YouSaid · the spoken record

Abdoulaye Wade

lines on the record: 165
first: 2003-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
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 challenge today, in particular for the three revealed religions that share the same God, is to build on that common monotheistic pedestal a bridge of brotherhood that brings us closer and teaches us to live together again by sharing our common values and with respect for our differences. As Chairman-in-Office of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, I reiterate once again the dedication of the Islamic ummah to dialogue for the mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence of peoples because Islam, in letter and spirit, is a religion of the happy medium and of peace that teaches, in all things, knowledge, moderation, reasonableness and respect for the freedom of worship.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and I, in our capacity as goodwill neighbours, were in Conakry only two weeks ago. I reported back to the African Union, stressing the need for an ongoing presence in the field and for a dialogue with all stakeholders, including the army. In my view, 09-52425 44 that is the only way to help restore the constitutional order in Guinea. The ideal of peace, the primary raison d’être of our Organization, remains seriously threatened by extremism of all stripes, fuelled and perpetuated by ignorance, mistrust and the manipulation of religion. The need for dialogue between cultures and civilizations is all the more urgent on that account.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We should remember that the Accord was concluded with the support of the International Contact Group throughout the negotiation process. I reiterate my congratulations and my appreciation to all. In the sister Republic of Guinea-Bissau, I welcome the gradual return to stability after the presidential elections, recognized and acknowledged by all as free and transparent. As a neighbour, Senegal reiterates its call for the convening of a donor conference in support of the courageous stabilization and development efforts of the people of Guinea- Bissau, through their new authorities. On the other hand, the situation in the Republic of Guinea seems to me of greater concern. That country merits our full attention because it could fall into violence at any time. Mrs.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Turning to the situation in Africa, Senegal welcomes the considerable progress made in the peaceful settlement of disputes and in the integration process towards establishing the United States of Africa. The accomplishment of African unity is the only viable answer to the challenges of globalization, the creation of large groupings and the redefinition of the rules of governance. It is also an essential condition for the establishment of lasting peace and stability on the continent. Senegal continues to contribute to the settlement of disputes in Africa on the basis of that ideal of peace. I therefore welcome the normalization of the situation in our sister Republic of Mauritania following the Dakar Accord of June 2009.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“While it recognizes the Israeli people’s right to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Senegal resolutely supports the just and legitimate claim of the Palestinian people to a viable, free and independent State. That claim is morally consonant with the right of peoples to self-determination. However, in general, Senegal rejects violence in all its forms, whatever its origin. Israel’s pursuit of illegal activities on Palestinian territory is counterproductive. The settlement, expropriation and lockdown of the territories are a serious obstacle to the negotiations process and delay the prospects of an era of peace for all peoples of the subregion. Senegal supports the vision of two States, Israeli and Palestinian, as recalled here yesterday by President Barack Obama (see ).”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As Africa is the only continent not represented among the permanent members, despite the fact that it’s the focus of 70 per cent of the Council’s work, that historic injustice must be corrected by granting the continent here and now, outside the context of overall reform, one seat with the right of veto that could be held by the Chairman-in-Office of the African Union. Let us ensure that this session is the one at which we finally solve the issue of Security Council reform so that we can focus our efforts on other important issues. Those important issues still unfortunately include the tragic situation in the Middle East.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Moreover, if mankind were to stop building lethal weapons for only three months and allocate the money thus saved to building the Atlantic wall, the threat to that part of Africa would be permanently removed. For 16 years now, Security Council reform has been an important item on our agenda. It is a paradox that an Organization, universal in its mission, should remain deadlocked 64 years after its creation by the elitist nature of its principal body. The leader Al-Qadhafi summarized our position on that issue (see ).”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In the framework of civilian and military activities, countries wishing to do so could mobilize contingents for specific periods to assist in implementing major environmental projects, such as the Great Green Wall, or what is referred to in Senegal as the Atlantic wall against coastal erosion. In Senegal, we are currently creating along our coastline a concrete wall 3 to 4 metres deep and 40 centimetres wide built on an impermeable foundation to stop the maritime erosion that threatens many African countries. Its effectiveness is guaranteed. The only problem is the cost — $1.5 million per kilometre. From Casablanca to Cotonou, representing some 5,000 kilometres of vulnerable coastline, the overall cost would be $7.5 billion. Compared to expenditures often seen at the global level, it certainly is not much.