YouSaid · the spoken record

Marcus Stephen

lines on the record: 67
first: 2008-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“Frightened by the rising tides around her islands, she asked what the United Nations could do to help her people. She is not alone. The children in all of our countries — Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own, Nauru — wonder whether they will have a future. I look forward to working with the Secretary-General to meet the challenge of the climate crisis so that we can tell them that they no longer need to be afraid. May God bless the Republic of Nauru and may God bless the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are entering a period in history when countries are turning inward, despite decades of evidence that cooperation is the surest path to prosperity. We must resist the urge to engage in zero-sum politics and recommit to the principles of multilateralism enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Durban will be the next opportunity to embark on a more sustainable path and create a world we are proud to leave for future generations. We should not let this opportunity slip away. For years, leaders in the Pacific have implored the peoples of the world to come to our islands and see the impacts of climate change for themselves. The Secretary-General answered our call, and now he truly understands the urgency of our situation. Earlier this week, he spoke of a little girl named Tamauri he met while in Kiribati (see ).”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“However, we must move beyond symbolism to concrete action that addresses the actual concerns of small and vulnerable countries. Once again, I implore the Assembly to support the appointment of a special representative on climate and security for the benefit of the many nations around the world for whom climate change is a grave and, in some cases, existential threat. My Government is preparing for a new challenge. In 2012, Nauru will assume the chairmanship of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). I would like to recognize the Government of Grenada for its inspirational leadership and able execution of a supremely difficult task. I am humbled by the trust placed in us by our fellow AOSIS colleagues and have no illusions regarding the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We cannot continue to ignore the more than 23 million people who live in Taiwan, who have repeatedly demonstrated that they are a nation committed to peace and regional cooperation. We therefore support enabling Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in connection with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The recent renaming of the Group of Asian States, to the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States, is a welcome change that 11-51191 16 exemplifies the inclusivity that should characterize all aspects of the United Nations system. I commend the Group for having taken this symbolic step and recognizing the 20 per cent of the membership that resides in the Pacific Ocean region.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We believe very strongly that new members should be geographically diverse. However, it is equally important that aspiring members demonstrate their commitment to addressing the most urgent security issues facing all Member States. As an example, I would like to highlight Germany’s bold leadership of the Security Council this past July, when it took the politically courageous decision to host the open debate on climate change. As I said earlier, climate change is the overriding security threat facing the Pacific region, and Germany’s efforts will not be forgotten. In a similar vein, the United Nations should ensure that all citizens of the world have the opportunity to participate in its activities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Secondly, the Secretary-General should assess the capacity of the United Nations system to respond to the likely security impacts of climate change, so that vulnerable countries can be assured that it is up to the task. These two proposals represent the absolute minimum necessary to prepare for the greatest threat to international peace and security of our generation. The Security Council must grapple with the most urgent security threats of our time if it is to remain relevant. Likewise, it should evolve along with emerging geopolitical realities and become more representative and inclusive. It is for this reason that Nauru supports an early reform of the Security Council through an enlargement of both the permanent and non-permanent categories and an improvement in its working methods.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“While the final presidential statement was not as strong as we had hoped, it clearly recognizes the threat posed by climate change to international peace and security and lays the foundation for future work by the Council on the issue. Few countries doubt the connection between climate change and security, but there is still disagreement as to the way forward. Allow me to reiterate the proposals of the Pacific SIDS. First, the Secretary-General should appoint a special representative on climate and security to analyse the projected security impacts of climate change, so that the Council and Member States can better understand what lies ahead.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The parties must also operationalize the agreements reached at Cancún, including more ambitious mitigation commitments and actions, the operationalization of the new Green Climate Fund, and a mandate to conclude a new legally binding agreement based on the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action. Climate change threatens to undo all of our recent development gains if the major biggest polluters continue down the path of business as usual. Some Pacific islands may disappear entirely. It is an unfortunate reality that there is so much carbon in the atmosphere that many of the negative impacts of climate change may now be unavoidable. For that reason, Nauru applauds the recent open debate in the Security Council on climate change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As Pacific island leaders recognized earlier this month, climate change represents the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific. The seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Durban, must make significant progress towards a comprehensive, legally binding agreement that can ensure the survival of all nations. The parties must agree to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, so that new commitments are in place by 2013.