YouSaid · the spoken record

Aïchatou MINDAOUDOU

lines on the record: 160
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2009-09-24
sittings or episodes: 9
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The United Nations is at a decisive juncture and must urgently regain the confidence of States and of world public opinion, which has been sorely tested by recent events. It is up to all of us to strive resolutely to that end, because, as the Secretary-General has said, we are the United Nations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“These require us to adapt our Organization’s functions to today’s reality in order to better to take into account the new challenges and legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the planet and not the specific interests of a tiny group of countries, no matter how powerful. That is why Niger firmly supports the courageous reforms proposed by the Secretary-General to strengthen and improve the functioning of the Organization and to allow it effectively to cope with the challenges of our times. The long-awaited democratization of the Security Council must be accompanied by a strengthening of the role of the General Assembly, the highest representative body, and of the Economic and Social Council, the guarantor of the advent of a new economic and social order.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The strategy document serves simultaneously as a reference framework for poverty reduction policies and programmes and as an instrument to mobilize financial resources. We are convinced that the implementation of the poverty-reduction strategy will contribute to 4 improving the dialogue of policies, to further strengthening donor coordination and intervention, and to developing a multidimensional strategic partnership to translate into action the deepest hopes of the people of Niger. From this rostrum, I solemnly reaffirm the deep gratitude of the Government of Niger to those international partners which, at the poverty-reduction forum held last June in Niamey, proved their full adherence to the strategy and their commitment to supporting its implementation. In recent years, the world has undergone rapid and profound changes.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“While we call for a massive flow of investments and the growth of official development assistance to contribute to our development efforts, we, too, must comply with our commitments in terms of mutual responsibility. That is why my country, Niger, firmly supports the implementation of the NEPAD Peer Review Mechanism. The Mechanism will play a key role in the continent’s prospects as an instrument for building strong States dedicated to good governance and sustainable development. In drawing up through a participatory approach a national strategy for poverty reduction, the Government of Niger intends to become deeply involved in the dynamic process of establishing strong, stable and competitive economies in accordance with the objectives of the NEPAD Programme of Action.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In that regard, they acknowledge the importance of judicious national policies and good governance, which they consider to be indispensable to accelerated development and, above all, to achieving the 7 per cent growth rate required to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is inspired by this consensual approach, based on a new relationship of cooperation between Africa and the developed world. NEPAD, a symbol of Africa’s resolve to take its own destiny in hand, is the foundation on which the African Union will rely to promote the growth and sustainable development of African countries, individually and collectively.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Above all and unquestionably, it would have contributed to raising millions of people out of poverty. This lack of agreement means that the cotton workers of West Africa, among others, can no longer live from their labour and may be excluded from international trade, to the benefit of more competitive producers who are being subsidized. Cancún was a failed rendezvous of the Doha Round. WTO will certainly have to adopt a new approach and prioritize the settlement of agricultural problems, which most agree are more important than the interests of the multinationals. The countries of Africa are fully aware of the need to develop their relationship with their development partners within the context of interdependence, cooperation and mutual responsibility.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“There is also a need for Africa’s trade partners fully to comply with their commitments, in particular by improving the access of African products to their markets and by eliminating agricultural subsidies that create distortions in world trade. The failure of the WTO Conference in Cancún is a good illustration of the obstinate reluctance of the rich countries to take into account the legitimate aspirations of the poor countries regarding the establishment of just and equitable standards to govern world trade. And yet, solving the critical problem of agricultural subsidies and of access to markets would have made it possible both to enhance the badly tarnished credibility of the WTO and to provide a measure of consistency to the declarations of intention made by the countries of the North.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“It is only thus that the excessive marginalization of Africa can be alleviated, because this is the appropriate way to bring the promises of increased official development assistance to fruition. Similarly, it is important to increase the flow of direct foreign investment into Africa. Furthermore, given the limited results achieved by current debt-alleviation programmes — the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in particular — we must now recognize that the ultimate solution lies in the outright cancellation of the debt, the servicing of which is consuming the greater part of the budgets of African countries and fuelling capital flight.