YouSaid · the spoken record

Jaime Gama

lines on the record: 114
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2001-09-24
sittings or episodes: 5
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

“I take this opportunity to underline that this entire process has been conducted in an exemplary manner by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor under the leadership of Sergio Vieira de Mello. The work of the United Nations towards the consolidation of a new and indisputably sovereign, democratic and economically viable State only reinforces the credibility of the Organization at a time in international life when its inspiration and leadership are more needed than ever before to correctly manage the great global challenges of the twenty-first century.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The United Nations has the responsibility of maintaining an appropriate level of involvement until the definitive conclusion of the peace process, so as not to put at risk the investments made and expectations created. The United Nations should proceed without hesitation in supporting the creation of viable nations. I welcome the Security Council’s endorsement of this understanding with regard to East Timor, on 31 October. The international community cannot neglect the consolidation of the solutions achieved in East Timor, whose transition to independence is, in fact, a clear case of success for the United Nations and a 20 special reason for pride for the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In that vein, I would like to actively encourage the Secretary-General to intensify all possible efforts to relaunch the peace process in Angola with a view to the adequate implementation of the Lusaka Protocol, so that that great country can finally guarantee tranquillity to its citizens and recover its standing and the role to which it is entitled in international life, fully taking part in achieving the objectives of the African renaissance. I am certain that the troika of observer States, as well as the African regional organizations and the European Union, will firmly support the contribution of the Secretary-General to a definitive resolution of the Angolan issue. When the international community successfully intervenes in a conflict, it should not be turned aside from the consolidation of the solutions reached.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In fact, the absence of constructive proposals — including with regard to a ceasefire or the cessation of offensive operations — does not contribute to the implementation of possible platforms for dialogue, which the current situation demands. We praise the important and increasing contribution made by Angolan society, particularly its churches, to peace and reconciliation. We believe that a United Nations presence in Angola continues to be essential and should be encouraged.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is essential that the commitments undertaken with regard to the international community, and principally with regard to the Angolan people, be respected. Portugal encourages the Angolan Government to redouble its efforts to achieve national reconciliation. We also encourage the introduction of political and economic reforms in Angola, with a view to reinforcing in particular the legitimacy of its representative and pluralistic institutions and the strengthening of the credibility of its monetary and financial structures. We also appeal for a return to political means on the part of those — such as the sector that inspires the more radical line of UNITA — that have resorted to methods, namely violence against civilians, that have placed them outside the international community.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Only there will a solution be found that is just, both for the Palestinian people — who have fought for decades for the recognition of their homeland, an inalienable and undeniable right, and for dignified living conditions within a sovereign and responsible Palestinian State — and for Israel, which has an equal right to live in security in the region and at peace with its neighbours. As another example of international conflicts that drag on, apparently with no definitive resolution in sight, my country profoundly regrets the continuation of the armed conflict in Angola and its severe humanitarian consequences. Portugal reaffirms its commitment to and support for the search for a political solution to this problem, in line with the provisions of the Acordos de Paz, the Lusaka Protocol and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In a post- Taliban scenario, the United Nations will be called upon to take a decisive role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as in the establishment of peaceful relations between Afghanistan and its neighbours. The United Nations plays an indispensable role in the prevention of conflicts, the maintenance of international peace and security and the reconstruction of territories devastated by war. Numerous conflicts are awaiting resolution and constitute a considerable challenge to the international community’s capacity to guarantee their peaceful and definitive settlement. The situation in the Middle East, specifically in Palestine, is the most worrisome, placing even international security at risk. The international community can spare no efforts to ensure that Israel and the Palestinians return to the path of dialogue.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We believe that, from the very start, the Afghan people should be associated with the reconstruction of their country, which has been devastated in recent years by a brutal regime that is not recognized internationally. The international community should 19 spare no efforts in alleviating the serious humanitarian situation affecting the Afghan people. Finally, let me reiterate that the Portuguese Government unequivocally supports the efforts undertaken by the United Nations, and in particular by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Lakdar Brahimi, in envisioning a transitional governmental structure and in planning a possible United Nations mission on the ground.