YouSaid · the spoken record

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser

lines on the record: 43
first: 2000-09-24
most recent: 2002-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“We believe that imposing sanctions on other countries with a view to serving economic interests or achieving political objectives represents a violation of the principles of equal sovereignty among states and self-determination, as provided for by the Charter of the United Nations and relevant United Nations resolutions. Therefore, Qatar reaffirms its categorical rejection of all attempts to implement local laws across borders on the citizens and companies of other States to force those countries to comply with unilateral economic measures that transcend the legal jurisdiction of States. That is in direct violation of international law, of the provisions of the Charter and of the rules of the World Trade Organization. The President: We have heard the last speaker in the general debate for this meeting.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Here, I must mention the Doha Conference in the light of the importance it attached to free trade, market liberalization and infrastructure expansion in increasing the competitive ability of developing countries, in particular African countries. That Conference also emphasized the importance of the transfer of information and communications technology, economic diversity, foreign trade and increased market access, as well as increasing flows of foreign resources and reducing debt. Qatar has always opposed coercive, unilateral sanctions imposed by one single country on another sovereign country over which it has no legal jurisdiction.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The Millennium Declaration objectives of eradicating poverty, achieving economic development, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and bringing that disease under control by 2015 all require our concerted effort and political will. In addition, the voluntary contributions and direct financial investment flows of local and international donors are required to achieve the objectives of the Monterrey Conference, the most important of which is the commitment by rich industrialized countries of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product to official development assistance. Those countries made the same commitment at previous conferences.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We have witnessed a 30 continuous decline in financing that has led to the reduction of development programmes. We believe that the Organization's socio-economic development activities must be given highest priority, in accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter. Without development, there will no lasting peace or security. The Millennium Declaration set out many objectives, including that of achieving sustainable economic development and, in particular, sustainable human development, with human beings as its crucial element. Accordingly, human development is the major topic of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council's current substantive session.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Africa's economic situation is still very serious, despite all the efforts of African countries and of the international community to overcome that continent's development problems. The economic situation is worsening, and foreign debt is increasing. Whatever economic gains are achieved must therefore be spent on debt servicing and on correcting the imbalance resulting from the reverse flow of resources. Africa is also the continent that is suffering most from HIV/AIDS. We support the efforts of the Secretary-General, and we greatly value his initiatives to reform the United Nations. With regard to the reform programme proposed in 1997 and approved by the General Assembly, we note with concern that its development goals have yet to be achieved.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We reaffirm the need to maintain Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and we hope that resumed dialogue will lead to a comprehensive solution and to a suspension of and ultimately an end to the sanctions, which are causing great suffering among the Iraqi people. Another example of what the United Nations must do to right current wrongs is the complete lifting of the sanctions imposed on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which has fulfilled its obligations and surrendered the wanted suspects. As we meet today, developing countries are experiencing serious economic difficulties that are negatively affecting their development in an environment of heavy foreign debt and declining official development assistance. They are also facing restrictions on their exports to world markets and unfair prices for their basic commodities.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We in the Middle East are threatened by a clear imbalance of power. Israel is the only country in the region that possesses an arsenal of nuclear weapons and refuses to accede to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We appeal to all peace-loving countries to demand that Israel accede to the Treaty and submit its nuclear installations to the safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency. At the present time, we see a positive direction in certain international issues. With regard to the situation in Iraq, we welcome that country's acceptance of the return of international inspectors and its avowed commitment to implement relevant Security Council resolutions and to resume dialogue with the United Nations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Many countries accuse certain organizations that profess concern for human rights of bias, selectivity and double standards because they concentrate on political and civil rights without paying any heed to economic, social or cultural rights, which are no less important than civil or political rights. Important as they are, civil and political rights may become devoid of content if we fail to pay heed to the other rights. Qatar has made many advances in the protection of human rights, of the rule of law and of the principles of democracy and Shura, as well as good governance. We have just completed a new national Constitution that provides for public freedoms and free parliamentary elections. It also, for the first time, gives women the full right to vote and to be represented.