YouSaid · the spoken record

Paul Kagame

lines on the record: 120
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 18
sources: un-general-debate

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

“The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (resolution 70/1) marks a new era in international cooperation. Ending extreme poverty was never going to be enough to fulfil our ambitions. This new compact is about prosperity, and it recognizes that the only sustainable future is one that includes all of us. It could hardly be otherwise. The creativity and dynamism of billions of people is already transforming our world for the better. That is thanks to improved health, education and access to new technologies and to empowering women to take their rightful place in the world. But growth and progress also raise new challenges related to international migration, the protection of the environment and demands for good governance.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Therefore, our task in the international community is not to manage conflicts, but to help prevent and end those conflicts. If we focus on keeping people safe and bringing them together to solve their problems, we will be able to do so.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“As a result, ethnicity, region and religion become the dominant currency of politics, and nations are torn apart. International systems should encourage efforts by Governments and civil society to strengthen national unity. In Rwanda, we have focused on building accountable governance institutions and renewing our dignity as a nation. As a result, Rwandans today are among the most optimistic and civic-minded people in the world. For us, stability is not an abstraction, it is a reality that abides in the minds and hearts of the people and the institutions they build to sustain it. Once achieved, the horizon expands from poverty reduction to wealth creation and the attainment of ever higher measures of human development.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We should encourage full ownership and partnership, and the approach of international institutions and Member States should take those realities into account. In countries that have known only peace, such arguments may sound self-serving. But they are not, because lives are at stake. The second neglected element is national identity. That is just as important. To manage the diversity in our societies, politics must be national in scope. Whatever differences we may have, our common citizenship is a bond that unites us. The negative experiences of nationalism have created doubt about affirming patriotism and national identity. However, what we see around the world today is that national identities are too weak, not that they are too strong.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Two critically important public goods have been consistently undervalued by the international system in its approach to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. They are physical security and national identity. When security breaks down, the human costs are enormous. Extremists and opportunists are empowered. Citizens lose faith in public institutions, as grievances are settled in the street. As a result, sustainable gains in good governance cannot be made. It takes time and patience to build a better political system. There are no shortcuts. We are dealing with real people who want change, but with continuity and safety. They must be fully included in the process of consensus-building. That is because structures of governance that are not developed from within will not take root.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I want to start by congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly. We are living through a period of unprecedented progress in human development. The success of the Millennium Development Goals framework demonstrates that international cooperation remains strong, though we wish the expected results would come faster. Even on climate change, if the public and private sectors work together to increase investment in scientific research, we can look forward to a future where countries no longer have to choose between green energy and economic growth. While we work on building peace and well-being in Africa, crises elsewhere in the world have aroused grave concern. Efforts to address them seem to have little effect, and in some cases they may even make things worse.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“That is the least we can do to uphold the principles of justice and the equality of nations, support reconciliation processes and respect the dignity of Africans.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Instead of promoting justice and peace, it has undermined reconciliation efforts and helped to humiliate Africans and leaders, as well as serving the political interests of the powerful. Nowhere have the shortcomings of the ICC been more evident than in the ongoing trial of Kenyan leaders. The people of Kenya have shown their eagerness to heal the wounds of their past, reconcile and move on. That is why they elected the current leaders who are on trial. Those efforts to reconcile their communities and move forward should be supported, and development of the national judicial capacity to fight impunity should be promoted rather than undermined. The General Assembly and the Security Council should be examining this matter as well as the wider issues of universal jurisdiction that have already been brought before them.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“And as within the larger African and world community we move towards the next chapter of global development, we must create strong and meaningful partnerships that have a positive impact on the lives of all. Together, we can make sure that the post-2015 era is defined by opportunity and optimism, prosperity and progress, dignity and hope. On another issue of critical importance, Africans supported the global consensus against impunity and the creation of an international justice system to fight it. We did so on the understanding that such a system would promote peace and security within and between nations, and that it would uphold the principle of the equal sovereignty of nations. In practice, however, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has flouted those principles. It has shown an open bias against Africans.