YouSaid · the spoken record

Jacob Zuma

lines on the record

105

first

2009-09-24

most recent

2017-09-24

sittings or episodes

7

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. “South Africa stands ready to work with the United Nations to promote peace, human rights and sustainable development. As said by our liberation icon Oliver Reginald Tambo, “We seek to live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples of the world in conditions of equality, mutual respect and equal advantage.””

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

2. “We appeal to the General Assembly that the same resolve shown in supporting the South African struggle for liberation should be shown towards ending the apartheid practices against the people of Palestine. We also wish to remind the General Assembly that the right of the people of Western Sahara to self- determination continues to be undermined, challenged and denied. The United Nations must remain seized with that issue, for the benefit of the people of Western Sahara and the African aspirations for integration and peaceful coexistence. I also wish to register South Africa’s disappointment at the decision of the United States Administration in June to reverse the progress that was made in the past two years towards ending the Cuban blockade.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

3. “As we celebrate what would have been O.R. Tambo’s one-hundredth birthday, we take this opportunity as a country once again to thank the United Nations and the international community for their support for and solidarity with our struggle for liberation. If O.R. Tambo were still alive today, he would have pleaded with the Organization to do all it can to support the struggle of the Palestinian people against occupation and to support the struggle of the people of Western Sahara. The world has preached a two-State solution for the situation in Palestine, yet we have seen the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

4. “Our efforts should be directed at the mobilization of the resources required for its implementation. For South Africa, the seventy-second session of the General Assembly coincides with the centenary of Oliver Reginald Tambo, who led our liberation movement, the African National Congress, for three decades in the struggle against apartheid and racism in South Africa. O.R. Tambo travelled all over the continent of Africa and the globe, mobilizing international support for the struggle against racial discrimination and the oppressive apartheid regime. He strongly believed in the role of multilateralism and in the centrality of the United Nations. It was for that reason that he spent a lot of time in the rooms and corridors of this United Nations building, mobilizing members to take firm action against the apartheid regime in South Africa.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

5. “We remain steadfast in our call for the reform of that critical organ of the United Nations. We hope that the Secretary-General, working with the entire membership, can provide some impetus towards fulfilling this long- awaited ideal. Failure to do so will result in the United Nations irreversibly losing its legitimacy. We take this opportunity to express our empathy and solidarity with all the victims of the devastating hurricanes, monsoons, floods and droughts as a result of climate change. Those phenomena are proof that climate change is real and that, if we do not act now, future generations will suffer untold consequences. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change is a milestone in the history of efforts to address climate change and all its consequences. We should resist all efforts to unravel and undermine the Paris Agreement.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

6. “We are making a clarion call to all States Members of the United Nations to sign and ratify the nuclear- weapon-ban treaty in order to rid the world and humankind of these lethal weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, we reaffirm the inalienable right of States to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as reinforced in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. South Africa is today proud to be the biggest producer of medical isotopes used in the treatment of cancer patients globally. We will continue to harness the peaceful uses of atoms in addressing challenges of socioeconomic development. As we stand here, the Security Council is paralysed and unable to carry out its Charter responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

7. “As a country that voluntarily dismantled its nuclear-weapon programme, South Africa is of the firm view that there are no safe hands for weapons of mass destruction. The only viable solution to the problems of nuclear weapons is their total elimination, as expressed in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, recently adopted by the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. It can no longer be acceptable that a few countries maintain arsenals and stockpiles of nuclear weapons as part of their strategic defence and security doctrine, while expecting others to remain at their mercy. We are concerned that any possible accidental detonation would lead to a disaster of epic proportions.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

8. “In fact, had our warning been heeded that the supply of arms to civilians in Libya and the arming of civilians in Syria would cause loss of life, great instability and mayhem, the world would be more peaceful today. South Africa continues to call for an immediate end to the violence and for a Syrian-led political transition and a negotiated settlement that reflects the will of the Syrian people. In both instances — of Libya and Syria — we strongly cautioned against seeking to resolve internal challenges of sovereign States by imposing foreign solutions through military means. It is hoped that lessons will be learned from those tragic episodes in order to make the world a more peaceful place. We continue our call for calm on the Korean peninsula. The situation cannot be allowed to get out of hand.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