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Those resolutions also call for the withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territory of the Golan to the line of 4 June 1967, as well as from the rest of occupied Lebanese territory. Among the prerequisites required to ensure a prosperous life for humankind is the basic right to live without discrimination based on ethnicity, race, colour, ideology, language, wealth or social origin. As a people who believe in a revealed religion, we believe in respecting human rights, because, in addition to our common laws, we have a divine law, laid down in the Koran, that tells us to respect such rights. In Qatar, we protect and maintain human rights and have made them the standard for our religion and for our progress.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The actions of Israeli forces in Jenin and Gaza and the massacres perpetrated there constitute blatant violations of modern international humanitarian law, international human rights and international conventions, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949. If it really intends to achieve security, Israel must take the route of peace by implementing the resolutions of international law: the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. They all provide for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate national aspirations, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent State on its national territory with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We observe closely and with concern the deteriorating security situation in the Palestinian territories and the blatant challenge to the international community and international laws and norms posed by the siege of President Arafat and the legitimate, elected leadership of the Palestinian people. We observe with concern the assassination, abduction and arrest of Palestinian leaders, as well as the demolition of houses on the heads of women, children and the elderly. We watch closely and with concern the attacks on holy places, which have been condemned by all states and representatives of international humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of 29 the Red Cross, which strongly deplored and condemned those attacks.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The needed measures for the maintenance of international peace and security must be applied to all without exception and without preferential treatment. We cannot allow the resolutions of the Security Council to be based on double standards or to be selective in a way that allows Israel not to implement the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly. We cannot accept that the people of Palestine and the Arab people in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and in the south of Lebanon are falling prey to the barbaric aggression of the Israeli occupation forces before the eyes of the whole world and world public opinion. Israel violates the resolutions of international law, rejecting them without any reaction from the Security Council or any organs of the United Nations to put an end to it.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I would like to recall from this rostrum that we are fully convinced of the validity of the United Nations Charter and of the leading role played by the Organization in the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as in ensuring the development, prosperity and dignity of humankind. Here, we have to refer firmly to the need for the work of the Security Council to be transparent and the need to renounce the selective implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Charter. There is no escaping reviewing the permanent membership of the Security Council so that a select few will not be able to continue to use the veto, which can literally invalidate the opinions of all others, while the United Nations preaches democracy, participation, justice and equality. The practices of the Organization must be completely impartial.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“With respect to combating terrorism, Qatar, as the Chair of the ninth Islamic summit, called for an emergency meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Doha in October 2001. That Conference clearly condemned all acts of international terrorism, including State terrorism. It also affirmed the urgent need to agree upon an international definition of terrorism, distinguishing between terrorism and legitimate resistance to foreign aggression and occupation for the purpose of national liberation and self-determination.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I am honoured and pleased to congratulate our sister State of East Timor on its independence and accession to the United Nations, which represents the hope of all the peoples of the world to achieve their freedom. I would also like to warmly welcome the Swiss Confederation, which has become a full Member of the United Nations. Since the convening of the last session, we have seen very important events in the international arena, in the wake of the terrorist attack against the World Trade Centre in New York. That led to unprecedented complications in politics and international relations. Those political and social changes are accelerating and lead daily to new patterns of conflict.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I would like to thank you, Sir, for giving me the floor. Allow me to congratulate you warmly on your assumption of the presidency of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. We have no doubt that your experience, wisdom and infinite patience will lead us to a successful outcome of the work of this session. Through you, allow me to congratulate Mr. Hans Seung-soo on his presidency over the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, which he conducted with skill and ability. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who leads the Secretariat at a very delicate and difficult time in the history of the Organization, a time when it faces many challenges, pressures and a serious situation of threats to international peace and security.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Finally, the State of Qatar firmly believes in the importance of the role of the United Nations in establishing security, stability and peace throughout the world, and it also believes in the importance of respecting the United Nations Charter and its lofty goals, and the need to adhere to the Charter in international relations. We trust and hope that the future will be bright, when all peoples of the globe will realize their goals and aspirations and will positively contribute to the process of building, development and innovation.