YouSaid · the spoken record

Rui Maria de Araújo

lines on the record: 35
first: 2015-09-24
most recent: 2016-09-24
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

“We would also like to renew our commitment to the preservation of democracy, the rule of law, sustainable development, respect for international law and the buildingof a better future for all peoples and nations, now and in the future. On behalf of Timor-Leste, I truly wish that your term of office, Mr. President, will be crowned by success. Failure is not an option, because humankind is in urgent need of change to ensure the preservation of its existence.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In 2015, Timor-Leste undertook a commitment to assiduously work with all nations so that together we can implement a transformational agenda designed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. The Sustainable Development Goals also include targets, and we must ensure the contribution of all nations to their implementation. In that regard, we can never stress enough the need to find solutions to the challenges that humankind faces, solutions that we must pursue in a spirit of solidarity, as well as the importance of acting in a coordinated fashion, In conclusion, I reiterate Timor-Leste’s belief in the multilateral system and in advocating for fundamental values such as peace and human rights.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“For that reason, in April Timor-Leste began a process of compulsory conciliation, a mechanism to resolve disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The process, which is being used for the first time, was specifically conceived for cases such as Timor-Leste’s, where there is a dispute regarding maritime borders with a neighbour that withdrew from binding dispute resolution procedures under international law. The first meeting of the compulsory Conciliation Commission was held on 29 August, and we are confident that the panel of independent experts, after reviewing each country’s position, will contribute to reaching an amicable solution. We are certain that Australia, an important country in our region, will participate and contribute in a positive manner to finding a just solution acceptable to both parties.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The delineation of our maritime borders will ensure our sovereign rights and give us certainty with respect to what belongs to us, thereby ensuring our economic stability, even our self-sufficiency, and a better future for our people and our nation. We are staunch advocates of dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes. We believe in the multilateral system and international law, in which all States are equal before the law, regardless of their size or wealth. On the basis of those principles ensuring equality among nations we began discussions with a view to delimiting our maritime borders with Indonesia under international law. We hope to do the same with Australia in a true spirit of openness, transparency and friendship.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Island nations such as Timor-Leste are truly affected by the challenges brought about by climate change. Given our commitment to combat global warming and not to compromise biodiversity and marine ecosystems, in April we signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which is currently in the process of being ratified in our National Parliament. In addition to that global concern, Timor-Leste also faces the challenge of establishing sovereign rights over our surrounding seas through the delineation of our maritime borders. Even 14 years after Timor-Leste became the one hundred and ninety-first Member of the United Nations, we still do not have agreed and defined maritime borders with our two maritime neighbours, Indonesia and Australia.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We are a maritime nation, and for us the sea is highly and strategically important. To explore the potential that living and non-living maritime resources offer is to give ourselves the opportunity to diversify our economy through fishing activities, the development of tourism and the development of non-living resources. That requires sustainable development, which is doubly beneficial, not just for humankind but also for the environment. We appreciate the efforts of Fiji and Sweden in organizing the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 on oceans, to be held in New York in June 2017. All countries across the globe must take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The fight against terrorism and all those drivers of instability in the world and our societies require a commitment from all of us to work together towards a lasting solution. By ratifying the relevant conventions, Timor-Leste has strengthened its commitment to contributing to the fight against terrorism and organized crime related to the financing of those activities. Money-laundering and illicit financial flows linked to terrorism are intimately connected with organized crime, and we are aware of the importance of simultaneously fighting piracy and the trafficking in drugs, persons and arms. Such crimes are sometimes committed at sea or through maritime activities. In order to combat them and safeguard our economic potential, we must also protect our borders and ensure maritime security.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In addition to contributing to the Group of Seven Plus, we are willing, as we have done in the past, to be among those who contribute contingents to peacekeeping operations and thereby demonstrate our gratitude to the international community. Timor-Leste’s past and present can serve as an example and a source of hope; after it emerged from conflict, Timor-Leste became a peaceful country that now enjoys security and stability and whose people can benefit from the dividends of peace. Even when countries emerge from conflict situations, there may remain issues of security that continue to threaten nations. Acts of terrorism, organized crime and threats to peace and stability have been constant and rather worrisome.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The conflicts in Syria, South Sudan and Yemen, among others, are far from being resolved. We hope that the recent ceasefire in Syria may be a step on the path to peace and that conditions may be created for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those who most depend on it for their survival. We also urgently need to find a solution together that would ensure the right to self-determination for the Saharawi people, as well as a just solution for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, which must be respected. As a country that has experienced conflict, Timor- Leste knows all too well the high price of war and how we must do everything to avoid it, through preventive diplomacy and by strengthening the institutions of the State.