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As I have already stated, Portugal has supported from the beginning the international campaign under way in Afghanistan, which has been legitimized by the deliberations of the United Nations. Those responsible for the terrorist acts that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians on 11 September must be captured and tried, and their military infrastructure must be eliminated. In our view, the principles guiding the intervention in Afghanistan should include the preservation of territorial integrity and the unity of the country, as well as the establishment of a broadly supported, multi-ethnic and representative Government.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Portugal has already signed 11 of the 12 international conventions against terrorism and is strongly committed to fully implementing their provisions. Yesterday we deposited our instrument of ratification for the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, and shortly we will deposit our instrument of ratification for the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation. We welcome the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001), which are fundamental instruments for the cohesion of the international community in its legitimate fight against terrorism. I would also like to highlight the measures contained therein for the fight against terrorist financing — an absolutely crucial area.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the light of the current circumstances, I must stress the importance of the entire range of international legislation produced, or awaiting approval, under the aegis of the United Nations in the area of the fight against terrorism: the 12 conventions whose ratification and implementation make them crucial weapons in preventing and fighting against this scourge. Because of its particular significance at this time, I refer specifically to the work of the General Assembly on the draft global convention on terrorism. The great efforts made by the great majority of delegations in search of compromise solutions bear witness to a renewed convergence of wills in pursuit of this common goal. We should take advantage of the current momentum of collective commitment to reach the speedy completion of this essential instrument.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is for other forums to complement these actions, orienting and adjusting them in accordance with the concrete needs of their respective mandates. In this context, I would like to recall that Portugal has supported without reservation the international fight against terrorism here in the United Nations, in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in the European Union, in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in our bilateral relations with the United States and other countries. I would like to assure the Assembly that in its presidency of the OSCE next year, Portugal will attribute particular priority to this matter.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It falls to each and every State Member of the United Nations to fight this scourge, whose blind hatred has plunged the world into a state of turmoil not seen since the end of the Second World War. What is most shocking to us is the fact that we are faced with a force that ignores or despises the very concept of the right to life. We must embark on a concerted effort at all levels to submit to justice those guilty of the crimes committed, with a view to avoiding a repetition of the terrorist acts of September. We believe the United Nations has an irreplaceable role to play as the source of legitimacy for the collective effort of the international community in the fight against this common enemy.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“First, I cannot fail to refer to the tragic terrorist attacks of 11 September against the United States, and in particular against the city of New York and innocent citizens of many nationalities. I reiterate our deep sorrow and reaffirm our complete solidarity with all those who, like us Portuguese, were victimized by the loss of their compatriots and by the suffering of the bereaved families. We are dealing with violence without a face, violence that kills indiscriminately and that must be confronted by the international community as a whole, irrespective of the religion we practice, the race to which we belong, the ideology we follow or the civilization into which we were born.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“English text furnished by the delegation): It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Mr. Han Seung-soo on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly. I also pay tribute to the outgoing President, Mr. Harri Holkeri. I renew my respects to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for the notable and courageous way in which he has continued to fulfil his mandate and for the well-deserved award of the Nobel Peace Prize to him and to the United Nations. 18 My Belgian colleague has already addressed the Assembly on behalf of the 15 States members of the European Union in a statement with which my country aligns itself completely. I would, however, like to reflect upon certain issues on the international agenda.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It is in that spirit that we will participate in the quadripartite summit to be held soon at Jakarta, which will bring together high-level representatives of Indonesia, East Timor, Australia and Portugal. Guaranteeing peace, fighting poverty, protecting the environment and leaving a better world for future generations: that is our duty at the turn of the millennium. Only through democracy can Governments respond to those aspirations of our societies. Only a reformed and ever more democratic United Nations will be able to help us face this common challenge.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We welcome the swift response of the Security Council in adopting its resolution 1319 (2000) and in deciding to dispatch an evaluation mission to West Timor. The new democratic Government of Indonesia has, in general, shown a spirit of cooperation. It is now time for it to honour its commitment to re-establish law and order in West Timor, disarming and dismantling its militias. Their continued existence destabilizes the transition process in East Timor and is an affront to the civilian and military authorities of Indonesia, disturbing the consolidation of the democratic regime in that country. For our part, we stand ready to work with the Indonesian Government, helping it to resolve this problem. It was in that spirit that the Portuguese Prime Minister proposed here last week a stability pact for East Timor.