YouSaid · the spoken record

Louis Straker

lines on the record
69
first
2001-09-24
most recent
2017-09-24
sittings or episodes
4
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

  1. “While these conferences enabled some attention to be focused on the urgency of the development agenda that must be addressed, and some level of consensus was achieved with respect to the action required, we must lament the reluctance of some developed countries to give more meaningful expression to their stated commitments. Mere recognition and articulation of the problems will not suffice. Actions, not words, are needed to change the situation. This requires the will and the requisite resources to effect the changes required. We therefore call on those members of the international community to give reality to their words by putting in place the necessary arrangements and the financing through which we all can manage the critical problems of sustainable development.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  2. “The burden of this debt means that areas of critical importance to our development, such as education, poverty reduction and social development, are deprived of the resources that are desperately needed for the advancement of our people. The pursuit of sustainable development remains central to the efforts of our people to create a better life for themselves. To this end, my country had great expectations from the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, and also from the just-concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  3. “We applaud the work done by the Counter-Terrorism Committee established by the United Nations to secure compliance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has already contributed to this effort by implementing a range of measures to combat terrorism and assist the global effort. We recognize the links between terrorism and international criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money-laundering and organized crime. We pledge to do whatever is in our power to combat these threats. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, like many of the poorer nations of the world, is crippled by external debt.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  4. “We have also witnessed the tangible results of the support of the United Nations for East Timor in its struggle for independence and for Afghanistan in its struggle for liberation, peace and stability. I say without hesitation or equivocation that today the world needs the United Nations more than ever before. Holding the attention of all of us at this time are ongoing activities associated with the war on terrorism. We were all engaged in a solemn commemoration of the sickening events of 11 September just last week, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the brutal terrorist attacks on the United States of America. We — the whole world — must commit ourselves to ensuring that such events will never happen again.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  5. “Since the onslaught of the terrorist attacks in September last year, the world has been focused once again on the unique role of the United Nations as never before, as the nations came together to fight the scourge of terrorism. Just last week, President Bush used his address to this forum to invoke the special and unique assistance of the United Nations to deal with the problems related to Iraq. The world breathed a sigh of relief when it heard the welcome decision by Iraq to readmit the United Nations weapons inspectors, without conditions, into Iraq. We hope that this decision will be efficacious in resolving this problem, which could have unforeseen consequences for the whole world. In general, we support the collective judgement of the United Nations rather than any rash unilateral action by any one or two Member States.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  6. “On behalf of the Government and the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I am pleased to offer our most heartfelt congratulations to President Jan Kavan on his assumption of the office of President of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly. Let me also express our appreciation and thanks to the outgoing President, Mr. Han Seung-soo, for the excellent manner in which he conducted the affairs of the fifty-sixth session as President. I should also like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest member — the Swiss Confederation — into the United Nations, and we look forward to the admission of East Timor to the family of nations before the end of this month. Let me first of all pay my respects to this Organization, the United Nations, and to our Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan.”

    2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)