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have also joined the antibiotic- resistance campaign. Concerted action among our countries will help to reduce the number of cases of resistance and increase the number of lives saved, both human and animal, thanks to the appropriate administration of medications. The world must place fellow human beings’ physical and moral well-being and human dignity above all other interests. The situation of refugees and migrants remains unresolved and deserves our focused attention and support. There is a continuing need for a joint solution to end that situation affecting thousands of people, including children. We still need to establish frank political dialogue and international partnerships to ensure respect for human rights and enable humanitarian assistance. Other major scourges persist in afflicting the world.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We want the plan’s impact on our population to be real and to benefit every citizen, whether old or young, from the city or the remotest village, in the short, medium, and long term. Our experience has already shown that we can achieve an impact, for example in the health sector. Health is our most precious asset, and we want to offer quality health care that benefits and impacts our population. It gives me great satisfaction to share with the Assembly the fact that Timor-Leste — according to a study of 188 countries published in the 21 September issue of the British medical journal The Lancet —- is the country that has attained the most progress towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals since 2000, as a result of the country’s peaceful and stable environment and its efforts to broaden access to health care.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have endeavoured to raise our partners’ awareness of the importance of harmonizing our agendas and of the need for financial aid in order to achieve results. We are also planning a high-level international conference in March 2017 to discuss ways to advance the 2030 Agenda under very difficult circumstances. We have improved our commitment to show our young people, the future generation, how important their role is in achieving those Goals, to which we all must contribute and from which we will all benefit. Such an exercise is not easy, yet our Government has attempted to be mindful of the Goals in its budget and in activity- planning. We have also developed additional plans and have included the SDGs in the review of Timor-Leste’s strategic development plan for the period 2011-2030.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“There must be no doubt of the fact that without peace and stability, we cannot envisage development, and vice versa. The new Goals are for all countries, so that all may benefit from sustainable development. Last year, in addition to being one of the first countries in the world to subscribe to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Timor-Leste joined a group of eight countries that wish to serve as models for the implementation of the Agenda by pooling best practices and experience.Over the past year, we have established an interministerial working group that, in collaboration with civil-society organizations and our development partners, has mapped indicators for the 17 Goals to transform our world and selected 20 targets that will enable us to monitor their implementation on the basis of quantitative results.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It is that same principle that drove Timor- Leste, both as a member and during its presidency of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, to propose the concept of economic potential within the transregional constellation, which includes Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia, for debate among its member States. To that end, and in order to promote development and the resulting improvement in the living conditions of its people, we appeal to the United States of America to urgently remove its trade, financial, and economic embargoes against the Republic of Cuba. We are well aware that peace and development are intrinsically linked, which is a concept that we were determined to include in Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted one year ago.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Using the lessons that we have learned, we wish to contribute to the dreams and hopes of other countries. Through the Group of Seven Plus and based on the principles of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, we are sharing our experiences and knowledge with a group of 20 fragile States affected by conflict. Regional integration generates opportunities for the economic development and well-being of a population and also contributes to peace and stability in countries and regions. For that reason, we aspire to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, so that we can have an opportunity to fulfil both the dreams of our people and our responsibility to form an integral part of civilization.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We continue to be confronted with situations of inequality and conflict that threaten our collective stability. We all know — and Timor-Leste has first- hand experience in the matter — that the United Nations is essential to ensuring the security of peoples and countries throughout the world. We therefore reiterate our belief in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in a multilateral and international system, as we are aware of the fact that the world has a continuing need to maintain international peace and security, establish friendly relations among countries, work in cooperation to find solutions to global problems and foster respect for human rights. Such goals can be achieved only if countries actively seek solutions to the problems they face. Such a belief is confirmed by the results that Timor-Leste has achieved.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As a symbol of the ideals of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon has worked to make the world safer for women and young people, promoted sustainable development actively and fortified the role of prevention. Based on our accumulated experience and the recommendations included in reports on peacekeeping operations, on the peacebuilding architecture and on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, this is an opportune moment for change. Promoting intergovernmental coherence and strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission and the partnerships needed for its maintenance are recommendations that will improve the United Nations system. Our efforts to respond to the challenges facing our nations and our peoples need to be more effective.