Skip to playerSkip to main content
teleSUR English
  • 3 years ago
21/09/2023
FTS 10.30
*World debt soars for second half of 2023
*Syrian president Al Assad pays official visit to China

Category

🗞
News
Transcript
00:00:00 The General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly continues on this third day as world
00:00:13 leaders address global issues.
00:00:19 Also the International Finance Corporation reports world debt continues to soar and in
00:00:24 the second half of 2023 it reached a record $307 billion with markets such as the United
00:00:30 States and Japan driving this increase.
00:00:36 And the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in China for his first visit to the Asian
00:00:41 nation after 12 years of conflict.
00:00:49 Hello from the headquarters of TeleSuite English in Havana, Cuba, this is From the South.
00:00:54 I'm your anchor Gladys Quezada.
00:01:11 And the General Debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly continues
00:01:15 on Thursday with world leaders speaking out in support of peace and the implementation
00:01:20 of the 2030 Agenda.
00:01:22 On the third day of the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly hosted
00:01:26 interventions focused on the search for equality in access to health, science and technology,
00:01:31 applied to development and as ways for security in food and the redesign of the international
00:01:37 financial architecture as well as the rejections of policies of economic sanctions to countries
00:01:42 such as Venezuela, Cuba and Zimbabwe.
00:01:45 On the other hand it is worth mentioning that on Wednesday several African leaders took
00:01:50 the floor and offered their overview on the global situation from their continental perspective.
00:02:00 And the President of the Central African Republic Fustino Chantodera at the UN General Assembly
00:02:04 referred to the sanctions policies affecting his nations as well as coercive measures against
00:02:10 natural resources.
00:02:12 I remind you and I rue the fact that arms embargoes and diamond embargoes that have
00:02:17 been renewed for the last ten years happen in parallel with the suspension of budgetary
00:02:25 and economic support.
00:02:27 And both of these factors are real obstacles for my country's achievement of the realization
00:02:32 of Agenda 2030.
00:02:34 Here we repudiate this denial of our right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty
00:02:39 over our wealth and natural resources, rights guaranteed by the relevant legal instruments
00:02:45 of the United Nations.
00:02:47 Please do away with these trumped up mechanisms which thinly veil a desire to allow insecurity
00:02:56 to reign and to continue a strange hold over our natural resources for the benefit of foreign
00:03:01 powers.
00:03:03 These mechanisms ultimately legitimize armed groups and give them the status of being a
00:03:08 subject of international law.
00:03:11 And in this context, during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday,
00:03:16 the President of Botswana talked about how the level of development of countries has
00:03:20 played a crucial role in determining the severity of the pandemic's effects.
00:03:25 The past few years we have witnessed and continue to endure the profound and devastating impact
00:03:31 of the COVID-19 pandemic.
00:03:33 The consequences have been felt across nations, but the extent of its devastation have varied
00:03:38 greatly depending on factors such as level of development and geographical location.
00:03:45 Whether one resides in the global south or north, a landlocked developing country or
00:03:51 small island developing state, these distinctions have played a crucial role in determining
00:03:56 the severity of the pandemic's effects.
00:04:00 It is therefore imperative that we wholeheartedly embrace the ongoing discussions regarding
00:04:06 pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
00:04:11 Regarding climate change, the President of Botswana, Mugwetizi Erik Keobetzu-Emadzisi,
00:04:16 stated that cooperation and partnerships are essential to address this issue.
00:04:20 To effectively address climate change, it is crucial that we prioritize international
00:04:25 cooperation and partnerships.
00:04:27 This global effort requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond reducing emissions,
00:04:32 encompassing various aspects of our lives, be it energy production, agriculture, transportation
00:04:42 and industry.
00:04:45 During the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Sierra
00:04:50 Leone expressed the need to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and end poverty, hunger
00:04:55 and sustained conflict.
00:04:58 The resonant theme of this General Assembly therefore opens a horizon of possibilities,
00:05:05 beckoning us to harmoniously forge ahead in the shared pursuit of accelerating actions
00:05:12 on the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress
00:05:19 and enduring sustainability for all.
00:05:24 Our world faces formidable challenges, widespread poverty, persistent hunger, the looming shadow
00:05:32 of climate change and the unsettling presence of sustained and emerging conflicts.
00:05:39 During his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, the President of the
00:05:43 Democratic Republic of the Congo declared that after 25 years of United Nations missions
00:05:48 to promote peace in the African country, the time has come for the DRC to take control
00:05:54 of its destiny.
00:05:57 Following a presence of more than two decades by the UN, it's time for my country to fully
00:06:06 take its destiny in hand and to become the main protagonist of its own stability.
00:06:11 We are grateful to the international community and to the United Nations for their support
00:06:15 and their partnership.
00:06:17 But we are also aware that the phased withdrawal of MONUSCO is a necessary stage to consolidate
00:06:24 progress that we have already achieved.
00:06:28 Nonetheless, it should be deplored that the peacekeeping missions that have been deployed
00:06:34 in various forms for 25 years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have not been able to
00:06:46 stop rebellions and armed conflicts that have torn apart the DRC and the Great Lakes region,
00:06:52 nor have they succeeded in protecting the civilian populations.
