YouSaid · the spoken record

Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM

lines on the record: 196
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“Our success will depend on the collective will and commitment. If we succeed, we will go down in history as having met today’s challenges and expectations in terms of the future. (spoke in English) To conclude, let me say that we need to act together, in a spirit of compromise and tolerance. We should constantly remind ourselves that we are of one kind, humankind. There are not, and never will be, ideal solutions that will satisfy all of us. But we, the leaders of our respective countries, need to look beyond the horizon and have the moral courage to look at our common humanity so that we may move forward towards making our world a better, more prosperous and safer place for the whole of humankind.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“(spoke in French) The general debate of the General Assembly offers us a unique opportunity to highlight the most urgent challenges that humankind is currently facing. We must take advantage of this opportunity to review recent events and to outline new approaches that will enable us to respond to these challenges in keeping with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. We must address those challenges through a shared vision of peace, security, interdependence and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. We must remain staunch in protecting the right to development. We also have the duty to take a differentiated approach so as to ensure that our development model is sustainable and allows us to leave to future generations the values our world holds dear.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“That means that no country in the region should hold nuclear or chemical weapons. Mauritius is convinced that an essential condition for peace and prosperity in the Middle East is the peaceful coexistence of the States of Palestine and Israel. Mauritius wishes to reiterate its solidarity with the Palestine National Authority and the Palestinian people in their rightful aspiration to win full recognition as a State Member of the United Nations. Mauritius also supports the peaceful restoration of democracy in Egypt, which has a key role to play in promoting stability and security in the region. But the international community cannot condone the removal by force from office and the detention of a democratically elected leader.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The tragic events in Syria over the last two years are of serious concern to the global community. There is also concern about attempts to bypass the Security Council and to initiate action in breach of the United Nations Charter. Respect for the rule of law at the international level entails compliance with internationally agreed norms. Mauritius will support the decisions taken by the organs of the United Nations under the Charter. We welcome the Security Council resolution that addresses one of the issues in the Syrian crisis. However, the international community needs to go further and address the issue of political dialogue, which will enable the Syrian people to live in peace. Mauritius also supports a Middle East that is free of weapons of mass destruction.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In our part of the world, we welcome the rise of a re-energized Africa. The return to normalcy in Mali and the recent holding of elections there show the relevance of international partnerships. The situation in Madagascar and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will, hopefully, be resolved soon through the support of the international community for the initiatives of the Southern African Development Community in that regard. Earlier this year, Mauritius hosted an African ministerial conference on regional integration. We are convinced that African nations will benefit significantly from a greater focus on regional cooperation, and I am pleased to note that the solemn declaration adopted on the fiftieth anniversary of the African Union supports that view.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Yet, the United Kingdom has shown no inclination to engage in any process that would lead to a settlement of that shameful part of its colonial past. I am confident that the United Kingdom and the United States of America want to be on the right side of history. States that look to the law and to the rules of the comity of nations for the resolution of disputes should not be frustrated by the lack of avenues under international law for the settlement of such disputes. Tromelin, which is also an integral part of our territory, is the subject of ongoing discussions with the French Government, and pending a final resolution of the issue, Mauritius and France have concluded a framework agreement on the co-management of the island and its surrounding maritime areas, without prejudice to the sovereignty of Mauritius over Tromelin.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Mauritius also reiterates its firm conviction that the rule of law should prevail in the resolution of disputes, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. We believe that the international community has an obligation to ensure that, in line with the principles of the rule of law, nations should submit their disputes to conciliation, mediation, adjudication or other peaceful means, both judicial and non-judicial. The dismemberment of part of our territory, the Chagos archipelago, prior to independence, by the then colonial Power the United Kingdom, was in clear breach of international law and left the process of decolonization, not only of Mauritius but of Africa in general, incomplete.