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Mogens Lykketoft, for all of his work and his unparalleled efforts to revitalize the General Assembly by increasing its effectiveness and efficiency and by strengthening its role as it carries out the duties set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as his commitment to a transparent selection process of the next Secretary-General. In the light of the fact that this is his last general debate, I would also like to express, on behalf of Timor- Leste, our deepest appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the support Timor-Leste has received during his 10 years in office. His legacy has established the foundations for a reform of the bureaucracy and peacekeeping operations, and he has driven efforts to place human rights, climate change and refugees and migrants at the forefront of the Organization’s agenda.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I would like to begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- first session, and by wishing you the greatest success in discharging your new duties. It is with great satisfaction that Timor-Leste, a half-island nation in the Pacific, welcomes a representative from another Pacific island to preside over the General Assembly. I am certain that you, Sir, are well aware of the challenges that we face with regard to climate change and the management of our seas and marine resources. I would also like to congratulate the outgoing President, His Excellency Mr.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Timor- Leste is committed to working with other countries and development partners and sharing what little we have to implement those Goals and the other SDGs. In conclusion, I wish to thank the United Nations, its Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and all States Members of the United Nations here present, as well as all the sectors of society that supported us in our struggle for liberation until we were recognized as a sovereign State. It is with humility that we once again express our profound gratitude and declare our commitment to being a part of this great team of nations that fights tirelessly for a more prosperous, just, and peaceful world. We believe that nations, when united, are much stronger and produce better results.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) embodies a remarkable balance of interests and priorities in its set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are profoundly interlinked and indivisible. Timor-Leste is particularly pleased with the inclusion of Goal 16, which strengthens the essential elements of peace, justice, and 20/25 15-29664 01/10/2015 A/70/PV.23 institutions. We know from our own experience that those elements are crucial to our joint commitment not to leave anyone behind on our path towards sustainable development. Goal 16 is the basis for a truly inclusive Agenda and, together with Goals 5 and 17, serves as the cornerstone for achieving the other Goals.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The recent report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (see A/70/95), chaired by former President José Ramos- Horta, proposed fundamental shifts for the future of peace operations, which will have an impact on the lives of thousands of people. The four major shifts proposed by the Panel would help to enhance the credibility, relevance and legitimacy of the United Nations, thus making it more effective in preventing and resolving conflicts, and in peacemaking and peacekeeping, so that people can live in security and freedom. Over the past three years, we have witnessed an unprecedented effort on the part of the States Members of the United Nations, and the international community in general, to redefine our approach to sustainable development.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In addition to building our institutions and promoting sustainable development, the national consensus in Timor-Leste is that we must work to fully assert our national sovereignty under international law and standards. That full assertion of our sovereignty includes the demarcation of our maritime borders with our two great neighbours, Indonesia and Australia. As a matter of principle, Timor-Leste has opted for negotiations in accordance with international law and standards and, when dialogue fails to resolve disagreements, our country has chosen to use international conflict-resolution mechanisms. Though small, Timor-Leste has also helped other nations in their development efforts.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“After many years at the helm of the country, our outstanding leaders and former Presidents of the Republic, Xanana Gusmão and José Ramos-Horta, who are present here today, understood that Timor-Leste lacked a model of inclusive democracy. That type of democracy, which gave rise to the sixth constitutional Government, which is currently in office, was achieved peacefully and with dignity. The Government that I am honoured to lead is committed to preserving the peace and stability that has been achieved. It is also committed to continuing the efforts of previous Governments to foster growth and development in our country and the well-being of our people. However, the road ahead for the Timorese is still long and arduous.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We wish to instil a new dynamic in that Community of sister nations and bring it to the forefront of economic globalization, with investment opportunities that could improve the living conditions of our peoples and contribute to the development, peace, and stability of the peoples of the world. We have had the opportunity to share our experience with other brotherly countries and peoples, such as Guinea- Bissau, Sao Tome et Principe, and the Central African Republic. Timor-Leste’s participation on the stage of international politics reflects our conviction as to the importance of solidarity, mutual respect, and cooperation for a better world. We have also undergone a Government transition recently.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Timor-Leste has been a part of the community of nations for 13 years and is ready to roll up its sleeves, leverage its national experience and contribute to the international community. We are a young nation, but that has never been nor will it ever be a reason for us to ignore the events and realities of the world we share. We officially announce our desire to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, boost progress in fragile States through the Group of Seven Plus and accede to the international mechanisms for the promotion of peace, democracy, justice and human rights. We have been serving in the presidency pro tempore of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries since 2014.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is time to act with respect to climate change. The whole world is advancing towards a consensus that recognizes the urgency of combating climate change, including citizens, civil society and religious leaders, as seen in the message of His Holiness Pope Francis (see A/70/PV.3) and the declaration by Muslim leaders, which underscore our moral duty to protect those who are most vulnerable and to care for the planet we inhabit. We also know that the impacts of climate change are even more pronounced in the developing small island States, which are on the front lines of the struggle. Our neighbouring islands in the Pacific have been assailed by the same storms and by an increase in the number of natural disasters, which are compounded, as if that were not enough, by soil erosion and the rise of sea levels.