened and speeded up. Lesotho is gratified that one of the oldest and longest running conflicts in Africa has finally come to an end with the signing of the ceasefire in Luanda, Angola, early this year, by the representatives of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Government of Angola. However, Lesotho and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, as well as the international community at large, are alarmed by the harsh social and economic conditions that confront internally displaced persons and refugees who return to their homes in Angola. We appreciate the efforts of the entire United Nations system to address this situation.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“5 The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is a home-grown African strategy and an African Union programme for Africa's development. It is a commitment by African leaders to eradicate poverty and to place the continent on a path of lasting growth and development. My delegation, therefore, appeals for more international support for NEPAD. We believe that the role of the entire international community in supporting NEPAD, and the role of the United Nations in the coordination and synchronization of activities related to ensuring its success, would indeed provide a fresh impetus for Africa's development. The right of a people to self-determination is a human right and a fundamental principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The peoples of Western Sahara and Palestine, therefore, deserve no less.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Africa took a very bold and decisive step recently in Durban, South Africa, in launching the African Union. There is no doubt, as many may have observed, that while the road to this Union was strewn with many obstacles, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel. This hope is premised on the principles that have guided us in the last thirty-nine years of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Africa of today is committed to the principles of democracy, stability, peace, security, good governance and the rule of law. Above all, modern Africa is committed to good economic management because it is, indeed, the mismanagement of our economies that has often led to conflicts on the continent.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)