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“15 11-51191 The sustainable development challenges of SIDS are widely recognized by the international community; however, our success in addressing them has been mixed at best. At last year’s High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, it was determined that progress for most Pacific islands had been lagging in many areas. Targeted assistance to address the unique and particular vulnerabilities of SIDS is urgently needed. It is Nauru’s position that the most effective way to accomplish this objective is for the United Nations to recognize a formal SIDS category, with dedicated support mechanisms. Unfortunately, all of our best efforts will have been for naught if we do not take immediate action to address climate change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This past summer, Nauru’s application to the International Seabed Authority was granted, which will enable my country to engage in new and innovative ways to generate economic growth and move towards aid independence. Nauru is not endowed with terrestrial resources, and therefore has chosen to look to the oceans to expand its opportunities for economic and social development. The proceeds from our exploration and development of copper, nickel and manganese resources will go to two fully Nauruan-owned funds, one that supports education and training, and the other, health and environment. This Nauru-controlled, domestically driven initiative will adhere to the highest international environmental standards.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have identified three priority areas for the Rio+20 outcome. First, we must enable SIDS to enjoy a greater share of the economic benefits derived from their marine and coastal resources. Secondly, we must reduce, and eventually eliminate, overfishing and destructive fishing practices. It is imperative that we ensure that our fisheries are sustainable. Finally, we must build up the resilience of coral reef ecosystems to the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification. Adopting our proposals would begin to create the space needed for small islands to thrive. My Government is not sitting still while it waits for the international community to act.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have made great strides domestically, but we will still fall short of our ambitious goals until the international community chooses to create an environment in which all countries have the opportunity to realize their sustainable development aspirations. Nauru’s culture and economy, like those of most Pacific SIDS, are heavily dependent on a healthy and productive marine environment. The ocean is the foundation of our food security and is a major source of Government revenue. It is for that reason that the Pacific SIDS are calling for the next Earth Summit in Rio to recognize the importance of the “blue economy” to small island and coastal States. I would like to thank Maldives, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Secretary-General, for standing with the Pacific SIDS on this issue.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I look forward to working with the Secretary-General on finding ways for the United Nations system to be more responsive to the unique and particular needs of small island developing States (SIDS). While on his tour of the Pacific, the Secretary- General observed that “Next month, the 7 billionth citizen of our world will be born. For that child, and for all of us, we must keep working to fight poverty, create decent jobs and provide a dignified life while preserving the planet that sustains us. That is why I have said that the sustainable development agenda is the agenda for the twenty-first century”. (see SG/SM/13780) Sustainable development and poverty alleviation have been the overriding priorities of my presidency since I assumed office, in 2007.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Allow me to congratulate Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- sixth session. Allow me also to commend his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, for his capable leadership during the sixty-fifth session. I would like to begin my statement by thanking Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his historic visit to Kiribati and Solomon Islands earlier this month. That was the first time that a sitting Secretary-General visited a Pacific island country, and it demonstrates his commitment to addressing the needs of all countries, no matter how small or remote. From my conversations with the Secretary-General, I know he left the region with a much clearer understanding of the special challenges we face as small island nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We further recognize the international and regional organizations that have continued to stand by our side during a difficult period in our history, and I look forward to our continuing cooperation. I would also like to commend the United Nations for beginning a difficult process of reflection and reform so as to be able to more effectively respond to the global challenges we all face. Nauru looks forward to participating in this important discussion so that the United Nations can continue to play a central role in global governance. May God bless the Republic of Nauru and may God bless the United Nations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Security Council, as the primary body of the United Nations entrusted with preserving international peace and security, must also play its role. Lastly, we must ensure that the views and perspectives of all nations and peoples are incorporated into the decision-making of the United Nations system and its specialized agencies. In that context, Nauru strongly supports Taiwan’s campaign for meaningful participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization. I would like to conclude by thanking our development partners for their long-standing commitment to Nauru, particularly our major partners — Australia, Taiwan, the Russia Federation, New Zealand, the European Union and Japan — as well as our many other active partners, including Cuba, Italy, India, the Republic of Korea and Israel.