YouSaid · the spoken record

Aïchatou MINDAOUDOU

lines on the record

160

first

2001-09-24

most recent

2009-09-24

sittings or episodes

9

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un-general-debate

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1. “As always, you can count on the unflagging support and readiness of the Government of the Niger throughout your term.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

2. “Along the same lines, my delegation applauds the Government of the Philippines, which has decided to organize a special meeting at the ministerial level for the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, under the theme “Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development”, from 1 to 3 December 2009 in Manila. That shows that the theme continues to draw the interest of many States and that you, Mr. President, were aptly inspired in identifying it as a topic of interest for the international community. I would like to conclude my statement by renewing my delegation’s delight at the direction that you, Sir, have suggested for the current Assembly session and by reiterating our full confidence in your leadership, which promises a very fruitful and dynamic term in the pursuit of common objectives of the international community.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

3. “We believe that that issue is worthy of much attention and of action throughout the sixty- fourth session. Indeed, we must maintain the momentum begun by eminent Member States through the Third Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, held in 2008; the High- Level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace; and the international conference on dialogue among civilizations and cultural diversity, held from 2 to 4 June 2009 in Kairouan, Tunisia. We must develop these initiatives, for which my delegation reiterates its congratulations to the Governments of the countries concerned.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

4. “We also thank other countries and partner organizations which have always remained sensitive to the many constraints and concerns of our countries. We also know that, if significant progress has been made in 10 years in recognizing our difficult conditions and establishing useful partnerships in that regard, it is thanks to the coordination of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. We thank him for his initiatives, which remain essential for least developed and landlocked countries in the Sahel, such as the Niger. 29 09-52598 I should also like to express my Government’s appreciation to the President of the General Assembly for his decision to devote part of this session to the subject of the dialogue among cultures and civilizations.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

5. “These problems now require that all of us redouble our efforts to keep our commitments. In that regard, we will closely follow the preparations for the 2010 mid-term review conference, which, we hope, will result in efforts to accelerate the attainment of the agreed objectives. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the irreplaceable nature of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development as a relevant African initiative that must enjoy the support of the United Nations and of the international community as a whole. We welcome the decision to convene the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, and we salute the host country, Turkey, for its generous initiative vis-à-vis our group of countries.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

6. “With regard to all those issues and many other important concerns, such as those referred to in the outcome document of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, held at Doha at the end of 2008, we wish to express once again our ongoing concern that we should develop an inclusive and transparent approach at all levels that takes into account the concerns of both large and small countries. We are following with great interest, and often concern, the progress of the commitments made within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, and we note that it remains mixed. At the same time, adverse phenomena are placing constraints on both developed and developing countries, such as the world economic and financial crisis.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

7. “In addition, there is United Nations system-wide coherence; the definition of the new concept of the responsibility to protect, which needs to be clearly defined and set out, as in the Constitutive Act of the African Union; and, finally, the follow-up to the outcome document of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, which the previous President of the General Assembly wished to begin by appointing facilitators.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

8. “This includes reform of the Security Council, with regard to which we call for greater recognition of Africa’s role through the Ezulwini Consensus; the ongoing preparations to ensure the success of the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen; and the summit convened by the Secretary-General and just concluded here in New York, which benefited from the valuable guidance of heads of State and Government.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

9. “Our most recent initiative was to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 14 May 2009 — a formality that made the Niger one of the very first countries to do so and accelerated its entry into force. We believe that this gesture, although it may seem minor, assumes its full meaning in the context of the difficult path towards complete disarmament. For us, this initiative, together with our country’s ratification of the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials, adopted by the Economic Community of West African States, is a significant contribution to disarmament at our level. We are following the various processes carried out at various levels to reform the United Nations system.”

