YouSaid · the spoken record

Vivian Balakrishnan

lines on the record: 95
first: 2016-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

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

“We have just concluded an ASEAN agreement on streamlining e-commerce within South- East Asia so that our businesses can market and sell their products easily, conveniently and seamlessly across South-East Asia. ASEAN member States are also committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes, and to doing so through a multilateral process. In that connection let me now address my friends in Myanmar, and particularly the situation in Rakhine state, which is a matter of grave concern for the region and beyond. The crisis is a complex and deep-rooted intercommunal conflict, the roots of which go back centuries. More recently, we have read harrowing accounts of brutal and shocking atrocities. We have to condemn all human rights violations, threats, loss of life and the violence inflicted on defenceless people.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“When that is concluded, the Partnership will be the world’s largest trading bloc, accounting for up to a third of the world’s GDP. But our interest is not just in big trade figures. We also want to send a powerful message that ASEAN member States and our six partners — India, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand — stand for and are committed to free trade, regional integration and international cooperation. ASEAN Member States are also working together to leverage the digital revolution for our peoples’ benefit. We established the ASEAN Smart Cities Network at the thirty-second ASEAN Summit in April. The Smart Cities Network focuses on ensuring interoperability and the integration of services, and allows cities in our region to share experiences and exchange solutions and lessons learned.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Singapore will launch an ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in 2019. We have also partnered with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs on a United Nations-Singapore Cyber Programme, which will raise awareness and build capacity in our region. Our work in ASEAN is rooted in our belief that regional organizations can demonstrate how multilateralism continues to be relevant and beneficial for people all over the world. As the Chair of ASEAN this year, Singapore will continue to work with all our member States and our external partners to ensure that the regional architecture remains open, inclusive and rules-based. We are working with our partners to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“To that end, we support the reconvening of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security and the continuation of its work in developing the norms for States’ behaviour in cyberspace. Cybersecurity has been a priority under Singapore’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the third ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity, which was held in Singapore just last week, all 10 ASEAN member States agreed to subscribe in principle to the 11 norms contained in the 2015 report of the GGE (A/70/174). Singapore is also committed to capacity-building, which we feel is essential for States in their efforts to effectively implement rules and norms of State behaviour.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“States have always turned to the United Nations as the only universal, inclusive, multilateral forum that can develop the rules that govern the global commons. One example is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the global legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, which we depend on for trade, food and resources. Just as Singapore strongly supported the UNCLOS process in the past, Singapore stands ready now to contribute to the United Nations work aimed at developing and adopting norms and rules on cybersecurity. That is simply another example of the global commons, and we cannot allow the tragedy of the commons to occur in cyberspace, in the sea or in the area of climate change.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“To reap the full benefits of the digital revolution, we must develop a trusted, open and inclusive cyberspace underpinned by international law and well-defined norms of responsible State behaviour. The International Telecommunication Union has ranked Singapore as the country most committed to cybersecurity in 2017. Yet, in July this year, we discovered that one of Singapore’s major health databases had been subjected to an advanced persistent threat. That was a deliberate, targeted and sophisticated cyberattack. No country is immune to such attacks. But all of us need to work together to prevent them. We need to implement norms and rules that will prohibit such attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly where lives are at stake.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is fundamentally an investment in our people to make sure that all of us are ready for the future. Ultimately, no country benefits from trade conflicts and protectionism. The negative impacts will ripple through the global supply chain and will undermine growth and prosperity in all countries. We will all be worse off. At this time of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence we need a multilateral approach and strong rules, now more than ever. Singapore will continue to be a strong and staunch supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system. The critical importance of the World Trade Organization cannot be overemphasized: it is the ultimate neutral arbiter of international trade disputes. Another area where we urgently need to promote the adoption and implementation of rules and norms is in cyberspace.