On behalf of my
delegation, and in my own name, I extend to the
President our warmest congratulations on his well-
deserved election to preside over the sixty-fourth
session of the Assembly. I also commend the
Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his tireless
efforts at the helm of our Organization in the cause of
international peace and security.
In this globalized world, nations will increasingly
face unconventional, emerging threats to their security.
The recent rapid spread of the A (H1N1) virus is a case
in point. The commitment of the entire membership of
our Organization is required to forge a consensus to
deal with the uncertainties of the times ahead. More
than ever before, multilateralism will be the way
forward.
09-52463 40
As we confronted the severe food and energy
crises of a year ago, little did we realize that the world
was about to be engulfed in an unprecedented
economic crisis. The most severe meltdown since the
Great Depression has spared no country, precisely
because we live in an interconnected world. Millions of
people all over the world have lost their jobs, their
incomes and their savings. It is estimated that an
additional 50 million people have already been driven
into extreme poverty. Whatever modest progress
developing countries had achieved has been severely
set back.
The world may be witnessing the early signs of a
slow recovery. However, the aftershocks of the crisis
will continue to be felt for much longer. Developing
countries have experienced declining capital flows,
stagnating foreign aid and a fall in remittances and
export revenues.
Mauritius, with a small open economy, has been
exceptionally exposed to the adverse effects of the
crisis. Although both our manufacturing sector and our
tourism industry have been negatively impacted, we
have registered positive economic growth. This is due
to the reforms my Government has implemented since
2005. Bold reforms have succeeded in making our
economy more resilient. In 2008, our gross domestic
product (GDP) grew by 5.3 per cent and the
unemployment rate dropped to 7.2 per cent. Mauritius
attracted foreign direct investment amounting to almost
5 per cent of GDP, and achieved the highest level of
job creation in more than a decade.
However, the global crisis has been a severe
blow. Growth has been slowed; we expect growth of
around 2.7 per cent this year. But our economy is now
structurally more sound, more competitive and
resilient. We are concerned that a prolonged crisis
could drive our export-oriented economy into reverse
gear, with further declines in trade and capital flows,
exchange rate volatility, and further falls in tourist
arrivals.
To mitigate the damage to our economy, we
reacted as soon as the first signs of the subprime crisis
started in the United States. We introduced an
expansionary budget with emphasis on infrastructural
projects, and as the crisis spread into a worldwide
financial and economic crisis we put in place a
stimulus package to save jobs, protect people and
prepare for the recovery. We have, in other words, been
ahead of the curve. In this uncertain economic
situation, the priority of Mauritius is to safeguard the
hard-earned gains from past reforms.
We have been collateral victims of financial
imbalances, over-leveraged financial institutions,
inadequate regulation and deficient supervision.
Developing countries benefit little from periods of
boom, and pay an inordinately high price for the busts
that often follow. We hope that strengthening
regulations and supervision will prevent the
accumulation of high-risk, toxic assets that led to the
crisis in the first place.
The crisis has also made it clear that the Bretton
Woods institutions stand in need of fundamental
reform. However, reforms will be effective only if they
take into account the long-term stability and
sustainability of the global economy. Institutions that
make global decisions must reflect the changing nature
of the global economic environment.
For too long we have condoned a clear
democratic deficit in global economic governance. We
need to reshape the global economy into a more
equitable system, responsive to the needs of all
countries and reflecting the realities of the day. In this
regard, we appreciate the convening of the United
Nations Conference on the World Financial and
Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, held
last June. The Conference provided a uniquely
inclusive platform to address the urgent concerns of all
nations. It has allowed the formulation of proposals to
lessen the impact of the crisis, especially on vulnerable
populations.
The implementation of the Conference’s
recommendations should avoid a further deterioration
in the conditions of the world’s poor. And we look
forward to the recommendations of the Group of 20
(G20) Summit, which starts today in Pittsburgh.
In coping with the effects of the crisis, we have to
resist the temptation to resort to trade protectionism.
