YouSaid · the spoken record

Gabriele Gatti

lines on the record: 68
first: 1995-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
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

“The items on the agenda for discussion at the fifty- first session of the General Assembly are of paramount importance and deserve the utmost attention and impartial and thorough analysis, since they pertain, on the one hand, to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and, on the other, to the existence and the structure of the Organization itself. Ultimately, peace and coexistence depend on and are best governed by this institution. All efforts must be pooled to improve, update and render the United Nations more effective. This objective can be achieved through a reform of the system inspired by equality, justice and wider democracy and aimed at ensuring broader participation and the fair sharing of duties and powers among all Member States.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“They change the face of countries and peoples and exacerbate the pressures on the less- favoured and most populous regions of the world. This is a real and constant threat to peace. In some cases, the situation is aggravated by the fragility or, even worse, lack of democratic institutions. Here, power is wielded as an end in itself and not as an 6 instrument for achieving the common ideal. Societies and States tend to withdraw into themselves, their only concern being to retain their strength and power. Sometimes those who hold the power do not bother to meet the needs of a rapidly changing society, except when forced to preserve the necessary consensus. Our Organization should spare no effort to help countries and peoples alike to redress the balance and remedy these errors.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The United Nations, therefore, must understand and meet the needs of all human beings if it is to represent the entire family of Member States, protect their interests and fulfil the legitimate expectations of the largest possible number of individuals. Presently, humanity is confronted with the challenges of development versus underdevelopment, progress versus recession, wealth versus extreme and ever-increasing poverty. These phenomena affect less-favoured and socially advanced countries alike, leading to social discrepancies and situations in which some manage to plan their own development, while others, deprived of job opportunities, fail. Development issues are inextricably intertwined with the destiny of nations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“On behalf of the Republic of San Marino and my delegation, I wish, first of all, to congratulate you, Sir, on your unanimous election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty- first session. This is a recognition of your competence and gifts as a diplomat and thus a guarantee of success for our activities. At the same time, let me also thank your predecessor for the excellent way in which he guided the work of the fiftieth session, just concluded. We are all aware that the United Nations rests upon a community of States. Similarly, we are all aware that the very existence and future of any State depends on the individuals who not only comprise it but also determine its life and shape its history.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“San Marino hopes that the opinion of the International Court of Justice requested by the General Assembly may promote the attainment of that objective.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Unfortunately, the threat and use of force are still considered by many as the only instruments to be used in the survival of a State. Furthermore, the production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons, as well as nuclear tests, have become a pervasive feature of the contemporary world, posing a serious threat to the security of States, to the safeguarding of the environment and to the existence of many individuals. The concept of nuclear power as a deterrent is an elegant expression concealing its real danger. It is a shield dissimulating the desire for supremacy on the part of some States. In short, this is one of the old theories on which anti-democratic and anti-liberal regimes are based. It is our duty to save future generations from the threat of nuclear weapons.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is also generally recognized that some crimes, atrocities and grave offences need to be severely punished. Nevertheless, the death penalty is too grave a reaction and too great an offence to be accepted by those countries that believe in the right to life, in the possibility of true repentance and, above all, in the possibility of an error on the part of the individual pronouncing the verdict. The Republic of San Marino cannot disguise its deep anxiety with regard to the problem of armaments and their increase and, in particular, nuclear weapons. We hope for global, controlled and irreversible disarmament. Recourse to the rule of law, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, to mediation and to international forums is the indispensable foundation of a really advanced and civilized society.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In this case, the main victim is not the regime but the population, which is already suffering from that system and probably has neither the strength nor the means to change or overthrow it. This is unacceptable. When the imposition of an embargo results in the misery of a population and in the deterioration of a country’s basic structures, including its health-care system, then that embargo must be reconsidered and adjusted to meet human-rights requirements. Capital punishment is another issue that is extremely important to my country and that has been repeatedly debated in the General Assembly. It is not difficult to understand that certain countries — principally those with a large territory and population — require strong deterrents in order to maintain order and protect their citizens’ lives, property and tranquillity.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“San Marino believes that many other issues deserve attentive consideration and utmost priority. San Marino believes that it is high time to rethink the tool of the embargo, its effectiveness and, above all, its consequences. In the absence of armed conflicts, the international isolation of a State represents a valid political and moral instrument with which to exert pressure on that State as well as a strong incentive for it to change, especially if it has an anti-democratic regime and does not recognize or respect the rights of its citizens or the rights set forth by international law in its conduct towards other nations. However, when an embargo is imposed on a country for long periods, it also affects its social and commercial sectors.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Hunger, natural disasters and man-made environmental destruction, wars, famines, the endemic poverty of some regions and peoples — which is caused, or aggravated, by bad management on the part of those governing them — are no longer occasional events requiring an outburst of generosity. Today, these factors have become ever-present in the world and call for a concerted and lasting commitment. 