YouSaid · the spoken record

Robert Mugabe

lines on the record: 154
first: 1999-09-24
most recent: 2017-09-24
sittings or episodes: 11
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

“For how long should Africa continue to be denied the right to play a pivotal role in the Security Council as it decides measures on conflicts within the borders of that very continent? The Security Council needs to be more representative, democratic, transparent, accountable and accessible to the wider membership for its decisions to have greater legitimacy. Africa’s case for the correction of the glaring historical injustice of being unrepresented in the permanent category and underrepresented in the non-permanent category has been made through the clear, fair and well articulated Ezulwini Consensus. Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its support of the Ezulwini Consensus, which is, in fact, a demand. Zimbabwe strongly condemns the use of unilateral economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool to effect regime change.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We appreciate the central role that the United Nations should play in furthering multilateralism in preference to unilateralism. In that regard, we applaud the consultations and negotiations on the eventual destruction of the chemical weapons in Syria. My country expresses its gratitude and appreciation to Russia and China for their principled stand on Syria. We hope and trust that the Syrian people will soon sit in dialogue to discuss peace and desirable political reforms. Those Western countries in pursuit of hegemony as they pretend to be advocates of democracy must be resisted. For Africa, the reform of the Security Council is especially long overdue. The anachronistic and unrepresentative character of the Council must be redressed.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We cannot accept situations whereby the Security Council is increasingly encroaching upon issues that traditionally fall within the General Assembly’s purview and competence, including in the area of norm-setting. Recent events have revealed that the formal decisions of the Security Council have provided camouflage to neo- imperialist forces of aggression seeking to militarily intervene in smaller countries in order to effect regime change and acquire complete control of their wealth. That was the case in Libya, where, in the name of protecting civilians, NATO forces were deployed with an undeclared mission to eliminate Al-Qadhafi and his family. A similar campaign was undertaken in Iraq by the Bush and Blair forces under the guise of eradicating weapons of mass destruction, which Saddam Hussein never possessed.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that regard, the reforms in the economic and social actions of the United Nations remain of fundamental importance to us. Our firm belief in multilateral cooperation means that we place a premium in the ability of the United Nations system to deliver efficient development cooperation. The democratic transformation of the architecture of the international financial system is essential, as is a root-and-branch reform of the international trading system. The terms of trade have hugely burdened developing countries for too long. Zimbabwe supports the ongoing efforts to revitalize the General Assembly, which is the most representative organ of the United Nations. We believe that the Assembly should take the lead in setting the global agenda and restore its primacy, which has over the years been encroached upon by other organs.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It must be understood that, in addition to national efforts, substantial international support and an enabling international economic environment are essential if the MDGs are to be achieved by 2015, especially in Africa. It is therefore important to fulfil the commitments made to support Africa in various international forums. The United Nations should track the fulfilment of those commitments. Zimbabwe supports the reform of the United Nations to strengthen its central role in promoting multilateralism and to be effective in tackling current and future global challenges. We are convinced that reform would strengthen the Organization’s capacity to fully promote and implement the purposes and principles of the Charter and improve its democratic decision-making.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In the same vein, we also support calls to prioritize gender equality, the health-related MDGs, education and environmental sustainability in the post-2015 development agenda, among other issues. Those are critical matters in our quest to achieve sustainable development for all our people. The lofty objectives of the Charter of the United Nations in the economic arena will remain unfulfilled unless all Member States join in efforts, genuinely and seriously, to address challenges that developing countries face in their pursuit of development, including meeting the MDGs. It is therefore imperative that our discussions address what has so far been the weakest link, namely, the means of implementation.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Zimbabwe fully shares and supports the emerging consensus that eradicating poverty in all its dimensions should be the overarching goal of our post-2015 agenda. Eradicating poverty by 2030 may be an ambitious goal, but it is attainable if we mobilize our collective efforts. Building on the foundation of the MDGs, the post-2015 agenda should go beyond the social development agenda of the MDGs and achieve structural transformation in our economies that delivers inclusive and sustainable growth. We expect a shift that will bring about industrialization, decent jobs and qualitative change to the lives of our citizens. We are determined to modernize our infrastructure and ensure access to sustainable energy for all, food security and nutrition. However, we recognize that we cannot do that in isolation from other partners.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In the case of Zimbabwe, we have made progress towards achieving universal access to primary education and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. However, some of the Goals are off track owing to lack of capacity — mainly financial capacity — and in some areas progress has stalled, including in those areas relating to the eradication of poverty and hunger, child mortality, universal access to maternal and reproductive health, environmental sustainability and access to potable water and sanitation. As a country, we are committed to undertaking coordinated efforts to accelerate progress to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs in the remaining period leading up to 2015. Any goals that have not been achieved by then should be integrated into the post-2015 development agenda.