YouSaid · the spoken record

Mohamed Waheed

lines on the record: 48
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2012-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“International cooperation should be seen to promote and encourage a home-grown democracy that is consistent with universally accepted values and principles. Regular, free and fair elections are a fundamental component in any democracy. Yet holding elections is not, by itself, a sufficient condition for consolidating democracy. It requires patience. It requires making hard choices and compromises. And it requires cultivating and nurturing democratic values. My Government is implementing a comprehensive plan to nurture such values in the Maldives. We are committed to creating an environment that guarantees individual freedom, where human rights are fully protected, where democratic values flourish and where human innovation thrives. We are committed to creating a democratic and free society that is able to shape its own destiny.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I believe that international organizations such as the United Nations can play a pivotal role in strengthening democratic institutions in such nations. I believe that some of the advanced democracies can also help small States with technical expertise in consolidating democracy. To do that, it is important to recognize the unique challenges and characteristics of small States. It is important to protect the social fabric of the tightly knit societies in our countries. It is important to review current approaches and modalities for extending international cooperation in the promotion of democracy. It is important that international cooperation not be seen to be promoting a particular ideology. It should not be seen to be taking sides in domestic politics.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The life of our nation is composed of the lives of all of us who live there. We are the building blocks in the evolution of our countries. The knowledge, education, experience and commitment we bring to our nation are what shapes our history. They make our history unique. Respect for us and our small nation requires that our external partners not underestimate our capacity to contribute to the shaping of our own destiny. Nations must be allowed to resolve their problems on their own. The international community should not take punitive actions against any sovereign State unless there is verifiable and blatant abuse of human rights. Yet I believe that international cooperation can and should promote positive change in emerging democracies.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We expect the result of international cooperation to help, not hinder, a country’s march towards a better, more democratic society. It is supposed to build a country’s institutions and to gain public confidence. International cooperation should not be used to undermine national capacities. It should not be used as an excuse for larger countries to interfere in the domestic politics of small States. Small States are vulnerable in many ways. We alone are not able to stop larger and stronger countries from dictating terms. Our vulnerability is particularly acute when there is discord and system breakdowns in our countries. This is the time when the larger States should help the smaller States in the international system. The history of a nation is never a single event or a single person.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The elected President of the country resigned in February, and later claimed that he was forced to do so. The Government opened a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations. Some of our friends rushed to conclusions, and that did not make it any easier for us. Some big States and some not so big States took sides in a domestic political crisis and contributed to making a bad situation worse. While the Government was striving to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity to manage the new democracy, some international actors continued to publicly criticize the country’s young institutions. We look for new ideas and are receptive to good ones, irrespective of where they come from. That is why we engage in international cooperation.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Multiparty democracy in the Maldives has so far been deeply divisive. It is also polarizing, tearing apart families and the fabric of a small, homogenous society. Political leaders elected to office by popular vote chose to act with impunity. Centuries-old values of respect and tolerance have been replaced by intolerance and hatred in the islands where almost everyone literally knows everybody else. That is not because there is any inherent deficiency in the democratic form of governance; rather, it is because the road to liberal democracy is always rocky and long and must be navigated by a political leadership with an unshakeable commitment to the principles and values of democracy. The past eight months have been particularly challenging for the consolidation of democracy in my country.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“If we can take those measures, why cannot the larger States, endowed with more resources, take stronger measures? That requires political commitment and difficult choices. I therefore call upon carbon-emitting countries to develop and utilize clean and renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint. Climate change is just one of many challenges faced by the Maldives. The country’s transition to democracy, which has reached a critical point, is another pressing challenge that we are determined to overcome. Four years ago, the Maldives held its first competitive, multiparty presidential elections. That was a watershed moment in the country’s long march towards democratic governance. Four years after that historic election, in October 2008, people in the Maldives ask if their lives are any better. The answer, regrettably, is, not yet.