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

“We all have a stake in addressing climate change and global warming. We commend the laudable initiative of the Secretary-General in convening the High-level Event on Climate Change on 24 September. We remain confident that the strong message that has emanated from the High-level Event will provide the necessary impetus and political will and act as a catalyst to the Bali meeting later this year. However, in our approach to finding a global solution to climate change we should avoid making those who bear the least responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and who are yet the hardest-hit, pay the price on the same scale as others who have led to the increase in global warming as early as the eighteenth century. Mauritius, for its part remains committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I am proud to say that in 1997, in my first term as Prime Minister, I took the decision to stop buying rice from Myanmar. I applaud the decision of the President of the United States of America to apply sanctions. All of us should do the same. The military junta must be sent a clear message: that the free world will not tolerate gunning down people who are demanding freedom and justice. While the Assembly has made responding to climate change the thrust of the general debate, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has qualified climate change as the defining issue of our era. We cannot agree more with that. Climate change affects all of us. Indeed, if it is not addressed head on, it will have irreversible consequences and devastating effects on the survival of human beings and the habitability of our planet Earth.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We cannot but admire the Buddhist monks of Myanmar and the courage of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won a democratic and fair election in 1990, only to be removed from office by a military coup. She has now spent 11 of the last 17 years under house arrest. And now the legitimate stirrings of the people’s will are being brutally repressed in blood, as we are speaking here at the United Nations. It is our duty to let the people of Myanmar know that the free nations of the world stand by them. But we need to do more than just stand by them. The time has come for the most stringent sanctions to be taken against the military junta that has proved again and again that it is totally impervious to good sense and common humanity.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We have set up the National Human Rights Commission, the Sex Discrimination Division, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children and the Human Rights Centre to ensure and promote compliance with fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual and the international instruments on human rights. Mauritius is party to all major international and regional human rights treaties. We continue to extend our unwavering support to the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights. As a member of the Human Rights Council, we are lending our fullest support to make it more effective, efficient and relevant in the eyes of the world. Our quest for universal respect for human rights demands that the perpetrators of massive violations be brought to justice promptly. Impunity gives rise to violations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Mauritius is a strong advocate of all human rights and fundamental freedoms so much so that the founding fathers of our constitution ensured that human rights figured prominently therein. Since our independence, in 1968, we have persistently endeavoured to place our citizens at the core of all forms of human rights and have ensured that they enjoy all political and civil rights irrespective of their status, colour or creed. We have enacted several pieces of legislation and we continue to enhance our legislative and institutional framework for the further protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We warmly welcome the convening of the High- level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, which is to be held in October 2007 at United Nations Headquarters, for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom and religion. We will certainly be part of the Dialogue. Furthermore, we reaffirm our determination to support all initiatives that promote a culture of peace and tolerance. We are also happy to note that the General Assembly recently adopted resolution 61/271 to observe and celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October each year in recognition of the great apostle of peace and non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The world of the twenty-first century is a world of interdependence, with the national frontiers between peoples and countries falling faster than we had envisaged. This has brought about the interphase and interaction between peoples from different parts of the world. We are today living in a world intertwined with interreligious and intercultural predicaments. Mauritius, as the Assembly is aware, is a multi- ethnic and multicultural society. Unity in diversity is the solid foundation on which we have built the framework for the peaceful coexistence of peoples of different faiths and cultures. Cultural diversity, understanding and respect for different faiths and religions are today part and parcel of Mauritian society.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The world today is confronted with growing threats of terrorism be it home-grown, cross-border, regional or international in nature. That scourge should be confronted with all the means at the disposal of the international community. We also believe that more effective and efficient mechanisms should be put in place to capture the financiers of terrorist organizations. The United Nations remains the cornerstone of the fight against terrorism. Mauritius has lent, and will continue to lend, its fullest support to the numerous initiatives and resolutions of the United Nations on counter-terrorism. We are happy to note that the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism entered into force in July of this year.