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“What incentive will they have to invest in their home if it will not be there for when they are older? We have an opportunity to change course later this year at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Cancún. We must act as if our children’s future depended on the decisions we make. Climate change is a global issue and demands the full participation of all. We therefore call on the immediate inclusion of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. We must also recognize that climate change poses many threats — security threats — that are not addressed under the UNFCCC process. That is why the Pacific small island developing States introduced in the General Assembly a resolution on climate change and its possible security implications (resolution 63/281).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The preservation of that resource is essential to our region’s food security and to our economic development. Regrettably, the sustainability of the tuna stocks and other marine resources that we rely on is threatened by actions beyond our control. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and overfishing by large fishing nations is rife in the Pacific, and we lack sufficient resources to respond to that criminal activity. One of the pillars of our economic future is literally being stolen from our children. With regard to climate change, my island and many others like it face an existential threat far beyond our capacity to adapt. Rising sea levels and extreme weather may one day render my home uninhabitable. But an island can die long before it has disappeared beneath the sea. All that is required is to deprive its youth of hope.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“35 10-54965 The most important test of our commitment to our youth is the state of the world that we leave to them. We have long been aware of the environmental crises currently facing our oceans and our climate, but we have done precious little to address them. Without immediate and aggressive international action on both fronts, we will bequeath to our children a world that is far poorer than the one we ourselves inhabited. Nauru takes these threats very seriously, which is why my country, along with other island countries in the Pacific, recently strengthened the Nauru Agreement. That multilateral agreement on oceans governance is a major step in strengthening an effective regime for managing and protecting regional tuna stocks.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The preparatory work for the five-year review of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States found that the vulnerabilities of SIDS remain and that progress towards sustainable development is far below expectations. It is clear that business as usual is not working and that a new approach is long overdue. The creation of a new SIDS category would make the United Nations more responsive to the particular needs of small islands. This new category should be accompanied by structural support mechanisms in the areas of development assistance, financial support and trade. Only by dealing with the vulnerabilities of SIDS can there be any realistic prospect of SIDS attaining sustainable economic growth.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Nation-building and youth development must run parallel to each other if either is to succeed. Investments in basic infrastructure will enable us to expand our economic base, increase exports and also reduce the costs of imports. The United Nations system must also be enhanced in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. That is why we are joining others in calling for the creation of a formal small island developing States (SIDS) category within the United Nations system. The international community has consistently recognized the unique vulnerabilities of the small island developing States, yet that recognition has not been translated into effective action.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Health education must also receive more emphasis in our educational programmes. Education and public health are obviously two areas that are fundamental for the well-being of our youth, but alone they are not enough. Our youth must also be given the opportunity to use their skills in productive ways, lest those skills wither on the vine. For that we need a growing economy, and for a growing economy we must look to our development partners and multilateral institutions for assistance. Aid should be deployed so as to build a foundation for sustainable development in all economic sectors, including basic infrastructure, in which to date there has been less progress than in health and education. The re-establishment of banking and financial services continues to elude us despite all our urgent efforts to obtain assistance.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Of equal importance to the development of our primary and secondary education systems is the need to develop technical and vocational training, recognizing and certifying skills and job-oriented training. Only by continued investment in human resource development will the next generation of Nauruans be prepared for the challenges of the twenty-first century. Our health sector, too, has made gains in curative services and preventative health programmes. However, around 75 per cent of people in the Pacific suffer from non-communicable diseases. That is not sustainable. Investments in public health must be accompanied by investments in improving food security. It will be difficult to change that alarming statistic for the better unless my people have a reliable supply of affordable and nutritious food.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As we progress as a nation, we must ensure that we do not leave one segment of our community behind. Our collective future will not be secure unless we invest in the community and business leaders of tomorrow. It is for this reason that Nauru appreciates the importance of the International Year of Youth, which commenced in August 2010. This United Nations tradition began 25 years ago when this body recognized the profoundly important role that youth should have in shaping a new international economic order based on equity and justice. My Government has made investing in our youth a top priority. Nauru is on track to reach our Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. We have been successful despite the significant shortage of quality Nauruan teachers.