YouSaid · the spoken record

K. Shanmugam

lines on the record: 49
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2014-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“Singapore supports the universal and inclusive approach to the post-2015 development agenda. Each society must draw its own lessons from its own experiences and find solutions according to its national circumstances. Naturally, there will be differences of opinion, but we must not lose sight of the ultimate goal of ending extreme poverty in our lifetimes. With the MDGs, we managed to halve the number of people living below the poverty line, and there is real hope that we can do even better. Let us all work together to ensure that by the seventieth anniversary of the inception of the United Nations, in 2015, we can unite around a clear vision of how to provide our future generations the future we want.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Once the post-2015 development agenda has been agreed, countries will need to consider implementation. South-South, North- South and triangular cooperation in capacity-building and sharing experiences are important parts of the way forward. In our early years, Singapore benefited from the expert advice of specialized agencies, international organizations and developed countries. In 1992, we set up the Singapore Cooperation Programme to share our development experience, the successes and the failures alike, with other developing countries. The Programme is designed to build capacity in fields that could be of interest to countries, in the hope that that will smooth their developmental path. Recently, at the third Small Island Developing States Conference in Samoa, Singapore launched a dedicated package for SIDS.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“To us, a sustainable city means having a competitive economy, environmental sustainability and a high quality of life for all inhabitants, rich and poor alike. We hope that the Liveability Framework can be incorporated as part of discussions for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development — Habitat III — in 2016. In the area of water and sanitation, last year Singapore submitted resolution 67/291 to the General Assembly to designate 19 November as World Toilet Day in the context of Sanitation for All. This year, we will observe that Day together with relevant United Nations agencies and civil society organizations by focusing on the serious problems faced by women and girls who lack basic sanitation access. That issue needs greater attention than it has received so far. What is the way forward?”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (resolution 66/288, annex) itself recognizes that well-planned cities promote economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies. They are engines for growth and are more resource-efficient than rural societies. The challenge is therefore really to manage urbanization well. Singapore has been contributing to the discussions on sustainable urbanization as co-chair of the Group of Friends on Sustainable Cities. Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities was established in 2008 to distil, create and share knowledge on sustainable cities. It has developed a Liveability Framework as a tool to analyse what a sustainable city would actually entail and help countries define the policies they need to achieve that goal.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“As noted on page 17 of the report of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, cities are where the battle for sustainable development will be won or lost. Mismanaged urbanization can intensify inequalities. Asia is already home to 61 per cent of the world’s slum dwellers, and Africa is home to about 26 per cent. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has predicted that by 2030, 2 billion people could live in urban poverty. They will be at risk from overcrowding, epidemics, crime and pollution. Yet, urbanization has in fact been significant in the progress towards achievement of the MDGs, especially in reducing poverty. Successful cities bring up their rural hinterlands. Today, cities account for over 80 per cent of global gross domestic product.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The only model is to work with what you have within the context of a country’s culture and resources, prudently and for the benefit of the people. Policies have to be judged by their outcomes, not according to ideological content. Both consistent attention and responsive implementation are necessary to achieve long-term goals. We will put those ideas forward during the discussion. Since the urban centres of small States tend to have disproportionately large social, political and economic weight in the country, a dysfunctional urban centre can have a much greater negative effect on a small country than on a big one. Today, slightly more than half of the world’s population live in cities. By 2050, that will go up to 70 per cent. Most of that growth will take place in Africa, Asia and Latin America.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Fighting it needs political will, strong leadership and unceasing vigilance from the whole society. Secondly, rule of law is integral to sustainable development. Governments need sound and effective institutions. Those institutions, including the civil service, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, must be built on core principles of equal justice and meritocracy, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. Social capital — the trust that people have in one another, their leaders and the system — is as necessary to sustainable development as financial capital. The third principle is that economic and social policy must be pragmatic, not dogmatic. Singapore does not advocate any standard model of government or economic structure.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were successful due to the pragmatic, outcome-based and quantifiable approach to the Targets. We hope that same approach will be taken in respect of the post-2015 development agenda. Those MDGs that were not fully achieved should be included as an intrinsic part of the post-2015 agenda. Regarding the principles for sustainable development, Singapore is participating actively in the discussions for the post-2015 period, focusing on those areas where we can contribute — key principles that were critical to our development path and might be relevant to other developing countries. First is the principle of honest and competent government. Corruption is a drag on development and an intrinsic source of social instability.