Mauritius, 2009

On behalf of my

delegation, and in my own name, I extend to the

President our warmest congratulations on his well-

deserved election to preside over the sixty-fourth

session of the Assembly. I also commend the

Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his tireless

efforts at the helm of our Organization in the cause of

international peace and security.

In this globalized world, nations will increasingly

face unconventional, emerging threats to their security.

The recent rapid spread of the A (H1N1) virus is a case

in point. The commitment of the entire membership of

our Organization is required to forge a consensus to

deal with the uncertainties of the times ahead. More

than ever before, multilateralism will be the way

forward.

09-52463 40

As we confronted the severe food and energy

crises of a year ago, little did we realize that the world

was about to be engulfed in an unprecedented

economic crisis. The most severe meltdown since the

Great Depression has spared no country, precisely

because we live in an interconnected world. Millions of

people all over the world have lost their jobs, their

incomes and their savings. It is estimated that an

additional 50 million people have already been driven

into extreme poverty. Whatever modest progress

developing countries had achieved has been severely

set back.

The world may be witnessing the early signs of a

slow recovery. However, the aftershocks of the crisis

will continue to be felt for much longer. Developing

countries have experienced declining capital flows,

stagnating foreign aid and a fall in remittances and

export revenues.

Mauritius, with a small open economy, has been

exceptionally exposed to the adverse effects of the

crisis. Although both our manufacturing sector and our

tourism industry have been negatively impacted, we

have registered positive economic growth. This is due

to the reforms my Government has implemented since

2005. Bold reforms have succeeded in making our

economy more resilient. In 2008, our gross domestic

product (GDP) grew by 5.3 per cent and the

unemployment rate dropped to 7.2 per cent. Mauritius

attracted foreign direct investment amounting to almost

5 per cent of GDP, and achieved the highest level of

job creation in more than a decade.

However, the global crisis has been a severe

blow. Growth has been slowed; we expect growth of

around 2.7 per cent this year. But our economy is now

structurally more sound, more competitive and

resilient. We are concerned that a prolonged crisis

could drive our export-oriented economy into reverse

gear, with further declines in trade and capital flows,

exchange rate volatility, and further falls in tourist

arrivals.

To mitigate the damage to our economy, we

reacted as soon as the first signs of the subprime crisis

started in the United States. We introduced an

expansionary budget with emphasis on infrastructural

projects, and as the crisis spread into a worldwide

financial and economic crisis we put in place a

stimulus package to save jobs, protect people and

prepare for the recovery. We have, in other words, been

ahead of the curve. In this uncertain economic

situation, the priority of Mauritius is to safeguard the

hard-earned gains from past reforms.

We have been collateral victims of financial

imbalances, over-leveraged financial institutions,

inadequate regulation and deficient supervision.

Developing countries benefit little from periods of

boom, and pay an inordinately high price for the busts

that often follow. We hope that strengthening

regulations and supervision will prevent the

accumulation of high-risk, toxic assets that led to the

crisis in the first place.

The crisis has also made it clear that the Bretton

Woods institutions stand in need of fundamental

reform. However, reforms will be effective only if they

take into account the long-term stability and

sustainability of the global economy. Institutions that

make global decisions must reflect the changing nature

of the global economic environment.

For too long we have condoned a clear

democratic deficit in global economic governance. We

need to reshape the global economy into a more

equitable system, responsive to the needs of all

countries and reflecting the realities of the day. In this

regard, we appreciate the convening of the United

Nations Conference on the World Financial and

Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, held

last June. The Conference provided a uniquely

inclusive platform to address the urgent concerns of all

nations. It has allowed the formulation of proposals to

lessen the impact of the crisis, especially on vulnerable

populations.

The implementation of the Conference’s

recommendations should avoid a further deterioration

in the conditions of the world’s poor. And we look

forward to the recommendations of the Group of 20

(G20) Summit, which starts today in Pittsburgh.

In coping with the effects of the crisis, we have to

resist the temptation to resort to trade protectionism.

