Djibouti, 2012

I would

like to begin by extending my warmest congratulations

to the President on his election to the presidency of

the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session.

I have no doubt that his skills and long experience

in international matters are the best guarantee of the

success for our work during this session. I also wish

to express my strong gratitude to his predecessor, His

Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for his

excellent guidance of our work and for the efficiency

he showed during difficult moments throughout the

sixty-sixth session. I wish him every success in his new

responsibilities.

The global economic and financial context remains

more troubling than ever. The successive and increasing

economic and financial crises that began in 2008 affect

us all. Both developed and developing countries face

an uncertain environment, with economies slowed if

not in recession, sluggish growth, crushing debts and

deficits that threaten certain States with bankruptcy, as

well as growing unemployment rates. In such a context,

developing nations, in particular the least advanced, are

severely impacted economically as well as socially. The

negative consequences for achieving the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) have been enormous. In

many African countries, reaching those Goals by 2015

is jeopardized despite the fact that they have spared no

effort to step up implementation before the deadline.

It is in times of difficulty that we must show

responsibility and solidarity by honouring our respective

commitments. It is therefore important that the fate of

the least advanced African countries be examined with

particular attention with a view to helping them lighten

their burden, improve their productive capabilities and

facilitate access for their products to world markets

under more favourable conditions. My Government calls

for the comprehensive implementation of the Istanbul

Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries

for the Decade 2011-2020 (A/CONF.219/3/Rev.1).

The current financial and economic crises have

multidimensional consequences in Africa; any effort

to resolve them must take into account Africa’s

specific needs and must ensure that commitments

made at international meetings are implemented. I

take this opportunity to welcome the establishment of a United Nations monitoring mechanism to review the

commitments made related to Africa’s development.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development (Rio+20) in June was an opportunity

for all Governments to renew their commitment to a

sustainable development that embraces the economic,

social and environmental spheres. It is important that our

shared political will be swiftly transformed into action

and that the work we put into the Rio commitments for

“The future we want” becomes a reality.

The elimination of poverty remains an absolute

priority on the path to sustainable development. It is

a major challenge for many countries of the world,

including those of the Horn of Africa. Our region is

suffering enormously from the adverse effects of climate

change, and has been for a number of years. Trapped

in the cycle of chronic droughts and f loods, our most

vulnerable people are seeing their means of subsistence

destroyed and their productive capacity and access to

sufficient, nutritious food hampered. Our Government

has implemented social policies designed to relieve the

burden of extreme poverty and its corollary, hunger, and

hopes its partners will continue their support by acting

in accord with the national priorities, within a long-term

approach that will enable us to move from emergency

operations geared to the relief of affected populations

to a perspective of sustainable development.

That means, from the emergency stage onward, a

comprehensive global approach accompanied by efforts

to guarantee women, children and men the right to

food. Guaranteeing food security to our fellow citizens

remains our priority. I am convinced that the goals

of the Secretary-General’s Zero Hunger initiative are

achievable, because they have been developed within

the perspective of an integrated, effective strategy to

eliminate hunger that involves all actors.

I wish to acknowledge the support of our partners,

who have spared no effort to help us reach that goal,

especially in the efforts to reduce the disparities

between rural and urban populations and to develop our

agricultural production. In that regard, my country has

implemented a number of agricultural infrastructure

projects, including the development of arable land in

neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and the Sudan

and a project to capture the water of the Awash River on

the Ethiopian border when it f loods.

Access to potable water and water purification

continue to be a critical goal for my country, which is unfortunately on the list of those deficient in potable

water and which is considered a country at risk of water

shortages in the next 25 years. For most countries in

our situation, the effects of climate change accentuate

existing disparities.