9. “In that regard, we continue to make significant progress in resolving challenges to peace and security in our continent. We hope that soon the sister people of Libya will be able to live in peace and harmony in a united and democratic country. In 2011, the African Union called for dialogue to resolve the crisis in Libya. Unfortunately, some of us present here opted for guns and bombs, and today those countries are making little effort to promote stability in Libya. The major focus and preoccupation has become how to deal with the flow of migrants arriving in Europe from our continent and the Middle East, which is a mere symptom. The war in Libya has contributed a great deal to the destabilization of the Sahel region all the way to Central Africa, creating a corridor for illicit arms trafficking and terrorist activities.”

   2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

10. “It is a preliminary step towards a global architecture to tackle the scourge and impacts of illicit financial flows. The issue of global peace and security continues to be one of the pillars of the United Nations agenda. South Africa reaffirms its commitment to cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, particularly the African Union (AU), in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. We welcome the continued support for the AU’s efforts to resolve conflicts on the African continent through promoting African solutions to African problems and challenges. As Africans, we are doing everything possible to reach our goal of silencing the guns by 2020, as set out in our Agenda 2063, a continental blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Africa.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

11. “They undermine the integrity of the global financial system, efficient tax collection and equitable allocation of resources. We appeal for the cooperation and commitment of every State Member of the United Nations and the international community at large to address that phenomenon. Developed countries in particular have a historical and moral obligation to contribute to achieving a fair global economic environment and to eradicate the scourge of illicit financial flows from the continent. The United Nations should also play a central role in addressing this problem. We therefore welcome the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 71/213, entitled “Promotion on international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows in order to foster sustainable development”.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

12. “Those unequal and unjust economic power relations manifest themselves sharply in Africa. For example, our continent is endowed with mineral resources, but it still has the highest number of least developed countries. Many developed countries continue to fuel their development from the resources of the African continent. The continent also continues to lose a significant portion of its resources through illicit financial outflows. Africa loses billions of dollars that it otherwise would utilize to develop the continent and to provide for education, health care, housing and other critical basic needs for the African populations. Money laundering, tax evasion and tax avoidance, corruption and transfer pricing by multinational companies are some of the biggest challenges to economic growth and stability.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

13. “However, a lot more still needs to be done to promote a more equal and just socioeconomic world order so that we can achieve the SDGs. The current structure of the global economy continues to deepen the divide between the Global North and Global South.While a few enjoy the benefits of globalization, the majority of the peoples of the world still live in abject poverty and hunger, with no hope of ever improving their living conditions. Even within developed countries, the gap between rich and poor remains wide and is of serious concern. We need political will and commitment from global leaders to address the challenges and obstacles posed by the untransformed structure of the global economy, if we hope to achieve the goals and ambitions of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

14. “António Guterres on his appointment as the Secretary- General. We also congratulateMr. Ban Ki-moon on his successsful tenure. We have chosen an appropriate theme for this debate, given the challenges facing the world today — “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”. The theme encompasses the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, humanitarian affairs and human rights, and socioeconomic and sustainable development. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), two years ago, in order to continue the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals marked a significant shift and historic moment in the life of the United Nations. We all committed ourselves to addressing the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment and inequality.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

15. “I take this opportunity to express South Africa’s solidarity with the fraternal Governments and the peoples of the Caribbean following waves of devastating hurricanes that have resulted in loss of life, injuries and serious damage to infrastructure and property. Our thoughts are also with the Government and the people of Mexico in the wake of the earthquake that rocked Mexico City yesterday. I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session. I assure you of South Africa’s full support in the implementation of your priorities and responsibilities throughout your term. We also commend Mr. Peter Thompson of Fiji for his exceptional leadership during the Assembly’s seventy- first session. I warmly congratulate Mr.”

