YouSaid · the spoken record

Luis Lacalle Pou

lines on the record: 35
first: 2020-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“That means nothing less and nothing more than improving access to opportunity. I shall close here, because members have had a long day. I want once again here, as I have done in other forums, to firmly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. I also concur with the Secretary-General in raising my voice against authoritarian populism that impoverishes its people and violates human rights, and thus condemns current and future generations. Once again, perhaps in this area we will have to say a mea culpa, because the absence of a forceful and effective reaction from the international community has often exacerbated or failed to prevent such situations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Our country has achieved important human and economic development, and because we have obtained those standards we are often denied access to certain cooperation and preference systems and certain very important instruments of international commercial relations. Obviously. I do not want to stop sharing in the spirit with which those mechanisms were created, but I believe that we must redesign them, because in some way they do not stimulate countries to grow and sustain themselves if they lose access to those conditions. I want to make it clear that Uruguay is not here to beg or make exaggerated claims, but simply, as I said earlier, in appealing for international responsible freedom, we want to act with justice. If we do things well, the international cooperation should act accordingly.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I want to draw attention here today to the fact that we are convinced that this very system of rewards and punishments should apply to international loans, market access, quotas and tariffs, with the aim not only of punishing non-compliance, but also of rewarding those who have processes that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. In that way. as happens to us when we are children, the stimuli to improve will surely push nations to make a greater effort that will pay off in domestic economies and. obviously, at the global level. In that regard. I want to share a situation that our country is going through and that. I am sure, some of the nations represented here are also experiencing. We could call it the sin of doing things well. What do I mean by the sin of doing things well?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Many Heads of State have long raised the issue of the environment in this forum. I belong to a country that began calling itself “natural Uruguay” many years ago. Among other things, renewable energy in our country exceeds 90 per cent today. We have engaged in significant reforestation. We have sustainable production processes, and I could go on adding to a long list that affirms the concept of natural Uruguay. After many years of declarations and commitments, the international community has truly come to understand that the economy and the environment are closely associated. A few months ago. Uruguay issued a sustainable bond based on rewards and punishments that depend on compliance with parameters established in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Inflation is at its lowest in the past 18 years. We have been able to lower taxes and. at the same time, we have carried out reforms that have long been urgent, such as educational and social security reform. Uruguayans practice a very precious and responsible freedom. Earlier today, when I was writing part of my speech. I remembered what I said here in September 2021. Towards the end of my speech. I said that “[i] f there is a lesson to be drawn from the pandemic, it is that we are all one” (A/76/PV6, p.20). For the very reason that we are truly all one. today I wish to refer to responsible international freedom. It is clear that our well-being as independent countries is inextricably linked to the common good. Everyone must know that, accept it and. of course, act accordingly.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We are in a world where speeches are actions; where, standing here, a world leader can generate consequences — be it an international conflict, a bank run or something else —just with his words. Uruguay comes to the Assembly enjoying a full and stable democracy and in full respect for its institutions and the law. which is a historical tradition in our country. Despite the pandemic, despite the Russian invasion, despite different climatic factors, our country has restored its economy to what it was before the pandemic. Employment has improved and unemployment has decreased. We have made a historic public investment in infrastructure. We have received significant foreign direct investment and a large part of those revenues have been reinvested in our country, which signals an important sense of confidence. Public finances are in order.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“with scant coercive power and where the same yardstick is often not applied to the great Powers than to smaller countries. We come once again to the Assembly with a positive and optimistic vision of humankind, but we must not be naive. Objectively, we live in a better world, although of course our current reality has its challenges and threats. We are convinced that globalization, information technology, artificial intelligence and real-time communication are tools that help the integration and development of our peoples — of course, if they are used well. In that respect, there is a growing sense of responsibility among world leaders. I heard the Secretary-General emphasize that issue earlier today.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I greet the President of the General Assembly, as well as the Secretary-General, the Heads of State and Government, the official delegations and the Organization, which has worked hard to convene this meeting today. Today once again. I come to speak on behalf of my country. I come to speak on behalf of my compatriots. We come here to this forum where representatives from more than 190 countries come to share their messages. We have different cultures and Governments with different ideologies and different social, economic, climatic and geographical situations. But if we are all here, that means that in some way we agreed, a long time ago. to be guided and protected by the same rights, obligations and principles under international law.