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that context, we should work together on the reform of the Security Council and the revitalization of the General Assembly and on improving the working methods of our Organization. Mauritius believes that a comprehensive reform of the Security Council should include reform in the membership of both the permanent and non-permanent categories. We reaffirm our commitment to the African common position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. We believe that Africa should not be deprived of its right to permanent representation in the Council. Likewise, we believe that Latin America deserves permanent representation in the Council and that SIDS should also be entitled to a seat on the Council. Mauritius further reiterates its support for India’s legitimate aspiration to a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“With limited land areas, the islands can potentially be large ocean States and thus overcome some of their vulnerabilities as small island developing States. As the world realizes the tremendous potential of marine renewable energies, we will see the oceans from a different perspective. The United Nations has a key role to play in promoting the rule of law at both the national and the international levels. The rule of law at the international level must be an integral part of the post-2015 agenda. Open and participatory democracy, accountability and transparency are not concepts that should be promoted only at the national level. The United Nations should lead by example here. We should focus on reforming our Organization and on making it more responsive to the needs and aspirations of its constituents.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The health of our economies will depend on the health of our oceans. Our vision for the future must also preserve the inherent values of the ocean space, to which we are looking for economic expansion. Mauritius has taken the initiative of launching a national dialogue on how to promote the ocean economy as one of the main pillars of development. We urge the international community to build on what the world has achieved so far in relation to ocean-related economic activities and conservation, and we propose for future generations a fundamental paradigm shift with respect to economic space. While such a global vision and strategy will be beneficial to all nations, it will be of particular interest to small islands.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has contributed to the settlement of maritime disputes and the promotion of international peace, security and equity in a manner not always witnessed in other areas of international relations. The establishment of the International Seabed Authority is another significant example of what international cooperation can lead to in other sectors. The International Maritime Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO are also making significant contributions. I believe that the United Nations must now take the lead in formulating a global vision for the oceans that will, in particular, expand the economic space for small island States while ensuring sustainable use of living and non-living resources.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“My country will follow, with particular interest, the work of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, especially since it replaces the Commission on Sustainable Development, which was the primary intergovernmental forum for monitoring the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation. As we set the stage for the post-2015 development agenda, we must, as global leaders, define a new global vision for the world’s oceans. The United Nations system has played a crucial role in formulating, implementing and enforcing a new international order relating to the oceans. Indeed, the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 will remain one of the landmarks of the twentieth century.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“My Government is of the view that all the processes initiated in the Rio+20 Conference last year, including those relating to strengthening the Economic and Social Council, sustainable development goals and sustainable development financing, should converge towards a single post-2015 development agenda that should be adopted during a high-level development summit in 2015. The post-2015 development agenda should complete the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals. However, it should also go beyond them and provide for a systemic change and a new global economic governance. The guiding principles enshrined in the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted in December 1986 (resolution 41/133), are still relevant today and should not be overlooked in the formulation of a post-2015 development agenda.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We must have a more participatory system of global economic governance, where developing countries would be more involved in international economic decision-making and norm- setting. The voice of all nations, big or small, should be equally heard and taken into consideration. Mauritius has, on several occasions, reiterated that the United Nations Economic and Social Council needs to play a more prominent role in global economic, social, and environmental issues. We cannot overstate the importance of coordination and synergy for avoiding duplication among parallel United Nations processes and initiatives so as to ensure optimal benefit for all.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The conventional divides of the past are no longer valid. We need a common development framework but with differentiated milestones and implementation strategies, given the existing disparities in the levels of development. Actions taken at the national level are not sufficient; there should also be reinforced cooperation and partnerships at the regional and international levels. It is therefore imperative that the weaknesses and the inequity of the current global economic governance should be addressed urgently. We are at a juncture where we have no option but to revisit the existing global economic governance mechanisms. An overhaul of the current economic governance is clearly long overdue.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“My Government believes that the post-2015 development agenda should include a road map for an interconnected world economic system, premised on the assumption that the global economy could very well be as weak as its weakest links. Of course, the specificities of some countries or regions and the pace at which the transformative shifts are implemented may not always be appropriate for universal targets. But the conceptual approach to, and the design of, the post-2015 agenda should, more than ever before, start with the shared conviction that economies are interdependent. Eradicating extreme poverty, empowering more women, providing wider opportunities to young people for education and jobs, improving health care and the management of energy, water and food are all universal concerns.