    2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)

16. “In conclusion, let me express our deep appreciation of the offer made by China when it was addressing the Assembly, an offer that must go through the United Nations. China spelled out the support it intended to give to Africa: a total of $100 million of free military assistance to the African Union over the next five years to support the establishment of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises. We would like to underline our gratitude to China.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

17. “South Africa has submitted its intended nationally determined contribution to the UNFCCC secretariat ahead of the 1 October deadline, signalling our readiness for Paris. We join the world in celebrating the 70 years of existence of the United Nations. As we mark this historic anniversary, the reform of the Security Council and the strengthening of the General Assembly and other organs remain a paramount concern. By the end of this session, we should be in a position to adopt a road map, with clear and implementable time frames, on the priorities of this Organization as well as on its reform. We need to do this in order for the United Nations to remain a relevant force and a force for change in the world.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

18. “We require the fulfilment of all three parts of the Durban mandate, namely, the closing of the current ambition gap in the pre-2020 period through the honouring of existing legal obligations by developed countries and enhanced action; the entry into force of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol; and the adoption in Paris of a new agreement for the post-2020 period that contains all the essential elements, including the means of implementation and the measures relating to loss, damage and response. We seek a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement in Paris that is applicable to all parties. In addition, South Africa, as Chair of the G-77 plus China, would not be able to accept a Paris package that is hollow or weak on finance.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

19. “As the initiator of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action — thanks to which the current round of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place — South Africa has a special interest in and commitment to the success of the Paris session of the Conference of the Parties later this year.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

20. “The outcome document represents a victory for the developing world, as it affirms that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) should build on the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals. Additionally, while the 2030 Agenda is universal in its scope in that the Sustainable Development Goals adopted apply to both developed and developing countries, there is also a clear recognition of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities. The Agenda also contains a specific Goal on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. That is all the more appropriate given that this year is the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and the fifteenth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

21. “The failure of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach an agreement at the 2015 Review Conference — in the year that marks 70 years since the first atomic bombs were detonated in Japan — is a major setback to our commitment to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. There can be no safe hands where nuclear weapons are concerned. The humanitarian consequences of a possible detonation of a nuclear weapon, whether intentional or accidental, will be catastrophic for humankind. We welcome the recent agreement reached on the Iranian nuclear programme and the recognition of the right of Iran to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The seventieth session of the General Assembly has seen the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

22. “We also welcome the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States and the release of the Cuban Five. We reiterate our call for the lifting of the economic and financial embargo to help the Cuban people to gain their economic freedom. We acknowledge the contribution of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Cuban-United States normalization process. We also warmly welcome the contribution of the Holy Father generally to the global pursuit of peace, justice and the end of poverty and suffering, as eloquently expressed in the General Assembly and globally. We commend the United Nations for the key role that it has played in peacekeeping and urge that resources be prioritized for this core role of the United Nations, especially in Africa.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

23. “That kind of problem is a deliberately man- made problem, and it is critical that, in discussing violent extremism and terrorism in parts of Africa and the Middle East, we look into the root causes of the problem and not just the symptoms. Also requiring our serious reflection is the regime change doctrine and its role in perpetuating conflicts and instability in various parts of our continent and the world. We welcome the recently signed peace agreement between the parties in South Sudan and urge the United Nations and all stakeholders to support the Sudanese people as they work to resolve their challenges. We reaffirm our support for the people of Western Sahara and urge the international community to encourage their struggle for self-determination, freedom, human rights and dignity.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

24. “We wish to emphasize that the Security Council must take into account the views of the African continent and its subregional organizations when dealing with conflicts in Africa in future. The current situation in Libya and the Sahel region is a direct consequence of the failure of some members of the Council to heed informed counsel from the African Union. The norm of responsibility to protect was abused for narrow political interests that had nothing to do with the fundamental aspects of the prevention of mass atrocities. The current refugee crisis in Europe is, sadly, the direct result of the militarization of civilian unrest, which included the massive arming of civilians and opposition groups in Libya, Syria and other affected countries.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