23 Rich countries should make the necessary contributions to helping poor countries eradicate deeply rooted causes of distress by formulating a common, global, responsible and transparent policy. Due precaution must be taken not to overburden programmes agreed upon with administrative infrastructures which could be detrimental to financial resources and delay prompt intervention because of bureaucratic hurdles.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Their neighbours or colleagues might be of a different colour or race, practise a different religion, perform traditional rites unknown to us, have different habits and approach problems, and life in general, in a completely different way. To ensure a just and peaceful coexistence, future generations will have to learn how to adapt to this new reality, to understand and accept the principle that people are all equal and free to be different. Solidarity must stem from this conviction and be translated into consistent behaviour. Solidarity should not be expressed merely through acts of charity or donations of superfluous things, with care taken not to lose one’s privileged economic position. There must be a commitment on the part of all States to make solidarity among them a way of life.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned us of the onset of a new and widespread phenomenon — already seen in some African countries — which will be the logical consequence of the war in the former Yugoslavia. In its appeal, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) refers to the new category of internally displaced persons, who have been forced to leave their houses, deprived of the little property they had and of employment opportunities. At the same time, estimates show a constantly increasing flow of refugees, who have left their countries of origin in search of a place to live and of opportunities, however modest, that would enable them to start a new life. Thus, future generations will inevitably live in a different society from our own.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“War, hunger, the need to find gainful employment, the natural aspiration of individuals to improve their living standards, and class conflicts remain. The quest for supremacy by ethnic groups and minorities, which often results in practices of mass destruction, is no different from the old, repudiated theory of racial superiority, so painfully experienced by Europe during the last world war. We must remember also the total absence of protection for children and the lack of respect for women and their bodies, victims as they are of violence perpetrated on unbelievable racial grounds. These factors have made migrations an almost natural component of our international society.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“They should be considered matters of global concern. In this context, I must mention one of the most serious aspects of the present situation in the former Yugoslavia, namely human-rights violations. Those rights, enshrined in the documents of the United Nations, of the Council of Europe, of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and in other declarations, are all manifestly being infringed. Offences against human dignity are by far the gravest of all violations. They are based on a non- recognition of the human individual and of the freedom to practise a religion, to belong to a minority, to be different from the majority or even from the minority. I believe that the greatest challenge confronting humankind, as we approach the year 2000, is the practice of tolerance.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“This anniversary must also provide an opportunity to assess, review and, where necessary, make adjustments. Some structural changes in important United Nations bodies have been discussed for a number of years. A debate is under way on the reform of the Security Council, as is another — with less interest and vitality — on the possibilities for the smallest States fully to enjoy, without limitations, the rights and opportunities granted to them by the Charter. These are all important issues in which my country is deeply interested. Yet should we not give conflict management and resolution the highest priority? I am referring not only to international conflicts, but also to certain domestic situations, because of the serious violations and the unanimously condemned tragic consequences they entail.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is also evident that resolutions, condemnations, embargoes and the dispatching of peace- keeping forces — which sometimes prove useless, becoming innocent victims — are no longer sufficient. 22 Why should we not admit, then, that the United Nations, especially in the former Yugoslavia, has revealed its weakness and its inability to stop a massacre? There must be another solution. Let us reflect on more effective approaches and adapt the tools at our disposal to a world that seems to be increasingly pervaded by arrogance, presumption and evil. Although the United Nations has to its credit important achievements and positive results that deserve general acknowledgment and appreciation, the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation is not merely a commemorative event and cannot be regarded as such.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“I believe, in fact, that the present situation in the former Yugoslavia alone summarizes and reflects in detail all of these factors. First of all, there is the war, which, because of its long duration, seems to have been generally accepted as an inevitable condition — a war that is still going on despite all the efforts to find a peaceful, negotiated and political solution; a war that has seen few truces — and those that have existed have not been respected; a war involving many sophisticated weapons, in spite of all solemn bans on them; and a war that is the consequence of speculation and the result of the search for profit at all costs. The United Nations must have the strength to take a stand against war.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Allow me to begin my address with a personal consideration. Before arriving in New York to participate in this fiftieth session of the General Assembly, I thought over and over about the possible tangible outcome of this debate. In particular, I tried to determine the present power and strength of Member States — and especially of the small ones like my own — in terms of taking decisive actions aimed at preventing, monitoring and managing critical and conflict situations, and, in general, all those circumstances which run counter to the requirements and objectives of the United Nations. There is no need for too many words to describe all the evils besetting our international community and reflecting the disturbing and serious changes in its attitudes, and, above all, in its mentality.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)