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“For that reason, we are also taking difficult and bold measures to combat climate change. We were among the first countries in the world to eradicate chlorof luorocarbons well ahead of time. We intend to become the first to eradicate hydrochlorof luorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2020. And we intend to become the first to ban the import of HCFC-based equipment. A number of our islands are also scaling up renewable energy, not only to avoid spending 20 per cent of our gross domestic product on importing fossil fuel, but also to reduce harmful emissions. Hence, we are converting to solar or hybrid sources. A total of 20 islands in the Maldives will switch to renewable energy sources for power by next year. Those measures are part of a national initiative to transform the country’s economy into a low-carbon one.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We experience ocean acidification, changes in average temperature and variable precipitation. Coastal erosion is a serious problem in the Maldives, affecting more than 113 islands. An additional 120 islands need emergency water during the dry season. The Government now spends more than 27 per cent of our national budget on building our resilience to combat the effects of climate change. The Maldives reiterates its call for a binding agreement to reduce global carbon emissions. The world cannot afford to wait any longer for such an agreement; nor can we. The absence of a global accord is no excuse for doing nothing. The Maldives is one of the smallest island economies in the world. Our contribution to global emissions is 0.003 per cent, yet we are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Maldives strongly calls on all Member States to support the true aspirations of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination in a Palestinian State. In June we, the leaders of the world, agreed to signal our solid political commitment towards establishing sustainable development goals. We believe that those goals would further strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of nations. The 2015 development agenda should recognize the particular characteristics and needs of small States. It should support the creation of a stronger international architecture to achieve a sustainable future for all. Climate change remains the most important and complex developmental challenge that small States face. We face the threat of rising sea levels.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Maldives strongly condemns the recent anti-Islamic video demeaning our Prophet Muhammad — peace be upon him. Freedom of expression should not be used as an excuse to insult religions, incite hatred or provoke communal violence. While the video has provoked demonstrations around the world, the Maldives does not believe that violence is the way to respond to such low-level blasphemous acts. The Maldives has also condemned the attack on the United States Consulate in Benghazi, which took the life of the United States Ambassador to Libya. On behalf of the Maldivian people, I express my deepest condolences to the United States Government and the families of the bereaved. My delegation and I express the wishes of the Maldivian people to see the day that the Palestinian people join the United Nations as a full Member.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is why we support the ongoing democratization process in the Middle East and North Africa, and that is why we applaud Tunisia and Egypt for holding their first post-transition elections in a free and fair manner. While the democratization processes in other countries in the region are on an upward trajectory, we see violence and human rights violations in Syria. We urge the Syrian security forces and anti-Government armed groups to immediately cease all hostilities and violence. We welcome the latest findings of the United Nations commission of inquiry on the human rights situation in Syria. We strongly believe that tolerance and mutual respect should prevail among different religions and cultures to ensure that the world we live in remains peaceful and harmonious for the future of our children.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I represent a small yet proud island nation that has long advocated for an effective international framework for the security of small States, that has vigorously campaigned for international actions to combat climate change and that has contributed to breaking the international silence on the human rights implications of climate change. I come from a nation that has successfully moved from an authoritarian system to a multiparty democratic system of governance — a historic transition achieved purely by peaceful means. That is why Maldivians show their solidarity with people everywhere in the world who struggle to replace despotism with democracy.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“At the outset, I express my delegation’s warmest congratulations to the President on assuming office to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. I would like to record our deepest appreciation to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for his untiring efforts in steering the deliberations of the sixty-sixth session to a successful conclusion. I also wish to congratulate the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his extraordinary report (A/67/1) presented to the Assembly on Tuesday. Despite the many unprecedented challenges facing the United Nations today, we remain confident that the Secretary-General’s leadership and the resolve of the Organization and of humankind will not waver.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In this volatile and ever-changing world, there is one institution that provides the stability of continuity, and that is the United Nations. The United Nations is more important today than ever before.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We will continue to work with the international community in addressing this growing menace so as to make our maritime areas safe for international shipping and trade. The Maldives looks forward to a time when every country will be democratic, every nation will be free and the values that underpin this great institution can finally be realized everywhere. Through the institutions of the United Nations, we look forward to continuing to promote equity, fairness and the protection of the most vulnerable, regardless of where they live or what religion they practise. Only through the United Nations can we hope to forge an agreement that protects our climate — a prerequisite for all of our future progress and development.