00:06:57 At the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Liberia
00:07:01 pointed out that the objectives of the sustainable development must be achieved, along with the
00:07:06 agenda of 2030.
00:07:11 We must continue to promote global solidarity and rebuild trust in accelerating progress
00:07:18 on the sustainable development goals, the SDGs.
00:07:23 The SDGs by design require bilateral and multilateral collaborations to achieve the result we seek.
00:07:34 The theme of this year's debate, "Rebuilding Trusts, Reuniting Global Solidarity, Accelerating
00:07:43 Actions on the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability
00:07:52 for All," adequately captured our current global demands.
00:07:59 On Wednesday, the presidents of Brazil and Ukraine, Lula da Silva and Volodymyr Zelensky,
00:08:04 held their first meeting at the United Nations General Assembly.
00:08:07 After a disagreement generated by the Brazilian president's proposal for a peace dialogue
00:08:12 with the two parties in conflict, rejected with strong reproaches by the Ukrainian president,
00:08:17 the meeting finally took place.
00:08:20 President da Silva clarified the importance of building peace and other strategies and
00:08:24 paths for recognizing the importance of the meeting.
00:08:36 Now we go back to the United Nations 78th General Assembly.
00:08:47 On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honor to welcome His Excellency Salva
00:08:52 Kiir Mayadid, President of the Republic of South Sudan, and to invite him to address
00:08:59 the Assembly.
00:09:04 (Applause.)
00:09:32 Your Excellency, Denis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly;
00:09:49 Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Your Majesties, the
00:10:02 President; Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government; Distinguished Delegates; Ladies
00:10:13 and Gentlemen,
00:10:19 Before my remarks, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the people of
00:10:28 the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Libya who have lost their loved ones in the
00:10:36 recent natural calamities.
00:10:41 South Sudan stands in solidarity with them during this difficult moment in their respective
00:10:52 countries.
00:10:55 On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of South Sudan, I stand before
00:11:05 you today to reaffirm our commitment to world peace and security.
00:11:15 We are committed to global efforts aimed at addressing challenges that we face as a human
00:11:29 family.
00:11:32 We are also committed to multilateralism and international cooperation as the best means
00:11:47 of achieving our shared aspirations.
00:11:54 In this context, we are hopeful that together we can rebuild trust among member states and
00:12:11 reignite global solidarity on the basis of sovereign equality of all states, as enshrined
00:12:29 in the founding charter of this esteemed organization.
00:12:43 Excellencies, we recognize the urgency of challenges before us.
00:12:58 We are also aware of concerted effort, action required to address these challenges in order
00:13:17 to ensure a better future for the coming generations.
00:13:25 To this effect, South Sudan has developed sustainable development goals.
00:13:39 The plan, with a focus on seven SDG targets, provides a roadmap of a better future for
00:14:02 our people.
00:14:05 And given that education is the key that will allow us to achieve our SDGs rapidly, I am
00:14:19 pleased to report that South Sudan has made some progress in its education sector.
00:14:31 Since our independence in 2011, our constitution, for example, grantees all children free access
00:14:49 to education.
00:14:53 We have also designated education as a human right of every child.
00:15:04 In February this year, I directed the Ministry of Education to implement free primary and
00:15:14 secondary education policy across the country.
00:15:26 This policy has directly led to enrollment of 2.3 million children in our schools.
00:15:41 To ensure that girls stay in schools, we have banned child marriages through an act of parliament.
00:16:00 More importantly, we have increased education budget with the goal of paying teachers a
00:16:14 living wage.
00:16:22 In the health sector, we plan to dedicate resources towards providing affordable and
00:16:44 standard health care.
00:16:50 And this will be done through a primary health care approach that is inclusive and cost-effective.
00:17:00 Excellencies, on climate change, South Sudan is dedicated to addressing its adverse impact.
00:17:18 We plan to prioritize sustainable land use, promote renewable energy, and collaborate
00:17:47 with international partners to reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment for
00:18:01 generations to come.
00:18:04 While working on this, it is only fair for us to call upon developed countries
00:18:29 to cut their emissions by 45 percent and honor their pledges of availing funds for mitigation,
00:18:43 adaptation, and loss and damage to the developing countries.
00:18:54 With the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, it is high
00:19:05 time that the declaration of the summit forms the new crisis for rebuilding trust and regaining
00:19:22 global solidarity for attaining the 2030 agenda.
00:19:33 Excellencies, we acknowledge the political, humanitarian, and security challenges we have
00:19:43 faced as a country since 2013.
00:19:49 However, we have turned the corner with the signing of the Revitalize Peace Agreement
00:20:03 in 2018.
00:20:07 Now we are determined to build on the commitments of our Revitalize National Development Strategy
00:20:28 2021-2024 to consolidate peace and stabilize the economy.
00:20:42 Following public financial management reforms and the recently
00:21:01 concluded National Economic Conference from solid basis for sound management of public
00:21:19 resources for the benefit of our citizens.
00:21:27 Our aim now is to fast track the implementation of the remaining provisions in the agreement
00:21:46 in order to conclude the transitional period peacefully, through fair, transparent, and
00:21:57 credible elections in 2024.
00:22:02 We have also managed to engage in dialogue and consultation with the various stakeholders,
00:22:18 including civil society, women, youth, traditional leaders, and opposition groups to ensure that
00:22:32 our peace process is owned and driven by our own people.