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“On the contrary, we must try to take advantage of the new opportunities of the global market to create the jobs of the future. It is therefore our responsibility, as Governments, to actively put in place policies to train, retrain, retool and reskill our citizens by investing in infrastructure, training and education. That is why we in Singapore are working so hard to restructure our education system. We are putting in serious money to enable our people to continuously upgrade and learn new skills through a programme we call SkillsFuture. The emphasis is on the word “future”. Right now, in Singapore our focus is on restructuring our economy, identifying and working with the private sector to transform jobs, enhance our competitiveness and elevate productivity across the board.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Unfortunately, the conventional arguments in favour of free trade, economic integration, and cooperation between countries have gone out of fashion. Today, trade frictions between the United States and China have raised the spectre of a trade war. But we cannot simply blame globalization. All Governments of today have an obligation to consider long-term and sustainable solutions, instead of just raising trade barriers. For example, in order to truly address widening inequality and wage stagnation we must address the root causes. In the midst of the digital revolution, we must ensure that our people have the right skills for new emerging jobs. It is futile to fight to protect obsolete technologies and to squabble over yesterday’s jobs.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Compliance with the agreed rules by all States is not only essential for global stability and for governing the global commons, it is especially crucial for a small city-State like Singapore. The principle that agreements should be respected and implemented is fundamental for our survival. Without the rule of international law the strong do what they will, and the weak will suffer what we must. For small States like Singapore, we cannot survive in such a world. That is why Singapore has always been a staunch defender of the United Nations, international law and the multilateral system. Let us take trade, for example. Globalization has actually not benefited everyone equally. There remain pockets of poverty and hunger in our world. Our people are worried about jobs.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The global order will need to evolve. Our responsibilities will need to be rebalanced. In this perilous period of transition, we cannot and should not abandon the rules-based world order that has brought about unprecedented peace and prosperity for 70 years. In fact, the scale and transboundary nature of the challenges that we face today demand more cohesion and cooperation, not less. There is a strong case to be made for doubling down on multilateralism, rather than retreating from it. We need a clear framework of rules and norms so as to ensure predictability and stability in inter-State relations and commerce. Defining those rules through a multilateral process in which all States engage with one another as equals is necessary in order to build consensus and to strengthen respect for the rule of law.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“But today we are transitioning to a multipolar world, where other Powers are quite rightly beginning to assume a greater role in multiple spheres. That is a transition that has to be managed carefully and delicately. I am not saying that multilateralism is perfect. In fact, we recognize that it has not always fulfilled all its promises. And, quite frankly, sometimes it has been oversold as a panacea. How then do we make multilateralism work in this rapidly shifting geostrategic context? My take is that every State has to make room to accommodate the new realities and find a new modus vivendi. Foreign policy and trade policy actually always begin at home. Politics is always local. We need to achieve a rebalancing in our domestic societies and political spheres, as well as in the global, international sphere.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The digital revolution is increasingly disrupting the way we live, work, play, communicate, organize and mobilize our societies. Non-State actors and transboundary threats, terrorism, pandemics and climate change remain a clear and present danger. Frontier issues such as artificial intelligence and cybercrime have leapt from the pages of science fiction into our daily lives. Our social cohesion is breaking down, and all too often we operate in isolated social and political bubbles. At the same time, the international order as we know it is being disrupted. Since 1945, many countries and regions have benefited from the open global system — a world order that was substantially underwritten by a single Power: the United States of America.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Whether in trade, security or dispute resolution, questions have arisen about whether the multilateral system can continue to deliver effective solutions for the multitude of problems that we face. I stand here as a representative of a tiny, open and trade-dependent city State, and Singapore has witnessed this recent retreat from multilateralism with grave concern. That is why today I want to raise my voice in defence of multilateralism. There is perhaps no better forum for me to do so than the United Nations, the ultimate bastion of multilateralism. It is actually easy to understand why there is a resurgence in isolationist, protectionist and even xenophobic sentiments in the political arena all over the world. We are living in uncertain, volatile and disruptive times.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It is a bright and sunny Saturday morning outside. I thank members for sacrificing their time to participate in this debate. I add my voice to those who congratulate Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador on her election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- third session. I also thank my friend Miroslav Lajčák, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, for his sterling leadership of the seventy-second session. The one word that we have probably heard the most over this past week is “multilateralism”. Multilateralism is at a crossroads. In fact, it is facing a significant threat. In recent years, we have witnessed a crisis of confidence in the concept of multilateralism and its institutions.