   2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

10. “Following the referendum, the President recalled his willingness to work with all citizens of the Niger in the interest of the country and its people. The forthcoming legislative elections, to be held on 20 October, and the municipal elections in December 2009 will be opportunities for large-scale mobilization to ensure better representation for the people in the conduct of State affairs. It is this reality of a Niger marching towards development, resolutely committed to building its future and more determined than ever to lift its people out of poverty, that we must bear in mind. We fully support any joint action that can contribute to general and complete disarmament. We have been at the forefront in fulfilling our commitments in this area, and we are resolved to continue to work in that regard within our modest means.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

11. “Therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to reassure the international community, development partners, civil society and other actors and entities that may be justifiably concerned about the political situation in the Niger that the country is not in a situation of lawlessness or insurrection, as some would have one believe, but rather is a place where all people freely express their opinions within the framework of the democratic process, to which we are deeply committed. 09-52598 28 The sovereign people of the Niger have chosen to refashion the Republic around certain values with which they identify. In this new endeavour, President Mamadou Tandja has solemnly pledged that no group or structure will be overlooked.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

12. “The Niger’s performance in those areas was acknowledged and commended at the meeting, which brought together representatives of the World Bank and of our country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance. I recall these aspects of the situation in Niger because, as members are aware, a referendum was held in our country on 4 August 2009 to adopt a new constitution. It formalizes the return to a presidential Administration more suited to the realities of our country and introduces new provisions such as that establishing two chambers, Parliament and the Senate. The referendum, held in an atmosphere of calm and transparency by the National Independent Electoral Commission, enabled us to adopt the new constitution, which formalizes the arrival of the sixth Republic.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

13. “Today, development is palpable in every corner of the Niger because of proactive and systematic efforts to build classrooms and health clinics, dig wells, build local drinking water systems and promote a microcredit system designed specifically for the most vulnerable rural women. The head of State is doing this to improve the living conditions of our people, who suffered from the political instability that characterized our country during the 1990s, which one could describe as a lost decade for Niger’s development. In late August, a meeting was held in Niamey for the second 2009 review by the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility of the International Monetary Fund.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

14. “In particular, we support the various discussions under way on this subject, whether in the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council or the Security Council, or even in the context of specific initiatives such as the discussions being held by Canada on peacekeeping operations. We in the Niger have made undeniable progress in the area of combating poverty and promoting basic development, thanks to the bold actions of the President. Through projects designed specifically to meet the needs of Niger’s people, he has enabled our country to finally give meaning to development.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

15. “Governed as it is by the laws of globalization, the current international scene is, as we know, much more complex today than in the past. We must address and manage the consequences of the international financial crisis and, for countries in the Sahel such as the Niger, the recurrent effects of food insecurity. We must address climate change in a concerted and coordinated manner, and we must constantly question the current formulas for preventing conflict and maintaining international peace and security. My delegation supports such initiatives, which must be inclusive, because they must benefit from the contributions and perspectives of everyone, including the most vulnerable countries.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

16. “And we welcome the commitment and goodwill of all parties carrying out concerted actions to ensure international peace and security. The recommendations of the special summit on conflict prevention and management held in Tripoli reflect the will of African leaders to take on issues that have always slowed our continent in its march towards progress and prosperity. It is at this level that the theme of multilateralism — which you, Mr. President, have selected for the sixty-fourth session — takes on all its meaning. Indeed, the United Nations, as the common framework enjoying the highest level of participation by countries and other actors in the world, should serve as a laboratory in which we work towards the goal of a more balanced international community.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

17. “We are convinced that such cooperation will yield results even on the most delicate issues, such as the implementation of the political-legal concept of the principle of universal jurisdiction. While my delegation welcomes the inclusion of this topic in the agenda of the General Assembly, we should like once again to endorse the concerns already expressed by the African Union and to urge Member States to avoid using this principle inappropriately. We hope that our debate in this common forum will make possible a better understanding of this concept and a better definition of the framework governing its eventual application. We note the progress that is being made in various areas in the prevention and management of conflicts, both in Africa and elsewhere.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

18. “My delegation welcomes your decision, Sir, to declare as the very apt theme for the Assembly’s current session the strengthening of multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development. In our view, this theme has the potential to spur Member States to greater initiative in realizing the goals that we are pursuing, namely, those of preserving international peace and security. We are pleased, in this regard, by the renewed dynamism in cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations, in particular the African Union. We believe that this direction has the potential 27 09-52598 to lead to lasting solutions to the problems of peace and security in Africa.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

