YouSaid · the spoken record

KING MSWATI III

lines on the record: 188
first: 1989-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 12
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

“A world free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction will allow us to concentrate on issues of sustainable development. As a developing nation, the Kingdom of eSwatini is following with keen interest the issues surrounding the effects of climate change. As an agriculture-based economy, the Kingdom is also a victim of environmental degradation. We therefore look forward to the climate change Conference to be held in Mexico later this year. I trust that the ongoing negotiations will result in agreements acceptable to all parties. What is of paramount importance is for the developed world to honour pledges to assist developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. It is a known fact that access to international markets for our products is one of the ways to grow our economies in our quest to eradicate poverty.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The United Nations must never compromise the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; it must ensure that all countries, without exception, comply. Countries must be made to comply and be accountable within clear time frames. It is my suggestion that we eliminate all weapons of mass destruction, because they present an uncertain future. Indeed, we need a fresh start so that we may regain the moral high ground in deterring whoever may have ambitions for nuclear capability in the future. For example, if we compel everyone to dismantle their nuclear capacity we will be able to rein in other countries which may still be developing their arsenal, without being accused of unfairness or bias.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our world today continues to be concerned about nuclear proliferation and the threat that weapons of mass destruction pose to human existence, world peace, economic development and the environment. The spread of nuclear weapons makes a mockery of our efforts for world peace and protection of the environment. It is a disheartening fact that currently efforts to ensure accountability and compliance with United Nations resolutions are hindered by an apparent lack of impartiality in the processes meant to completely rid the world of deadly nuclear weapons. I call upon the United Nations to strengthen the capacity of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enable the inspectors to do their work more effectively, with the involvement of all the countries with nuclear capability.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Developments in cross-straits relations between the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China continue to be a source of inspiration to us all. We note with appreciation that the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China have made impressive strides to promote mutual understanding leading to more trade and interaction between them. I am happy to say that Taiwan highly appreciates being allowed to participate as an observer in the World Health Organization. 10-55103 8 Hopefully, this will also lead to Taiwan’s participating in a similar manner in all other United Nations agencies. Of particular interest is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Kingdom of eSwatini draws hope from the promising developments in Iraq, as that country continues on the road to peace through restoration of its important institutions for self-determination. Furthermore, we are also following with keen interest efforts to ensure peace between Israel and Palestine. We are pleased to note the concerted mediation efforts led by the United States of America in bringing the parties together in pursuit of peace in the Middle East. We support this process, and remain optimistic that it will reach its desired conclusion, so that the Israelis and Palestinians can live together in harmony. In order to concentrate all their efforts towards development and peaceful coexistence, we call upon them to reach a compromise and place the best interests of peace and security above everything else.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is our considered view that the United Nations, working with relevant regional organizations, should work on the issue and find a lasting solution. We note with concern the continued conflicts in Madagascar, Somalia, Darfur, the Middle East and Afghanistan, to mention just a few. We call for the restoration of peace in all those areas, as it is always disturbing to see people undergo so much suffering due to conflicts. While Afghanistan is still undergoing its process of reconciliation and the reconstruction of its institutions, it is depressing to note that there are at times pockets that seem to disturb the peace process in that country. We must continue to work hard to find lasting solutions, because such instability affects peace and prosperity, not only in Afghanistan, but also in neighbouring States and the region.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have made it clear that all perpetrators of coups and civil wars and all forms of conflict should be dealt with squarely and decisively. Indeed, we are committed to the promotion of lasting peace, because it is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development. We appreciate the support of the United Nations in our resolve to ensure that peace prevails in the continent and, indeed, the whole world. I am happy to say that I personally had the honour of lighting and hoisting the African flame of peace twice this year. The Swazi nation prides itself on this, because we are a peaceful nation, which is telling the world that peace is the best formula for development. Another issue that touches upon global governance is that of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Kingdom of eSwatini stands by the African position, as clearly stated in the Ezulwini Consensus, that Africa should have two permanent and five non-permanent seats. We hope that during this session this matter will be finalized. We in the African continent are committed to resolving all conflicts through peaceful dialogue. The coordination and cooperation between the African Union and its various regional blocs is beginning to pay handsome dividends. We now approach issues as a collective for better results. We are happy that the United Nations continues to work and cooperate with us in effecting our programmes for peacebuilding and peacekeeping. The General Assembly will know that the African Union declared 2010 to be our Year of Peace and Security.