00:22:41 As we move in this direction, we call upon the United Nations to lift the arms embargo
00:22:54 imposed on us to aid peace implementation and to secure the elections.
00:23:06 The arms embargo has impeded the implementation of security arrangements because effective
00:23:20 deployment of the unified forces which we have graduated cannot happen without arms.
00:23:34 Excellencies, as the country sharing the border with the Republic of Sudan, South Sudan is
00:23:50 one of the countries that has received thousands of Sudanese refugees and our returnees since
00:24:00 the conflict broke out in the Sudan in April 2023.
00:24:10 This influx has overwhelmed our border communities and created a humanitarian crisis.
00:24:22 I am appealing to the international community to avail resources to help refugees and displaced
00:24:40 persons who crossed into South Sudan.
00:24:45 While the world is dealing with a multiple crisis, we call for a provision of sustained
00:24:57 support to these displaced persons as we work on how to restore peace and stability in Sudan.
00:25:14 In closing, South Sudan stands before this esteemed assembly as a resolute partner in
00:25:30 the collective pursuit of a better future for all.
00:25:38 I extend our hand of friendship to fellow member states, international organizations
00:25:53 and civil society.
00:25:56 Thank you very much and for your kind attention to these new remarks.
00:26:09 Thank you.
00:26:10 (Applause.)
00:26:11 UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL SHERMAN, TRANSLATOR: On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank
00:26:19 the President of the Republic of South Sudan for the statement just made, and I request
00:26:24 protocol to escort His Excellency.
00:26:32 The assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Mamadi Doumbouya, President of
00:26:42 the National Committee for the Reconciliation and Development, President of the Republic
00:26:47 of Guinea, Head of State.
00:26:50 I request protocol to escort His Excellency.
00:26:56 On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honor to welcome His Excellency Mamadi
00:27:02 Doumbouya, President of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, President
00:27:08 of the Republic of Guinea, Head of State, and I invite him to address the assembly.
00:27:16 Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegations, Mr. Secretary General,
00:27:37 at the outset, Mr. President, I would like to extend the warm congratulations of the
00:27:45 Guinean delegation on your brilliant election to the presidency of the 78th session of the
00:27:57 United Nations General Assembly.
00:28:03 Before this August assembly, I would also like to assure you of my country's support.
00:28:13 I take this opportunity to also pay a well-deserved tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Szabó Korosi
00:28:22 of Hungary.
00:28:26 To Mr. Secretary General António Guterres, I extend my gratitude for the dedication with
00:28:35 which he leads our organization.
00:28:39 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, in coming to take part in the work of the 78th regular
00:28:50 session of the General Assembly, I am fulfilling a duty that of conveying the warm greetings
00:29:02 of the sovereign people of Guinea.
00:29:07 My country continues to place hope in the United Nations to find appropriate solutions
00:29:19 to the issues our world continues to face.
00:29:26 In this context, Mr. President, we believe that the fundamentals which underpinned the
00:29:34 creation of our organization must adapt to the profound changes in our society.
00:29:50 The theme of this session, peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability, is topical,
00:30:03 evocative, and deserves particular attention on our part.
00:30:12 There is a coup epidemic in Africa.
00:30:17 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the continent has been hit by an epidemic of military putsches,
00:30:26 particularly in the French-speaking countries south of the Sahara.
00:30:34 Everyone condemns them, sanctions them, is disturbed by the sudden resurgence of this
00:30:42 phenomenon that we had thought was a thing of the past, and rightly so.
00:30:51 But what I wish to say is that the international community must have the honesty and the rectitude
00:30:59 to not content itself simply with denouncing the consequences.
00:31:05 Rather, it must look to and address the causes.
00:31:14 Coups d'etat have multiplied in Africa in recent years because there are deep-rooted
00:31:21 reasons for this.
00:31:24 And to remedy the problem, ladies and gentlemen, we must look at these root causes.
00:31:34 The putschist is not only the person who takes up arms to overthrow a regime.
00:31:42 I want us all to be well aware of the fact that the real putschists, the most numerous
00:31:50 and those who avoid any condemnation, are also those who plot and scheme, who use trickery,
00:32:00 who cheat to manipulate the text of the Constitution in order to stay in power eternally.
00:32:13 It is those in white-collar jobs who change the rules of the game as the game unfolds
00:32:18 in order to keep the reins of power in their hands.
00:32:22 These are the most numerous kinds of putschists.
00:32:27 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I am one of those who one day decided to shoulder
00:32:38 our responsibility to prevent our country from slipping into complete chaos, into an
00:32:47 insurrection.
00:32:50 No political forces at the time had the courage nor the means to put an end to the duplicity
00:33:02 that we were experiencing, as they were all completely neutralized back then.
00:33:07 The institutional correction for which my brothers in arms and I took responsibility
00:33:13 on September 5, 2021, was only a consequence of that chaotic situation which had ended
00:33:24 up tearing apart the social fabric of my country and undermining our coexistence.
00:33:34 This is not an exhaustive list, but we believe that the transitions underway in Africa are
00:33:40 due to several factors, including broken promises, the lethargy of the people, and leaders tampering
00:33:57 with constitutions with the sole concern of remaining in power to the detriment of collective
00:34:05 well-being.