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Much remains to be done, but the able leadership of Sergio Vieira de Mello and the exceptional qualities of Xanana Gusmão allow us to look to the future with optimism. The tragic events that took place in Atambua on 6 September, in which three members of the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees lost their lives, deserve unanimous condemnation by the international community. They testify to the impunity with which the militias act in West Timor. Two days after those events, further militia activity took place along the border, which led to the death of 11 people, this time of Indonesian nationality, who were assisting various non- governmental organizations and international organizations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“One year after the referendum that allowed the people of East Timor finally to exercise their right to self-determination, the United Nations faces a new challenge: administering East Timor in its transitional period and creating the necessary foundations for a new independent and democratic State that will be a future member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries — and that we hope can be admitted to membership of the United Nations by 2001. Portugal has always supported East Timor and will continue to do so. Our total financial assistance, not counting our participation in the military component of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, will reach an estimated $50 million this year, and will remain at that level in 2001 and 2002.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We welcome the strengthening of the sanctions regime against UNITA and reiterate our pledge to cooperate with the Security Council's sanctions Committee. We consider that the presence of the United Nations on Angolan territory continues to be of fundamental importance, from both a humanitarian and a political perspective. Only thus can the United Nations quickly step in to support any political solution that may emerge. I welcome the intention of the Angolan Government to organize elections and to hold them in 2001. Promotion of the values of tolerance and dialogue and of democratic principles is essential to guarantee a lasting peace.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The persistence and potential spread of those tensions and conflicts seriously threaten the security of the entire subregion of West Africa, which could have grave political, economic and humanitarian consequences. It is therefore necessary for the international community to give greater attention to this sensitive region of Africa while there is still time. With respect to Angola, we deeply regret the fact that the war is continuing, which we believe is due to the lack of implementation of the Bicesse and Lusaka peace agreements, and to UNITA's violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. In our view, those instruments continue to be the reference point for a political solution to the Angolan conflict.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Summit opened new vistas in the relationship between Europe and Africa which will surely make possible a joint process of reflection on the challenges and problems that the 12 two continents face. The second Africa-Europe Summit will be held at Lisbon in 2003. West Africa is at present one of our main concerns on the continent. In that connection I would mention the situation in Casamance in Senegal; the recent conflict in Guinea-Bissau, from which the country is only now beginning to recover; the serious conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia; the problem of refugees from those countries and their consequences for Guinea; and the instability along the borders of all those countries.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Let me speak briefly about an initiative to which my country attaches great importance. In June, at Warsaw, a group of more than 100 countries, united by shared beliefs, endorsed a declaration entitled “Towards a Community of Democracies”. The participants recognized that there was no single model to determine how the will of a people should be respected. The Community of Democracies will play a role in uniting the efforts of all countries that believe a representative democratic system to be the system that best meets that objective. I wish now to speak of some regional matters that are of particular importance to my country. Africa is one of the great priorities of Portuguese foreign policy. The first Africa-Europe Summit was held during the Portuguese presidency of the European Union, and on the basis of a Portuguese proposal.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Here, civil society should use all its influence, by bringing pressure to bear on, and calling to account, Governments that think they can deal with environmental issues by opting out, as though they were simply matters of sovereignty. We can no longer think in that way. Global warming affects us all. To face this common problem, we need common action on a global scale. For geographical, historical and political reasons, Portugal is a country that is linked to the oceans. For that reason, we recognize their importance both to the land ecosystem and to the renewal of energy resources vital to the sustenance of millions of people. We welcome the launching of an informal consultative process on the oceans and the law of the sea, and we attach particular importance to the debate on scientific research on marine matters.