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Terrorism, organized crime and extreme violence are new obstacles to international peace and security. The United Nations and the international community must adapt to those new threats in order to ensure a process to build peace and to build an inclusive, responsible and transparent State with a view to achieving lasting peace. Another challenge, which may not appear as consistently in the mass media but which affects us equally, is climate change, and the international community is approaching a moment of decision in that 15-29664 19/25 A/70/PV.23 01/10/2015 regard. The discussions that will take place at the end of the year at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Paris, must produce universal, ambitious and legally binding results.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Notwithstanding the progress achieved since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, we must acknowledge that there remains much to do and fulfil. Conflicts and crises persist in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The Saharans, Palestinians and many other peoples continue to be denied their fundamental rights. When there is disagreement, leaders must recognize that dialogue is a means to an end. Timor- Leste is particularly pleased that the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba have re-established diplomatic relations. It congratulates them and hopes that a frank and open dialogue will quickly lead to the removal of impediments to economic, financial and trade relations. New and different threats to peace, security and human rights have emerged since the creation of the United Nations.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We currently have the largest number of refugees since the Second World War, and estimates indicate that the number will increase. In addition to those refugees, there are many other people who migrate in search of better opportunities. We are seeing thousands of people arriving in Europe every day, trying to escape threats to their lives, which they face in the conflict zones in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, among several other countries. It is crucial that we bear in mind that we must provide those who are forced to flee persecution and armed conflict with the protection to which they are entitled under international law. We cannot forget that crises, wherever they crop up, can drag on and spread indiscriminately, affecting economies, social life, peace and stability in particular regions and in the world.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“At the United Nations sustainable development Summit a few days ago, from 25 to 27 September, we all met to launch the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). Through the changes outlined on the new Agenda, we have redefined the pillar of development for the United Nations and set the planet on the path to sustainable development. The dynamic of change must now focus on the other pillars of the Organization, which are peace, security and human rights. The United Nations was born out of the need for States to develop closer relations and work together in a world dismayed and marked by war. Yet, conflicts and violence continue to ravage the world, and millions of people continue to be forced to abandon their homes and countries.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Those ideals are the pillars of the Organization and have guided its work since its foundation, but we must acknowledge that we have yet to respond to the aspirations of all peoples in all nations of the world. Now is an opportune moment to renew our efforts towards fulfilling those principles. To that end, the United Nations needs a reform that will allow it to take up the challenges that have emerged in the new circumstances of our century. Reforming the Security Council is one change that has been suggested, with a view to making the Council more representative and balanced. Improving the system is the only way for us to be prepared for the long journey ahead and for us to honour and fulfil the promise of peace, security and human rights for all.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It requires from us a stronger commitment to understanding and cooperation as a means to better capitalize on the potential and to minimize the adverse risks of that new reality. Our commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the multilateral system therefore constitutes an indispensable element in the interactions of humankind in our century. Today, using the words of the Preamble to the Charter, we must repeat our undertaking “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights” with dignity and equality for all. We must strengthen our commitment to “justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law” and to “social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Nonetheless, the world has changed dramatically since the Charter of the United Nations was signed seven decades ago, in 1945. Today, we are an Organization with 193 Member States, many of which were formed after the end of the Second World War. The world in the twenty-first century is marked by a combination of complexities, challenges and different opportunities 18/25 15-29664 01/10/2015 A/70/PV.23 that require coordinated actions by the States. While in the 1940s we already had the audacity to proclaim that no country is an island, that adage is even more relevant in our own century with the advances in communication and transportation technologies that transform our world into a global village in which distance and location are no longer impediments to interaction among peoples and States.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is with the utmost pleasure that I address the Organization today. It is a privilege for me to take the floor for the first time in the General Assembly, particularly because the Member States have come together to celebrate the Organization’s seventieth anniversary. This is undoubtedly a historic moment in the life of the United Nations, when we can celebrate and honestly reflect on the principles and spirit that led to the establishment of the Organization, as well as the failures and successes of the past 70 years. Those failures and successes are intimately associated with various world events, including the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, whose status as a sovereign State was internationally recognized on 20 May 2002.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)