YouSaid · the spoken record

Ahmed Abdi Hashi

lines on the record
26
first
2001-09-24
most recent
2003-09-24
sittings or episodes
2
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un-general-debate

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  1. “The international community has an obligation to re-engage in Somalia in a very serious manner and to re-enforce its role as a promoter of peace there at the Security Council and other levels, as it has done with other conflict areas in Africa. It is not enough to observe or to wait and see. Somalia needs serious sponsorship to push the peace forward. Finally, we urge the neighbouring countries of Somalia to scrupulously comply with the arms embargo imposed on Somalia by the Security Council. We strongly urge them to do so in the interest of peace and security in the subregion.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  2. “In spite of the current difficulties, I am here to reiterate before this Assembly the sincere commitment of the Transitional National Government to the IGAD- led peace process for Somalia. I hereby state that the Transitional National Government will rejoin the peace conference in Mbagathi, Kenya, as soon as its concerns are fairly addressed. We do this not only for ourselves, but also for the Somali people, who have suffered so long. I submit that the solution lies in assisting the Somali parties to come to an agreement that is owned by all Somalis, rather than in imposing something against their will. We urge the international community to engage itself in the realization of this goal. We must all work together to ensure that the march to peace in Somalia is irreversible.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  3. “Finally, any Government that is established under this interim Charter should be an all-inclusive one. By the same token, any agreements reached in Kenya must be on a consensus basis, have the support of the Somalis as well as of the international community, and be enforceable on the ground. To facilitate an agreement based on these criteria, a re-evaluation of the manner in which the Conference is currently being run is called for. The IGAD frontline States must observe the principle of impartiality and neutrality, without which no mediation can be taken seriously. Furthermore, the IGAD frontline States must confine their role to that of an active facilitator and attempts to fast-track the process with a view to reaching any agreement in haste and at any price must be discouraged.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  4. “However, disagreements regarding the content of the interim charter and other important matters continue to persist. The provisions of the interim charter that raise the concerns of many touch upon the shape and very foundations of the reconstituted State of Somalia. It is for that reason that the Conference is currently in suspense and stalled, with the Transitional National Government and at least seven other groups refraining from participation. Any interim charter for Somalia, in our view, must meet certain, basic criteria. First, it must have Somali ownership. Secondly, it must be the result of a fair and transparent process. Thirdly, it must have the support of the Somali stakeholders. Fourthly, it must be enforceable on the ground. Fifthly, it must reflect the 22 unity and indivisibility of the Somali nation.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  5. “The Somali National Reconciliation Conference at Mbagathi enters its twelfth month. A lot of ground has been covered during this period. A declaration on the cessation of hostilities has been adopted and the African Union has put in place a monitoring mechanism. Today, African Union monitors crisscross nearly all areas of Somalia to ensure the implementation of the declaration on the cessation of hostilities. Equally important is the completion of the first two phases of the Conference. Despite such progress, we have been struggling with the last and crucial phase of the Conference for the past four months. This last phase envisaged the adoption of an interim charter, to be followed by the election of an interim head of State and the formation of an all-inclusive Government of Somalia.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  6. “We also commend the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, the United Nations and individual countries for their valuable assistance in bringing peace to areas of conflict in Africa. I pause to share with the General Assembly the situation in my country, Somalia. We express our deep gratitude to the Government and people of Kenya for hosting us and for their perseverance. We strongly commend Kenya for its active role in promoting peace in Somalia. I also take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his valuable support for the peace process in Somalia. The IGAD Partners Forum, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and IGAD are to be commended for their firm commitment and input into this process.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  7. “This fresh wind is one of hope and peace not only for Africa, but also for the world. This wind of hope and peace needs to be nurtured and sustained by the international community. We welcome the progress made in the search for peace in African countries — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau. The latest and most welcome progress towards peace is the 22 September 2003 agreement signed in Naivasha, Kenya, by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People’s Liberation Army. We encourage the parties to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in a spirit of accommodation and mutual understanding.