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The United Nations must continue to guide the way on environmental matters, as it has since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. But the response from States has fallen short — often very short — of what we committed ourselves to do in political statements and even in international treaties. Let us not delude ourselves: the United Nations plays an instrumental role in this crucial, strategic area, as was reaffirmed in the Millennium Declaration, but it is only States that can produce results. This is not a job that can be subcontracted to the United Nations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Poverty, sadly, is also closely linked to infection and to contagious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which cause millions of deaths every year and which, in Africa, are laying waste to an entire generation and posing a tragic threat to future development. More than ever before, it is vital to mobilize the energies of civil society, institutions and the international community at large to fight infection and contagious diseases. The European Union and the United States recently agreed, at Lisbon, to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against those scourges. Turning to the environment, we must always be mindful of the fact that economic growth and progress must not be achieved at any cost, least of all at the cost of the future.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Our priority should be to redefine the role of each institution and to avoid any duplication of effort in a field where the United Nations should play a leading role. It is equally important to give responsibility to the countries receiving aid by demanding that funds be used efficiently or requiring good governance. In this regard I should like to emphasize that the fight against corruption should be a priority of all our Governments. The Millennium Declaration states clearly that the principal challenge today is to ensure that globalization becomes a positive reality for the entire population of the world, and not a new factor of exclusion. Only the United Nations is in a position to promote the partnership for change that Kofi Annan referred to in his report entitled “We the peoples”.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Many of those deaths could be avoided through better management and without an increase in resources. Health, like education, should be a priority sector for development assistance. It is vital to combine efforts, policies and instruments. Direct development assistance must be complemented by mechanisms to resolve the longstanding problems of the poorest countries through reform of the regulatory institutions of the global financial and economic system and through agreements that allow poor countries to access the markets of developed countries without trade barriers. I should like to stress in particular the importance of developing cooperative mechanisms between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions, namely a revitalized Economic and Social Council.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In a globalized world, the existence of tremendous economic asymmetries is a factor of permanent tension and conflict. Indeed, about half of the world's population lives on less than $2 a day. The turn of the millennium is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our will to combat and eradicate poverty on a global scale. It may be a utopian vision at this point, but with our combined efforts it is a goal that may be within our reach. In the time that it takes to deliver each of these statements in the General Assembly, around 300 children under the age of 1 will die. Is this acceptable? Obviously not. Could it be, then, that the human and financial resources necessary to fight this tragedy are so great that they force us into accepting it? The answer again is no.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Portugal is currently the 11th-largest contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping operations, and first among its European Union partners. During the Portuguese presidency of the European Union, we gave decisive impetus to the creation of the European Union's capacities to intervene, which we see as being offered in the service of international peace and cooperation. In the year 2003, the Union will have at its disposal a force of 50,000 to 60,000 military personnel, to which 5,000 police will be added, as well as a civilian structure for crisis management. This aspect of Portugal's external activities will continue to be favoured, and the importance we attach to them is equally reflected in our candidacy for the presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the year 2002.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“I would stress, however, that crucial questions will always be of a political nature. We must muster the necessary courage to broaden the scope of the responsibilities of the United Nations. Let us not deceive ourselves. As the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, stated, it is our function to intervene. Allow me to go ever further and to say that it is our duty to do so — to intervene in time, effectively and on the basis of international law. Portugal is ready to do so, as it has shown in the past. We have participated in peacekeeping operations in Mozambique, Angola, the Central African Republic and Guatemala, and today we are participating in United Nations missions in East Timor, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Western Sahara, with more than 1,000 peacekeepers.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“To continue this effort effectively, the United Nations must have at its disposal the necessary resources, be they financial, technical, civilian, political or military. A credible peacekeeping capacity is in itself a deterrent to conflicts and therefore an integral part of the global system of conflict prevention, of which the United Nations should be an essential component. In this regard, Portugal welcomed with satisfaction the Brahimi report on peace operations. We believe that its list of recommendations point the way to a process of reform that will strengthen the capacity of the United Nations in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace-building. We should take advantage of the momentum that has been created and concentrate on obtaining concrete results within the next year or two.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In this era of increasing globalization, we should give the United Nations the means to accomplish the missions that we have entrusted it with, turning the Organization into the foundation of a more stable, united and cohesive international community. The international community faces three great challenges at the turn of the millennium: to strengthen our action on behalf of peace, to contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, and to guarantee environmental conditions conducive to perpetuating life on earth. The increasing use of peacekeeping operations over the last decade, which we have encouraged, conclusively demonstrates their importance. The results that we have obtained on the five continents tell us with certainty that we have chosen the right path.