Cape Verde, 2007

While we commend the United Nations for having chosen

climate change as the theme for this sixty-second

session of the General Assembly, at the same time we

recall that many countries in the South have, in recent

decades, warned the international community about

this phenomenon, which is being experienced here and

there through the drama of droughts and

desertification. Climate change has multiple causes,

some natural and others generated by human action.

Therefore, the responsibilities of States and societies

with respect to these changes are not equal. Nor are the

impacts they have on the lives of the common citizen.

Likewise, we do not have the same scientific,

technological or financial means to prevent the

negative effects of climate change.

At this point, I would like to say a few words

about drought and desertification, which demonstrate,

without a doubt, the change of climate in the West

African subregion. It is needless to mention their

devastating impact on the economic and social life of

the populations. Unfortunately, in spite of conferences

and grandiloquent conclusions and declarations, the

repeated calls from the Sahel have received half-heated

and inconsistent responses. In view of the profound

implications of this stance for the lives of populations

and States, some are depicting those responses as an

abdication of responsibility on the part of the

international community.

Climate change is, without any doubt, a world

challenge with many dimensions and the potential to

restructure economic, social and political life. Most

likely, we have wasted too much time in discussion,

thereby delaying global acceptance of the problem and,

consequently, the formulation of strategies for

adaptation and mitigation.

In brief, I would like to underline the catastrophic

effects, both present and future, of climate change and

more specifically, of drought and desertification on

small island States. If the projections on sea level rise

prove to be true, we will be facing a disaster of

unimaginable proportions.

My country, Cape Verde, an archipelago of

modest physical and demographic dimensions, is a

small island State and has experienced drought and

desertification and suffered from almost uninterrupted

water shortages for more than three decades.

Indeed, Cape Verde, given its location, size,

landscape and the insular and archipelagic

characteristics of its territory, is a prime example of the

convergence and concentration of the negative effects

of climate change. Drought and desertification have an

unquestionable impact on family income and the

poverty rate. They also undermine Government efforts

and strongly condition the mobilization and allocation

of resources for development financing.

In the light of the challenges of climate change,

one should recall the leading role that the United

Nations has had and continues to have in mustering

efforts to raise awareness about this critical problem

for the future of mankind. We are convinced that the

Bali conference will set new parameters based on the

principle of equity, the legitimate aspirations of

populations to development and the differentiated

responsibilities of each and everyone.

We therefore call on the United Nations to pursue

its efforts in this area and give very special attention to

small island States, which have to contend with

multiple fragilities and vulnerabilities. It is imperative

to resume and implement the Mauritius Strategy for the

Further Implementation of the Programme of Action

for the Sustainable Development of Small Island

Developing States. The community of nations cannot

but acknowledge that, given their origins and their role

throughout history, small island States are a “heritage

of mankind”.

In spite of its structural vulnerabilities and its

undeniable lack of natural resources, Cape Verde has,

since independence in 1975, followed a positive and

consistent development path. It is in this context that

we should consider Cape Verde’s graduation or, in

other words, its withdrawal from the group of least

developed countries as of 2008. We are resolved to rise

to the challenge of this new development stage and

through audacious strategies and decisions to transform

the country. We are quite aware that the main

responsibility for Cape Verde’s development rests in

the hands of the Cape Verdean Government and

citizens. This is the spirit that has guided us in the past,

and it is the spirit that will allow us to face the

challenge of graduation. Nevertheless, during the

transition period we hope to be able to count on strong

partnership from the international community in

dealing with Cape Verde’s structural fragility and any

new vulnerabilities.

In this regard, I call on the United Nations and

Member States to pay special attention to the

declaration of the United Nations Transition Assistance

Group and to the report that the Government will soon

deliver to the Secretary-General in accordance with the

resolution on graduation which the General Assembly

adopted in December 2004.

While it is true that our development strategy is

open, daring and driven by the desire to create

opportunities for foreign direct investment, it is no less

true that today, more than ever, we need innovative aid

and financing modalities that are better adjusted to the

pace we want to set for Cape Verde’s development and

to the imperatives of the transition. It is high time that

we move from discourse to action with respect to

ownership, in accordance with the spirit of the Paris

Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

Allow me also briefly to recall the transborder

and global nature of many modern day phenomena. I

refer to climate change and, of course, to terrorism,

organized crime and trafficking of all kinds. These

represent a threat to human security and to the

democratic rule of law, as they corrupt values,

compromise development and thwart the most

legitimate expectations of peoples.

We are living at a time when problems and threats

are of concern to all. They are not confined to a single

State or region. Nor can there be local solutions to the

global threats of our era. Responses to these issues will

be ineffective unless they are undertaken within a

robust, balanced and fair multilateral perspective.

The United Nations is, and should continue to be,

the foundation, the guarantor and the forum of

multilateralism. We are strongly convinced that the

United Nations must be strengthened for the sake of

the future of the world and of the ideals of peace,

security and development. And we are all faced with

the challenge of translating the reiterated statements of

the international community into coherent and

consistent action. It is a question of credibility in the

eyes of the world, which is watching us.

I cannot conclude without extending my

greetings, congratulations and encouragement to the

Secretary-General and wishing him success in guiding

our common Organization towards fully attaining its

founding goals and meeting the imperatives of

increased efficiency, modernization and

democratization in its work.

Likewise, I would like to extend warm greetings

to you, Mr. President, and to assure you of our

confidence that you will face the important challenges

confronting the Assembly with serenity and a sense of

duty.