YouSaid · the spoken record

Sylla

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS SYLLA

lines on the record: 36
first: 1965-09-24
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

“The building of a better world, to which we all aspire, remains dependent on establishing international relations based on the principle of cooperation and solidarity and on respect for the principles and norms that govern international relations. In that connection, let me conclude by noting a great step forward in international relations: on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Organization, speakers in this Hall stressed the concept of the balance of forces in general and of strategic nuclear parity in particular, while today, 10 years later, we all recognize that security and peace cannot exist without cooperation and solidarity, and in the absence of all violence.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The viability and survival of our planet depend, beyond cooperation, on our ability to adapt to the new realities and constraints we face. As we approach 1996, declared by the General Assembly as the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, my delegation wanted today briefly to outline some of the proposals my country is presenting to contribute to making the dreams of the founding fathers of the Charter come true, although we know full well that our proposals are incomplete and that even an improved and ideal United Nations would be unable on its own to solve all the problems before it.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I cannot fail to refer to the beneficial activities in Madagascar coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme and carried out through the United Nations system of operational activities and especially by the United Nations Children’s Fund. Nor must I forget the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Population Fund, whose mid-term review of the third country programme with Madagascar was completed at the end of August. In the same context we welcome the Secretary- General’s initiative on a steering committee to prepare specific short-term and medium-term projects for the development of Africa in such priority areas as food security, the strengthening of institutions, the development of the private sector, desertification and social development.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“We welcome the G-7’s express offer to cooperate in formulating a new approach to international cooperation and in defining the contribution expected of the United Nations system, which is seeking through a series of world conferences — recently in Beijing, previously in Rio, Copenhagen and Vienna, and next year in Istanbul — to engage, beyond national borders, in combined, effective action against poverty, unemployment and social disintegration. Those conferences are part of the attempts to renew and improve United Nations methodologies and strategies in the sphere of cooperation for development.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“If development is today recognized as a human right, Madagascar believes that that it is largely thanks to the United Nations, which has advanced the notion of interdependence between economic development, democracy and respect for human rights. Therefore, one of the United Nations primary duties is to create and strengthen the institutional structure needed to implement the norms it has identified for the promotion of development. In that connection, Madagascar will participate with attention and interest in the General Assembly’s debate on An Agenda for Development. Similarly, we shall follow with interest the implementation of the proposals contained in the Communiqué of the G-7 Summit held last June in Halifax, proposals designed to promote sustainable development and better share the fruits of growth.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The result is increased marginalization of the poor countries, which are deriving absolutely no benefit from the globalization of the world economy, and increased social disparities both between and within nations. That adverse trend is leading to the formation of an international social apartheid. In the United Nations, the establishment of the Economic and Social Council embodied the poor countries’ hopes for recovery, but it has become clear that its administrative machinery is still cumbersome and unsuited to its task. It has gradually become paralysed by the multiplication of its organs, without any real follow-up or control, and its high operating cost. At last July’s session of the Council in Geneva, emphasis was put on the need to give it greater vigour by strengthening its competencies and powers.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Poverty and hardship have become endemic in the so-called fourth world — the “storm zones”, to use an expression borrowed from the jargon of today’s experts — which is also prey to natural disasters in addition to its internal problems, resulting from political instability and imbalanced economies. The balance of payments continues to show a deficit because of the crushing burden of external debt and the fluctuations in the prices of raw materials, accompanied 12 by — to cap it all — a stagnation and even a decline in development assistance. We are also witnessing various forms of protectionism in the countries of the North, while the countries of the South are being urged to liberalize trade.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is in this spirit that Madagascar supported the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and is about to ratify various international conventions, such as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction and the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. In the economic and social sphere, there is no need to stress that world development also presents a scenario of contrasts and disparities, whereas there had been reason to hope that the post-cold-war period would see a de facto mobilization of the international community in support of development. Even worse, the outlook is far from encouraging.