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It is with the greatest pleasure that I congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of this Millennium Assembly. I pay tribute also to the outgoing President, Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, and reiterate to the Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan, my praise for his vision and 10 for the remarkable and courageous manner in which he is carrying out his duties. My French colleague has already addressed the Assembly on behalf of the 15 member States of the European Union, a statement with which my country fully associates itself. I will now touch upon questions of particular importance to my country, Portugal. As the Prime Minister stated here during the Millennium Summit, the United Nations finds itself at a turning point which necessarily calls for the exercise of reflection on the future of the Organization.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“I should like to mention that Portugal is a candidate for membership in the Commission on Human Rights, for a mandate that will begin in January 2000 and that will coincide with the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union. In an era of globalization — of markets, information, circulation of people and cultural exchange — we also have a duty to include in the international agenda the globalization of human rights. This will be the best tribute we can pay to the Universal Declaration that was issued 50 years ago.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We have sought to contribute effectively to the strengthening of the Council?s authority and the effectiveness of its action, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. On the other hand, increasing the transparency and democratic nature of its functioning is essential to us, allowing, in this way, non-members to better follow the work of the Council. 17 This year, as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, none can purport to defend international law and legitimacy while ignoring the fulfilment of those fundamental rights. Terrorism is one of the most perverse forms of human rights violation, and a coordinated international effort to combat it is urgently required.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Still in this area, Portugal has participated actively in various activities undertaken in the context of the United Nations, namely at the level of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Independent World Commission on the Oceans. In fact, Portugal was granted the honour of the presidency of the latter, in the person of Dr. Mario Soares, and its work led to the adoption of the report approved in Lisbon at the beginning of this month, which appeals for a democratic, equitable and peaceful management of the “ocean ... our future”, and which will be submitted to the General Assembly. Portugal is a non-permanent member of the Security Council until the end of this year.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“As a short note on the question of official development assistance, I would like to put on record that, according to data on 1997 recently issued by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Portugal was the donor that registered the largest increase in this type of aid — 27.3 per cent. Within the framework of the International Year of the Oceans, Portugal dedicated the last World Exposition of this century — EXPO ?98 — to the theme “The oceans: a heritage for the future”, attempting in this manner to contribute to a progressive enlightenment of humanity with regard to the risks and challenges related to the preservation of the oceans.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In just over a year, on 20 December 1999, the territory of Macao, currently under Portuguese administration, will return to the sovereignty of the People?s Republic of China, in fulfilment of the terms of the Luso-Chinese Joint Declaration of 13 April 1987. The transition process has been carried out in a constructive and pragmatic climate, reflecting the good relations that exist between the two countries. We are convinced that this climate will persist until the end, thus guaranteeing a transfer of power conducive to the future stability and prosperity of Macao, while respecting its autonomy and uniqueness.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It is necessary now to achieve tangible progress with regard to the more critical aspects of the situation in the territory, such as the reduction of the Indonesian military presence, the release of all East Timorese political prisoners, including Xanana Gusmao, and the monitoring by the United Nations of the evolution of the situation on the ground. We believe that we are still at a turning point. Nothing substantial has yet been settled or guaranteed. That is why we consider it essential that the international community continue to follow closely the evolution of this process in its varied aspects, so that the goal of finally enabling the people of East Timor to enjoy a future of freedom, peace and security is not delayed any further.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While safeguarding the basic positions of principle of the parties, it was agreed to negotiate for East Timor a wide-ranging autonomy that we wish to see rest on genuinely democratic and participatory rules for its people, who, it is hoped, will progressively establish an ample degree of self-government. It was also agreed to associate more closely the East Timorese — whose will, freely expressed in accordance with their legitimate right to self- determination, will be essential to validate any definitive solution to the question — with the process of negotiations under way, entrusting the Secretary-General with the responsibility of promoting that wide consultation.