25. “The year 2015 also marks 60 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter in South Africa, which embodies the fundamental principles and values that are now enshrined in our Constitution. South Africa will continue to champion efforts in the United Nations human rights system to combat the scourges of racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerances and to support work aimed at the promotion of substantive global equality. The seventieth general debate takes place in the context of growing international concern about the rise of violent extremism, terrorism and untold brutality, which we strongly condemn. We welcome the meetings that will take place on the margins of the General Assembly to review the progress made in countering terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

26. “We also believe that the United Nations human rights system, especially its Human Rights Council, should ensure a balance between civil and political rights, on the one hand, and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, on the other. The Human Rights Council must also be seen as an independent and impartial mechanism for the entrenchment of a human rights culture throughout the world. It should avoid the pitfalls of its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights, which was beset by politicization and was caught up in the divide between developed and developing countries. This year also marks 50 years since the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

27. “Another critical matter that needs attention is the selection of the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. A review of that process is necessary so as to enable more meaningful participation on the part of the General Assembly in the process. The President has identified human rights, governance, the rule of law, and the gender aspects of the work of the United Nations as important areas of focus for the seventieth session of the General Assembly. We have to build upon the initial work undertaken in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to enhance protection in areas such as racism, discrimination against women and the promotion of the rights of the child and the rights of people with disabilities.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

28. “It is unacceptable and unjustifiable that more than 1 billion people in the African continent are still excluded from permanent membership in the key decision-making structure of the United Nations, the Security Council. A continent with a smaller population than Africa is represented by three countries on the Security Council as permanent members. That is unfair. The United Nations cannot pretend that the world has not changed since 1945. We are no longer colonies. We are free, independent sovereign States. We welcome the fact that the push for the reform of the Security Council coming from Africa has had an impact and has given some impetus to the intergovernmental negotiations process that has been looking at the reforms. We will continue working with progressive States towards the expansion of representation.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

29. “They include the following: the replacement of the Human Rights Commission with a more effective Human Rights Council, the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission as a subsidiary body of both the General Assembly and the Security Council, the reform and streamlining of the United Nations management system, the mainstreaming of gender equality through the establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women),and the membership-driven responsibility to protect and to assist populations facing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. We welcome that notable progress. However, almost no progress has been made on the commitment also made by Heads of State and Government in 2005 to the early reform of the Security Council.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

30. “Otherwise, if we delay, in the next decade we may no longer have a piece of land to justify the two- State solution. The historic seventieth anniversary of the United Nations presents an opportunity to reflect on the structure and workings of the Organization. Significantly, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the World Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1) in 2005, which discussed reform of the United Nations. A number of significant decisions on reform have been successfully implemented since that Summit.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

31. “At this celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations I wish to extend, on behalf of the people of South Africa, our sincere gratitude to the world for its contribution to our freedom from the shackles of apartheid and institutionalized racism. The General Assembly continues to provide a voice for the voiceless and the oppressed. In an historic and landmark development the General Assembly approved a resolution to allow the Palestinian flag to fly in front of United Nations Headquarters (resolution 69/320). The resolution was passed by an overwhelming margin, supported by many nations from both the developed North and the developing South. There can be no peace, security and development in the Middle East without a resolution of the Palestinian question. A solution is urgent.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

32. “Oliver Tambo, the former President of our liberation movement, the African National Congress, addressed the General Assembly from this very podium on 26 October 1976 (see A/31/PV.41) and spoke from other United Nations platforms as well on other occasions. Many other eminent South Africans were provided an opportunity in various United Nations forums to state our case for freedom, the United Nations providing a voice to the voiceless. A free South Africa has also been honoured by the declaration of 18 July as International Mandela Day, honouring our founding President and world icon, President Nelson Mandela.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