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  8. “The people of Iraq need to recuperate from the trauma of war and its aftermath. As a country that has witnessed war and its destruction, we know what the Iraqi people are going through. We empathize with them strongly. There must be a commitment from the international community to respecting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. The withdrawal of the occupying forces from Iraq as soon as possible and the establishment of a truly representative Government for Iraq based on a constitution acceptable to all Iraqis continue to be imperatives. In this regard, the United Nations can and must play the central role in bringing peace to Iraq. A fresh wind is blowing throughout Africa, from the West of the continent to its Eastern and Central regions.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  9. “Israel’s continued occupation of Arab lands seized by war; its denying the Palestinian people their dignity; the daily killings of Palestinian children; the siege of the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people and calls by Israeli officials for his killing; and the suffering and daily humiliations inflicted on the Palestinian people are of great concern to the international community. We believe that these gross violations of international law are not in the interest of Israel or peace in the Middle East. We believe that the Arab initiative, which has the support of Arab States, provides a unique opportunity for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and specifically between Arabs and Israelis. The situation in Iraq continues to be of great concern. The people of Iraq need peace and development.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  10. “We have to reinforce the principles of the United Nations Charter through which we can further cement the pillars of international legitimacy on the basis of the equality of nations big and small, rich and poor; respect for the sovereignty of peoples; non- interference in each others’ internal affairs; renunciation of the use of force in resolving conflicts; and respect for human rights. 21 There are Members of this Organization who violate these lofty principles with impunity. Israel is an example in this regard.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  11. “It is therefore critical to put into place coordinated and strategic AIDS education and early response programmes to prevent the spread of the epidemic in Somalia. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Recent developments in the international arena present the United Nations with unprecedented challenges. Whether we succeed or fail will depend primarily on the manner in which we address these challenges. In our view, that should be through the United Nations.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  12. “The recent high-level meeting at United Nations Headquarters on the HIV/AIDS pandemic was of tremendous interest to the world and particularly to many countries in Africa. The AIDS scourge, having devastated entire communities, has also negatively impacted the economic development of countries. In order to combat this scourge, it is incumbent upon the international community to make more resources available, even in those countries where the incidence of the pandemic is reportedly low. My country, Somalia, is reported to be one of those countries in Africa with a very low rate of infection. However, this should not lead us into complacency. Countries like Somalia have a unique chance to prevent the disease from spreading. An AIDS epidemic would be catastrophic for Somalia and seriously hamper efforts for peace and nation-building.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  13. “The destruction of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, with its unnecessary loss of life, was a heinous crime against humanity and the United Nations. Sergio Vieira de Mello and his United Nations co-workers were in Iraq not as an occupying Power, but to serve and address the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. This despicable act is tantamount to cutting off the hand that feeds. We offer our sincere and profound condolences to Secretary-General Kofi Anan, the United Nations family and the bereaved families. In memory of the fallen, it is imperative for us, Member States, to accelerate ratification of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  14. “Allow me first of all to sincerely congratulate Mr. Julian Hunte on his election as President of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly. Your election to the presidency is a reflection of the high esteem the international community reserves for your country, Saint Lucia, and your good person. At the same time, I would like to express our appreciation for the excellent manner in which your predecessor conducted the work of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly. I would be remiss if I did not pay tribute to Secretary-General Kofi Anan for his strong commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and for defending so courageously the ideals on which this Organization is based.”