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Portugal welcomes the constructive spirit that dominated the most recent round of ministerial talks on the question of East Timor, held under the auspices of the Secretary-General, whose efforts at mediation, as well as those of his Special Representative, Ambassador Marker and his collaborators, I would especially like to congratulate. I believe I can, for the first time, say that effective and promising steps have been taken towards creating the conditions to achieve a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to this problem, with full respect for the legitimate rights of the East Timorese people, in accordance with the principles of the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“I would now like to refer to another source of serious and justified concern for the international community, this time on the European continent: the crisis in Kosovo, which jeopardizes peace and stability in the 16 Balkans and is producing heavy human losses, in terms of deaths, injuries, internally displaced persons and refugees. There can be no doubt as to who bears the primary responsibility for the eruption of the current crisis. The adoption a few minutes ago by the Security Council of a resolution co-sponsored by Portugal is a clear signal of the determination of the international community and cannot be ignored by those to whom it is addressed.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We support unconditionally the African peace initiatives that seek a negotiated and peaceful solution to the complex political problems of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are at the heart of the conflict and cannot and should not have a solution based on the use of force or on the presence of foreign military forces. Notwithstanding continued difficulties, we still believe in a democratic, free and prosperous future for Africa. We are therefore committed to bringing to fruition the initiative we launched in 1996 to hold a summit between the European Union and Africa, which is now scheduled for 2000. We therefore welcomed with satisfaction the decision taken by the most recent Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit in Ouagadougou to endorse that initiative.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The CPLP?s intervention aligned itself with that of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), eventually permitting the signature of a ceasefire agreement between the Government and the military junta, which opened the way to a negotiated settlement of the conflict. Still on the African continent, a word is also due on the events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We defend unequivocally the need to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of that vast country, whose stability is strategically essential to the region in which it is located.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Guinea-Bissau — a friend of Portugal with which we also share many varied and strong affinities — has since June been the site of a conflict that has had grave human, economic and social consequences for its people. At the express request of the parties to the conflict, Portugal and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) — which is principally made up of African countries, and has among its main goals the political and diplomatic coordination of its members? policies — carried out from the start mediation efforts designed to stop the fighting, obtain a negotiated solution to the conflict and bring humanitarian assistance to the population of Guinea-Bissau. At no time was it possible to doubt the legitimate intentions that led the CPLP, of which Guinea-Bissau is a founding member, to respond to the request made to it.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We appeal, once again, for the Lusaka Protocol to be respected, and in particular appeal to UNITA to assure immediately the Protocol?s implementation, in strict accordance with the terms that have been demanded of it by the Security Council. The gains of a multi-party system in Angola must not be jeopardized. Its participants, particularly having endorsed peace and national reconciliation, must not see the erection of barriers to the respective mandates, and all must be given the conditions of security necessary to face the reconstruction of the country. The Secretary-General deserves our full support in continuing to promote all the necessary responses that the gravity of the situation requires from the international community.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“As a member of the troika of observer countries to the Angolan peace process and as one of countries that contributed most to the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) and to the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), Portugal remains committed to promoting concord in Angola in close cooperation with the United Nations and, in particular, with the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Issa Diallo, whose difficult mission should be helped and supported. We are, however, fully aware of the fact that all the diplomatic efforts will be in vain if those responsible in Angola do not have an effective will for peace. The Government and UNITA must assume their responsibilities to the Angolan people, whose right to peace, security and well-being is legitimate and inalienable.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The refusal by the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA) to comply fully with the obligations of the Lusaka Protocol, which it freely signed, with regard to its demilitarization and transformation into a political party, and its obstruction of the normalization of State administration contribute to the resort to military options outside the framework of the negotiated solutions adopted by the international community.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“By way of example, I recall the role played by Portuguese forces within the framework of the peace 15 process in Mozambique, and in the ongoing United Nations missions in Angola, in Western Sahara and, most recently, in the Central African Republic, as well as in the evacuation operations undertaken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Guinea-Bissau. I must express here the very serious concern of my country at the situation in Angola, a country to which we are bound by so many and such deep ties. The signs of rupture are becoming more dangerously evident in the peace process, which has proceeded with such difficulty.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)