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In an environment of increased uncertainties, the case for multilateralism becomes stronger, not weaker. Now more than ever, we need the United Nations to help us find solutions to difficult, complex problems, global and local. We need to safeguard and strengthen our multilateral, rules-based system so that even the smallest State can survive and thrive as an independent, sovereign nation. We need an open global architecture based on a vision of an interdependent world in order to secure, sustainable prosperity for every single one of us. But most important, we need inclusive and fair economic growth to empower all our people to lead good and meaningful lives.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We need to do the same with this new revolution. That is why we in Singapore have invested heavily in education and skills, training our people, both young and old, to give everyone a chance to maximize opportunities and to harvest new potential from this new digital revolution. We want every Singaporean to have a stake in our growth and to share in our success as a nation. Let me conclude by saying that the United Nations is absolutely essential, particulary for small States such as Singapore. The United Nations has been a catalyst for peace and development for more than 70 years. It has given a young State like Singapore, just 52 years old, enormous opportunities for amazing progress over the past five decades. It has made a real difference to the lives of people around the world.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We cannot wish away those disruptive changes. Instead, we have to restructure our economies and our societies, so that we can create new, better jobs for our people in this new digital world. However, that will not be an easy task; it does not come about because of a speech or two. The transformation caused by the digital revolution will be positive only if we can find ways to share the benefits more widely and to reduce inequality. It is worth remembering that at the beginning of every industrial or technological revolution there is often a period of widening inequality, because the people or the countries who experience it first have an enormous advantage. It takes time for new tools and technologies to be democratized and commoditized so that a new middle class arises, bringing in a new golden age.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“However, the challenge for every Government is to generate higher growth and to create more jobs while ensuring that no one is left behind. In Singapore, quite frankly, we believe firmly in the role of hard work, savings and self-reliance. However, we also believe in taking care of the weak and vulnerable in every segment of our society. Consequently, our policies on women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities are designed to protect and uplift the most vulnerable. We place great emphasis on racial and religious harmony and in building social cohesiveness. Beyond resilience, successful societies have to embrace new technologies and encourage innovation. The digital revolution is fundamentally changing the way we live, work, play, communicate, mobilize and organize our societies.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We welcome the efforts of successive G-20 Presidents to reach out to non-members, in particular members of the Global Governance Group. The Group will continue to be an advocate for a more accountable and inclusive framework of global governance. My third and final point is on the need for inclusive economic growth. Politically, the consensus for multilateralism and an open global architecture will not be sustained if people within our own States feel that they are going to be left behind. In other words, we need to make sure that there is inclusive economic growth that lifts all communities together. Indeed, the 2030 Agenda is fundamentally a vision for achieving long-term inclusive economic growth, not just at the national level, but at the regional and global levels as well. It is a vision shared by all countries.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“An open trading environment has allowed developing countries to export their goods and services and raised hundreds of millions of people from poverty into a new, rising middle class. Equally important, this rise of a prosperous middle class across Asia, Africa and South America has also been associated with peace and stability. The World Trade Organization is indispensable, as it underpins the rules-based multilateral trading system and provides a framework for resolving trade disputes. The Group of Twenty (G-20) is another important platform for discussing global macroeconomic and financial issues. However, it is important for the G-20 to work closely with the United Nations and with non-members of the G-20 in order to strengthen the multilateral system and to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“There is another model — one where there is a vision of a world with open, interdependent, sovereign States characterized by enlightened long-term national interests, win-win collaboration and sustainable development. It should come as no surprise that Singapore, almost by definition, has to support the latter model. We believe that an open, rules-based, multilateral system allows every country to fulfil its potential and its duty to its citizens. In particular, it allows small States, which are dependent on international trade and investments, to create a pathway for growth and resilience. It is therefore important, especially at this time, to remain steadfast in the face of growing cause for rising protectionism.