19. “Thus we consider ourselves to be in your good hands, ready to advance the work of the Organization in this time of formidable challenges. I should like to renew our congratulations to the outgoing President, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, on his active and very full presidency, and to state that the Niger was honoured to serve alongside him in its capacity as Vice-President at the sixty-third session. On behalf of the Niger, I should like to reiterate our profound gratitude to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his unflagging efforts to make the United Nations a more just and effective Organization, able to meet the expectations of its Members.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

20. “The delegation of the Niger — which I have the honour to lead and which brings the message of His Excellency Mamadou Tandja, President of the Republic — is more than pleased to see you, Mr. President, presiding over the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. Your election, which the Niger welcomes with pride, is without a doubt both recognition and endorsement of your exceptional abilities as a seasoned diplomat, which you have demonstrated throughout your distinguished career. We in the Niger are well placed to attest to your commitment to the cause of Africa and of our common subregion, specifically through the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, that other forum in which our countries work together for the same goals that are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”

    2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)

21. “That is why we need genuine reform of the United Nations system. My delegation believes that the reform effort will remain incomplete unless there is a significant change in the Security Council, including as regards both equitable representation and its working methods. In numerous other areas currently under consideration — such as, among others, evaluating the experiences of countries involved in pilot programmes on system-wide coherence and revitalizing the General Assembly, which we must ensure — my country will contribute as much as it can to adapting our common Organization to the challenges we all face in building a world of peace, prosperity and development.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

22. “A/63/PV.13 39 08-53122 The recommendations of the Steering Group and the conclusions of the recent high-level meeting on the MDGs, jointly organized by the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General, provide a very clear course of action for making progress. Sustainable development is the main theme of the Economic and Social Council’s 2008 substantive session. The current debate has clearly shown that such development cannot be achieved without appropriate funding, aid effectiveness and good governance. In conclusion, the delegation of Niger believes that the United Nations is the world’s premier forum. It must serve as a beacon in those times of both hope and uncertainty, and ensure collective security in the world by means of economic, social and cultural cooperation.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

23. “Following the G8 Summit at Heiligendamm, the Secretary-General established the Africa Steering Group to monitor the achievement of the MDGs in Africa. With the support of a working group, the Steering Group is responsible for finding ways to coordinate and rationalize efforts associated with technical and financial assistance in order to speed up Africa’s progress. That initiative is very timely for a country like Niger, whose strategy to reduce poverty and speed up development for the period 2009-2012 focuses precisely on the achievement of the MDGs. Moreover, the various efforts of the Government in recent years in the areas of health, education and access to water have already led to a significant improvement in the relevant indicators.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

24. “I am referring to the Doha Round of trade negotiations, which are at a standstill today; the high-level event on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) midpoint to the target date for their implementation, the Accra High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness; and the Review Conference of the Monterrey Consensus on financing for development. In the quest for global well-being, Africa and countries in special circumstances — especially least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island States — deserve focused attention commensurate with their situation. My delegation would like to pay homage to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his personal commitment and unwavering support for initiatives in that regard intended to benefit Africa.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

25. “As we have seen, the challenges in the area of international peace and security are numerous and complex. Unfortunately, for some of us they are accentuated by other serious, recurring and even chronic threats. As the 2005 World Summit acknowledged in its Outcome Document, those threats, which also have an effect on development, are closely linked to other areas in which the United Nations is active, namely, peace, security and human rights. We therefore believe that the year 2008 is critical, given that it is replete with major events that could contribute to development.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

26. “The international community should support the Lebanese people who, through that agreement, have demonstrated their political maturity and ongoing desire for national unity. The various peace processes now underway will not be successful unless confidence-building measures are first put in place. In that regard, there is a crucial need to find solutions to the issues of disarmament, non-proliferation and the eradication of the trade in small arms. That is especially true for the poorest countries, who pay a heavy price in conflicts sustained by the trade in small arms and light weapons. My delegation therefore deplores the failure at the past session of the Disarmament Commission, another in a series due to the lack of consensus on the agenda.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

