YouSaid · the spoken record

Danny Philip

lines on the record: 32
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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

“We must, however, go beyond achieving peace. We must provide our people with the values and skills that will sustain peace. As we enter the twenty-first century, let us reaffirm our commitment to work in partnership with others in pursuit of global peace and human security.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The challenges facing the United Nations in the twenty-first century are daunting. An effective United Nations demands the steadfast commitment and support of all its Members. The rich and powerful must pay their dues on time, in full and without conditions. Above all, the United Nations needs global political will and resources to maintain peace and security, promote sustainable development, address environmental degradation, combat poverty and disease and foster respect for human dignity. Human problems will always remain with us, but the way to resolve them should be through dialogue and discussion. This is the approach my Government is taking towards resolving the current ethnic unrest in our country. Attaining peace could be a painful and slow process, it could be fragile and imperfect when achieved, but we believe we can do it.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We must show greater understanding towards those who request to participate in the work of our Organization. May I take this opportunity to reiterate the point made by Solomon Islands during the Millennium Summit relating to the principle of an all-inclusive and universal United Nations. A case in point is that which relates to the reunification of China, which would foster greater stability in world affairs and effectively bolster the activities of the Organization. This new approach by the United Nations for the two Chinas will enhance greater understanding in pragmatic diplomacy and pave the way for efforts currently under way in the Korean peninsula. This is not impossible to achieve, as we saw just before the turn of the century in the reunification of the two Germanys.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Solomon Islands is committed to reform, strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations system, including the Security Council, which has primary responsibility under the United Nations Charter for maintaining international peace and security. Greater flexibility and understanding should be demonstrated towards those that are striving to become new permanent members of the Council, including Japan and Germany. A similar attitude should be shown towards the reconfiguration of the United Nations regional groups to reflect present-day realities 3 and to accommodate those Member States, including Australia and New Zealand, which wish to be placed in their most appropriate regional or geopolitical grouping. Only an inclusive and universal United Nations can effectively perform its mandate in the twenty-first century.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Such cooperation in my view should continue to focus on better trading opportunities, including market access, capacity- building — in particular, human resources development — and adaptation and mitigation programmes to address climate change and sea level rise. Investment in renewable energy remains a priority for Solomon Islands. Access to a reliable and cost-effective energy source is imperative if our rural population is to capitalize on the opportunities of the information age. The international community must mobilize resources to implement the Secretary General's recommendations on bridging the digital divide between developed and developing countries.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Their five-year reviews, despite some progress, have indicated that insufficient resources remains a major obstacle to wider implementation, especially in rural communities in developing countries. New and additional resources are required if we are to make a difference. The United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Financing for Development next year must produce a practical outcome on how to mobilize financing for development in the new millennium. The twenty-first century should be a century for better implementation of international programmes, a century for action rather than rhetoric. The economic vulnerability and ecological fragility of small island developing States must be an integral basis for decisions on development cooperation with these States.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Third United Nations Conference on the LDCs next year will give the international community a unique opportunity to review, assess and adopt policies and measures that could effectively address the development constraints of least developed countries. Developing and sustaining competitiveness and productive capabilities, like all other aspects of development, is a long and often frustrating process. My Government, however, is prepared to work with our development partners to address these problems in a renewed spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility. The past decade has witnessed the adoption of several international conventions and programmes of action, from the environment and sustainable development to social development and the advancement of women.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“To sustain long-term peace, Solomon Islands will need the cooperation of its development partners to rebuild the economy and to foster a development path that creates employment, ensures fair distribution of national resources and wealth and accommodates our diverse cultural traditions. Only the United Nations and other international institutions have the scope and legitimacy to generate the principles, norms and rules that are necessary if globalization is to benefit everyone. The least developed countries (LDCs), including Solomon Islands, need international support to build the capacities to enable us to become more effectively and beneficially integrated into the global economy.