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“3 It is encouraging to note that, in recent years, Africa has been at the core of major international conferences. From the Brussels Conference on the Least Developed Countries to the Johannesburg Summit, as well as the Monterrey International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Economic Forum, the Evian G-8 summit and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Conference in Cancún, to name but a few, Africa has been at the heart of the debates. It should be noted that, while these meetings had the merit of having been convened, unfortunately they did not respond to the urgent and enormous expectations of the continent. In this regard, there is a need to ensure consistency in global economic governance through the strengthening of cooperation among the international organizations and of the compatibility of their decisions.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“When we know, for example, that, six years after the World Food Summit, 815 million people throughout the world continue to suffer from hunger and 150 million children suffer from malnutrition deficiencies, we can readily gauge the feeble support of donors for anti-poverty strategies, despite the lofty statements of intention that are occasionally mouthed. Today more than ever, the situation should pull at the conscience of the international community and inspire us to greater solidarity and determination to fulfil our commitments. It is time to understand once and for all that the reduction of poverty is more than a moral imperative; it is in fact a secure investment in the promotion of a world of peace, prosperity and social progress.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We cannot overemphasize the fact that the achievement of these Goals requires reflection in specific action of all commitments undertaken at the major international conferences and summits. What in fact have we been seeing? The international scene continues to offer the paradoxical and somewhat ignominious image of a world of enormous wealth in which the overwhelming majority of inhabitants still lives in total destitution. Despite the commitments made and the consensus reached by Governments of the entire world on this issue, we are obliged to note that the terrible vise of poverty, ignorance and disease has only been tightened around the poor peoples of the third world in general and of Africa in particular.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I wish to recall that, in this sphere, my country, in accordance with article III of the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has accepted, in agreement with the IAEA, the monitoring and guarantee system which, when implemented in good faith as it is in Niger, offers absolutely no opportunity for the kind of clandestine transactions of which my country was so unjustly accused. The Development Goals defined in the historic Millennium Declaration must remain an ongoing concern of the international community and guide global action aimed at the establishment of a stable and just socio-economic order involving greater sharing and solidarity.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In that context, my country has always subscribed to the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to achieve full transparency in the production, sale and delivery of uranium. That position is reflected in our decade-long cooperation with all actors in the uranium sector. We allow for no ambiguity. Niger continues to be ready, as it has always been, to submit to the authority of the IAEA for any verification related to the production and sale of its uranium.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Moreover, the eventful history of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process — a history marked by recurrent setbacks and dashed hope — requires us to acknowledge that only the presence of an international interposition force can guarantee an end to the bloody violence and create conditions for the effective implementation of agreements. Thus, Niger makes a heartfelt appeal to the United Nations, the Security Council in particular, to ensure that this question be reconsidered with all due attention and in full responsibility in the interest of world peace. Niger is deeply dedicated to the noble ideals of the Charter and therefore strives for regional and global peace and is actively participating in efforts to achieve general and complete disarmament.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“With regard to the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, Niger believes that, despite the recent incidents, the improved relations between India and Pakistan, which opened diplomatic relations in August, provide an unprecedented opportunity that must be seized to achieve a political settlement through the organization of a referendum on the self-determination of the Kashmiri people, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. In the Middle East, the vision of a sovereign and viable Palestinian State, peacefully coexisting with Israel, must become a reality. In this regard, it is more urgent than ever before for the two parties to the conflict to agree to a ceasefire, comprehensive adherence to which would help relaunch the road map, which is showing signs of withering.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“For Niger, the regional approach must be given pride of place in the settlement of conflicts, since it is 2 increasingly recognized that most conflicts in Africa have a subregional dimension. That is the case in particular in West Africa, where stability in the Mano River region is linked to the situation in Liberia. It is also the case in Central Africa, where stability in the Great Lakes region is linked to the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Burundi. That is why the Government of Niger feels that the strengthening of regional peacekeeping and security capacities, the cornerstone of the collective security system, must be based on enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In this respect, in addition to our ongoing war against international terrorism, we must pursue our efforts to free the world from the specter of weapons of mass destruction and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. In that connection, the First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects at the National, Regional and Global Levels noted that, despite progress made since the adoption of the Programme of Action, control of firearms and their use remains limited. That is why Niger firmly supports the elaboration of binding legal instruments on the marking, tracking and sale of such weapons.