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that regard, the theme for this session, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”, is quite pertinent and timely, as it gives fresh impetus to our understanding that achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and mapping the way forward beyond 2015 requires our collective efforts. The United Nations, as the centre for international cooperation, should lead in promoting the envisaged development. Thirteen years ago, our global efforts were mobilized behind the Millennium Development Goals. We now have less than 1,000 days in which to meet those targets. Our review and stocktaking exercise reveals that, while there have been some significant achievements, there are still gaps and unevenness in the attainment of the Goals.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Let me begin by extending my warmest congratulations to Mr. John William Ashe on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. His election to that esteemed office is a fitting tribute to the personal and diplomatic qualities that he has exhibited over the years. Throughout the world, peace and development have remained dominant themes of our times. People all over the world have been raising their voices in favour of peace, development and cooperation, and against war, poverty and confrontation. Here at the United Nations we all acknowledge that peace, security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and the cornerstones of our collective well- being.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The United Nations can count on the unqualified support of Zimbabwe as required, even if only in our modest way. I wish the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly every success.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Zimbabwe will be fully engaged in those negotiations. Let me reiterate my country’s full belief in the aspirations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. We must all resist any abuse to which it may be exposed through the unwelcome behaviour of a few. My country celebrates the UN-Women entity, as it addresses the position of more than half of humankind in all our countries. The African Union must not be undermined; rather, it should be allowed to complement the efforts of the United Nations for peace and security on the continent. Zimbabwe is a peaceful member of the African Union, SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Non-Aligned Movement and many other international economic and trade organizations, and thus desires to continue to play its part in creating a peaceful environment in the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations must become credible by welcoming into its bosom all those whose right to attain sovereign independence and freedom from occupation and colonialism is legitimate. Let us all accept Palestine as a legitimate State and a Member 19 11-50871 of this body. Similarly, the tormented people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic must not be forgotten. We call for immediate progress in the engagements for a solution to their long-running saga. The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held later this year, is a pivotal occasion from which we should emerge with agreed measures to address matters of climate change and how to mitigate threats to the very existence of small island States in particular, and to the coastal regions of many heavily populated nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The current global economic crisis and the attendant financial crisis compounds the plight of the most vulnerable, that is, the developing countries. The present international economic and financial architecture has to be reformed and made to respond timeously to the real needs of all our peoples. The situation challenges the ability of our developing world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action against racism, xenophobia and other related social ills, let us all recommit ourselves to fighting and defeating these evils. My country fully supports the right of the gallant people of Palestine to statehood and membership in the Organization.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We in Africa are also duly concerned about the activities of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seems to exist only for alleged offenders from the developing world, the majority of them Africans. A blind eye is routinely turned to leaders of the powerful Western States guilty of international crimes, such as Bush and Blair. Such selective justice has eroded the credibility of the ICC on the African continent. My country continues to work with others for a revitalized General Assembly. However, our ambitions extend to the need to reform the Security Council as well. Africa’s call for at least two permanent seats on the Security Council for its members has been constant for decades. Africa cannot remain the only region without permanent membership in the Security Council.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This time, it is the NATO countries that are the liars and aggressors, as they make similarly unfounded allegations of destruction of civilian lives by Al-Qadhafi. When we in Zimbabwe sought to redress the ills of colonialism and racism by fully acquiring our natural resources, mainly our land and minerals, we were and still are subjected to unparalleled vilification and pernicious economic sanctions, the reasons — lies again — alleged to be violations of the rule of law, human rights and democracy, which never, never occurred. My people have condemned these illegal sanctions, and recently more than two million protesters’ signatures have demonstrated their antipathy for them. We thank the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union for supporting us and demanding the immediate removal of the illegal sanctions.