Named Entity Recognition in R

A tutorial for applying Named Entity Recognition in R with the reticulate package.

This tutorial shows how to perform Named Entity Recognition (NER) using Python’s transformers library inside R using the library reticulate. We will apply the model in a corpus of sentences from UN Speeches and extract locations, organizations, persons and miscellaneous entities found in each.

Set up R and Python Environments

All the R code in this tutorial will follow tidyverse syntax and should be reproducible with the seed below.

library(dplyr)
set.seed(5678)

To begin, we need to install reticulate, a bridge between R and Python. It is also a good idea to install miniconda and set up a specific environment for all Hugging Face models.

reticulate::install_miniconda()
devtools::install_github("farach/huggingfaceR")
reticulate::py_install("transformers", pip = T)
reticulate::py_install("torch", pip = T)
reticulate::py_install("transformers", pip = T)
reticulate::py_install("huggingface_hub", pip = T, pip_upgrade = T)

We can sheck which Python environment is active:

library(reticulate)
py_config()

And we can set a preferred Python environment. This one should correspond to where the transformers and torch libraries were installed.

use_python("your/path/miniconda/environment", 
           required = TRUE)

Pre-process Data

The data for this tutorial is taken from Jankin, Baturo, and Dasandi (2017). It consists of UN General Assembly speeches since the 1940s. The data set below (df) is a subset of speeches delivered in 2009.¹

df <- readRDS("unga_2009.rds")
Encoding(df$text) <- "UTF-8"