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“With regard to Darfur, we welcome the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur which is expected to assume the peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations there. We call on all the parties concerned in the conflict to demonstrate their real commitment and resolve to engage fully in the search for lasting peace. In Somalia, despite the serious efforts to contain violence during the past six months, the situation remains highly volatile. In that context, I would like to add my voice to the call made by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Konaré, to the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of deploying a United Nations force to assist the African Union Peace Support Mission in Somalia. The President returned to the Chair.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In order to give peace a chance and allow it to take root in those regions and manifest its positive effects in the day-to-day lives of citizens, we need to redouble our efforts and explore all possible avenues to achieve peace, stability and security, in the larger interests of the citizens of those countries. The fragility of the Middle East situation, and in particular the question of Palestine, needs a holistic approach that, inter alia, includes linkages embedded in the socio-cultural, political, economic and security issues of the region. I should also once again like to reiterate our full support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State side by side with the State of Israel.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Ban Ki-moon, in his efforts and approach in charting out a vision for the Organization that will respond to the needs and aspirations of the twenty-first century. International peace and security constitute the bedrock of the Organization. We have come a long way since 1945 in securing peace and security in many parts of the world. However, a lot remains to be accomplished in order to have a conflict-free world. We are seriously concerned about what is happening in the Middle East. Conflicts in some parts of Africa continue to be a major source of concern to us. The trail of violence and death continues to plague the Middle East.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“May I, on behalf of my delegation, and in my own name, extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Srgjan Kerim on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. I assure him of our fullest support and cooperation in the daunting tasks that lie ahead of us. His election is a personal tribute to his engagement and rich experience in international politics and diplomacy. Allow me also to convey our sincere appreciation and thanks to his predecessor, Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, for the effective and efficient manner in which she conducted the business of the sixty-first session. May I also take this opportunity to pledge my delegation’s support to the new Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We seek the commingling of cultures, which provides us Mauritians with a complex and dynamic identity. We believe that that is the best way to build a nation and to assert ourselves. As one can imagine, that situation requires ongoing vigilance on the part of political, religious and media leaders as well as rigorous and transparent application of the principles of justice. We would like to believe that the experience of Mauritius can be applied at the international level. We also hope that dialogue between peoples and communities and communication between heads of State and Government will bring about the end of the disagreements that are today undermining our world, which is the only one we have.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“That is one of the effective and concrete ways by which we can truly ensure that we widen the circle of opportunities. (spoke in French) Resolving the problems to which I have referred to a large extent requires openness, responsiveness, dialogue and solidarity. We in Mauritius have the good fortune of being situated in a major crossroads as far as philosophies and religions are concerned. The history of the settlement of our islands has made that the case. We are the children of several traditions. Our identity has been shaped by various influences, from the East, West, North and South. Numerous ethnic groups, cultures, religions and languages have been evolving in our territory, and we are endeavouring to ensure that they enrich each other.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We believe that socio-economic justice is a fundamental pillar of human dignity. We are therefore determined to provide concrete opportunities to the economically disenfranchised, in order to lift them out of the vortex of unjust economic inequalities. I have always upheld the ideals of social justice. I have therefore ensured that my Government dedicates no less than 12 per cent of our last national budget to an ambitious empowerment programme. That programme is funded by State and non-State actors, thereby heralding a new partnership for development in my country. It will provide tangible avenues for the poor 15 06-53317 and unskilled to equip themselves with the tools necessary for them to join the economic mainstream. It also seeks to create a new and flourishing class of entrepreneurs.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“If we really want to build better societies and a better world for future generations, we must indeed make a significant dent on the issue of poverty. We must channel significant resources and energy towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals. And we must ensure that we create stable and sustainable societies. To achieve that, we can no longer afford to simply keep talking about noble intentions. We must walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Each one of us here has the responsibility to implement national policies that provide opportunities for those who have always been deprived of their human dignity as a result of living perpetually on the margins of the socio- economic mainstream. My Government is guided by the notion of citizenship with dignity as a moral compass for action.