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There we see NATO bombing places, seeking out, hunting and hounding the children of Al-Qadhafi. Have the alleged sins of the father now been visited on the sons? Have the children lost their right to life? They are no longer human beings; they are being hunted every day. Or is it because each of them is no longer worth the price of a barrel of oil? After more than 20,000 NATO bombing sorties that targeted Libyan towns, including Tripoli, there is now an unbelievable and most disgraceful scramble by some NATO countries for Libyan oil, indicating thereby that the real motive for their aggression against Libya was to control and own its abundant fuel resources. What a shame. Yesterday, it was Iraq, and Bush and Blair were the liars and aggressors as they made unfounded allegations of possession of weapons of mass destruction.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The newly minted principle of the responsibility to protect should not be twisted to provide cover for its premeditated abuse in violating the sacred international principle enshrined in the Charter of non-interference in the domestic affairs of States, because to do so amounts to an act of aggression and causes the destabilization of a sovereign State. Moreover, to selectively and arbitrarily apply that principle serves merely to undermine its general acceptability. Indeed, more than other States, all five permanent members of the Security Council bear a huge responsibility in this regard for ensuring that their historical privilege is used more to protect the United Nations Charter than to breach it, as is happening currently in Libya through the blatantly illegal, brutal, callous and murderous NATO bombings.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have yet to be convinced that the involvement of the mighty Powers in Libya’s affairs has not hindered the advent of the process of peace, democracy and prosperity in that sister African country. Our African Union would never have presumed to impose a 11-50871 18 leadership on the fraternal people of Libya, as NATO countries have illegally sought to do, and, in fact, have done. At the very least, the African Union would have wished to join those principled members of this body who preferred an immediate ceasefire and peaceful dialogue in Libya. The African Union was and remains fully seized of this crisis and will spare no effort in working to fully complement the United Nations so that peace may return to Libya and its tormented people. We wish that process Godspeed.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Whatever political disturbances might have first occurred in Benghazi, the process of mediation and peaceful negotiations was never given full play. It was deliberately and blatantly excluded from positively influencing developments. There was quick resort to invoking Chapter VII of the Charter, with a gross, deliberate misinterpretation of the scope of the mandate originally given NATO to oversee and protect civilians. Bilateral hatreds and quarrels or ulterior motives must not be allowed to creep into the consideration of matters pertaining to threats to international peace and security, or even to the principle of the responsibility to protect.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The theme “The role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means” is most apt. But how do we, the United Nations Members, measure up in relation to it in our activities here at the United Nations and out there, in the real world? It is my principled view that we must be duty-and honour- bound to operationalize the principles upon which the Charter of the United Nations is based. We must not be guilty of manipulating the Charter to serve our particular or sectional designs and ambitions. The Charter is our set of commandments that must be strictly obeyed by each and every Member if international and regional peace is to be maintained. We cannot honestly say today that this is the position with regard to NATO States versus Libya.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Such an approach, I believe, would renew and revive the hopes and expectations of developing countries in the efficacy of this world body. Zimbabwe places its hopes in a United Nations that recognizes the equality of sovereign States as enshrined in the founding Charter. I want to express my heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of South Sudan on its attainment of independence and its subsequent admission as the 193rd Member of the United Nations family. As we all congratulate this new nation, Zimbabwe calls upon the international community to render all the necessary support to its Government and its people in tackling the numerous development challenges that lie ahead of them. Zimbabwe stands ready to make its modest contribution to that end.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Al-Nasser on his election as President of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. My delegation is confident that under his able leadership the General Assembly will successfully address the pressing issues on the agenda of the current session. I also wish to pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss, for having successfully steered the proceedings of this House during the sixty- fifth session. I wish also to congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on his reappointment for a second term. We remain hopeful that the Secretary-General will strive to shepherd the United Nations with an open, transparent and inclusive multilateral approach.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“My party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature. As the Government, we are prepared to cooperate with all other countries that respect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty. I would therefore like to appeal to those members of the international community that have imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe to lift them so that my country can focus undisturbed on its economic turnaround programme. In conclusion, we hope that we will continue to shape an Organization that upholds universal values and interests, attends to the urgent needs of those in need and remains in the service of humanity. Long live the United Nations!”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That was achieved entirely through African mediation, which is clear testimony that Africa is capable of overcoming its own challenges and problems, which, by the way, are often the remnants of colonialism. African leaders, working 13 08-51851 together, were able to find an African solution to an African problem. In that regard, I wish to pay special tribute to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, whose patience, fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties in reaching an agreement. I would like to extend my thanks to SADC, the African Union and individual African and other leaders who lent their support to that initiative.