28 September 2015 – Following the tradition of being the first Head of State to address the annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff today, in a wide-ranging address, stressed, among other issues, her country’s improved economy after the 2008 economic crisis and its efforts to provide refuge for migrants stranded across Europe.
Ms. Rousseff said that numerous fiscal measures undertaken by the Government since the global meltdown has led to the revival of Brazil’s economic stagnation.
“During these six years, we adopted a comprehensive set of measures by lowering taxes, expanding credit, strengthening investment and stimulating household consumption,” said President Rousseff.
Brazil’s effort to reduce Read More
South African President Jacob Zuma has spoken out strongly about Africa’s representation in the United Nations Security Council and issues affecting Africa in the global spectrum.
On Monday, President Zuma addressed the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York, chaired by General Assembly President Morgens Lykketoft.
He voiced his concern over progress that has not been achieved on the commitment made by Heads of State and Government in 2005, regarding the early reform of the UN Security Council.
“It is unacceptable and unjustifiable that more than one billion people on the African continent are still excluded as permanent members of the key decision Read More
Ethiopia and neighbour Djibouti signed an agreement for a $1.55 billion fuel pipeline with developers Mining, Oil & Gas Services and Blackstone Group LP-backed Black Rhino Group.
The two countries in the Horn of Africa signed framework agreements on Tuesday for construction of the 550-kilometer (340-mile) line to transport diesel, gasoline and jet fuel from port access in Djibouti to central Ethiopia, the companies said. Financial close is expected in 2016, with construction scheduled for completion two years later.
Growth in landlocked Ethiopia has surpassed every other sub-Saharan country over the past decade, and the government has boosted spending to expand infrastructure. Fuel is typically delivered by tanker truck.
“The pipeline will increase energy Read More
“Similarly to other countries, I believe, Mozambique has achieved remarkable progress in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, the President of the southern African nation which recently celebrated 40 years of independence.
Worth highlighting, he explained, is the expansion of access to education, gender balance in the access to primary education and compliance with the target on infant mortality reduction.
“The commitment of Mozambique to the [post-2015 development agenda] is unequivocal and it has been expressed from the onset,” the President continued. “As you might be aware, Mozambique has been one of the 50 countries selected by the United Nations to host national consultations.”
The leader Read More
I am pleased to join you for this High Level Event to kick-start substantive discussions on TICAD VI. UNDP is proud to be a founding partner of the TICAD process.
Since its inception in 1993, guided by the dual principles of African “ownership” and “international partnership”, TICAD has been a driver of sustainable and people-centered development in Africa. It has consistently aimed at generating inclusive economic growth, which is backed by good governance which is important for creating the enabling environment for growth, and is made sustainable through investments in the productive capacities, health, and education of the people of Africa – the true wealth of the continent.
Now, as TICAD Read More
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday that Japan will focus on ways to improve Africa’s health system and curb extremism there during next year’s Tokyo-led African development summit, which will be held on the continent for the first time.
In a meeting with African leaders and officials in New York, Abe said next year’s Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Kenya would be Japan’s chance to show off its contribution to restructuring Africa’s health system and battling terrorism, including the fight against Boko Haram extremists.
Since the last TICAD summit, in 2013 in Yokohama, challenges such as the Ebola virus outbreak, the expansion of extremism and terrorism, and falling commodity Read More
United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Mogens Lykketoft
The Executive Secretary, Mr. Mourad Ahmia
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
After the immense misery and social disintegration as a result of the Second World War, the establishment of the United Nations provided nations the means to foster peace, build democracy and create a just society on a global scale. The creation of the organisation was also a pathway for the independence of many of the members of this Group. 70 years after its establishment, we should use this occasion to evaluate the UN’s history and its many achievements and challenges and assess its effectiveness in addressing Read More
The top trade officials from the EU and US agreed to ramp up the pace of bilateral negotiations for a wide-reaching trade and investment deal, following a “political stocktaking” meeting expected to set the tone of the talks through the rest of the year.
During their discussions in Washington on Tuesday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and US Trade Representative Michael Froman also confirmed that meetings between their respective negotiating teams would be “intensified,” including through intersessional, technical discussions.
“We need to intensify the pace of our negotiations,” Malmström said afterwards. “This means stepping up efforts on both sides. Today’s meeting took place in a constructive spirit, and we have a Read More
The 28 nations of the EU last Friday signed off on a common position for the UN climate talks set to take place this December in Paris, France, with the goal of adopting a universal climate regime. Among other aspects, the bloc’s environment ministers agreed to push for a 2020 peaking of global greenhouse gas emissions, followed by a 50 percent reduction by 2050 compared to 1990, with a move to near zero by the end of the century.
“We are now equipped with a solid position for Paris. The EU stands united and ready to negotiate an ambitious, robust, and binding global climate deal,” said EU Climate and Energy Read More
The 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement are reportedly considering holding high-level talks next week in the US city of Atlanta, as the impending elections in some key players threaten to complicate the long-term timeline for the trade deal.
If held, the Atlanta gathering would come two months after an effort to broker a final TPP accord among ministers in Hawaii fell short, with the key divides being over rules of origin for automobiles, dairy and sugar market access, and data exclusivity for biologic drugs. (See Bridges Weekly, 9 August 2015)
Whether these negotiators’ meetings in Atlanta will be followed by a ministerial has yet to be confirmed Read More