YouSaid · the spoken record

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen

lines on the record: 27
first: 2019-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“Today we reiterate the call for dialogue, peace and multilateralism, with respect for international law and the principles that support it. devoid of interests other than the well-being of peoples. In many aspects, we are in a race against time for human survival, which is the raison d’etre of the world body that brings us together and on whose actions the steps we take towards the future, as a world community, largely depend. Today, as head of the Panamanian State. I affirm that Panama wants for the entire world the same thing it wants for its own people: peace, well-being, justice and development.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Our country is making a titanic effort to offer solidarity to those irregular migrants, whose number increases every year, forcing Panama to allocate significant resources to humanitarian relief. This is an unsustainable, unwanted and inhumane situation; a humanitarian tragedy of pain suffering and death for hundreds of thousands of migrants who undertake that risky journey. I repeat, this is an unsustainable situation — a situation in which we are victims and not responsible. I call on the international community to address, in all its magnitude, the problem of irregular migration, which today is not concentrated exclusively in the Mediterranean, but is global in nature and directly impacting Panamanians at this very moment.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“they would not be forced to leave their countries, emigrating irregularly, exposing themselves to the violation of their human rights and. on many occasions, losing their lives. In that regard, the problem of irregular migration must be addressed at the multilateral level, emphasizing respect for human rights and under the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility, with the purpose of safeguarding the integrity of human life, safely and in an orderly manner. Panama works actively, in cooperation with several countries of the region, in the execution of programmes to improve the care and protection of irregular migrants who enter our country through the border with Colombia, crossing the dangerous Darien jungle, the largest natural park in all of Central America.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I assure the nations of the world that Panama is committed to maintaining the operation of the canal in a safe, efficient, reliable and competitive manner, as we have done until now. Here before the General Assembly. Panama, as a country that contributes effectively to the protection of the environment, asks the most polluting countries to honour the commitments they have made to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. We have also seen repeatedly, in the meetings of the General Assembly and the Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, how countries commit to making changes that are later not fulfilled. In the context of human development, it is of the highest priority to provide populations with opportunities for a more dignified life within their own countries. In that way.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Also, during our administration, in Panama we have imposed an ambitious energy transition agenda with the purpose of identifying and developing accessible, non-polluting energy to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 24 per cent by 2050. Panama is among the 15 countries in the world most exposed to climatic and natural risks. In fact, we have already registered the first case of climate displacement in our territory, when the population of Carti Sugtupu island had to relocate due to the rise in sea level. I want to reaffirm, on behalf of the Republic of Panama, that Panamanians successfully assumed the operation of the Panama Canal in 1999 and expanded its capacity in 2016.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We are a country of great water wealth; our coasts are washed by two large oceans, which makes us especially aware of the importance of water to our population and to life on Earth. Panama has made an extraordinary effort to preserve our seas, reaching the goal of 30 per cent as a protected area nine years before 2030. and we have even increased our contribution to 54 per cent this year. Panama, without rhetoric but with facts, is a blue leader. I also highlight that Panama is one of the seven countries in the world to have been declared carbon negative. In Panama we have established a carbon footprint reduction programme with a national strategy for green hydrogen and derivatives.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We must ask ourselves: How does the climate crisis impact the first three Sustainable Development Goals? Can we really achieve the end of poverty, zero hunger and health and well-being in the midst of the serious drought that is plaguing the planet, the floods, the devastating fires that devastate immense surfaces and the rise in ocean levels? Let us reflect on the conclusions of the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which warns us of an unprecedented escalation of changes in the climate system that is leading us into extreme situations that seriously threaten the maintenance of life on the planet. The climate crisis is a ticking time bomb and time is running out for all of us. We have demonstrated Panama’s commitment to human existence in a concrete way with the decisions we make and the consequent actions we take.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Furthermore, the Republic of Panama is committed to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, whose guidelines are included in the Government plan of my administration. In 50 months of administration, our Government has focused on the development of public policies that allow us to face the enormous challenge ahead, laying the foundations to reduce poverty and inequality and to provide less-favoured populations the opportunity to achieve social conditions and economic conditions that make it possible for them to live with dignity. Advancing towards the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals is an unavoidable responsibility that compels us to pay attention to the interaction of cause and effect between them.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I am pleased to be here in this Assembly, which brings us together for the purpose of finding more effective ways to address the pressing problems of global society. The Republic of Panama, as a founding Member of the organization, reiterates its firm commitment to the search for solutions based on dialogue and mutual respect, which contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, which are essential for the development and well-being of humankind. Panama is the bridge of the world, a crossroads at the centre of the Americas where all routes converge, thanks to our exceptional air and maritime connectivity, the best in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Let us make no mistake — multilateral action is the right path. Thank you very much.