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The settlement of national conflicts, which falls within the competence of the United Nations and which still requires the support of the country concerned, must be viewed as the carrying out of efforts to establish democracy and the rule of law and to inculcate a spirit of tolerance and non- violence. There is also the question of strengthening regional structures for the peaceful settlement of disputes, such as those that already exist within the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Non-Aligned Movement. Lastly, there is the question of strengthening regional cooperation in the sphere of disarmament so as to block the uncontrolled movements of weapons and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Indeed, in this connection, I would make so bold as to say that any and all reform of the United Nations must also entail more careful attention to the provisions of Chapter VII. This strengthening should include giving first priority in United Nations bodies to the prevention of violence by developing a policy and strategy centred on development. There, the General Assembly could play a more important role, in conjunction with the Security Council, by, for example, in the framework of re-establishing peace, strengthening the role of United Nations forces used as buffers in international, ethnic or civil conflicts. Paragraph 7 of Article 2 of the Charter expressly excludes any intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In Madagascar’s view, what is needed is, first, to enlarge the Security Council on the basis of equitable geographical distribution in order to ensure the democratization of international relations. Secondly, the General Assembly must be given greater means, and especially more powers, to put an end to the old cliché that this organ is merely a forum for rhetoric and orotund speechmaking. Thirdly, as indicated in “An Agenda for Peace,” there must be a considerable strengthening of the mechanisms for the pacific settlement of disputes set forth in Chapter VI of the Charter, which would seem in practice to have become the poor relation of Chapter VII, with its authorization of the use of force as a last resort.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“However, we must recognize that any initiatives in this field will be in vain if there continue to be contradictions between the diplomacy of States and the diplomacy of the United Nations, because it is quite obvious that the future of today’s societies lies within a space that is broadening to encompass the dimensions of the universe. This fundamental refocusing must be the purpose of a rational reorganization of our organs and institutions, which, given the social, political and economic conditions prevailing when they were established, now have limitations, gaps and shortcomings when it comes to responding to the expectations of today’s world.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“These feelings are exacerbated by individual and collective frustrations born of poverty, of marginalization and of social injustice. This picture is complemented by environmental degradation, a sluggish economy, the depletion of natural resources, the disintegration of the social fabric, the spread of drug use, international terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, unemployment and famine. To sum up, there is a whole range of global threats which are no longer confined within national borders. It would be a truism to assert that solving these problems calls for us to be farsighted, to step back so as to get a global view and go beyond the outdated approach of resolving the challenges facing us case by case. That is why Madagascar must support all the efforts to implement the globalizing structural approach in the Agenda for Peace.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“They also run counter to the efforts made to reduce worldwide expenditures on armaments since 1987 in order to obtain the peace dividend. International public opinion was also deeply shocked by the coup d’état carried out by mercenaries against the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. Madagascar strongly condemned that putsch, and congratulates France on the happy outcome of Operation Azalea to re-establish institutional legality in the Comoros. The disillusionment that I have described, disillusionment bordering on hopelessness, has other aspects which are even more threatening to the world’s security. Indeed, both in the North and in the South we 11 are witnessing an upsurge of intolerance, of xenophobia — in brief, of fear or the rejection of difference, of all differences.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“As regards Africa, to which Madagascar belongs, I refer in this regard to the genocide in Rwanda, whose impact is still felt by international public opinion; the continuation of civil war in Liberia, in Sudan and Angola; and the spiral of violence and violations of human rights in Gambia, one of the oldest democracies in West Africa, following a coup d’état. Other conflicts still continue in Europe and elsewhere. At the risk of offending some, I must say that most, if not all, of these hotbeds are fuelled in particular by sales of illicit weapons — I should rather, say “authorized sales of weapons”. Their proliferation shows the ineffectiveness of the relevant international conventions and of the measures enacted by the international community.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Paradoxically, however, the end of the era of ideological confrontations, while accelerating the integration of world society, has also promoted an increase in conflicts, sources of outbursts of violence and savagery, resulting not only from conflicts between States, but also, unfortunately, from ethnic, civil, religious and other deep-rooted causes within a collapsing State or States. This trend, one of the most marked of the post- war period, seems to be growing, in the context of an international community that is powerless, disarmed and, above all, disillusioned.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a true symbol of the cold war, history has witnessed a series of events that strengthen confidence in the principles and agreements enshrined in the Charter: the independence of Namibia; the formation of the first democratic multiracial Government in South Africa; the holding of democratic elections marking the end of a long period of civil strife in Mozambique and one-party rule in Malawi; the promising steps taken by several southern African countries towards reconstruction; the process of reconciliation in the Middle East, recently added to by the agreement — welcomed by Madagascar, along with all other peace-loving nations — extending autonomy in the West Bank; and, lastly, certain encouraging signs with regard to the situation in the former Yugoslavia.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Since our current session coincides with the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Charter, it goes without saying that, as the Secretary-General stressed in his report on the work of the Organization, it is an occasion not only to take stock of the first half-century of our Organization and to prepare for the second, but also to seek ways to keep up the momentum of the first years of the decade in world affairs.