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“That would be in line with the spirit of the global partnership that the High-level Panel has called for. The prospects for growth in the global economy remain uncertain, largely as a result of the multiple challenges faced by developed countries. In such an interconnected and interdependent world as ours, no nation is immune to external shocks. Small developing countries are very concerned about the slowdown in global growth, declines in international trade, decreasing job opportunities and rising inequality. Small States are particularly susceptible to external shocks, as they are heavily dependent on foreign markets for trade, tourism and investments. They are also concerned about energy and food prices, which are subject to high volatility.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Mauritius welcomes Japan’s decision to host the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in early 2015 to review the implementation of the Hyogo Framework and chart an ambitious post- 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. In that regard, the holding in Samoa next year of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States could not be more timely. We hope that the Conference will be a landmark in the history of a more active and collaborative partnership among SIDS and between SIDS and the international community. Furthermore, it could be an opportunity to give new meaning to the concept of global concerns, issues that are, or should be, the concern of the global community at large, and not only of those who are more vulnerable and more at risk.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“At the Paris meeting of the twenty- first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we should adopt a treaty that is universal and ambitious and that concretely addresses the concerns of all, including those of the most vulnerable States. The international community should also pay more attention to disaster risk reduction and adopt a more concerted and accelerated approach to reaching the goals set out in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005- 2015 (see A/CONF.206/6). The time has come to address disaster risks and climate-change adaptation through an integrated approach, and to adopt resilience as a common and shared vision.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“But for many small island developing States (SIDS), the foreseeable consequences of climate change threaten us even more dramatically, in terms of both human and economic development. For some SIDS, they pose an existential threat. We fully support the Secretary-General’s proposal to convene world leaders to a climate summit in New York in 2014. We hope that that meeting will provide an opportunity for world leaders to focus political attention on climate change and take meaningful action to mitigate its effects. We must start putting the interests of our home planet above everything else. The world needs a global, legally binding agreement on climate change by 2015.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Climate change should be one of the top priorities for the global agenda. The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, released only yesterday, is unequivocal. It provides clear scientific confirmation that we humans are responsible for global warming, and that it is up to us to take appropriate measures to try to save our home planet. We cannot and should not any longer ignore the evidence that we humans are putting life on Earth in jeopardy. In our region, we have recently seen an increased and unprecedented intensity and unpredictability of weather events. In March, my country experienced unprecedented flash floods that caused losses of human life and heavy economic losses. No country is safe from natural disasters and the damaging effects of climate change.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The goals we set ourselves for the sustainable development of our national and global economies will shape the lives of generations to come. I would like to say at the outset that Mauritius welcomes the report of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development, and in particular the recommendation that deliberations on a new development agenda must be guided by the vision of eradicating extreme poverty for all in the context of sustainable development. We also welcome the Panel’s view that one of the transformative shifts for the post- 2015 agenda should be to bring a new sense of global partnership into national and international politics.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As we meet this morning to address global concerns and seek ways to ensure progress and lasting peace, the people of Kenya are emerging from a terrorist attack that has cost them many lives and shaken the continent. In expressing our solidarity with the Government and the people of Kenya and with the families of the victims, Mauritius would also like to express its unreserved condemnation of that abominable and dastardly act of terrorism. The Nairobi attack should also compel us to revisit regional and global responses to national and international security threats, including extending support to countries, particularly those on the African continent. Mauritius commends you, Mr. President, for the theme you have proposed for the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly, namely, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We welcome the Secretary-General’s initiative to create the Alliance of Civilizations, whose mission is to improve understanding and relations among nations and peoples of different cultures and religions and to assist efforts to halt the forces that fuel divisions and extremism. Tensions are often caused by ignorance, by fear of others and by feelings of justice denied. Thus it is crucial not only to maintain dialogue among nations and peoples, but also to promote the understanding of cultures and civilizations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“(spoke in French) The lack of security on the economic, environmental, legal or even, in some cases, existential fronts calls for a review of the mandated obligations of the United Nations. While the initial concerns of the founding fathers about threats to international security remain valid, the international community today is just as concerned by other threats to its security and other challenges to be tackled. I would add that, in updating this concept of security and, by extension, in redefining the role of the United Nations, the international community must also foster dialogue among cultures and civilizations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and current Chair of the Indian Ocean Commission, Mauritius welcomes the signing last week of an agreement between leading stakeholders on a road map for the restoration of democracy in our neighbouring State of Madagascar. That agreement was reached following the relentless efforts of SADC and the Indian Ocean Commission to bring the parties together. Implementation of the road map requires the holding of national and local elections, for which significant resources need to be mobilized. We call on the United Nations and the international community to extend all their support for the successful implementation of the road map.