YouSaid · the spoken record

Jean-Paul Adam

lines on the record: 29
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2014-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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

“Ban Ki-moon, for his remarkable work at the head of our Organization at a time when human history is facing enormous challenges. Indeed, much remains to be done, but optimism remains, for the helm is in good hands. The United Nations will effectively discharge its mission if all the nations that gave rise to it, large and small, provide it with the necessary means and entrust it with the responsibility for carrying out actions in the service of humanity. Seychelles, for its part, remains ready to play its role to its full capacity, in this noble and exciting mission.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We are committed to working together so that we can build together, in the African Union, the transformative Africa that we foresee through our 2063 strategy. Seychelles, like all African countries, also expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people, given the challenges of the continuing conflict in the Middle East, and we reiterate our wish for peace between the two neighbouring States based on the 1967 borders. We also take the opportunity to recall the importance of lifting the economic embargo against Cuba, an island country that depends on trade access to better support its development, as all island States do. All those problems and challenges justify the United Nations remaining the leaven of international peace and security, but also and especially the conscience of humanity. Here I commend the Secretary-General, Mr.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I take the opportunity to urge the international community to continue supporting efforts to restore peace and reconciliation in Somalia. The international community must not lose patience in view of the mixed results achieved so far. For our part, we have taken action bilaterally and with regional and multilateral partners to help Somalia strengthen its capacities in areas such as fisheries management and development. The United Nations must always show the way and inspire the necessary efforts to bring together the means necessary in the struggle and to coordinate them with the States concerned. Seychelles also expresses solidarity with all African countries affected by conflict or instability.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The Seychelles is actively involved with partners in our region and beyond to better target organizers of cross-border trafficking in the Indian Ocean zone. We have established a regional information centre that allows better coordination between our region’s forces and also aims to better manage the monitoring and protecting of our shared maritime space against the shared threats, whether piracy, narcotics trafficking or illegal fishing. In the same vein, the Seychelles will continue to support the Security Council decision to strengthen the United Nations-African Union partnership in Somalia. It is a difficult task, for which I wish to affirm our solidarity with the African and United Nations staff involved.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The Indian Ocean region is grateful to the United Nations, and the Seychelles once again thanks its specialized agencies, as well as our various partners, for the invaluable role each one has played and still plays in the fight against maritime piracy, which has already had a deep impact on our development plans. Statistics show that today maritime piracy has declined, but that hardly indicates that that threat has disappeared. Therefore, we must remain vigilant, and we still need the support of all to help dispel the profound aftereffects it has left for our economy. Over the years, maritime piracy has had serious repercussions on fishing, tourism, shipping and port services. Seychelles continues to work in harmony with all its partners, since any slackening in the face of that unpredictable phenomenon could have consequences.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“More than ever, it is necessary to encourage the search for collective solutions to address all sorts of phenomenon that undermine the balance of our world. That is the sense that guides every action of my country. Seychelles is indeed ready to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century in a spirit of openness and dialogue with all peoples, for a world of peace and human brotherhood. We are working in Africa, particularly in the Indian Ocean, with a view to the region becoming one of shared peaceful, democratic and prosperous development.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Transferring that debt into climate change adaptation projects will address the SIDS need for greater flexibility in addressing their development challenges while also making a real impact in terms of building climate change resilience by creating marine protected areas, not only locally, but globally. That concept will also allow for the application of climate change funding in order to achieve leverage for adaptation projects while reducing financial barriers for small island developing States. (spoke in French) Faced with the challenges of security, transnational crime and extremism, the United Nations requires significant reform and must rise above its divisions to help build a world in which human beings can live, wherever they are, in dignity and free from want and fear.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Further, we call for SIDS to be part of the decision-makers on issues of climate change and to be allocated a permanent seat on the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts. Seychelles will also continue to advocate for a solution to the debt trap in which many of us, especially SIDS, find ourselves. A solution that Seychelles has brought forward in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, an international non-governmental organization, is proposals for debt-for-adaptation swaps. SIDS are often constrained in their development because of large debt-to-GDP ratios.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We call on all partners to ensure that the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will meet in Lima, sets the stage for concluding a meaningful and legally binding agreement in Paris in 2015. I would also like to reiterate the importance of fulfilling commitments to jointly mobilize over $100 billion annually by 2020 for the full operationalization of the Green Climate Fund, which should be capitalized as soon as possible. I also underline the importance of ensuring that the most vulnerable, in particular SIDS and African nations, have access to the appropriate resources as quickly as possible.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Ebola is not just an African problem. It is a global problem. We also remain preoccupied by the conclusions of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That is why SIDS have continuously underlined the scientific research being conducted on climate change, which shows that a warming of even 1.5°C will have a negative impact on all countries, even if islands are on the front line. However, the science also tells us that we still have a window where we can act decisively and effectively. A legally binding agreement that sets a course for increases of no more than 2°C is achievable, but all countries, large or small, must make it happen. It is not a subject that we can leave aside to take up later, to debate at a later date.