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The President’s choice of the theme “Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-2015 development agenda” for this year’s session and his emphasis on a comprehensive, action-oriented post-2015 development agenda are particularly timely. Singapore commends the work of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and looks forward to the Secretary-General’s report of its recommendations. We also welcome the contributions of major forums, such as the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recently held in Samoa. Singapore had the privilege of co-chairing the preparatory committee for that forum with New Zealand. It is important that the views and concerns of small States be properly factored into the post-2015 development agenda.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We welcome the strong leadership of the United States, in particular in the formation of the international coalition to combat the ISIS threat. We also welcome the Jeddah Declaration by Arab countries to stand united against ISIS. Security Council resolution 2178 (2014), on foreign terrorist fighters, which Singapore co-sponsored, is an important step to combat global terrorism and will be critical to cutting off financial and material support for ISIS and preventing the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. No country can insulate itself from those problems. We need to combat them at all levels. Fair economic development, good governance and political and social stability will be critical in increasing a country’s resilience against those threats.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Singapore condemns those terrorist actions in the strongest possible terms. ISIS will continue to target those who do not conform to its extremist agenda. The threat of such terrorism and radical ideology is not confined to the Middle East. It affects the whole world. An estimated 15,000 foreigners from at least 80 countries, including from South-East Asia, have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight. That fact that ISIS can attract so many foreign fighters highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to counter them. In addition to military and intelligence efforts, we must also combat the radical ideology used to recruit foreign fighters, which fuels their extremist agenda. Singapore firmly supports all international and regional cooperation efforts.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I wish to convey our congratulations to Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. We wish him success in the coming year. We are not living in the worst of times, but they are not the best of times either. Standards of living are far higher for more of the human race than ever before. But we face global crises of several types: internal and cross-border conflicts, epidemics, disasters both natural and man-made, climate change and international crime. We are facing grave threats from terrorism and extremism. The latest manifestation is the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS). It is brutal and cruel and a travesty of all that religion stands for. Its unspeakable acts of cruelty, including abductions and brutal murders of civilians, constitute crimes against humanity.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Singapore will continue to share its experience in sustainable urbanization through Singapore-led events such as the biennial Singapore International Water Week and the World Cities Summit. The only way to secure our collective future is through poverty eradication and sustainable development. The next two years will be critical for the world as we embark on an ambitious journey to map out the post-2015 agenda. The United Nations must play a leading role, and we are fully committed to working closely with other Member States to achieve that.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To support our engagement in the post-2015 development agenda, we will develop and customize new programmes on sustainable development and climate change that meet the needs of SIDS and least developed countries. Singapore has also been working with other Governments to promote sustainable development internationally. In 2007, Singapore and China embarked on a joint project to develop the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, which is envisioned as a city that will be socially harmonious, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. That will become a model for sustainable urbanization in China. By 2020, the Eco-city is intended to be a low-carbon, green- living environment approximately half the size of Manhattan, housing around 350,000 people.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Although we are a small country, we will continue to play our part in assisting other countries in poverty eradication and furthering the sustainable development agenda. We established the Singapore Cooperation Programme in 1992 to share our developmental experience with our friends — our successes and our failures alike. We believe that technical assistance and capacity-building are more effective in creating the right conditions for growth. More than 80,000 Government officials from 170 countries have received training under the Programme in areas as diverse as sustainable urban development, water management and human-resource development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Small States make up more than half of the United Nations membership; many, especially small island developing States (SIDS), are among the more vulnerable Members of the United Nations family. Singapore identifies closely with the urgent concerns of our fellow SIDS. The third SIDS Conference, to be held in 2014, will be an important milestone, and Singapore has participated actively in all the preparatory meetings to date. At last year’s inaugural Conference on Small Island Developing States, which was organized by the Forum of Small States (FOSS), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon agreed that small and vulnerable States deserved special attention. Singapore will continue to work with the members of FOSS to share the perspectives of small States and ensure that our views are factored into the evolution of the new global development road map.