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The purported declaration of a marine protected area around the Chagos Archipelago by the United Kingdom, in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is another cause for concern. That is why, in December of last year, Mauritius commenced arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom under the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. As regards Tromelin, Mauritius and France made progress with an agreement on joint management, without prejudice to our sovereignty. However, we need to continue our dialogue for at the end of the day, the territorial integrity of Mauritius will not be complete without the return of Tromelin.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Cognizant of the problems that arise in connection with the prosecution and detention of pirates, Mauritius has offered to assist with the prosecution and detention of pirates. Mauritius and the European Union signed an agreement in July this year to enhance our capacity to contribute to the international effort under way in that regard. 11-51360 28 If the international response to the famine in Somalia is not commensurate with the immense and immediate needs of the people, we fear that the problem of piracy will only worsen. The continued unlawful occupation of the Chagos Archipelago by the United Kingdom is a matter of concern for the region. Mauritius welcomes the support of the African Union and of the Non-Aligned Movement for the territorial integrity of our country.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We welcome the statement by President Abbas at the 19th meeting that Palestine extends its hands to the Israeli Government and the Israeli people for peacemaking and for building cooperative relations between the States of Palestine and Israel. We are also pleased to welcome the emergence of South Sudan as an independent and a sovereign State and its admission to the United Nations. Before I conclude, I wish to say a few words about matters of interest to our region. As a coastal State of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is concerned by piracy, which poses a threat to global commerce. It hinders economic development and has become a major security issue in the region and beyond. We welcome the response of the international community to that serious threat.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We also look forward to a more all-inclusive United Nations system that can effectively address issues of international security, with the admission of Palestine as a Member State. The United Nations and the international community have a duty to restore to the Palestinian people their dignity and their right to statehood and security. Mauritius supports the application for full membership of the United Nations, submitted to the Secretary-General yesterday by the President of the State of Palestine (A/66/371, annex), and the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people to take their rightful place in the international community.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Current efforts to adopt reforms in relation to the Security Council, the revitalization of the General Assembly and the working methods of our Organization must be given the sincere and strong support that is required. My delegation continues to believe that comprehensive reform of the Security Council should include reform in the membership of both the permanent and the non-permanent categories. Africa should no longer be deprived of its right to permanent representation on the Council. My delegation fully supports the African common position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. We equally believe that Latin America also fully deserves permanent representation on the Council. Mauritius further reiterates its support for India’s rightful aspiration to a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We call on the United Nations to keep under review the whole issue of the settlement of disputes, including by judicial means, and to set standards of conduct for all States with respect to negotiation, conciliation, mediation or other forms of non-judicial and peaceful settlement of disputes or, alternatively, to the submission of the dispute to adjudication. In that context, Mauritius is particularly pleased to welcome the decision of the President of the General Assembly to adopt as the theme of its current session the role of mediation in settling international disputes. We affirm our full support in advancing that cause. Greater legal security also requires better global governance. In that respect, the United Nations must lead by example. The United Nations must recognize that the world has changed since 1945.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Kingdom has failed to engage in any meaningful discussions with us on the matter. When the Government of Mauritius consequently announced in 2004 that it would refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice, the United Kingdom immediately amended its declaration, under Article 36 of the Court’s Statute, to reject the jurisdiction of the Court with respect to certain disputes with a member or former member of the Commonwealth. That illustrates the kind of difficulties that a State may face in settling a claim under international law. The States involved in the dispute may refuse to negotiate in good faith and seek to ensure that no international tribunal can determine the law applicable to the dispute.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We welcome that decision, but we want 27 11-51360 to stress that the debate on the rule of law must apply at both the national and international level. We would therefore look forward to the Assembly discussing the rule of law as it applies to inter-State relations as part of the forthcoming debates. Allow me to give as an example the difficulties that my own country has experienced in resolving a dispute with the former colonial Power, the United Kingdom, relating to decolonization. The Chagos Archipelago, which is part of Mauritian territory, was excised from Mauritius prior to independence, in total disregard of resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2066 (XX) and the principles of international law, and was declared the so-called British Indian Ocean Territory.