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The pandemic has plunged millions of people into grief. We are engaged in a relentless daily battle, facing the unseen and the uncertain, head-on, refusing to surrender. We have lost grandparents, parents and children in the deadly duel against the virus. Nurses, doctors, health workers have fallen victim. We believe that a vaccine is near and that we can stop an evil no one ever wanted. We will recover. Governments and world leaders must acknowledge mistakes and be prepared going forward so that our health systems can face crises, such as the one we now face. We can and must help each other, but we must learn from this frightful situation that beyond recovery, we must build a new society — one that is more supportive, equitable and just. Together, as nations united, we will build the future we want.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We allowed our infrastructure to be used by the region, thereby making it possible for humanitarian assistance in the form of supplies, medicines and medical equipment to be distributed to more than 30 countries through the Regional Logistics Center, the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Red Cross. Only together, with solidarity and cooperation, can we move forward. If the international community fails to respond now, in a decisive manner, the United Nations 2030 Agenda could be derailed. A new multilateral order requires genuine commitment from each of our countries to taking concrete action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. And what is agreed here in this forum is delivered upon at home. Ladies and gentlemen, Our planet has been extremely badly hurt.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Ladies and gentlemen, As the country with the best maritime and air connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean, Panama has done the same in its position as hub of the Americas, by allowing its infrastructure to be used by the world — maintaining the 144 maritime routes and 1,700 ports served by its Canal. We have kept our port and airport open, thereby ensuring the continuity of logistics chains for global supplies, in particular of food and medicine. We demonstrated our solidarity by providing humanitarian assistance and allowing the Zandaam and Rotterdam cruise ships, which were affected by COVID-19, to transit the Panama Canal so that their passengers could be treated in time, thereby preventing a greater tragedy.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The most important lesson from the pandemic is that of working together on problems that affect humankind. Without a doubt, we are stronger together than apart. Let us remember that after the Second World War, it was the need to survive, rebuild economies and prevent the scourge of a new war that brought countries together to create a new international order. The pandemic has again produced that de facto solidarity. We have seen how international cooperation has been mobilized through concrete actions by countries. For example, scientists from Asia, Europe and the Americas share information and experiences.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It is also seen in the application of first-world digital educational platforms, which we now use in some of our public schools or in the practice of telemedicine, which allows citizens in remote areas to receive medical care from specialists hundreds of kilometres away. Ladies and gentlemen, An increase in unemployment is a serious consequence of the health crisis. Here, too, there is an important opportunity for our economies, which are based primarily on informal work, as the groundwork is laid and the necessary changes are made in public policies to build the future we want — one focused on entrepreneurship and the formalization of employment. In a post-COVID-19 world, shared prosperity can be the result of a common vision of global solidarity.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Ladies and gentlemen, One of the main lessons learned from the pandemic is the importance of trusting science, technology and innovation to provide solutions that allow us to close existing social gaps. The circumstances created by the pandemic enabled the rapid implementation of innovative systems. Learning processes have been accelerated as never before, leading to greater return on the State’s investment in innovation. This is particularly true in the digital economy, reflected in the shift to methods, such as telecommuting or the consumption of services and products ordered and delivered online and by courier.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Although the pandemic affects us all, not all of us are affected equally. We must all focus on poverty and inequality. If in the past some chose to ignore them, it is now impossible not to acknowledge their harsh reality. Let us be clear. The post-pandemic world will continue with the same problems we face now, but under increasingly extreme conditions. The post-pandemic world will be different only if, going forward, even amid this battle, we take mitigation measures and focus on laying the foundations to resolve these issues and bring about deep structural change. If we learn the right lessons from this crisis, we will be able to achieve the social consensus that will allow us to accelerate the reforms needed to achieve a society that is prosperous, and above all, just and more united.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“This implies changes in our economic systems, leadership and governance, transparency, protection and restoration of biodiversity, human rights and social inclusion. Ladies and gentlemen, COVID-19 has highlighted contradictions in public policy, throughout the world, and reveals that a post-pandemic world must be sustainable and better. The decisions we make today will have long-term consequences. Doing more of the same is simply unsustainable. That would mean disregarding the scale of human suffering that the pandemic has unleashed. This crisis is unnerving — in part because it has new and unfamiliar characteristics. It is a global health emergency. However, the most worrisome part of the pandemic is not new. COVID-19 has highlighted deep inequalities that already exist.