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“ASEAN has not only fostered regional economic integration, but perhaps even more important, it has secured regional peace for five decades and strengthened the national resilience of each of its members by creating a sense of common identity in the midst of great diversity. The prospects for ASEAN are very bright, and we have ambitious plans to do more, under our vision of a united, resilient and innovative ASEAN. My second and related point concerns the need for an open global architecture that is essential for growth and sustainable development. We have to make a choice. One model is a world divided by rival blocs, running mercantilist economies, waging proxy wars and engaging in zero-sum competition.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“This year, we are proud that the Forum of Small States, founded by Singapore in 1992, celebrates its twenty- fifth anniversary. Singapore is committed to working closely with all States, especially small States, to support the work of the United Nations and to enhance its effectiveness. Regional organizations are also an important part of an effective multilateral, rules- based system. They help to reinforce the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to underpin international law at the regional and local levels. Equally important, they help to build confidence and encourage habits of cooperation. In South-East Asia, ASEAN is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The United Nations must also deal with emerging global challenges, such as cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and the economic disruption caused by the emergence of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and the potential for genetic engineering. If the United Nations is to remain effective and relevant, it must also become fit for purpose. There is much scope to optimize synergies and minimize inefficiencies within the United Nations system. In this regard, Singapore strongly supports the Secretary- General’s efforts to reform and restructure the United Nations. We welcome his management reforms and his efforts to review the United Nations development system so as to streamline the peace and security architecture. As a small State, Singapore has always been a strong supporter of an effective United Nations.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In fact, the United Nations is the universal body best placed to address the problems of the global commons. A good example is the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, which is an enduring testament to what collective political will can achieve. Today, UNCLOS has become a constitution that governs the use of the oceans. The recent adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development showed that multilateralism can respond to new challenges, especially when there is political will and collective commitment. When dealing with global issues such as climate change, there is no alternative to a multilateral approach.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“This is particularly true for small States because we depend on a rules-based multilateral system for our survival and our success. Today, I want to speak, first, on the importance of multilateralism; secondly, on having an open global architecture; and thirdly, on having inclusive economic growth. My first point is on a universal, rules-based multilateral system and why it is essential if we are to solve the complex problems facing the world today. No nation can solve transboundary problems alone. We need to work with each other, we need to build consensus and we need to find effective solutions to global problems. The United Nations plays a critical role in that regard as a platform for cooperation, based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and international law.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers will be meeting later today. ASEAN supports Myanmar in seeking a long- term solution to restore stability within its own borders. Singapore will work through ASEAN and with Myanmar to extend humanitarian assistance to all affected communities. Every country actually seeks to achieve the same thing — to ensure the security and prosperity of our people and to create a better future for our children. But no country, no matter how wealthy, big or powerful, can achieve that alone. Multilateralism, international law, constructive interdependence and a sense of win-win cooperation are crucial to the sustainable development and prosperity for all countries. Therefore, a strong multilateral system reinforces the resilience of individual countries.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I visited Nay Pyi Taw last week and had a very frank discussion with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She is deeply troubled by what is happening in her own country and deeply distressed by the pain and suffering there. Extremists everywhere actually have a common playbook. First, they commit an egregious act of violence. Secondly, they stick a religious label on the situation in order to convey a sense of “us versus them”. Thirdly, they eliminate the grey zone of moderates by causing alienation due to overreaction. And so, we must be very careful that we do not fall into the trap of those extremists. As a doctor, I believe that the first rule of medicine is to do no harm. Therefore, as the rest of the world looks on with distress and alarm, we need to be very careful and measured in our response.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In North-East Asia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s reckless actions are raising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Singapore strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile and nuclear-weapon tests, which are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to avoid further provocations and to fully implement all of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. In Myanmar’s Rakhine state, a humanitarian disaster has occurred in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on 25 August and related acts of violence. It is a complex, intercommunal issue with deep historical roots, and it will not be solved instantly. It is the responsibility of every Government to protect every civilian, regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs or origin.