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is therefore essential that we address our oceans, and the challenges therein appropriately, through a stand-alone sustainable development goal on oceans. The right to development belongs to us all. True development is therefore not only about economic growth or the total wealth that a country can create. It is about the constant improvement that we need for the well-being of people. It is about being able to build a future for our children based on shared opportunity. In that vein, I reiterate the call that the international community not spare any effort in helping the nations of West Africa to overcome the Ebola pandemic, which is a health issue of international concern. Ensuring that the affected communities have access to the right medical support will save lives not only in West Africa but across the world.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“An effective vulnerability index adopted by the United Nations will allow us to better target the diverse needs of SIDS, least developed countries and landlocked countries, as well as States threatened by desertification or those most prone to natural disasters. It is an inclusive view of development. Ownership of the blue economy also widens development perspectives for our whole planet. It is high time that we realize the immense potential of our oceans. We cannot apply the principles of a green economy and of sustainable development without recognizing that we are applying them in a blue world, for over 70 per cent of our planet is covered by oceans and seas. For developing nations, the ocean is a shared opportunity.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The first is the need for a vulnerability index to be used as a more effective tool for addressing the development needs of SIDS than GDP per capita. The second is the need to address the debilitating debt of SIDS through innovations, such as debt for climate change adaptation swaps. The third priority is the need to build opportunities for SIDS on the basis of their strengths, not their weaknesses; hence, the need to support a blue economy approach, whereby SIDS can better utilize their oceanic potential and whereby we can be large-ocean nations. Those three priorities are not specific only to SIDS. The development challenges of SIDS highlight the deficiencies of the development framework for all developing nations. A vulnerability index allows us to target those areas that place our societies at risk.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We must recognize that the current development framework of the majority of development institutions is still not favourable to the development of SIDS. Most development gains are still assessed ultimately through gross domestic product (GDP) per capita measurements, which do not adequately identify the threats to human development or the opportunities that exist, especially for small island States. Seychelles warmly welcomes the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in Apia, and would particularly like to thank the Government and people of Samoa for their leadership in establishing a platform for action to support the development of SIDS. Seychelles has championed three priorities that are outcomes of that conference.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In order to build peace, we must reinforce our commitment to multilateralism through the United Nations, while also ensuring that we accord the highest priority to more inclusive and effective development. In that context, I commend the President for placing the discussion in this year’s general debate under the banner of “Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-2015 development agenda”. Seychelles takes pride in having achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals and continues to impart greater impetus to ensure that the remaining challenges are effectively dealt with by 2015. For small island developing States (SIDS), the sustainable development goals are essential to allow for the implementation of development transformation.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Despite being one of the smallest nations in the world, geographically far removed from the centres of power and of conflict, our people have always known that we cannot be at peace if the world is not at peace. I take this opportunity to salute those who made the ultimate sacrifice in those turbulent times of 1914 and those islanders who showed that no matter how small we may be, we can make a meaningful contribution. However, the turbulent events that have unfolded before our eyes during the course of 2014 have shown very clearly that the world is not at peace. The heinous and murderous acts of global terrorist activities in recent weeks remind us of the increasing threat posed by terrorism and of the pain that it brings to innocent victims. That is coupled with a multiplication of regional conflicts and instability within States.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It gives me great pleasure to begin this address with warm congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Sam Kutesa on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. I also wish to congratulate His Excellency Mr. John Ashe on his inspiring leadership of the Assembly at its sixty- eighth session. This year, we marked the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Our forefathers in 1918 called that War the war to end all wars, because they knew, as we know today, that no society can aspire to development and a better way of life without peace. At that time, many Seychellois people gave their lives to defend that ideal.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In the Indian Ocean region, we are determined to work with all partners to ensure that we can address these issues effectively. We are all part of the United Nations because we believe that we must work together to achieve development. Development is a collaborative process. We need to strengthen this collaboration. We need to make more efforts to ensure that there is more innovative financing to fund development. We need to be more pragmatic in our approach. We know it will not be easy, but that only strengthens our resolve. We are ready to move forward together.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This project approaches the problem from several angles simultaneously as we attempt to strengthen the regional capacity for patrols and surveillance, strengthen the legal and judicial capacity of our countries, and mitigate the negative effects on our economies. I would like to thank our friends and neighbours for their support on this issue. It is an issue that depends on all countries working together, both from within the region and beyond. We must also continue to 10-55122 50 engage with the Somalia to strengthen its ability to build its own institutions. Seychelles also strongly believes that the international community must strengthen its efforts to tackle transnational crimes that are often linked to instability and insecurity, from money-laundering to people trafficking.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The ongoing problems associated with the situation in Somalia also continue, unfortunately, to hamper the conditions for development in the region. The threat of terrorism is rising, while the scourge of piracy continues to spread further afield, as far east as Maldives and as far south as Madagascar. Seychelles has worked hard to ensure that our maritime zones remain safe, and we thank all our partners for their support. Nonetheless, piracy has led to direct losses in our economy of over 4 per cent of gross domestic product. We welcome the new regional project on piracy being developed by the Indian Ocean Commission and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, with the support of the European Union.