YouSaid · the spoken record

Alfred Carlot

lines on the record: 31
first: 2000-09-24
most recent: 2001-09-24
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

“In this respect, Vanuatu welcomes the establishment of a Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, and we wish to express our appreciation to those Governments, foundations and private companies that have already expressed support. Meanwhile, strategies and plans for resource mobilization must keep in mind the competing priorities of, and the constraints faced by, smaller States like Vanuatu. In conclusion, the Vanuatu delegation reaffirms its support and conviction for the crucial role that the United Nations has in ensuring that the world becomes a much safer place in which to live.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Our Forum leaders noted the concerns expressed by most members over the United States intention not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. We urge the United States to reconsider its position and to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as soon as possible. While the incidence of HIV/AIDS is not as high in the Pacific as in some other regions, it is nevertheless a major issue for both developing and developed countries within our region. Vanuatu’s delegation is of the firm view that prevention should be the mainstay of combating HIV/AIDS in our region. The relatively low number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in a number of our countries should not give rise to complacency. Once the disease takes hold, care and treatment can be extremely expensive.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Vanuatu has also monitored the Bougainville peace process alongside the United Nations. One of the more pressing issues before us is that of climate change and sea-level rise. The United Nations has now scheduled a World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September of next year. The Pacific Islands Forum communiqué reflected on climate change in seeking the international community’s awareness of our low-lying islands in the Pacific and reiterating the priority of the Kyoto Protocol as a significant step forward for global action in combating climate change. Although signed by many of the industrialized countries, including the United States, the Kyoto Protocol has not yet been ratified by many of them. We are very concerned that the United States Senate has actually voted against ratification.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I am extremely pleased to inform the Assembly that the Government of Vanuatu has agreed to host the Special Committee of 24 on decolonization seminar in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in May of next year. We look forward to that important meeting. The Republic of Vanuatu wishes to join others in expressing our appreciation to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations. Vanuatu is a new supporter of the United Nations peacekeeping role in East Timor and Bosnia and has contributed civilian police to these United Nations peacekeeping initiatives. The Vanuatu Government remains committed to future peacekeeping engagements.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Secretary-General also underlined the efforts of the Indonesian authorities to further the promotion of human rights and find peaceful resolutions to the problems in West Papua, Aceh and Maluku. During the thirty-second Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru, Forum leaders expressed continuing concern about violence and loss of life in the Indonesian province of West Papua. The Forum also called on the Indonesian authorities to ensure to that the voices of all parties in West Papua be heard in order to achieve a peaceful resolution. Our leaders welcomed the recent presentation of special autonomy proposals to Indonesia’s national assembly, while urging all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in West Papua.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“36 The East Timorese people, who have already elected their Constituent Assembly, will democratically elect their President and soon exercise full sovereignty over their entire territory; this positive development is a big leap. It affirms the outstanding commitment of the Committee of 24 in deliberating on the right of peoples to self-determination. However, there are those who are still waiting to exercise this right. At this session’s general debate, I am pleased to note that the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization gives special mention to West Papua. The Secretary-General intends to enhance our efforts to assist Indonesia in seeking to establish a democratic society and in addressing the wide range of complex issues facing that country.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We recognize the efforts of the United Nations in bridging the gap between human rights norms and their implementation. Despite some progress, challenges remain in ensuring universal respect for human rights. The Republic of Vanuatu is a party to nearly all core human rights treaties. We feel there is a continuing need for human and institutional capacity-building in developing countries in order to ensure the implementation of human rights conventions and treaties they have signed. This is an area where the United Nations should follow a needs-based approach and make a realistic assessment of the existing mechanisms.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“A National Children’s Committee, whose membership is made up of stakeholders, has been revived and is officially recognized as the regulatory body for coordinating and supervising children’s rights throughout the nation. The electoral assistance provided by the United Nations for Fiji’s national election has greatly facilitated the democratic transition in that country. We welcome the new focus on supporting institutions and stimulating local participation. We also welcome other efforts to deploy the Electoral Assistance Division to coordinate the activities of foreign observers in forthcoming elections, particularly in East Timor and hopefully in Solomon Islands. We commend the United Nations for its assistance in empowering the citizens of Member States to enjoy the power of democracy.