Table 1

Sample of UNGA Corpus Documents

doc_id	text
LCA_64_2009	I wish to express the warm congratulations of the delegation of Saint Lucia to Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to serve as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. With his vast diplomatic experience, we are most confident that this session will yield significant results in advancing the agenda of the international community through this most universal of institutions, the General Assembly, which has been rightly described by his predecessor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, as the “Group of 192”. We express our appreciation for the work of Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann, who succeeded in further elevating the Assembly so that it could regain its rightful place as the parliament of the world. We pledge to work with Mr. Treki in the furtherance of that approach. We also thank Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for his tireless efforts on behalf of us all. When developing countries agreed to the ambitious but necessary Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the internationally agreed development goals, few, if any, foresaw that the winds would be contrary, the storms fierce and the course ahead so challenging. We are more than halfway to the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and Governments in the developing world are still struggling to meet their objectives. That situation, of course, is the result of developing countries facing unforeseen economic hardship as a result of crisis after crisis that for the most part are not of our own making. While the developed world appears to be in the infant stages of recovery, the developing countries are still in the wake of this crisis and are struggling to find calmer waters. In that connection, it is important that the Doha Round of trade negotiations be reshaped as a development round, with emphasis on substantially reducing the tariff and non-tariff barriers that have been imposed by developed countries, especially regarding agricultural products. The matter of substantive debt relief to permit the developing countries to utilize their limited resources for national development must also be given the most serious consideration. The MDGs are still achievable, but the developed countries must meet their agreed commitments if those objectives are to be attained in a manner consistent with the global timetable. While all of the MDGs are relevant to the development aspirations of the people of my country and of the region, we believe that education, poverty alleviation and the strengthening of institutions for good governance are pivotal to this process. These must form the bedrock for overall development. So, despite sluggish advancement towards the achievement of all the Goals, we have made significant progress in the areas of poverty and hunger, universal education and gender equality. My own country boasts gender parity in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector, a long-standing problem in our region. Despite such progress, continued improvement is required in the other priority areas of reducing child mortality and promoting maternal health. Unfortunately, as I speak here, my Government is grappling with the loss of a hospital on the southern part of the island that burned down two weeks ago, with loss of life. We have launched an appeal for assistance and hope that those most able to do so will help generously. We in Saint Lucia are observing the current global state of affairs through bifocal lenses; we see both challenges and opportunity — an opportunity to take bold new steps and think outside the box in tackling the issues that confront us. The right mix of appropriate policy interventions, strong political will and strategic partnerships supported by development stakeholders is certain to help countries such as Saint Lucia achieve the Millennium Development Goals in a timely manner. Therefore, hope is not completely lost. Higher prices for food, fuel and other essentials forced most Governments of developing countries to divert already scarce resources in order to subsidize those commodities for the poorest in our societies. That then put pressure on their ability to repay debts and, together with mismanagement within the world financial sector, triggered a global financial and economic crisis. The world conference held here at United Nations Headquarters last June to assess the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression succeeded in identifying immediate and long-term measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis, especially on developing countries, and to begin the necessary 09- international deliberations on the restructuring of the international financial architecture. Saint Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean Community welcomed the initiative, and we participated fully in the deliberations. Saint Lucia therefore supports the measures called for in the outcome document (resolution 63/ annex) to sustain the initiative while also providing the machinery necessary for the continued monitoring of the world economy. To that end, we emphasize the importance of strengthening the capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations and of making the international financial institutions more compassionate in their responses and their assistance to national development strategies. We look forward to analysing the report of the ad hoc open-ended working group of the Assembly on the implementation of the mandate, as well as the reports of the Secretary-General on the global food security crisis, the International Labour Organization report on the Global Jobs Pact and the contributions of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the new development financing agenda. The most pressing issue and challenge facing Saint Lucia, and indeed the rest of the world, is climate change. It has emerged as the most serious developmental challenge facing mankind today — hence, the demands for collective action and an urgent response. We are extremely concerned that the adverse effects of climate change are constantly altering access to basic resources such as land, water and food. Decreased accessibility threatens social security, a daily reality for many of us around the world. We may not disappear, as the Maldives will, if nothing is done, but it will certainly be expensive to survive. On September heads of member States of the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS) adopted a declaration on climate change that spelled out some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed by all States. Before that we had the Barbados Programme of Action; the final communiqué of the AOSIS Heads of Government Meeting; the outcome document of the General Assembly’s special session held in to review and assess the Barbados Programme (resolution S-22/2), and the adoption in of the Mauritius Strategy for Further Implementation. All represented extensive legislative authority for concerted international action and clearly set forth the position of the most vulnerable States. That extensive mandate provides the framework for a strategy to arrest the impact of