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations Heads of State and Government Distinguished delegates, History has taught us that decisions made in times of crisis define and leave their mark on the world for decades. In other words, the great trials of humankind, such as pandemics, have forced us to break with the past, to imagine a new world. This pandemic is no different. It is a portal — the bridge between one world and the next. World leaders today face a number of extraordinary and monumental challenges. In the short, medium and long term, COVID-19 has put the paradigms of today’s society to the test and challenges us to actively build the future we want.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I want to reiterate that Panama is a country of noble and good people. Those are the pages of the story that we will continue to write. Today we are facing great challenges, but we can succeed in moving forward only by joining forces. The time is now.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are at a historic crossroads and we must redefine our own existence. We must redouble our efforts. We invite the whole world to Panama. We offer more room for dialogue and regional and global understanding. I am not talking about a never-ending dialogue but rather those that unite and resolve. We facilitate good investments and have the best air, maritime, seaport and telecommunications connectivity in the region. We are the hub of the Americas. Panama is a land of innovation, science and technology and a place for universal encounters with knowledge. There is a place in the world called Panama. It is written in the pages of our history that we never allow ourselves to be conquered by adversity. We know that better times are coming. That is what we want and aspire to for Panamanians and for all humankind.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Sharing knowledge is a universal goal of sustainable development, from early childhood to the best universities in the world. We should be generous in sharing knowledge rather than selfish in monopolizing it. We have heard the concerns and warnings that were expressed at the Climate Action Summit loud and clear. Our verdant tropical forests are the most beautiful in the world. In Panama there are more than 10,000 varieties of plants and 1,000 species of birds. The biodiversity of the planet is in our hands. We must all work together for change in order to reduce the danger of our extinction. There are 1 million species at risk of dying out. We must expand multilateral initiatives to strengthen the climate change regime, and we must fulfil the agreements we sign. Our culture is changing.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Leaving people to die in misery is inhumane, and there is no room for such indifference. Let us move from words to deeds. Let us join forces. By fighting poverty and inequality and fulfilling the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we are addressing corruption through the effective administration of justice. Our most important task is transforming education. We have children who go to school and do not learn. We need education systems where students learn to think, work in a team, solve problems, harness creativity, take care of the environment and appreciate art and culture and science and technology. Education frees us from poverty and empowers people to achieve a dignified life. Education means social peace, while creating opportunities and making us more equal in our diversity. Education means human dignity.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is a privilege to be here and to address the citizens of the world and the people of Panama, proudly representing my homeland. Global problems require multilateral solutions. As it has done in the past, Panama is ready to contribute to the resolution of conflicts, especially in our region. Right now our nation, our home, is working on a particular conquest — the fight against poverty and inequality. It is a great challenge for Panamanians, but we have decided that together we can do it. Poverty and inequality harm human beings, damage families and close off the future for young people, not just in Panama but all over the world. For every word I utter here, thousands are dying in unjust wars, without doctors or medicine. A few are earning millions, and millions are surviving on very little.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“One page is about the dream of Simon Bolivar, who wrote that if the world were to choose its capital, it would assign that great destiny to the Isthmus of Panama. Its pages tell of the struggle of generations of Panamanians and the global support that culminated in the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. I am referring to Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States, and Omar Torrijos, then Head of the Government of Panama, who led the negotiations between two nations, one large and one small, and who were able to reach an agreement and achieve a historic reparation — the restoration to Panama of our Canal and our territorial integrity. There is another page in that book that Pope Francis wrote this January, at the end of World Youth Day, which reads, “Panama is a country of a noble people.” Those are Panama’s stories.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I am from Panama, where we live on a strip of land that, in the space of 35 minutes, spans two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific. Our country’s aim is to serve humankind. That is our historical and geographical destiny. Panama’s story contains many pages, some written and some as yet untold. It is much more than the story of one canal. It chronicles the Afro-Antillean hands that built it and all the migrants who linked two oceans with their blood and effort. It contains the first trans-isthmus railroad that joined two oceans and facilitated world trade, as well as Geisha coffee, which is cultivated by the Ngabe-Bugle Indians and is the best-quality coffee in the world. The book recounts our efforts for peace, dialogue, negotiation and consensus.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Today our region and the entire world are facing great regional and global challenges, and we will be able to find solutions to them only if we act collectively rather than individually. We can make progress only by joining forces. The United Nations is made up of the nations of the world. If we are truly united, nations can achieve a more just and secure world of human dignity. If we call on nations freely and without imposing demands, together we can build the future. If small and large nations live together in equality and with respect, and if we hold on to the notion of making a lasting peace that is shared and universal, we will have a more fraternal world. This is the first time that I have come to the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)