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We call for its revitalization to make it more effective and to enable it to fully carry out its Charter mandate. It is our fervent hope that a revitalized General Assembly will reassert its prestige, its pre-eminent role, its authority and its capacity to guide and direct other organs of the United Nations system. In that context, the tendency of some members of the Security Council to usurp the power and mandates of the General Assembly must be resisted. I am pleased to report that the inter-party talks in Zimbabwe — for which our regional grouping, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), appointed a facilitator — ended with the signing of an agreement on the formation of an all-inclusive Government on 15 September.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Its present configuration renders it subject to manipulation by the powerful countries that use the Council as a readily available legitimizing forum for their political machinations. Thus, it is imperative that the Security Council be democratized by ensuring equitable geographical representation through an increase in its membership. Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its support for the Ezulwini Consensus, which calls for Africa to have two permanent seats with the same powers and prerogatives as the current permanent members, as well as two non-permanent seats. We share the view that the General Assembly, a body that represents all of us and enjoys a wider representation of States, must continue to be the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“While we recognize the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in helping Member States to resolve political and other problems, we are of the view that international civil servants should discharge their noble duties with sensitivity and neutrality. At no time should they seek to pander to the whims and caprices of the mighty against the weak. Similarly, we call on certain Security Council members to desist from abusing the Secretariat in an attempt to promote their political interests. It is our firm belief that the Secretary-General and his staff should be allowed to serve all Member States without fear or favour. We reiterate our long-held view that the Security Council as presently constituted is undemocratic.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Zimbabwe derives solace from the fact that there are some permanent members of the Security Council that have taken principled stands in defending the Charter and protecting our sovereignty by ensuring that the Council acts not only within its mandate, but also impartially, objectively and justly. Indeed, their sense of justice ensured that Zimbabwe — a country that poses no threat to regional or international peace — did not fall prey to the cocktail of lies and machinations that had been designed by our detractors to encourage United Nations sanctions against us under Chapter VII. We thank them for upholding truth and objectivity.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“By the way, those who falsely accuse us of those violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide and mass destruction. The innocent masses of men, women and children who have perished in their thousands in Iraq surely demand retribution and vengeance. Who shall heed their cry? Surely those who invaded Iraq under false pretences and on the strength of contrived lies and in complete violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law must be made liable for them. They must be made to answer for their acts of aggression.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Not long ago, some permanent members of the Security Council sought to invoke Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations so that its weight of sanctions and other measures could be applied against my small country, which, by any stretch of the imagination, is no threat to international peace and security. What insanity is this that has afflicted some world leaders? Should that sacred document, the Charter of the United Nations, be allowed to suffer such undeserved emasculation and disgraceful abuse? And where is the protection of small and innocent countries like mine from threatened and real acts of aggression and punitive acts, often based on completely false allegations of violations of the rule of law, democracy or human rights?”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our experience has shown that the cooperative and pacific approach often leads to lasting solutions to conflicts. We therefore deplore the vindictive approach, which is often characterized by 08-51851 12 self-righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions, to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of militarily stronger States. In addition, the unilateral and coercive economic measures that we have witnessed in recent years are again completely at cross purposes with the principles that guide international cooperation, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The majority of our rural people have been empowered to contribute to household and national food security and, indeed, to be masters of their own destiny. However, the effects of climate change, which have included recurrent droughts and floods in the past seven years, and the illegal, unilaterally imposed sanctions on my country have hindered Zimbabwe’s efforts to increase food production. Once again, I appeal to the world’s collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of those sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies, which have brought untold suffering to my people. Zimbabwe has always been and continues to be a firm believer in multilateral approaches to solving disputes, as opposed to the unilateralism favoured by some countries.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The objectives of the Charter of the United Nations in the economic arena will remain unfulfilled unless all Member States genuinely and seriously participate in efforts to redress challenges that persist in developing countries. Social justice, political stability and sustainable development in most developing countries can best be achieved through genuine and committed support for empowerment programmes through, inter alia, just land ownership patterns. We understand only too well in our context that sustainable development is not possible without agrarian reform. My Government has therefore gone a long way towards laying the foundation for sustainable food production through its land reform programme.