YouSaid · the spoken record

Danny Faure

lines on the record: 71
first: 2012-09-24
most recent: 2020-09-24
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

“A transformation which will take us all, the most vulnerable countries and fragile economies included, into a more sustainable and resilient post-COVID world better equipped to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and for small island developing states. I thank you all.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We must not lose sight of the fact that the stimulus packages aimed at rescuing economies from the coronavirus crisis will determine the shape of the global economy — a more financially stable, socially inclusive and low-carbon economy — for years to come. If we are going to talk about a multilateralism that counts for everyone, it must deliver an equitable recovery that prioritises innovation, science, health, wellbeing, opportunity and a liveable environment for all countries and societies. The future of multilateralism depends on a transformative global response to the COVID 19 pandemic.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Seychelles’ protection of nearly a third of our EEZ for ocean conservation, sustainability and climate action shows that countries’ responses to the health and financial crisis caused by COVID19 do not need to be at the expense of nature and climate. Seychelles agrees that we need international solidarity and cooperation more than ever in the face of the worst human and economic crisis of our lifetime, a multilateralism that works for both developed and developing countries. Many argue that society is unwilling to make the behavioural changes necessary to address climate change effectively. Countries’ responses to COVID-19 show otherwise; we have changed in previously unthinkable ways.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“COVID-19 is not the biggest global challenge of our time. Climate change is the number one threat to humanity. The postponement of COP26 to November 2021 does not mean a postponement of climate action and of urgently-needed efforts to raise climate ambitions. Seychelles’ updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) or climate pledge to the Paris Agreement will accordingly have a whole chapter on harnessing the ocean that surrounds our islands for nature-based climate action. Seychelles’ NDC will champion blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and the vast expanses of seagrass meadows, which form part of our new marine protected areas. It will enable us as a big ocean state to contribute to the global fight against climate change far more than when we relied solely on land-based actions.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“While the effects of climate breakdown will continue to impact us long after we’ve dealt with the pandemic, COVID-19 presents a new opportunity to take action on climate change as countries make drastic changes to infrastructure, jobs and investment. Achieving the 1.5-degree Celsius goal remains critical if we are to leave no country behind.The drop in greenhouse gas emissions and improvement in air quality during the pandemic is only temporary, and research shows it will have a negligible impact on the climate crisis. We do not know how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last, but we know we are heading towards a temperature increase of approximately 3 degrees Celsius if business continues as usual. This will have devastating consequences for us all, especially SIDS and other vulnerable countries.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We understand this well in Seychelles where the two main pillars of our economy, tourism and fishing, depend on the state of our natural, and especially our ocean, environment. So, on March 26 this year as the pandemic raged across the world, Seychelles went ahead and delivered on our 2012 Rio+20 commitment to protect 30 per cent of our giant exclusive economic zone of 1.34 million square kilometres by 2020. It was a recognition that even while we dealt with a public health emergency, we cherished the importance of nature to our people’s physical, economic and social wellbeing. We should adopt a similar approach to climate action to maintain and increase climate ambition in the context of the pandemic and prevent a post-COVID rebound in greenhouse gas emissions.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Our recovery efforts should aim to take us to a more sustainable and resilient future which requires a recognition that economic recovery depends on ecological health. Reviving economic activity should not be at the expense of environmental sustainability. One of the jobs Seychelles has offered workers made redundant by COVID-19, for example, is the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees across our islands. This measure is in keeping with the call by the world’s scientists to protect our natural environment at all costs. This is how we can restore planetary health and the balance between human and ecological wellbeing. We cannot have a healthy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic if we do not heal our poor relationship with our natural environment. As the saying goes human health depends on nature’s health.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Seychelles backs AOSIS, the Alliance of Small Island States, in its call for a SIDS Compact, which caters for our specific and persistent constraints and vulnerabilities. Such a compact will require the design of new, and enhancement of existing financial instruments to guide SIDS economies through the current crisis, create a responsive system where we maintain our gains, reinforce resilience to climate change and achieve sustainable development. The massive global economic restructuring now underway presents the world with a unique opportunity to pursue a holistic and transformational approach to address the numerous escalating global crises we face while making the most efficient use of our resources.