    2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)

  15. “In conclusion, let me once again emphasize that Somalia is a struggling country working toward achieving peace. This country needs massive assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of its infrastructure and institutions. We urgently need the assistance and goodwill of the international community. It is my sincere hope that the international community will respond positively and in a timely manner to our appeal for urgent and immediate assistance.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  16. “Omer Al-Bashir, President of the Sudan and the current chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for his consistent support for Somalia and the search for a lasting peace in my country. The United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States and IGAD continue to play a positive role in this regard, for which we thank them. Finally, I want to express, on behalf of my President, our thanks to President Daniel arap Moi for his recent efforts in bringing peace to Somalia. President Moi’s latest initiative was the recent meeting held in Nairobi last month. The meeting brought together the President of Somalia and some of the opposition groups. A joint communiqué was signed, stipulating the principles upon which future talks could be based. We expect a broader-based meeting to be held soon.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  17. “This is in conformity with the Transitional National Charter and resolutions adopted by regional, subregional and international organizations, as well as the presidential statements of the Security Council on Somalia. In this regard, let me also refer to the numerous important initiatives that have been launched to promote national reconciliation and peace in Somalia. We extend our profound thanks and appreciation to all those countries that have contributed to the search for peace in Somalia. Let me, in this regard, pay special tribute to President of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Government of Djibouti for their significant, continuous and positive contribution to the national reconciliation process. I would also like to thank Mr.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  18. “We are fully prepared to cooperate with the proposed committee, if established, in the fulfilment of its mandate. As I mentioned earlier, the Somali Government has been in office for approximately a year and three months. During this time, the Government has faced daunting challenges, primarily in enhancing security in the capital and others areas. We have succeeded in demobilizing 25,000 militia personnel. We have established police stations and deployed 3,000 police officers in the capital. A judiciary system has been put in place, courts are functioning, and the Government is collecting taxes for the first time in a decade. The Somali Government continues to search for a lasting peace in Somalia through dialogue with those 37 outside the Arta process.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  19. “The Somali Government is ready to invite the media and other interested parties to visit our country to verify the facts on the ground. First, we need to see the evidence and establish the facts first. It is a fundamental principle of law and natural justice that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This principle, in our opinion, is equally applicable to States. In view of my Government’s serious concern about these accusations, we propose setting up an international committee of inquiry under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council to investigate these allegations. We also propose that the committee identify Somalia’s needs in regard to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001).”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  20. “Let me at this juncture address the persistent reports in the media and elsewhere alleging, among other things, the existence of terrorist camps in Somalia. First, I should firmly state that the Somali Government hosts no terrorists nor does it offer bases or training camps for them. My Government has not offered and will not offer them any sanctuary. We will arrest and hand over immediately any known terrorist who comes to our shores. Secondly, we want to challenge the veracity of these reports. It is also important to evaluate objectively the integrity of the sources of this kind of information. We are a transparent and open society and are more than willing to cooperate fully with the United Nations and with States in this regard.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  21. “A case in point is the situation in my country, where there was a political vacuum and no Government for a decade. The present Somali Government has been in office for about a year and a few months. It is a Government that inherited destroyed institutions and devastated infrastructure. There are two options before the international community in dealing with the situation in Somalia: watch the country slide back into anarchy and chaos or fully support the struggling Somali State by providing the necessary resources to enable it to play a meaningful role in the fight against terrorism. The Somali Government needs urgent and adequate assistance from the international community to be able to comply with resolution 1373 (2001).”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  22. “The Government of Somalia fully supports Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and is firmly committed to translate its provisions into action. Having said that, I must observe that terrorists will exploit situations of injustice and imbalance as well as conflicts in fragile and unstable States. The international community is under a moral obligation to come to the aid of those States in the form of post- conflict peace-building and national reconstruction so that they do not become vulnerable to the evil forces of terrorism. In that context, we welcome the statement made before the Assembly by His Excellency President George W. Bush, in which he expressed the readiness of the United States Government to extend assistance to those countries that lack adequate resources to combat terrorism.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  23. “Allow me to reiterate our heartfelt and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and the Government of the United States of America on their tragic loss. We continue to share their grief and pain. The inhuman terrorist attacks of 11 September brought to the forefront new challenges to international peace and security. Our fight against terrorism must be based on collective action by the international community and on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The immediate and strong response by the Security Council and the General Assembly, including the adoption of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), reflects our collective approach in the fight against terrorism.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  24. “Nations around the globe are reeling from the attendant consequences and call for urgent and immediate action. The events of 11 September shocked the conscience of all decent human beings. We in Somalia relate to the pain and suffering of the people of the United States in a very profound and special way. The Somali people have been subjected to a reign of terror perpetrated by the warlords. We in Somalia, therefore, know very well what it means to lose loved ones. Let me say that those who committed the heinous and 36 atrocious crimes of 11 September have nothing in common with Islam or with the Islamic faith. Islam preaches peace within one’s spiritual self and with one’s neighbours; it preaches tolerance and compassion.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  25. “Abdikassim Salad Hassan, stood before the Assembly after Somalia’s absence from the international arena for about a decade. That was a moment of historic significance for my country, which continues to strive to emerge from the abyss of conflict and to reassert its position as an active Member of the United Nations. I reiterate our deep gratitude to the international community for welcoming us back into the fold. In the last century, humanity witnessed great and laudable achievements in the political, scientific, technological and economic fields. Yet, despite those accomplishments, we continue to face challenges that need to be fully addressed. Conflicts are abundant; poverty is rampant; the economic divide between North and South continues to widen; and the scourge of HIV/AIDS remains unabated in the world.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  26. “I seize this opportunity to extend, on behalf of my Government, my warm congratulations to Mr. Han Seung-soo on his election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. I am confident that, with his experience and profound dedication, he will successfully guide the proceedings of this session. I also avail myself of this opportunity to thank his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Harri Holkeri, for his excellent stewardship of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly. May I also extend our warmest congratulations to the Secretary- General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, on his election to a second term and on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to him and to the United Nations. Last year, at the Millennium Summit held here in New York, the President of Somalia, His Excellency Mr.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)