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Freitas do Amaral’s distinguished predecessor, for the enthusiasm and dynamism he demonstrated in the service of the General Assembly, which under his presidency carried out its mandate well and always to the satisfaction of countries like my own. Lastly, may I express our appreciation for the efforts made by the Secretariat to ensure the efficient organization of our work, under the competent leadership of the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros-Boutros Ghali.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I must begin my statement by echoing the words of previous speakers who have congratulated Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral on his election by acclamation to the presidency of the fiftieth session of the General Assembly. On my own behalf and on behalf of the delegation of Madagascar, which I have the honour to head, I have pleasure in saying that we rely greatly on his experience and wisdom in ensuring that our work will be crowned with success at the conclusion of our debates. Whilst assuring him of the cooperation and support of my delegation, I would also like to congratulate the other officers of the Assembly. It gives me particular pleasure to pay tribute to our colleague, His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy, Mr.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“While dark clouds may yet cover the horizon, there is a ray of hope that our efforts here to promote peace, social justice, the liberation of peoples who are still enslaved and better living standards for the developing countries will not go unrewarded.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“We appeal rather to law, reason and wisdom. 62. Whereas 1964 was a relatively calm year, we now find that fighting has broken out again, territorial claims are being raised and the integrity and even the existence of other States are seriously threatened. The United Nations must not shrink from a lucid and bold investigation of all conflicts whether latent or open. It would be a mistake to imagine that it can always settle disputes by giving satisfaction to all the parties involved. In our opinion, the United Nations will grow in stature through such peaceful confrontations within the framework of the Charter. 63.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“In this year of international co-operation, the Pope's appeal for an increase in the assistance given by the great Powers to the developing countries will not, I am sure, go unheeded. 61. The Malagasy Republic has requested the inclusion in the agenda of an item entitled "Observance by Member States of the principles relating to the sovereignty of States, their territorial integrity, noninterference in their domestic affairs, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the condemnation of subversive activities" (agenda item 94) [see A/5937]. I shall not speak at length on the draft resolution the aim of which is to codify principles already recognized by all but which, alas, are sometimes forgotten when selfish interests are at stake. Our draft is not directed against any State and is free of political motive.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“The celebration at San Francisco of the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations took place in an atmosphere of anxiety and pessimism Nevertheless, it enabled the major States to reaffirm their determination not to allow the United Nations to perish. 60. On 4 October 1965 [1347th meeting], a great and moving ceremony was held in this hall. His Holiness Pope Paul VI, in a very impressive speech, appealed to all peoples to unite to banish war forever and to tackle disarmament in a resolute manner through the abandonment of offensive weapons. His appeal to the conscience of the world for an "internal renewal" will, I am sure, have a profound and lasting effect.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“The nineteenth session of the General Assembly was completely paralysed as a result of circumstances which have been referred to and commented upon in the statements of those speakers who preceded me. The impotence felt by Member States in this crisis was a bitter pill to swallow. It now seems that after a year of anxiety we can look forward to better days ahead. The majority required by the Charter has been obtained for ratification of the institutional changes which were approved in 1963 to expand the membership of the Security Council and of the Economic and Social Council. Africa will thus be better able to make its voice heard in those important organs. 59.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“The producing countries would be able, if such a reform were carried out, to establish longterm development plans and to promote the well-being of their people at home through that "grass roots" policy on which our President, Philibert Tsiranana, has based the economic policies of our country. 57. The industrialized countries have a great role to play here. We can turn to them and say: "Help us to build up our resources in independence and dignity so as to put an end to our poverty. Help us to increase our production so that we can cope with our growing population, build schools, maternity clinics, hospitals, dispensaries and libraries. Help us to build up an infrastructure of harbours, roads and railways and local industries without which we will be doomed to impotence and mediocrity." 58.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“At the present time, in calculating the selling price of manufactured goods, the price of raw materials from the developing countries continues to be the variable and fluctuating element whereas it should be calculated so as to ensure at all times a substantial return for the producers. In other words, as one of the chief elements of the selling price, it should be kept stable and constant. In this way the producing countries would not have to live in perpetual fear of price fluctuations in distant markets over which they have no control. A fall of a few points in the price of coffee or sugar, to cite only these two commodities, immediately cancels out months and even years of hard-won recovery.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“Madagascar, which has played an active part in the various conferences of the last twelve months, considers that greater efforts should be made by the countries of the first group in order to assist the developing countries to industrialize and to guarantee them reasonable and sufficiently remunerative prices for their raw materials. 56. My country attaches very great importance to the latter issue and believes that consideration should be given to the establishment of a fixed relationship between the prices of manufactured goods and those of raw materials so that any variation in one of the terms of the equation would automatically affect the other. In my delegation's view, this is the way to go to the very root of the problem.