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We call on all relevant stakeholders to take immediate, substantial and tailored actions to allow us to manage the crisis and address its grave socio-economic impacts while preserving our development achievements and reinforcing our resilience to future shocks. Such actions should include building capacity for small island developing states to cope with and recover from external shocks such as pandemics like COVID-19, other forms of disasters, and impacts of climate change. International financial institutions should re-examine their eligibility criteria to tailor SIDS’ access to concessional financing to take into account our extreme vulnerability to economic, climate and now public health shocks that put us at particular risk and disadvantage.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“SIDS have made heroic efforts to shore up jobs as unemployment grows and provide social safety nets for our people in response to COVID-19 with the limited capacity and resources that we have. However, we cannot maintain these in the long term, often at the cost of worsening our debt burdens as part of a looming global debt crisis. The shortage of effective global solutions for SIDS as the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary is alarming.The ultimate test of multilateralism lies in the way we assist vulnerable economies today, for it ultimately decides whether we attain the future we want.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We foresee a 14 per cent budgetary deficit for this year instead of the 4 per cent surplus we projected before COVID-19. The Seychelles economy was set to grow by 3.9 per cent this year but will now end 2020 at -15.2 per cent. We estimate it will take at least five years for Seychelles to return to where we were before COVID-19, assuming the world gets a vaccine that ensures the novel coronavirus is no longer a global public health threat. I turn to the multilateralism theme for this debate; a multilateralism which we recognise as crucial to a globally-coordinated response to COVID-19 and to us emerging from the pandemic more resilient, and hopefully, more compassionate.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“To ensure an inclusive approach that factors in the specific needs of different stakeholders in Seychelles, we consulted with the private sector, trade unions, civil society and inter-faith organisations as required. We were joined in this undertaking by the tourism businesses, a key driver of Seychelles’ economy and who continue to play an instrumental role in drafting Seychelles’ tourism comeback together with Government. However, everything Seychelles has done to date to minimise the impact of COVID-19 will not be sustainable in the longterm because of the depletion in our foreign exchange reserves. It took us 44 years since Seychelles’ independence to attain the quality of life we enjoyed before COVID-19, and just 4 months for COVID-19 to paralyse our tourism industry and with it much of our economy.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“To be effective, our joint efforts need to be coordinated and delivered through a revitalised and more inclusive multilateral system, comprising of the voices of all stakeholders, including the youth, civil society and the private sector to ensure a global all-of-society approach. I say revitalised because the existing set-up has, despite the lessons of past outbreaks of viruses, failed to respond adequately to COVID-19 with devastating consequences. Seychelles stepped up to the challenge despite being faced with an economy crippled by the collapse of tourism, our primary industry. We introduced a series of unprecedented measures to save the lives of our people and mitigate the economic destruction,minimising unemployment and securing workers’ incomes.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Your Excellency, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Your Excellency, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Esteemed Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Rarely have the United Nations and multilateralism been tested as they are being tested during this year of the UN’s 75th anniversary, the year where the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rarely, has there been a more pressing time for creative thinking and innovation to respond to modern challenges. The painful lessons learned since the outbreak of the pandemic underscores the urgent need for continued collective approaches.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Safeguarding the oceans and marine life from climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution and other threats is an urgent global responsibility. Today, here at the United Nations, I say that we are the guardians of two-thirds of this blue planet’s surface. We must act accordingly. The issue is bigger than all of us and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it. We are running out of excuses to not take action and we are running out of time.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“My country, Seychelles, is on track to conserve 30 per cent of its 1.4 million-square-kilometre maritime territory by 2020, thereby achieving the 30-by-30 target a decade early. Suffice to say that today, big ideas come from small islands. For too long, we have been relegated to the sidelines of international discourse. We seek to change that dynamic by highlighting what is most important. Earlier this year, Seychelles partnered with the Nekton mission and the Oxford University to conduct research in a bid to conserve our maritime spaces and the Indian Ocean. In April of this year, I was proud to deliver a speech, broadcast live from 407 feet below the ocean’s surface, calling for greater worldwide effort to protect the beating blue heart of our planet — our oceans. But the novelty of the event should not overshadow the message.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We anticipate a transparent and inclusive instrument that offers due recognition of our special circumstances as a small island developing State and an adjacent coastal State, which implies the inclusion of appropriate mechanisms for benefit-sharing, capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. Seychelles has challenged the established model of a donor-recipient relationship through innovative financing that promotes ocean conservation and climate action. Through the use of that type of financing, we have pioneered the world’s first debt-for-adaptation swap, established the world’s first sovereign blue bonds and protected ocean space in our exclusive economic zone, which is approximately the size of Germany.