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“By 2050, 7 out of 10 people will live in urban areas. Many cities are already under strain. More than 2.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation, and another 800 million do not have safe drinking water. Some 2,000 children die every day from diarrhoea. The crisis will be exacerbated as more people move to crowded cities, where the infrastructure cannot grow fast enough to support them. Singapore introduced a draft resolution in July, which was adopted by the General Assembly (resolution 67/291), to designate 19 November as World Toilet Day. We hope that will encourage countries to take a close look at how the nexus of urbanization, water and sanitation can be better managed. Thirdly, it is important for the views and concerns of small States to be incorporated into the post-2015 development agenda.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As each country is unique, countries should be allowed to exercise flexibility as to which goals they choose to prioritize and how they will achieve them. The new global development road map should have poverty eradication and sustainable development at its centre and should converge around a single, clear set of practical and quantifiable goals. We should keep to that outcomes-based approach and not forget that the core purpose of the post-2015 development agenda is to improve the lives of people. Today, 1.2 billion people still live in extreme poverty. That is a staggering figure. Secondly, we should emphasize urban management and the intertwined issues of water and sanitation. According to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To meet our drinking and industrial needs, we use a variety of methods, including collecting water through reservoirs, the desalination of seawater, and cutting-edge membrane technology to reclaim waste water into high-grade, ultra-clean water, which we call “NEWater”. When Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Singapore in March 2012, he was impressed enough by our water management to make a toast with NEWater, rather than wine, calling NEWater, “something far more valuable — the elixir of life”. Let me now turn to the post-2015 development agenda and suggest three priority areas. First, we should learn from the example of the Millennium Development Goals. We should avoid being prescriptive.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“For instance, despite the country’s being densely populated and highly urbanized, our greening efforts have resulted in more than 50 per cent of Singapore being covered by vegetation. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, founded in the nineteenth century, is the only city botanic garden in the world to include a tract of original, primary rainforest. And despite our rapid development, we have managed to preserve much of our biodiversity. One of our nature reserves, Bukit Timah, contains more plant species than the entire North American continent. We have also developed creative solutions to overcome some of our resource constraints. Take the example of water: Singapore now imports slightly more than 40 per cent of our water needs.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To create jobs and alleviate poverty, we also gradually moved our industries up the value chain towards higher-skilled, innovation-focused sectors. Given Singapore’s land and resource constraints, sustainable development was a necessity, not just a slogan. At 700 square kilometres, Singapore is slightly bigger than Manhattan but smaller than the five boroughs of New York. To ensure that our city-State remained liveable, we had to ensure that our policies on housing, infrastructure, transport and the environment were well integrated in a long-term and holistic vision. Over several decades, we have managed to pursue growth while preserving a good living environment.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Several mechanisms have been set up, including the High-level Political Forum, the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, in which Singapore is participating actively, and the Working Group on Sustainable Development Financing. We strongly encourage the United Nations to demonstrate leadership and weave those strands of discussion into a single, clear framework. That would allow Member States to focus their attention and prioritize their resources to meet critical challenges. Singapore understands very well the importance of poverty eradication and sustainable development in securing a country’s future. When we became independent, in 1965, we faced several challenges. To uplift our population, which had only a small number of skilled workers and graduates, the Government focused on education and skills development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The 1987 Brundtland report of the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. That should remain our guiding principle as we negotiate the post- 2015 development agenda. The United Nations has a critical role to play in the evolution of the post-2015 development agenda. Only the United Nations, with its universal membership and access to global data, has the standing to establish a new global development agenda that is inclusive, effective and adaptable. The United Nations has adopted an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach to gather the views of Member States and harness the energy of civil society.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The global ecosystem is under stress from the transnational effects of human development activities. Human progress has come at the expense of the environment and the climate. Deforestation, desertification of land and the transboundary pollution of the sea, land and air degrade our quality of life and threaten human civilization. We cannot go on with business as usual. We need to rethink and retool our economies and societies and to place poverty eradication and sustainability at the centre of our development agenda. The President’s choice of “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage” as the theme for the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly is therefore particularly timely.