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The attack claimed many lives, including that of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Niger reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of that barbaric act and reviles all terrorist acts committed anywhere in the world. The Government of Niger welcomes our Organization’s determination to provide all necessary assistance to the Iraqi people, despite all the intimidation to which it has been subject. Such determination, however, can achieve results only if the United Nations is given a key role in managing the process of rebuilding a free and democratic Iraq that is the master of its own destiny. The maintenance of international peace and security must remain a priority objective of the United Nations.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Niger is gratified by your election, Sir, to preside over this session and through me assures you of its full support as you carry out the important mission that has been entrusted to you. We wish you every success. I also wish to address to your predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic, my sincere congratulations on the skill, dedication and foresight with which he guided the work of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. I should further like to reiterate Niger’s great appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the wisdom and efficiency with which he has guided our Organization in a particularly difficult international context. On 19 August, sadly, international terrorism struck yet another symbol: United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“However, the crucial problem of African debt, which is annihilating all our development efforts, calls for an effort by the entire international community to help us to implement — without delay or any conditions other than those of good governance — satisfactory policies and mechanisms for its solution. The United Nations remains the best instrument for helping us realize the new world order to which we all aspire, so long as we carry forward the so-called quiet revolution begun by the Secretary-General four years ago. In conclusion, I should like to express the full confidence that Niger and its people place in the United Nations, which remains an institution of hope based on the principles of justice, equity, peace and progress.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Its goal is to substantially reduce the suffering of 80 per cent of the population. That strategy is now the only frame of reference for Niger's economic, financial and social policies. 24 This year, under the direct supervision of the President of the Republic, we have launched an extensive programme, called Special Programme 2001, which consists of building 1,000 classrooms, 1,000 dispensaries and 100 mini-dams to fight poverty. A good part — more than 80 per cent — of that operation has already been completed. I should also like to express again from this podium our deep appreciation for the support that our developmental partners have continued to give us for the implementation of our National Framework Programme to fight poverty, which Niger formulated and which is among our highest priorities.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In fact, many difficulties have conspired to keep our countries at the bottom of the human development index. The state of poverty affects 63 per cent of our compatriots, and 34 per cent of them live below the extreme poverty line. Those populations, deprived of minimal basic social services, are the victims of a continued deterioration in their standard of living. The growing scarcity of financial resources has caused, among other things, a drastic decline in public investment, particularly in the social sectors, thus depriving 80 per cent of Niger's rural citizens of basic social benefits. Niger has decided to undertake measures to reverse that trend through its poverty reduction strategy, which was formulated and implemented after a participative process.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The establishment of a special fund to fight AIDS is an important step in the world crusade against AIDS and other major epidemics. Progress must be made within the framework of initiatives undertaken by the world Summits held at Cairo, at Copenhagen and at Beijing. My country expects a greater degree of solidarity from the industrialized countries, particularly with regard to increasing the volume of official development assistance, a traditional development source. At the same time, we must unite our efforts to mobilize financial resources and to establish a humanitarian fund under United Nations auspices. It is indispensable and urgent that we reverse the trend of declining official development assistance, which, the Assembly will recall, is at its lowest level in 50 years.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“A clear look must be taken at globalization, which in the 1990s gave rise to hopes but today is a source of concern because of the growing inequalities it is creating. In less than a year, we have discussed global problems four times, and we know the true remedies. We need a more elevated concept of international cooperation that draws its essence from strategic partnership. However, we can rejoice in the unanimous will that the international community affirmed in adopting the Johannesburg Plan of Action in September. The special session of the General Assembly devoted to HIV/AIDS, held in July 2001, demonstrated eloquently our degree of awareness of the terrible danger that that disease represents for the human species.