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I thank the European Union for its pledged support, and I welcome in particular President Sarkozy’s initiative to deploy to this front — the only worthy front — soldiers to plant trees and build water-collection basins. I cherish the hope that this initiative will serve to inspire other States with the necessary human and material resources to support the Great Green Wall. Given the severity of the situation, the environmental threat, in my opinion, should be considered a threat to international peace and security. If it were, we might consider allocating new international missions to national armies. In the manner of peacekeeping operations, Senegal proposes 43 09-52425 the creation of a mechanism to save and restore the environment based on the voluntary commitment of armies through modalities to be determined.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“This experience could serve as a prelude to the creation of a broad movement of “youth without borders” that unites young Africans from throughout the continent. They could be the heralds of various causes, such as the fight against HIV/AIDS, early marriage and female circumcision, as they in Senegal. While we await foreign assistance, Senegal has already built nearly 527 kilometres of the Great Green Wall. The project is also under way in Mali, and Chad will follow in the near future. Through the progressive restoration of the Saharan ecosystem, the Great Green Wall will contribute through greenhouse gas sequestration to the global fight against global warming.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I cherish the hope that the United Nations will become involved in this project, which contributes to protecting the global environment, by mobilizing what might be called anti-desert soldiers along the lines of peacekeeping troops. Here, I pay tribute to the participation of Ivorian boys and girls who, although not directly impacted by desertification — Côte d’Ivoire being a country of forests — spontaneously participated in building the Senegalese section of the Great Green Wall in Senegal. They worked voluntarily, side by side with their comrades from Senegal. These young people, transcending the artificial borders created by colonization, are using self-determination to take ownership of the struggle for Africa’s future.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“With the assistance of experts from all over the world, we have selected plants adapted to the fairly arid conditions prevailing in the Sahelian-Saharan zone. At the same time, we have decided to build water-collection basins along the entire length of the Great Green Wall, based on the model that we have implemented in Senegal with some 250 basins. Every African State involved in the construction of the Great Green Wall organizes its implementation at the local level through a national agency. At the continental level, national agencies are coordinated by a pan- African Great Green Wall agency under the auspices of the African Union.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In order to survive, each of us must strive to behave more respectfully towards the environment and to create a world with fewer greenhouse gas emissions. According to the hopeful statement of the Secretary-General, we now find ourselves on the threshold of a new era — that of the green economy. Let us have the courage to cross the threshold for ourselves and for succeeding generations. Africa for its part wishes to assume its share of responsibility in this necessary environmental rebirth. That is the essence of the Great Green Wall project that runs from Dakar to Djibouti. Shared by all countries it runs through, the Great Green Wall is 7,000 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide, and Senegal has the responsibility of coordinating it on behalf of the African Union.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Similarly, I welcome the extension of the Exogenous Shocks Facility to countries benefiting from the Policy Support Instrument. The summit meeting on climate change confirmed a broadly shared conclusion. If we do not change our methods of production and consumption, the future of mankind itself will be in peril. We must admit that we have not taken sufficient action to reverse these negative trends. Nature subjects us daily to the adverse consequences of our own attacks against it in different ways, including floods, droughts, desertification and coastal erosion. These upheavals foreshadow even more devastating phenomena. International consensus is therefore urgently needed to save the planet.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Economies such as ours, which had hitherto posted average growth rates of 5 per cent, have been brutally weakened by imported inflation. 09-52425 42 For that reason, Senegal supports and encourages the dialogue between producers and consumers initiated by the International Energy Forum to improve transparency in the oil market and take effective measures against speculative practices that devastate the economies of importing States. In implementing the “Wade formula”, I proposed a fund to fight poverty funded by voluntary contributions from African oil-producing States and oil companies working in Africa, based on the principle of shared social responsibility. The fund could be managed collectively or entrusted to the World Bank.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“If the Secretary-General had not launched his emotional appeal at World Food Day in Rome two years ago, I might not have felt a challenge so great as to demand the invention of GOANA. And because the fate of our people is at stake, it is our primary responsibility to establish on our own the conditions necessary for a brighter future. Internal efforts will continue to be futile without a healthy global environment rid of the speculative practices of the virtual economy and unjust asymmetric programmes, such as subsidies and other inequitable practices. In this context, non-oil-producing African countries continue to feel the full brunt of the increase in oil prices resulting from speculative practices that we cannot mitigate because they are controlled by the oil oligarchy.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“For the second year in a row, our home-grown agricultural campaign for food and abundance, known as GOANA, has rewarded us with excellent results. We intend to strengthen this food self-sufficiency option with the unionization of rural producers, on the model of Québec. To this end, we are currently setting up a green bank for farmers, fishers and livestock farmers, which will support financing of these sectors. This is a bold innovation, a green revolution that we want very much to see succeed. At the global level, I believe that, beyond its adverse impacts, the current crisis has a silver lining insofar as it stimulates creativity, initiative and a fighting spirit.