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Accordingly, the Government of Vanuatu is focusing on the Convention as the basis for programmes on women’s rights and development in Vanuatu. A lack of resources has hindered Vanuatu’s progress in submitting its first two reports. The Government, however, recognizes the importance of the reports in terms of building up and monitoring its own human resources development requirements and is thus putting greater effort into the production of these reports. Indeed, no country can afford to waste half of its human resources. Vanuatu remains steadfast in its commitments and obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since ratifying the Convention in 1992, the Government of Vanuatu has implemented decisions and undertaken activities that promote the advancement of children in our society.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We appreciate the view of the Secretary-General that the Declaration reaffirms the collective responsibility of the international community to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity and to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world’s people. We believe that without the coordinated involvement of the whole United Nations system, there will be little the United Nations can achieve. The Government of Vanuatu, like other Governments around the world, is committed to enhancing the status of women. It is well documented that women in Vanuatu are disadvantaged in almost all sectors. In 1995, Vanuatu unanimously ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The agreements reached during the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons were not realized; the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has not entered into force; and global military expenditures continue to rise. More committed efforts and innovative strategies are needed to meet the goals of the Millennium Declaration. Vanuatu believes that the Conference on Disarmament should work towards that end. The Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels in May this year, was highly successful and produced the Brussels Declaration and the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The impacts of these terrorist activities are being felt around the globe, and small States such as mine will suffer along with the rest of the international community. If any good has come out of the despicable events of 11 September, it is that nations the world over are more united than ever in condemning and collaborating to eradicate these terrible acts of terrorism. My Government has taken steps to tighten security and is working closely with other Pacific island States towards building and strengthening peace and security in our region. Global peace and security cannot be certain in this climate of continued difference of views between major nuclear-weapon States. The lack of progress on this is reflected by the stalemate prevailing in the Conference on Disarmament.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“I have the great honour, in standing before the Assembly today, to deliver a statement on behalf of my Government and the people of the Republic of Vanuatu at a time so sad that words cannot begin to convey the scope of our emotions. Let me express the sincere sympathy and condolences of my Government and the people of Vanuatu to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy that struck downtown New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. In light of these events, since the 11 September attacks, the General Assembly has been forced to suspend most of its 35 agenda, including this general debate among heads of State and Government. It is ironic that as the world becomes more civilized, we become more vulnerable to such inhuman acts of terrorism.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“At the outset, I wish to extend to Mr. Han Seung-soo greetings from the Government and the people of the Republic of Vanuatu. I wish to convey to him the apologies of my Government for not being able to be represented here at the ministerial level owing to the fact that our Parliament is currently in session. I should also like to take this opportunity to convey my Government’s congratulations to him on his election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. I also pay tribute to his predecessor, who so ably played a decisive role at the helm of the fifty-fifth session. In addition, allow me to congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on his election to a second term at the head of this esteemed world body. His assured wisdom and compassion are needed now more than ever to lead this Organization.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We would also like to extend our appreciation to Mr. Danny Philip, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Solomon Islands, for his comprehensive statement. We have made visionary statements. Now is the time for us to translate these into action. We have called for a more efficient, responsive and effective United Nations. We must muster the good will to resolutely implement the Millennium Declaration and to rededicate ourselves to upholding the fundamental principles of the United Nations. Let us not lose sight of these goals.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“In this respect, the delegation of Vanuatu would like to express its sincere appreciation to Sir John Kaputin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, who so ably led the Pacific ministerial mission of the African-Caribbean-Pacific Group of States to Fiji and the Solomon Islands in order to carefully assess the situation in the two countries. The mission was also comprised of the Foreign Minister of the Cook Islands, Mr. Robert Woonton; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu; and the Minister of Education of Samoa, Ms. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Mr. Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister and Minister for National Reconciliation and Unity in the Interim Administration of the Republic of the Fiji Islands, for his eloquent statement on the situation in Fiji.