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“They are, first, the reform of United Nations support for the sustainable development of SIDS, secondly, a political declaration and strategy to give impetus to the roll-out and mobilization of renewable energy and green technologies, and lastly, improvements in the integration of sustainable development principles into international and domestic policy at strategic and project levels alike. We are deeply concerned by the dire food crisis in the Horn of Africa. As the United Nations, we must come together to find global solutions to these challenges and ensure that we work to protect the 7 11-51384 rights of those who are most vulnerable, especially women and children. As a country that derives its livelihood from the ocean, we are also concerned by the growing threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Maldives hopes that Rio 2012 will provide a platform and create the necessary impetus to radically reform international support for SIDS. This should pave the way for establishing a SIDS category based on objective, transparent and consistent criteria. We must also analyse and identify the particular challenges and needs of SIDS, which are different from those of other developing countries. We must further ensure that United Nations programmes are redesigned to assist with those particular challenges. Maldives believes that three issues should form some of the key pillars to be discussed and acted upon in Rio next year.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In Durban, we look forward to helping to advance the process so that we can reach the elusive prize of an agreement that protects the climate and the interests of vulnerable nation-States. From the very beginning, the sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS) has been inextricably linked to the Rio process. Unfortunately, the objectives defined in the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy have, like the goals expressed in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, gone largely unmet. Now, as we set the goals of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, we must include in the agenda a serious review of the progress made by the international community in addressing the sustainable development challenges facing small island developing States.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Cutting global carbon dioxide emissions to a safer level — below 350 parts per million — is not just an environmental issue. It is also an issue of national security. We view the cutting of carbon emissions not as a burden but rather as an opportunity — an opportunity not just to protect the climate, but also to create new jobs and grow our economies. For these reasons, Maldives is proud to announce that we will dedicate a minimum of 2 per cent of our total Government revenue to investments in renewable energy. We look forward to the day when the international community will adopt a legally binding climate treaty. We welcome the incorporation of the political pledges contained in the Copenhagen Accord into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process in Cancún.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We must not allow graduation from LDC status, and the removal of support that comes with it, to undermine a country’s progress and development. The Maldives has spared no effort in highlighting the growing threats posed by climate change. Our nation is just one and a half metres above sea level. For us, climate change is no vague or abstract menace, but a clear and present danger to our very existence as a nation-State. Over the past year, the world has experienced an increase in natural and man-made disasters, which compels us to address the effects of climate change with more resolutely and urgently. It is becoming increasingly evident that the international community needs to be better prepared and equipped to address the challenges of disaster preparedness and response.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I am proud that the Maldives has now taken its rightful place as a defender of international law and human rights. As a small island State, we understand that our means are modest. Nevertheless, we are proud to contribute to United Nations efforts to promote peace and security. In this regard, we are pleased to note that following the approval of our Parliament, the Maldives is looking forward to becoming engaged for the first time in United Nations peacekeeping efforts around the world. As a newly graduated least developed country (LDC), we welcome the international support we have received in our transition. Our graduation from LDC to middle-income status has not been easy. Based on our experience, I would like to say that the international community must continue to help States make a smooth transition from LDC status.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Maldives calls on all Members to support the recognition of a Palestinian State, living side by side and at peace with the State of Israel. While recognizing the rights of the Palestinians, we also value and support the right of the people of Israel to live in peace and security. We are proud to announce that last week Maldives acceded to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Maldives believes that human rights must be protected at the national and international levels alike. We are pleased to join a growing alliance of States that stand firmly against 11-51384 6 those who believe they can violate human rights with impunity. In our globalized world, those who trample human rights or deny basic freedoms will be held accountable.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We strongly believe in the compatibility of Islam and human rights and seek to do our part to promote understanding and tolerance. That is why we intend to organize, during 2012, a major international conference on progressive Islamic jurisprudence and human rights. With this conference, we hope to renew the concepts of peace and tolerance, coexistence and inter-faith harmony in Islam. As we watch the changes in the Middle East and North Africa, it has become even more imperative that the question of Palestine be addressed. The Maldives stands shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people. The time for Palestine to join the international family of nations is long overdue. We therefore welcome its application for statehood.