Seychelles, 2012

In the modern world, the

pace of change, whether political, social or economic,

challenges our ability to react in a constructive,

sustainable and just manner. And in the face of change,

the role of the General Assembly becomes even more

important, as the President of the General Assembly

has reminded us. We look to the United Nations — our

United Nations and our General Assembly — to help

us find the common ground needed for the resolution

of the big questions of our time. We can truly be a

“G-193”, as our President has previously remarked.

As an oceanic island nation, Seychelles understands

intrinsically that the development of our region depends

upon being able to defuse conflict and tension through

diplomacy and on defining a framework to properly

share all the opportunities that our ocean offers us. In

the Indian Ocean, we are particularly concerned with

two issues that challenge the proper application of

the rule of law in a sustainable manner: the continued

problem of maritime piracy and the resolution of the

political crisis in Madagascar.

Piracy fundamentally alters our relationship with

our ocean. Piracy instils fear and uncertainty. We have

two compatriots still being held captive in Somalia, and,

as long as they remain separated from their families,

our ocean represents risk for our nation, rather than

the opportunity that it should. Establishing the rule of

law in Somalia is obviously the only true long-term and

sustainable solution to piracy. We welcome the moves

in Somalia and by the international community to

strengthen those efforts.

Seychelles is already working with the central

Government of Somalia, as well as the regions of

Somaliland and Puntland, to be able to transfer

prosecuted prisoners to serve their sentences in their

country of origin. This is a key part of building the rule of law in Somalia. More resources are needed, however,

to accelerate the building of appropriate infrastructure

in those parts of Somalia where stability has been

established. We must transform fear and uncertainty

into hope and optimism in Somalia itself, as well as in

the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles has committed itself to ending the

impunity associated with piracy. Piracy has become a

global business, operated by a transnational criminal

network. Seychelles, in partnership with the Government

of the United Kingdom and other international parties,

is in the process of setting up a regional anti-piracy

prosecution and intelligence centre. The success of

this initiative will depend on strong international

cooperation. We count on all our partners to work with

us to ensure a true long-term solution for this issue.

The Indian Ocean Commission, which Seychelles

is currently chairing, recognizes the work of the

United Nations in favour of peace, democracy and

human rights, in the interests of the people of its five

member States. The crisis facing Madagascar is truly

testing the country. It is plunging the population into

great economic and social difficulties, and is affecting

the entire region. The Seychelles presidency of the

Commission continues supporting the implementation

of the road map developed by the Southern African

Development Community (SADC). In that context, it

organized two meetings between Marc Ravalomanana,

the former President, and Andry Nirina Rajoelina,

President of the Transition, in Seychelles, with the

dual mediation of Presidents James Michel and Jacob

Zuma, head of the SADC troika. Those talks, convened

at the recommendation of the most recent SADC

Summit, enable us today to look forward to useful and

relevant actions for a return to constitutional order in

Madagascar, in keeping with the electoral timetable

drawn up by the United Nations and Madagascar’s

Independent National Electoral Commission.

In that regard, we should like to express our thanks

to the transitional Government, which has confirmed

its contribution to the financing of the elections, in

accordance with the recommendations of the United

Nations. This is also the time to call on all international

partners to help ensure fair, transparent and equitable

elections in that country, which is anxious to regain

its place on the international stage. Through elections

Madagascar will return to the rule of law, and it is through the rule of law in Madagascar that we will

be able to depend on sustainable development in the

Indian Ocean.

Respect for the rule of law is also about ensuring

that conditions are in place for equity and fairness in the

international system as a whole. Small island developing

States (SIDS) are too often on the periphery of most

international decision-making bodies. Seychelles is

proposing that SIDS be considered as offering unique

opportunities for testing innovative policies and

technologies that can benefit all humankind. In the

fight against climate change, SIDS could be at the

forefront of groundbreaking solutions.

For example, the Global Island Partnership,

co-chaired by Seychelles, Palau and Grenada, has

proposed considering debt cancellation for SIDS

to enable them to better prepare for climate change

adaptation. A large number of SIDS have debt-togross-

domestic-product ratios in excess of 100 per

cent, and such debt forgiveness would give them more

flexibility within their own budgets to prepare to face

climate change, and thus protect some of the most

environmentally sensitive zones on the planet.

With regard to the high volatility of international

fuel prices, SIDS can strengthen their resilience through

investment in renewable energy. We warmly welcome

the Sustainable Energy for All initiative championed

by the Secretary-General, and we commit our support

to making it a success. While the latest technology in

renewable energy often represents a significant capital

outlay, by developing pilot projects in SIDS we can

potentially create economies based on 100 per cent

renewable energy that can then be replicated on a larger

scale.

Finally, it is very important that consideration

be given to how to better support SIDS within the

international trading system. Trade-based support for

SIDS could easily be established without disruption

or distortion of the global f low of goods and services.

Islands are particularly reliant on open access to trade

with as many countries as possible. In the context of

the current challenges to food security, we urge that

all barriers affecting trade with islands, including the

economic embargo on Cuba, be lifted, since they serve

only to increase the inherent challenges associated with

trading from a position of insularity. As an island State,

we are aware that the ocean must connect us, not divide us. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development has given new momentum to the concept

of the blue economy.

We are also very aware that the ocean will always

be a shared space. As an archipelago, we are privileged

to be custodians of that space. This year, for the first

time in the history of the United Nations, Seychelles

and Mauritius, two neighbouring SIDS, have agreed on

joint management of an area of extended continental

shelf of 3,000 square kilometres. That means that we

are sharing the space for the benefit of our two peoples’

development. We are sharing the responsibility and the

opportunity. We believe that all nations, large or small,

must contribute to making this planet a better world to

live in.

Seychelles recently announced its intention to stand

for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in the

year 2017, subject to endorsement by the African Union.

We are doing so because we believe that the voices of

all nations matter, whether they are large or small, rich

or poor. As the smallest African nation, we keenly

understand that we need to fight for Africa’s economic

independence. We are committed to the ideals of the

African Union, on the basis of which we attained our

political freedom. Now more than ever we must invest

in Africa’s economic freedom. We must create the

means by which Africa’s share of trade and financial

power can increase at a faster rate. We must empower

African institutions. Seychelles adds its voice to the call

for more investment in the African Development Bank,

including by African nations themselves, by investing

their reserves in it.

We must also foster peace on our continent by

leading efforts to find solutions to our problems,

such as in Somalia, Madagascar and elsewhere in

Africa. As a small island developing State, we have a

greater understanding than ever of the ways in which

our planet is under threat from climate change, and

of the need to act now for the sake of all humankind.

Most of all, as citizens of planet Earth, we understand

that as individuals and as a nation our decisions

have consequences beyond our borders. They have

consequences for our future and for our children. These

are all issues that must be weighed carefully, and it is

important that all voices be considered in the debate.

We thank the Assembly for giving due consideration to

the voice of Seychelles.