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Mauritius, like so many small island economies with meagre resource bases, has had to adjust to the realities and challenges of increasing liberalization and global economic competition — especially the erosion of trade preferences, which have so far helped in addressing our inherent disadvantages. My Government has embarked upon a programme of bold and wide-ranging economic reforms to adapt to the new realities of the international economy. At the end of the day, what is the ultimate role that each of us here has as heads of State and heads of Government? We have been entrusted with the destiny of our people and of our countries. We are but temporary custodians of the welfare of our people and that of humankind.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The recommendations of the World Trade Organization Aid for Trade Task Force, submitted in July 2006, should be implemented urgently to enable countries, particularly those with small and vulnerable economies, to access resources to undertake adjustment and restructuring programmes and to enhance their trade infrastructure and supply capacities. Globalization does not seem to be living up to its promises. We should not allow it to be a process that unleashes the potential of the few while suppressing the aspirations of the many. It will have to be tamed into a development process that will provide an opportunity to every single citizen of the world to achieve his or her full potential.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Of particular concern is the impact of global warming on certain vectors of disease, leading to their proliferation. It is estimated that in Africa, for example, we may witness many more millions of cases of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases as a result of climate change. Mauritius is fully committed to the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round. We look forward to a multilateral trading system that will be fair and equitable and that provides for the specific situations and needs of small and vulnerable economies.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We appreciate the political commitment of the international community to combat this scourge so as to bring solace to those already afflicted and to prevent the further spread of the disease. Mauritius promptly and spontaneously joined the innovative financing mechanism initiated by France and Brazil to introduce a solidarity levy on air tickets to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The launching this week of UNITAID — the International Drug Purchase Facility — has aroused new hopes. Climate change is yet another serious threat. For too long, some of us have conveniently decided to ignore it. In fact, well-known institutions and eminent scientists have reached the conclusion that climate change may be one of the biggest threats to humankind.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“An extraordinary SADC summit on regional integration, scheduled for next month, will discuss a road map on poverty and development. 06-53317 14 There is an almost symbiotic relationship between poverty and ill health, with disease often further impoverishing the poor and impacting negatively on the stock of scarce human capital in poor countries. Apart from malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis — and now avian flu — which are getting a lot of attention, other vector-borne diseases have manifested themselves, and are growing in an exponential manner. The alarming rate with which the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging our populations has far-reaching implications for our socio-economic development. It impedes our global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Does that imply that conventional solutions have failed because they do not really address the root causes of persistent poverty? Or is it because instead of taking a bottom-up approach we have adopted a top- down approach, relying too much on the trickle-down effect? The fight against poverty is becoming more and more complex. Only a holistic and comprehensive approach will allow us to push back the frontier of the misery, conflict and hardship that afflict such a sizeable proportion of humankind. In our own subregion, we have initiated measures to address the issue of poverty in earnest. At the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, held in Lesotho in August, we debated the issue of poverty alleviation.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Equally, we hope for conditions that will allow better access to the markets of the more affluent countries to generate resources for development. Our meeting today coincides with the end of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. The progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including halving the proportion of people suffering extreme poverty by 2015, has been below expectations, as reflected in human development indices. Poverty continues to prevail from generation to generation in many parts of the world, in particular in the sub-Saharan region. The political, social and economic marginalization or exclusion of poor people very often undermines the stability and development potential of many countries.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We hope to continue meaningful dialogue with France on the question of sovereignty over Tromelin, given our excellent bilateral relations. We view the agreement reached in Paris at the expert level in January 2006 to set up a French-Mauritian joint commission for the co-management of the Tromelin zone as a positive first step. My delegation is pleased that you, Madam President, have chosen development as the focus of your presidency. We welcome your proposal to dedicate this session of the General Assembly to the issue of implementing a global partnership for development. The biggest dilemma is how to secure the necessary financial flows towards developing countries. We call on the international community to honour commitments made to developing countries concerning official development assistance.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“That exercise also involved the shameful displacement of the inhabitants of the Chagos from their homeland, thereby denying them their fundamental human rights. International law must prevail, as must respect for the sovereignty of all countries. We therefore call once again on the United Kingdom to pursue constructive dialogue in earnest with my Government, with a view to enabling Mauritius to exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. We view positively the visit jointly organized by the Governments of Mauritius and of the United Kingdom in April this year to enable the former inhabitants of the Chagos to visit the Archipelago for the first time since their displacement to pay respects at their relatives’ graves on the Archipelago.