We should not forget that international trade has been a

powerful engine for development and has generated

substantial economic growth. From our perspective as

a vulnerable small island developing State, it is vital

that markets remain open and that international trade

flows are not impeded.

It is essential that the Doha Round, with

development at its core, be successfully concluded,

41 09-52463

without, however, any unravelling of the July 2008

convergence package. We look forward to significant

progress at the seventh session of the World Trade

Organization Ministerial Conference, scheduled for

December in Geneva.

The negative impact of the economic crisis on the

most vulnerable populations causes us great concern.

The global economic slowdown has further delayed the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). Confronted with this grave setback, the

developing world looks for a strong demonstration of

solidarity.

We hope that the donor community will do more

than just honour its previous commitments. The

Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus and

the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development

have been overtaken by the events of the past year.

But I strongly believe that what we need now is a

change in our approach in the developing economies.

We need to urgently apply ourselves to making

pro-business policy reforms instead of just relying on

aid. That is the way to create wealth and prosperity.

Charity is a noble endeavour, but relying on charity

alone is not the answer to future prosperity and

opportunity for all.

We need to unleash the entrepreneurial drive of

our people. That is the ultimate answer to the

eradication of poverty. We all know that it is better to

show a man how to fish than to give him a fish every

day. And we need to coordinate our actions to bring

down trade barriers. In fact, what the developing

countries need is a Marshall Plan, with a single

coordinated programme. To qualify, countries need to

meet benchmarks for good governance, respect for

human rights, accessible health care and education and

predictable economic policies.

Such a plan was successful in uplifting the

economies of Europe after the Second World War. I

have no doubt that it can be adapted to meet the same

measure of success for developing countries.

At the national level, my Government is

mobilizing considerable resources to meet the

Millennium Development Goals. In a relentless drive

to fight poverty, we have introduced an eradication of

absolute poverty programme, which aims to break the

vicious circle of poverty begetting poverty. And, to

show our commitment to eradicating poverty in our

region, Mauritius took the initiative to host the

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

International Consultative Conference on Poverty and

Development last year so that we can develop a

common pragmatic approach. We are committed to the

attainment of the MDGs on schedule, and look forward

to the high-level review meeting next year.

Ensuring the fulfilment of the MDGs demands a

stronger commitment by national Governments in the

fight against HIV/AIDS. We are heartened in this

instance by the response of the international

community, which has been timely, generous and

effective. Each and every nation must be fully engaged

in this fight.

In Mauritius, we treat HIV/AIDS as a national

priority. I have set up a National AIDS Committee,

which I chair. We have put in place a multisectoral

strategy to protect the population at large, with special

emphasis on vulnerable groups. And yesterday I was

delighted to learn about the breakthrough of an

HIV/AIDS vaccine which could be available in the not

too distant future.

Recently, the A (H1N1) pandemic has rapidly

taken on alarming proportions. Although we have taken

all possible steps to effectively deal with this new

influenza virus, the escalation of the outbreak could

stretch our health resources and infrastructure. In this

connection, developing countries require early access

to the vaccines that are in the pipeline, once their

safety is assured.

Food security should have been an absolute

priority of development strategies. It has for far too

long been neglected. Many countries struggle to

guarantee adequate food for their people. The present

economic recession compounds an already difficult

situation. Over a billion people, mostly in developing

countries, do not have sufficient food to meet their

daily basic nutritional needs. One in six of the human

family goes to bed hungry and angry.

The present relative decline in food prices must

not make us lose sight of the structural long-term

deficit the world faces. This age-old problem is

complicated by uncertainties linked to climate change

and the diversion of food crops for bio-fuel production.

We must strengthen measures to improve food

security globally. Existing funding mechanisms must

09-52463 42

be improved to assist the World Food Programme to

effectively avoid recurrent outbreaks of famine.

Mauritius welcomes the initiative of the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

to convene the World Summit on Food Security in

Rome in November. It is our earnest hope that it will

not be just another conference, but will propose

practical measures to alleviate hunger and malnutrition.