00:34:06 Today, the African people are more awake than ever and more than ever determined to take
00:34:17 their destiny into their own hands.
00:34:20 The unequal distribution of wealth creates endless inequalities, famine, abject poverty,
00:34:31 which make the daily lives of our populations increasingly difficult.
00:34:37 These inequalities are part of the causes for the events that endanger our peaceful
00:34:48 coexistence above all.
00:34:53 When the wealth of a country is in the hands of an elite, while newborns die in hospitals
00:35:01 due to a lack of incubators, it is not surprising that in such conditions we are seeing transitions
00:35:13 in order to respond to the profound aspirations of the people.
00:35:19 Africa is suffering from a governance model that has been imposed on it, a model that
00:35:29 is certainly good and effective for the West, which developed it over the course of its
00:35:35 history, but which is difficult to incorporate and adapt to our realities, our customs, and
00:35:46 our environment.
00:35:49 Alas, the graft did not take.
00:35:56 I know that when I say this, many will immediately say to themselves, "Oh, another warmonger
00:36:05 who wants to wring the neck of democracy, or another soldier who wants to impose his
00:36:12 dictatorship."
00:36:13 However, I want to say very clearly, without hypocrisy, without pretense, eye to eye, we
00:36:25 are all aware that this democratic model that you have so insidiously, skillfully imposed
00:36:37 on us after the La Bolle Summit in France, something you have been imposing almost religiously,
00:36:46 this model does not work.
00:36:50 Various economic and social indices demonstrate this plain and clear.
00:36:55 This is not a value judgment on democracy itself.
00:37:04 Believe me, this is just taking stock of the situation.
00:37:10 It's a balance sheet.
00:37:11 Over several decades of chaotic experimentation with this model in our environment, we can
00:37:19 make this observation.
00:37:20 This was a period full of nothing but political games.
00:37:26 And this, of course, has been to the detriment of what is essential, namely the economy and
00:37:34 the local processing of our natural resources.
00:37:40 Allow me to take this truth exercise a little further.
00:37:45 Through my short but very intense experience of managing estates, Guinea, I have come to
00:37:51 better understand the extent to which this model has, above all, contributed to maintaining
00:38:01 a system of exploitation and plunder of our resources by others and a rampant corruption
00:38:11 of our elites.
00:38:16 National leaders who have often been granted democratic labels based on their acquiescence
00:38:30 or their capacity for selling off the resources and the property of their people or perhaps
00:38:39 their ease in giving in to the suitor recommendations and injunctions of the great powers.
00:38:53 I must confess in this regard that everything that I am facing goes beyond all imagination.
00:39:07 These are the same people who profess democracy, transparency, who denounce poor governance
00:39:17 and corruption, who dictate the rules.
00:39:19 It is they who behind the scenes very discreetly and underhandedly are increasing pressure
00:39:28 to make us cede our national wealth through unconscionable union contracts.
00:39:34 I understand certain leaders and some of my predecessors who, because they possessed certain
00:39:45 weaknesses, because they were under pressure or because they had skeletons in their closets
00:39:51 or particularly because they had a political agenda, gave in to what was being asked of
00:40:00 them.
00:40:01 I understand them even if I do not approve.
00:40:05 In some cases I was even reminded that if I had a political agenda I would be less comfortable
00:40:14 carrying out the reforms that my government and I are tackling.
00:40:22 One thing is certain.
00:40:26 We have but one concern and that is the well-being of the people and living together.
00:40:33 This is our priority.
00:40:37 This is why the transition I lead has chosen to focus methodically on clear objectives
00:40:48 in a precise order, the social, the economic and the political.
00:41:02 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I wear my uniform in service to my people and I would
00:41:13 be grateful if you would respect that oath, an oath to keep ourselves a respectable distance
00:41:20 from divisions of all kinds that many attempt to fuel in our countries.
00:41:29 The Sahel is undergoing one of the most serious crises in its very long history, but it has
00:41:40 the resources that are required to face it.
00:41:44 Its legendary sense of diplomacy must be unleashed so that we can speak to each other without
00:41:53 interference.
00:41:58 For this reason, that Ekowas, whose vocation was economic, has stopped getting involved
00:42:08 in politics and favored dialogue.
00:42:15 The African people are tired, exhausted by the categorizations with which everyone wants
00:42:25 to box us in.
00:42:34 Africa's population is young.
00:42:37 It did not experience the Cold War.
00:42:41 It did not experience the ideological wars that have shaped the world over the last 70
00:42:51 years.
00:42:52 That is why we Africans are insulted by the boxes, the categories which sometimes place
00:43:04 us under the influence of the Americans, sometimes under that of the British, sometimes the French,
00:43:13 the Chinese or the Russians and even the Turks.
00:43:21 We are neither pro- or anti-American.
00:43:25 We are neither pro- or anti-Chinese, nor pro- or anti-French, nor pro- or anti-Russian,
00:43:37 nor pro- or anti-Turkish.
00:43:41 We are simply pro-African.
00:43:43 That is all.
00:43:56 Placing us under the influence of this or that power is an insult.
00:44:01 It is contempt and racism towards a continent of more than 1,300,000,000 people.