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that regard, Singapore welcomes the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) on the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. We strongly condemn the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, as it constitutes a violation of international law. We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Syria, and we hope that the “Geneva II” conference will be convened promptly and will find a political solution to end the conflict and violence. We also offer condolences to the Government and the people of Kenya over the brutal attacks in Westgate Mall, a painful reminder of the need to remain vigilant against terror. All countries must unite against violence and terror in order to create an environment in which sustainable development can be pursued.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I warmly congratulate Mr. John Ashe on his election as President at the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly and wish him success during his term. Over the past decade, the world has experienced a string of crises. Development has slowed. Confidence in the global economic system has been shaken. There are signs of recovery, but growth remains anaemic and uneven. Unemployment is high in many countries, particularly among the young. That has exacerbated problems by increasing poverty levels, widening income gaps, adding to social instability and causing public trust in Governments and institutions to decline. Extreme poverty remains a major concern in many parts of the world. Violence and conflict are as great a threat to global stability as poverty, and the international community must respond firmly to them.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We hope that the conference will be a platform for small States to share our experiences and remind the international community that small States, too, have contributions to make to the maintenance of an international system that benefits all nations of any size.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Our view is that disputes, including those over territorial sovereignty, can and should be resolved peacefully, in accordance with international law. As major beneficiaries of a stable international system, it is incumbent upon small States to not only support the international rule of law, but to also speak up against its violation. This year, the 105-member Forum of Small States will commemorate its twentieth anniversary with a high-level conference on small States on 1 October. The conference will discuss the role of small States in international relations, including our commitment to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We invite all Member States to attend the conference.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Small States like Singapore are vulnerable even at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. It is therefore particularly important for small States to be in an international environment where international law and institutions based on law can flourish. We need a predictable and stable, rules-based international system in order for all of us to survive. Singapore firmly believes in the importance of safeguarding the international rule of law. We have participated actively in various multilateral negotiations, used international dispute mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, to resolve disputes we have had with other countries.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That will provide a platform for States under threat to bring their problems before those mechanisms with confidence, rather than trying to resolve them by force. The President has selected an important theme for the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly: bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means. In a fast- changing environment, where the global governance structure is fragmented and coordination is difficult, the parameters of dialogue among States become crucial. In that dialogue among States, respect for the rule of law by all parties is essential. If that were not the case, small States would lose their independence and autonomy, and even the larger and stronger States could never feel entirely secure. A stable international system is critical to our collective security.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The five permanent members of the Security Council, with their veto powers, have the primary responsibility to make the Council more effective. That is why Singapore has consistently called for improvement in the Security Council’s working methods. The Security Council is not a rubber stamp for the interests of its individual members. Its power, if not visibly and openly wielded for the greater good and to discharge its mandate in all instances, will eventually undermine its legitimacy and leadership role in the international community. That is in no one’s interest. Singapore believes that the long-term goal of the United Nations should be to provide an effective system of international law and resilient mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Any failure of the Security Council and the United Nations in maintaining peace and security represents a failure of the Member States themselves. We should therefore support ongoing and new efforts aimed at strengthening the United Nations, instead of denigrating it. The United Nations is unique in its ability to come up with global solutions because of its universal membership, legitimacy, experience and presence on the ground. No other organization is as well equipped to do so. A significant expansion of the United Nations mediation capabilities, good offices and peacekeeping efforts has made it central to international crisis prevention and the mediation and settlement of disputes. We should continue to support the strengthening of those aspects.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Even as we work with the G-20, we should look for ways to strengthen and reform existing multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. That will help us to achieve greater efficiency, rather than continuing to invent more smaller groupings. Many of us often fault the United Nations, including the Security Council, for its inability to act to resolve ongoing conflicts. However, as frustrations mount, let us not forget that the United Nations and its organs, including the Security Council, can do only what its Members choose to do, so we are responsible for the current state of affairs. The United Nations is an organization of sovereign nation States. It has no more authority than what its Members give it.