climate change that can lead to the emergence of a sustainable world for present and future generations. The high-level event on climate change, held to discuss “The future in our hands: addressing the leadership challenge of climate change”, was also instructive in reinforcing the mandates of earlier sessions. Alas, it seems the rest of the world has not seen the urgency for action. For our part, Saint Lucia and other Caribbean States have pledged to take voluntary mitigation measures to ensure our collective survival. We are working assiduously to formulate policies and review legislation to develop our renewable energy potential in wind, solar and geothermal power. We will intensify efforts to preserve our limited forest cover, which serves to protect our water supply and biodiversity and is an important factor in carbon sequestration. For us these are critical survival measures. Saint Lucia has joined with other CARICOM member States to establish early-warning systems for predicting disasters such as floods and hurricanes. CARICOM heads of Government have also adopted the Liliendaal Declaration on Climate Change and Development, which expressed the commitment to protect the region’s marine resources and ecosystems and work towards fulfilling the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change objectives. While these sustainable development practices have long-term benefits, the financial investment required to support them is very onerous for small island developing States. We have indicated that our Governments have been proactive; however, the small island developing States still need financial support to enhance their capacity to respond to challenges brought on by climate change. Let me reiterate that these problems are not of our doing. Lack of access to cost- effective, affordable and environmentally sound technologies significantly threatens to stall or reverse progress already made. Nor will mitigation be enough if not supported by adaptation measures. We therefore urge States to fulfil their commitment to the Adaptation Fund, which will help us cope with changes that have made life difficult for many peoples. We the small island developing States and least developed countries have joined together to demand, appeal and even beg, if necessary, that the new Copenhagen climate agreement limit temperature 09- increases to the attainable level of 1.5 degrees Celsius, as it is possible that anything above that will be devastating to our very existence. We urge other inhabitants of planet Earth to be understanding and cooperative as we work to seal the deal in Copenhagen. If we cannot reverse or slow the effects of climate change, all other activities, as noble as they may be, will be useless to mankind. Our efforts to advance our own development progress are sometimes derailed because of a lack of resources and a peculiar grouping that excludes many States from access to certain types of aid, loans and/or development assistance currently available only to least developed States — ironically, because of our success in managing our affairs. It would appear that we are being punished for being prudent in the management of our limited resources. Middle-income countries like Saint Lucia continue to face significant challenges in reducing poverty, servicing debt and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. My Government is pleased to note that the United Nations and the international financial institutions have recognized that there is a need to address the development needs of middle-income countries and to reinforce global support for their development efforts. We are cognizant that this group of countries is not homogeneous and that individual economic and social circumstances must be taken into account. However, as a group, we deserve greater attention from the donor community and the United Nations system. We hope our pleas do not fall on deaf ears, and that assistance will not come too late. While we bemoan the slow pace of assistance from the North, we appreciate the efforts of our traditional friends — the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, the European Union, Japan, to name a few — to meet their official development assistance targets and agreed commitments. However, the significance of cooperation among developing countries cannot be overlooked. South-South cooperation has become an effective tool for economic development and foreign policy and constitutes one of the most important dimensions of international cooperation for development, particularly in the context of globalization and liberalization. South-South cooperation is also an imperative to complement North-South cooperation and strengthen the institutional capacities of the countries of the South to engage in sustainable development practices. An ever- changing global landscape has impelled developing countries to take initiatives to safeguard one another’s common interests, since they possess diverse assets that can nonetheless be complementary. That has been our goal within CARICOM, and we thank the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for so often leading the way on such matters. The Government of Saint Lucia also wishes to express its gratitude for the assistance provided by the Republic of Cuba, whose international medical assistance programme has served the people of the region, the wider hemisphere and beyond. And we express our appreciation for the support we have received from other countries in our region, including the Latin American States of Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela, to name a few. The historic cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean are well known, and cooperation between our two regions is being strengthened through recent developments such as the African Union Diaspora Initiative and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Secretariat. We in Saint Lucia have received support from the Kuwaiti funds to assist in infrastructure development. In short, we are reaching out to the world for cooperation and collaboration in the advancement of our development efforts, within the framework of respect for each other and for humankind. That is why the Government of Saint Lucia joins with other delegations in extending our deep condolences to the Government and people of Taiwan following the devastation and loss of life caused by the disastrous Typhoon Morakot in August. Taiwan has assisted Saint Lucia in the areas of education, agriculture, health and other fields critical to our development efforts. Their assistance in agriculture, especially, has enabled us to improve our output and position ourselves for breaking into the food export market. Taiwan has extended a helping hand to all those who have requested it. It seeks only to be part of the family of nations and to share its knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world. That is not too much to ask. We are pleased to note that some positive steps have been taken in this respect, and we hope they will continue, with other agencies opening their doors to participation and thus to enable million people to make their contribution to their fellow human beings and to realize their aspirations, as we in Saint