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In that regard, Niger welcomes the new partnership, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and we believe that that programme, which crystallizes the hopes of our continent today, must be aimed at bringing together the necessary conditions and means for the effective participation of all African countries to the multidimensional developmental process within the framework of the African Union. Poverty is an affront that can no longer be tolerated in a world of abundance that has the means to vanquish it if there is the necessary political will. Today, we must note that 52 per cent of people who live on less than a dollar a day are found in Africa, which is the most indebted part of the world.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“This is the time to sincerely thanks all the bilateral and multilateral partners of Niger, particularly the United Nations institutions, for having been kind enough to continue to support the efforts of my country to create an institutional environment conducive to giving us social peace. That assistance is much appreciated and is necessary in this critical phase of the national construction process. In economic terms, never before has mankind had so much wealth and potential overall to generate common benefit. The positive world economic situation could give us hope to establish a more just economic order that would be more conducive to poverty reduction.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Niger, like almost all African countries, faces a number of major challenges, which require the international community to provide the necessary support to help them in the search for solutions and in consolidating their economic renewal programme. From that standpoint, the developmental strategy that we have implemented gives priority to the culture and the promotion of good governance through a good- conduct mechanism and public affairs management that focuses on concerns such as transparency and civil society participation in all socio-economic decisions.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In that context, we think that United Nations resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir must be speedily implemented so that the Kashmiri people can exercise their right to self-determination, which would allow to defuse that hotbed that involves two nuclear States — 23 India and Pakistan — and to avoid a serious threat to peace and security in the South Asia region. Therefore, Niger, a member of the contact group established by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, reiterates the appeal already made to the two parties to step up their negotiations in order to achieve a peaceful settlement of that conflict.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In Western Sahara, the Republic of Niger supports the efforts of the United Nations, on one hand, to enforce the settlement plan and, on the other hand, the relevant Security Council resolutions, in order to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The laudable action of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, Mr. James Baker, should be followed up and supported until a positive conclusion is achieved, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Niger wants once again to reaffirm before the Assembly that a permanent settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict necessarily requires establishing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the creation of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian State. On the basis of that conviction and in light of all kinds of false starts that have characterized the peace process in Palestine and the Middle East, Niger has made a sovereign decision to break off its diplomatic relations with Israel, which continues to deny the Palestinian people their legitimate right to self-determination.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“That is why our country has always tried to make its modest contribution to settling conflicts that threaten peace and security in Africa and throughout the world. In spite of our limited resources, we have sent contingents to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and civilian police officers to Haiti, Timor and Kosovo, to support the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the international community to restore and consolidate peace. The Government of Niger reaffirms its ongoing availability to send contingents to all United Nations peacekeeping operations. For a few months now the international community's attention has been focused on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, whose peace process is now more paralysed than ever.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Since 1994, Niger has had in place the National Commission for Collecting and Controlling Illicit Weapons, whose task is to help the political authorities at the highest level identify, design and put implement strategies to fight the proliferation of light weapons. In that context, the Government of Niger and the Department for Disarmament Affairs of our Organization are cooperating closely for the success of a project to collect illegal small arms and light weapons for the entire West African subregion. That is a part of the regional and subregional initiatives aimed at cutting off the illicit movement of small arms and light weapons. The peace that we wish for Niger is the same peace we wish for the rest of the world.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Our concerns were taken into account in the Bamako Declaration, but there is still work to be done, particularly in terms of technical and financial assistance measures to support disarmament programmes and reintegration programmes for former combatants. While it is true that no region of the world has been spared, there is no doubt that developing countries, particularly African countries, are the ones suffering the most from the devastating effects of the proliferation of light arms and small weapons in terms of their security, stability and development. That is why the bodies charged with monitoring, detecting and prosecuting infractions committed along those lines must be strengthened.