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“For those who have not read his book, I would also recommend a book by the Swedish author Hans Rosling, Factfulness, in which he clearly demonstrates humankind’s positive evolution. That is why, after the Assembly, each of us will return to our countries and our daily duties in the domestic arena. But let us not lose sight of what we have said and heard here. Every action in every corner of the world involves us all. If there is a lesson to be drawn from the pandemic, it is that we are all one.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Authoritarian Governments that are feared by their peoples and restrict their freedoms end up impoverishing their people for several generations. Lastly, and on a point that has already been mentioned here by several Heads of State, when it comes to freedom in the future and the health of the planet, we have delivered statements, participated in conferences and made commitments. Now is the time for action. Others have also stressed that point at this rostrum. Financing mechanisms are also crucial so that countries can have access to and make progress on the issues of sustainable development and environmental protection. I would like to conclude with an optimistic view of the current situation. As a young man, I opposed the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes and the concept that man is a wolf to man. Time has shown that he was deeply wrong.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Our first priority was to protect our fellow countrymen. However, we also made sure that such protection did not become protectionism. We needed the freedom to trade and compete for excellence. We needed access to markets. Our country is now in that process, the process of reopening up to the world. We need cooperation with all the countries, blocs and major Powers. In addition, I could not let today’s meeting go by without addressing the issue of human rights violations perpetrated by Governments that are members of the Organization. Obviously we respect the principle of non-intervention, but we must also understand that we cannot ignore such violations. We must denounce them. The abuse of power undermines those freedoms.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“At the international level, in which countries participated in one way or another, we entrusted part of our development to them. We should be clear in that regard, particularly where vaccines are concerned. There was a race against time to develop vaccines, and they were developed in record time. Here I should say that I do not want to talk about patents or formulas but about access to the vaccines. There was a shortage of vaccines, and their distribution was not equitable. Every country was forced to purchase its own vaccines. I believe it is important to underscore that, because we all know that the vaccination process is vital to restoring freedom in our countries. I would like to mention three other points that have had an impact on people’s freedom. During the pandemic, Governments needed to protect their people.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Furthermore, in the countries where the State has done a good job of protecting people, the most vulnerable individuals can access the tools they need to exercise their freedom. I believe that we should take a moment to reflect on that point. While we are discussing the domestic policies of each of our countries, those policies nonetheless have international repercussions. We cannot conceive of freedom without responsibility and solidarity for each of us in our own environments. In my country, Uruguay, we demonstrated that by exercising responsible freedom, we could manage much of the pandemic without major reversals. We had community solidarity when we undertook major activities, but we also saw it reflected in actions unknown to the wider public that nonetheless had a positive impact.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In short, humankind demonstrated its ability to adapt in the face of such a large-scale crisis. Let me say that we saw the best version of humankind. In return, however, the pandemic exposed the inequities and structural disparities between countries, as well as the democratic soundness and aptitude for freedom of various Governments and societies. Our country, Uruguay, has an enormous aptitude for democracy and very much values individual freedom as the purest state of the individual, which demonstrated during the pandemic, as if it were not obvious, that freedom means different things when we have unequal access to the necessary tools. What it has made clear is the false dichotomy between the presence of the State and individual freedom.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Almost two years ago now, the world changed completely, affecting every nation all over the world — rich, poor, big, small, developed and non-developed. There was no plan, which compounded the situation, and every country dealt with the pandemic with different approaches. And we are familiar with the results, which have differed from country to country, although some implemented similar measures. The coronavirus disease pandemic has finally and starkly revealed our strengths and our weaknesses. We should acknowledge the outstanding work of researchers and scientists, of our health-care systems, which were overwhelmed, and our teachers and professors, who came up with ways to continue to provide education. The way work was done was extraordinarily transformed.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The leaders of the world must rise to the level of the circumstances and of our peoples and be capable, just as our leaders were 75 years ago, of thinking beyond the current crisis and consolidating the multilateral mechanisms and instruments that enable our societies to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, respecting democracy, freedoms and the rights of all human beings. We world leaders must take charge. Thank you very much.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In today’s world, the possibility for increasing the efficiency and efficiency of the Organization will be appreciated, while cutting operating costs and increasing transparency and accountability with regard to its spending. We particularly appreciate the Organization’s efforts to include civil society and the private sector, as part of the solution to the economic, social and environmental issues that arise, as inclusive and sustainable development requires the participation of the entire society.