Lucia did years ago. 09- We also extend our sympathies to the Government and people of the Philippines for the loss of life and destruction caused by Typhoon Ketsana three days ago. Saint Lucia joins with other CARICOM countries in expressing profound concern and deep disappointment with the decision by the Administering Power to dissolve the Government and legislature in the non-self-governing territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands, an associate member of CARICOM. We call for a speedy return to democratic governance, without which the territory’s participation in the regional integration process will be in jeopardy. Economic diversification for small States is critical to their ability to remain competitive in an ever more globalized economy, and many small States have developed vibrant financial service industries that have evolved as clean, competitive industries in a world economy increasingly dependent on services. Clearly, the competitiveness of tax rates and international tax compensation are fundamental tools of globalization and represent one of the few areas where small States have been able to enter this new economy from a competitive position. To this end Saint Lucia joined with other CARICOM States last July in adopting the Liliendaal Declaration on the Financial Sector: A New Framework for Financial Regulation and Supervision in the Region. It is important to note that the regional policy contains provisions for continued improvement in standards for disclosure, transparency and corporate governance for both public and private companies. However, despite our best efforts, international financial centres in the Caribbean and elsewhere have recently been under intense pressure from high-tax nations. Saint Lucia joins our regional partners in continuing to enhance transparency by the strengthening of regulatory frameworks. We stand with our CARICOM colleagues in calling for equitable treatment in accord with that granted to the developed countries and other preferential jurisdictions. It matters little if we are rich if we are insecure in our homes and our country. And that is why in recent years the issue of small arms and light weapons has emerged as a major source of concern to us. Small developing States like Saint Lucia continue to be threatened by the disturbing spread of small arms. The illicit introduction of those weapons into our societies has created a heavy burden in our region, which has seen the emergence of an unacceptable level of gun violence, worsened by the social distress caused by the economic and financial crisis. Saint Lucia reiterates its support for the implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions addressing the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, most recently resolution 63/of 2 December Saint Lucia wishes also to express its continued support for the full implementation of the international instruments to enable States to identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons in a timely and reliable manner. On top of all our financial problems it seems we are asked to bear an unfair burden in relation to world peace and security. While ensuring an effective funding mechanism is the collective responsibility of the membership, we concur that the future scale of assessment should be constant, simple and transparent. We fully support the view of the Committee on Contributions that the scale should be based on gross national income data, as that is the most accurate reflection of one’s capacity to pay. In the face of all the challenges outlined above and in this present state of world affairs, it is no longer pragmatic to utilize attenuated financial and technical assistance schemes designed many years ago. They have given way to development challenges that are often of astronomical size as well as nebulous, necessitating long-term, cumulative responses. In short, the world is in crisis-management mode, and that is seriously affecting the ability of developing countries to move forward and onward to progress. However, crisis management must be undertaken with sustainable development in mind and integrated into the policymaking processes by both donor and recipient countries. Coordination and collaboration, therefore, are essential within and among Governments, organizations and local communities if a sustainable and forward-looking approach is to be achieved. We chose as our theme for this session of the Assembly “Effective responses to global crises: strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development”. I hope that this body, made up of a diverse group of countries, will work together towards achieving the goals to which we all aspire. 09- Like Jason in his good ship the Argo, fair Helen — Saint Lucia — will brave the seas, chart a new course and take our people to the heights of development and dignity that befit a country that has produced two Nobel Laureates.
CZE_64_2009	My country, the Czech Republic, has always appreciated the role that the United Nations has played in strengthening security, stability and prosperity in the world. I want to assure Members that we will continue to participate in the activities of the United Nations. We firmly believe in the importance of this Organization and want it to be efficient and effective. For that reason, we support the reform of the Security Council so that it will more adequately reflect the political and economic realities of the world today, as some speakers have stressed here today. Changes are necessary and we are ready to start discussing them very seriously. This year, in our part of the world, we commemorate years since the fall of communism, since the moment when my country — together with other States of Central and Eastern Europe — regained freedom and sovereignty, and was again able to resume the place in the community of free and democratic countries that it enjoyed when the United Nations was founded in In the years that have passed since those historic events, we succeeded in building a stable political democracy and in transforming our economic system into a functioning free-market economy. I am mentioning this because I believe that our experience is relevant to the ongoing discussions about how to solve the economic problems that the world faces today. We are meeting at a time when the world is in the midst one of the deepest economic crises since the Second World War. The financial crisis, which originated in the United States two years ago, quickly spilled over into most other countries and led to a severe decline in economic activity all over the world, a substantial decrease in international trade and capital flows and an increase in social and economic instability in a large number of countries on all continents. The United Nations — as a unique worldwide Organization — and its specialized institutions have become an important global platform for discussing alternative steps and policies that could, one hopes, help to overcome the crisis and diminish its impact. The measures that have been implemented to date have contributed to the fact that the world has succeeded in avoiding a repetition of the situation in the 1930s. We also succeeded in avoiding a repetition of a massive