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Speaking of international peace and security, I am pleased to recall that Niger is a peaceful country that contributes actively to efforts to achieve general and complete disarmament. In that regard, I would like to point out that in that field, my country, pursuant to article 3 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has accepted an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, on a system of monitoring and safeguards for its uranium production. Regarding conventional weapons, Niger is happy that the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects has adopted a programme of action to combat that scourge.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It must be long term and it must be conducted within the framework of international legality, which is epitomized by the United Nations. 22 Niger agrees with the provisions of Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001), and it is firmly committed to all subregional, regional and international initiatives aimed at combating terrorism in all its forms. At the same time, in order to succeed in the fight against terrorism, we must take into account the need to develop a more just and equitable economic and political order, since it has been shown that poverty, ignorance, injustice and all kinds of frustrations are factors that can produce blind extremism.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, the congratulations of the people of Niger for the prestige and effectiveness of his deeply appreciated work done in the service of humanity. I also wish to congratulate the Swiss Confederation on becoming a new Member, and Timor- Leste, as an imminent Member of the Organization. We are convinced that their participation will help enrich our debates. The American people have been mourning the tragic events of 11 September 2001 for a year now. The whole world has taken full measure of the threat that terrorism poses to peace and security. In Niger, we cannot stress the fact enough that, in order to be effective, the fight against terrorism must avoid taking a piecemeal approach.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“My delegation would like to say that the leadership shown by the President in presiding over this session makes us confident that our deliberations will continue in a spirit of dynamism and optimism for the development of international relations. Niger is very happy to convey to the President and to other members of the Bureau of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly our heartfelt congratulations. We remain convinced that President Kavan will follow up the remarkable work done by his predecessor, Mr. Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea, with the same human qualities for the good of the international community as a whole. I wish to reiterate to our brother, His Excellency Mr.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The United Nations remains indeed the only institution capable of bringing about the new world order to which we all so deeply aspire.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I take this opportunity to reiterate the profound gratitude of the Niger to all the bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund and our other development partners, for their precious support for the efforts of the Government to promote the well-being of our people. To conclude, I would say that the international community needs a strong United Nations to achieve the ambitious objectives set forth in the Charter and to implement the Millennium Declaration. It is therefore necessary to give unstinting support to the Secretary- General in his efforts to reform the Organization, strengthen its role and secure the resources that will allow him to accomplish his task effectively.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“All the institutions of the United Nations family and the European Union — in particular France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain — as well as Canada and Japan, have contributed significantly to reviving the ecological system and to combating desertification in the Niger. In the Niger, we are fully aware that this fight is primary a national one. We wage it through volunteerism, the roots of which are deeply entrenched in our traditions and extend beyond our frontiers.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is well known that such communities in the Niger suffer intractable illiteracy, a serious lack of infrastructure and cyclical food shortages caused by irregular rainfall. The Programme also stresses the link between poverty and the environment. It is in that context that we plan to plant 1 million trees throughout our national territory by the end of this year. The Government is thus perfectly in step with the deep-rooted aspirations of the people of the Niger, who recognize in its actions their ancestral lore of personal and collective effort against adversity, and with its bilateral and multilateral partners, whose ongoing concern is the restoration of the environment.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Furthermore, the Niger recently established a new framework for the implementation of its own national 38 anti-poverty policy. A strategy for reducing poverty defines the country’s priorities and measures and actions to be undertaken in order to achieve the targets set in various spheres, which will allow us to make serious inroads into poverty by 2015. This struggle against poverty in the Niger enjoys the highest political involvement. A programme initiated personally by the President of the Republic, Mr. Mamadou Tandja, is designed to improve the living standards of the people of our country. The first phase of what is known as “The Programme of the President of the Republic” has already led to the construction of 1,000 wells, 100 mini-dams, 100 schools and 100 health centres for rural communities.