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Post-2015 presents an opportunity to turn that new sense of possibility into a reality, to give people in developing nations increased opportunity. In Rwanda we are on course to meet all the MDG targets, but for us they are the floor, not the ceiling. We remain tireless in our pursuit of progress, because we know all too well the cost of failure. Next April, Rwanda will commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the genocide. Over three long months, flickers of life went out all over the country, but today Rwandans are standing strong, having overcome adversity. In building a new nation, we have a purpose that is shaped by a tragic past but focused firmly on the future.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“There must also be a far greater focus on the role of the private sector and recognition of its power to create prosperity. For that, we need a global environment without trade barriers and one that facilitates investment in infrastructure. Greater investment is particularly needed in roads, railways and airports in order to connect domestic markets to regional and global ones. Investment is also needed in energy. Electricity, something taken so much for granted in the developed world, is still a luxury for far too many people and businesses. Access to knowledge, information and technology will also play an important role. It is levelling the economic playing field for developing countries and is beginning to break the cycle of poverty.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“One of the failings of aid has been the lack of attention to country-specific context in agreements. So now is the time for the developing world to make its voice heard in order to shape the debate and ensure that policies and programmes are demand-driven. It will also require Governments to empower those whose lives we are trying to transform, to give them a stake in the process and a say in their countries’ progress. In Rwanda, we have found that empowering local leaders while demanding accountability is an effective catalyst of development. But for decentralization to work, the centre must remain stable. That is why we continue to place such emphasis on good governance. It has inspired trust in our institutions and been a foundation for our development. We know it is the best way to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The list of shortcomings is as long as that of the successes, and as we think about the theme of “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”, we must have the courage to go beyond business as usual. The report of the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development, has laid out an ambitious vision for the future, and I congratulate the eminent persons who worked to produce it. But together we must now take an honest look at the MDGs, determine what worked and what did not, and commit to forging a new global partnership founded on mutual responsibility and trust. That will require developing nations to take greater ownership of the post-2015 agenda.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Thirteen years ago, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established humanitarian principles for the twenty-first century. Together, Member States and international organizations stood for the idea that the world’s poorest nations and poorest people should not have to live without dignity and hope. The world is a different place now. We have witnessed the struggles of a global economy reeling from a financial crisis and, indeed, a recession. But we have seen a billion people lifted out of poverty, more children in schools, greater care for the sick. And we have observed a generation born in a new age of information, ready to embrace ever-expanding frontiers of technology. But the transformative effect is not yet complete.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“When we see leaders work with the people in an inclusive manner; when development can proceed unhindered by conflict; when regional groupings take greater responsibility in tackling their own issues; and when international cooperation takes place in a spirit of true partnership, I believe that the results will speak for themselves and billions of lives across the globe will improve. Ultimately, this is what we all should work towards.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Rwanda remains committed to a more effective United Nations, particularly with respect to its work towards a more peaceful, just and equitable world. We will continue to contribute to various programmes for development and peace, from our role in promoting the Millennium Development Goals and supporting the Broadband Commission for Digital Development to our troops participating in peacekeeping missions. We hope to contribute and participate even more going forward. Let me conclude by saying that although the challenge to better prevent and resolve conflict may seem daunting, it remains ours to take on.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Over the past 18 years, we have been able to rebuild the country through policies that include all citizens in governance processes and by applying home-grown conflict resolution and development mechanisms. While our experience with the United Nations since becoming a Member has been a mixed one, it has taken on a positive trajectory in recent years, and we are optimistic that it will remain there. The history of how conflicts have been handled in Rwanda, and indeed in our region, however, shows that improvement is needed. It is our obligation to point this out not in order to be critical, but because we subscribe to the ideals and principles on which the United Nations was founded. We can and should do better.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Finally, it is increasingly obvious that local or regional initiatives aimed at resolving conflicts yield more positive results because those involved have a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. Their proximity to the conflict makes them more invested in a comprehensive resolution and enables the necessary support for whatever process is agreed upon. We need to see these initiatives strengthened. We should be highlighting root causes as we address conflicts. In the 50 years of our independence and membership of the United Nations, Rwanda has lived through conflicts. Our country was destroyed by political exclusion and subsequent genocide.