We should not forget that international trade has been a
powerful engine for development and has generated
substantial economic growth. From our perspective as
a vulnerable small island developing State, it is vital
that markets remain open and that international trade
flows are not impeded.
It is essential that the Doha Round, with
development at its core, be successfully concluded,
41 09-52463
without, however, any unravelling of the July 2008
convergence package. We look forward to significant
progress at the seventh session of the World Trade
Organization Ministerial Conference, scheduled for
December in Geneva.
The negative impact of the economic crisis on the
most vulnerable populations causes us great concern.
The global economic slowdown has further delayed the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). Confronted with this grave setback, the
developing world looks for a strong demonstration of
solidarity.
We hope that the donor community will do more
than just honour its previous commitments. The
Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus and
the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development
have been overtaken by the events of the past year.
But I strongly believe that what we need now is a
change in our approach in the developing economies.
We need to urgently apply ourselves to making
pro-business policy reforms instead of just relying on
aid. That is the way to create wealth and prosperity.
Charity is a noble endeavour, but relying on charity
alone is not the answer to future prosperity and
opportunity for all.
We need to unleash the entrepreneurial drive of
our people. That is the ultimate answer to the
eradication of poverty. We all know that it is better to
show a man how to fish than to give him a fish every
day. And we need to coordinate our actions to bring
down trade barriers. In fact, what the developing
countries need is a Marshall Plan, with a single
coordinated programme. To qualify, countries need to
meet benchmarks for good governance, respect for
human rights, accessible health care and education and
predictable economic policies.
Such a plan was successful in uplifting the
economies of Europe after the Second World War. I
have no doubt that it can be adapted to meet the same
measure of success for developing countries.
At the national level, my Government is
mobilizing considerable resources to meet the
Millennium Development Goals. In a relentless drive
to fight poverty, we have introduced an eradication of
absolute poverty programme, which aims to break the
vicious circle of poverty begetting poverty. And, to
show our commitment to eradicating poverty in our
region, Mauritius took the initiative to host the
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
International Consultative Conference on Poverty and
Development last year so that we can develop a
common pragmatic approach. We are committed to the
attainment of the MDGs on schedule, and look forward
to the high-level review meeting next year.
Ensuring the fulfilment of the MDGs demands a
stronger commitment by national Governments in the
fight against HIV/AIDS. We are heartened in this
instance by the response of the international
community, which has been timely, generous and
effective. Each and every nation must be fully engaged
in this fight.
In Mauritius, we treat HIV/AIDS as a national
priority. I have set up a National AIDS Committee,
which I chair. We have put in place a multisectoral
strategy to protect the population at large, with special
emphasis on vulnerable groups. And yesterday I was
delighted to learn about the breakthrough of an
HIV/AIDS vaccine which could be available in the not
too distant future.
Recently, the A (H1N1) pandemic has rapidly
taken on alarming proportions. Although we have taken
all possible steps to effectively deal with this new
influenza virus, the escalation of the outbreak could
stretch our health resources and infrastructure. In this
connection, developing countries require early access
to the vaccines that are in the pipeline, once their
safety is assured.
Food security should have been an absolute
priority of development strategies. It has for far too
long been neglected. Many countries struggle to
guarantee adequate food for their people. The present
economic recession compounds an already difficult
situation. Over a billion people, mostly in developing
countries, do not have sufficient food to meet their
daily basic nutritional needs. One in six of the human
family goes to bed hungry and angry.
The present relative decline in food prices must
not make us lose sight of the structural long-term
deficit the world faces. This age-old problem is
complicated by uncertainties linked to climate change
and the diversion of food crops for bio-fuel production.
We must strengthen measures to improve food
security globally. Existing funding mechanisms must
09-52463 42
be improved to assist the World Food Programme to
effectively avoid recurrent outbreaks of famine.
Mauritius welcomes the initiative of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
to convene the World Summit on Food Security in
Rome in November. It is our earnest hope that it will
not be just another conference, but will propose
practical measures to alleviate hunger and malnutrition.