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The United Nations is the organization best positioned for this task. There is no place for unilateralism. It is on this basis that the Kingdom of eSwatini reaffirms our call for the finalization of the United Nations reforms, with particular reference to the Security Council. It should be appreciated that the world today faces a new set of challenges, different from those that it faced when our Organization was founded in 1945; thus the urgent need for the United Nations to remain dynamic and transform itself to meet today’s challenges. One of the major organs that require immediate reform is the Security Council, which has seen a number of regions expressing a desire to gain membership, to ensure wider representation.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We commend the active participation of the United Nations in various missions, such as efforts to restore peace in conflict areas, and its role in disaster relief and in various exercises to fight hunger and poverty. We pledge ourselves to continue to support the United Nations in its primary role of ensuring that all the nations of the world live peacefully with each other while supporting nation-building through development projects. The theme for this sixty-fifth session, “Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance”, came at a most opportune time in 7 10-55103 the life of the United Nations, since we have been calling for all our voices to be heard. I must hasten to state that all the wars and conflicts that we see around the world can only be resolved through peaceful dialogue and negotiations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is a pleasure for me to address the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. We meet following the historic review summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the High- level Plenary Meeting of the Assembly, which gave us the opportunity to review progress and share experiences and ideas on how best to achieve our set goals and objectives for 2015. As we return to our respective countries we go with renewed commitment to keep working harder to meet the MDGs. I would like at the outset to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-General and the United Nations agencies for their presence around the world.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In conclusion let me say that the Kingdom of Swaziland appreciates the good work of the United Nations and its related agencies, which remain the only hope for overcoming the many complex challenges facing the world today. We therefore take pride in reaffirming our commitment to the principles and ideals contained in the United Nations Charter.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“This will inform the agenda that will lead to the transfer of skills and technology so that, as developing countries pursue their growth, they can avoid the mistakes of the past. We cannot overemphasize the need to protect the environment, as it is a precious gift from God to humanity and must be preserved for generations to come. We support the call for the establishment of a major fund to cater to all projects related to climate change. We are hopeful that Copenhagen will come up with solutions for funding climate-change projects that will be predictable, accessible and incremental. The Kingdom of Swaziland is determined to work harder to meet the targets set by the United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We look forward to seeing Taiwan being allowed to fully contribute to humanity by being given adequate participation in other United Nations specialized agencies. It is encouraging that this year’s General Assembly was preceded by the Summit on Climate Change, where issues of environmental protection were given priority, as they are critical to all our development strategies. The Summit noted that some developed countries pollute the environment, mainly through gas emissions, despite all the protocols in place to protect it. I am confident that the Summit was able to mobilize adequate political support to guide the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Copenhagen in December, where developed countries will be able to share their experiences and the challenges that they faced.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As we gather here, we also wait with anticipation for the outcome of the Israeli and Palestinian peace efforts. We have seen the two parties enter into promising peace agreements in the past that, regrettably, faltered along the way. We call upon the 11 09-52470 two parties to continue to pursue peace to avoid loss of life and to live in harmony. We are happy to acknowledge the improvements in the relations between the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. That new development has resulted in the international community responding positively to the request of Taiwan to be involved in United Nations agencies, as evidenced by the granting of observer status in the World Health Assembly.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The Kingdom of Swaziland calls upon all parties to join the process in order to implement Security Council resolutions 1813 (2008) and 1871 (2009). The Kingdom of Swaziland continues to support efforts to bring lasting peace to the situation in the Darfur region, Somalia, Madagascar and other parts of our continent. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the support and assistance being extended to the Inclusive Government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe by the nations of the world and by international organizations. I also wish to echo the call and appeal of the Southern African Development Community for the immediate removal of all sanctions against Zimbabwe, in order to ensure the speedy recovery of the economy of that country for the benefit of its long-suffering people.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We are encouraged by the call made by fellow leaders for us to open a new page in the work of the United Nations by approaching global matters collectively. It is imperative that the United Nations take the lead in all issues that affect mankind. The reform of the Security Council is one such area that could clearly demonstrate the new approach to issues. The Kingdom of Swaziland reiterates its support for the efforts deployed by the international community under the auspices of the United Nations towards a political solution to the issue of Western Sahara. We reaffirm that the initiative by the Kingdom of Morocco for considerable autonomy for Western Sahara is the beginning of a realistic and credible move.