Sustainable development must take an approach

focused on meeting the needs of populations. Women,

children and young people should be the target of

any implementation policy derived from the Rio+20

outcome document (resolution 66/288, annex) and of

all discussions geared to formulating the post-2015

development agenda. Human capital is my country’s

main asset, and that is why my Government devotes

particular attention to its development. Social policies

are being developed around the goal of promoting and

enhancing the rights and well-being of young people

and women. It is a national priority to guarantee

gender equality and to empower women through access

to health care and protect them from all forms of

discrimination and violence. My Government therefore

welcomes the African Union initiative recommending

that at its sixty-seventh session the Assembly adopt

a draft resolution aimed at intensifying efforts to

eliminate female genital mutilation from the world.

We welcome the measures undertaken by the African

Group in New York to that effect.

Youth, which is our future, constitutes a sure asset

for the African continent. Indeed, almost 65 per cent

of the African population is under the age of 35. It

goes without saying that addressing their present and

ensuring their social well-being is the way to success

for our country. The challenges are enormous given

the global economic stagnation. My Government has

therefore set up social policies and programmes in

order to respond to the specific needs of young people

in the areas of education, health care and employment.

On behalf of the Republic of Djibouti, I would like

to reiterate my warmest congratulations to the new

President of the Somali Republic, Mr. Hassan Sheikh

Mohamud, and to his people on having taken the first

step towards the reconciliation and stabilization of

Somalia and on having found the necessary resources

to overcome all obstacles on the way. The civil and

peaceful climate among the candidates at the time of the

election and the maturity that they showed throughout

an historic and inclusive electoral process must be

commended. Those realities are the best guarantee of

success for the future. The hope of seeing a reconciled

and peaceful Somalia is in sight. A new phase in the country’s political life is

beginning for the Somali people after more than

20 years of suffering and violence. The momentum

and enthusiasm prompted by those elections among

Somalis in the diaspora and within the country are

unprecedented. However, at this point it is crucial to

address two major challenges. The short-term priorities,

namely, security, good governance and economic

recovery, are challenges that the Somali Government

cannot overcome alone.

Somalia is at a crossroads and will need more than

ever the support and cooperation of all its partners

and friends. Donors and the international financial

institutions must stand beside the new Somali leadership

in order to help fulfil its new vision and to improve

the lives of Somalis as soon as possible. Their action

must be strengthened, coordinated and consistent with

the priorities of the new Government as there are many

challenges to overcome. Those challenges range from

restoring the security services to access to justice and

from establishing the rule of law to respect for human

rights, not to mention the problems of terrorism and

piracy off the Somali coast, which will not disappear

in the short term.

In short, it is clear that the end of the transition

in Somalia does not mean the completion of the peace

process. Politically, it is important that all phases of

the road map be implemented and that the political

dialogue continue. From the humanitarian point of

view, the situation remains critical. Millions of Somalis

need humanitarian assistance and have no means of

subsistence. The problem of refugees and internally

displaced persons also remains a source of concern.

Restoring security and maintaining it is not the

easiest thing in Somalia giving the new upsurge in

the terrorist acts and guerrilla tactics of extremist

groups, such as Al-Shabaab, despite the undeniable

success of the troops of the African Union Mission in

Somalia (AMISOM) and of the Somali and Ethiopian

security forces.

I would like to pay tribute here to the memory of the

late Meles Zenawi, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia,

who made peace his centrepiece. I would also like to

express admiration for the tireless efforts and heavy

sacrifices of the AMISOM troops, the Somali Security

Forces and the allied forces. Their contribution was and

remains invaluable to improving the security situation in

Mogadishu and the surrounding areas. The international

community must ensure the continued, predictable and reliable financing of the AMISOM troops so that the

reconciliation, stabilization and peacebuilding strategy

continues and reaches all Somalia.

In that regard, strengthening the security gains

is crucial. The countries in the region — Uganda,

Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti — have done

useful work and continue to serve the noble cause of

peace. However, the transformation of the AMISOM

forces into a United Nations peacekeeping force now

seems inevitable. We can no longer avoid that issue. It is

up to the Security Council to take that timely decision.