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It was followed by the explosion in global fuel and food prices and then by the global economic downturn, which many of us are still grappling with today. Those crises were exacerbated by virtue of Nauru being a small and isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. As a country, we will overcome. However, some impacts will be felt longer than others. Perhaps the cruellest legacy of our economic crisis is the impact it had on the youth who grew up during that trying time. Advantages that my generation took for granted — a good education, basic health care and abundant job opportunities — were simply not available for many of our youth during a critical period in their lives. In the absence of such advantages, substance abuse, illiteracy, delinquency and lifestyle- related illnesses became commonplace.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Its medium- and long-term milestones are fully consistent with, and complementary to, the Millennium Development Goals and Mauritius Strategy programmes. It is my hope that the United Nations can play a more significant role in this next phase of our development. Five years after our initial request, I am pleased that the United Nations has opened its joint presence office in Nauru. It is my hope that that will enable United Nations agencies to be more familiar with, and responsive to, our unique development challenges. The future of all my people depends on an effective United Nations system, but none more so than the future of our youth. Not long ago, my country 10-54965 34 suffered a devastating economic crisis.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our financial system is now more transparent and Government more accountable. Most importantly, we have restored some measures of security for our citizens: expanded public health programmes, new and refurbished schools, updated curriculum and more teachers. Power is more reliable and its usage more efficient. Regular air and maritime travel has been restored, and we have seen major improvements in our communications system. Most of the gains in the past five years have been the result of our own efforts, largely supported by bilateral development partners targeting our national plans. However, our journey is far from over. Our NSDS lays out a clear path forward to aid independence based on our national circumstances and capacity.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“However, the centrality of the United Nations system must derive from its ability to help bring about positive outcomes for all of its membership. In that regard, the United Nations report card is mixed. While this body and others have brought attention to the unique and particular vulnerabilities of small island developing States, they have not always succeeded in delivering concrete benefits. There is a proliferation of global action plans but a paucity of action. For this reason, Nauru has relied more on its domestic institutions and bilateral partners than on multilateral governance solutions. Nauru turned a corner in 2005 when it adopted its National Sustainable Development Strategy, commonly known to us as our NSDS. Under that plan we have made significant progress across most sectors.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the President of the Assembly on his assumption of the presidency of this body at its sixty-fifth session. Also, allow me to commend his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, for his capable leadership during the sixty-fourth session. This week is vitally important for my island nation of Nauru and for small island developing States generally. This week we will complete the high-level reviews of the Millennium Development Goals and the Mauritius Strategy, two programmes that are central to the sustainable development prospects of my country. We gather here on this occasion to reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in global governance.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The United Nations continues to be our best hope for creating a fairer and more just world. God bless the Republic of Nauru, and God bless the United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“One of the founding fathers of the United Nations once said, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little”. President Roosevelt passed away before the inaugural session of the General Assembly, but those of us here today have the responsibility to see that his spirit lives on. The United Nations system of multilateral governance was born out of a time of great crisis and it ushered in over half a century of peace and prosperity. However, the benefits were not shared equally, and two thirds of humanity was largely left behind. The time has come to take up the project begun 64 years ago so that future prosperity can be shared by all, including the smallest and most vulnerable.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Future programmes in the region should likewise bring tangible benefits and be free from political influence. Here I must acknowledge and express Nauru’s deepest appreciation to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan and Forum island countries, our own regional organizations and others for their unwavering funding and other forms of support to PRAN. The people of Nauru will always remember their generosity during our time of need. We are also grateful to the United Nations Democracy Fund. With its assistance, Nauru recently adopted a number of important constitutional amendments that will enhance good governance and bring increased stability and responsiveness to my Government.