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In order to accelerate the eradication of nuclear arms, the United Nations must set targets and timelines for compliance. Another issue of concern is the continuing delay of the reform of the Security Council. Many nations have come to the conclusion that the Council membership needs to be expanded so that it is more representative, so that its decisions may be owned by all Member States. Africa has adopted firm and clear resolutions on the Council composition they would like to see. Those decisions were further affirmed at the recent summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. Regrettably, we still have not seen meaningful progress on that matter. We therefore would like to call on all members of the Security Council to address that issue with the urgency that it deserves.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Where there are problems, the peoples of the world must know that they can address the challenges that they encounter through peaceful engagement and dialogue. If we want to achieve peace in the world, it is important that we reduce and eventually eradicate nuclear arms, which pose a threat to our planet. We need to encourage nations that are at the stage of developing, and those that already possess, nuclear capability to utilize it for power generation that supports and stimulates economic growth. Therefore, we encourage the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue to monitor countries that are developing nuclear arms so that they may be stopped. It must also ensure that countries that already have nuclear capability reduce and eventually eradicate their nuclear arms so that they become a thing of the past.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We are encouraged by signs of recovery from the crisis, and we are confident that the United Nations will continue to play its leading role in the efforts to find a speedy resolution to the situation so that we may all focus on development issues for the benefit of all our peoples. It is most unfortunate that while we do our level best to improve our economies, we continue to be confronted by disturbances and conflicts that include wars and coups. We condemn those acts, as they lead to untold suffering for millions of our peoples. As nations of the world, let us come together and make sure that such acts are not supported or encouraged. We call upon all nations of the world to isolate and discourage the sympathizers and sponsors.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The secondary effects of the crisis are now hitting hard on developing economies, like that of the 09-52470 10 Kingdom of Swaziland, whose export trade is largely dependent on performance in developed global markets. In our case, several Government interventions have been undertaken to rescue sectors such as the pulp and textile industries. Added to this is the need to mobilize resources and promote financial inclusion in order to stimulate economic growth at the grassroots level. In that regard, financial inclusion remains an important stimulus for poverty alleviation programmes in developing countries like the Kingdom of Swaziland.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is through the United Nations that we continue to forge partnerships with different countries so that we work together to grow our economies. We appeal to the developed nations to recognize our hard work and to increase our access to soft loans and grants to support development programmes and poverty-reduction strategies. We call on the United Nations to continue supporting national initiatives aimed at eventually transforming our economies to first world economies. However, the global financial and economic crisis has made the situation difficult, especially for developing countries. It restrains us from achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Let us make sure that people develop confidence in the United Nations so that they can approach the Organization when they have problems. We note that Africa has multiple problems that seriously hinder its progress in the areas of health, the economy, poverty and social welfare, which all come under the Millennium Development Goals. It is our aim as the African continent to evolve from being third world countries to a first world status. That calls on us — Africa in general and Swaziland in particular — to work harder and smarter in order to realize that goal and generate a strong economy for the betterment of the lives of all our peoples. However, we realize that we cannot effectively deal with the challenges confronting us alone, mainly because our resources are limited.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It is a pleasure for me to address the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. Our coming here as leaders gives us the opportunity to debate global challenges as per our objectives and goals as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The United Nations is a forum where we all come together to share ideas, review progress and come up with strategies to deal with world issues that need our attention and input. The founders of this Organization had a noble idea of addressing world issues amicably with a view to avoiding confrontation. Therefore, we are supposed to meet as equal partners to debate issues that affect us as the world community, in a forum where we are guided by the principles of trust, respect and natural justice. The aim of the United Nations is to bring joy and peace to the nations of the world.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As the nation continues to appreciate the power of parliamentary representation in a complex globalized world, we note that the electorate understands the importance of choosing candidates of high calibre with the capacity to handle the issues at hand. That gives us confidence that the new Parliament will assist with strategies that will further improve our socio-economic climate for the betterment of the living standards of our people. The Kingdom of eSwatini reaffirms its commitment to the purpose and preservation of the central role of the United Nations in multilateral affairs. We treasure peace and development and amicable regional and international relations and, together with all nations, will work towards a peaceful and prosperous future for all humankind.