In Mauritius, we have adopted a comprehensive

strategy to achieve a reasonable level of food self-

sufficiency. We are mobilizing technological, financial

and human resources to produce locally as much food

as is practically possible. To this end, we have set up a

one-billion-rupee Food Security Fund to optimize

efficiency and boost agricultural production.

To benefit from economies of scale, we are

encouraging production in surplus of local

consumption for export. We are establishing

partnerships regionally to jointly produce food crops,

livestock and marine products. The effective

implementation of this strategy will contribute to

improving our national food security.

We are currently working with Mozambique on a

rice production project which will contribute to

improving food availability in both countries, and

probably in the region.

Climate change poses an existential challenge to

mankind. Our profligacy puts at stake the very future

of our planet and the forms of life it supports. This is

an environmental threat with far-reaching social and

economic implications that we have yet to mainstream

into our national planning and decision-making

processes.

We cannot with impunity treat our home planet

with contempt. We can yet forestall bringing upon

ourselves the full wrath of nature. But time is running

out. Divergences must be resolved at all costs, and

quickly, at Copenhagen. To move forward in a

pragmatic manner, we need to break away from the

finger-pointing, recrimination and brinkmanship of the

past.

In Copenhagen, it is imperative that we agree to a

targeted reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that

will restrict global temperature rise to no more than

1.5° C. But any action, to be fair, must be proportional.

Those who have polluted the most should bear most of

the burden. Developing countries need extra help so

that their growth path is not thwarted.

We must create a financial mechanism to assist

developing countries to adapt to and mitigate the

effects of climate change. This mechanism has to be

credible and sustainable, and be managed according to

the principles of good governance. It should also be a

channel for the transfer of technology.

I therefore make a strong appeal that we unite to

act collectively and quickly in our own interest and

that of future generations.

For its part, Mauritius is implementing the

“Maurice île durable” project to respond to climate

change and the energy crisis. This is an ambitious

programme focusing on the use of renewable energy

and the emergence of small power producers. Its

implementation will reduce our dependence on fossil

fuels considerably and facilitate the transition to a

clean, energy-efficient economy.

We have mobilized appropriate resources, with

the collaboration of the private sector and development

partners, to build a green and ecological future for

Mauritius. We are doing our utmost to contribute, in

full measure, to the global effort required.

The inherent constraints faced by small island

developing States (SIDS) — in particular limited

resources, remoteness, small domestic markets and

vulnerability to natural disasters — cannot be ignored.

We share a common future, and the welfare of one is

unsustainable without the welfare of all.

We appeal to the international community to be

more forthcoming in assisting SIDS in their efforts to

become integrated into the global economy. A one-size-

fits-all approach to development threatens to further

marginalize SIDS in an increasingly globalized world.

It is patently obvious that SIDS deserve special

treatment and need to be recognized as a group of

countries having specificities of their own.

The promotion and protection of human rights is

a key priority of my Government. I wish to extend our

appreciation to the United Nations membership for the

re-election of Mauritius to the Human Rights Council.

We will continue to work with other members of the

Council in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and

objectivity to ensure that human rights violations are

effectively addressed.

43 09-52463

In line with our commitment to see that

perpetrators of grave human rights violations are

brought to justice, we wish to reaffirm our unflinching

support for the International Criminal Court (ICC).

At the national level, we have adopted legislation

such as the Equal Opportunities Act and the Truth and

Justice Commission Act to further entrench human

rights. Our achievements in the field of human rights

were widely acknowledged during the Universal

Periodic Review conducted earlier this year by the

Human Rights Council. We were gratified by the

unique opportunity provided to us by the Review to

make a critical self-assessment of the situation in

Mauritius.

When I addressed the Assembly in September

2007 I called on the international community to do

more than just stand by the people of Burma. This

appeal is more than ever relevant. We cannot condone

the condemnation of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi by a

kangaroo court. We reaffirm our solidarity with and

support for Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, an emblematic lady

who personifies the courage and dignity of her people,

a people battered and bruised but unbowed.