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Frustration over the inability of existing multilateral institutions to deal with those global challenges is growing, and that has given rise to a greater tendency for countries to turn to smaller and more exclusive groupings outside of the United Nations framework for solutions. The Group of 20 (G-20) is one such example. Without the G-20, the 2008 economic crisis may have well led to a global depression. However, the G-20 is an exclusive grouping; it leaves out the vast majority of the United Nations membership, particularly small States. It is a self-selected group, but one that is here to stay in the foreseeable future. The Global Governance Group was therefore established by like minded-countries, including Singapore, to strengthen the engagement between the G-20 and the general membership of the United Nations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“While emerging economies focus on maintaining economic growth, developed economies are preoccupied with both immediate and structural socioeconomic problems. Understandably, there is less focus on strategic regional and international issues. However, serious, long-term challenges remain. Rising income disparities, climate change issues and worries about food security are not being adequately addressed at the global level. Amid that uncertainty, no State or group of States currently has the power to definitively set the international agenda. Decision-making and governance on global issues have and will continue to become increasingly complicated. The multiplicity of interests makes finding consensus in international forums that much more difficult.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I extend my congratulations to Mr. Vuk Jeremić on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. I wish him every success in the year ahead. The global economic situation remains uncertain. Europe is in recession and growth in other places is weakening. There is increasing concern that this combination of weak consumer demand in developing countries and a continuing crisis in the eurozone may lead to a global recession. An even greater danger, especially for small States like Singapore that depend on global trade, is the risk of increased protectionism. Populist pressures in countries affected by austerity and economic crisis can cause further instability as politicians become unwilling or unable to deal with long-term, structural economic problems.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Sixty-five years ago, following the devastation of World War II, we managed to forge a consensus that was underpinned by the notion of inclusive global citizenship and manifested by the establishment of a set of international institutions, practices and norms. At the forefront was the United Nations Charter. Globalization and economic integration have since redefined global governance and decision- making. The United Nations needs to adjust its processes to this new environment. But at the core, its values remain the same: to maintain international peace and security and to promote development, human rights and respect for the rule of law. It is up to us, the Member States, to rally the necessary political will to put aside narrow self- interests and act for our collective good and secure the well-being of our future generations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That includes a call for a renewed political commitment to a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, which we believe is critical to achieving food security. 11-51670 10 The United Nations remains the only truly universal and international organization. There is no alternative to the United Nations. The steady expansion of its membership from 51 at its founding in 1945 to 193 today is a testament to the value that countries accord to membership in this Organization. The United Nations is uniquely placed to influence our collective future. However, we should not take this position for granted, for the Organization’s ability to influence global issues is ultimately dependent on the decisions that we as Member States take at the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That will lead to a further marginalization of the small and the weak. The United Nations needs to find ways to work with limited groupings as complementary parts of the international system. This is what the Global Governance Group, or 3G, has sought to achieve. To act as a bridge between the United Nations and the Group of 20, the 3G has provided ideas to strengthen the latter’s engagement with the United Nations. The 3G has focused on areas of ongoing and potential cooperation such as development, tackling the problem of food security and fostering the growth of livable cities. It has also called for a comprehensive approach to addressing the different factors affecting food security and the volatility of food prices.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The immense good work in the field that various United Nations personnel, such as our humanitarian and aid workers, are doing has to be better related to what Member States do at Headquarters. While established processes are important, that should not hamper innovative thinking and solutions. For example, we should set definitive timelines and specific objectives for resolutions, and retire others. Let us focus on what needs to be done, who should do it, and by when it should be done. This will ensure that there are targeted outcomes and real implementation. This may seem like a small, procedural change, but to borrow a phrase, sometimes little things can make a big difference. The alternative is to leave the shaping of the new global governance to other groupings, which will by definition be less inclusive.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why Singapore is happy to be a member of the Green Group, an informal grouping initiated by Slovenia, whose members discuss ways to augment our collective experiences in water management. That model can be replicated by the United Nations to include more Member States. We also need to look at the processes, procedures and leadership within the United Nations. The efficiency of our responses can and should be reviewed and improved upon. At present, there is a disconnect between the proliferation of resolutions, which we debate year after year, and actual present realities. There is a great need to coordinate better between New York and the ground.