São Tomé and Príncipe, 2025

The Assembly will now hear and address by His Excellency Américo de Oliveira dos Ramos, Prime Minister and Head of Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principal. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the Assembly. Madam President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations, Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, allow me, Excellencies, to express the profound honor of addressing this distinguished Assembly on behalf of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. At a time when the international community faces challenges of unprecedented complexity, the theme of the 80th Session, Better Together, resonates not only as an ideal, but as an imperative necessity for humanity, for collective development and prosperity. On this solemn occasion, we express our solidarity with all nations that in recent months have endured natural disasters, conflicts and humanitarian crises. Here we speak not of mere statistics, but of real human lives, of broken families, of entire communities forced into suffering. Your losses are felt by us all, and your resilience inspires us to redouble our efforts in pursuit of a safer and fairer world. In the same spirit, I take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Your Excellency, Madam President Annalena Baerbock, on your election to preside over this august and historic session. Your vast diplomatic experience and commitment to multilateralism are guarantees of wise and effective leadership. I assure you, Madam President, of the full support of São Tomé and Príncipe in the fulfillment of your mandate. Likewise, I extend warm congratulations to the outgoing President Philemon Yang for his very successful leadership of the previous session, which greatly honored the legacy of all those who came before him. I could not fail to pay a well-deserved tribute to the Secretary General António Guterres, whose tireless and persistent voice in defense of peace, human rights and sustainable development continues to serve as a moral compass for our organization. His visionary leadership has contributed to revitalizing the United Nations and adapting it to the pressing challenges of the 21st century. Madam President, Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, São Tomé and Príncipe come before this Assembly with a message of hope and a call to action. In recent years, our country has made remarkable progress in consolidating democracy, promoting peace and defending human rights. We are an example that even with limited resources, it is possible to build an open, pluralistic and tolerant society and to sow the seeds of a better future. The privileged geographical position of São Tomé and Príncipe in the heart of the Gulf of Guinea grants us an added responsibility in promoting regional stability and security. Our country has sought to establish itself as a natural bridge between continental Africa and the Atlantic island communities, facilitating dialogue, cooperation, cultural and economic exchange, combating piracy and promoting safe trade routes that benefit the entire international community. Our democratic journey, which has become a reference in our subregion, is marked by the regular holding under existing law of free and transparent elections, by the active participation of political actors and civil society, and by the guarantee of freedom of the press. We believe that democracy is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and lasting peace. Domestically, the São Tomé state has responsibly undertaken reform processes in the fiscal, economic, judicial and public administration sectors, implementing public policies aimed at improving human development indicators. Yet we recognize that the progress achieved remains fragile and constantly under threat. Excellencies, the recent graduation of São Tomé and Príncipe to the category of middle income country in December 2024, becoming the eighth to achieve such milestone, constitutes without a doubt a significant achievement and a just recognition of the efforts made by our people. This graduation is the fruit of concrete and measurable gains that attest to our progress. Between 2020 and 2022, our gross national per capita income reached US$2,271, significantly surpassing the graduation threshold set at US$1,306. At the same time, our human development index showed remarkable progress, rising from 59.3 in 2002 to 91.4 in 2024, far above the threshold of 66 points. These indicators reflect advances in fundamental areas such as health, education and macroeconomic stability. Nevertheless, while this achievement honors us, it also places us before new and demanding challenges that require appropriate responses. It is in this context that we appeal to the international community to ensure that this transition is carried out gradually and harmoniously, accompanied by continuous and transformative support, so that we may advance in the economic and productive sectors, preserve the gains achieved and prevent our hard-won progress from being undermined. Aligned with our development efforts, we have defined a vision in the National Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2040, anchored in sustainable tourism, which will be presented at the Investment Forum scheduled for December of this year in Brussels. On this occasion, we appeal to and invite our bilateral and multilateral development partners to participate actively in this important event, which represents a unique opportunity to establish lasting strategic partnerships. This forum will provide a privileged platform to present our national priority projects, attract foreign direct investment, and consolidate alliances that will accelerate our transition to a green and resilient economy. The implementation of the SDGs remains our primary priority. Despite challenges, we have made significant progress in areas such as health, education and access to energy. However, the impacts of the recent global health crisis, coupled with the ensuing global economic crisis and the reduction of development financing, reflecting a decline in solidarity and new donor country priorities, have slowed our progress toward the SDGs. This requires a joint and redoubled effort from our country. São Tomé and Príncipe remain firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda. Our current performance places us 112th among 167 countries, with a score of 64, reflecting the significant challenges we still face, notably in SDG 8, decent work and economic growth. This highlights the urgency of diversifying our economy and creating more opportunities for our youth, the fundamental pillar of our future. We are fully aware that we still have a long road ahead. With satisfaction, we recognized our best performance in SDG 14, Life Below Water, which constitutes tangible proof of our unwavering commitments to marine protection and the sustainable management of our ocean resources. Excellencies, São Tomé and Príncipe reaffirms its commitment to the biosphere and to the protection of biodiversity, promoting public policies for the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. We also note the conclusion of our rotating presidency of the community of Portuguese-speaking countries, exercised under the theme Youth and Sustainability, which reflected our vision of a future built on inclusion, youth empowerment and collective responsibility for protecting the environment. São Tomé and Príncipe is proud to be a pioneer in global biodiversity conservation, with the island of Príncipe having been recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as a World Biosphere Reserve, an acknowledgement of the exceptional nature of our ecosystems and of our exemplary commitment to environmental preservation. We now look forward, with equal anticipation, to the conclusion of the ongoing process that