President Kagame on Thursday in New York addressed the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a speech that focused on the need to strengthen the future of all nations by fostering economic growth and development while investing in the environment.
President Kagame said that the seemingly incompatible goals of socioeconomic development and healthy environment can be effectively overcome by a shift in thinking and the use of available innovations in science, technology and business.
President Kagame called for a broadening of the base of the G-20 in order to allow for “true multilateralism” that would benefit from the contributions of more nations, saying that “Multilateralism has always been the key tenet in forging a fairer international community – based on equitable global governance; the United Nations itself is based on this very sound and tested principle and practice.”
On international justice, President Kagame looked forward to the resolution on universal jurisdiction coming out of the debate by the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly which had examined the issue. President Kagame also commended the establishment of new UN gender architecture that would advance women’s rights and gender equality.
President Kagame spoke about the economic progress being made in the East Africa Community pointing out that actions take so far would strengthen the region “…there is no better mitigation strategy to economic difficulties than building larger regional markets that bring improved productivity”.
On the global environmental challenge and the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, President Kagame called for “burden sharing” and co-equal status for all nations, which would bestow rights as well as obligations on each state. President Kagame shared some of Rwanda’s efforts in protecting and restoring the country’s own fragile ecosystems, as well as in contributing to preparation for a strong African voice at the Copenhagen Summit.
Finally on peace and security, President Kagame spoke of the recent breakthrough achieved with the Government of the DRC in furthering the cause for long-term stability in the region, attributing this to joint recognition of the root causes of conflict combined with joint action by the key parties “The leaders of this region recognize that most crucially, homegrown solutions, beginning with a joint regional effort, can bring about sustainable peace.”