It is imperative that we convey a clear and strong

signal to the military junta that the international

community will not tolerate its confiscation of the

Burmese people’s sovereignty. In this respect, I

welcome the recent decision of the EU to extend the

sanctions imposed on Burma.

For its part, Mauritius will continue to implement

the decision I took in 1997 to suspend importations of

rice from Burma. This decision has a cost, but it is a

price we are prepared to pay in defence of principles

we hold dear. We must show the world that there will

be no double standards in our approach. I urge those

countries that give comfort and sustenance to the

regime not to let their short-term, mercantile interests

perpetuate the misery of this long-suffering people.

The Arab-Israeli conflict, with the question of

Palestine at its core, remains an issue of deep concern

not only to the region, but also to the world at large.

We take heart in the efforts of the Administration of

President Obama to impart new impetus to the Middle

East peace process. And we could not agree more with

President Obama that continuing to build new

settlements flies in the face of logic if lasting peace is

to be achieved.

As a long-time proponent of a two-State solution,

Mauritius welcomes the Quartet’s commitment,

renewed in Trieste in June, to actively and vigorously

work for a comprehensive solution of the Arab-Israeli

conflict.

The Arab League’s commitment to peace with

Israel and the Arab Peace Initiative have been

encouraging developments. We hope that those most

directly concerned will display the courage and

maturity to engage in meaningful dialogue in earnest.

The United Nations is, more than ever, the

ultimate guardian of mankind’s aspiration to global

peace and security. I salute its unceasing effort in

resolving conflicts around the world, in particular on

the African continent. Conflicts and insecurity in

Africa have been a major cause of the continent’s

underdevelopment. A study carried out by Oxfam last

year indicates that between 1990 and 2005 conflict cost

the continent $300 billion, which is almost equivalent

to all the international aid received by sub-Saharan

Africa during that period.

The African Union has moved ahead with the

creation of an African Standby Force. Once fully

established, the Force will, hopefully, help in the

advancement of peace and security at the continental

level. The creation of the Mechanism for Conflict

Prevention, Management and Resolution is also a

positive step in improving the peace and security

architecture of Africa.

I take this opportunity to commend the United

Nations and the European Union for helping Africa

enhance its capacity to respond adequately and in a

timely manner to security threats on the continent. The

European Union deserves our appreciation for its

contribution, to the tune of €500 million under the

10th European Development Fund, for the implementation

of the Africa Peace Facility.

Allow me also to highlight some of the progress

that has been achieved on the continent this year,

including the formation of an all-inclusive Government

in Zimbabwe and the holding of presidential elections

in Mauritania.

We welcome the Agreement of Goodwill and

Confidence-Building for the Settlement of the Problem

in Darfur reached in February by Sudan’s Government

of National Unity and the Justice and Equality

Movement.

09-52463 44

We commend the role played by the African

Union-United Nations joint mediation team and

particularly the Government of Qatar, which has done

so much to drive the process. We call on all the parties

to the conflict to join in the search for peace in Darfur.

We hope that conditions will speedily be created for

the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

We have high expectations that the preliminary

agreement reached in Maputo will provide the political

framework for resolution of the troubled situation in

Madagascar. We are heartened by the active

involvement and solicitude of various international

bodies in trying to return the country to constitutional

order. We cannot and should not condone

unconstitutional Governments anywhere, be it in

Honduras or Madagascar.

Somalia reminds us that we cannot with impunity

wash our hands of any country, however remote it may

be or however unimportant it may seem. The

international community’s neglect of the country and

its indifference to the suffering of the Somali people

have resulted in a quintessential failed State. That

neglect and indifference have come back to haunt us in

the form of piracy. Armed bands led by warlords have

filled the political vacuum left by the deliquescence of

the Somali State. Today the territory of Somalia

provides not only a haven for pirates, but also a base

for terrorist groups. The Transitional Federal

Government has to be assisted to regain control of the

country, to put an end to the suffering of the Somali

people and to deal with the problem of piracy.