00:44:15 It is important that in this prestigious and influential assembly we understand clearly
00:44:22 and definitively that the era of the old Africa is over.
00:44:36 With a population of more than 1,000,000,000 Africans, around 70% of whom are young people,
00:44:48 young people who are completely free, open-minded, open to the world and determined to take their
00:44:53 destiny into their own hands.
00:44:57 The time has come to realize that the structures, the rules from the post-war era established
00:45:07 in the absence of our states, which did not yet exist at the time, are obsolete.
00:45:15 This is the end of an unbalanced and unjust era where we had no say in the matter.
00:45:26 It is time to take our rights into account and to let us take our proper place.
00:45:31 But also and above all, it is time to stop lecturing us and to stop treating us with
00:45:42 condescension like children.
00:45:47 Rest assured that we are old enough to know what is good for us.
00:45:59 We are mature enough to define our priorities, to design our own models which are in line
00:46:09 with our identity, the daily reality of our countries and our populations, in line with
00:46:18 what we are, quite simply.
00:46:21 We would be very grateful to you if you trust us and let us run our business as you have
00:46:32 allowed in certain regions of the world, as you have allowed in Asia, in the Near and
00:46:39 the Middle East, to cite only a few.
00:46:44 This infantilization that we have experienced has had the worst effect on African youth
00:46:53 who are now emancipated.
00:46:58 In this context, we are all challenged and called upon to carry out a better analysis
00:47:06 of the situation with a view to initiating and pursuing new policies for the benefit
00:47:11 of all.
00:47:14 The international community must look to Africa with new eyes.
00:47:22 It must now engage in genuine cooperation with Africa in a spirit of win-win partnership.
00:47:33 I thank you for your attention.
00:47:36 Thank you.
00:47:45 On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the National Committee for
00:47:49 Reconciliation and Development, President of the Republic of Guinea, and Head of State
00:47:55 for the statement just made.
00:47:57 I request protocol to escort His Excellency.
00:48:08 The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Evariste Ndai-Chimie, President
00:48:18 of the Republic of Burundi.
00:48:21 I request protocol to escort His Excellency.
00:48:27 On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honor to welcome His Excellency Evariste
00:48:34 Ndai-Chimie, President of the Republic of Burundi, and I invite him to address the Assembly.
00:48:46 Thank you, Mr. President.
00:48:50 I first of all wish to give thanks to Almighty God for having guided our work and for bringing
00:48:56 us here together in this beautiful cosmopolitan city of New York.
00:49:02 Excellency Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General
00:49:10 Assembly, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Your Majesty, Secretary General
00:49:21 of the United Nations, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, all protocol observed.
00:49:28 Allow me to express my sincere thanks to the host country of the United States of America
00:49:36 and to its people, in particular to the authorities and people of the state of New York.
00:49:42 I thank them all for the very warm welcome and exemplary hospitality that I and my accompanying
00:49:49 delegation have been shown.
00:49:51 At the outset, I wish to reiterate my most heartfelt condolences to the people of Morocco
00:50:00 and Libya.
00:50:01 Today they are in mourning following natural disasters, the human and material damage of
00:50:10 which is incalculable.
00:50:13 May God bring comfort to the families at this time of great suffering.
00:50:19 Allow me to convey my hearty congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, following
00:50:24 his successful election to the presidency of the 78th Session of the United Nations
00:50:30 General Assembly.
00:50:32 Mr. President, Burundi assures you of its full cooperation and extends to you every
00:50:40 wish for success as you discharge your mandate.
00:50:45 I'm also delighted to pay a well-deserved tribute to Mr. Shabba Khoroshi, your predecessor,
00:50:54 for his sterling work during his term.
00:50:59 Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to piece back together a
00:51:06 world of peace, a world which can foster progress.
00:51:09 We must cultivate trust, mutual understanding and solidarity.
00:51:15 It is for that reason that we hail the choice of theme which guides our discussion today.
00:51:22 That theme is rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity, accelerating the 2030
00:51:28 agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability
00:51:35 for all.
00:51:36 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we meet every year in this hall and in other equally
00:51:45 important fora.
00:51:47 However, the world nevertheless continues to face grave existential threats.
00:51:56 As such, that world is unfortunately growing ever more unstable and vulnerable.
00:52:02 Trust and solidarity are values which should characterize relations between our states.
00:52:09 However, these values are rendered fragile because we have, so to speak, domesticated
00:52:14 them and recreated them in our image to further our own interests.
00:52:18 We must liberate these values so that they can be shared values.
00:52:23 These values must recover their original meaning, meaning which was buried following colonialization
00:52:34 and the expansion of other selfish ideologies which sought to drag least developed countries
00:52:43 ever deeper for the benefit of rich nations.
00:52:46 In reality, colonization missed its chance because it could have created a solidarity
00:52:51 by allowing the meeting of cultures and know-how and by creating a mutually beneficial partnership
00:52:58 instead of a partnership characterized by dependency.
00:53:01 Trust and solidarity then lost every trace of their initial meaning with the effects
00:53:08 of neocolonialism, neocolonialism marked by multifaceted forms of interference in the
00:53:14 domestic affairs of developing states through the unjust remuneration given for commodities
00:53:21 and through the heavy demands imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions.
