São Tomé and Príncipe, 2008

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.