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I do not want to sound complacent. Democracy is a process, not an end goal. Freedoms are always threatened in one way or the other. A successful democracy requires more than just the separation of powers. We also need free media, strong institutions and a vibrant civil society. Above all, we need patience to realize the fruits that democracy brings. Nevertheless, I can report without exaggeration that Maldives enjoys more freedoms today than at any other point in our history. I am sure that, with the support of the United Nations, the peoples of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other countries will also enjoy democratic freedoms. We must counter the false perception that people must choose between devotion to Islam on the one hand, and the full enjoyment of human rights on the other.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We all feel frustrated if we are prevented from speaking our minds. In the fog and confusion of the turmoil we are witnessing in the Middle East, one thing stands abundantly clear. The demand for human rights and democratic values is universal. The march of democracy is inevitable. And the argument that says Islam and democracy cannot be united is shown to be foolish and patronizing. My country, the Maldives, in some ways was a harbinger of the Arab awakening. Our revolution began eight years ago. Then, in 2008, presidential elections brought peaceful closure to a 30-year authoritarian regime. Since then, we have had our difficulties consolidating democracy. There are many hurdles to overcome. But I am pleased to report that in the three years since the elections Maldives is generally stable, safe and successful.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We remain confident that his experience and leadership will ensure that this Organization, in which so many of our hopes and dreams are invested, will be equal to the many complex challenges facing us during these tumultuous times. We are at a defining moment in history. Across the Middle East and North Africa, popular pro-democracy uprisings are sweeping away longstanding dictatorships. We are witnessing the greatest liberation movement since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But what is most striking is that it is happening in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. The democratic uprisings across the Middle East prove that Muslims yearn for democratic rights just as much as non-Muslims. For me, that is not surprising. After all, we are all human. We all feel resentment if those in power steal our county’s wealth.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Allow me at the outset, Mr. President, to join previous speakers in congratulating you warmly on your assumption of office to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. Your election is testimony to the growing confidence of the international community in the ability and commitment of the smaller Members of this Organization to play an increasingly active and responsible role in the United Nations. I would also like to take this opportunity to place on record our deep and abiding appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss, for the exemplary manner in which he guided the work of the sixty-fifth session. Allow me also to convey my sincere felicitations to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on his re-election for a second term.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Furthermore, the Maldives welcomes Sri Lanka’s success in its ongoing consolidation of peace and democracy, and we call upon the international community to support that country in its reconciliation efforts, as well as in its efforts to rebuild a nation torn apart by 25 years of sustained conflict. We are a small nation with big dreams. Our dreams are rooted in the vision of the Charter that binds the membership of this Assembly together here today. Our hopes are inextricably linked to the fears of the past that inspired this body and to the hopes of those who dream of a future grounded in justice, equity, opportunity and peace for peoples of the North and South, in nations large and small. Our humanity 9 10-55122 defines our obstacles, but we believe that our dreams for a better future defy our limitations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Closer to home, the Maldives has borne witness to advances in democracy, sustainable development, and peacebuilding throughout the region of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Notably, we praise the progress made by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, including the development of democratic institutions, as well as improvements in the areas of health, education and the status of women. We wish the Afghans continued success in their efforts to rebuild their long-suffering nation, and implore the international community to maintain their support of the Afghan people.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Maldives believes that the declaration of independence by the people of Kosovo reflects a last- resort remedy that embodies the best prospects for peace and stability in the region. The Maldives also welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, issued on 22 July 2010, which concluded that that declaration of the independence of Kosovo did not violate international law. While we have been disappointed by recent efforts to reverse this judgment, the Maldives welcomes the alternative solution, contained in the unanimously adopted European Union-sponsored resolution 64/298, as a positive step towards Kosovo’s assumption of full United Nations membership.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We continue our call for all sides to use the ongoing peace talks as an opportunity to resolve their differences, and are therefore heartened by the new initiatives being pursued by the United States in its pursuit of a Middle East peace treaty. Furthermore, we call for continued support for the Governments of Jordan and Egypt in their work on the Arab Peace Initiative, which we believe may provide an enduring solution to the conflict for the people of the region. Additionally, our pursuit of a more secure and just world and our respect for international law were the basis of the Maldives’ recognition of the independence of Kosovo, declared on 17 February 2008.