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“That needs to change, as we gather the information available to identify priority areas for protection. That information should be used to take concrete action to preserve our oceans, extending beyond national jurisdictions. It is a global issue and it therefore needs a global approach. We must translate the political will of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement into decisive action. Bringing law and good governance to the ocean is the only way we can ensure our collective survival. Seychelles is 100 per cent committed to the ongoing work of the United Nations to develop a legally binding framework to conserve our oceans in areas outside national borders. If we want to survive, that is the only way forward.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Seychelles will remain at the forefront of the discourse on climate change. We will fight — with a passionate sense of urgency — against inequalities that directly impact us. It is unacceptable that 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by 10 per cent of the planet’s wealthiest inhabitants living in the richest nations. We will continue to voice our concerns as our people demand it. The Seychellois people do not have the luxury of “what if”, they require action now. We islanders can no longer afford to see ourselves as dots lost in a sea of blue — we are sentinels, guardians of two thirds of our common blue planet. The deep ocean is the beating heart of the planet, yet we have better maps of Mars than we do of the ocean floor.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Our pioneering development of the blue economy has the potential to unlock multiplier effects that will increase economic opportunities while at the same time protecting the ocean for generations to come. In our view, the ocean is the last frontier. If used responsibly, it will lead to shared prosperity, food security and innovation. In part, we are harnessing the potential of the oceans through the blue economy to meet our sustainable development goals and climate obligations, as dictated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Samoa Pathway and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Seychelles is also championing the development of the blue economy in Africa and we are working with willing partners towards the international deployment of the blue economy.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I am aware that development has lifted our people out of poverty, but through overexploitation we are dooming future generations to a planet beyond their ability to repair. Fortunately, young people around the world have taken a stand to secure their future. In Seychelles, we are seeing youth-led non-governmental organizations partnering with the Government to prioritize the fight against climate change, pollution and other threats to the environment. Youth-led grass-roots movements led to a ban on many single-use plastics and continue to advocate for ocean protection. To us islanders, the ocean represents not only our livelihood but also a way of life. The Seychellois people are bound to the sea and are cognizant of the untapped opportunities that it represents.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I believe in the human spirit and its unyielding capacity for good. I believe in the founding principles of the United Nations — that multilateralism is key in bringing nations and people together and ensuring mutual prosperity and lasting peace. More than most, island nations must have faith in the multilateral international order. We are by nature isolated and, by design, our livelihoods are tied to the rest of the world. We rely heavily on that premise, as well as on the actions or inactions of others for our very survival. Climate change has become an existential threat, not only to the lives of people in island States but to the world as a whole. It is clear that we are no longer in a position to indiscriminately plunder the environment under the guise of development for the sake of short-term profits.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“However, as we approach our seventy-fifth year, we also need to be conscious that many of our people have been left behind. Because of our shortcomings and inaction, humankind is today threatened by conflict, economic hardship and climate change. We cannot afford to have disillusioned people who have lost sight of the visions of hope and security that were promised when our Organization was founded. Equality is for everyone, regardless of gender or race. In Seychelles, my Government believes in placing people at the centre of development. We continue to invest in them so that they can live in dignity, realize their full potential and contribute to our vibrant democracy. Inclusivity is the key that will drive our nations further towards the goal of a secure and sustainable future.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Muhammad-Bande, a distinguished son of our sisterly country, Nigeria, on his election to preside over the General Assembly at this session. This session of the General Assembly sits on the cusp of the seventy-fifth year of the foundation of our Organization, which was forged from the ashes of a devastating world war. Our forebears sought to build a more just and equitable world order, based on the rule of law and guaranteeing fundamental freedoms. The United Nations was charged with upholding the idea that, as a collective, our differences could be resolved through dialogue and international diplomacy. Over the past decades, we have maintained the longest period of prosperity in our collective memory.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We have a unique opportunity to sculpt a future for our children that they can be proud to inherit. Let us be on the right side of history and live up to the ideals out of which this Organization was born.