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“We are not in favour of its admission which, to judge from its recent obstreperous statements and its activities against peace, such as its attempts, at subversion throughout the world and particularly in Africa, is not what that country itself seeks. For my Government only the delegation of the Republic of China, a founding Member of the United Nations and one which has always been a loyal and active Member, represents the great Chinese people. 55. Several speakers have spoken at this rostrum about the widening gap between living levels in the industrialized countries and those in the developing countries. It is time that specific measures were studied by the specialized agencies with a view to narrowing the gap between the two groups.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“First of all, there is the lack of understanding shown by certain Powers which refuse to remove the yoke of their domination from other peoples, whatever their race and colour may be, as is the case in Mozambique, Angola and Southern Rhodesia. Then there are the arbitrarily divided countries such as Germany and Korea. 53. Here we must affirm the primary function of the United Nations which is to give to all peoples desiring independence their right to freedom and self-determination. 54. My delegation's position remains unchanged on the admission of mainland China, an item which has been on our agenda for several years.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“Whenever, as is often unfortunately the case, conflicts break out between peoples of the same blood, the first efforts at pacification should be made within their ethnic group. In my delegation's view, this is an easier way of persuading the antagonists that better mutual understanding is essential for the restoration of peace. Have we not beheld the sad spectacle of conflicts between brothers, Asians fighting against Asians, Africans against Africans? And have we not had to stand by powerless while the cold war among Europeans continues undiminished in scope and violence over the years? Peaceful solutions to those conflicts might be sought through negotiations within the ethnic groups concerned. 52. International tension has, of course, other aspects attributable to different causes. I shall mention just a few.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“Perfect political stability, the normal functioning of our institutions, constant and friendly collaboration between the public and the Government — these are the main features of life in Madagascar. My country intends to show the world that freedom does not mean anarchy and that in Africa democracy and law and order can exist perfectly well side by side. 50. While my country has no special problems of an international character, it is well aware of its responsibilities towards the world in which we live and intends to play its role in the solution of great international questions and in the efforts being made on all sides to restore peace wherever it is disturbed. 51. Throughout the world there are many breeding grounds of disorder and we all have a duty to eliminate them patiently and firmly.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“The municipal elections were followed first by the election of a President of the Republic for a seven-year term. By an overwhelming majority, Mr. Philibert Tsirarana was re-elected to the Presidency. Next, there were elections for the complete renewal of the National Assembly and the six General Councils. These elections gave the Government and the party in power a larger majority which will enable them during the next five years to work in a serene atmosphere towards the solution of the important economic problems which, in Madagascar, as in all developing countries, are becoming more acute each year owing to rapid population growth. 49. On the international scene, at any rate, we are not faced with political difficulties. We have no territorial claims against our neighbours and none to fear from them.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“Moreover, my country, which is intensely peace-loving, did not endorse the military measures adopted by the United Nations in the Congo. 47. Our position has been Stated on many occasions by Malagasy representatives speaking from this rostrum. Nevertheless my country has not turned a deaf ear to the appeals that have been addressed to all Member States to help the United Nations overcome its grave financial difficulties. Without departing from its juridical position, my Government decided to pay its assessments voluntarily and it hopes that all Member States, rich and poor, large and small, will help to ease the Organization's financial position. 48. The past twelve months have witnessed, in Madagascar, a series of elections which enabled the entire population to vote in complete freedom and independence.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“My delegation also wishes to commend the diligence and efficiency of our eminent Secretary-General who, throughout 1964 and to this very day, has spared no effort to maintain the peace or to restore it wherever it has been threatened. 45. Lastly, it is with deep satisfaction that my delegation, like others, welcomes to this great family three new Members: Singapore, the Gambia and the Maldive Islands. I am sure these States will strive to strengthen our Organization so that its-voice may resound with greater firmness and authority. 46. I referred earlier to Article 19 of the Charter. My country felt at the very outset that the cost of the Congo operations could not, without the prior consent of the Security Council, be considered as regular expenditure devolving automatically on all Member States.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)
“42. My delegation would like first of all to offer Mr. Fanfani our congratulations on his election as President of the twentieth session of the General Assembly and our best wishes for his early recovery. His brilliant record and the ability which he has shown in public office, notably as head of the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs of his country, justified the almost unanimous vote of this Assembly. 43. Mr. Fanfani succeeds another great President, our brother Alex Quaison-Sackey who, throughout a session paralysed by the great Powers divergent interpretations of Article 19 of the United Nations Charter, displayed his remarkable statesmanship. By exemplary patience and finesse he succeeded in preventing a confrontation which would have spelt the doom of the United Nations. 44.”
1965-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 20 (1965)