The Secretary-General of the united nations,
Ban Ki-moon, with
important off-the-cuff remarks at a Sierra Leone press conference.
Q: What is the UN’s concern on climate change and how is
Sierra Leone expected to participate in this process? Secondly, are
you concerned that Russian troops will go beyond the Crimean
region of Ukraine?
Sierra Leone expected to participate in this process? Secondly, are
you concerned that Russian troops will go beyond the Crimean
region of Ukraine?
SG: For your first question on climate change, I had an in-depth
discussion with President Koroma in my bilateral meeting and with the
cabinet members, including the Vice-President. This is one of the
most serious, important issues which world leaders must tackle
without wasting any further time.
discussion with President Koroma in my bilateral meeting and with the
cabinet members, including the Vice-President. This is one of the
most serious, important issues which world leaders must tackle
without wasting any further time.
Time is of essence. You have seen so many such cases of extreme
weather patterns which have been striking all around the world.
It is not only in the developing world; it happened even in the
middle of New York, Manhattan. So it is happening.
weather patterns which have been striking all around the world.
It is not only in the developing world; it happened even in the
middle of New York, Manhattan. So it is happening.
Climate change is happening much, much faster than one would
expect. The science has made it simply clear that climate change
is happening because of human behaviour. And if it is happening
because of us then it is us, we, human beings, who must address
this one, who must correct [it]. We have only one earth,
expect. The science has made it simply clear that climate change
is happening because of human behaviour. And if it is happening
because of us then it is us, we, human beings, who must address
this one, who must correct [it]. We have only one earth,
one planet earth. Some people who are wasting, who do not support
this, may think that we have “planet B”.
No, we only have one planet earth. There is no plan B.
this, may think that we have “planet B”.
No, we only have one planet earth. There is no plan B.
We have only plan, one plan A. That is why I really am emphasizing
the importance of this issue, particularly we need a political
leadership role. That is why I am convening on 23 September
this year at the United Nations a world leaders climate change
the importance of this issue, particularly we need a political
leadership role. That is why I am convening on 23 September
this year at the United Nations a world leaders climate change
summit meeting. This time I am inviting not only political leaders but
business leaders and civil society leaders because this is one that
everyone must be doing.There [are] no national, geographic
boundaries. Climate change might have happened
business leaders and civil society leaders because this is one that
everyone must be doing.There [are] no national, geographic
boundaries. Climate change might have happened
because of some part of industrialized countries but the impact does
not respect any natural borders. It impacts the whole world,
all of us. We must have a universal, global, legal climate agreement
by 2015, next year. That is a must.
not respect any natural borders. It impacts the whole world,
all of us. We must have a universal, global, legal climate agreement
by 2015, next year. That is a must.
That is why the United Nations has taken three priorities now:
one priority, the Millennium Development Goals.
The second priority: define post-2015 […]
one priority, the Millennium Development Goals.
The second priority: define post-2015 […]
that is sustainable development goals. Then climate change.
So I have invited President Koroma and he gladly accepted that
he would come,and I asked President Koroma, African leaders,
that they raise their voices. If not African leaders who have
to raise voices, who will do it? We need to do it.
he would come,and I asked President Koroma, African leaders,
that they raise their voices. If not African leaders who have
to raise voices, who will do it? We need to do it.
On your second question, in fact I am not here to address all these
questions but while I stay here, I am also addressing this issue.
This is very, very serious issue. Even this morning in Freetown,
I had a long talk with Secretary of United States John Kerry on how
to address this issue. During the last few days,
questions but while I stay here, I am also addressing this issue.
This is very, very serious issue. Even this morning in Freetown,
I had a long talk with Secretary of United States John Kerry on how
to address this issue. During the last few days,
I have been engaging with many world leaders, starting from
President Putin of the Russian Federation and I met the
Foreign Minister of Russia two days ago in Geneva.
I have been engaging with the leaders of France, Great Britain,
Germany, the European Union, the OSCE and many world leaders
with whom I have discussed this matter very seriously.
President Putin of the Russian Federation and I met the
Foreign Minister of Russia two days ago in Geneva.
I have been engaging with the leaders of France, Great Britain,
Germany, the European Union, the OSCE and many world leaders
with whom I have discussed this matter very seriously.
As Secretary-General of the United Nations, what is most important
and urgent is that the principle of unity, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Ukraine must be protected. Preservation, protection of
this is very important. This is a fundamental principle of the
United Nations Charter.
It is clear. At the same time, I have been urging both parties and
other concerned parties to lower down their temperature,
and urgent is that the principle of unity, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Ukraine must be protected. Preservation, protection of
this is very important. This is a fundamental principle of the
United Nations Charter.
It is clear. At the same time, I have been urging both parties and
other concerned parties to lower down their temperature,
lower their unnecessarily provocative rhetoric. I have been urging
Russian and Ukrainian authorities to sit down together and engage
in constructive and direct dialogue to resolve this issue.
I have dispatched my Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson,
to Kiev. He is now in Kiev.
I also dispatched my Special Envoy Robert Serry
Russian and Ukrainian authorities to sit down together and engage
in constructive and direct dialogue to resolve this issue.
I have dispatched my Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson,
to Kiev. He is now in Kiev.