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“There is no one-size-fits-all remedy; these issues are complex and should be approached as such to arrive at the best possible outcome. Thirdly, the links between conflict and development are often overlooked. If we are looking for peaceful ways to resolve and prevent conflicts, promoting development tops the list. The stakes are high. A civil conflict costs the average developing country about 30 years of gross domestic product growth, and violence can easily spill over borders, threatening hard-won progress. Since security and development cannot be achieved without each other, we all — from the average citizen to Government leaders and global institutions like the United Nations — have to play our roles in order to find inclusive solutions for lasting peace and prosperity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“First, we must appreciate that many conflicts arise when people are, or feel they are, excluded from full participation in the affairs of their country, particularly around issues that affect their everyday lives. Even a cursory look at the conflict hotspots around the world shows us the dangerous consequences of a disenfranchised and despondent citizenry. Durable solutions can come only from an inclusive approach to both politics and development. Secondly, thorough analysis of the specific political and cultural contexts of any given conflict is key to finding lasting solutions. Too often, the inclination is to parachute into a situation with ready- made answers based on a superficial examination of the conflict’s dynamics, doing considerably more harm than good, despite good intentions.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It is timely that we are meeting here over the next few days to seek ways and means to prevent and generally manage conflicts. While it may seem that conflict is perennial and its forms increasingly destructive, we have the urgent task of seeking more effective ways to prevent, manage and solve it. The losses we witness or experience on a daily basis in terms of human life and devastation are unacceptable. Moreover, at a time when widespread poverty robs too many people of the opportunity to realize their full potential in life, conflict also diverts us from development. We might ask ourselves why, after decades of efforts to rein in conflict on a global scale and foster multilateral cooperation for sustainable peace, the results are still not where they should be. The reasons for this are several and multifaceted.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Let us also remember the limitations faced by external mediation experts who, even when having good intentions, are often unable to foster any lasting change at the root level of the conflict. National ownership remains very critical. Mediation efforts must be based on an overriding desire to help conflicting parties to resolve their differences. But that should not be confused with supporting one side in the conflict or imposing a solution that is in the interests of the mediators. Let me conclude by saying that the most viable option for preventing conflict is to empower our own citizens, especially youth, politically, economically and socially, so that they have a stake in the management and stability of the nation. Ultimately, long-lasting solutions are the ones that emanate from within.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is also important to involve in mediation efforts regional and subregional players who have ample knowledge of the often complex regional dynamics of conflicts. These organizations should be supported expeditiously before disputes escalate into intractable conflicts. Additionally, we need to take a good look at the toll that traditional diplomatic mediation can have on 11-50702 12 the lives of people living in conflict areas. Too often, while resolutions are being debated and refined, people are dying. And sometimes when those resolutions are eventually adopted, enforcement is slow, or they only halt the conflict for a short time but with no sustainable solutions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“With social and communication tools, they are key innovators and thought leaders not only of tomorrow but of right now. We have an important responsibility to empower them to believe in themselves and in a better future. Returning to the topic of mediation and the associated issues of negotiation and reconciliation, these practices are not new ones in Africa, or in my country, Rwanda. They play a useful role, and one that should be strengthened. However, various experiences have shown that if mediation is to succeed, national efforts should be supported in the first place, based on specific cultural and political contexts. In Rwanda, for instance, we have seen national efforts produce long- lasting solutions and tangible results on the ground because they are homegrown.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We know that the likelihood of conflict is high when citizens feel disenfranchised and marginalized, and where Governments do not govern in the interests of their people. If the rule of law is absent and access to opportunity is limited or exclusive, that is a problem which we should address as a global community, consistently and with commitment. It makes good economic and political sense to invest in conflict prevention, thus reducing future outbreaks and avoiding short-term, quick-fix solutions. Apart from traditional interventions that we employ with varying success, there is one major asset that remains under-utilized, and that is our youth. Younger generations carry less historical and political baggage and are more inclined to get the most out of the global village that we all find ourselves sharing.