Madagascar, 2014

Like my predecessors, I would like

first of all, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of

Madagascar and on my own behalf, to congratulate His

Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa on his election

as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth

session. He is a credit to his country, the Republic of

Uganda, and the pride of the entire African continent.

Allow me next to thank Secretary-General Ban

Ki-moon for his commitment to peace and development

in the world and for his actions at the head of the

Organization. I also take this opportunity to solemnly

reiterate to him and his team the gratitude of the

Malagasy people for the special attention and resources

that the United Nations system has mobilized in order

to contribute to the culmination of the process that

brought the crisis in Madagascar to an end. We are also

grateful for the important role that the United Nations

continues to play in working together with Madagascar

and its people. I naturally extend that gratitude to the

entire international community, whose support has

been decisive in the peaceful resolution of the Malagasy

crisis.

By choosing to return to constitutional order

through the ballot box, the Malagasy people confirmed

its commitment to stability and security. In so doing, it is

participating in building peace and security in the region

and thus throughout the world. Strengthened by those

values , we have made national reconciliation, which

is the foundation of social cohesion, the cornerstone

of our development policy. We are convinced that

without social peace, there can be no development and

vice versa. We have already taken important steps in

that process and we intend to move forward. But our

resources are not yet commensurate with the scale of

the tasks that remain. That is why Madagascar wishes

to gain access to the Peacebuilding Fund, which is

being made available through the Organization.

Five per cent of the world’s biodiversity is found

in Madagascar. It behoves us, therefore, to take

responsibility for preserving that resource and ensure

better management for future generations. Upon taking

office in January 2014, I declared war on traffickers

in rosewood and all those who engage in the illegal

trade in protected species. The establishment of good

forest governance was the first act in a whole series

of concrete measures to that end. An interdepartmental

committee for restructuring the sector was established.

The authorities are working hard to achieve the policy

of zero tolerance against trafficking of all kinds related

to natural resources and protected species. However,

despite our efforts, we must note that traffickers still

manage to evade surveillance measures, due to the lack

of resources at our disposal to deal with traffickers,

who have ample resources.

Madagascar’s strategic location in the Indian

Ocean, at the crossroads of various maritime routes

that are vital to global trade, means that we must work

to preserve our fishing areas and our marine reserves.

The risk of piracy, terrorism and trafficking of all kinds

is high. Measures must be taken in that regard, within

the framework of an active international cooperation to

protect the area.

The Malagasy Government has also increased the

extent of protected areas to cover more than 10 per cent

of the country, or at least 6 million hectares, with the

cooperation of its partners. A large-scale reforestation

project aimed at sustaining the long-term production of

timber and firewood is included in the Government’s

agenda in terms of commitments. We are also

strengthening our legal arsenal by ratifying several

multilateral environmental agreements, including the

Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

After over five years of political crisis, including

sanctions and suspension measures of all kinds, it is

clear that the majority of the Millennium Development

Goals will not be met in Madagascar by 2015. However,

the country is committed to focusing its development

efforts on its population and has initiated major

projects in some key sectors such as education, health,

employment, security, access to new information and

communication technologies and infrastructure. Thus,

school enrolment for girls has far exceeded that for

boys. Similarly, nearly 500,000 children and youth have

been enrolled in educational and socio-professional

institutions for the year 2014-2015. Over 100 basic

health centres have been opened in recent months

across the country. In the framework of our fight against

malaria, Madagascar’s efforts have been recognized

at the continental level, including our achievement of

95 per cent of households owning at least one mosquito

net impregnated with long-lasting insecticide and our

intra-residential spraying campaign, which are the most

important tools for the prevention of malaria. Moreover,

Madagascar has demonstrated its solidarity with the

world’s fight against Ebola.

In terms of security, tangible results have been

achieved in recent months with Operation First Strike,

which is aimed at eradicating the massive theft of

zebus in the south and west of the country. Finally,

Madagascar’s renewed adherence to the African

Growth and Opportunity Act should give new impetus

to the country’s economic and social fabric with the

massive job creation.

When it comes to climate change, the stakes are

high for Madagascar, since our economy is based on

developing sectors that are sensitive to climate change.

The numbers are telling in that regard — 75 per cent

of Madagascar’s population lives in rural areas, of

which 4 million are in vulnerable areas, and 28 per cent

of the rural population are food-insecure. Although

we do not have the means to adequately mitigate the

negative effects of climate change on the country’s

socio-economic activities, we have nevertheless taken

action. Measures range from the development of legal

frameworks such as the national policy for the fight

against climate change, the national strategy for a

clean development mechanism and the establishment of

an energy transition policy that is based on the use of

renewable energy. We are also implementing a national

action plan for adaptation and have created various

structures to coordinate activities related to climate

change.

We fully support the theme of this session,

“Delivering on and implementing a transformative post-

2015 development agenda”. Our country is committed

to creating the conditions to establish a prosperous and

modern nation. That is the whole purpose of the actions

we have undertaken on the basis of the principles of

transparency, good governance, respect for the rights of

others, democracy and human rights. With this vision

of a modern and prosperous nation, our main objective

is to allow the people to emerge from their precarious

situation. To do so, we have decided on a policy of

improving production to increase productivity and

developing a reliable agricultural sector. That will help

the country to achieve food self-sufficiency and allow

Madagascar to become the backbone of food security in

the Indian Ocean.

We have also decided to undertake major public

infrastructure works, including structural work, the

construction of highways and roads, works of art,

building construction and embellishment, dams,

water purification and improvements to the energy

sector. In that regard, we are developing an innovative

partnership for finance structuring and partnerships.

In addition to conventional financing from traditional

donors, we have used a public-private partnership

system. It is aimed at establishing a mutually beneficial

partnership for Malagasy and investors alike. Particular

attention is being paid to promoting youth employment,

and companies that fulfil the required conditions will

benefit from strong incentives and tax benefits.

Another priority area is tourism. Tourist facilities

are still limited in number and need to be developed.

Madagascar today is the ideal destination for such

investment, in particular in growth sectors. We

must meet the challenges of growth and ensure that

Government actions have a positive and tangible

impact on the lives of the 22 million Malagasy through

inclusive and sustainable development. Madagascar

has adopted a transformative agenda for its future. The

drafting of the national development plan reflects the

determination of the State to establish the principles

of good governance and economic recovery. The Plan

is to be a central frame of reference for private-sector

engagement with civil society, decentralized local

authorities and technical and financial partners. The

implementation of the national development plan will

promote and ensure the security of domestic and foreign

investment and the updating of regulatory frameworks

relating thereto.

Before concluding, I reiterate my country’s

determination to renew and strengthen its commitments

to the various activities of the United Nations, in

addition to our effective participation in the regular

work of the committees and in various conferences

held under the auspices of the Organization. We point

out the deployment every year of contingents from our

national gendarmerie, national police and the Malagasy

penitentiary administration within various United

Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa. Most

recently, the Government of Madagascar has responded

positively to the United Nations request for 140 officers

in formed police units to serve in the Multidimensional

Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African

Republic.

Madagascar also continues to advocate for equitable

representation in the Security Council so that countries

directly involved in crises and conflicts can fully take

part in the process of the adoption of resolutions.

Madagascar aspires to move rapidly from its current

status to that of a growing country with an expanding,

vibrant middle class and that will see its income quickly

rise to match those of emerging countries. I know that

this is possible and achievable. I have made a moral

contract with the people of Madagascar to optimize our

use of our natural and human resources to enable our

country to achieve a solid place within the globalization

network, to rebuild itself and to contribute in a positive

way to the resolution of the major problems of this

world.