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Climate change requires funding mechanisms that do not rely only on business as usual. We need a real fast start. For the moment, we are still stuck at the starting block. While we reflect on the governance of the United Nations, we must also spare no effort to ensure that we can be effective in resolving conflict in those areas where human suffering is at its worst. In the Horn of Africa, we remain deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Somalia. We convey our solidarity to the Somali people and the Transitional Federal Government that is trying to restore peace and security. We fully support the efforts of the African Union, through the African Union Mission in Somalia, and of the United Nations. It is clear, however, that we must now be prepared to move beyond what we have already tried and tested.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Often, we also waste a lot of time on ideological debates that further obscure the true objectives of development. We need to be pragmatic and we need to act. Climate change, and in particular sea-level rise, remain by far the greatest threats to small islands. Much more ambitious global action needs to be taken to significantly reduce emissions and implement adaptation in a manner that will ensure the development aspirations and survival of all countries, small islands in particular. We need to ensure that fast- start funding is also available for disbursement as quickly as possible. I must stress the concern of small islands that much of the funding available to adapt to climate change is being channelled through traditional funding channels. This means that most SIDS will miss out on funds because of our middle-income status.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are most grateful to all our partners for their support. I think it is interesting to note that while we were restructuring our old debt, our economy began to grow thanks to new foreign direct investment, most of it from the developing world — the Gulf, Africa and Asia. There are many new channels for development that remain relatively unexplored and unstructured. I would like also to brief the Assembly on a groundbreaking renewable energy project being undertaken in Seychelles with the support of the United Arab Emirates Government. This project is an example of how a small island can have access to affordable financing to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels — one of the things that make islands most vulnerable. These South-South dynamics are often overlooked in the traditional dynamics of the United Nations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The world economic and financial crisis has reinforced the vulnerability of island States to external shocks. More than ever, it has illustrated that islands need as much support as possible if they are to be able to pursue development successfully. As I have already highlighted, there are gaps in the existing development system. Those gaps mean that we must be prepared to be innovative in meeting the development challenges that are looming. We welcome the efforts of several countries and of the Secretary- General to adopt new and innovative means to finance development. In Seychelles, the pressures of the food, fuel and financial crises meant that in 2008 we had to engage in wide-ranging macroeconomic reform with the support of the Bretton Woods institutions, the Asian Development Bank and our Paris Club creditors.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The question that will come up increasingly as we try to answer the question of how to fund development beyond 2015 is where SIDS can go to finance their development. The answer is that we need to define a specific development category for SIDS to be used by all development partners. That is why small island developing States say “let us start at home” by requesting the Secretary- General to initiate a system-wide review of how effectively the United Nations and its various agencies 49 10-55122 are actually supporting SIDS, and how that can be improved. This could be done by an inter-agency working group that would provide concrete recommendations to this sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly as to how the United Nations system could better support the specific needs of SIDS.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Resources are always stretched, and, as we move beyond 2015, we must make sure that development categories truly facilitate development. Such categories must not become a way to punish those that succeed in development. And we must not allow small island developing States to fall through the cracks between the categories. Middle-income SIDS face special problems that the international development architecture does not currently make provision for. The funding that is available to SIDS is fragmented. There is no reliable funding to them. Even on issues where SIDS are most affected, such as climate change, there are many barriers to our ability to access funding, not least the use of gross domestic product per capita criteria to define eligibility for funding.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is why Seychelles announced at the MDG summit that we will be engaging with the United Nations system to enter into new commitments towards setting MDG-plus targets, the overall objective being to make sustainable development a reality beyond the Millennium Development Goals and the next generation. We are all aware of the differences among us in our sizes and populations. The needs of every Member of the United Nations are different. We have learned a lot about development over the years, and today we all know that one-size-fits-all does not work. At the United Nations and other development organizations, we have created development categories to facilitate access for those most in need of the appropriate resources.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This brings to mind the question: Are the MDGs an end in themselves? The task does not end in 2015. It cannot end in 2015. What happens, and where are we headed after that? Those of us that are middle-income countries, and that includes many small island developing States (SIDS), already know the different set of challenges that these questions bring — questions that other countries will also have to face as they achieve and move beyond the MDGs. The debate needs to start now, as we fast approach 2015, on how countries will access the affordable financing they will need not just to move beyond the MDGs, but to ensure that they keep and do not lose what they have achieved.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“May I take this opportunity to join those who have come before me in congratulating His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss on his election as President of our Assembly and on his diligent stewardship of the proceedings thus far. I also thank and congratulate His Excellency Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki for his leadership and drive at the head of the sixty-fourth session of the Assembly. We spent the first three days last week debating the progress made — or not made, as the case may be — in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. For many of us, there are still formidable struggles ahead. For Seychelles, while we have made huge strides forward towards meeting these Goals, we are also pedalling furiously so as not to slip back on what we have already worked hard to achieve.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)