Like my predecessors, I would like
first of all, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of
Madagascar and on my own behalf, to congratulate His
Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa on his election
as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth
session. He is a credit to his country, the Republic of
Uganda, and the pride of the entire African continent.
Allow me next to thank Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon for his commitment to peace and development
in the world and for his actions at the head of the
Organization. I also take this opportunity to solemnly
reiterate to him and his team the gratitude of the
Malagasy people for the special attention and resources
that the United Nations system has mobilized in order
to contribute to the culmination of the process that
brought the crisis in Madagascar to an end. We are also
grateful for the important role that the United Nations
continues to play in working together with Madagascar
and its people. I naturally extend that gratitude to the
entire international community, whose support has
been decisive in the peaceful resolution of the Malagasy
crisis.
By choosing to return to constitutional order
through the ballot box, the Malagasy people confirmed
its commitment to stability and security. In so doing, it is
participating in building peace and security in the region
and thus throughout the world. Strengthened by those
values , we have made national reconciliation, which
is the foundation of social cohesion, the cornerstone
of our development policy. We are convinced that
without social peace, there can be no development and
vice versa. We have already taken important steps in
that process and we intend to move forward. But our
resources are not yet commensurate with the scale of
the tasks that remain. That is why Madagascar wishes
to gain access to the Peacebuilding Fund, which is
being made available through the Organization.
Five per cent of the world’s biodiversity is found
in Madagascar. It behoves us, therefore, to take
responsibility for preserving that resource and ensure
better management for future generations. Upon taking
office in January 2014, I declared war on traffickers
in rosewood and all those who engage in the illegal
trade in protected species. The establishment of good
forest governance was the first act in a whole series
of concrete measures to that end. An interdepartmental
committee for restructuring the sector was established.
The authorities are working hard to achieve the policy
of zero tolerance against trafficking of all kinds related
to natural resources and protected species. However,
despite our efforts, we must note that traffickers still
manage to evade surveillance measures, due to the lack
of resources at our disposal to deal with traffickers,
who have ample resources.
Madagascar’s strategic location in the Indian
Ocean, at the crossroads of various maritime routes
that are vital to global trade, means that we must work
to preserve our fishing areas and our marine reserves.
The risk of piracy, terrorism and trafficking of all kinds
is high. Measures must be taken in that regard, within
the framework of an active international cooperation to
protect the area.
The Malagasy Government has also increased the
extent of protected areas to cover more than 10 per cent
of the country, or at least 6 million hectares, with the
cooperation of its partners. A large-scale reforestation
project aimed at sustaining the long-term production of
timber and firewood is included in the Government’s
agenda in terms of commitments. We are also
strengthening our legal arsenal by ratifying several
multilateral environmental agreements, including the
Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
After over five years of political crisis, including
sanctions and suspension measures of all kinds, it is
clear that the majority of the Millennium Development
Goals will not be met in Madagascar by 2015. However,
the country is committed to focusing its development
efforts on its population and has initiated major
projects in some key sectors such as education, health,
employment, security, access to new information and
communication technologies and infrastructure. Thus,
school enrolment for girls has far exceeded that for
boys. Similarly, nearly 500,000 children and youth have
been enrolled in educational and socio-professional
institutions for the year 2014-2015. Over 100 basic
health centres have been opened in recent months
across the country. In the framework of our fight against
malaria, Madagascar’s efforts have been recognized
at the continental level, including our achievement of
95 per cent of households owning at least one mosquito
net impregnated with long-lasting insecticide and our
intra-residential spraying campaign, which are the most
important tools for the prevention of malaria. Moreover,
Madagascar has demonstrated its solidarity with the
world’s fight against Ebola.
In terms of security, tangible results have been
achieved in recent months with Operation First Strike,
which is aimed at eradicating the massive theft of
zebus in the south and west of the country. Finally,
Madagascar’s renewed adherence to the African
Growth and Opportunity Act should give new impetus
to the country’s economic and social fabric with the
massive job creation.
When it comes to climate change, the stakes are
high for Madagascar, since our economy is based on
developing sectors that are sensitive to climate change.
The numbers are telling in that regard — 75 per cent
of Madagascar’s population lives in rural areas, of
which 4 million are in vulnerable areas, and 28 per cent
of the rural population are food-insecure. Although
we do not have the means to adequately mitigate the
negative effects of climate change on the country’s
socio-economic activities, we have nevertheless taken
action. Measures range from the development of legal
frameworks such as the national policy for the fight
against climate change, the national strategy for a
clean development mechanism and the establishment of
an energy transition policy that is based on the use of
renewable energy. We are also implementing a national
action plan for adaptation and have created various
structures to coordinate activities related to climate
change.
We fully support the theme of this session,
“Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-
2015 development agenda”. Our country is committed
to creating the conditions to establish a prosperous and
modern nation. That is the whole purpose of the actions
we have undertaken on the basis of the principles of
transparency, good governance, respect for the rights of
others, democracy and human rights. With this vision
of a modern and prosperous nation, our main objective
is to allow the people to emerge from their precarious
situation. To do so, we have decided on a policy of
improving production to increase productivity and
developing a reliable agricultural sector. That will help
the country to achieve food self-sufficiency and allow
Madagascar to become the backbone of food security in
the Indian Ocean.
We have also decided to undertake major public
infrastructure works, including structural work, the
construction of highways and roads, works of art,
building construction and embellishment, dams,
water purification and improvements to the energy
sector. In that regard, we are developing an innovative
partnership for finance structuring and partnerships.
In addition to conventional financing from traditional
donors, we have used a public-private partnership
system. It is aimed at establishing a mutually beneficial
partnership for Malagasy and investors alike. Particular
attention is being paid to promoting youth employment,
and companies that fulfil the required conditions will
benefit from strong incentives and tax benefits.
Another priority area is tourism. Tourist facilities
are still limited in number and need to be developed.
Madagascar today is the ideal destination for such
investment, in particular in growth sectors. We
must meet the challenges of growth and ensure that
Government actions have a positive and tangible
impact on the lives of the 22 million Malagasy through
inclusive and sustainable development. Madagascar
has adopted a transformative agenda for its future. The
drafting of the national development plan reflects the
determination of the State to establish the principles
of good governance and economic recovery. The Plan
is to be a central frame of reference for private-sector
engagement with civil society, decentralized local
authorities and technical and financial partners. The
implementation of the national development plan will
promote and ensure the security of domestic and foreign
investment and the updating of regulatory frameworks
relating thereto.
Before concluding, I reiterate my country’s
determination to renew and strengthen its commitments
to the various activities of the United Nations, in
addition to our effective participation in the regular
work of the committees and in various conferences
held under the auspices of the Organization. We point
out the deployment every year of contingents from our
national gendarmerie, national police and the Malagasy
penitentiary administration within various United
Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa. Most
recently, the Government of Madagascar has responded
positively to the United Nations request for 140 officers
in formed police units to serve in the Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African
Republic.
Madagascar also continues to advocate for equitable
representation in the Security Council so that countries
directly involved in crises and conflicts can fully take
part in the process of the adoption of resolutions.
Madagascar aspires to move rapidly from its current
status to that of a growing country with an expanding,
vibrant middle class and that will see its income quickly
rise to match those of emerging countries. I know that
this is possible and achievable. I have made a moral
contract with the people of Madagascar to optimize our
use of our natural and human resources to enable our
country to achieve a solid place within the globalization
network, to rebuild itself and to contribute in a positive
way to the resolution of the major problems of this
world.