  7. “Ralph Gonsalves, and the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are fully committed to supporting the United Nations in these endeavours, and may God direct all of us on this path.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  8. “The situation in Afghanistan calls for immediate action on the part of the United Nations to fill the power vacuum left by the departure of the ruling Taliban from the capital, Kabul. We must make sure that the new administration is representative of all factions and we must further ensure that the suffering and starving people receive immediate humanitarian aid to ensure their survival through the coming winter months. Finally, I must reiterate that we are encouraged by the efforts undertaken by the United Nations to work towards a society that ensures security and human dignity for all in the future. The future looks good if we all work together for the betterment of mankind. I assure the Assembly that my Prime Minister, Mr.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  9. “Fifty years later, the Republic of China on Taiwan has become an affluent and prosperous country, with a per capita gross national product of around $14,000, annual trade of over $300 billion and a gross national product of $320 billion. Although the Republic of China is only the one hundred thirty-eighth largest country in the world in terms of lands and the forty-sixth largest in terms of population, it is today the world’s seventeenth largest economy, the fifteenth largest trading nation, the eighth largest investor, the fourth largest holder of foreign exchange and the third largest exporter of information technology products. Under our principle of universality, we cannot continue to exclude a country with such an impressive record of achievements. The time has come to open our doors to the Republic of China on Taiwan.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  10. “This plunges us deeper into economic gloom and the real and frightening possibility of recession looms ever closer. Following the admission of Tuvalu to the United Nations last year, we were very close to realizing the principle of universality set forth in the Charter of the United Nations. Now, only one remaining country awaits admission to the United Nations. That country, as we all know, is the Republic of China on Taiwan. The Republic of China’s impressive record of economic and political development is one of the most persuasive reasons to eliminate the United Nations sole exception to universality. Fifty years ago, Taiwan was a poor and underdeveloped society.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  11. “Do we have the will to provide the necessary means in order to resolve this problem? The special session of the General Assembly last June on HIV/AIDS ended with a global commitment to combat this disease. Are we living up to our commitment? Prior to 11 September, our Government implemented sound fiscal policies that resulted in positive economic growth for our country. However, after that infamous day, the economic outlook turned extremely bleak. Our burgeoning tourist industry has suffered tremendously, with employment taking an especially heavy blow. Hotel occupancy dropped to a 15-year low. There seems to be no end to the ripple effects on the industry. Just as people were beginning to fly again, we had the tragedy in Queens on Monday.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  12. “In the same way that the United States and the European Union were able to persuade drug companies to produce drugs to combat anthrax at a fraction of their normal cost, the same drug companies should be persuaded to produce affordable treatment for this plague, which is causing a national security threat to many poor countries. The state of affairs of HIV/AIDS has reached circumstances of extreme urgency in our country. The Caribbean is now only second to sub-Saharan Africa in having the fastest rise in the incidents of HIV/AIDS. We are not equipped to handle this crisis. We are not able to afford the drugs to treat our people. Therefore, our people are dying — dying in their hundreds and thousands. This world crisis, unlike terrorism, is one of which we know exactly what is required.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  13. “As a small island developing State, we need relief from the burden of our foreign debts, high interest rates and other unfair international trade constraints. We need the Bretton Woods institutions to perform their function in a democratic and just manner. HIV/AIDS remains rampant worldwide. The recent grave disaster in the United States of America has pushed other burning issues of the day off the 13 world agenda, but people have not stopped dying of AIDS. The 26 million who have been forecast to succumb to the scourge in the next 10 years will still succumb.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  14. “That is why the upcoming conference in Mexico on financing for development is of seminal importance to the small and developing countries of this world. It is time for the economic giants of the world to stop paying lip service to the idea of financing for development and to put into practice real and workable means for the poor, underprivileged and vulnerable nations to join the mainstream. We need the commercial barriers erected by those intent on maintaining their hegemony to be removed. We adhere to the adage “Trade, not Aid”. But this is not yet a realistic option and, in the present climate, will not be for the foreseeable future. We hate asking for charity. We merely ask that promises be kept and commitments adhered to.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  15. “President, it is self-evident that an economy such as ours, which is almost totally dependent on agriculture and tourism, needs help if we are to survive and prosper. The influence of the multinational Chiquita and Dole banana companies has been working for years to destroy the industry of our banana farmers. The World Trade Organization (WTO), of which we are a member, seems bent on widening the gulf between rich and poor. We are not optimistic about the outcome of this week’s economic Ministerial Meeting in Doha. A farmer working one or two acres of mountain land and eking out a living cannot compete with the giants who control thousands of acres in the Central American countries. Mr. President, if you take away that which feeds us, you must offer something in return.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  16. “It behooves us as world leaders to look deeper into the causes of violence and terror. It is the firm belief of my Government that marginalization of the poor and underprivileged creates a hotbed for extremism and lawlessness. We in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean have triumphed over the evils of slavery and colonialism to emerge with a truly noble civilization. We are a people made up of races from the four corners of the earth who have melded into one beautiful whole. We are democratic in our governance and tolerant in our attitudes. We are a hard-working, industrious people. We are proud. It is not in our nature to seek alms from the rich. But, Mr.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  17. “We are working closely with the Governments of the region, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Latin America and the United States in an effort to fight the scourge of terrorism. Our Government has tightened security and implemented measures intended to close any possible avenue that criminals and terrorists may exploit. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that barbarism is defeated. Compliance with resolution 1373 (2001) is difficult and expensive for small States with limited means and technical expertise. But we will comply. The international community has mustered an impressive effort to fight the plague of terrorism. In this midst of this, however, we must not lose sight of the fact that terrorism will not be eradicated by one victory in one war.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  18. “I commend the President of the United States of America for the statesmanship and resolve with which he continues to deal with the difficulties at hand. I also salute the civic leaders of this great city of New York for the institutional leadership during this problematic time. The city has been visited by tragedy once again this week. On behalf of the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I offer sincere condolences to all those touched by this latest disaster, not least our neighbours and friends in the Dominican Republic. Our Government stands firm with the international community on Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) against terrorism.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)

  19. “Mr. President, I bring you greetings from the small and beautiful country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Please accept our congratulations on your election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. You are assured of my country’s full support for a successful session. We would also like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on his election to a second term, and to the United Nations Organization and the Secretary-General for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize received in honour of their efforts to ensure a better and more peaceful world. It is impossible to think of more deserving recipients of this award as this coalition of nations and our beloved Secretary-General strive to ensure that the Organization fulfils its mandate according to the Charter.”

    2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)