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At this session the Fifth Committee will discuss the issue of contributions to these forces. We maintain that the Fifth Committee is the best forum for this, but since this process is linked to Members' assessed contributions to the regular budget, we believe that finalizing the scale of assessments first is a reasonable priority. Our delegation will actively take part in the work of that Committee with the aim of reaching a consensus, without which we cannot find a solution to the problem of committing any State to something it cannot meet in the future. We stress that all aspects of the economic situation of each State should be considered, particularly the emerging economies that rely on one source of income and that are subject to market volatility. My country is one of those States.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“True democracy is one that is freely chosen by any people for its mode of governance without outside intervention. The year 2001, the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, may offer us a good opportunity to demonstrate more tolerance and communication among nations for the benefit of humanity. I should like here to refer to the address by His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the beloved Emir of Qatar, on 5 September 2000 when the dialogue among civilizations initiative was launched, and to His Highness's emphasis on the significance of dialogue and communication as an alternative to dispute and conflict. Peacekeeping forces play a very important role, establishing security and stability in many different regions suffering from conflict and war, and as time passes, the cost of operating these forces rise.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Intervention in humanitarian cases is one of these ideas that can be exploited by the great Powers to justify interference in the internal affairs of States and the violation of their national sovereignty. Promotion of democracies in the world, the code of conduct and good governance are all relative, and if they were to be used according to their present interpretation, the world would run according to a single style of democracy and one culture would prevail. This is so serious that it would eliminate pluralism, which is an enriching factor in the work of the United Nations, since it indicates diversity and difference among peoples and nations. This very same diversity contributes positively to world interests, promotes humanitarian and cultural exchanges and enables each of us to accept other cultures and coexist with them.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“As for expanding the Council and increasing its membership, the State of Qatar is committed to the position of the Arab Group and the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement that calls for a minimum increase of up to 26 members, taking into consideration equitable geographical distribution and the fact that the last increase in its membership took place in 1963. We also endorse the continuation of the Working Group, which, God willing, will reach a consensual solution. At the same time we emphasize the right of the Arab world to a permanent seat in any impending increase. A few terms and ideas have recently gained currency, and though they sound good they imply a great threat to States and nations. Danger is not inherent in these terms but is rather a consequence of their interpretation or application.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“For the realization of an active Organization responding harmoniously to contemporary requirements, its work has to be activated, the number of its employees who drain its resources has to be cut back, and the dynamics of its work, both at Headquarters and in its bodies, organs and offices elsewhere, have to be changed. Moreover, the process of reforming the Security Council requires the Working Group to proceed until it achieves the goal for which it was established. The 19 Working Group has indeed gone a long way in that respect, particularly with regard to the second cluster relating to procedural matters in the work of the Council.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Globalization has impacted every region and transformed the world into a small village, no part of which can be separated from the other parts. Therefore, the transfer of technology, especially information and communications technology, must be accompanied by transparent globalization, rather than selective globalization wherein third world countries are no more than markets for the products of developed countries and large corporations. The process of reforming the United Nations attracts the attention of all States, and I have referred to it on other occasions at past sessions. The Secretary- General's efforts are outstanding in this respect.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We hope that the States of the North and their creditor institutions will respond to the numerous appeals to write off, either wholly or partially, the debts or interest of the poorest countries which strive to upgrade their fragile economies. We must also conduct a comprehensive review of the international banking system by holding an international conference in which all countries of the world participate, with the aim of establishing a wise, fair and just pilot policy for the world economy in the new millennium, taking into consideration the issue of development in third world countries and directing investment and capital towards the establishment of a genuine partnership that promotes such development.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“However, other States of the South continue to suffer from war and conflict both between States and among citizens of the same country, thus causing their suffering to increase and their resources to be wasted on acquiring weapons instead of being used for education, health and the building of infrastructures. Since economic factors contribute enormously to the continuation of wars and disputes, it is incumbent upon us to solve the causes of these crises. That can only be achieved with the cooperation of all, particularly the rich States of the North. Foremost among those crises are indebtedness and the accumulation of interest that exhaust the income of many States of the South.