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The agenda of small island developing States is inextricably linked to that of humankind. The United Nations was born of the horrors of a destructive world war. It was charged with upholding the idea that as a collective, we could resolve our differences through dialogue and international diplomacy. Together, we continue to demonstrate the success and unrelenting power of diplomacy and, in the case of smaller States like ours, we have also proved that might is not right. In this unique forum, we have equal representation. Seychelles remains committed to the ideals of the United Nations and will remain an active voice within this Organization. Today we are being presented with a unique opportunity to transform our world through our collective efforts and to create lasting partnerships.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Seychelles is slowly shifting from a dependence on bilateral aid donors to developing innovative sources of financing for our emerging blue economy. We are trying to leverage the wealth of the ocean that surrounds us and engage in exciting new partnerships. Nevertheless, we recognize that will not be enough to meet all our sustainable-development and climate-action obligations under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway. That is why Seychelles is one of those small island developing States that continues to advocate for a SIDS-specific resilience index, which would take into account the unique vulnerabilities and specificities of small island developing States and better reflect the realities that we face.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We are acutely aware of the challenges that poses with the threat of climate change. However, the ocean also presents a myriad untapped opportunities. At the beginning of this year, my country, Seychelles, pioneered a blue economy strategic policy framework and road map, to multiply the economic potential of our territorial waters while also protecting them for generations to come. For us, the blue economy is the next frontier of development. It is about ocean- based sustainable development focusing on economic diversification, shared prosperity, food security and healthy and productive oceans. It is encouraging to note that other like-minded States are developing that concept, regardless of their geography.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“For our United Nations to be truly inclusive and keep up with the challenges of an ever-changing world, Seychelles aligns itself firmly with the African Union position calling for the long-overdue and comprehensive reform of the Security Council. That includes the equitable representation of Africa, whose countries make up more than a quarter of the members of the United Nations, after all. Sustainability has always been and will continue to be at the heart of my country’s development efforts. As a nation, we have shown the world our commitment to that process. Seychelles, alongside its fellow small island developing States, has been actively engaged in that discourse in order to ensure that our concerns and needs are adequately addressed. Our nation was forged by the ocean.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Should we not uphold the commitments we have made — from the Paris Climate Change Conference to the Conference of the twenty-third session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Bonn last year under Fiji’s presidency — we will reach an inescapable crisis. I believe in the power of our collective efforts to shape a future of which we can all be proud. In that context, I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to the theme of our seventy-third session, “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibility for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”. The words “sustainable societies” have particular resonance for small island developing States (SIDS).”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Speaking from the standpoint of an islander, I cannot dissociate the concept of lasting peace and prosperity from the perils of climate change. Climate change has become an existential threat not merely to the lives of people in island States but to the world as a whole. As islanders, we live that stark reality every day. We see its effects in our eroding coastlines and unpredictable weather patterns, on our coral reefs and rising sea levels. While I recognize the need for development as a driving force to lift our people out of poverty, we must remain aware of its consequences for our planet and our future. Through our neglect, we risk our children inheriting a planet that is beyond their capacity to repair.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“My mandate as President of Seychelles has in part been highlighted by my desire to ensure that our institutions not only serve the people but grant them the necessary recourse should they feel the need. Only by strengthening our institutions and binding ourselves to international law and norms can our peoples truly have accountable Governments. Today I call on the advanced economies to support the strengthening of institutions in developing nations, not through handouts, but by sharing expertise and best practices for the benefit of all. Only by strengthening institutions can we ensure respect for human rights, the rule of law and independent judiciaries, which in turn will ensure that the future can favour a vibrant democratic order.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We consider multilateral cooperation to be of the utmost importance, and in that spirit, on 30 August the Government of Seychelles and its United Nations country team signed their first strategic partnership framework for the period from 2019 to 2023, defining the collective support of 18 United Nations agencies. The challenges that we face in the international system remain a vivid reminder of an evolving world to which we must adapt if we are to secure lasting peace and prosperity. Without targeted approaches that touch the lives of our most vulnerable peoples and without fully embracing the promise of the SDGs, we run the risk of leaving some behind. Strong institutions are essential to a vibrant democracy in which there is transparency and accountability to the people.