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We feel, however, that it is important for the Group to urgently establish an easily accessible legal toolkit for States that enables them to fill the vacuums in their national legal systems and address piracy in a comprehensive manner. The continued suffering of the Palestinian people deeply saddens the Maldives. They have been denied their right to self-determination and their right to live in peace and freedom in their own independent State for far too long. While recognizing the rights of the Palestinians, we also appreciate and support the right of the people of Israel to live in peace and security alongside an independent and sovereign State of Palestine.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Maldives cannot stress enough the importance of this Assembly’s finalizing the draft convention on terrorism. Our geographical location in the Indian Ocean makes the Maldives particularly vulnerable to threats to its maritime security, as our vast open waters continue to prove difficult to police. We are deeply concerned over the surge in piracy that has moved beyond the Gulf of Aden into the Indian Ocean. If the international community does not increase its efforts, we fear that piracy may end up turning into an uncontrolled threat to security in the region. Thus, we were particularly encouraged by the adoption of Security Council resolution 1897 (2009) and are pleased with the work of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We believe that an expansion of permanent membership to reflect the realities of our contemporary international system will improve representation in the Council and better serve to address a panoply of concerns facing nations in all five regions today. The Maldives also continues to grapple with traditional security threats. The scourge of terrorism and the growing menace of piracy threaten national, economic and maritime security throughout our region and around the world. Yet deficits in the capacity to attribute criminal accountability to the perpetrators of terrorism persist. Our failure is marked by the advances in the modus operandi of terrorists, the proliferation of illegal technology transfer, and the surge in the trade of illicit weapons.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Maldives believes that it is time to let go of the mistrust and blame that has plagued the UNFCCC process. We welcome the recent voluntary initiative of India to curb its emissions and its commitment to promoting green energy without waiting for others to follow suit. We call upon all nations large and small to come together in a cooperative spirit in Cancún so that we may effectively establish and promote mitigation activities that will restore our native carbon sinks, increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions and preserve our ecosystems. The Maldives would also like to state its support of the Group of Four position for reform of the 10-55122 8 Security Council.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Threats to food and water security for the world’s most susceptible populations will undoubtedly perpetuate disease, exacerbate conflicts and threaten to erode decades of hard-won successes achieved by countries throughout the region. While we have high hopes for the ensuing sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth sessions of the Conference, we believe that alternative solutions that harmonize the development needs of industrial States with the human and economic rights of vulnerable peoples should exist. Therefore, the people of the Maldives and Timor-Leste call for an Asian initiative that would forge a consortium of Asian countries and regional partnerships. This will aim to enable our region to aid the world’s most vulnerable States.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Weeks before Copenhagen, the Maldives convened a group of countries and formed the Climate Vulnerable Forum to declare our concerns with a united voice. I am pleased to report today that Kiribati will take over the leadership of this group ahead of the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Cancún this year, and that Bangladesh will steer it to the seventeenth session in South Africa next year. The Asian region is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. We recognize that failure to extend emissions targets beyond 2012 will leave 60 per cent of the world’s population without durable solutions for the global warming effects already being felt.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“For the Maldives, the effects of global warming pose an overwhelming threat to our infrastructure, our economy and our very existence. In an attempt to implement adaptation measures, the Maldives has invested in water and sanitation projects and coastal defences and is attempting to develop voluntary resettlement programmes to more viable islands within the country. We are also investing in a low-carbon future that emphasizes renewable energy and other green projects to achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2020. It is obvious that our actions alone cannot save us. The global community must act. Regional initiatives that complement United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes must be pursued.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The people of the Maldives certainly appreciate the difference between Government-sanctioned incidents and those anti-Muslim activities that can be attributed to marginal segments of non-Muslim societies. However, we believe that religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, racial profiling and discrimination thwart this institution’s mission for peace and prosperity among all societies. Therefore, we must intensify our efforts to promote a culture of tolerance and understanding while pursuing an effective dialogue to expand the scope of rational discourse between the Islamic world and other civilizations. Some of the gravest threats facing humankind today do not occupy their rightful places in the headlines, nor do they gain the significant attention they require. We believe that climate change is such a threat.