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“My Government, which was an active participant at the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, held under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome in June this year, will continue to play its active role in formulating policy recommendations on the subject of sustainable development targets. We share the view that trade is an important tool for development, and so we reiterate our call for an open, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory trading and financial system that seeks the removal of the main trade barriers. Tariffs have unfortunately remained high on goods from developing economies, such as textiles and farm products. It is therefore disturbing that the Doha Round negotiations have collapsed without any indication of when they will be reconvened.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We call for more research into better seed varieties and assistance in irrigation technology and improved water harvesting methods, necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. Zimbabwe believes that the challenges of climate change should be addressed in the context of development programmes that recognize the three pillars of economic and social thrusts, as well as environmental protection. In the past year, Zimbabwe is proud to have played its modest part in promoting sustainable development through its chairmanship of the sixteenth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The session examined the obstacles and barriers to development in the areas of agriculture, land use and rural development, and to drought-mitigation measures and desertification prevention in Africa.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“For most developing countries, the crisis is competing with other pressing demands for scarce resources for development, including achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially as we are faced with declining official development assistance and foreign direct investment. The trend will, regrettably, reverse some of the progress made towards the attainment of the MDGs. It is therefore crucial that national efforts aimed at addressing the global food and energy crises be complemented by appropriate international assistance and interventions, including debt cancellation for low-income, food-deficient developing countries so as to release more resources to fight hunger. Adequate support for food production programmes is absolutely necessary.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“For us in the developing world, the eradication of poverty is the first 11 08-51851 of our priorities and should indeed continue to receive serious attention. The current global food crisis, characterized by escalating food prices, is causing untold suffering for the majority of poor people in many developing countries. That has been compounded by the energy crisis, with devastating social and economic consequences, especially for the most vulnerable in society such as women, children, the elderly and people living with HIV and AIDS. The crisis now qualifies as a humanitarian emergency that requires global solidarity to provide post-haste assistance in the form of food, water and energy.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I wish to begin by joining those who have congratulated Mr. d’Escoto Brockmann on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. My delegation is confident that, under his able stewardship, the General Assembly will make progress on many issues scheduled for discussion during the current session. I would also like to pay special tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Kerim, who successfully presided over the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. The focus of our discussions at the present session, namely, the impact of the global food crisis on poverty and hunger in the world, as well as the need to democratize the United Nations, relates well to our Millennium Development Goals.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We welcome the recent opinion given by the International Court of Justice that found the construction of the Israeli wall to be in contravention of international law, and the subsequent General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate halt to that monstrosity. As the Assembly is aware, the African Union earlier this year established its own Peace and Security Council to seek and promote African solutions to African problems. Already, the Council is seized with the matter of the crisis in western Sudan. Those efforts need the support of the international community. Let me conclude by assuring Mr. Ping of my countryís support as he presides over the work of the General Assembly at this session. I wish also to reiterate my countryís commitment positively to contribute to the fulfilment of the aims and purposes of the United Nations.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“27 While the sadistic scenes from Abu Ghraib remain vivid in our minds, other places in Iraq, as well as Guantanamo Bay, have provided useful samples of the Western concept of respect for human rights. Let me say once again that the West should spare us their lessons on human rights. They do not have the moral authority to speak about, let alone parade themselves as torch-bearers of, human rights. Zimbabwe remains deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East. We continue to be revolted by a situation where the collective decisions and authority of the United Nations are disregarded with impunity on account of big-brother support. We demand an immediate lifting of all restrictions illegally imposed on the Palestinian people, which have seen President Yasser Arafat remain a virtual prisoner of foreign occupation.