protectionist reaction to the crisis. Protectionism in all its forms should be resolutely condemned here today. We see the first signs that the economic crisis has reached bottom, or come close to it. Nevertheless, we find ourselves at the beginning of a difficult and very complicated post-crisis period. There are many reasons for the fragility and vulnerability of this phase, but I should like to refer to just a few. First, attempts to increase aggregate demand led to unprecedented expansion in public expenditure and public debt. As a result, a large number of United Nations Member States are facing or approaching a debt trap. Those huge fiscal deficits will harm future economic growth. Secondly, international flows of private capital, which contributed so substantially to rapid economic growth in recent decades, are decreasing and becoming less reliable. Thirdly, a decrease in international trade will undermine the continuation of export-oriented strategies of many emerging markets. It would be a tragic mistake to fundamentally impair economic freedom in favour of State or supra-State regulation just now. Long-term experience shows us that it is thanks to free markets and free entrepreneurship that we enjoy the current material well-being and economic progress. Business cycles, accompanied by economic downturns, recessions and 09- crises, did exist, do exist and will exist in the future. In spite of them, the world has been — at least in the past two centuries — characterized primarily by economic growth and growing prosperity. When looking for an appropriate reaction to the problems connected with the current crisis, we should build on the idea that the crisis was basically a failure of Governments, not of markets. The manipulation of monetary policy in an attempt to artificially prolong the period of growth, the irrational subsidization of demand in the housing sector and the failures in financial-market regulation contributed substantially to the crisis. Let us not delude ourselves into believing that economic cycles and their consequences can be prevented by more extensive Government regulation or by aiming at global governance of the world economy. This issue has its important territorial and geographic aspects as well. We have to pay attention to the needs and interests of all kinds of countries — rich and poor, developed and developing. Global economic development will benefit from the removal of barriers, not from creating new ones, because barriers would substantially complicate poorer countries’ access to foreign markets, as well as their ability to develop by their own means. Economic recession and large increases in public debt have reduced the possibilities available to today’s world to meet such goals as combating climate change. I do not intend to go into details of this issue here now, but we should carefully follow it because of unfinished scientific debate and pay attention to the costs and benefits of our future decisions. I do, however, want to emphasize that the measures proposed to combat climate change represent another heavy burden for both developed countries, which are falling into deep fiscal deficits now, and for developing countries. This is happening in a context in which rich countries, often pushing this agenda at international forums, are losing their ability to compensate poorer countries for the impact of those additional costs. The Czech Republic, as a successor State to Czechoslovakia, which was one of the founding Members of the United Nations, has always participated actively in all kinds of United Nations activities. It intends to do so in the future as well. It is in our interest that the Organization remains a respected high-level forum that contributes to prosperity, stability and peaceful solutions to the conflicts of today’s world.
MCO_64_2009	My participation in this general debate, like that of more than heads of State and Government, confirms both the seriousness of the choices we must make in the face of the challenges confronting our States and the unavoidable role of the United Nations in deciding on the future of our planet and its inhabitants. More than ever before, the General Assembly must be the “centre for harmonizing the actions of nations” in the attainment of the common ends defined in Article 1 of the Charter. To remain the vital centre, the Organization and its most representative body of the community of nations — our General Assembly — must better take into consideration the interdependence that links our destinies and the opportunity presented to our sovereign States to bestow upon our fellow countrymen a common vision marked by moral values. The financial storm that swept through the world a year ago has caused too much suffering and too much harm to the global economy, at a time in our history when we are confronted with the major challenges of the climate crisis and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), for us not to draw obvious conclusions. A year from now, we will meet again in this same forum to take stock of the progress we have made in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The deadline — which already seemed compromised on the eve of this multidimensional crisis — requires that we define a global vision for the future of humankind. Some will call it solidarity or moral awareness. Whatever the 09- name, we need to clearly define and implement the MDGs to meet the basic needs of all human beings. If poverty eradication is to remain our priority, we will have to get busy on fulfilling our obligations, for the most destitute are also the ones who are hungry, who suffer from malnutrition and who lack access to water and to basic social and health services. Among the main victims are women and children, 25,of whom die each day, according to UNICEF. Several hundred thousand people today benefit from actions undertaken by my country in the framework of its international cooperation in the fields of health, education and the fight against poverty. This is why I requested that we continue our effort to contribute 0.7 per cent of our GDP by to official development assistance. This assistance must not be sacrificed because of the present economic and financial situation. On the contrary, it must be strengthened at a time when the most vulnerable are the ones who need it the most. This development assistance must be accompanied by long-term investments aimed at strengthening the capacity- building of developing countries, in particular through the transfer of appropriate technologies with a view to respecting the requirements of sustainable development. From this perspective, and in the light of the recent food crisis, the time is right to restore agriculture to its proper place, because food security depends on it. Today, it is up to us to forge for future generations a new destiny, “a new deal”. We must move from being donors to become partners in a green revolution in Africa, where food-producing agriculture adapted to the specific conditions of the continent must empower the local populations. The restoration of agriculture to the heart of our civilization also raises the crucial issue of water. Whether regarding access to it for the survival of our populations, for