In Mauritius, we have adopted a comprehensive
strategy to achieve a reasonable level of food self-
sufficiency. We are mobilizing technological, financial
and human resources to produce locally as much food
as is practically possible. To this end, we have set up a
one-billion-rupee Food Security Fund to optimize
efficiency and boost agricultural production.
To benefit from economies of scale, we are
encouraging production in surplus of local
consumption for export. We are establishing
partnerships regionally to jointly produce food crops,
livestock and marine products. The effective
implementation of this strategy will contribute to
improving our national food security.
We are currently working with Mozambique on a
rice production project which will contribute to
improving food availability in both countries, and
probably in the region.
Climate change poses an existential challenge to
mankind. Our profligacy puts at stake the very future
of our planet and the forms of life it supports. This is
an environmental threat with far-reaching social and
economic implications that we have yet to mainstream
into our national planning and decision-making
processes.
We cannot with impunity treat our home planet
with contempt. We can yet forestall bringing upon
ourselves the full wrath of nature. But time is running
out. Divergences must be resolved at all costs, and
quickly, at Copenhagen. To move forward in a
pragmatic manner, we need to break away from the
finger-pointing, recrimination and brinkmanship of the
past.
In Copenhagen, it is imperative that we agree to a
targeted reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that
will restrict global temperature rise to no more than
1.5° C. But any action, to be fair, must be proportional.
Those who have polluted the most should bear most of
the burden. Developing countries need extra help so
that their growth path is not thwarted.
We must create a financial mechanism to assist
developing countries to adapt to and mitigate the
effects of climate change. This mechanism has to be
credible and sustainable, and be managed according to
the principles of good governance. It should also be a
channel for the transfer of technology.
I therefore make a strong appeal that we unite to
act collectively and quickly in our own interest and
that of future generations.
For its part, Mauritius is implementing the
“Maurice île durable” project to respond to climate
change and the energy crisis. This is an ambitious
programme focusing on the use of renewable energy
and the emergence of small power producers. Its
implementation will reduce our dependence on fossil
fuels considerably and facilitate the transition to a
clean, energy-efficient economy.
We have mobilized appropriate resources, with
the collaboration of the private sector and development
partners, to build a green and ecological future for
Mauritius. We are doing our utmost to contribute, in
full measure, to the global effort required.
The inherent constraints faced by small island
developing States (SIDS) — in particular limited
resources, remoteness, small domestic markets and
vulnerability to natural disasters — cannot be ignored.
We share a common future, and the welfare of one is
unsustainable without the welfare of all.
We appeal to the international community to be
more forthcoming in assisting SIDS in their efforts to
become integrated into the global economy. A one-size-
fits-all approach to development threatens to further
marginalize SIDS in an increasingly globalized world.
It is patently obvious that SIDS deserve special
treatment and need to be recognized as a group of
countries having specificities of their own.
The promotion and protection of human rights is
a key priority of my Government. I wish to extend our
appreciation to the United Nations membership for the
re-election of Mauritius to the Human Rights Council.
We will continue to work with other members of the
Council in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and
objectivity to ensure that human rights violations are
effectively addressed.
43 09-52463
In line with our commitment to see that
perpetrators of grave human rights violations are
brought to justice, we wish to reaffirm our unflinching
support for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
At the national level, we have adopted legislation
such as the Equal Opportunities Act and the Truth and
Justice Commission Act to further entrench human
rights. Our achievements in the field of human rights
were widely acknowledged during the Universal
Periodic Review conducted earlier this year by the
Human Rights Council. We were gratified by the
unique opportunity provided to us by the Review to
make a critical self-assessment of the situation in
Mauritius.
When I addressed the Assembly in September
2007 I called on the international community to do
more than just stand by the people of Burma. This
appeal is more than ever relevant. We cannot condone
the condemnation of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi by a
kangaroo court. We reaffirm our solidarity with and
support for Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, an emblematic lady
who personifies the courage and dignity of her people,
a people battered and bruised but unbowed.