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“According to recent estimates, between 15 and 20 million hectares have changed hands over the past three years, primarily in Africa. We Africans should make it our vocation to become farmers tilling our own land rather than being agricultural labourers working for capital-rich foreign planters. For its part, Senegal, as I have often said, cannot accept such a course, which would without doubt empty our countryside of newly impoverished millions, who would swell our slums and the ranks of those ripe for illegal emigration. On the other hand, if we exploit our mutually complementary circumstances, we of the North and the South can promote a win-win partnership in which investors and local communities join to develop African land without dispossession. Senegal has succeeded, in record time, in responding positively to the food crisis.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“That is why Senegal hopes that these essential questions — and others, such as the regulation of agricultural markets and scientific research to increase productivity — will take a prominent place on the agenda of the Summit of the World’s Regions on Food Security, to be held in January 2010 in Dakar, and of the Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security proposed by the G-8. Once the right conditions are in place, there is no reason why Africa should not be able to ensure its own food security. Better yet, its enormous land and water resources predispose the continent to become the world’s breadbasket. To that end, however, we must avoid the vicious trap of ceding land to foreigners bearing millions of dollars. The G-8 quite rightly expressed its concern on this subject at its most recent summit in Italy.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“If we are to achieve on schedule Millennium Development Goal 1, to halve by 2015 the number of people suffering from hunger, we must put into practice a different approach to international cooperation, one based on support for agriculture instead of food assistance, which should be used only as an emergency response to exceptional circumstances. The development of agriculture to promote sustainable food security in Africa necessarily involves water management, the availability of equipment, producers’ access to inputs and a sound organization of chains of production, storage, processing and sales of agricultural products.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“They must hold to their political and even strategic role, and rely on the superior knowledge of experts. It is through dialogue open to all that we will be able to grasp the diversity of our respective situations and apply real- world answers to real-world problems. It is therefore fitting that the theme of this sixty-fourth session should be “Effective responses to global crises: strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development”. The current challenges, both complex and global in nature, call strongly for innovative and concerted solutions if we are to succeed. That is especially true for problems of agriculture and food security.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Be it in the sphere of the environment, political and economic governance or development, the world must find a new way of thinking and acting, and thereby address the need to change our outlook. Having myself argued, often strongly, for the full participation of Africa in the conversation on world governance, I welcome the progressively expanded cooperative framework of the Group of Eight (G-8) and the Group of 20 (G-20). I only regret that my proposal to establish a shadow G-20, made up of the 41 09-52425 world’s greatest experts but open to all those who bring new ideas, has not yet been put into practice. The President returned to the Chair. Clearly, the world’s heads of State, elected on the basis of political criteria, cannot miraculously transform themselves into universal polymaths.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“To Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Senegal reiterates its support for his delicate task in the face of the many and urgent issues facing the Organization. This sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly has begun at a time of multifaceted turmoil. The economic and financial crisis, the scale of which has surprised many observers, reveals above all the deadlock in contemporary economic theory. In highlighting the inadequacy of our analytical and predictive abilities, it calls for a broader sense of shared responsibility both for the management of its immediate effects and for the search for long-term responses. In seeking solutions, let us be careful not to make the mistake of falling back on received wisdom and ready-made answers.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The only question is how to coordinate the numerous elements required to expedite the rescue mission. Before going any further, however, I should like warmly to congratulate Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, who has been charged with guiding the work of this sixty- fourth session of the General Assembly. I have known Mr. Treki for a long time, and Senegal is delighted by his election and expresses its confidence in his human and professional qualities, which will bolster the success of his mission. I also pay tribute to Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, for his contributions to the effort to revitalize the Assembly. His commitment and dynamism are well known. I have admired his intelligence, his lively wit and the sensitivity he shows in his relations with others.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We are meeting once again, but this time at a moment when humankind is facing many problems, each as difficult as the others, as if they had been planned to coincide: the agriculture crisis, the financial and economic crisis, environmental peril and tenacious, deadly diseases. Be that as it may, we are destined to prevail. There is simply no other option. We must and we can succeed. The numerous deliberations about these problems at all levels illustrate our increasing awareness of the dangers to us and succeeding generations. Believing fundamentally as I do in the genius of humankind and its capacity for imagination and creativity in extricating itself from the most difficult situations, I am both optimistic and aware of the price that will have to be paid. This is what we are called on to do here and elsewhere.