00:53:26 There is what was called official development aid a few years ago.
00:53:32 It's now come to be termed a partnership for development.
00:53:36 That's the term in common parlance today.
00:53:38 In any case, terms for this concept are bound, but they're all tinged with bad faith.
00:53:44 Indeed, terms are bound to veil this hypocrisy.
00:53:47 At the same time, resources dispersed with a view to generating economic returns that
00:53:53 could foster economic recovery are themselves shrinking.
00:53:57 Today, Mr. President, it is important to move beyond the needs and interests of states.
00:54:02 These often vary greatly and are often difficult to reconcile.
00:54:08 International solidarity must guarantee that all countries are able to interact on a level
00:54:14 playing field.
00:54:16 International solidarity that we wish to see does not seek to homogenize.
00:54:22 Rather, it seeks to stand as a bridge between differences and even between radically opposing
00:54:30 viewpoints.
00:54:31 It seeks to allow respectful and mutually beneficial relations to flower.
00:54:37 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, trust and solidarity should be the cornerstone on
00:54:43 which thriving international relations can develop international relations free of inequality
00:54:50 and conflict.
00:54:52 This is incidentally the goal that Burundi is striving to achieve, first and foremost
00:54:58 at a national level.
00:54:59 We are seeking to cultivate and strengthen this ideal within our people.
00:55:04 As such, after years of instability, the process of truth and reconciliation launched in Burundi
00:55:11 is today bearing a bounty of fruit because the people of Burundi are now energized in
00:55:18 pursuit of a common ideal as they seek to achieve the sustainable development goals.
00:55:26 In this connection, we call upon friendly countries and partners to support the action
00:55:30 of Burundi's government and we heartily encourage foreign investment.
00:55:36 However, the sad truth is that ODA, which should support the efforts of the government
00:55:44 as it seeks to guarantee the well-being of its citizens, has little by little faded away
00:55:53 to instead be channeled towards non-state actors which serve the geopolitical and economic
00:56:01 interests of certain so-called donor states.
00:56:04 These interests are unspoken and clandestine.
00:56:07 Evidently, international solidarity should encourage developed nations to make tangible
00:56:12 contributions to the socioeconomic development of LDCs.
00:56:17 A Kerundi proverb, "Nwetanguruburu," means "Prosperity can only last if it is
00:56:25 shared."
00:56:26 That proverb reminds us that investing in the prosperity of a neighbor is to indisputably
00:56:31 guarantee and shore up one's own sustainability and progress.
00:56:38 This, Mr. President, reminds us of the urgent need to rethink and strengthen our global
00:56:44 partnership that, in our view, involves ensuring debt relief, a substantial increase in resources
00:56:52 devoted to the fight against poverty, it involves strengthening South-South cooperation, the
00:56:59 sharing of technologies and innovation, and it involves broadening commercial agreements.
00:57:08 Ladies and gentlemen, in spite of all of the challenges above, Burundi remains determined
00:57:14 and, indeed, we trust that this Assembly will work to rebuild trust in my country.
00:57:22 We believe that it will champion a process by which international solidarity is revived.
00:57:29 The government and people of Burundi have a genuine and staunch determination to maximize
00:57:35 the dividends of peace and to protect our hard-won reconciliation.
00:57:44 In view of that goal, our warhorse is the promotion of good governance and the fight
00:57:49 against all forms of injustice.
00:57:51 Indeed, we are engaged in a tireless struggle to ensure the proper management of public
00:57:58 affairs and, thanks to this determined struggle, Burundi has made significant progress in terms
00:58:06 of democracy, good governance, and improving its business climate.
00:58:10 Consequently, we have become a safe place for investment and a range of economic activities.
00:58:19 Moreover, significant efforts are being made in productive sectors that create mass employment
00:58:27 and drive growth.
00:58:30 Against this backdrop, my government is striving to particularly stimulate the agricultural
00:58:37 sector.
00:58:38 The agricultural sector employs vast swathes of Burundi's population.
00:58:43 Consequently, in light of that goal, we have taken the decision to finance our agricultural
00:58:48 sector through our national programme of agricultural subsidies.
00:58:52 That programme subsidises fertilisers, selected seed species, and plant health products.
00:58:59 We are also focusing on the development of research in the agricultural sector as well
00:59:05 as its mechanisation and the use of advanced technologies to ensure agri-food processing
00:59:12 and to shore up rural infrastructure.
00:59:15 To do all of the above, a national pact for agriculture has been established.
00:59:22 It has put in place two agricultural hubs, built around four lucrative sub-sectors.
00:59:29 That was done very quickly and we now also have a special agricultural industrial zone.
00:59:38 In all of the above endeavours, we wish to involve Burundian economic operators and foreign
00:59:42 investors.
00:59:43 To implement this plan, we have a new investment code and have made regulatory adjustments
00:59:52 which make our environment a very attractive one.
00:59:55 Given the fact that we have a climate which favours year-round agriculture, given the
00:59:59 fact that we have a wealth of labour available and given the exceptional fertility of our
01:00:04 soil, Burundi is the best possible destination for anyone wishing to invest in the agricultural
01:00:10 sector.
01:00:11 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, in other sectors, elsewhere, my government has just
01:00:17 updated its mining code to create an investment-friendly environment within this sector.