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I am honoured to speak here on behalf of one of the world’s smallest city States, the Republic of Singapore. First, I congratulate His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajcák on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- second session. I also congratulate Mr. Peter Thomson of Fiji on his successful leadership as President at the seventy-first session. We are meeting at a time of great uncertainty. The old fault lines of race, language and religion remain active. There is renewed anxiety about jobs and inequality. New technologies and non-State actors are challenging the international order. Terrorist groups are using the Internet to spread their poisonous, radical ideologies, including in South-East Asia. Cyberattacks and fake news have proliferated. Conflicts in many regions of the world remain and new ones have emerged.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We have helped to build consensus and find solutions to key global issues, including climate change. Small States can play an even greater role, provided we work together. Ultimately, small States need the United Nations to create the framework for building partnerships, promoting mutual development and pursuing peace and security within a rules-based multilateral system.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Singapore has also tailored training programmes for small island developing States in areas including sustainable development, climate change and public governance. Small States make up more than half of the States Members of the United Nations. To quote Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon’s statement at the twentieth anniversary of the Forum of Small States, in 2012, “Being small does not mean the absence of big ideas”. The Secretary-General has been a strong supporter of small States, and we thank him for his leadership and support. I think we should also recognize the important contributions he has made to sustainable development and climate change during his two terms as Secretary-General. In conclusion, let me say that small States, despite our size, have made significant contributions to the international community.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Singapore is fully committed to helping other developing countries build capacity and enhance human capital, and I declare this on behalf of a country that has only human resources and human capital to offer. Since 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has provided training to more than 100,000 officials from other developing countries. Last year, in a statement made at the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, we launched from this rostrum (see A/70/PV.10) a new sustainable development programme through which we are working with such United Nations agencies as the United Nations Development Programme, UN-Water and UN-Habitat to support fellow developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In South-East Asia, transboundary haze from forest and peatland fires started by human beings have impaired the health of millions of people, compromised the safety of aircraft navigation, damaged our regional economies and accelerated climate change. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted a road map to achieve what we hope will be a haze-free ASEAN by 2020. We need to strengthen partnerships among Governments, the private sector, civil-society organizations and other important stakeholders with a view to addressing the root of the problem. That is a long-term challenge that requires sustained attention and continued collaboration among countries in our region and beyond. Developing countries need international support and assistance in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Multilateral processes, such as the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), to be held in Ecuador in October, are important avenues to help advance the SDGs, especially SDG 11. The draft new urban agenda to be adopted by the Habitat III Conference will highlight the link between urbanization and sustainable development and provide a framework for cities and Governments around the world to collaborate and find sustainable solutions. Another important issue that requires cooperation involves the sustainable management of our forests, the prevention of land degradation and the loss of biodiversity form. This issue is addressed by SDG 15 in the 2030 Agenda.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Singapore believes that there are two key prerequisites for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The first prerequisite is the rule of law. I made the point earlier that, at the international level, a rules- based system is essential for all States, especially small States, in order for us to cooperate and to safeguard our rights. But a commitment to the rule of law at the domestic level is equally important. Without good governance, transparency, strong institutions and a clear legal framework, development can neither be sustainable nor benefit ordinary people. The second prerequisite in that context is international partnerships. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved only through collaboration and partnership.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I am pleased to note that, under the chairmanships of Grenada, Nauru and now Maldives, the Alliance of Small Island States played a catalytic role during the climate-change negotiations. Similarly, the Forum of Small States brings together 107 member States to exchange ideas and support each other in our common concerns. The Global Governance Group, also known as the 3-G, provides a platform for approximately 30 small and medium-sized countries to exchange views on global governance and contribute to the discussions of the Group of 20 (G-20). The 3-G has helped to channel the views of a broad range of countries to the G-20 presidency, thereby making the G-20 process more inclusive. The third important element for the survival and prosperity of small States is sustainable development.