I also dispatched my Special Envoy Robert Serry
to Kiev. He visited Crimea yesterday and he is still in Crimea to
apprise the situation there and how the United Nations can help
this one. Most importantly, this should be resolved between the
parties concerned. But because peace and security in Ukraine has
very serious regional and in a sense global implications, we must
address this issue on an urgent basis. And I am urging from
Freetown again those leaders of Russia and the Ukrainian
authorities to sit down together and directly resolve this issue.
apprise the situation there and how the United Nations can help
this one. Most importantly, this should be resolved between the
parties concerned. But because peace and security in Ukraine has
very serious regional and in a sense global implications, we must
address this issue on an urgent basis. And I am urging from
Freetown again those leaders of Russia and the Ukrainian
authorities to sit down together and directly resolve this issue.
And the UN is ready to provide whatever assistance and role to play
in first of all defusing these tensions and also help maintain all
United Nations Charter principles of unity, sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
Thank you.
in first of all defusing these tensions and also help maintain all
United Nations Charter principles of unity, sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
Thank you.
Q: What message of hope do you have for the people of Sierra Leone
that as we journey into the Agenda for Prosperity the UN will continue
to stand by us until we attain sustainable national development?
that as we journey into the Agenda for Prosperity the UN will continue
to stand by us until we attain sustainable national development?
SG: Thank you. Before I answer your question, let me add one [thing]
which I had forgotten to mention about the situation in Ukraine.
I have decided to dispatch the Assistant Secretary-General
for Human Rights, Mr. Ivan Simonovic, to Ukraine to visit
which I had forgotten to mention about the situation in Ukraine.
I have decided to dispatch the Assistant Secretary-General
for Human Rights, Mr. Ivan Simonovic, to Ukraine to visit
Kiev and the eastern part of Ukraine, including Crimea, to see and
monitor the human rights situation there.
his is what I wanted to add to the AP correspondent.
monitor the human rights situation there.
his is what I wanted to add to the AP correspondent.
On the question raised by you - what kind of message we can
learn from the people of Sierra Leone-, my first answer would
be that the people of Sierra Leone should be very proud of
what they have achieved. Out of this civil war, out of war,
you have successfully established peace and stability not only
for your own country but also for the region. From a recipient
country of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
learn from the people of Sierra Leone-, my first answer would
be that the people of Sierra Leone should be very proud of
what they have achieved. Out of this civil war, out of war,
you have successfully established peace and stability not only
for your own country but also for the region. From a recipient
country of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
you have transformed yourself as a donor country in peacekeeping
operations.
operations.
As I just mentioned, you are at least participating in six or seven
peacekeeping operations.
peacekeeping operations.
It is not only on the African continent, […] in Lebanon, UNIFIL.
That means you are contributing to global peace and security.
You should be proud of that. Now you are making remarkable
economic progress -- 13 to 14 per cent annual economic growth.
That is remarkable. It is very difficult to see that kind of economic
That means you are contributing to global peace and security.
You should be proud of that. Now you are making remarkable
economic progress -- 13 to 14 per cent annual economic growth.
That is remarkable. It is very difficult to see that kind of economic
growth at this time particularly. I know that many African countries
are making good economic progress, around 6 to 8 or 9,
even 10 per cent. This 13-14 percent is remarkable.
I hope this will continue under the leadership of President
Koroma.
The United Nations will spare no effort in working together with
concerned, related ministries and ministers and business
communities to work for that progress so that President Koroma
and his successors will be able to meet this vision of
President Koroma, Agenda for Prosperity, even five years before,
as he mentioned -- by 2030, in line with the United Nations
sustainable development blueprint. Now, that I said should
not be a source of complacency. There are many areas
[in which] you have to grow. I have emphasized the importance
of a firm foundation of rule of law, good governance, quality
education. Those are two pillars on which you can build further.
are making good economic progress, around 6 to 8 or 9,
even 10 per cent. This 13-14 percent is remarkable.
I hope this will continue under the leadership of President
Koroma.
The United Nations will spare no effort in working together with
concerned, related ministries and ministers and business
communities to work for that progress so that President Koroma
and his successors will be able to meet this vision of
President Koroma, Agenda for Prosperity, even five years before,
as he mentioned -- by 2030, in line with the United Nations
sustainable development blueprint. Now, that I said should
not be a source of complacency. There are many areas
[in which] you have to grow. I have emphasized the importance
of a firm foundation of rule of law, good governance, quality
education. Those are two pillars on which you can build further.
When you have good governance on the basis of a good
rule of law system, you can build further your economic
and social and political stability. When you have educated,
trained human resources through quality education that is
promising a future much, much better and brighter future
of your country.
rule of law system, you can build further your economic
and social and political stability. When you have educated,
trained human resources through quality education that is
promising a future much, much better and brighter future
of your country.
This is what I can tell you based on the experience of my own
country, Korea: good education, good governance and
country, Korea: good education, good governance and
foundation of the rule of law. I hope this will give some further
motivation to Sierra Leoneans to move ahead for a brighter,
better future for all.
Thank you very much.
motivation to Sierra Leoneans to move ahead for a brighter,
better future for all.
Thank you very much.
Off-the-Cuff on 5 March 2014
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