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“As a collective, we must continue to embrace multilateralism, which has underpinned the values of our Organization for nearly three quarters of a century. Seychelles continues to embrace the multilateral system that is the United Nations, and we fully support the evolution and progress that will come out of United Nations reform. Those reforms stress the need for a more coordinated approach among the United Nations country teams in order to successfully deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Let me start by paying tribute to the statesmen and giants of history who have walked these halls and without whom our Organization would not be what it is today, a symbol of unity and cooperation for all the nations in the world. As we celebrate the anniversary of this great Organization, let us pause and reflect on the true purpose that lies at the heart of the United Nations. We must renew our commitment not only to the Charter of the United Nations, but to its founding principles, which must always guide us in our deliberations and actions. Those cooperative values are critical to the continued peace and prosperity of all our nations and peoples. We cannot let them come under threat.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We thank our many partners at home and abroad who have helped us on this bold and exciting new path to sustainable development and resilience to climate change and who continue to be actively involved. In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Fiji and Sweden for the great success of the Ocean Conference in June and its Call for Action. As President of a large-ocean developing State, I would like to reiterate Seychelles’ commitment to continuing to play a pioneering role in the search for innovative ways to respond to the Call for Action and implement SDG 14 as an integral part of all the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. On that positive note, I wish all the peoples of the world a happy International Peace Day.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Last year Seychelles reached an agreement with the Paris Club and others on a first-of-its-kind $21 million debt- for-adaptation swap to protect 30 per cent of our 1.37-million-square-kilometre exclusive economic zone, partly as an ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change. Also, by the end of this year, we aim to launch the world’s first blue bonds to raise another $15 million for sustainable fishing practices in our waters. Both of those measures seek to establish innovative sources of financing to implement Sustainable Development Goal 14, on oceans and seas, and other interlinked SDGs as part of developing the Seychelles’ blue economy.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“There is something that I said at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakech in November 2016 that is even more pertinent today, as we head towards the next Conference of the Parties, led by our fellow small island developing State of Fiji and supported by Germany. Referring to the Paris Agreement, I said, “For the very first time in history, a global climate-change deal, giving renewed hope to the world, has been reached. We find ourselves at a crossroads and cannot afford to renege on our collective commitment to travel the moral path for the sake of humanity.” From small islands come big ideas.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Together we are drafting a new national development strategy and a more sustainable national development plan for Seychelles over the next 15 years called Vision 2032. That exercise also includes the integration of Agenda 2063, adopted by the African Union, and the Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action. The same inclusive approach applies to stepping up our implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in the light of recent developments. According to the latest science, all stakeholders need to be involved if the international community is to drastically upscale our collective climate action so as to achieve our targets.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For there to be peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet, it is not enough just to throw more resources — financial, human and others — into implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. All of those processes should be democratically governed, underpinned by transparency and accountability throughout and in harmony with and with respect for the natural environment in which we live. In Seychelles, the private sector, civil society, non-governmental organizations and parliamentarians have joined with the public sector in a national effort to integrate the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals into our country’s budget and development plans.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“A globalized world economy requires us to act as organized regions in order to give ourselves the best possible chance of transforming our hopes into tangible improvements in the quality of life for our peoples by strengthening the values of democracy and good governance. That also applies to this institution — the United Nations. Indeed, after a quarter of a century of reforms and counter-reforms of the Security Council, it is high time to harken to the deafening call of more than 160 States Members of the United Nations for true and just reforms. That would be a way for us to react to the accusations that the United Nations is simply a room in which to hold rambling discussions. We would also have an opportunity to practice what we preach.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I believe that small island developing States such as mine can serve as the moral barometers for what is right. We do not shy from accepting and learning from the experiences of others but, in that regard, we also have valuable lessons to share with others. The path that we are charting in our country can serve as an example to all for the sake of tolerance and a global lasting peace. That has been our experience in Seychelles. But as we look around us, what do we see? We see growing instability on a national and regional scale. That is a hindrance to peace and to a decent and sustainable life for all of our peoples. We believe that such factors lie at the heart of the global refugee crisis. That is a problem that could worsen owing to the increasing movements of populations as a result of climate change.