33. “The Charter embodies, through its principles and objectives, the aspirations of oppressed people worldwide. We would also like to acknowledge the role of the United Nations General Assembly over the past 70 years. Rooted in the principle of sovereign equality, the Assembly is the most representative international institution and organ of the United Nations. The General Assembly has over the years remained central to the provision of support to the disadvantaged, marginalized, occupied, colonized and oppressed peoples of the world. This body elevated the South African struggle for liberation internationally when it declared apartheid a crime against humanity. Mr.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

34. “I should like to congratulate the President and his country, Denmark, on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session. He has South Africa’s full support for his presidency. The theme that he has chosen, “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security and human rights”, is timely and relevant to the current global challenges facing the world today. Furthermore, allow me to convey our gratitude to the President of the Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, Mr. Sam Kutesa of the Republic of Uganda, for the outstanding manner in which he represented Africa at the helm of the General Assembly during that session. The seventieth anniversary of the United Nations marks a significant moment in the history of global governance.”

    2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)

35. “We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world. Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.””

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

36. “We are grateful to the General Assembly and the President of the Assembly at the sixty-eighth session for the decision to establish the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize that will be awarded to an outstanding individual who will have demonstrated a commitment to the aims, objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter. The Prize is a great testament to the outstanding individual that Madiba was and will always be. As we recommit to the Millennium Development Goals, let me once again borrow from the words of Madiba uttered on his historic inauguration day in 1994 when he said: “We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom. We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

37. “We will continue to contribute as much as we can to finding solutions working with the African Union and this body. South Sudan should not be allowed to regress. Next year marks 20 years since the the Fourth World Conference on Women adopted the Beijing Platform for Action. The anniversary provides an opportunity for the United Nations and the international community to reflect and take forward the struggle for the emancipation of women from all forms of discrimination. Last December, the world descended on South Africa to pay last respects to our beloved Madiba. Those who did not come to South Africa honoured Madiba in various ways. We will continue to work with the world to promote Madiba’s legacy and passion for justice, freedom, equality and human rights.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

38. “In this regard, the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1809 (2008) and 2033 (2012), on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, particularly the African Union, remains crucial. Progress has been made in a number of areas where this cooperation is in place, for example in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two affected subregional organizations, the Southern African Development Community and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, continue to take significant strides with the support of the United Nations. This body celebrated the formation of a new State of South Sudan not long ago. Recent developments and the ongoing conflict in South Sudan have resulted in loss of life and other dire humanitarian consequences.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

39. “The decision remains valid and must be implemented. When we convene here next year, in the seventieth year of the United Nations, we should be able to adopt a concrete programme that will guide us towards a strengthened United Nations and a reformed Security Council. Some contentious aspects of the United Nations system, including the power of veto and the exclusion of regions such as Africa from the Security Council, are some of the critical matters that cannot be ignored in the quest for transformation. Among the achievements of the Organization in its recent history is the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, particularly since the formation of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

40. “Of concern in this matter has been the helplessness displayed by the United Nations, especially the Security Council during the current conflict. The United Nations has the moral authority and legitimacy to unite the world in promoting the quest for peace, justice and self-determination for the people of Palestine, while addressing whatever security concerns Israel may have. This body must play its role without fear or favour and be a beacon for all who suffer oppression in the world. Let me reiterate that the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations next year provides an opportunity for us seriously to reflect on the need to reform this august body, moving beyond words to action. Ten years ago, world leaders celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations agreed on the need for reform of the Security Council in particular.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

41. “In the past few months in particular, the world has witnessed a devastating conflict that left a humanitarian crisis of shocking proportions. People in Palestine were left homeless, with no medical facilities, no safe drinking water, bereaved and having to care for the wounded after a trail of destructive military actions by Israel. South Africa has condemned the actions of both Israel and Hamas, and we have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Our strongly held view is that there can be no military solution to the Israeli- Palestinian question. We should all remain committed to the two-State solution, based on the 1967 borders, with Palestine and Israel coexisting side by side in peace.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