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We welcome the recent handshake between the senior leadership of the Republic of China on Taiwan and that of mainland China. This handshake gives us hope that the two are now talking to each other. Hopefully, this might lead to an amicable resolution of the cross-Strait relations, such that perhaps one day we might see them sitting next to each other here at the United Nations. It should be noted that the people of Taiwan have expertise and experience, which they are ready to share with the United Nations family. That is why Swaziland requests the United Nations to allow Taiwan to participate in its specialized agencies. The Kingdom of Swaziland has just held a successful parliamentary election under a new constitution. The voter turnout was most impressive as the people exercised their right to vote for a government of their choice.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In line with the United Nations convention on terrorism, our parliament has recently promulgated the anti-terrorism act. If the United Nations is to have a more effective role, its structure must be reformed to adapt to a world that has been constantly changing since the adoption of the Charter. These reforms should of course take place in a fair, just and balanced manner. It has been observed in the past that one of the most important of the reforms that require urgent attention is that of the Security Council. The widely held view is that the Security Council as constituted at present falls short of proper demographic representation of United Nations Members. The Kingdom of eSwatini looks forward to a speedy conclusion to the discussions on the reform of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“For that reason, we applaud the recent signing of the power-sharing agreement and the establishment of a Government of national unity in Zimbabwe. We look forward with optimism to the rebuilding process and the removal of all bottlenecks. In that regard, we urge the international community and the developed world to fully support the people of Zimbabwe. In the same spirit, we wish to see peacefully negotiated settlements for all conflicts that prevail in Africa and in different parts of the world. The Kingdom of eSwatini joins the rest of the world in condemning all forms and acts of terrorism. We support efforts for the full implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in order to send a clear message to all perpetrators of terrorism.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Efforts are being made to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women, ensure environmental sustainability, reduce child mortality and to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, among other targets. Peace, stability and security, which form the primary goals of the United Nations, remain key pillars of meaningful development. When those conditions prevail, our peoples can concentrate their energies and resources on the pursuit of productivity and wealth creation. Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are committed to upholding those pillars for a better life for all. We have put in place structures such as the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security to ensure their preservation and promotion.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“This is more so because many of our people are still living in poverty and we continue to face a high unemployment rate. Notwithstanding, the commitment of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the achievement of the MDGs is unwavering. The MDGs are anchored within our national development strategy and the poverty reduction strategy and action plan, which aspire, among other things, to reduce poverty by more than half by 2015. All Government programmes are geared towards that vision and are being implemented with the guidance of all stakeholders and the nation at large. Like many other countries, the Kingdom of Swaziland is on track for some of the MDGs. We are 7 08-51851 doing everything possible to achieve universal education and are providing resources for every child to go to school.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We are pleased with the adoption of the declaration (resolution 63/1) and we are looking forward to its effective implementation. There is indeed urgency in addressing Africa’s special needs, in particular economic development, poverty reduction and issues of peace and security. It should be noted that the cooperation and support of the international finance institutions is pivotal, for instance by ensuring improved accessibility to finance for Africa. That should also include making grants and loans available to African countries under preferential rates to fund infrastructure development, technology transfer, tourism and other projects that are meant to create wealth and economic growth. As we pass the midpoint to the 2015 deadline for the MDGs we still face many challenges.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Swaziland, like many other countries of the world, continues to be a victim of the devastating effects of climate change. We continue to suffer from a persistent drought. We continue to be hit by strong winds that cause wildfires. Those fires often destroy vast acres of our man-made forests, resulting in economic disruption, the waste of many years of investment and loss of life and property. We fully agree with the United Nations that failure to respond in a timely way and decisively to that threat will undermine national and international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to improve the living standards and welfare of all our peoples. The high-level meeting on Africa’s development needs came at the most opportune time.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The nation came up with different suggestions, and we are in the process of implementing them. We developing countries were looking forward to positive results from the Doha round of negotiations, particularly on agriculture. Developing countries were hoping for secure and increased market access for their agricultural products. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. We hope those talks will be concluded soon for the benefit of the developing countries. Swaziland fully supports the global dialogue to ensure that the world is rescued from the dangers of global warming and other damage to the environment. It is true that global warming is a major contributor to the many calamities such as earthquakes, flooding and persistent droughts that threaten the very existence of the human race.