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In that context, we are improving the environment for free media to play a vital role in nation-building efforts. Together with the National Assembly we are amending legislation relating to institutions, authorities and agencies so as to ensure that they reflect the new principles of good governance. With greater transparency, good governance and accountability, the independence of institutions and authorities will continue to increase. They are the bedrock of our society. We are writing a new chapter in Seychelles, where we work together to overcome our challenges and show respect for all opinions in the interest of a Seychelles that unites all of us despite our differences. Openness and a policy of discourse are at the core of my nation’s willingness to secure a bold future for our people.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Seychelles is, for the first time in its history, experiencing a system of political cohabitation where I, as President and head of the executive arm, am working with a legislature dominated by the opposition. When I first addressed our legislature at the National Assembly almost a year ago last October, I gave my word that we would work together to deliver a better future for our people. Our cohabitation is working well. There is a new working environment in which we have dialogue and where we consult. Most importantly, it is an environment based on mutual respect. We are reshaping our Government to make it more inclusive. We are empowering our citizens, especially our youth, by giving them equal opportunities to play important roles in the development of our country and the growth of our economy.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Events around the world today sadly show that the theme of this year’s general debate, “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”, cannot be achieved without effective implementation of the principles of democracy and a concerted demonstration of will. That calls for good governance, transparency and accountability, which serve as the foundation for the prosperity and security of all nations. Indeed, they put the rights and aspirations of the people at the centre of development, where prosperity is shared by all. We must create the necessary space in society for diverging views and ideas to flourish and be respected. Doing so helps promote unity, tolerance and respect in the population.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“May I start by saying that the thoughts of the Government and the people of Seychelles go out to the millions of people in South Asia, Africa, the United States and Mexico, as well as our island brothers and sisters in the Caribbean, who have suffered unimaginable losses from floods, hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather these past months.We urge the international community to not only respond generously to those countries’ calls for support, but also to take the need to upscale the urgent action required far more seriously in order to prevent, prepare for, adapt to and recover from such increasingly destructive climate-related disasters.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I would like to join those who have spoken before me in congratulating His Excellency Mr Miroslav Lajčák on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. I would also like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Peter Thomson for making the small island developing States and the rest of the international community proud through his strong leadership of the seventy- first session.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that our approach towards the sustainable development goals must be even broader and more inclusive than for the Millennium Development Goals. The challenges are obvious: poverty, climate change and energy, among others. The list can go on indefinitely, but we believe that there is also a shared opportunity in setting the sustainable development goals. There is an opportunity to reflect the true interconnectivity of our planet through the adoption of interconnected objectives. Shared objectives will lead to shared success. That is the conviction of Seychelles.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Seychelles is a nation that believes that all voices count. In speaking out on behalf of small islands that are often marginalized in international processes, we believe that we have a duty to ensure that all perspectives are considered. It is because of our commitment to that inclusive approach to the United Nations and to multilateralism that Seychelles has announced its intention to stand as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 2017-2018. As a nation that has never served before, we are actively engaged in discussions in our East African constituency, and we appreciate the opportunity to engage with all nations that wish to share their views. We look forward to many fruitful discussions.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“During the sixty-eighth session, Seychelles will continue to be an advocate for peace and stability and will urge all nations to work through the mechanisms of the United Nations towards resolving existing crises. Seychelles condemns in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons or any other weapon of mass destruction. As one of the first signatories of the Arms Trade Treaty, Seychelles also urges all nations to actively engage in that treaty process so as to reduce the risk of arms trades, which remains one of the biggest challenges for our region and the world. Finally, during the sixty-eighth session, Seychelles will continue to call for every effort to be made to reduce the marginalization of island States, and it is in that context that we reiterate the call for the removal of the embargo against our brotherly nation of Cuba.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)