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is on this note of hope and as Vice-President of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and President-in-Office of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) that I make an appeal to all countries to continue supporting efforts for peace and continue supporting investment efforts in Africa.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That economy, which left Europe for the United States, will finally be developed in Africa. That is why we call on the entire world to invest in Africa because it is there that I sincerely believe that the last advances will be achieved. It is true that some trouble spots remain — as in every country — but with the support of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General, and with all people of goodwill, we are sure that Africa will be able to play that role, provided of course that Africans are trained as soon as possible to assume that historic mission.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“08-51749 28 The global economy moved from Europe to the United States where it created a new centre of development that has underpinned the global economy for almost 200 years. Now that economy is running out of steam because of crises like the one we are facing today. President Bush has told us about a solution advocated by his financiers, but I am sorry: the solution to the North’s crisis lies in the South; the solution lies in Africa. Rather than allowing capital to roam in every direction to create inflationary situations, I think it better, as a Keynesian thinker, to call on Members to invest in the creation of wealth and jobs in Africa, a continent possessed of great material and human resources and capable of taking its turn as the engine of the exhausted global economy.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We are also continuing our efforts in the Middle East, as we have been called on to give our support to intra-Palestinian dialogue and to dialogue between Israel and Palestine. For many years now, I have consistently bemoaned the ineffectiveness of economic thinking. The failure from which we are suffering today is the failure of economists and financiers and, more generally, of the intelligentsia. I greatly appreciate the appeal just made to the intelligentsia made by the President of the Dominican Republic. I continue to believe that the solution to the crisis is not to be found in the North; crises begin in the North, but we will not find their solutions in the North.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Although we have certainly seen fewer trouble spots in Africa, conflict still rages in Chad, the Sudan and Darfur. We, for our part, will always continue to give our active support to peace and the United Nations. Quite sincerely, however, I believe that there will be no solution in Darfur until we disarm all armed groups, which have been clearly identified. As for Zimbabwe, we welcome the progress that is being made. In Mauritania, we, as a neighbouring country, are very concerned about what is taking place. But I should like to reiterate here that we very much believe in the rule of law of the Republic, in accordance with the position outlined by the African Union.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“On the basis of the letter and spirit of the message of Islam, which are being celebrated during this Holy month of Ramadan, and in my capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, I should like here to reiterate the adherence of the Islamic Umma to the principles of the culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations. We affirm that we condemn extremism, violence, intolerance and discrimination, which are contrary to the teachings of Islam and which our religion condemns as a source of unhappiness and discord. It is for that reason that we are willing to engage in a dialogue with all civilizations. The United Nations ideal of peace continues to be tested by the reality of conflicts in the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We are even going so far as to provide cell phones to women in the interior of Senegal so that they can report cases to health-care centres. There is also a need to establish a new mechanism to mobilize resources. That was our goal in setting up a pilot group for solidarity levies to fund development. We have also launched a digital solidarity fund. We Africans have done that, with the support of the entire world. We are therefore on our way to bridging the digital divide identified by the Secretary-General. As we begin our work here, more than 1 billion Muslims throughout the world are fasting in accordance with one of Islam’s five pillars. Apart from religion, for every Muslim the fast is a code of behaviour inspired by the lofty values of peace, sharing, forgiveness, respect and brotherly love, irrespective of religion.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Not long ago, Senegal was very far down on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. Just a few days ago, thanks to our targeted efforts to overcome our shortcomings, Senegal was classified as the first country in Africa for doing business, and the fifth in the world. Child and maternal mortality is one of the obstacles to overcoming our shortcomings. After giving thought to the problem, we decided a week ago in Senegal that, so long as the problem is left up to the State, we will not make progress. We have instituted a new approach that entails putting in charge a woman in each neighbourhood of the affected areas to monitor pregnancies and help pregnant women to visit doctors, as well as to immediately inform the authorities of any problems. We hope that will enable us to reduce child and maternal mortality.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Africa is therefore responding to the call of the international community to protect the environment. However, I cannot fail to point out that the African coast is in the process of disappearing, with several centimetres being lost from Morocco to the Gulf of Guinea each year. In that connection, a first meeting was held in Cotonou a few days ago to address the issue of coastal erosion. As the Assembly is aware, the Secretary-General has issued a challenge to Africa. Not long ago, the World Bank indicated that five African countries were capable of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including Senegal. The Secretary-General has said that no African country would achieve the Millennium Development Goals. I, for my part, respond to challenges. I shall meet that challenge for Senegal, I shall take it up, and that is not a dream.