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“By tackling development issues, for example, through the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, established by this body and the Secretary-General, we create conditions conducive to the formation of a more stable world. Figures from the United Nations itself indicate that about $7.1 billion will be spent in the period 2011-2012 for peacekeeping purposes. Resources such as these that are consumed by conflicts could otherwise be channelled through the United Nations or other relevant institutions to improve the lives of millions of people. Thus, while it is appropriate to talk about how mediation can support efforts to prevent and manage conflicts, we should also ask ourselves why, after decades of trying, we are not making the progress we would like to make in this regard.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As the world continues to deal with crises, including conflicts across the globe, we need to examine the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution, and the part each one of us needs to play. The effect of decades of conflict has been an unacceptable loss of life and a reversal of global social and economic progress. What has also become clear is that although most conflicts are now domestic in nature, they continue to have a destabilizing effect on neighbouring countries and the rest of the world. One needs to look carefully at the dividends of striving towards shared global prosperity, which in turn increases capacity to deal with conflict.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations must continue to be at the centre of that agenda and play its role without bias or prejudice. As we in Rwanda continue to rebuild our country, we have become acutely aware of the need for lasting peace and security in our region and have worked hard to achieve it. We know that stability is the key prerequisite for our development and the improved lives of our citizens and our neighbours, and we have unreservedly committed ourselves to attaining it. We will continue to work in partnership with our neighbours, international and regional organizations and the African Union to ensure that peace and security prevail and that Africa fully realizes its potential. Lastly, let me say that each of our countries, separately and collectively, has a duty to the people of the entire world, especially the most vulnerable.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The impetus to reform our global governance structures, however, is the desire to ensure that they are equipped to deal with those challenges and secure a brighter future for all the citizens of the world. When there are no avenues for appealing international rulings, when there is an accountability deficit in key global institutions and when ordinary citizens feel that the United Nations cannot deal adequately with the issues affecting their daily lives, the United Nations cannot be seen as credible, relevant and democratic. We should make sure the Organization does not become a tool for the powerful to protect their interests and enhance their influence or use it in subjugating others. 13 10-54965 Rwanda believes in multilateralism and understands that global challenges can be effectively resolved only through international cooperation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In my view, a debate between those two categories is urgently needed within the United Nations membership so as to regain the noble founding ideals of the Organization. No entity is better placed than our common United Nations to bring equality and respect, despite disparities in economic status. The same situation pertains in the realm of international justice and the rule of law. Rwanda subscribes to the principle that everyone and every State is accountable to laws and that the rule of law should govern us all. But these laws must truly be equally enforced and independently adjudicated. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in global governance presupposes strengthening and reforming it to make it more effective and efficient in its response to global challenges.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But it has become clear that the United Nations has evolved into a two-tier organization, reflecting a world that seems to be divided into two major categories: one considered to have inherent, laudable values, rights and liberties, and another that needs to be taught and coached on those values. My country and many in the developing world seem to fall into that second category. Not only marginalized and disenfranchised, we are also considered chronic violators of our own human rights. The implication is that the United Nations holds a certain standard for some countries, and another for others, especially on international issues concerning which every single Member should be treated equally under the law.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The just-concluded High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals has provided us another opportunity to assess the role of the United Nations, measure the progress we have made and consider the hurdles that remain in meeting the various Goals we set for ourselves. It is evident that the United Nations is uniquely placed to play a crucial role in mobilizing and galvanizing all nations for the common good, driving forward our collective initiatives and coordinating actions that foster the social and economic development of all. Still, the United Nations is the sum total of Member States, and it can only be as good as the constituent Members want it to be. If there were a common understanding and shared values among all Member States, the Organization would deliver more efficiently on its mandate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“At this sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, it is right that we re-examine the role of the United Nations in global governance, as we strive to help it adapt as fast as our times are changing, so that it serves all its Members equally. In my understanding, global governance recognizes the inevitable and welcome interconnectedness of nations, the unique circumstances and contributions of each and the principle of mutual respect. I say “welcome” because, as we have seen, major threats of a global scale — like the financial crisis, climate change, terrorism, poverty and other challenges to world peace — need the concerted efforts of all nations if they are to be addressed effectively.