It is imperative that we convey a clear and strong
signal to the military junta that the international
community will not tolerate its confiscation of the
Burmese people’s sovereignty. In this respect, I
welcome the recent decision of the EU to extend the
sanctions imposed on Burma.
For its part, Mauritius will continue to implement
the decision I took in 1997 to suspend importations of
rice from Burma. This decision has a cost, but it is a
price we are prepared to pay in defence of principles
we hold dear. We must show the world that there will
be no double standards in our approach. I urge those
countries that give comfort and sustenance to the
regime not to let their short-term, mercantile interests
perpetuate the misery of this long-suffering people.
The Arab-Israeli conflict, with the question of
Palestine at its core, remains an issue of deep concern
not only to the region, but also to the world at large.
We take heart in the efforts of the Administration of
President Obama to impart new impetus to the Middle
East peace process. And we could not agree more with
President Obama that continuing to build new
settlements flies in the face of logic if lasting peace is
to be achieved.
As a long-time proponent of a two-State solution,
Mauritius welcomes the Quartet’s commitment,
renewed in Trieste in June, to actively and vigorously
work for a comprehensive solution of the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
The Arab League’s commitment to peace with
Israel and the Arab Peace Initiative have been
encouraging developments. We hope that those most
directly concerned will display the courage and
maturity to engage in meaningful dialogue in earnest.
The United Nations is, more than ever, the
ultimate guardian of mankind’s aspiration to global
peace and security. I salute its unceasing effort in
resolving conflicts around the world, in particular on
the African continent. Conflicts and insecurity in
Africa have been a major cause of the continent’s
underdevelopment. A study carried out by Oxfam last
year indicates that between 1990 and 2005 conflict cost
the continent $300 billion, which is almost equivalent
to all the international aid received by sub-Saharan
Africa during that period.
The African Union has moved ahead with the
creation of an African Standby Force. Once fully
established, the Force will, hopefully, help in the
advancement of peace and security at the continental
level. The creation of the Mechanism for Conflict
Prevention, Management and Resolution is also a
positive step in improving the peace and security
architecture of Africa.
I take this opportunity to commend the United
Nations and the European Union for helping Africa
enhance its capacity to respond adequately and in a
timely manner to security threats on the continent. The
European Union deserves our appreciation for its
contribution, to the tune of €500 million under the
10th European Development Fund, for the implementation
of the Africa Peace Facility.
Allow me also to highlight some of the progress
that has been achieved on the continent this year,
including the formation of an all-inclusive Government
in Zimbabwe and the holding of presidential elections
in Mauritania.
We welcome the Agreement of Goodwill and
Confidence-Building for the Settlement of the Problem
in Darfur reached in February by Sudan’s Government
of National Unity and the Justice and Equality
Movement.
09-52463 44
We commend the role played by the African
Union-United Nations joint mediation team and
particularly the Government of Qatar, which has done
so much to drive the process. We call on all the parties
to the conflict to join in the search for peace in Darfur.
We hope that conditions will speedily be created for
the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
We have high expectations that the preliminary
agreement reached in Maputo will provide the political
framework for resolution of the troubled situation in
Madagascar. We are heartened by the active
involvement and solicitude of various international
bodies in trying to return the country to constitutional
order. We cannot and should not condone
unconstitutional Governments anywhere, be it in
Honduras or Madagascar.
Somalia reminds us that we cannot with impunity
wash our hands of any country, however remote it may
be or however unimportant it may seem. The
international community’s neglect of the country and
its indifference to the suffering of the Somali people
have resulted in a quintessential failed State. That
neglect and indifference have come back to haunt us in
the form of piracy. Armed bands led by warlords have
filled the political vacuum left by the deliquescence of
the Somali State. Today the territory of Somalia
provides not only a haven for pirates, but also a base
for terrorist groups. The Transitional Federal
Government has to be assisted to regain control of the
country, to put an end to the suffering of the Somali
people and to deal with the problem of piracy.