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That situation is further compounded by high prices for fuel and food and the instability in international finance, which slow down our efforts to fight poverty and attain sustainable development. It is encouraging to note that the United Nations, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme, continues to assist developing countries to find lasting solutions to the food crisis. In the light of that, my country has put in place various strategies to ensure food security. The nation continues to hold consultations on those issues. For instance, we had a national agricultural meeting last year and the Sibaya — the people’s parliament — this year, which looked at ways of increasing our food production and other issues of national interest.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I am pleased to address this Assembly on behalf of my delegation from the Kingdom of eSwatini. The Assembly gives us the opportunity as Heads of State and Government to share ideas and experiences. It enables us to shape the future of our countries and pave a way for a better world, where we can all live with each other in harmony. Let me extend our appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and to the entire staff of the United Nations for their efforts in carrying out the vision and programmes of the United Nations. The world continues to face many challenges, which include the catastrophic effects of climate change, complicated diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and food shortages.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We have the opportunity now to carry out the correct reforms and ensure that our Organization is equipped to face the many global challenges that lie ahead in a more efficient, accountable and open manner. We must choose our steps carefully and wisely. Those for whom we are responsible — our people — look to the United Nations to provide the global development leadership that we so desperately need. We cannot afford to fail them. On behalf of Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, the Government and the whole Swazi nation, it is my proud duty to reaffirm the commitment of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Charter and principles of the United Nations. May God watch over the Assembly's deliberations here in the coming months and guide it in its decisions.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“National participation in important matters such as these 4 is a crucial guiding principle of the Swazi people and, over the years, has ensured the peace and stability we have always enjoyed. We have welcomed the encouragement and support for our constitutional review process from the international community, including the United Nations Development Programme office based in the Kingdom. We are confident that, with the involvement of all Swazis, we will produce a document reflecting the wishes of the whole nation, one that will serve us well for generations to come. There is much vital work to be done in this fifty- second session of the General Assembly. The Kingdom of Eswatini believes that our Organization is at a major crossroads in terms of its own development.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In addition to addressing its economic concerns, the Kingdom of Eswatini has also begun a review of the nation's Constitution. In response to the call by the Swazi people for a fundamental and far-reaching review of our existing Constitution, a Commission has been established and is in the process of conducting a constitutional education programme, reaching even to the most remote areas of the country. This will be followed by a period of submissions from everyone in the Kingdom, after which a constitution, in accordance with the wishes of the whole nation, will be drawn up for national approval. It will truly be the people's constitution, since the process allows the free participation of all Swazis.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In common with other Member States in our position, we continually find ourselves at the mercy of Mother Nature, and in particular we are dependent on adequate rainfall. Our economy is only just recovering from the devastating drought of 1991 and 1992, and now we have learned with great dismay that the dreaded El Niño is once more present in the Pacific Ocean. If true, this will have the gravest consequences for all of us in southern Africa. The Kingdom of Swaziland has learned the lessons of the last drought, and we have begun a programme of dam construction throughout the rural areas. But the threat of a renewed period of reduced rainfall has come much too soon, and we hope for the support once more of our Organization and our fellow Member States.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“To meet this economic challenge, the Kingdom of Swaziland is continuing its efforts to develop in a sustainable manner, and to create an environment in which our people can prosper. We have been following up recent national initiatives designed to address our short- and long-term social and political challenges and to enhance the right conditions to allow our private sector to continue to be the engine for growth. We have just completed our latest national development strategy, which will set out Government priorities for the next 25 years. Our own internal restructuring programme is continuing, and Government has begun a series of short-term measures to improve the economy. The Kingdom of Swaziland is a developing nation which is largely dependent on agriculture for its survival.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“It is all very well to quote the long-term benefits of trade liberalization, but we must understand the severe short-term penalties for those countries which are least prepared to meet them. The Kingdom of Swaziland understands very well what is required of us in a world of free trade, in terms of becoming a producer of finished goods and services in a manner which will allow us to compete effectively and on an equal basis with the rest of the world. But for us to achieve the growth and standards of technology and production required, we and the rest of the developing world need the understanding and support of the developed countries in what will be very difficult economic times ahead.