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We need an Organization that actively cooperates with other international organizations, including financial institutions, to implement a variety of mechanisms that enable countries to overcome external and internal obstacles to development, given its multidimensional nature. Uruguay is particularly interested in increasing the relevance of the overall efforts of the United Nations, and in particular the General Assembly, as well as its Member States to ensure the potential for effective participation. Uruguay has always sought to contribute to the overall transparency of the functioning of the United Nations and all its organs, including the work of the United Nations Security Council.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, the future we want for our peoples is one in which we can move ahead with common and supportive solutions to challenges that emerge, in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, where the rights of all are respected and opportunities are offered for the development of each and every citizen of this world, leaving no one behind. We want a peaceful future in a world where States are committed to dialogue and negotiation; where we find a way to emerge from today’s conflicts that considers the rights of all parties. We therefore need to redouble our commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation, as well as to conflict prevention. To this end, we need a United Nations that focuses more on coordination, both in word and in deed.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The region and my country are concerned about the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to the stability of regions and global security, incite crime and insecurity and affect peaceful coexistence in society. Our Government is committed to combating insecurity and crime and we will work hard to do so. We will also continue to cooperate with the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, transnational organized crime and the links between the two. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Uruguay reiterates its commitment to the international justice system and, in particular, its support for the International Criminal Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution with a central role in the fight against impunity and in the pursuit of justice. In this forum, where peace was sealed 75 years ago, I would like to express my concern about the threats posed by non-compliance with or the withdrawal of some parties from disarmament agreements, which may lead to the resumption of an arms race that will take us back to a time when the world lived in the spectre a possible nuclear conflict. Global peace cannot be achieved without serious commitments by the international community on disarmament and non-proliferation.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We again underscore the open policy of our country, which welcomes voluntary migration, based on the values of democracy and equality before the law and respect for the rights of all people, regardless of their origin. Mr. President, by strengthening human rights, not only will protection be advanced, but those called to be key actors in building peace and promoting development will be empowered, more specifically women and young people. Lastly, I would like to underscore the role of the International Criminal Court and the importance of its deterrent effect on mass genocides and atrocities and their perpetrators.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Uruguay reiterates its national commitment to the human rights agenda and will continue to actively uphold human rights, including the protection and rights of children, the plight of civilians in conflict situations and women’s rights, and promote respect for such rights among actors in the international community. In this regard, we will continue to ensure the effective implementation of advocacy mechanisms by the United Nations. We would like to make special mention of the vulnerable sections of the population, who are particularly affected by the pandemic, such as women who are victims of domestic violence, which is of particular concern for Uruguay. It has prompted us to develop specific policies to respond to this situation. We cannot forget migrants and internally displaced persons, who are also doubly vulnerable to this pandemic.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“My country is strongly committed to United Nations peacekeeping forces, as it is a main contributor of troops per capita worldwide. A clear demonstration of this national commitment is the offer made by our Government to establish a laboratory to increase medical diagnostic capabilities within United Nations peace operations in response to the pandemic. In this context, it is worth recalling Uruguay’s calls to protect hospitals and schools under attack in conflict zones and the need to support Security Council resolutions on this matter.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It is also essential to promote respect for human rights in such networks, the protection of privacy and personal data, as well as access to information and freedom of expression, both public and private. Lastly, it is necessary to work on digital security, with the broad participation of State actors, the private sector and civil society. With regard to the Secretary-General’s initiatives, I would like to focus for a moment on his call for a ceasefire — a global ceasefire — which was endorsed by my country. A peaceful environment is indispensable for addressing the pandemic, which is why we must now recommit to dialogue, peaceful dispute resolution and the rule of law in order to alleviate suffering and bring hope to the most vulnerable populations.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We also welcome the holding of the Summit on Biodiversity, which will take place next week. We express our commitment to promoting strategies and practices for the sustainable use of biological diversity and natural resources, while developing mechanisms to improve their management and use. My country would like to reaffirm here at the Assembly its support for the Secretary-General’s Road Map for Digital Cooperation. Uruguay understands that for these initiatives to prosper and contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the SDGs, digital technologies must enable us to bridge the digital and connectivity divide, among countries and within each country alike.