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“It is hoped that this session, the first in the new millennium, will give us a strong impetus to reflect on our world today with all its disparities embodied in the daily life of hundreds of millions of people. A close scrutiny of the world will reveal a rich, developed North enjoying prosperity, democracy, economic stability and ample opportunities for creativity and innovation, and a poor South, many of whose States try hard to catch up with the march of civilization and progress and utilize all their capabilities for the development of their infrastructures and the advancement of their people.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Intrigues are being secretly contrived to dissect this peaceful Muslim State under the pretext of human rights and other means of deception that fool nobody. We emphasize our strong and unreserved support for the sovereignty of Indonesia over all its territories, and for its territorial integrity and national unity. Events in Indonesia constitute a domestic affair, the like of which occurs in many States in the world. The Indonesian Government, God willing, is capable of putting an end to such problems among its citizens, regardless of their race, religion or orientation. We realize too that financial difficulties and poverty are among the main factors of these internal problems.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We also hope that our Somali brothers will help treat each other's wounds, put an end to the chaos and destruction that has befallen their country for a decade, and respond to the hopes and aspirations of their people, who dream of security, peace and a life of honour and freedom, like all peoples of the world. This leads us to the entire region of the Horn of Africa, where war, drought and famine have inflicted untold suffering on its people, with whom we have relations of kinship and neighbourhood. We wish them stability and every good, and we hope that their efforts will be directed towards action and construction. The State of Qatar looks closely and with concern at what is plotted against our sisterly State, Indonesia, the most populous Muslim State and one that has a prominent place in the minds of all Muslims.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At the same time it requests that foreign parties refrain from prolonging the crisis at the expense of the brotherly people of the Sudan, who pay the price with illness, hunger and blood. We also support the tireless efforts of the President and the Government of Djibouti to solve the elusive and chronic Somali problem, and thank God 18 that those efforts have been fruitful. Here we extend our congratulations to His Excellency, President Abdikassim Salad Hassan, the elected Somali President. We wish him and his Government every success. We assure him that he will find in the State of Qatar the necessary help and support in order to sail the boat of national reconciliation safely to land.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The United States of America, whose efforts in the peace process are appreciated, is called upon more than at any time in the past, to exert pressure on Israel to respond to the challenges of peace and not miss this historic opportunity as a result of narrow, short-lived ambitions; the alternative to the peace process is too dangerous for international peace and security, and could lead us all into a maze whose outcome would be known only to God. The State of Qatar supports attempts made at national reconciliation in our sisterly State, the Sudan, and endorses the efforts of the Sudanese Government in this respect, and hopes that goodwill and sincerity will lead to consensus so that people's efforts will be directed towards development and reconstruction.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The State of Qatar, declaring its full support of the legitimate Arab demands on the Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian tracks, hopes that the voice of reason, love and peace will eventually prevail, that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East will be achieved, and that an independent Palestinian state, ruling over all Palestinian national territory with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, will be established.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Furthermore, the conflict will not come to an end without solving the question of Palestinian refugees, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (III). This leads to the question of Israeli settlements in occupied Arab territories. These settlements are time bombs standing in the way of any resolution to the conflict. Extremist Zionists planted these settlements to block any peaceful solution, in contradiction of numerous General Assembly and Security Council resolutions that explicitly declare them illegitimate.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The situation on the Palestinian track, which is the core and crux of the dispute in the region, is no better. At the Camp David summit the Government of Israel proved that it was captive to the extremist wing of its people and that it was not mature enough to take the brave decision of bringing to an end a conflict that has lasted for half a century. Moreover, Israel's insistence on the occupation of East Jerusalem is provocative to the feelings of millions of Muslims and Christians throughout the world. Israel must abide by Security Council resolution 242 (1967), on the basis of which the peace process was launched and which calls for its withdrawal from all Arab lands to the borders of 4 June 1967.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“An endeavour to solve this question was launched but it faced obstacles and impediments that prevented the attainment of the much-sought-after peace based on legitimate international resolutions, particularly Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which were the foundations of the peace process. The Arabs consider peace their strategic option, yet a comprehensive peace is still beyond reach, owing to Israeli intransigence, inflexibility and disregard of the basic rights of the Arab nation. This intransigence was an impediment to peace on the Syrian-Lebanese track. Israel's refusal to withdraw to the 4 June 1967 borders did not meet the minimum conditions placed by the Syrian Arab Republic, consistent with United Nations resolutions. Simply because of a few metres Israel wasted a rare chance for peace.