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“According to United Nations estimates, approximately $3 billion must be mobilized before 2001 for AIDS alone and contributions of $7 billion to $10 billion will be necessary every year thereafter until 2005. Thus, today more than ever, the international community must demonstrate active solidarity between rich and poor and a sense of unshakeable collective responsibility — in a word, unfailing political will — if it wishes to translate into deeds the Declaration of Commitment adopted at the special session on HIV/AIDS. The progress achieved in the Niger in its current reform programme has allowed us to re-establish and consolidate the country’s economic bases, to revive fruitful relations with the international financial institutions and thus to secure the Niger’s eligibility for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The United Nations is thus in step with the various initiatives of the OAU in the struggle against malaria, led by Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Mamadou Tandja of the Niger. There can be no doubt that the struggle against major diseases calls for substantial resources and a strong capacity for coordinated action. The Niger therefore welcomes the Secretary-General’s establishment of the Global AIDS and Health Fund, which should give a new dynamic to the struggle against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which together claim 5 million dead throughout the world every year. The announcement made at the G-8 summit in Genoa that $1.8 billion will be devoted to launching the Global Fund is an important step in the right direction. In spite of everything, a great deal remains to be done.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the absence of an appropriate response from the affluent countries, the damage caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic may prove to be irreparable, given that some specialists estimate that there will be 100 million dead from that disease by the year 2010 if effective measures are not taken immediately to stem the scourge. Need we recall, moreover, that malaria claims as many human victims in Africa as AIDS, particularly in West Africa? It is comforting to note, however, that the international community has finally become aware of the signal danger posed by that disease. The Niger welcomes the decision of the United Nations to proclaim the period 2001-2010 the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Conference should be the point of departure of a broad world partnership to channel all energies towards the mobilization of resources for development and the reform of international financial structures. In this regard, the 10-year Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries has made it possible to lay the foundations of an enhanced world partnership to achieve the economic growth essential to reducing poverty. Following the firm commitments undertaken in Brussels, there are now grounds for hope that, particularly with regard to trade, the current round of World Trade Organization negotiations in Qatar will take fully into account the interests of the least developed countries, whose 630 million inhabitants have a legitimate aspiration to benefit from the positive effects of globalization.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“That drive is marked by the proliferation of national and regional initiatives, the most recent manifestation of which was the adoption at the Lusaka summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) of an African development plan, the implementation of which the G-8 has decided to support. The forthcoming International Conference on Financing for Development should prove to be a decisive turning point in the establishment of a more just and equitable world economic order. It should, inter alia, lead to the adoption of a clear political declaration defining strategic priorities, accompanied by a precise timetable, with respect to the strengthening of the capacities of the developing countries, particularly the least developed among them, and their integration into the world economy.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Worse yet, between 1999 and 2000 those investments even fell from $10.5 37 billion to $9.1 billion, while during the same period they rose in Asia and Central and Eastern Europe. It is therefore urgent to increase the volume of official development assistance, to expand debt- cancellation initiatives, to improve the access of African exports to international markets and to promote investment. These measures must be accompanied by appropriate support for the efforts of the United Nations system because this Organization is the best forum for promoting new partnerships for the benefit of Africa. In this respect, the Niger very much hopes that Africa’s drive to reappropriate its own development will be encouraged.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Such initiatives must be supported and encouraged so as to allow for the self-determination of the Kashmiri people as soon as possible in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. By according highest priority to the specific needs of Africa, the Millennium Summit recognized the full magnitude of the serious problems that beset our continent. Proof of this is that most African States are included on the list of least advanced and poorest countries and have been left behind by the technological revolution. The ravages caused by armed conflicts and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have affected more than 26 million Africans and wiped out the hard- won progress made over the past decade. At the same time, the flow of official development assistance to Africa has plummeted, while foreign direct investments have continued to stagnate.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Niger would like to reaffirm, here in the Assembly, that a lasting settlement of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict cannot be achieved without the realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable right to an independent sovereign State. The Niger wholeheartedly supports the position of the United States of America in this regard. With regard to the conflict in Western Sahara, the Niger supports the efforts of the United Nations, in particular those of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, to bring about a final settlement that is acceptable to interested and concerned parties. With regard to Asia, the summit meeting that took place last July in India between the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India raised great hopes for a political settlement of the conflict in Kashmir.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)