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The membership of the Security Council should be enlarged not only to enhance geographic representation, but also in response to the aspirations felt at all levels of the 28 world community and to the voice of the least developed countries and small island States. Vanuatu would like to congratulate all those countries that recognize the need for a proper evaluation and assessment of the crisis situations in Fiji and the Solomon Islands prior to taking punitive measures, if any. We in the Republic of Vanuatu believe that traditional economic and other forms of sanctions against individual countries in times of crisis should be fully reviewed in this new millennium.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Following the tragedy in East Timor, Vanuatu believes that it is not too late for the international community to act to halt a similar tragedy in West Papua. In this context, Vanuatu would like to strongly request that the issue of West Papua be placed for discussion on the agenda of the Committee of 24. Any move to oppose this will most certainly undermine the credibility of the United Nations and its decisions on this special case. Over the past few decades, the United Nations has positively contributed to the process of decolonization. We must not allow this opportunity to pass. On the question of reform, we agree that any reforms should include the Security Council in order to make it more democratic and transparent.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“For when we talk about their struggle, we must always use the name that was very dear to them: West Papua.” The United Nations must be consistent in its decisions concerning the recognition and respect of the fundamental right to self-determination of the people of West Papua. The truth surrounding the so-called act of free choice must be exposed to the Melanesian sisters and brothers of West Papua and to the rest of the international community. Saddest of all was General Assembly resolution 2504 (XXIV) of 1969 on West Papua. How can the United Nations continue to ignore the cries of over 3 million people demanding justice? This year marks the end of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. It is only appropriate that the United Nations should reconsider and revisit the decisions taken at that time.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At this juncture, I am proud to say that, in spite of our meagre resources, Vanuatu is participating, for the first time in its 20-year history as an independent nation, in United Nations peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Bosnia. Prior to this attainment, Vanuatu also served in some regional peace-monitoring missions. In his statement to the Millennium Summit, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu touched on an important issue: the principle of self-determination and the related question of West Papua. The case of West Papua has always been high on Vanuatu's agenda. In 1984, the late Prime Minister and father of our independence, Walter Hadye Lini, said: “We may not have the resources to support their struggle, but we can remember them in our everyday prayers.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“We continue to maintain our strong belief that the United Nations criteria for assessing least developed country status must be fully reviewed and must take into account new indices, such as the Environmental Vulnerability Index, and the long-term impacts of such natural disasters as cyclones, tsunamis and others on countries' social and economic advancement. Enhancing the role of the peacekeeping forces of the United Nations must also be a priority for this Assembly. It is in this spirit that Vanuatu commends the Brahimi report on peacekeeping, believing that, once implemented, it will allow the United Nations to carry out its peacekeeping operations effectively.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“After all, the WTO cannot be considered as a truly global trade regime without the adhesion of all independent countries, including small island States. It is no secret, as the Vanuatu Prime Minister clearly stated at the recent G-77 Summit in Havana, that the conditions being imposed on us for joining the WTO are simply beyond our capacity to consider in the short to medium term. Unless the powerful countries review their positions and conditions with regard to our application, then the Republic of Vanuatu will have no other choice but to reconsider its original application to join the WTO. On a related issue, we would also like to take this opportunity to register our most sincere recognition to all the Governments in the Pacific and other regions for their consistent support for Vanuatu's status as a least developed country.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The negotiations we were engaged in until 27 last October with a number of major bilateral and multilateral players, such as the European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland, have been completed in a spirit of understanding and appreciation of Vanuatu's circumstances. The United States continues to place heavy and unreasonable demands on us, which we cannot accept. We consider those demands absurd, because the United States is among our least significant trading partners. We believe that Vanuatu has become the innocent victim of global trade disputes between the big players. While we have always supported the principle of free international trade, we expect the new regime to be more realistic and more flexible, to allow ample time for the small and least developed countries to adjust to the new rules.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Environmental degradation poses a serious threat to the small island States, which are threatened by the rising sea level. We continue to urge countries to adopt and ratify the Kyoto Protocol as soon as possible. As a signatory to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, Vanuatu is in the process of adding its signature to the Protocol. We cannot let this opportunity pass without expressing our serious concern about the great difficulties a least developed country such as the Republic of Vanuatu is facing with regard to its application to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), because some powerful countries, in particular the United States of America, refuse to recognize our constant call for special consideration. Vanuatu has been in the complex process of accession for five and a half years.