farming or for energy production, it is imperative to guarantee water security. Therefore, an integrated management of water resources is needed. We must be aware of the potential disasters and conflicts that would arise if we failed, and of risks linked to poor sanitation that could cause outbreaks of infectious diseases and pandemics. The phenomena of desertification and drought, as well as the acidification of seas and oceans, are exacerbated by man-made climatic change. This is why failure of the Copenhagen negotiations is not an option. My commitment, and that of my worldwide counterparts, as stated yesterday in the framework of the climate change summit convened by the Secretary- General, is unequivocal: we must, together — developed countries, countries with high carbon dioxide emissions and developing countries — succeed in defining a post-Kyoto regime that will be decidedly in line with a low-carbon-emission future. For too long, we have neglected the scientific warnings. More than years ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created by the World Meteorological Organization. During the third World Climate Conference at the beginning of September which, with great pleasure, I attended, it was decided to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services, with a view to helping populations meet this increasingly pressing challenge. This Global Framework, which we fully support, aims at improving the management of the risks of climate fluctuations and climate change as well as adaptation to climate change at all levels, through development and the incorporation of science-based information and forecasting into policies and planning. The unparalleled mobilization of public opinion compels us to adopt innovative measures to slow global warming, whose consequences could be catastrophic. The Trade and Development Report recommends deep structural changes, which will not happen unless we are willing to challenge our patterns of production and consumption. The setting up of a green economy must be the basis of such a process. Our role, as political decision makers, is to ensure that the necessary technology — which already exists — is put to use to reduce greenhouse gases. Sustainable development requires the globalization of green technologies and environmental assets. On behalf of the Principality, I reiterate our stated ambition to become carbon neutral and our resolve to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by per cent by and by per cent by During these past few months, the world economy has been sorely tried and tested. Signs of recovery are beginning to show, but we must draw lessons from this grim year. The globalization of the economy and the resulting interdependence require 09- reform of the international monetary and financial system. Created years ago, the Group of (G-met for the first time at the level of heads of State or Government last November, thereby acknowledging the urgency of adopting measures to save the world economy from a disaster worsened by the panic reigning in the financial markets. Monaco acknowledges that this group, which represents two thirds of the world’s population and trade and close to per cent of the world gross domestic product, bears special responsibility vis-à-vis the rest of the international community. We are confident of the capacity of the G- tomorrow in Pittsburgh, to lay the foundations for a new era encompassing, inter alia, financial regulation, financial traders’ income, governance and resources allocated to international financial institutions. The G-20’s ability to bring together all States will give rise to the legitimacy necessary for renewed growth. For several months, my Government has been working to fulfil the commitments it undertook and to comply with the required norms of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with a view to improve transparency and exchanges of fiscal and banking information. That is why my Government has already signed bilateral conventions and has undertaken to conclude other agreements in this area. As of today, Monaco has had its efforts acknowledged by the OECD and will thus now be included on its White List. But let us make no mistake: the breach of trust resulting from the financial disaster has made it more necessary than ever before that the measures taken by the G-be non-discriminatory and bring together all Member States. A consultative body would thus ensure the legitimacy of any decisions made. We must, together, rebuild solid foundations for a capitalism with a human face that promotes growth and social development. Current circumstances have provided us the opportunity to create a green economy, one which associates job creation with the transfer of new technologies which will enable us to achieve a sustained recovery. The State must continuously adapt its role and the expression of its sovereignty to new realities in order to remain the guarantor of the security and social well- being of populations. The United Nations cannot avoid this either. Since its creation, the Organization has worked for the maintenance of international peace and security through operations led under its flag. It has also played a prominent federative role in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. Human and material resources available to peacekeeping operations have reached levels that would have not been conceivable only a decade ago. The necessary consideration of this matter initiated within the Security Council and the Secretariat, as well as with Member States, is a priority and we support it. What is just as important is the strengthening of the rule of law and of democratic institutions, guardians of sovereignty and the peaceful coexistence of States. In this respect, I wish to reiterate the support of my country for the implementation of the responsibility to protect, which is symbolic of the strengthening of multilateralism for the good of populations. The responsibility to protect does not affect the exercise of responsible sovereignty, which places the individual at the forefront. Monaco will continue to work with its partners — that is, each and every one in this Hall — to implement best practices in the field of protection, international assistance and capacity-building, with the sole objective of saving lives. The Principality will keep responding, in solidarity, to emergency humanitarian situations, especially when it comes to assisting women and children, whose vulnerability in crisis situations, unfortunately, no longer needs to be demonstrated. In we will celebrate the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures and the International Year of Biodiversity. These themes symbolize, at the outset of the twenty-first century, the harmony that we must seek both among our people — with acceptance of our differences — and between the human species and the other living species on Earth, which we have the duty to protect and save from extinction. I can assure the Assembly that my country will continue to tirelessly commit itself to processes likely to build and strengthen the ties between our societies in order to promote dialogue and cultural and religious understanding based on mutual respect, such as the Union for the Mediterranean and the Alliance of Civilizations. 09- I am convinced that the President’s great experience at the United Nations and his role in the creation of the African Union are great pluses for the success of his very sensitive mission.