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Consequently, there is no longer legal justification for the continuation of such sanctions. The principle of dialogue or recourse to the international judicial system referred to at the beginning of my address, fully applies to the dispute between the Emirates and Iran over the occupied islands. The State of Qatar strives, within the tripartite committee established by the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes our sister States the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, to reach a solution acceptable to both parties through bilateral dialogue or recourse to international arbitration. Similarly the Middle East question is foremost in our priority concerns.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The State of Qatar sincerely hopes that through concerted bilateral and regional efforts a solution will be found to 17 the problem of prisoners and missing persons, whether they be our Kuwaiti or Iraqi brothers. In this context I should like to note that last year my Government welcomed the positive development and the progress that had been made for the settlement of the “Lockerbie” question. We commend the cooperation and positive response by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and its fulfilment of its obligations. On the other hand, we emphasize the necessity and inevitability of lifting the sanctions imposed on Libya, which had been temporarily suspended, because the whole issue had been referred to a court following the extradition of the two Libyan suspects.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Not only do we call for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iraq and putting an end to the suffering of its people, but also for a reconsideration of the issue of imposing sanctions, whether by individual States or through the United Nations, for recourse to sanctions has completely failed, leaving behind merely rancour and hatred. In referring to the humanitarian situation in Iraq and realizing that humanitarian matters are indivisible, we welcome the Secretary-General's appointment of Yuli Vorontsov to be his representative regarding the fate of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons, so as to bring this phase of human suffering to an end.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“No sooner had the Iraqi-Iranian war, which devastated the region and left it with bleeding wounds, come to an end and people had hopes of a period of rest during which the wounds could be healed, than another crisis occurred, greater in dimensions and more complex this time, namely, the second Gulf War, the invasion of Kuwait and its liberation and the economic boycott of Iraq, which has gone on for a decade so far, killing people, particularly children, the ill and the ageing. All of us now know that the sanctions have failed to achieve the goal for which they were established. Their course has changed so much that they have become like a plague afflicting people.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“As the Assembly is well aware, we live in a region that has for two decades been plagued by disasters and crises. No sooner does one problem calm down than another erupts like an active volcano. But many good people from the Arab Gulf, and honourable people and lovers of peace from other parts of the world, are trying their best to establish security in a region of great importance to present civilization, as the region has embedded in it a sizeable portion of the sources of energy needed by all.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“That would be a civilized demonstration of the progress achieved by nations and an acknowledgement of the significance and fairness of the rule of law, which is an instrument of security and peace, whose decisions deserve respect and full obedience. We, in the State of Qatar, under the leadership of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the dearly beloved Emir of the country, give the United Nations and all its international organizations their due appreciation and respect as part of the philosophy of our system, which is based on truth and justice, both internally and externally. We consider democracy and human rights to be essential targets that we strive to attain according to our special cultural, religious and social characteristics. We thank God that we are aiming in the right direction.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The attendance of so many leaders and their desire to participate signifies many things, most important of which is their firm recognition of the role of the United Nations, which represents the hope of the peoples of the world for the achievement of a peaceful coexistence that guarantees security, peace and well-being for all. The Summit Declaration has deeply impressed us all. We trust that the role of the United Nations will grow stronger when States, particularly the great Powers, look beyond their narrow, short-lived interests, work in the interests of this Organization, and firmly abide by its Charter for the settlement of disputes by peaceful means and by resorting to the international judicial system.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“I should further like to express my thanks and appreciation to His Excellency, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who tried his utmost and has not compromised, in his effort to realize the goals aspired to by all peoples of the world. We also appreciate his endeavour in preparing the report before us. A few days ago the world witnessed a great event in time and place, hosted in this building. This very same hall was crowded with a unique assemblage of world leaders who came from every corner of the globe to attend the Millennium Summit.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“I should like at the outset to extend my congratulations to Mr. Holkeri on his election to preside over the work of this important fifty-fifth session. It is indeed important because it is the first session in the new millennium. We are confident that his experience and diplomatic capability will be, God willing, great assets in our effort to achieve the desired success. I also extend my sincere thanks to the President of the fifty-fourth session, His Excellency Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, and to his friendly country, Namibia, noting that his outstanding efforts had a tremendous impact on solving numerous difficulties and achieving good results in many matters during the past session.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)