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It is unfortunate that little progress has been achieved in respect of strengthening the foundations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Mauritius supports the aim of the total elimination of all nuclear weapons on the basis of a comprehensive and non-discriminatory disarmament regime. My delegation wishes to draw the attention of the Assembly to the fact that, 38 years after its independence, Mauritius has still not been able to exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The Archipelago was excised from the territory of Mauritius by the former colonial Power to be subsequently used for military purposes behind our back, in total disregard of Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2066 (XX).”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The establishment of the Human Rights Council constitutes a significant step in the implementation of our common reform agenda. That new organ of the General Assembly should perform efficiently so as to establish itself as a credible universal institution for the promotion and protection of human rights. My delegation would like to thank the General Assembly for electing Mauritius as one of the 47 members of the Council at the elections held earlier this year. We will do our utmost for the universal promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the mandate conferred upon the Council by the Assembly. The multilateral approach to disarmament has been on the back burner for some time.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“But let us not delude ourselves into thinking that we can address the scourge of terrorism without addressing its root causes. Fifteen years ago, the Assembly initiated discussions on the reform of the Security Council. Numerous proposals have been made since then. Each proposal, whatever its merits, has met determined resistance from some members defending their own narrowly defined interests. It is unacceptable that the African and Latin America and the Caribbean regions are not represented in the permanent membership of the Security Council. It is also morally and politically unacceptable that the world’s most populous democracy is still denied a seat as a permanent member of the Council. It is imperative that a reformed Security 13 06-53317 Council should include India among its permanent members.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We reiterate our support for an independent and sovereign Palestinian State existing side by side with the State of Israel. The situation in Darfur remains a matter of serious concern not only to us in Africa but to the international community as a whole. We are confident that Security Council resolution 1706 (2006) has the capacity to lend strong support to the efforts already deployed by the African Union to put an end to that crisis. Terrorism continues to be a major disruption for peace and development. The recent adoption of resolution 60/288 — the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy — sends a clear message that terrorism is unacceptable no matter who commits it, no matter where it takes place and no matter what the reason. Mauritius unreservedly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Now that the guns have finally fallen silent, we urge all concerned in this unnecessary month-long conflict to abide fully by the provisions of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and to settle their outstanding issues through United Nations mediation. There seems to be a unanimous view in the world today that the Middle East remains the epicentre of global insecurity and instability. Global peace and prosperity will remain an elusive dream unless and until the international community stretches all its diplomatic sinews to create conditions for lasting peace in the region. Mauritius strongly believes that a fair and final peace settlement in the Israel-Palestine conflict rests in the early implementation of the existing road map that has been endorsed by the international community.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“As the Secretary-General prepares to relinquish his office in the next few weeks, we thank him warmly and wish him well in all his future endeavours. Since our last annual meeting, several ongoing conflicts have remained unresolved and new ones have emerged. The situation in the Middle East continues to be a major preoccupation for the international community. While violence is still raging in Iraq and peace still eludes the Palestinian people, the recent conflict involving Israel and Hizbullah has not only cost so many innocent lives but has also resulted in the wanton destruction of vital infrastructure within Lebanon.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“I would like to express my sincere congratulations, and those of my delegation, to you, Madam President, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. My delegation wishes to commend Secretary- General Kofi Annan for the leadership and courage he has displayed during his tenure at the helm of the Secretariat. Secretary-General Annan assumed office at a time when the United Nations was facing severe criticism and its very relevance was being questioned. His dedication and professionalism have contributed significantly towards enhancing the efficiency and credibility of our Organization and its Secretariat. His initiatives to promote the development agenda of the United Nations have been of crucial importance, in particular to Africa.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In that spirit, I wish to announce that my Government has made a commitment in the Clinton Global Initiative to organizing an international conference on poverty and development, which will be results-oriented. Today, as we celebrate the sixtieth year of its existence, let us strive to become what we were always meant to be — a truly representative body of “We the peoples of the United Nations”, acting in defence of their welfare and the advancement of their interests 12 above all else. That must remain our unflinching objective, and Mauritius pledges to fully play its part in that noble endeavour.