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“That, too, as with the pandemic, is a challenge that countries cannot face alone, but requires collective will to meet the challenges facing humankind. Uruguay continues to take steps in this direction with its recently established Ministry of Environment to demonstrate that this issue is a priority for the Government. Mr. President, Uruguay wishes to reiterate its support for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and its firm commitment to objectives in that area. Uruguay has developed a National Climate Change Response Plan, which addresses risk prevention, mitigation and adaptation. We understand that productive efforts, good experiences and effective and efficient management, subject to accountability in the light of current challenges, should receive greater attention and recognition.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In this scenario, it is paradoxical that countries classified as high-income developing countries, such as Uruguay, do not have access to the majority of sources of international cooperation or more favourable lines of credit. That is why we will continue to promote the revision of that classification or graduation, which is based solely on per capita income. For these categories to be truly adequate and equitable, a multidimensional criterion should be considered to define classifications of development and the international support needs of each country based on its specific situation. In this regard, I wish to underscore the support of ECLAC for the development of a multi-factor approach. Sustainable development will not be such if we are not concerned about caring for the environment.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Our country continues to honour its history of reducing inequalities, as well as its commitment to decent work based on investment and growth. Our Government has also made the necessary commitment to education at all levels, as education is essential for the full actualization of human beings and for ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities. This global pandemic has shown that in the face of ever-changing challenges, it is important to maintain the necessary environment and support for international cooperation, so that all States, and in particular developing countries, can move towards sustainable development.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We must avoid falling prey to nationalism and protectionism, which would in any way harm international relations in international trade or disrupt supply chains and the distribution of the medical supplies that are so necessary for emerging from this health crisis. At the beginning of the Decade of Action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, moving from words to action will be essential for ending poverty, protecting the environment and improving the living conditions of the world’s population. The United Nations has promoted Agenda 2030 and, despite the considerable current challenges, it should remain the main guide to achieving sustainable development. Uruguay has worked hard since its recognition for effective compliance.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Our country’s response to the pandemic has focused on a multidisciplinary approach that covers its social, economic and epidemiological aspects and is monitored by an Honorary Scientific Advisory Group of which we are very proud. Our approach is based on our citizens’ responsible use of their freedom, with solidarity and generosity, which, together with a strong and resilient health system, has allowed us to resume work and educational and cultural activities. We would also like to call on the international community to ensure that the current pandemic does not result in our failing to fully honour the commitments made at the multilateral level.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, Uruguay supports the role of the World Health Organization and the role of the United Nations system in coordinating the global response to the pandemic, as we understand that international organizations play a fundamental role in coordinating and guiding the best possible solutions to the current critical situation and in the coordinated management of its medium- and long-term impacts. My country, Mr. President, has adhered to the calls to achieve global and equitable access to health technologies, medicines and vaccines through the sharing of knowledge, intellectual property and data necessary for the detection, prevention, treatment and response to COVID-19.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, that Uruguay wishes to emphasize once again that the road to be travelled, both for a way out of the pandemic and for the next 75 years, will always find us on the same side — that of multilateralism — supporting the quest for solutions that are protected by multilateral legal frameworks in all aspects of international life — health, environment, trade and migration. Uruguay’s accession to membership a few months ago in the Alliance for Multilateralism, an initiative, launched by Germany and France, seeking to uphold multilateral order, is another sign of our country’s commitment to this cause. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The scale of the current pandemic and its distressing consequences — loss of life and its impact on the health of many people — are the focus of our attention because we must seek solutions for our peoples, in particular those who are most vulnerable and most at risk of being affected by the pandemic as a result of its impact on their health, as well as on their way and means of life. But the commemoration of this anniversary should also challenge us about the future we want for our countries and societies beyond this crisis. It is here before the General Assembly, Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, Heads of State and Government, National representatives and representatives of international organizations, Ladies and gentlemen, The seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations finds us once again amid a crisis, which, undoubtedly, looks very different to the disaster caused by the Second World War, but also forces us to reimagine our future in order to build on achievements and prevent future crises, be they economic, health, climate or all of them together.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)