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“This is a great challenge, but one that we must face together, and proudly. That is why we have the United Nations. Last month the national Parliament of Vanuatu passed two laws in this area — the Electronic Transactions Act and the E-Business Act. We hope that, through the support of relevant United Nations agencies and bilateral development partners, we will be able to fully implement these new laws for the benefit of our small island nation and its people, in particular in the rural and remote areas. In his statement to the Millennium Summit, my Prime Minister highlighted the need for the industrialized countries immediately to ratify international treaties on the protection and sustainable management of our natural environment and resources, which are vital to the very survival of millions of citizens of small island States.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The emergence of new information technology today underlines the strong linkage between the concepts of knowledge and power. While communications and business transactions through the Internet and other modern electronic means have now become routine within the circles of the rich and the powerful, the large majority of the world's population, which lives in the poor developing countries, has very little or no knowledge about — let alone any access to — this new and revolutionary way of doing day-to- day business. In this new millennium, the new information technology must be made accessible and affordable to the people living in the most remote areas of the developing nations in order to facilitate their access to better education, better health services and give them greater access to world markets and business opportunities.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“The cost of importing oil products and petroleum-derived gas is currently about 90 per cent of our combined domestic exports. Our economy cannot afford this trend in the long run. We believe that with access to the new and relevant technology available in the developed countries today, the Republic of Vanuatu and other small island nations can develop integrated renewable energy systems and hydrogen fuels if our potential wind- and sun-related and geothermal and hydroelectricity resources can be fully utilized. Access to financial and technical resources from the developed countries can assist countries like the Republic of Vanuatu in moving in the right direction and thereby positively contribute to our common objective of creating a healthier and more environment- friendly economic development.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“At the same time, Vanuatu fully supports the view that involving women as central players in development provides benefits in the areas of nutrition, health, and savings and reinvestment at the family, community, and, ultimately, national level. Nevertheless, the challenge of ensuring education for all at all levels is an ambitious objective that will require external assistance. The education and training of the population, including women, must therefore be an important goal of the Assembly. One of the great obstacles to our economic development, including our foreign investment portfolio, has always been the relatively high cost of public utilities, in particular the energy sector, which is largely dependent on traditional oil-based systems.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“One of our greatest challenges is education for all. The Human Poverty Index of the Pacific Island 26 Countries shows Vanuatu as the third last of the least developed countries. Vanuatu shares the view that the key to development and success is education. As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Vanuatu is committed to this cause. However, limited financial and human resources continue to hinder development in this area. Vanuatu welcomes the initiative taken by the Secretary-General, in his address to the Dakar World Education Forum, held in April 2000, to build a global partnership for girls' education. Vanuatu will be pleased to be part of this global initiative.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“As a small island State, and, more significantly, a member of the South Pacific region, Vanuatu is very pleased to welcome Tuvalu. Vanuatu certainly hopes a further increase in the Pacific island membership would be a positive step in the region's economic and political development as we embark on the twenty-first century. Small island States, including Vanuatu, are continuously confronted by difficult and challenging issues, which must be addressed at this summit. For the Pacific region, its key features are its immense geographic spread, its small land and population base and limited natural resources, and its vulnerability to economic and natural shocks, which inevitably have an impact on its physical infrastructure and economic development. Dependence has been on a few fragile commodity markets and fickle tourist income.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)
“Allow me first of all to convey the apologies of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, The Honourable Serge Vohor, who is unable to be here on this historic occasion due to most pressing commitments at home. I am therefore very deeply honoured to address the Assembly on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Vanuatu. At the outset I wish to congratulate Mr. Harri Holkeri on his election to this historic session of the General Assembly. My delegation is confident that with his vast experience and diplomatic skills, he will guide this Assembly to a successful conclusion. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to his predecessor, who so ably guided the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Allow me also to congratulate Tuvalu as the newest Member of our family of nations.”
2000-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 55 (2000)