GAB_64_2009	First, I would like to warmly congratulate Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. I would also like to pay a well-deserved tribute to Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the Assembly at its sixty-third session, for the work he accomplished during his mandate. And I reaffirm the confidence and support of my country for the Secretary-General as he continues his efforts as the leader of this Organization. Gabon has just gone through a critical phase in its history as a nation. With the loss of President Omar Bongo Ondimba on 8 June, our country saw the start of a delicate period of political transition, during which we had to dig deep to find the strength necessary to confront our destiny. Under the relevant provisions of our founding laws and the leadership of interim President Rose Francine Rogombé, we were able to bring our electoral process to a successful conclusion, culminating in a vote on August. As a result of this unprecedented election, Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba was officially proclaimed the elected President of the Republic by the Constitutional Court, which under the law has a month to examine claims or appeals resulting from the election before the elected President takes office, given that nine unsuccessful candidates have appealed to the high court. 09- As members know, ensuring such an important democratic transition in the brief time allocated under the law was very challenging for our country, and I am proud to say that we have met it, considering what was at stake and what we knew had to be done. I submit here my own tribute to the people of Gabon, the majority of whom have proclaimed their support for the values of peace and democracy. I would also like to thank the peoples of Africa and of the entire world, as well as the representatives of States and international and civil society organizations who came to observe the elections in Gabon and to nourish our democratic process with their experience. As we open a new page in our march towards progress and development, we know we can rely on the international community and on the friends of Gabon all over the world to confront the challenges of today and tomorrow. As regards those challenges, we are determined, today more than ever before, to spare no effort to establish good political and economic governance and to consolidate our gains and our legacy in the areas of stability, peace and democracy. We are also motivated by our determination to pursue our endeavours in maintaining regional and international peace, by strengthening our links of solidarity and fraternity with all our neighbouring countries. The sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly is opening its deliberations in an international context marked by a number of successive crises: economic and financial, food, energy and environmental. We must bring urgent and lasting responses to these various crises by acting collectively to curb them and ensuring that our peoples achieve the development they desire with all their heart. The United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, held in New York from to June, was an important initiative, enabling us to express our concerns and declare our commitment to fighting the crisis and its repercussions for our countries. The unity we reached on measures to be taken to deal with the crisis will require the complete and unified participation of our countries in developing appropriate solutions. Beyond the specifics relating to each country, we must make sure together that the measures and actions taken to fight the crisis be proportional in scope to its gravity and intensity. The food crisis was at the centre of our discussions during the sixty-third session of the Assembly and was the focus of two important declarations, one adopted at the High-level Conference on World Food Security, held in Rome from 3 to 5 June and one adopted at the thirteenth African Union Conference of Heads of State and Government, held in Sirte in July. We must now implement the declarations and measures adopted as a result of meetings held at the international and regional levels. It is only through strict adherence to our commitments that we will be able to identify the adverse effects of such crisis situations on the development of our respective States. The challenge of feeding a planet whose population is growing is intimately linked to the questions of the environment and climate change. The harmful effects of global warming on our ability to increase agricultural production in such a way as to bring about a lasting solution to the food crisis are no longer in doubt. I am pleased once again that this question was chosen as a theme for the recent high- level dialogue organized by the Secretary-General on the sidelines of the current session, with a view to the forthcoming Copenhagen Climate Conference in December. In this regard, we reaffirm our support for Africa’s common position on climate change, adopted in Addis Ababa in August by the heads of State or Government of the African Union. My country, Gabon, whose forests are among those that make up the great Congo basin, has adhered unreservedly to the various international conventions concerning the struggle against climate catastrophe and the protection of biodiversity. We have resolved to assume our share of responsibility by dedicating per cent of our territory to humanity, by creating, among other things, national parks. The interdependence of the crises the international community faces highlights, now more than ever before, the need to breathe new life into efforts to ensure international peace and security, but also to conduct collective action at the global level. It is with this conviction that Gabon has submitted its candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the period 2010-for which it was endorsed by the African Union at its thirteenth Conference of Heads of State and Government, held at Sirte in July. 09- My country is also convinced that this Organization cannot remain frozen, but must evolve in order to enable it to adapt better to the current international context. It is for this reason that world leaders, through the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/and the World Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1), reaffirmed the need to strengthen the United Nations to allow it to fulfil its principal missions more effectively. In that regard, my country welcomes the progress made since the World Summit in implementing a great many of the important recommendations of the Outcome Document in the framework of the United Nations reform process. While pleased with these major advances, we must continue our efforts to bring these reforms to completion. Building a more just and secure world capable of responding to its peoples’ profound aspirations depends on it.