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“(spoke in English) From this very rostrum 37 years ago, when Mauritius acceded to United Nations membership in 1968, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, then Prime Minister and father of the Mauritian nation, firmly advocated a secure, stable and just world: “[M]en of goodwill are constantly trying to find a formula by which the underprivileged can banish inequality and fear and aspire to a place in the sun.” (A/PV.1643, para. 100) Today, those aspirations are more valid than ever as the comity of nations engages in the quest for freedom from want, freedom from fear and the freedom to live in dignity. Providing mankind with those freedoms remains the primary goal of the United Nations.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“That remains true, unfortunately, for the developing countries, and those of the African continent in particular. The dawn of the third millennium has seen the expansion of assistance projects, including the Millennium Development Goals, to improve the fate of the weak and impoverished. We are committed to reducing extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. The International Organization of la Francophonie, as announced in November 2004 at its tenth summit in Ouagadougou, is involved in that global struggle. We need to reinvent ourselves, get off the beaten track, and find new ways to attain our objectives as soon as possible. In that respect, we welcome the contribution of the French-speaking family in that joint action.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The people of the Chagos Archipelago, who were evicted from the islands, are still struggling for their right to return to their birthplace. We reiterate our call to the United Kingdom to pursue discussions with us for an early settlement of this issue. Likewise, we appeal to the French Government to expedite the process of resolving the issue of the sovereignty of Tromelin through dialogue in the spirit of friendship and trust that has always characterized our relationship. (spoke in French) Here, I should like to say a few words in French to show my country’s attachment to and respect for cultures and languages in all their diversity. Some of those languages, including French, have been bequeathed to us by history. People have struggled throughout history to live better, but humankind continues to suffer.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“While relations with our traditional development and trade partners continue to feature prominently in the foreign policy of Mauritius, we intend to take vigorous steps towards the development of strategic partnerships with member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as with Latin American countries. Allow me to reiterate before the Assembly our legitimate sovereignty claim over the Chagos Archipelago, including the island of Diego Garcia, which was detached by the United Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to our independence, in violation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960 and resolution 2066 (XX) of 1965.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Regional cooperation is an important means for developing and strengthening the economies of developing countries. To that end, we have made modest but encouraging progress with respect to regional integration. Mauritius pursues an active policy of integration through subregional organizations such as the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean Commission and the Indian Ocean Rim- Association for Regional Cooperation.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“It is imperative that Africa and India, the world's largest democracies, should find their rightful place in such reform. A reformed Security Council should reflect the present geopolitical realities to meet the aspirations of all our peoples. 11 The United Nations is a vital forum in which States, large and small, wealthy and less fortunate, can have their voices heard. It also provides a framework for collective action on the basis of consensus partnership and mutual understanding. I wish to reiterate the appeal I made, as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, to our friends and partners at the special session on financing for development to continue to assist the small island developing States in their sustainable development efforts through the proper and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“To demonstrate once again its full commitment to non-proliferation and to international peace and security, Mauritius recently signed the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Mauritius welcomes the agreement reached in June 2005 in New York on a politically binding international instrument on the tracing of small arms and light weapons, which will no doubt assist in combating the illicit trade in such weapons. That represents a significant step in ensuring that our peoples live in a safer world. As regards reform of the Security Council, I wish to refer to my statement on 15 September 2005 outlining the position of Mauritius on that issue. We have a unique opportunity for substantial reform; it must not be squandered.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“At a time when there is a global consensus regarding the need to build a more secure world, it is a matter of the greatest regret that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons failed to achieve a conclusive outcome. The proliferation of nuclear weapons poses a grave risk of fissile material falling into the wrong hands. That eventuality is too horrendous to contemplate. The devastation that could be caused by so-called low-yield nuclear weapons is unimaginable. Mauritius advocates the eventual complete elimination of all nuclear weapons on the basis of a comprehensive and non-discriminatory disarmament regime.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We urge both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples to continue the much-needed confidence-building measures so as to achieve a just and lasting peace. With regard to Iraq, where innocent civilians are falling victim to violence on a daily basis, it is imperative that necessary support be provided to ensure the creation of an environment in which the Iraqi people can live in peace and security. I spoke extensively on terrorism in the statement I made on 15 September 2005 during the High-level Plenary Meeting. I wish to reaffirm my country's commitment to fully cooperate with the international community to fight the scourge of terrorism, which has a direct and indirect effect on the lives of ordinary and innocent people.