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The Kingdom of Swaziland therefore proposes to its fellow Member States that the time has now come to review the resolution of 26 years ago. We believe that there is an urgent need to re-examine this issue, taking into account the profound changes in the situation that have occurred since 1971. The Kingdom of Swaziland has viewed with concern the recent report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which highlighted once more the economic plight of the developing world. Globalization and liberalization are economic principles with which we all agree, but not at the expense of a greater concentration of wealth in the developed countries and an increase in poverty amongst the underdeveloped.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“There is also a growing voice of international opinion, including in the European Parliament, the American Congress and among many countries on all five continents, that membership of the United Nations is necessary for the huge resources and wealth of expertise of the Republic of China to be put to the best possible use for the benefit of all mankind. One of the founding and guiding principles of our Organization has been that of universality, of granting all peoples of the world the right to belong to the United Nations and to be heard in our chambers. It is a reality that almost 22 million people believe that that right is denied to them, by virtue of their country's exclusion from the activities of the one truly global development Organization.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The Kingdom of Swaziland has been in a position to recognize and experience at first hand the peace-loving nature of the Republic of China on Taiwan and its 3 willingness to help foster peace and prosperity throughout the world. The Government and people of the Republic of China have made enormous advances in economic, social and political terms, and have shown themselves ready and able to share their experience and advice with all the nations of the world. Many countries and political groupings over the years have also recognized the need to involve the Republic of China on Taiwan in global development activities, through the offices of the United Nations and its agencies.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For almost 30 years the Kingdom of Swaziland has enjoyed excellent relations with a nation which, despite an outstanding record in international development assistance, and while fulfilling all the requirements for membership of our Organization, is nonetheless excluded from participating in the activities of the United Nations. I am referring to the issue of the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan. In October 1971 the United Nations adopted a resolution which withdrew membership from the Republic of China. That resolution has the effect today of denying the rights of almost 22 million people to be represented here in the United Nations, and to contribute to all the global initiatives undertaken by our Organization.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We should like to record our appreciation to the United States of America for its African Crisis Response Initiative, which is focusing a number of African countries, including the Kingdom of Swaziland, on the requirement for such things as standardized procedures, training and equipment. It is clearly essential for this type of peace force initiative to have the support of the international community and for the OAU to maintain close cooperation with the United Nations in our joint attempts to provide adequate policing of crisis situations in Africa.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In the light of continuing instability on much of our continent, one practical measure undertaken by the whole African community has been the recent initiatives by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and subregional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and our own Southern African Development Community (SADC), to become better prepared to cope with our continent’s crises using the resources available to maintain peace in our region. One element of this has been the training and preparation of African peacekeeping forces for deployment throughout the continent. The Kingdom of Swaziland has pledged its commitment to provide troops for such forces, once adequate training and preparation have been completed.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“At the same time, we welcome a number of encouraging events on the continent, in countries such as Liberia, where United Nations efforts towards peace over the years contributed significantly to the elections earlier this year.We applaud the peaceful nature of that process, and we hope and pray that lasting, sustainable peace has at last come to the Liberian people after so many years of conflict. And we commend the appointment by the Secretary- General of Personal Envoy Mr. James Baker to oversee the situation in Western Sahara. We are most encouraged by developments in this long-running dispute, and we look forward to a lasting resolution in the near future.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We commend the determination of the British and Irish Governments to involve all stakeholders in the negotiations, and we call on all involved to make every effort to ensure that these negotiations lead to lasting peace and stability. The continent of Africa continues to experience situations of instability and conflict which have unfortunate effects on all of us who call it our home. In the past 12 months we have seen crises in Sierra Leone, the Congo and the Comoros islands, and the continuation of problems in many areas and countries such as the Great Lakes region, the horn of Africa and Angola.The Kingdom of Swaziland prays for the many millions caught up in the violence of these and other situations of instability on our beloved continent, and continues to support efforts to find peaceful solutions.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“It is clear that the international community must continue to support the peace initiative as the only way forward and make every effort to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table on a basis of mutual trust and confidence. The Kingdom of Swaziland supports the efforts of all who are trying to achieve a breakthrough in this area. We call on the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, for the sake of their own people, to find a way out of this apparent deadlock and return to the spirit of compromise which prevailed during the Oslo negotiations, and which held out the promise of lasting peace. The Kingdom of Swaziland has been encouraged by the recent developments in Northern Ireland, with all-party talks on the future of that troubled province at last under way.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)