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Secondly, we must improve peace and stability in all regions by learning from, and supporting, legitimate regional actors. Finally, we must engage and embrace the majority world in terms of multilateralism in decision-making, trade and prosperity. These should be our shared vision. Future generations will then know how leaders of nations in the year 2009, immersed in crises, focused on the most difficult challenges, including the global economic crisis, climate change and greater peace and security, and how they acted with resolve.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The leaders of the region recognize that, most crucially, home-grown solutions, beginning with a joint regional effort, can bring about sustainable peace. It is in that context that, together with our colleagues and neighbours in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we are dealing with the root cause of instability in our area, namely, the negative forces that have been a menace since 1994. If history teaches us anything, it is that we cannot apply the same strategies to different problems and expect satisfactory outcomes all the time. We have to think differently on the fundamental questions, including the urgent imperatives of, first, strengthening the future of all nations by fostering economic growth and development while investing in the environment. That should be our moral purpose.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We in Rwanda have been making a modest but proportionate contribution by, among other things, hosting African preparatory meetings for the Copenhagen summit in order to encourage a strong and essential African voice at that critical meeting. We have also been actively implementing national environmental policies for reforestation, terracing and the rehabilitation of wetlands that supply lake and river systems in our country, to name a few areas in which we have had good results. On the matter of peace and security, the world faces a number of regional threats. The Great Lakes region has its share of peace and security problems, but we continue to make significant progress in 11 09-52320 fundamentally addressing that question.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“With regard to the global environmental challenge, this session of the General Assembly provides an important platform for preparing for the Copenhagen climate change summit. Every nation should have co-equal status and be considered a concerned nation at the forthcoming summit. That implies that each nation has both rights and obligations and should be open to burden-sharing according to its ability. This is the time to address in a timely fashion such key issues as how much the industrialized countries are to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, how much the developing countries are to limit the growth of their emissions, and how to finance and support strategies to conserve energy, mitigate risk and build green technologies that counteract the impact of climate change in the developing world.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is also fitting that we recognize the recent creation of a single entity within the United Nations to advance the work on women’s rights and gender equality. Rwanda has always made that one of its priorities and has achieved good results. With regard to socio-economic challenges in our East African Community region, we are making progress in key areas. For instance, we are preparing to inaugurate, in January 2010, the East African Common Market to facilitate greater trade, investment and the free movement of almost 130 million people. We believe that there is no better strategy for mitigating economic difficulties than building larger regional markets that bring about improved productivity, which increases purchasing power and, in turn, strengthens our societies.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The United Nations itself is based on that very sound and tested principle, and that should be the practice. The rise of worldwide networks of trade, industry, prosperity and social values, together with the creation of multilateral institutions to guide and harmonize those processes, has no doubt contributed to a fairer and improved global decision-making system. That is what needs to be rendered more inclusive. Improving global governance has also to address international justice. International justice should be fair to all — rich and poor, strong or weak. We are all pleased to note that at its sixty-third session the General Assembly undertook to examine comprehensively the issue of universal jurisdiction. We look forward to the resolutions on that matter during the Assembly’s current session.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“For example, the Group of Twenty (G-20) is now playing a crucial role in restoring global economic stability. But should we not even broaden the base to include many nations that are most vulnerable to the decisions of the few? All nations should be part of those important discussions and decisions, because they have valuable contributions to make. This is the time to embrace true multilateralism. We in developing nations appreciate the corrective measures taken by the G-20 and the Group of Eight to accelerate global economic recovery. But it is evident that most of their proposals fall short of the concrete steps needed to address challenges that are specific to low-income countries. Multilateralism has always been the key tenet in forging a fairer international community based on equitable global governance.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“09-52320 10 History is replete with illustrations of how nations immersed in crises changed the underlying assumptions by which they acted, created new institutions and tools to solve problems and emerged from the process as stronger societies. While those innovations are always different, the challenges to surmount the crises are always the same: forging a shared vision, increasing the social capital required to enhance predictability, having trustful relations between peoples, being receptive to doing things in new ways and adopting an explicit moral purpose in order to achieve common goals. We have an exceptional opportunity to simultaneously address our environmental challenges, improve our economies and reform our global multilateral institutions for better global governance.