27. “We should also like to welcome the recent initiative of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France in the context of the Euro- Mediterranean Conference. We fervently hope that all those measures will make it possible to reach a speedy agreement that enshrines the vision of the two-State solution of Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized borders and on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the Arab peace initiative and the Quartet’s road map. We welcome the Doha agreement on Lebanon, which confirmed the virtue of dialogue and cleared the path for speedy presidential elections and the establishment of a Government.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

28. “With regard to Somalia, we welcome the agreement signed on 9 June in Djibouti between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. We urge the United Nations to do everything possible to support those countries, both by more effectively backing the African Union Mission in Somalia and by deploying an international peacebuilding or peacekeeping force. The bilateral negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians that have begun in the context of the commitments undertaken at the Annapolis Conference are a genuine source of satisfaction for my delegation. We believe that the parties should take advantage of those negotiations. We therefore encourage them to maintain the momentum of Annapolis, which reflected the willingness of the parties concerned to make progress towards peace.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

29. “Nevertheless, conflicts persist in Africa and the Middle East that require appropriate involvement by the international community. With regard to the situation in the Sudan, my delegation welcomes the appointment Mr. Djibril Yipènè Bassolé, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, as the Joint African Union-United Nations Chief Mediator for A/63/PV.13 08-53122 38 Darfur. We are certain that Mr. Bassolé will provide new momentum and help to improve the situation in that brotherly country by, among other things, facilitating the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2006 between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army with regard to the Southern Sudan, and by helping to find an acceptable solution for Darfur.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

30. “With regard to the Great Lakes region, my delegation welcomes the entry into force, on 21 June 2008, on the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. We believe that this instrument will enable States parties to address the underlying causes of conflict and to address the challenges they face in the areas of security, governance and development. We also believe that the Pact is part and parcel of the new vision for the settlement of conflicts in Africa, perfect examples of which have just been provided by Nigeria and Cameroon with the resolution of the issue of the Bakassi peninsula, and by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea with the agreement on a mediation process in connection with their territorial dispute.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

31. “We welcome in particular the resumption of the national peace and reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire following the invaluable impetus provided by the Ouagadougou Agreement in 2007. In that regard, my country congratulates and encourages all Ivorian politicians on their commitment to peace. We hope that, with the support of their partners, whose invaluable contributions my delegation also commends, the national peace and reconciliation process will culminate in the holding of the upcoming presidential elections. We also welcome the resumption of the Manhasset cycle of negotiations as a useful and necessary step in the search for a mutually acceptable and lasting solution to the issue of Western Sahara.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

32. “Their activities are increasingly being brought under control thanks to steps taken by the relevant institutions of our country. We therefore believe that there is a need for increased willingness and cooperation in this area, similar to that demonstrated in connection with the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy that we adopted in 2006. While we acknowledge that some progress has been made, we must also say that further efforts and commitments are needed from the international community in supporting countries in conflict or emerging from it. It is important that we support the progress made in countries where, happily, peace is becoming more entrenched, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau and the Central African Republic, which was recently inscribed on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

33. “Although the food, energy and financial crises are front and centre on the international stage, there are also other challenges facing the international community in the areas of peace, security, development and human rights, among others. We must acknowledge the fact that international peace and security has been as sorely tested by conflicts as by other scourges that are equally devastating to the harmonious development of peoples and countries throughout the world. Those scourges include international terrorism, drug trafficking and the illegal trade in small arms. Niger is especially concerned about the impact of trafficking in drugs and weapons; and especially mines, throughout the Sahelo-Saharan strip. The actions of certain armed groups are the true cause of the unrest prevailing in the northern part of our territory.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

34. “While rich countries fear the risk of widespread economic recession, the poorest countries fear food insecurity caused by prices they can no longer afford. Paradoxically, when it comes to the financial crisis and the consequences of climate change, it is the poorest countries that always pay most dearly for the turbulence affecting the globalized world. My delegation therefore supports the proposals made by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, which were previously espoused by President Lula da Silva of Brazil, calling on the international community to deal urgently with the issue. We also hold out hope that the upcoming Doha Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development will produce results that include safety net measures to protect the poorest countries from external shocks that could compound their vulnerabilities.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