Terrorism is an insidious, tentacular
malignancy — a bane of our times. It is not only a
security threat. It is a moral challenge, the negation of
the fundamental values of civilization: the sanctity of
human life and the intrinsic worth of the human
person.
Every terrorist attack causes us pain, anguish and
revulsion. But the one in Mumbai last November took
on a special poignancy for the people of Mauritius. In
the blind and mindless carnage unleashed by the
terrorists on that city, one of the victims was a
compatriot of ours. We have condemned in no
uncertain terms this dastardly, cowardly act, and we
expect that everything will be done to ensure that the
terrorist organization behind it is brought to justice.
My Government unreservedly supports all campaigns
and initiatives against terrorism.
Mauritius nurtures the hope of the complete
elimination of all nuclear weapons one day. Pending its
ultimate realization, we support all measures aimed at
halting the further spread of such weapons. In this
regard, we welcome the comprehensive agenda of
President Obama to achieve the goal of a world
without nuclear weapons.
Multilateralism is the cornerstone of the United
Nations, and should be strengthened in the face of the
current global challenges. Global challenges need a
global response.
We follow with keen interest the process under
way to revitalize the General Assembly and improve its
working methods, to bring more coherence to the
United Nation system, and to reform the Security
Council.
We are particularly satisfied by the start of the
intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council
reform earlier this year in an informal plenary session
of the General Assembly. The comity of nations should
work together, in a spirit of solidarity, to reach a
unified position on the reform of this important body.
The reform of the Council should cover the categories
of both permanent and non-permanent members, with a
revised set of working methods.
We fully support India’s having a permanent seat
in a reformed Security Council. And we once again
express our unequivocal support for the Common
African Position. We also support permanent
membership of a Latin American and Caribbean
country in a reformed Security Council.
I take this opportunity to reaffirm the sovereignty
of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, including
Diego Garcia, which was detached by the United
Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to our
independence. The dismemberment of the territory of
Mauritius was in total disregard of General Assembly
resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 2066
(XX) of 16 December 1965.
As President Obama said two days ago from this
very rostrum, we must “demonstrate that international
law is not an empty promise” (). We must all
abide by it.
We have consistently urged the United Kingdom
to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Mauritius for
the early return of the Chagos Archipelago. We are
pleased to inform the Assembly that two rounds of
45 09-52463
talks have been held with the United Kingdom this
year. We look forward to those discussions coming to
fruition, and hope that Mauritius will be able to
exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago,
including Diego Garcia, in the near future.
My Government and the French authorities are
also in the process of addressing the issue of Tromelin.
We are discussing the modalities of co-management of
the island in a spirit of friendship and trust, pending the
settlement of the sovereignty issue, which has to be
resolved and not left on the back burner.
(spoke in French)
Nobody can deny the key role that the United
Nations is called upon to play in the concert of nations.
At the same time, we agree that the Organization needs
to be reformed. The attendance at this session of the
Assembly, where each year a number of points of view
and perceptions converge, emphasizes our desire to act
and build together.
The concerns and aspirations of our peoples are
echoed and thus take on universal resonance. We are
indeed becoming aware that, whatever latitude we
develop in, we have a common destiny.
I am one of a people steeped in several cultures,
whose men and women worship Shiva, Jesus, Allah
and Buddha, in diverse languages. The history of the
populating of our island and its geographical position
have made our country a true crossroads of cultures.
We have made the right to difference on the one hand
and the right to equality on the other our watchwords. I
am happy to remind my multi-ethnic people that each
individual shares with all other humans 99.9 per cent
of the same genetic code.
Those of us gathered here have much to learn
from each other. Exchanging our experiences and
knowledge enriches us and makes us stronger.
The respect for plurality that this forum demands
must neither make us forget our differences nor
contribute to the emergence of a dominant discourse.
I commend the topic that the President has chosen
for this year. If the Assembly manages to foster cross-
pollenization of cultures and to highlight what human
beings have in common, we shall, to a large extent,
have achieved our goal.