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“This session of the General Assembly offers further opportunity to reflect on how best to reconcile what at times mistakenly appears to be irreconcilable: socio-economic development and a healthy environment. Leaders, experts and citizens the world over ask how we can grow our economies and spread prosperity to more of the world’s citizens, yet not degrade our oceans, rivers and the air we breathe? But these are also times of extraordinary scientific, technological and business innovations that can help address those challenges, if we have the courage to put into proper perspective and indeed harmonize our national, regional and global priorities.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Let us not forget that the process of comprehensively resolving the issue of those who committed genocide in Rwanda has yet to be completed. We stand ready to play our part in addressing that matter in the context of broader objectives to consolidate stability and peace on our continent. Once again, I assure the Assembly of our determination and commitment to creating a safer and better world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Earlier this month, in Kigali, the Africa Climate Change Forum brought together policymakers, business leaders and academic and scientific communities from different parts of the world. They reaffirmed that the world community urgently needs to think globally, but also to act locally, in translating resolutions into actions. Towards that end, we are determined to intensify efforts in the areas of reforestation, terracing and irrigation for more effective use of water and land resources, as well as to prevent soil erosion. It is indispensable that we partner together as a global community to urgently act to protect our planet in the context of the Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. Rwanda is committed to regional and global peace and stability.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The United Nations has a duty to ensure that universal jurisdiction serves its original goals of delivering international justice and fairness, as opposed to abuse. There is no doubt that climate change is among the critical challenges of our time. Africa is being gravely affected. Deserts and dry zones continue to claim more territory. Over-reliance on wood for energy by our populations is leading to severe deforestation. Furthermore, unpredictable weather and rainfall patterns, combined with limited scientific and technological capacities, are already undermining our continent’s ability to effectively manage water resources. We take those challenges very seriously in Rwanda.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We believe that, besides improving gender status in our country, that marks healthy progress towards realizing a vision of a united, democratic and prosperous Rwanda. 08-51606 6 Allow me to raise another issue that may have wider implications, namely, that of justice and, more specifically, of universal jurisdiction and its abuse. It is important that those who consider themselves powerful nations do not misuse that tool of international justice to extend their laws and jurisdiction over those they perceive to be weaker countries. If unchecked, one can only imagine the legal chaos that would ensue should any judge in any country decide to apply local laws to other sovereign States.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In Rwanda we are registering a healthy economic growth rate, which is currently averaging 7 per cent annually, in an increasingly open and conducive environment that encourages domestic and foreign investors. We also continue to deepen our regional integration in the East African community. That is essential for a bigger and more dynamic market, which should become a far more effective and efficient gateway to global business. With regard to empowering women and promoting their socio-economic and political participation, we continue to make significant progress. In the just-concluded Rwandan parliamentary elections for the lower chamber, women candidates performed exceptionally well, increasing their presence in the new Parliament from 49 to 55 seats.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We are gathered here once again to reflect on major national, regional and global challenges — and on how together, as the United Nations, we can renew our commitment to finding solutions. It gives me great pleasure to share with the General Assembly some insights on how some of those global developments affect Rwanda, as well as our region, as we continue to strengthen our social, economic and democratic institutions for improving the lives of our citizens. In the context of fighting poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, our second- generation poverty-reduction strategy is gathering momentum in Africa, East Africa and Rwanda, and is being implemented in the context of greater stability and peace.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The global challenges of poverty, ignorance, terrorism, conflict and climate change require us to act collectively in a manner that the founders of this Organization captured eloquently in the words We the peoples of the United Nations. As we begin this sixty- second session of the General Assembly, let us recommit to our common aspirations and responsibilities for realizing peace, prosperity and freedom above any narrow interests. Only then can we hope to realize the ideals contained in the Charter of the United Nations “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and to “promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“A fair global trading system is central to wealth creation. Improving the quality of development aid would supplement that effort, based on a shared understanding that aid is most effective when it is aligned with national development priorities. Our ultimate goal of improving lives globally cannot be realized if the challenge of climate change and the associated widespread environmental degradation is not sufficiently tackled. Rwanda appreciates the convening of the high-level meeting on climate change by the Secretary-General earlier this week. We also look forward to the United Nations climate change conference scheduled to take place in Bali, Indonesia, this December, which should provide a clear road map of how we are to consolidate our gains and gather pace in protecting our environment.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)