Terrorism is an insidious, tentacular

malignancy — a bane of our times. It is not only a

security threat. It is a moral challenge, the negation of

the fundamental values of civilization: the sanctity of

human life and the intrinsic worth of the human

person.

Every terrorist attack causes us pain, anguish and

revulsion. But the one in Mumbai last November took

on a special poignancy for the people of Mauritius. In

the blind and mindless carnage unleashed by the

terrorists on that city, one of the victims was a

compatriot of ours. We have condemned in no

uncertain terms this dastardly, cowardly act, and we

expect that everything will be done to ensure that the

terrorist organization behind it is brought to justice.

My Government unreservedly supports all campaigns

and initiatives against terrorism.

Mauritius nurtures the hope of the complete

elimination of all nuclear weapons one day. Pending its

ultimate realization, we support all measures aimed at

halting the further spread of such weapons. In this

regard, we welcome the comprehensive agenda of

President Obama to achieve the goal of a world

without nuclear weapons.

Multilateralism is the cornerstone of the United

Nations, and should be strengthened in the face of the

current global challenges. Global challenges need a

global response.

We follow with keen interest the process under

way to revitalize the General Assembly and improve its

working methods, to bring more coherence to the

United Nation system, and to reform the Security

Council.

We are particularly satisfied by the start of the

intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council

reform earlier this year in an informal plenary session

of the General Assembly. The comity of nations should

work together, in a spirit of solidarity, to reach a

unified position on the reform of this important body.

The reform of the Council should cover the categories

of both permanent and non-permanent members, with a

revised set of working methods.

We fully support India’s having a permanent seat

in a reformed Security Council. And we once again

express our unequivocal support for the Common

African Position. We also support permanent

membership of a Latin American and Caribbean

country in a reformed Security Council.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm the sovereignty

of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, including

Diego Garcia, which was detached by the United

Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to our

independence. The dismemberment of the territory of

Mauritius was in total disregard of General Assembly

resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 2066

(XX) of 16 December 1965.

As President Obama said two days ago from this

very rostrum, we must “demonstrate that international

law is not an empty promise” (). We must all

abide by it.

We have consistently urged the United Kingdom

to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Mauritius for

the early return of the Chagos Archipelago. We are

pleased to inform the Assembly that two rounds of

45 09-52463

talks have been held with the United Kingdom this

year. We look forward to those discussions coming to

fruition, and hope that Mauritius will be able to

exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago,

including Diego Garcia, in the near future.

My Government and the French authorities are

also in the process of addressing the issue of Tromelin.

We are discussing the modalities of co-management of

the island in a spirit of friendship and trust, pending the

settlement of the sovereignty issue, which has to be

resolved and not left on the back burner.

(spoke in French)

Nobody can deny the key role that the United

Nations is called upon to play in the concert of nations.

At the same time, we agree that the Organization needs

to be reformed. The attendance at this session of the

Assembly, where each year a number of points of view

and perceptions converge, emphasizes our desire to act

and build together.

The concerns and aspirations of our peoples are

echoed and thus take on universal resonance. We are

indeed becoming aware that, whatever latitude we

develop in, we have a common destiny.

I am one of a people steeped in several cultures,

whose men and women worship Shiva, Jesus, Allah

and Buddha, in diverse languages. The history of the

populating of our island and its geographical position

have made our country a true crossroads of cultures.

We have made the right to difference on the one hand

and the right to equality on the other our watchwords. I

am happy to remind my multi-ethnic people that each

individual shares with all other humans 99.9 per cent

of the same genetic code.

Those of us gathered here have much to learn

from each other. Exchanging our experiences and

knowledge enriches us and makes us stronger.

The respect for plurality that this forum demands

must neither make us forget our differences nor

contribute to the emergence of a dominant discourse.

I commend the topic that the President has chosen

for this year. If the Assembly manages to foster cross-

pollenization of cultures and to highlight what human

beings have in common, we shall, to a large extent,

have achieved our goal.