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I contacted scientists through the Internet. They came from all over the world — Europe, the United States, American universities and Australia. I accordingly called for the help now of the Science Without Borders association. I invited scientists to Senegal because their knowledge comes free of charge, and they are always willing to make it available for the benefit of humankind. The Great Green Wall will be backed by what we call retention basins. Billions of tons of water that fall during the rainy season are lost to runoff or the sea. We are trying to capture that water, as is being done so well in countries such as Burkina Faso. We in Senegal are making that a systematic effort. The World Bank 27 08-51749 has labelled our effort conclusive, and we also want to build a green strip from Dakar to Djibouti.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As I said in jest about the previous regimes, God had hidden it from them, but we managed to find it. Africa has responded to the call to protect the environment. President Obasanjo and I launched the Great Green Wall Initiative, whereby a band of trees 15 kilometres wide and 7,000 kilometres long will stretch from Dakar to Djibouti. Once again, we were told that it was a dream. No, as I speak, since, in the words of the philosopher, we believe in going forward by walking, Senegal is in the process of building 587 kilometres of the Great Green Wall. Everyone has supported us in this endeavour — France, the United States, the European Union — at least in words. We are looking forward to your support, especially from the scientists, who we hope will help us to choose drought- resistant plants. It is possible.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That great offensive, as I have said, has unquestionably been a great success. The world will not see Senegal launching an appeal for food assistance. We have solved the problem and hope that we have solved it once and for all. Admittedly, we could not have done it without God’s help. The programme required $100 million, a third of which was to be devoted to fertilizer. Fortunately, our country is endowed with phosphate deposits that can be directly used as fertilizer for crops, thus enabling us to save one third of the cost of our investment in the programme. This has been possible because of the belief I have adhered to for more than 50 years. I have said for a long time that we could find phosphate. We have now gone out to find that hidden wealth.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Fortunately for Senegal, we foresaw difficulties due to the weighty global mechanisms and launched a programme called the Great Agricultural Offensive for Agriculture and Abundance. We were told it was too ambitious because it amounted to $800 million. The project, which began at the end of May, will be completed in a month. I have the pleasure to inform the Assembly that, beyond meeting its food needs, Senegal has met the challenge of achieving a surplus. Six months ago, Senegal was among the most food- dependent countries, importing all its food, including more than 600,000 tons of rice annually. But a look at Senegal today reveals that there is green everywhere. I called on all Senegalese everywhere, including in the Senegalese diaspora, to farm as much as they wanted — on 10, 20 or 1,000 hectares — so long as it was food.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In June 2008, we raised an alarm over the increase in the price of basic commodities and especially of food products. The Secretary-General asked FAO to meet in Rome with heads of State. We dropped everything in order to go to Rome and respond to that appeal, believing that real solutions would be proposed. Solutions were proposed, but we are still waiting for them to be implemented. At the same time, I drew attention to the fact that the countries of the Sahel region have three to four months of rain each year, during which time one could grow whatever one wanted if one had the means to do so. That is followed by eight or nine months of drought. We launched that appeal, but like the doctor who arrives after the death, no one responded.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“President, and the Secretary-General have both mentioned, we should look directly at the issues and undertake reforms. Above all, we must demonstrate imagination and a capacity for innovation. The first issue of concern to us is to feed Africa. We must substitute this idea of food aid, which was at the origin of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and replace it with the concept of assistance to agriculture, because we have demonstrated that we are able to carry out agriculture just like developed countries. Unfortunately, we suffer from certain shortages, including seeds, fertilizer and equipment, as I will show in a moment. In place of traditional financing, we need to imagine what is referred to now as innovative financing.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Today, populations throughout the world have great expectations of our meeting, because humanity, fortunately, still hopes, and that hope remains alive in the countries that are called poor, and indeed they are. But I usually say with regard to Africa that it is not poor, but rather that Africa is a continent that has been impoverished over five centuries of slavery and one century of colonization and exploitation. However, despite all of that, Africa has engaged itself in international cooperation — bilateral and multilateral. 08-51749 26 We also strive to contribute within the United Nations, for example to peace, which is one of the objectives of our Organization. Experience teaches us that there are limits to our international system. As you, Mr.