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“My delegation wishes to underscore the importance of enhanced measures to protect vulnerable groups, especially women and children, during and after armed conflicts. In our own region, Mauritius continues to remain actively engaged in the reconciliation process in the Comoros. We are presently coordinating the preparations to host a donor round table for the Comoros later this year. The importance of the meeting cannot be overstated. We urge the donor community to contribute to this process for the benefit of the people of the Comoros. The situation in the Middle East is seeing some tangible progress. We welcome the process of Israeli disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank, and we commend the efforts of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“While many countries throughout the world have made significant progress in lifting their people out of poverty, for many others — mainly in sub-Saharan Africa — poverty, hunger, illiteracy, infectious diseases and the incidence of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and environmental degradation continue to take a heavy toll. My delegation therefore appreciates the resolve of the international community to address those issues and emphasizes the need for timely implementation of the relevant measures. Despite significant efforts that have resulted in peace in several parts of Africa, the continent continues to suffer from violent conflicts and humanitarian crises. The plight of displaced people — especially women and children — in those conflict situations and in refugee camps needs to be urgently addressed.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Tariff and non-tariff barriers in developed countries, combined with the 10 non-implementation of commitments undertaken with respect to development financing and debt alleviation for developing countries, further aggravate the situation. We call on the international community to demonstrate the political will necessary to ensure that the Doha development round truly takes into account those concerns so as to achieve a fair and equitable global trading system for the benefits of our people. My delegation welcomes the particular attention given by the world summit to the special needs of Africa.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The first set of social decisions taken by my Government, with that in mind, has been to expand the welfare State to cover free transportation for students and the elderly as well as to restore old-age pensions for all citizens. My Government's overriding objective is ultimately to make the economy work for the people, not to make the people work for the economy. My delegation believes that assisting developing countries through increased official development assistance (ODA) is crucial; but it is only a palliative, not a remedy. Aid without trade would be not only unsustainable but, indeed, self-defeating. Trade is, and will always remain, the recognized engine of economic growth and development. Developing countries continue to face impediments in their efforts to attain sustained economic growth.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Poverty reduction and eradication must therefore remain at the core of all development efforts towards a just and equitable order. In keeping with our democratic tradition, just three months ago, the people of my country voted, overwhelmingly, for a change of Government. Immediately upon assuming office, my Government has formulated development strategies based on the premise that economic and social policies must subserve the primacy of the people, in particular the poor. In fact, the fundamental principle of my Government’s policy is putting the people first. My Government believes that the fullest possible participation of the people in the development process is the best guarantee for the success of any growth strategy.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The spirit of teamwork and partnership which resulted in the successful outcome of the United Nations world summit should allow us to adopt a fresh mindset that places the interests, security and welfare of our peoples at the centre of our socio-economic policies. That cannot be done without promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. In our efforts to pursue people-centred development, we must put a premium on tackling those national and transnational issues that have a direct impact on people’s welfare. Lifting peoples out of abject poverty and endowing them with appropriate means to lead productive lives is the best guarantee for long-term sustained social stability, which, in turn, will ensure prosperity and international peace.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The citizens of the world were witness to the sober promises we made in it. They now wait, in earnest, to see concrete results. We are therefore required to muster the collective political will to mobilize the necessary resources to fulfil those pledges. The wealthy and powerful North should assist the less fortunate countries, which require assistance to help propel them into the orbit of irreversible sustainable social and economic growth. For its part, the South must devote energy and show creativity as it engages in a common effort to attain social development and human security.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Kofi Annan, in leading the Organization in these challenging times. The very first words of the United Nations Charter — “We the peoples of the United Nations” — are of overwhelming significance. They imply that people should be the primary beneficiaries of every resolution that we adopt and every programme that we launch. As we engage in this debate, we should ask ourselves whether we have, indeed, put the peoples at the centre of all of our deliberations and activities. Have we done enough to ensure that ordinary people, men and women, young and old, benefit from all our initiatives and actions, collective as well as individual? Last Friday, by adopting the outcome document, leaders of the world renewed their pledge to save humanity from the scourge of war, fear, disease, famine and poverty.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)