01:00:24 The abundant mineral wealth of our country remains underexploited.
01:00:30 My government's goal is to bring about economic recovery by exploiting our natural resources.
01:00:36 The goal is to make Burundi an emerging country by 2040 and a developed country in 2060.
01:00:43 To succeed in this endeavour, we are giving pride of place to young people and women.
01:00:48 They are the real drivers of socio-economic development because of the way they promote
01:00:55 entrepreneurship, innovation and because of their spirit of creativity.
01:00:59 Indeed, we are particularly backing young people because there is no weapon more effective
01:01:05 than young people in the fight against poverty and in conflict prevention.
01:01:12 As an African Union champion for the youth peace and security agenda, I wish to take
01:01:19 this opportunity to call for a better inclusion of and more effective participation of young
01:01:27 people in the development agendas of our respective states.
01:01:31 In this regard, I welcome the General Assembly's decision to create a United Nations youth
01:01:38 office.
01:01:39 I congratulate the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who proposed this flagship initiative
01:01:47 in his report, "Our Common Agenda".
01:01:51 This is exactly how intergenerational trust and solidarity will serve as genuine sources
01:01:59 of peace and security for sustainable development.
01:02:04 As a staunch advocate of non-discrimination where women and young people are concerned,
01:02:09 the government of my country has chosen to use the bounty of talent and knowledge to
01:02:15 and to promote their economic empowerment.
01:02:20 In order to expedite the implementation of Agenda 2030, education has been free in Burundi
01:02:28 since 2005, and that has allowed Burundian girls to access quality education and, as
01:02:35 such, to prepare for an active participation in national life.
01:02:40 For two decades now, Burundi has improved the ratio of men to women in the political
01:02:46 sphere.
01:02:48 We have set a quota of 30% for women in the National Assembly and the Senate.
01:02:55 Today, women hold approximately 50% of seats in the Parliament, in the government and in
01:03:00 the most senior positions.
01:03:04 In order to leave no one behind as it ushers in socio-economic development, the government
01:03:12 of Burundi is sparing no effort to promote the empowerment and emancipation of all sectors
01:03:19 of its population.
01:03:21 With this in mind, the Batwa community, which has long fallen foul of discrimination, benefits
01:03:28 from an affirmative action policy that is implemented in education, health care and
01:03:35 housing systems.
01:03:37 There is free health care for children and pregnant women, and that has contributed to
01:03:42 improving the living conditions of women in general and of Batwa families in particular.
01:03:49 Mr President,
01:03:50 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
01:03:53 I have taken my time to describe to you the situation of my country, to show to you that
01:03:59 Burundi is well and truly back on track.
01:04:02 And that means we have our rightful place within the concept of nations.
01:04:08 We've earned it.
01:04:10 Mine is a country that has overcome difficult situations in its history, but we have all
01:04:14 the assets we need to go very far indeed in terms of development today.
01:04:22 Burundi is something of a burden for development partners, but tomorrow the situation could
01:04:27 change if we were to obtain sizable seed capital to once and for all leave the LDC category.
01:04:35 Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
01:04:38 we want to see a better world, but that project is being hampered by a multitude of conflicts,
01:04:46 conflicts that we need to address in a united fashion and in a spirit of brotherhood.
01:04:55 Countries in difficulty need us all.
01:04:57 It is therefore in a spirit of solidarity that within the East African community that
01:05:02 I chair, we've launched a series of initiatives in order to restore peace and security in
01:05:07 the east of the DRC.
01:05:11 Burundi also participates in peacekeeping operations and in the fight against terrorism
01:05:16 in the CAR and in Somalia.
01:05:21 That is testament to the desire harbored by the Burundian people to contribute to the
01:05:29 advent of a better world built on foundations of solidarity.
01:05:34 I reiterate the need for international solidarity to be shown in order to bring peace to the
01:05:40 east of the DRC.
01:05:42 At the same time, Burundi reaffirms its tireless support for the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes
01:05:47 as well as for the peace, security, and cooperation framework agreement for the DRC and the region.
01:05:55 The regional oversight mechanism of that agreement is chaired by Burundi.
01:06:00 In this connection, I'd like to say the following.
01:06:05 Whilst we do insist on the need to rebuild trust between states, we must together condemn
01:06:09 certain spoilers who fan the flames of conflict and devote themselves to sowing destabilization
01:06:17 in other states.
01:06:19 Let us call a spade a spade.
01:06:21 The political and security-related instability in countries of the south, particularly in
01:06:26 Africa, is born of the desire of powers who wish to control the domestic policies of developing
01:06:31 nations.
01:06:32 Africa, in particular, has become the arena for geopolitical conflicts playing out between
01:06:40 major powers.
01:06:42 We continue, as such, to fall behind in terms of economic development.
01:06:48 That economic deficit becomes the cause of internal conflicts which then plunge our countries
01:06:54 into abject poverty.
01:06:57 We are battling against external interference in domestic affairs.
01:07:04 At the same time, we also condemn the reemergence of anti-constitutional changes to systems
01:07:11 of government which are a serious erosion of democratic gains seen over the last several
01:07:18 years in Africa and throughout the world.
01:07:21 Constitutional order and the rule of law must prevail above all.