35. “The Government of Niger has therefore decided to give priority to the three programmes introduced at the Doha Conference on Consolidating Food Self- sufficiency in Niger, which was held in June 2007. Those programmes are all the more promising given the potential boon to agriculture as a result of the upcoming construction of the Khandaji dam on the Niger River. The Government will develop its A/63/PV.13 37 08-53122 approach on the basis of that project and those programmes so as to provide credible response to meet the food needs of the people of Niger. The international financial crisis, which is affecting many countries and is today being exacerbated by the globalization of the world in which we live, requires that we harness our efforts and initiatives to find solutions requiring commitment on the part of us all.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

36. “The challenge now is to implement the recommendations in order to save entire groups of people in the world’s most vulnerable countries from the tragedy of hunger. For its part, Niger has taken major specific measures to address the sharp rise in the cost of basic foodstuffs in order to mitigate the effects on the living conditions of the most vulnerable people. However, in a country facing the recurrent problem of drought and its consequences for agricultural production, the truth is that only lasting solutions will help us to counter the effects of the phenomenon and to progressively eliminate the uncertainty that characterizes Niger’s production system.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

37. “Olivier de Schutter, Special Rapporteur on the right to food, was far- sighted in sounding an alarm during a press conference held here at the United Nations in which he identified the initial structural causes and called for international action. Aware of the urgency of the situation, the Secretary-General set up the High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis in order to provide a comprehensive and unified respond, support Governments and peoples affected and adopt a Comprehensive Framework for Action to meet the challenges. The Government of Niger would like to congratulate the Secretary-General on his initiatives. We would also like to warmly congratulate his Task Force for their work and for taking into consideration the numerous efforts and views on this issue.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

38. “Srgjan Kerim, for the exemplary manner in which he led the sixty-second session and, in particular, for having grappled with the burning issues of the day, including the food and energy crises and climate change. With regard to His Excellency Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, I should like to express our full appreciation for the significant progress on fundamental issues made by the Organization under his guidance. The subject you have chosen, Mr. President, as the central theme of the general debate during this session is highly relevant. For several months and to varying degrees, all members of the international community have been affected by the overall rise in food prices. That crisis has gripped the attention of every international body. Mr.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

39. “At the outset, Sir, I should like to warmly congratulate you on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, which undeniably reflects the high esteem that the international community has for your country of Nicaragua, which is a friend of Niger. Your election is also the well- deserved culmination of an exemplary diplomatic and political career. The length and breadth of your experience makes you the right person to carry out the demanding and noble task entrusted to you. Allow me to assure you of my delegation’s commitment to extending to you our constant support during your time in office. Niger is particularly honoured to be working side by side with you as a Vice-President of the Assembly for the sixty-third session. May I also pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr.”

    2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)

40. “Harmonization and coordination are topical issues in the United Nations. They are essential to increasing the Organization’s effectiveness in collective action to address global challenges and threats. My delegation agrees that system-wide coherence in United Nations activities should be a principal focus for the implementation of reforms advocated in the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit. We must therefore find the means to implement them. I note that we see such reforms as a way of better helping developing countries to achieve lasting economic growth, develop sustainably and eradicate poverty. That is the vision that leads me to reaffirm the Niger’s conviction that coherence and coordination must be inspired by the cardinal principles of ownership, national leadership and respect for national development priorities.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

41. “The Niger resolutely supports that momentum and, within its national strategy and plan of action for climate change and viability, has drafted a national programme of action for adaptation to climate change. All such questions, which fall within the context of a comprehensive vision of sustainable development, are covered in our revised poverty reduction strategy, which is the reference framework for my country’s overall economic and development policy. I take this exceptional opportunity solemnly to invite all our development partners to participate in the international conference on the Niger’s revised poverty reduction strategy, to be held in Brussels in October. The conference has been called, inter alia, to harmonize and coordinate the contributions of our development partners.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