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“However, recourse to international adjudication for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States has, historically, required the consent of the States concerned. In recent times, a number of bilateral or multilateral agreements have provided for the prior commitment of States to submit to arbitration or adjudication. We welcome that development. Security requires the appropriate legal framework for the redress of grievances or the settlement of disputes. The international community has yet to set up adequate machinery for the peaceful settlement of disputes that is available to all States. The General Assembly has decided to convene a high-level meeting during the sixty-seventh session on the rule of law.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is heartening that the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS held in June renewed the political commitment of Governments to halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and to ensuring that, by 2015, no child is born with HIV (see resolution 65/277, annex). Mauritius fully adheres to the UNAIDS vision of uniting for universal access. The National AIDS Secretariat, which I set up in May 2007, pursues its work to achieve zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths in Mauritius. Article 2 of the United Nations Charter provides that all Members shall settle their disputes by peaceful means. Article 33 spells out the means and ways of doing so. In the same spirit, the Charter provides in Chapter XIV for the establishment of the International Court of Justice.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The World Drug Report 2011 again shows that drug trafficking and consumption remain significant. Narco-trafficking and drug money in organized crime and terrorist activities are a threat to stability and security at the national and regional levels. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, let us recommit our efforts to fight drug trafficking as part of the global strategy to ensure human security. We are 30 years into the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is an ever-present threat to human security. I am convinced that we have achieved more in the 10 years since the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS than we did in the previous two decades.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“A significant reduction in the production of conventional weapons and eventually a world free of nuclear weapons are goals that will be achieved only over time, and that will require patience and perseverance. As a matter of fact, the international political environment is now probably more conducive to the realization of these goals than it has ever been. Terrorism continues to be a threat to security. Recent events have reminded us that acts of terrorism can be perpetrated by extremists from all points on the political spectrum, and that terrorism is equally capable of breeding in both poor and rich countries. The international community needs to follow up on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and enhance international cooperation in that regard.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As climate change intensifies and water scarcity becomes more acute, the threat of tensions among different nations and different users may increase. The international community must therefore work together to address this pressing issue. Environmental security must be a priority of the United Nations in promoting global security. As well as dealing with the existential threat that climate change poses for some nations, people around the world continue to be concerned about their own security. I will mention four such concerns. Disarmament is a major component of international security strategy. The threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction is a universal concern. Our failure to resolve the issue of disarmament continues to undermine global development and security.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We propose to increase the share of renewable energy in the generation of power from the present 18 per cent to 35 per cent by 2025, by making more intensive use of biofuels and wave, solar and wind energy. To that end in May last year I set up a full-fledged ministry with responsibility for sustainable development. We are engaged in a national consultation process to formulate strategies and policies that have public support and are designed to protect the environment, deliver social justice and create a sustainable economy. Climate has impacted the water cycle both directly and indirectly, and will continue to do so, by affecting precipitation and evaporation cycles as well as water availability and patterns of water consumption. Many regions of the world are already experiencing reduced rainfall.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Small island nations are economically vulnerable, and their vulnerability is exacerbated by the dramatic consequences of climate change. Small island States rely on the international community for their security. Mauritius is committed to the concept of the green economy. We recognize that it is not a one-size- fits-all notion. Countries need to reflect their own national priorities and realities in their implementation of it. My Government has been pursuing a sustainable development strategy. The Maurice Ile Durable project, which we adopted in 2008, is taking shape, and a whole range of measures have already been 11-51360 26 implemented.