I would also like to launch an appeal for the

convening of a donor conference in order to mobilize

resources for the reconstruction of the Somali economy.

I am convinced that we are all aware of the necessity

of meeting the individual recovery, reintegration and

reconstruction needs of countries emerging from

conflict. Somalia is no exception. Here at the United

Nations, we must consider the steps to be taken, in

particular by the Peacebuilding Commission.

The theme of the General Assembly this

year — “Bringing about adjustment or settlement

of international disputes or situations by peaceful

means” — is relevant given the many conflicts in the

world that threaten international peace and security.

Our region, the Horn of Africa, has unfortunately not

been spared. As members know, my country, which

had successfully preserved the peace, was attacked and

brought into a border conflict by Eritrea in June 2008.

Since then, the Government has spared no effort

to resolve the dispute peacefully within regional and

international organizations. In the conviction that

dialogue is possible, my Government accepted the

good offices of His Royal Highness the Emir of Qatar

and his mediation. On the ground, that took the form

of deploying Qatari troops at the border between

Djibouti and Eritrea and the withdrawal of Eritrean

troops from Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island. The

Security Council adopted resolutions 1862 (2009), 1907

(2009) and 2023 (2011) to express the concern of the

international community in the light of that new crisis

in the Horn of Africa.

To date, two and a half years after the signing

of the mediation agreement, we are still waiting for

the demarcation of the border and the return of our

prisoners of war. The request for the release of the

Djibouti prisoners and the implementation of resolution

1862 (2009) remain sensitive issues for my country. My Government remains convinced that mediation

is the path that will enable us to achieve peace. We will

never stop believing in the virtues of dialogue, which

is the only way for our region to strengthen the gains

of peace.

The events that have taken place in the world

in recent weeks following the dissemination of an

anti-Islam film and of caricatures denigrating the

image of the Prophet of Islam cannot and must not leave

the international community indifferent. The tragic

consequences that led in particular to the loss of human

lives demand our attention. Political and religious

leaders and all people of goodwill must form a common

front against extremist and fanatical excesses of all

kinds. Given the desire of some to spread religious

intolerance, States Members of the United Nations must

ensure that the provisions of the Human Rights Council

consensus resolution 16/18 and General Assembly

consensus resolution 66/167 provide the answer.

While all legal steps must be taken to ensure freedom

of expression, it is just as important that malicious acts

that incite people to religious hatred, discrimination,

violence and intimidation through negative stereotypes,

as well as violence and discrimination on the basis of

religion, in particular against Muslims or any other

group, must be condemned and rejected, in accordance

with the relevant human rights instruments.

Given their increasing role in our modern societies,

the media and social networks have responsibilities

and must be on the side of those who contribute to

understanding and respect among the various cultures

and civilizations. It is more urgent than ever to be

on the side of tolerance, moderation and reason. All

initiatives and actions that promote peace in minds and

hearts and mutual understanding among peoples must

be encouraged.

The establishment of the United Nations gave rise

to immense hope in the world following the Second

World War and symbolized the will of all peoples of

the world not to be plunged again into the throes of

war. The Organization has been a forum for all nations

under colonization and a platform for them to acquire

sovereignty and to free themselves from domination.

However, it seems that, since 1947, there has

been an exception, to the detriment of the Palestinian

people. Palestine still lives under occupation,

which today is morally reprehensible and politically

unacceptable. It is high time that justice be delivered to the Palestinian people and that the peace process

between the Palestinian authorities and the occupying

force succeed. Freedom, justice, dignity and respect for

human rights are the only bastions against extremist

excesses. The international community has a moral

duty and a political responsibility to put an end to the

suffering of the Palestinian people, which has lasted for

more than 60 years.

History is on the side of those that show the

political courage required to achieve peace and to

give the peoples concerned hope for a better life. The

recognition of a Palestinian State as a fully-fledged

Member of the United Nations by the General Assembly

is the first step in the solidarity that the international

community owes to the Palestinian people, who have

shown patience and self lessness until now.