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It included a re-evaluation of fiscal policies and objectives, review of our Constitution, and reforms for our education and health sectors. I am proud that in just four years we have reached the goals laid out in PRAN, so much so that at the fortieth Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, held in Cairns, Australia just last month, leaders agreed that Nauru had emerged from the crisis phase and was on the path to sustainable economic recovery and development, and that PRAN was no longer required. PRAN was an excellent example of how country- focused development aid can quickly lift a nation out of crisis and back onto the path towards sustainable development. PRAN was successful because it identified concrete objectives and was backed by sufficient funds.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is necessary for the Security Council to be more representative in both the permanent and non-permanent categories to reflect current geopolitical realities, which is why Japan, India, Germany and Brazil should be made permanent members. I also call upon the General Assembly, as the world’s most representative governance body, to accept Taiwan’s meaningful participation in its specialized agencies and other world forums. We have seen the power of multilateral cooperation around the world and close to home. My country was at the brink of economic collapse at the beginning of this decade. In cooperation with Pacific Islands Forum member Governments, my country outlined a number of key governance and development priorities in the Pacific Regional Assistance for Nauru (PRAN) programme.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Taiwan has much to offer to vulnerable countries, especially in adaptation measures, technology transfer and financing. 09-52463 6 Climate change is an imminent threat to international security. It is therefore vital that the Security Council be seized of the issue and closely monitor new developments. Special attention must be paid to the most vulnerable countries, including the small island developing States and least developed countries, and also to vulnerable groups within countries, including women and children, indigenous people and the poor. The challenges of the new millennium can be overcome only through multilateral cooperation and a revitalized United Nations system.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Developed countries must also provide the financial, technical and human resources necessary for us to address a problem that was not of our own making. Nauru joins the Alliance of Small Island States in calling for developed countries to provide the equivalent of 1 per cent of their gross domestic product for urgent adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries. That must be in addition to their current commitments for development assistance. Climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation from every member of the international community. Taiwan, as one of the world’s 20 largest economies, can contribute in many ways and should be invited to play a larger role in the United Nations system, particularly in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The science tells us that we must reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million or less in order to avoid the most dire climate change scenarios. However, most developed countries have proposed emissions targets that would result in concentrations far higher. That is not acceptable policy when human lives are at stake. If a doctor prescribes medicine to treat a serious illness, do we only give the patient half of what is needed? If an engineer says eight columns are necessary to support a building, would any responsible person recommend that we use only four? Then why are the most vulnerable countries asked to accept proposals that would surely lead to our extinction? That is not good enough when the lives of real people from real places are being threatened.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We pray that malaria does not find its way to our doorstep. I applaud the commitment of the Secretary- General to addressing that issue and his efforts to build consensus among world leaders this week at the high- level Summit on Climate Change. From Asia to Africa and the Arctic, he has visited affected regions to observe the effects of climate change first hand, but not the Pacific, one of the most vulnerable regions in the world. When the Secretary-General glances out the window of his aircraft while travelling between Asia and the Americas, I would ask that he remember that, in the vast expanse of water below, there is a whole region of people living on small islands who are already grappling with the consequences of climate change. I encourage that his next trip be to the nations of the Pacific before they disappear.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Lastly, the international community must next take swift steps to mitigate climate change, starting with a bold agreement in Copenhagen. Climate change presents the greatest threat for my country and many other small island developing States. Scientists warn that, within our children’s lifetime, sea levels may rise by a metre or more. That would wipe out low-lying coastal areas, and many Pacific islands would be a distant memory. However, we do not need to wait for that catastrophic scenario to see the impacts of climate change. We live with them every day. Flooding and inundation are already eroding our shores and contaminating our water supply. Higher water temperatures and ocean acidification are damaging the marine ecosystems that we depend on for food and our economic livelihood.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The international community must also reform the world financial system so that all developing countries share equitably in global economic prosperity. The current economic crisis has revealed deep flaws in our international financial system. The overriding goals of those reforms should be to facilitate growth in developing nations and to increase their resilience to abrupt economic fluctuations and the fickle flow of capital. While Nauru does not have a mature financial sector, shocks to the international system can be devastating to our local economy and dry up vital development assistance. To be effective, development assistance needs to be reliable. That is not possible without a stable and transparent financial system.