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Recognizing the importance of civil society participation in conflict resolution, reconciliation and reconstruction, my Government will continue to involve non-governmental organizations, including women's and church groups. May I express my Government's appreciation to the South Pacific Forum countries for their understanding and support during this challenging time. I wish to mention in particular the recent visit by a Pacific ACP ministerial mission led by the Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea to assess the current situation and make recommendations to the joint European Union/African, Caribbean and Pacific (EU/ ACP) Commission. We further appreciate the efforts of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand in facilitating our peace process through their logistical support.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“While a peaceful and comprehensive solution has to come from Solomon Islanders themselves, international support to sustain the peace process is necessary. Since we launched our national peace plan, we have made some progress in getting the conflicting parties to the table to 2 negotiate and agree to a ceasefire. A ceasefire Agreement was signed by all parties concerned on 3 August 2000 and a National Monitoring Council to oversee its implementation was subsequently formed. Despite some violations of the Agreement, my Government remains steadfast in our commitment to achieving peace. Further peace talks have since taken place in Honiara, the capital, and a draft framework towards a peace agreement was adopted. A more conclusive peace agreement will be negotiated in Cairns, Australia.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Therefore, the international community, particularly the United Nations, must give equal attention to every conflict situation. All Member States, both large and small, must be treated fairly. Challenges to the security and stability of small island developing States like Solomon Islands are, increasingly, beyond their capacity to cope. In such cases, the support of the United Nations and the international community at large is imperative. In the context of our crisis, our smallness and remoteness, limited resources, ethnic and cultural diversity and history are fundamental considerations. Restoring law and order is the number-one priority for my Government as we strive to resolve our conflict. There is no peace without security.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The Government of Solomon Islands concurs that conflict prevention should be the cornerstone of collective security in the twenty-first century. We also acknowledge that peace and democratic stability are critical pre-conditions for economic growth and sustainable development. Moreover, economic and development cooperation have an important role to play in fostering these pre-conditions. As highlighted in our Millennium Summit statement, the ethnic crisis in our country has challenged national peace, security and stability. It has resulted in the loss of human lives and property, the closure of all key industries in our economy and the displacement of more than 30,000 people. While it may not be comparable to major conflicts in other parts of the world, the net result in human loss and suffering is relative.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At the outset, Sir, let me convey the congratulations and best wishes of the Government and people of Solomon Islands on your election as President of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly. Your proven tremendous skills as a consensus-builder and mediator will no doubt guide the Assembly to adopt useful decisions on the many important issues before us. My Government is committed to working closely with you and all Member States during this Millennium Assembly. Solomon Islands warmly welcomes the admission of our sister nation Tuvalu as a new Member of the United Nations. This is further testimony that the United Nations is indispensable and that its body of international laws is vital to the protection and security of small island developing States. We look forward to working very closely with the delegation of Tuvalu.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Through a commitment to equity, democracy and tolerance based on multilateralism and universality, an effective United Nations will serve us all for generations to come.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The United Nations is dealing with important issues: the Agenda for Development, the programmes of action approved at the world conferences, technical assistance, the Secretary-General’s preventive diplomacy, the evolving international system for protecting human rights. In this respect Solomon Islands especially thanks the International Committee of the Red Cross for its efforts to rid the world of anti-personnel landmines and for its work caring for the displaced and searching for missing persons, including Kuwaitis and Greek Cypriots who have still not been heard from, and many other people who have “disappeared”. These are life and death matters even for those of us who live on distant islands.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Whether the issue is investment, law enforcement, trade embargoes, fishing rights, hazardous waste dumping, natural disasters, 6 autonomy, independence or any combination of these, the people of the small islands turn to the United Nations for support. We and others spoke out on behalf of the Republic of China on Taiwan, which, barred from the United Nations and seeking unification with the People’s Republic of China, is attempting to enlarge its contribution to the developing world through this Organization. Solomon Islands hopes that unification negotiations based on the proposals each party has put forward can begin in the near future.