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Climate change is affecting us in our daily life, and it threatens the very survival of many small islands. Mauritius is already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change. Air temperature has risen by 0.6° to 1.1°C in different microclimates over recent decades. The sea level is rising at the rate of 1.2 millimetres per year in the south-west Indian Ocean. Our annual rainfall has decreased by 8 per cent compared to the 1950s. Extreme weather conditions such as flooding are becoming more frequent. Without international cooperation and concerted action, the impact of climate change will be devastating for all our nations. My delegation firmly believes that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The sustainability of oceans is crucial to the security and, in some cases, the very survival of many small island States. Humanity as a whole is now increasingly concerned about its environmental security, probably more than it has ever been in its history. For some small island nations, this concern is, in fact, an existential one. In recent decades the United Nations has brought to the fore the concept of sustainable development and the measures required to promote such development. The preparatory work under way for Rio+20 has highlighted the serious gaps we still face in this area. The disruptions resulting from climate change pose a real threat to global security. Climate change is real. Extreme weather phenomena such as super-storms, floods, droughts and heat-waves are already upon us.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“A more inclusive world, where women’s intellectual and economic potential is fully realized, will promote economic security. In June of next year, world leaders will meet in Rio de Janeiro to renew their political commitment to sustainable development and, hopefully, to adopt concrete measures that will contribute to greater economic security. But before we can move ahead, we will also have to consider why so many past commitments have not been honoured. We look forward to the oceans receiving the attention that they deserve at Rio, as part of the broader economic agenda. Small island States in particular are relying on the international community to give due attention to the sustainability of the oceans in the context of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and beyond.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We welcome the progress achieved in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance since 2001. We nonetheless recognize that in spite of these efforts, many people continue to be victims of these despicable practices. We commend the United Nations on the success of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on Youth (see A/65/PVs.111 and 112) and the adoption of the outcome document (resolution 65/312). Development and security will require greater participation by young people in the formulation of strategies and policies. In that same spirit, we welcome the establishment of UN-Women and its overarching vision of a world in which societies are free of gender-based discrimination and where women and men have equal opportunities, respect and consideration.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Commodity prices remain high and the risk of repeated crises is real. With the projected increase in world population to 9.1 billion by 2050, and the rising costs of production, there is a risk of persistent price volatility. That will be exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The international community must therefore seriously address the issue of food insecurity around the world. Economic security also entails working towards a more inclusive national society without discrimination, eliminating inequalities and fostering wider participation on the part of all sections of the community in national development and governance. Two days ago, at our 14th meeting, we gathered to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“To reaffirm its responsibility with respect to economic security, the United Nations must not only undergo reforms in its institutions and working methods, it must also re-balance its focus on political and economic issues. In this regard, the Economic and Social Council must be given the prominence it was intended to have as one of the principal organs of the United Nations. And in assuming its responsibility with respect to economic security, a reformed and revitalized United Nations will have to work more closely with regional cooperative institutions, which are the pillars of international cooperation. The high food prices of 2007 and 2008 and the global economic crisis led millions of people into food 25 11-51360 insecurity and raised the total number of people who go hungry to more than 1 billion.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations has adopted a number of landmark resolutions that have laid the normative foundation for a more equitable economic order. The United Nations still has a role to play in shaping the world economic order to ensure economic security, in accordance with its mandate under the Charter. The United Nations is the only international organization with not just the necessary legitimacy and universality but also the responsibility to have an overview of global economic development. In doing so, the United Nations will ensure policy coordination among forums for various sectors, set principles and guidelines for sector-specific negotiations, and assume its ultimate responsibility for the economic security of all nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“On a broader note, I must say that talks on trade and other economic issues, to the extent that they take place at all, are held in sectoral and often restricted forums. While the specialized nature of these negotiations, or of the scope of the matters being addressed by standard-setting organizations, may require dedicated sectoral frameworks, it is imperative that the international community ensures that those frameworks are legitimate ones, with universal membership. It is also imperative that, as an apex body, the United Nations have a holistic view on global economic, financial, trade and development issues. During the 1970s, the United Nations played a significant role in shaping the conceptual framework for a new international economic order.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We reiterate that SIDS need to be granted preferential treatment as part of a global strategy to ensure economic security. Regrettably, SIDS have been denied the formal recognition of their specific vulnerabilities that would entitle them to special consideration. My delegation fully supports the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. As there are increasing concerns over issues such as employment, food security, climate change and access to water, it is a matter of regret that trade talks that could give a boost to international trade, and therefore to economic security, are stalled.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)