01:07:24 My country reiterates its staunch commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts through
01:07:28 dialogue, cooperation, joint work, and negotiation.
01:07:34 Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, in general terms, security and stability throughout
01:07:41 the world seem to be yielding to war, terrorism, and violent extremism, as well as crime and
01:07:50 violence in its myriad forms.
01:07:54 In this regard, at a time when the African transition mission in Somalia, ATMIS, is preparing
01:07:59 to withdraw in the coming months once it has completed its successful mandate, I wish to
01:08:07 here pay tribute to the professionalism and self-sacrifice of troops working for peace
01:08:13 in Somalia, including the Burundian troops.
01:08:15 I would also like to take this opportunity to draw the international community's attention
01:08:21 to the consequences of the hasty closure of this mission.
01:08:26 That hasty closure risks providing an opportunity to terrorist groups to grow stronger and regroup.
01:08:33 Mr. President, turning now to the climate crisis, I welcome the commitments already
01:08:38 entered into by states during various international climate negotiations.
01:08:44 Commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to finance the protection of the environment,
01:08:51 climate resilience, and the green transition of the least polluting nations.
01:08:59 We want to see these commitments followed up by tangible action, because the failure
01:09:03 to mobilize $100 billion annually since 2020, a commitment made in the Paris Agreement,
01:09:12 and that was a commitment that was to continue annually until 2025, but the failure of that
01:09:17 to materialize imperils the very existence of future generations.
01:09:21 We believe that COP28, which will be held this year in Dubai, will provide an excellent
01:09:26 opportunity to turn words into actions.
01:09:29 Turning now to the increase in migratory flows, we are all aware that the extent of these
01:09:35 migratory flows are threats to peace and security.
01:09:42 Indeed, this movement is of concern to rich countries, is the consequence of poverty,
01:09:47 because these migrants are seeking a better life, and as such, they leave poor areas to
01:09:53 earn a living in more affluent nations.
01:09:56 The reducing migration involves inevitably adopting appropriate cooperation-based measures
01:10:04 which allow young people better opportunities to find opportunities for decent work, independent
01:10:11 employment, or entrepreneurship.
01:10:14 This should be done, namely, through the implementation of programs which seek to achieve the SDGs
01:10:22 and ensure they are achieved on a national level.
01:10:24 We are now called upon to focus our efforts on establishing a global partnership which
01:10:31 fights poverty in all its forms.
01:10:33 As we await a lasting solution to poverty, countries of transit and destination must
01:10:42 understand our situation and provide dignified and humane assistance to migrants and must
01:10:48 guarantee them their fundamental rights.
01:10:51 The respect of human rights is a matter on which we all agree.
01:10:58 These rights must be universal and indivisible for all.
01:11:03 My country is always against discrimination, as well as against the instrumentalization
01:11:09 of human rights and the double standards used in their application.
01:11:13 We condemn states who, under the pretext of protecting human rights, use human rights
01:11:19 as fodder to interfere in the domestic affairs of states.
01:11:24 Moreover, we stand against politically motivated resolutions which target specific states,
01:11:30 and we are against the implementation of mechanisms which strangle the states targeted and stifle
01:11:37 them without any constructive dialogue taking place.
01:11:40 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, allow me, before I conclude, to reaffirm our commitment
01:11:48 to the democratization of the multiliteral system.
01:11:53 This includes the reform of the United Nations Security Council, as well as of the international
01:11:57 financial system, to make both more representative, just and inclusive, and able to more effectively
01:12:06 address the challenges emerging in the world today.
01:12:10 International law recognizes the principle of the sovereign equality of all states.
01:12:15 Accordingly, these states must enjoy the same rights and the same international duties,
01:12:21 including in the sensitive domains of the maintenance of international peace and security.
01:12:27 I wish to thank the member states of the Security Council, some of which understand the desire
01:12:34 long expressed by Africa.
01:12:36 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, as we mark this International Day of Peace,
01:12:42 I wish to close my address by paying a fervent tribute to our brave peacekeepers wherever
01:12:50 they are in the world, because they defend a universal cause which transcends all of
01:12:57 our differences.
01:12:58 For peace, for the sake of peace, let us rebuild trust and reignite international solidarity.
01:13:04 May God bless you.
01:13:05 Thank you for your kind attention.
01:13:12 On behalf of the Assembly, I thank the President of the Republic of Burundi for the statement
01:13:16 just made, and I request protocol to escort His Excellency.
01:13:22 The Assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency Alexander Vucic, President of the
01:13:29 Republic of Serbia.
01:13:31 I request protocol to escort his --
01:13:35 And we were listening to statements by the heads of state of South Sudan, Guinea, and
01:13:39 Burundi.
01:13:40 The heads of state were addressing the current challenges that the countries are facing and
01:13:44 how the Western model is imposed on their countries in Africa as a whole is having a
01:13:49 heavy toll on them, their economies, and the social development.
01:13:52 Like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
01:13:56 Remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at TELUSwordEnglish.net.
01:14:01 And also, if you feel so inclined, please join us on social media for all the latest
01:14:05 news.
01:14:06 We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.
01:14:10 For TELUSword English, I'm Yorenko Gladys Quezada.
01:14:13 Thank you for watching.
01:14:13 [music]

Recommended