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“To move the General Assembly towards universality, Solomon Islands believes that substantially reducing the floor rate in the scale of assessments, as has been proposed, would not only enable several countries in our region to seek membership of the United Nations but would help many developing countries to pay their annual assessments in full and on time. Two themes have clearly emerged in our general debate: Whatever its weaknesses, the United Nations is indispensable; but without sufficient resources and a decisive commitment to true multilateralism, the Organization cannot fulfil its obligations to the peoples of the world. Solomon Islands and the other small island developing States need this Organization.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Can we afford to leave this essential issue to last-minute bargaining behind closed doors? Twenty-five years ago, the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session adopted resolution 2837 (XXVI), which recognized the unquestionable value of the general debate and said that it should continue to be held every year and that the time devoted to it should be utilized to the maximum. The general debate offers a glimpse of how Member States see the state of the world and the United Nations. Listening to the statements in this great Hall, one is struck by the spectrum of ideas and opinions they present. Discussion would enhance their value for us, but we have not established appropriate venues at which the views offered here could be thoroughly explored. Can we afford to deny ourselves the benefit of engaging our colleagues intellectually?”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“I refer to the extraordinary work of Ambassador Richard Butler and his Australian colleagues in mobilizing overwhelming support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). When the will and commitment are present, the General Assembly can act with brilliant effectiveness, winning the applause of a world hungry for security, peace and prosperity. Such an achievement need not be rare. As the universal organ of the Member States, the General Assembly should be a force for democracy, transparency and universality. For example, the Charter permits the General Assembly a much larger role in the selection of the Secretary-General than it has exercised in the past. Confronted as we are with public action in this matter by one of the great Powers, should we not now seek to make the process truly democratic and open?”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We support an increase in the non-permanent membership of the Security Council on a regional basis and thank Italy for its valuable proposal. If the number of permanent members is also to be enlarged, the responsibilities of permanent membership and the criteria for the use of the veto must be established and made transparent. The fiftieth anniversary Declaration called for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, the universal organ of the States Members of the United Nations. Proposals have been put forward and debated. Calls for reducing the length of the agenda continue to echo through these halls. Yet, in the past few weeks, we have seen how vital the General Assembly can become when a delegation skilfully and vigorously presses forward with a great issue and effectively marshals the support of many Member States.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Several weeks ago, the Internet reached the Solomon Islands. Personal computers in a growing number of our secondary schools and the possibility of lap-top computers in the hands of teachers and students give new hope for my country’s future. We are now using the World Wide Web to introduce the country to potential investors and tourists. Peace in our region is essential for sustainable development. Solomon Islands encourages the efforts of Papua New Guinea to resolve its Bougainville crisis through constructive dialogue with all the parties concerned. The confidence-building measures have reduced the tension across the border between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands, which patiently follows the debates on reforming the United Nations, recognizes the difficulties inherent in making the Organization more effective.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“With a population of fewer than 400,000 people of diverse ethnic and linguistic origins, 80 per cent of whom live in rural settings on hundreds of islands arrayed over 1,600 kilometres of ocean, no other system is workable. A major change in our system of provincial government is designed to maximize rural community participation in planning and decision-making. Overseas development assistance could, therefore, be directed to where it is most needed. We are fostering public health, literacy and electrification. That is why the recent completion of our first solar-powered village is important for us. In implementing the Habitat Agenda, we are encouraging self-reliance in village development. Solar and other renewable energy resources, such as water and wind, will further our economic, education and health development plans.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In the Pacific, where healthy coral reefs are essential for effective coastal zone management, we are collaborating in the international coral reef initiative and will take part in our region’s Year of the Coral Reef in 1997. As valuable as these efforts are, what remains to be done is formidable. The recent report to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development on activities to implement the Barbados Programme of Action in the Pacific region shows the range and magnitude of the problems the citizens of the small island developing States face. The future of the Solomon Islands must depend on a people-centred development strategy that uses a bottom- 5 up and top-down process of decision-making.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The second assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a call to the international community to speed up negotiations, recognizing that such a global problem demands a collective solution. Solomon Islands continues to support the Alliance of Small Island States Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. If lower greenhouse gas emissions are not achieved soon, the very survival of small island developing States will be threatened. Moreover, the sustainable management and conservation of our forests are essential for the biological diversity and economy of the country.