42. “It is worth noting that such activities are being carried out by several thousand young people being paid through a cash-for-work programme. The public debate in the Security Council and the thematic debate in the General Assembly dedicated to climate change highlighted the scope and gravity of the phenomenon by emphasizing the need for urgent collective action. The eloquent statements made at the high-level meeting organized by the Secretary-General on 24 September lead us to believe that the parties are willing to move to achieve essential objectives, which is the only way to secure a wholesome and reliable environment for present and future generations.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

43. “The action taken by the Niger, based on the experience gained through the special programme launched by the President of the Republic, has allowed us to achieve spectacular successes that deserve to be consolidated and strengthened. Thanks to the work to restore degraded soil, remove sand and reforest the landscape undertaken over the past few years and stepped up in the framework of that programme, 3 million hectares have been reclaimed from the desert, according to satellite monitoring undertaken in 2006 and transmitted by the regional Agrimet centre. Large expanses that were desperately arid have now become productive agricultural areas and pasture land thanks to water- retention and infiltration activities that have raised the water table.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

44. “In 2003, the Almaty Conference, having considered their situation, adopted a Declaration and Programme of Action, the implementation of which is soon to be reviewed. The time has therefore come to launch an urgent appeal to all development partners to resolve to take the necessary measures not only to help those countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, but also to enable them to mitigate the negative impacts of desertification, environmental degradation and climate change. Desertification and the deteriorating environment are two problems that seriously affect the countries of the Sahel, including mine. The combined efforts of the international community effectively to combat those scourges should be stepped up.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

45. “Moreover, the unparalleled commitment of the Government of Qatar to international development led it to host the Conference on Consolidating Food Security in Niger, which was held in Doha with the support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and proved most successful. I therefore take this privileged moment at the rostrum of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session to reiterate the profound gratitude of the people and Government of the Niger to that friendly country, the entire Islamic ummah and all other partners who kindly supported that initiative. The international community should pay particular attention to one category of countries that is even more vulnerable. I am referring to land-locked developing countries, whose geography puts them at a great disadvantage.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

46. “The Niger sees the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution of 61/16 on strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council as a great step forward. The resolution names the Economic and Social Council as a principal body responsible for economic and social development and, in particular, for the implementation of the international development goals agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Development Goals. We congratulate the State of Qatar on having hosted the preparatory meeting for the Monterrey Consensus review conference, to be held in Doha in 2008.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

47. “Niger welcomes the initiative of the informal thematic debate entitled “Partnerships towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Taking stock, moving forward”, held on 27 November 2006 and the first in a series of three debates organized by the General Assembly in the context of its revitalization process. On that occasion, some development partners were able to undertake concrete commitments, such as that of the Islamic Development Bank, which announced the creation of a poverty mitigation fund endowed with a $10 billion budget. The Government of the Niger, through me, would like to commend that exemplary initiative, which is part of an ever more effective development partnership.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

48. “The scope and gravity of the phenomenon truly require that the international community give it all due attention and firmly condemn the criminal acts being carried out by these networks of traffickers, in particular in our region. The linkage between peace, security, development and human rights, spelled out in the 2005 World Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1), has lost none of its relevance and continues to fuel our thinking. That is why the Niger continues to feel a sense of solidarity for all initiatives, present or future, designed to give new momentum to development efforts.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

49. “The Niger intends to participate intensively in any effort to enhance the international community’s efforts to eradicate that scourge, which undermines the economies of the countries concerned and threatens the foundations of democracy. In that regard, my delegation considers international cooperation and assistance for affected developing countries to be indispensable if we are to succeed in combating drug trafficking and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. These are used by armed groups to continue to inflict untold suffering on innocent civilians, obstruct trade and hinder all development activities in infested areas.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)

50. “Along these lines, the open debates of the Security Council on strengthening the role of the Council in conflict prevention and resolution, in particular in Africa, are of great importance. Conflicts are not the only threats to international peace and security. Other phenomena, sometimes more devastating and unforeseeable, threaten the ability of peoples around the world to enjoy their legitimate right to peace and security. Those phenomena include international terrorism, transnational crime and all types of trafficking. In this connection, the Sahara, a geographical zone that the Niger shares with several other African countries, is becoming a den of drug and arms traffickers, fuelling and perpetuating insecurity in the region.”

    2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)