will, at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, designate the island of São Tomé as a World Biosphere Reserve, along with the creation of eight marine protected areas. Once completed, these initiatives will make São Tomé and Príncipe the first country in the world, with its entire national territory designated as a World Biosphere Reserve, alongside the extensive marine biodiversity protection areas. This will represent an unprecedented milestone in global conservation history and position our archipelago as a living laboratory of sustainability and global model for a small island developing states. I also highlight the decision of the Economic Community of Central African States to establish in São Tomé and Príncipe the regional headquarters dedicated to the blue economy. This initiative reflects our vision of sustainable development that balances economic growth with the preservation of marine ecosystems, a vital heritage for all humanity. Ladies and gentlemen, as a small island developing state, we face one of the greatest injustices of our time. We are among the main victims of climate change, despite not contributing to this global scourge. Our greenhouse gas emissions are practically negligible on the global scale, yet we suffer from heavy rains, floods, the destruction of infrastructure, displacement of populations and social problems, all consequences of climate change driven by the irresponsible actions of the world's largest polluters. In light of this reality, we need new approaches to financing mechanisms that incorporate multi- dimensional vulnerability criteria, integrating environmental, climate and structural risks that do not focus solely on per capita income. We require financial instruments that are more predictable and accessible, with concessional conditions, lower interest rates and repayment terms compatible with our real capacity, as well as simplified procedures for accessing multilateral climate funds, namely the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, whose current administrative complexity excludes countries with limited institutional capacity. These reforms are essential to ensure that international financing translates into tangible resilience and sustainable development for small island developing states. This development requires a context of peace and security. We are deeply concerned by the proliferation of conflicts in various regions of the world, from Ukraine to Sudan, including the Sahel, the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa, causing immense human suffering and undermining development efforts in those regions of the continent. In this regard, we advocate for the peaceful resolution of all these conflicts, because only silencing the guns can create an environment in which a better future, with peace and development for all peoples, can be built. Santo Domingo Principe strongly condemns all forms of violence and aggression. We stand for full respect of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. We reiterate our call for a peaceful and lasting solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the coexistence of two states with secure and internationally recognized borders. We urge the international community to intensify support for African peace and security initiatives, always respecting African leadership and endogenous solutions. Santo Domingo Principe solemnly reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and respect for territorial integrity, essential pillars of international law and the UN Charter. Santo Domingo Principe also expressed its deep concern regarding the persistent disregard of the international community's appeals for the lifting of economic, financial and commercial restrictions imposed on the Republic of Cuba. We observe with concern the worsening of these policies through new extra-territorial measures that compromise Cuba's economy and affect its resilient people. Domestically, we remain committed to consolidating peace and stability, essential conditions for our progress. In this regard, a reform of our security and defense system is underway, aimed at institutional modernization, technical capacity building and the construction of a more effective, transparent and resilient sector, founded on a preventive approach to conflict. However, this is a demanding process that requires the cooperation of our international partners, both technically and financially, to guarantee its success. Distinguished participants, to control these challenges, we need a revitalized United Nations, more agile and more representative of the diversity of today's world. We support reform of the Security Council so that it reflects 21st century geopolitical realities and includes at least one permanent seat for the African continent. It is equally crucial to reduce bureaucracy within the UN system so that our organization can respond more rapidly and effectively in global crises. We need a UN that is closer to the people it serves, more transparent, more inclusive in its decision-making and more accountable for its results. Cross-cutting issues such as women's empowerment and multilingualism must be at the heart of this reform. São Tomé and Príncipe have made significant progress in promoting gender equality, with women occupying leadership positions in government, parliament, the judiciary and the private sector. We cannot build a sustainable future without the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making. São Tomé and women are the pillars of our society, leaders in their communities and agents of change in their families. Madam President, in conclusion, I wish to reiterate the unwavering commitment of São Tomé and Príncipe to multilateralism. In an increasingly polarized world, we believe that cooperation and solidarity are the only weapons capable of overcoming the challenges that threaten us all. As a small island, our voice may be modest, but we bring a message of great significance to the world. Our strength lies in the unity of peoples and in our capacity to converge efforts toward a common destiny. Our hope is nourished by the conviction that, united, we can build a more just, sustainable and harmonious future for all, and by our resolve truly to be better together. In this spirit, I cannot fail to congratulate the United Nations on its 80th anniversary. Eight decades of tireless service to peace, human dignity and sustainable development have made this organization a symbol of hope for all humanity. We therefore reaffirm our confidence in the central role of the UN as the pillar of multilateralism and we renew our commitment to continue walking side by side so that all peoples may live in peace, with justice and prosperity. At this solemn moment, I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all cooperation partners with whom São Tomé and Príncipe has the privilege to work. In particular, I highlight the support of the United Nations and its various agencies, whose contributions have been decisive in strengthening institutions and improving the living conditions of the São Toméan people. Our gratitude also extends to our bilateral, multilateral and regional partners, whose solidarity has allowed our country to overcome structural challenges and move forward on the path of progress. São Tomé and Príncipe will continue to be an active voice and make its contribution on the international agenda, advocating for democracy and peace, for justice and equality, for sustainable development and for a prosperous and shared future, centered on people and on the good of humanity. Together we can build a world where no child, youth, woman or elderly person goes hungry or suffers violence, where no family fears climate change, and where all peoples can live in peace, with dignity and happiness. Thank you. On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister and Head of Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.