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“For the small island States of the Pacific, the environment, development and international trade are matters of critical concern. The development of comprehensive arrangements for the sustainable management of our region’s fisheries is urgently needed. Solomon Islands will soon sign and ratify the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The special session of the General Assembly to be convened in 1997 to review Agenda 21 is also of great importance to Solomon Islands. We seek practical ways to improve ongoing regional efforts to meet the Agenda’s goals.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Committed to the elimination of nuclear weapons, the forum would seek agreement on a unified approach to the full implementation of article VI of the NPT and monitor progress towards that end. Moreover, the forum would work to give effect to arrangements such as the southern hemisphere nuclear-weapon-free zone and linked regional nuclear-weapon-free zones that could evolve into a global nuclear-weapon-free system. Solomon Islands endorses the statement made here last week by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands on behalf of the South Pacific Forum. Solomon Islands, a member of the South Pacific Forum ministerial committee on New Caledonia, welcomes the progress facilitated by France and the relevant parties in implementing the Matignon Accords.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the creation of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in Africa and South-East Asia, the finding of the International Court of Justice, the General Assembly’s adoption of the CTBT — whatever its shortcomings — and the report of the Canberra Commission indicate that a momentum exists for establishing targets and timetables for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Although the majority of States support this, such States have no forum in which they can develop their ideas and formulate a strategy. Solomon Islands proposes the creation of a forum of non-nuclear-weapon States.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The Solomon Islands worked closely with the Marshall Islands and Western Samoa in developing and presenting to the Court, in cooperation with other States, the case that the use of even the smallest nuclear weapon would violate international law, particularly humanitarian law. The landmark Opinion rendered by the Court on 8 July largely supported our position. Regrettably, the nuclear Powers that argued against us at the International Court of Justice see it otherwise. We look forward to the debate on the Advisory Opinion, which is on the agenda thanks to the initiative of Malaysia.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Solomon Islands also welcomes the signature of Tonga, as well as the signature and ratification by the Republic of Vanuatu, of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and the signing of its Protocols by France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Last November, the judges of the International Court of Justice heard two weeks of argument to assist them in rendering the Advisory Opinion requested by the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the question: Is the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any circumstances permitted under international law?”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“During the fiftieth session of the General Assembly, the Solomon Islands worked with its sister States of the South Pacific Forum and the Pacific basin for the adoption of resolution 50/70 A on nuclear testing. Noting the international alarm over recent nuclear tests and the potential negative effects of underground nuclear testing on health and the environment, the General Assembly deplored all nuclear testing and called for its immediate cessation. 4 The islands and atolls of the Pacific Ocean were the sites of nuclear tests for 50 years. Peoples were displaced and fragile environments destroyed. We welcome the end of the nuclear-weapons tests, but when will the States who conducted them accept their responsibility for providing long-term damage assessments and aid for resettlement and the restoration of economic productivity?”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Last year, I saluted the Secretary-General, as well as the women and men of the Secretariat, the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations for their extraordinary work during this difficult time in the Organization’s history. The Solomon Islands applauds them all. It is difficult to persevere in the face of harsh and unjustified criticism and insufficient financial resources while engaged in the complex task of revitalizing the United Nations to meet the needs of a world in rapid transformation. This morning, on behalf of the Solomon Islands, I signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). I was especially pleased to do so because nuclear-weapons testing and disarmament are critical issues for the people of my country.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“As we begin the second half of the United Nations first century, we are presided over by a diplomat whose distinguished career has included service in four of the world’s five great regions. He has demonstrated skill and ready humour in his work as the Permanent Representative of Malaysia. I note with some amazement his most recent achievement: getting this Assembly to begin each meeting promptly on schedule. This bodes well for our efforts here. Mr. Freitas do Amaral of Portugal presided over the fiftieth session of the General Assembly with the intellect and distinction characteristic of his career as a parliamentarian and teacher of law. We are in his debt.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)