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The recent successful conclusion of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change last November was a good example of how countries around the world could come together to solve a problem posed to the global commons. That the Paris Agreement will likely enter into force less than seven months after it was opened for signature is a confidence-booster for the United Nations system. Singapore is proud to have played its part by actively participating in negotiations and to have been part of the early wave of countries that deposited their instruments of ratification at the high-level event on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on 21 September this year. A collective voice for small States speaks louder, and our collective action has been an effective catalyst for change at the United Nations and globally.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The United Nations represents an international world order based on rules, norms and principles. We emphatically reject the notion that might is right. That is why small States are often the strongest proponents of the United Nations. For us, the United Nations represents a rules-based international order, and we believe that is a precondition for our very existence as independent, sovereign States. The second essential element is international partnership and cooperation. Some of the most significant challenges of our time are transnational in nature. Examples include global economic growth, climate change, epidemics and terrorism. Therein lies the importance of the United Nations.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“To achieve global security and prosperity, we need to work with one another to seek win-win outcomes. I realize that, inevitably, there will be competition and rivalry between States, especially among the major Powers. But I want to make this point: relations between States need not be a zero-sum game. All countries benefit when there is peace and stability, and that is essential for building partnerships and economic cooperation everywhere. Three elements are crucial for the survival and prosperity of small States: first, a rules-based multilateral world order; secondly, international partnership and cooperation; and, thirdly, sustainable development. Allow me to elaborate. On the first point, a rules-based multilateral system enables all States to deal with each other in a fair, transparent and predictable manner.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We all need to work with the World Health Organization to keep our countries safe, while remaining open, connected and functioning. In an uncertain world, small States like Singapore will have to work that much harder just to stay afloat. Small boats on a rough sea are much more likely to be tossed and overturned than a large tanker with heavy ballast. For our survival and our prosperity, small States have to stay open and connected to the world. But, by definition, our very openness makes us vulnerable to external shocks and threats. Small States like ours do not have the option of retreating inwards or opting out of the global system. It is a reality that the world will become more and more interdependent. In such an environment, no country can succeed on its own, even if a country is not an island State like mine.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Those people have been indoctrinated with extremist ideology, trained with combat skills and killed people — and everyone knows that it is always easier to kill the second time around. They will further pose a significant risk as they seek to promote violence at home, overthrow legitimate Governments and establish a caliphate in South-East Asia. Singapore is committed to working with its friends and partners to address the threat of violent extremism and terrorism by exchanging intelligence and sharing our own experience with deradicalization programmes. While that is taking place, we also recall the Ebola virus epidemic in 2014 and the current zika infections. They are stark reminders that global health remains a concern.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have witnessed rising nationalism, populism and protectionism, which have clouded the political discourse and confounded electoral outcomes everywhere. The conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya continue unabated, with serious repercussions beyond the region, including causing unprecedented flows of refugees. Terrorism remains a clear and present threat to international peace and security, which has been amplified by social media, and has been used so skilfully by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and other terrorist groups to spread radical ideas and promote violent extremism. South-East Asia, the region where I come from, has also become a fertile recruiting ground for ISIS. In fact, we know that more than 1,000 men and women, including some Singaporeans, have gone to the Middle East to fight for ISIS.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It is a special honour for me to address the General Assembly on behalf of Singapore, a tiny island city-State that is sometimes referred to as a tiny red dot. The United Nations is essential for our survival and prosperity, as it is in particular for all small States. We are usually on the receiving end of the decisions and actions of large Powers. Fortunately, the General Assembly affirms the principle that all nations, large or small, rich or poor, have an equal stake and an equal right to participate in shaping the discourse on global issues. The year 2016 has been a year of increased uncertainty and volatility. We have seen sluggish growth and poor job creation in the major economies, which have been accompanied by growing xenophobia and disillusionment with mainstream politics.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)