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We must not forget the commitments made under the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of 5 09-52463 Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the Monterrey Consensus, the Paris Declaration and other international agreements. Too often, the United Nations and other development partners succeed in delivering many new reports, but fail to deliver tangible results. Action plans are no substitute for action. We must dispense with the excuse that helping poor countries develop is something that we cannot afford. That is simply not true. Quite the opposite: in a globalized world, leaving large portions of the world to languish in poverty is what we cannot afford.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is my fervent hope that the next time that I address this body I can announce that that commitment of the United Nations has been fulfilled. The absence of the United Nations in the Pacific is reflected by the paucity of statistics collected in the region. Accurate indicators are necessary for tracking economic and social progress. It is critical for United Nations agencies and other international institutions to work more closely with our national Governments and with regional organizations so that accurate data is available for planning and policymaking. The temptation to add layer upon layer of new programmes must be avoided.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“For most countries, the food crisis has eased as commodity prices have fallen but, in Nauru, the price of a bag of rice has increased by 80 per cent over the past year, hovering now above $60. The rest of the world pays less than $25. The time has come for the international community to deliver on its promises and to dedicate 0.7 per cent of gross national income to helping developing countries meet their development goals. Past recessions have led to a steep drop in levels of official development assistance. There will be no hope of reaching our MDGs if that happens again. It is vitally important for United Nations agencies to strengthen their engagement in the Pacific region. For the past four years, Nauru has called upon the United Nations to establish a presence on the ground by opening an office in our country.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In the Pacific, where nearly 40 per cent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, it has been no different. The reasons are not hard to identify. The Asian financial crisis was devastating for the economies in our region. The recent spike in food and energy prices has strained our limited financial resources. Now the global economic downturn threatens to depress our economies even further. Additionally, the Pacific confronts a unique set of challenges in reaching our MDGs. Our remoteness makes it difficult to access world markets and greatly increases the cost of doing business. Our small size deprives us of the advantage of economies of scale, and our vulnerability to climate change places our hard- won economic and social progress in jeopardy. Perhaps the most vivid example of our situation is the price of a bag of rice.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We must consider the impacts of our activities and institutions on the most vulnerable, so that large and small countries alike can enjoy the stability and security necessary for sustainable economic development. In this new millennium, even the mighty have been humbled. So what does that mean for a small island nation like Nauru? When giants stumble, it is usually the smallest that suffer the most serious injuries. The international community must begin this process of renewal by reaffirming its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an initiative meant to alleviate the burdens of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy, inequality and disease. After early success in the 1990s, progress towards the MDGs has slowed throughout the world.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The global challenges that we face today may sometimes shock us, but they should not surprise us. Most stem from problems that have been allowed to fester and grow for many years, if not decades. All are inextricably linked to the choices made by the international community regarding international commerce and development. The challenges of the new millennium are global in nature and therefore require a global response. Now, more than ever, we must revitalize our multilateral systems of governance in order to make them more responsive and more representative. Large countries tend to dominate international forums and drown out the rest of us. In the case of climate change and small island States, I mean that quite literally.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I would like to offer my congratulations, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- fourth session. Allow me also to commend your predecessor, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, for his capable leadership during the sixty-third session. I assure you, Sir, of my delegation’s full support and cooperation as you lead the work of this important session. The new millennium has been no stranger to crisis. We have seen how ideological extremism can foment turmoil and civil unrest in ways that do not respect international borders. We have also learned that financial instability can quickly propagate through global markets and cause chaos in the real economy. And we have been repeatedly reminded that we disrespect the natural environment at our peril.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is very simple and straightforward: we have vowed to the people, now let us keep our promise.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“If the United Nations prides itself on being an inclusive Organization that champions the rights of everyone, it cannot continue to deny the fundamental right of Taiwan’s 23 million people to participate in the specialized agencies of the United Nations. It is clear to all of us that cross-Strait relations have been improving since May 2008 and that leaders from both sides have openly shown a willingness to work together to create a positive atmosphere. It is now time for the United Nations to find a solution to the exclusion of Taiwan. Only by allowing Taiwan to participate meaningfully in the specialized agencies of the United Nations can the principle of universality and democratization of the Organization be fulfilled, and regional peace and prosperity ensured.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)