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this regard, events like the annual World Water Week in Stockholm come to the forefront of the public’s minds when talking about championing water issues. Likewise, since 2008, Singapore has organized the Singapore International Water Week, a global platform that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. In Singapore, we have always regarded water as a strategic resource. We have invested considerable resources in researching and testing new technologies. We would be happy to share our experiences. I am certain that there are also many other success stories of countries that have adopted modern technology and sound policies to overcome their water insecurity.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has pointed out that about one-third of the world’s population lives in countries with moderate to high water stress, with a disproportionate impact on the poor. With current projected global population growth, the task of providing water for human sustenance will become increasingly difficult, and increasing competition over this scarce but vital resource may fuel instability and conflict within and between States. The United Nations is doing a great deal in both areas to proactively foster collaboration among Member States. UNEP has long actively addressed the water issue, together with partner United Nations agencies and other organizations. Looking ahead, the United Nations can do more to build synergies of technology, policy and capacity in this field.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations must also act together with such groupings as complementary parts 9 11-51670 of the international system, not as mutually exclusive competitors. The United Nations also has an important role in tackling two other challenges — food and water security, which are two sides of the same coin. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has reported an escalation of international food prices to levels not seen in decades. And according to the World Bank, rising food costs have pushed 44 million people into extreme poverty and hunger since June 2010. The hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa is but one face of this devastation. Equally critical is the challenge of water security.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There is a role for smaller, regional groupings like the G-20 and the Group of Eight, which may be more efficient and dynamic in decision- making. A certain amount of fluidity is a given in global governance for some time to come, and even necessary in order to tackle increasingly complex and varied global problems. But ultimately, a balance needs to be struck between efficiency and genuine legitimacy. The G-20 accounts for over 80 per cent of world trade and gross domestic product, but that still leaves the majority of countries and a significant number of people outside of that group. There is scope for the United Nations to play a meaningful role by ensuring that all groupings take into account and promote the greater interest.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why the prospects for a breakthrough in the Doha Development Round continue to be slim. As the pre-eminent multilateral institution in the world, the United Nations should take a strong stand, make a united pledge against trade-restrictive measures and continue to push for free trade. Fighting protectionist pressures collectively is important for the long-term sustainability of our economies. The philosophy of common enrichment that imbues the United Nations Charter must replace short-sighted strategies of survival if we are to truly take the path towards sustainability. Due to its sheer membership size and functions, the United Nations will need time to achieve consensus and make decisions. That leaves the door open for ad hoc coordination by smaller, informal groups, especially during critical periods like the fall of 2008.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations must play an important role in dealing with these challenges. First, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization can help ensure that the global economic framework remains conducive to growth amidst the maelstrom of economic instability. We are in for a bumpy ride, with growth in all the major markets slowing, and there is no guarantee of quick recovery. At the same time, we face a worrisome rise in protectionist sentiments. A recent report by the World Trade Organization showed that the Group of 20 (G-20) countries introduced 122 new trade-restrictive measures from 2010 to April 2011. Too many countries are focused more on domestic political concerns than on implementing their multilateral commitments and taking concerted action at the global level.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Governments have to grapple with the challenge of reviving growth and creating jobs for our citizens, even as the uncertain global economic recovery comes under threat from the severe fiscal and debt crisis in the United States and eurozone. Fears about the risk of a double-dip recession remain. Other important global challenges need serious attention and resources as well. Those include long- term issues such as sustainable development, climate change and water security. There are also immediate concerns such as food security, job creation and making our cities more livable. These are issues that require urgent joint action by the global community. By next month, we will have 7 billion people to feed, clothe and find meaningful employment for. That is a stark reminder of the magnitude of our task.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Allow me to congratulate Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. I would also like to congratulate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his unanimous reappointment to a second term. I extend my warmest congratulations to South Sudan on becoming the newest Member of the United Nations family. We wish President Al-Nasser and Secretary-General Ban success in the year ahead. The world has seen difficult times since the global economic crisis of 2008. This has been compounded by natural and man-made disasters, which have grown in scale and severity. The repercussions of those events produce unpredictable outcomes.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)