New York, USA - President Danny Faure addressed the United Nations General Assembly this morning. He was the eighth speaker and first leader of a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to address the General Assembly. He called for a new economic model that takes the specificities of Small Island States into consideration, reiterated the need for UN Security Council reform, and encouraged the world leaders present to take decisive action against climate change.
President Faure began by highlighting the need for concerted and collective action to embrace multilateralism. He said that multilateralism has underpinned the values of the United Nations Organisation for nearly three quarters of a century, and that it is a critical element for forging a lasting peace and prosperity for all nations. The President of Seychelles also noted that Seychelles remains committed to the ideals of the United Nations and would remain an active voice within the organisation.
The President highlighted the need for strong institutions as an essential tool to sculpt vibrant global democracies, allowing for greater transparency and accountability to the people. President Faure remarked, "My mandate as President of the Republic of Seychelles has been highlighted by, in part, my desire to ensure that our institutions not only serve the people but grant them the necessary recourse should they feel the need. Only through the strengthening of institutions and by binding ourselves to international law and norms can our people truly have accountable governments."
In addition he called on the world’s advanced economies to support the creation of strong institutions, through the sharing of their expertise.
Addressing the General Assembly Hall, President Faure drew the Assembly’s attention to the theme of the 73rd Session- ‘Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibility for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies.’ He noted ‘sustainable societies’ held particular resonance with islanders who live the stark realities of unpredictable weather patterns every day.
He also noted the opportunities that focusing on sustainable development provides, drawing the attention of other world leaders to Seychelles' Blue Economy strategy. He explained how this ocean-based sustainable development would promote economic diversification, shared prosperity, food security, and healthy and productive oceans.
President Faure also used the opportunity to advocate for a SIDS-specific vulnerability and resilience index, which takes into account the respective specificities of Small Island States to better reflect the realities facing them.
“Together, we continue to demonstrate the success and unrelenting power of diplomacy, and in the case of the smaller states like ours, we have also proven that might is not right,” concluded the President.
The full speech can be read here: http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/speeches.php?news_id=4130