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That is not by chance, because many of us have denounced the policy of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which establishes the price of oil as it wishes and tries to blame it on the increase in demand — as if we had never studied economics. The assessments of our association have not been very optimistic, but it should be noted that the objectives set by the founding Members have not been achieved. I quote from the birth certificate of our Organization that one of the purposes was “to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”. I believe that the United Nations has served humanity considerably by resolving some conflicts and by establishing lasting peace, but we must also recognize its shortcomings in many areas, including peace and in the economic field.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Mr. Miguel d’Escoto, in electing you to the presidency of the Assembly, Member States wished to show their confidence in your wealth of experience, as former Minister for Foreign Affairs, to successfully guide its work. The Senegalese delegation congratulates you through me. At the same time I wish to thank and congratulate our Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who has taken many initiatives since he was elected as the leader of our Organization, as demonstrated by the recent meetings dealing with Africa. Many heads of State have referred to the dizzying increase in the price of oil, including, just now, the President of the Dominican Republic.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Out of the $200 million of profits from Africa, this would be at least $40 million and you won’t feel it more than you do just now, because a barrel which cost $29 in December 2003 now costs over $81.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We believe that if the leaders of the world meet together and make a real appeal for tolerance as a legacy from this generation to future generations, then we will have taken a step forwards towards understanding among the various religions. This is absolutely essential to the establishment of peace. We know that Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oligopoly increases the price of oil as it wishes by manipulating supply I know this because I am an economist. I realize that it is the law of the market, but the rest of us suffer from it. I propose that whenever OPEC increases the price of oil, it voluntarily add 2 per cent, but not as a tax: 1 per cent to combat poverty and 1 per cent to combat environmental degradation.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The Middle East situation still gives serious concern and I wish to reconfirm Senegal’s unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people in their legitimate quest for a viable State. We support all efforts to that end. Remembering the last two wars, we must really try to achieve peace. Peace is not just the absence of war as somebody said this morning. We must combat war in the minds of men, particularly young people. In March 2008, Senegal will have the honour of hosting the eleventh Islamic Summit Conference. It is, therefore, my deepest hope that we will make progress towards achieving peace in accordance with our religion and the Qur’an. I have already proposed an Islamic-Christian dialogue, which would be a first step towards dialogue among peoples.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In Geneva we launched what is called the Geneva Principle, which asks countries and producers of information and communication technology to voluntarily donate one per cent of the amount of each transaction to the Digital Solidarity Fund. Let us now discuss the Security Council and the need for Africa to have a seat therein, irrespective of any question of reform. It is the only continent which is not represented in the Security Council, even though it has been said that 70 per cent of the Council’s business involves Africa. Today, Senegal is at peace I shall not dwell on this and we are trying to provide the materials and the personnel needed for Darfur. Senegal is increasing its contingent from 150 to 1,600 and is also providing all the police for the operation conducted by the African Union and the United Nations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Africans must therefore have access to the Internet for their training, information and educational needs and in their universities and schools. For that reason, as Africa’s representative to the World Summit on the Information Society, organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in 2003, I proposed a Global Digital Solidarity Fund to bridge the digital gap that separates us from the developed world. After many ups and downs, the Fund is now supported by all of the Members of the United Nations. Unfortunately, the majority have not yet formalized their acceptance of this Fund or have begun paying into it. However, all countries in principle are members of this Fund, which seeks to provide computers to Africa and to be involved in various programmes, like healthcare telematics.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“That is what I call the cluster of needs, which is an entire set of needs and, as we can see, not just a monetary assessment. What are we in Senegal doing? We have launched a programme to build housing, called the Jaxxay plan, under the slogan of “one family, one roof”. We build nice, affordable homes. For less than $70 a month, people can become homeowners in Senegal. The development in which we are building those houses provides health, education and other services. That is how we are trying to combat poverty. Allow me to turn to the digital revolution. We believe that Africa has a great opportunity, because the digital revolution is happening now. The Internet contains all the knowledge in the world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It has been impoverished by unjust trade practices and by the exploitation of its resources, which are not bought at their true price. I wish to add that trade measures are not in themselves enough to wipe out the injustice that has been done. We also need genuine economic measures. If we want to fend off the advance of poverty, we must be creative. But first, what is poverty? It is certainly not an income of less than a dollar a day, the definition advocated by the United Nations. Poverty, in my view, is a set of unmet needs. Poverty is a leaky roof, or not having a roof over one’s head at all. It is poor-quality food, no drinking water, no clothing, no health care, no education or training. Lastly, being poor is not having a clean environment.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)