I
believe that nearly everything has already been said
here since the beginning of the sixty-third session of
the General Assembly. Some were things that we
Africans wanted to hear and some we could have done
without. But I have come to New York once again to
join other heads of State who are concerned with the
state of the planet, which faces armed conflicts,
environmental catastrophes — some naturally
occurring and some the result of thoughtless and
selfish behaviour and attitudes of some among us — as
well as multiple financial crises, including extreme
increases in the price of oil and basic food products.
On behalf of the people of the islands of Sao
Tome and Principe, I should like to congratulate
Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-third
session and to wish him every success. I am certain
that the themes he has put forward for discussion at
this session are a reflection of his concern about the
various international problems currently affecting the
world. I would dare say that we are doubly blessed by
his qualities as a diplomat, which are well known, and
as a priest. Allow me also to take this opportunity to
23 08-51845
thank and commend his predecessor for a job well
done.
The report (A/63/1) of the Secretary-General to
the Assembly exhaustively describes the world in
which we live and reflects the major concerns of
Member States while providing guidance on how to
resolve them. I believe it to be an important working
document that deserves the closest attention from
Member States.
The recent upheavals and conflicts that the world
has experienced are proof of the fragility of the current
system of international relations. That makes it
necessary for the world’s main political actors to
engage in permanent dialogue to find lasting solutions
that will make it possible for nations and peoples to
concentrate on social and economic development
issues.
With regard to development, I would like to
commend the Secretary-General on his selection of
themes for the high-level meetings, the first of which
took place the day before the opening of the general
debate and the second of which is taking place today.
We hope that those who, during the first three days of
the general debate, have reaffirmed their determination
to continue their solidarity towards Africa will translate
the intentions expressed here into action.
I need not reiterate my country’s position with
regard to chronic unresolved conflicts, especially the
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
issue, the perennial latent conflict in our subregion that
is taking place in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, and the humanitarian situation in Darfur and its
impact.
Our attention and available resources are focused
on efforts to eradicate poverty, ensure food security
and achieve the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). Despite the enormous efforts of my people
and the hardships they have suffered, my country will
not be able to achieve all the Goals by 2015. The food
crisis, the financial crisis and the constraints of
insufficient aid linked to inadequate processes are all
contributing to deteriorating prospects. Paradoxically,
the number of poor people is increasing rather than
decreasing. We are continuing our efforts to reverse
that situation, by example, by greatly increasing
microcredit loans in the agriculture and fisheries
sectors in an attempt to ensure some measure of food
security.
However, despite the relatively unfavourable
overall environment, there have been some success
stories. For example, in recent years, Sao Tome and
Principe has made great progress with regard to child
mortality indicators; we are certain that we will
achieve the targets established in the MDGs. We have
also made progress in the area of education. With
adequate support from our partners and the
international community, we will be able to achieve the
relevant targets set out in the MDGs.
According to data published in 2007, the
incidence of HIV/AIDS infection has increased in my
country. We have attempted to provide free or
subsidized antiretroviral treatment for all, with help
from the Federative Republic of Brazil. We are also
carrying out an aggressive policy to educate people in
order to prevent the disease and promote safe sexual
practices.
Sao Tome and Principe is an archipelago that
includes three mountainous islands. Despite our
mountainous terrain, however, our people are
increasingly concerned about the advancing sea at high
tide. According to records, no waves higher than three
metres have broken on our shores in the past 110 years.
However, giant waves have begun to wash over our
coastal highways in the past 10 years, temporarily
cutting off certain regions of our country. I cannot
overemphasize the strong appeal I made from this
rostrum in the past to those who are primarily
responsible for the global warming that afflicts the
planet, namely, that they address this phenomenon and
the means to mitigate its effects with much greater
seriousness.
In his statement at the opening of the sixty-third
session of the General Assembly (see A/63/PV.1), the
Assembly President said that love was the greatest
need in today’s world and that the selfishness of some
has led to the current situation. This may perhaps be
considered overly simplistic coming from the mouth of
a head of State, but I believe that that is precisely the
core of the problem. Our Governments, diplomats and
politicians rarely think in such terms. No people
chooses to be poor. Being poor does not imply that we
are less intelligent or lazier than others. It all has to do
with the opportunities available at the time of birth, as
well as to the solidarity and compassion one
encounters thereafter — when these are not empty
words. Yes, we must re-establish generosity and
solidarity among human beings.
08-51845 24
An example of that is the fact that there was a
decrease of more than 95 per cent in the number of
cases of malaria recorded in Sao Tome and Principe in
2007. As a result, we expect that the disease will soon
be eradicated from our country through an ongoing
control programme. For the first time in centuries, as
confirmed by the most recent report of the World
Health Organization on the state of the world’s health,
malaria is not the main cause of child mortality and
morbidity among the people of my country. That has
been possible thanks to the Republic of China on
Taiwan.
Speaking of solidarity and Taiwan, once again
from this rostrum, I would like to appeal to the
conscience of each and every member to consider the
fate to which 23 million Taiwanese have been
relegated. Will the community of nations represented
here continue to ignore the existence of a population
comprising more than 23 million people? I must
remind the Assembly that the Republic of China on
Taiwan is a country with a vibrant democracy and an
enviable economic and technological record that has
served as a development model for the global economy.
On 20 May 2008, we were pleased to see the
inauguration of the new President of that friendly
country. We paid close attention to his inaugural
address, which was a genuine call for peace and good
relations in the Taiwan Strait.
Also regarding the lack of solidarity in the world,
the embargo against Cuba is another cause for concern
that requires our urgent attention. That relic from the
past must be lifted on an urgent basis, especially in the
aftermath of the destruction caused by the two
successive hurricanes that recently struck that friendly
nation. The United States Administration has a golden
opportunity to demonstrate to the world that the
statements of its leaders are not just rhetorical
exercises.
At the same time, I would like to make it very
clear that Sao Tome and Principe is a tenacious
defender of the measures to combat international
terrorism and to prevent the further loss of innocent
life.
Development strengthens diplomacy and security,
reduces threats against our collective security and
produces peaceful, stable and prosperous societies.
That must be the focus of our efforts. I should
therefore, in conclusion, reiterate what I said at the
outset: we must all be less selfish and care more about
each other, rather than just ourselves.