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The fight against international terrorism has exposed the duplicity and insincerity of erstwhile leading democracies and human rights monitors with regard to the question of the observance of human rights. We have seen established international conventions thrown to the dogs, and resolutions of the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies on this issue have come to naught. We are seriously concerned at the fact that the United Nations, the pre-eminent instrument for the maintenance of international peace and security, watched helplessly while Iraq was unlawfully attacked and plundered by the United States and United Kingdom-led so-called coalition of the willing. Such belligerent, gunslinging diplomacy and the illegitimate territorial occupation of the State of Iraq are blemishes on the fair-play image of the United Nations.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have, however, experienced some setbacks in our efforts, as some countries, particularly in the developed West, continue to provide safe havens for fugitive economic saboteurs from our country. In March next year, Zimbabwe will be holding its sixth democratic parliamentary elections since independence in 1980. Those elections, like others before them, will be conducted in accordance with our national laws and the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, recently adopted by our subregion. We do not need any lessons from the Netherlands or its imperialist allies from the European Union on this question. Zimbabwe will indeed welcome to the elections those observers whose sole and undivided purpose is to observe the process and not to meddle in the politics of the country.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We plead with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stop its strange political mouthings, lies and fabrications about our situation. Our own regional organizations know the truth about Zimbabwe. We urge the IMF to listen to them, and, for once, to be clean. My Government is determined to eliminate corruption and its corrosive effects on national development efforts. After signing the International Convention against Corruption in November last year, we put in place legal and administrative measures that have already arrested a growing and deliberate tendency to circumvent normal business practices, particularly in the financial-services sector.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I wish to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of my Government and that of the people of Zimbabwe for the humanitarian assistance we received from the international community during our period of need. Without such support, we would not have been able to avert a major catastrophe. I am pleased to inform you, Sir, that we have, in spite of the sanctions and evil wishes of Britain and its allies, now emerged from that difficult phase. We had a relatively good agricultural season this year, and our land reform programme has begun to make a significant contribution towards the turnaround of our economy. Despite the partial drought at the beginning of the season, we have managed this year to realize a good harvest ó certainly one good enough to ensure that we meet our food requirements until the next season.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In any case, we reject completely the assertions of, and pretence to, democracy by our former colonial masters, whose undemocratic regimes we taught the lesson of one man ó or one woman ó one vote through our armed liberation struggles. As we in Africa look at the situation here in the United States, we are aware of the plight of the black people ó Afro-Americans ó of both yesterday and today and of the semi-slave, half-citizen status that has been their burden. Do the blacks in the United States have the same political, social and economic rights and status as their white counterparts? When we will we ever have a black ó African-American ó President of the United States? Never, ever. Why?”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Zimbabwe has also had to withstand unprovoked declared and undeclared sanctions, imposed by Britain and its allies, which are bent on bringing down our legitimately elected Government. Mr. Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, has arrogantly and unashamedly announced in his Parliament that his Government was working with Zimbabwe's opposition party to bring about regime change. Once again, the lawless nature of that man who, along with his Washington master, believes he is God-ordained to rule our world, has shown itself. Regime change is the inalienable right of the Zimbabwean people, who, through their sovereign vote, can make and unmake our Governments.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In that regard, Zimbabwe welcomes the continuing efforts of this community of nations to find solutions to the scourge of HIV and AIDS that has ravaged our peoples and economies. At the national level, we have taken measures, within our limited means, to combat the pandemic. We are also coordinating our efforts at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) level. Regrettably, we continue to see an unfortunate and futile tendency to use assistance in this area as a reward for political 26 compliance and malleability, making it unavailable to countries whose Governments are deemed ìinconvenientî. Let it be realized that the pandemic does not respect boundaries and that these self-serving, selective approaches will have little or no meaningful results.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“As we prepare for the mid-term review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration in September 2005, it is apparent that many developing countries, including my own country, Zimbabwe, may be unable to meet the goals and targets set, as our subregion of southern Africa has in recent years experienced extended and successive periods of inclement weather, principally droughts, that have wreaked havoc upon our economies and accordingly diminished our capacity to achieve the Millennium Declaration targets. The situation, particularly with regards to the health and education sectors, has also been worsened by the brain drain and the devastating effects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We note that the Secretary-General has placed before the General Assembly the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations. While civil society makes a significant contribution to the work of the United Nations, we hope that any arrangements that will eventually be agreed upon will recognize that the United Nations remains an inter-State and intergovernmental body. It is also our expectation that the conclusions of the debate will recognize the different levels of development of civil society in different parts of the world.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)