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Moreover, the Maldives is undergoing its own universal periodic review this year, and we consider this exercise to be an opportunity to further strengthen human rights protections at home. While our interest in human rights is rooted in our ambition to improve the lives of our own citizens, it also emerges from our rising concerns about life in our now interconnected global village, where the need to compel tolerance, understanding and respect for human dignity is greater than ever before. We support the initiatives for a culture of peace, dialogue among civilizations and tolerance among different faiths. As a Muslim country, we lament the rising tide of Islamophobia in non-Muslim States.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are proud of what we have achieved, but are the first to recognize that there is no shortage of challenges that require our immediate attention. These include the need to abrogate the use of torture, the need to safeguard the rights of women, children and the disabled, and the need to improve our capacity to deal with human trafficking in our region. 7 10-55122 The Maldives is proud to have been elected to the Human Rights Council in May, and we are cognizant of the trust and responsibility conferred upon us by the overwhelming support demonstrated by United Nations Members across all regions. We will continue to uphold our pledge to use our membership to promote human rights through positive engagement and to address sensitivities in our collective quest to protect the most vulnerable.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In fact, the two-year period of transition stipulated in our new Constitution concluded in August. This process resulted in the establishment of our Supreme Court and the creation of other relevant institutions. While our transition process was accompanied by some political discord, it was largely peaceful. Our friends in the international community helped us find peaceful solutions during this somewhat tumultuous period in our politics. I would like to thank all members of the international community for their continued engagement and assistance, and especially President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka for his constructive contributions. The Maldives’ transition to democracy has been accompanied by our evolution from an abuser of human rights to a staunch advocate for them.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As a country primarily dependent on tourism and fishing, the Maldives was severely affected by decreases in consumption in our traditional markets. As a result, the Government was compelled to implement severe austerity measures that cut public spending and undertook massive economic reforms. Nevertheless, our people continue to face formidable development challenges, and thus the Maldives will continue to push for greater recognition within the United Nations for the plight of small island developing States. The economic transition in the Maldives complements an ambitious political transition from autocracy to democracy. Although this is a daunting task, we have been successful in achieving important milestones over the course of these past two years.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Furthermore, we look forward to working with our development partners to achieve consensus on a transitional model that provides for a gradual reduction of benefits to avoid the disruption of our development efforts, as stipulated in resolution 59/209. As a country on the verge of LDC graduation, we look forward to adopting a development strategy that places emphasis on greater independence and economic stability through private investment and public-private partnerships. Our Government’s policies on privatization and our employment of commercial diplomacy are designed to achieve this transition. However, like many other small island States, our geopolitical and socio-economic circumstances will continue to render the Maldives vulnerable. The impact of the recent global recession clearly demonstrates those vulnerabilities.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Those gains, among others, have improved the lives of the Maldivian people and contributed to a situation that has led to our imminent graduation from the United Nations list of least developed countries (LDCs) this year. While we look forward to our graduation, we are also concerned about the sudden withdrawal of some of the benefits afforded to LDCs that have helped sustain our development efforts for the past four decades. Those include preferential market access and concessionary financing. While we were very encouraged by the pledges made by our partners at the donors conference held in the Maldives in March this year to invest in urgent development projects, we anxiously await the speedy disbursement of the promised aid.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“My report demonstrated that while we have achieved five of the eight MDGs — namely, Goals 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 — several others remain challenges, and some achievements are increasingly becoming threatened. For example, the Maldives has made great strides in eliminating poverty, in education and in improving mortality rates among mothers and infants. However, we have yet to make significant gains in the area of the empowerment of women. We are also still struggling to provide for our environmental and development needs. Moreover, religious extremism runs counter to notions of equality and social justice and endangers our achievements in gender parity. All the while, environmental and economic vulnerabilities threaten to diminish our gains.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I would first like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to 10-55122 6 preside over the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. Please be assured of my delegation’s full support and cooperation. I would also like to take this opportunity to offer our appreciation to both your predecessor, Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, for the exemplary manner in which he guided the work of the sixty-fourth session, and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership of the United Nations over the past four years. Last week, I had the opportunity to report on the Maldives’ progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)