42. “We will continue to support the struggles for freedom and self-determination, including the struggles of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara, who continue to experience occupation and colonialism of different forms. The people of Cuba also hold a special place in our hearts because of that country’s sacrifice for African freedom. We will therefore continue to support their struggle for economic liberation. While the United Nations has done remarkably well in supporting self-determination, when it celebrates 70 years of existence next year, this body may be found wanting by the people of Palestine. The Israeli-Palestine question is one of the oldest items on the United Nations agenda, but progress remains elusive.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

43. “Since 1994, South Africa has made significant progress in transforming the apartheid State into a democratic one, founded on the values of human dignity, non-discrimination, non-racialism and non-sexism, the rule of law and universal adult suffrage, as enshrined in the Constitution. Given our history and heritage, we are mindful of our historic and moral responsibility in the global struggle against racism, racial discrimination and other intolerances. We will, in this regard, continue to be at the forefront of efforts to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination and any other intolerance, including xenophobia and anti-Semitism. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action remain the primary framework adopted by a United Nations conference in the fight against racism.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

44. “South Africa stands ready to continue to provide whatever resources we have at our disposal to assist the people and Governments of our sister countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. We add our voice in calling for more resources to be deployed so as to ensure that the virus is contained. The role of the United Nations in supporting the struggles of self-determination and freedom has been remarkable. South Africa is a shining example. Twenty years ago, President Nelson Mandela thanked all nations for support from this very podium when South Africa was readmitted to the United Nations as a free and democratic State. We are reminded of that fact on this important day, which is National Heritage Day in my country.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

45. “The recent outbreak of Ebola in some West African States and the number of lives that have been unnecessarily lost provide a clear example of the challenges that developing countries continue to contend with. We believe that Ebola would have been contained within a few days had the outbreak been in the developed world. But now it has become a pandemic that threatens the economies of affected African States. The outbreak has thus exposed the challenges resulting from lack of capacity, lack of infrastructure and other limited resources in Africa. We are pleased that the United Nations, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, is deploying a mission to coordinate efforts to combat the virus.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

46. “We reiterate that developed countries should be reliable partners and meet their commitments to development goals, such as contributing 0.7 per cent of their gross national income towards official development assistance. We say that because it does not matter what the great Organization has achieved in the past six decades if we do not deal comprehensively with the scourge of poverty, unemployment and diseases. The poor of the world will then consider everything done to have been a failure. Indeed, we would have failed in our duty if we succeed in preventing another world war but continue to have children dying of malnutrition and treatable diseases.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

47. “On the reduction of child mortality, MDG 4, and the improvement of maternal health, MDG 5, significant progress has also been recorded, but more work remains to be done. In fact. more work remains worldwide to fully achieve those goals, especially in the developing world. We have to confront the underlying root causes that continue to make it impossible for our people to have a better life. In spite of the progress that we have made thus far, reports continue to show that Africa is lagging behind in the attainment of some of the MDGs. It is for that reason that we appreciate the crafting of a post-2015 global development agenda that will carry forward the unfinished business of the MDGs. The post-2015 global development agenda will provide a frame of reference for our collective agreement on what has to be done.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

48. “The African Union’s Vision 2063 will, together with NEPAD and other socioeconomic development programmes, be the cornerstone and foundation of Africa’s development agenda going forward. South Africa has also made significant progress in achieving the MDGs. Reducing by half the number of people earning less than a dollar a day has been achieved, while the proportion of those experiencing hunger has also been halved. South Africa has attained Goal 2, namely, to provide access to primary education for all. By official international indicators, South Africa is also doing well on MDG 3 to promote and empower women. South Africa has recorded impressive progress through the expansion of its health infrastructure and improved access to health services for all South Africans.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

49. “I should like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your country, Uganda, on assuming, on behalf of the continent of Africa, the responsibilities of President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. The theme that you have chosen for this general debate and the sixty-ninth session, namely, “Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-2015 development agenda”, is timely and most appropriate. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) galvanized and mobilized the international community and the United Nations in a manner never seen before. We have good stories to tell about the journey of the past 15 years of implementing the MDGS. In Africa, we seized the opportunity and adopted the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), our sociodevelopment blueprint.”

    2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)

50. “Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.””

    2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)