VEN_64_2009	I greet all the citizens of the world who have come here — as they do every year — for this gathering of such great importance for the world. I am very pleased to be back in New York and at the United Nations following a few years’ absence. I am very grateful for all the cooperation and the manner in which our delegation has been received. Last night we visited Lincoln Center to see a film made by Oliver Stone during the past year. The title of the film already stirs your thoughts. It is called “South of the Border”. In this film, you can see President Evo Morales chewing coca leaves, together with Oliver Stone. And, as President Morales says, coca is not the same as cocaine. You can see Cristina, the President of Argentina, and the automobile of General Perón. You can hear what she has to say about events in South America, in Latin America. And you can see Lula, the President of Brazil, in the Guajira region of Venezuela, working with us to help the indigenous peoples, who were exploited for centuries, through core industrial projects. You will see President Fernando Lugo, a bishop and liberation theologian, living today in the residence occupied for many years by Stroessner. And you can see how a bishop became a president. You can also see Rafael Correa, the President of Ecuador, in Havana with President Raúl Castro. You can see Fidel. You can even see Obama, in Trinidad, chatting with a group of us, with his hand held out to us and an open smile. I think it is an interesting film, one of the many made by this great filmmaker of the United States, Oliver Stone. He had already made two films about Fidel, “Looking for Fidel” and “El Comandante”. There is a lot in this film, many messages that could help us to decipher the enigmas of the times in which we live. We stayed behind after the film was over last night, chatting with a group of people from the United States and other parts of the world. And this contact was very instructive and very symptomatic of the importance of what Fidel calls “the battle of ideas”. A lady in her fifties came up to me and said “I am very happy”. She was a North American, very white; a typical United States citizen, born in this country, but she spoke some Spanish. She told me, “I am very 09-2 happy”. And I asked her why. “Because, now having seen this movie, I realize what you are. I thought you were a very bad person”. This person was a victim of the hostile media bombardment, the ideological bombardment, of the United States and of the entire world, whose aim is to turn reality inside out and to turn the world upside down, as Eduardo Galeano put it. The film is called “South of the Border” and I am taking advantage of this opportunity and that title to tell you that, south of the border, a revolution is under way. A revolution is under way in South America. A revolution is under way in Latin America. There is a revolution in the Caribbean. The world must see this, it must truly realize this and accept it, because it is a reality and it is not going to change. What is more, this is a revolution that goes beyond ideology. It is a geographical and geopolitical revolution. It is a historic revolution; it is part of our times. It has very deep roots. It is a total, moral and spiritual revolution. And we believe that it is a necessary revolution. This revolution is great in both spirit and magnitude, and it is going to keep growing as the days, months and years go by. And why is it great? It is great because it has been a long time coming: centuries of history have led up to this moment in time. It is great in terms of the space that it covers. I am not going to speak any longer than Mr. Al-Qadhafi. Al-Qadhafi has said everything there is to say. This applause is for Al-Qadhafi and his speech. But nor will I speak any less than Mr. Obama, or Lula. I was explaining why this revolution is great. First, because of time, the accumulated time that has gone by. It is centuries, centuries of battles, of struggles, of hopes, of suffering of millions and millions of human beings in Latin America and the Caribbean. This revolution is great in the area it covers. This revolution is great in the depth of its foundations. This revolution is great in the masses of people that are joining it. No one seeks to slow it down and no one will be able to. Yesterday, it was said by President Morales here (see ), by this great companion and indigenous leader of the Aymara, Evo Morales. He also said it in the film, which you should not miss, “South of the Border”. Oliver Stone told me last night that pressure is already being exerted to prevent the American people from seeing it. Where is their freedom of expression? It is just a movie. How can they be afraid of a movie? But there is already pressure from the monopolies that run the film industry, that operate the theatres — these are all monopolies and they are putting on pressure. But the movie will be shown elsewhere. Fortunately, we are in the age of computers and telecommunications. We no longer depend on movie theatres run by monopolies. In the film, Evo, speaking with Oliver Stone, recalls a phrase pronounced by a great leader of the Aymara, an ancestor of his who was murdered, just one of the many millions that were murdered by the Spanish, Portuguese and English invasion, by the European invasion of our continent. I know that all present are aware that when the European ships arrived at the American shores there were approximately million indigenous people living here. Two hundred years later only four million survived. This is one of the greatest genocides in history — the genocide of the continent itself, of the Abya Yala, as our indigenous people call it. So Evo in the movie repeats the sentence uttered by this great Aymara leader, who was drawn and quartered — he was tied to four horses by the arms and legs and he was torn apart, and as he died the Indian uttered a prophesy: “Today I die,” said Túpac Katari, “today I die, but one day I will return as millions.” Túpac Katari has returned, and we are millions. We are millions. Nothing and no one can hold back the great South American, Latin American, Caribbean revolution. And I think the world should support it. The United States should support it. Europe should support it, because this revolution — some brothers and sisters may not have noticed — is the start of the road to salvation for this planet, and to salvation for the human race, threatened as it is by capitalism, imperialism, hunger and war. This is the necessary revolution. For centuries this has been called “the New World”. Now we can truly call it “a new world”. Years ago — as we recalled last night — I was invited to a conversation — a large group of important leaders. They were important in their own right. They were trade union leaders here in the United States. Some workers were complaining about a biscuit factory that was not paying them. They were striking, and one of them asked me, “Why don’t you buy that factory?” And I said, “I’ll see. Maybe we can make it a 3 09- socialist biscuit factory, if Obama gives me permission. Maybe we could do that — buy it, give it to the workers, let them make the crackers and distribute them. Why should there just be one or two capitalists exploiting a lot of people?” That is socialism and that is the path to salvation for this planet. Yesterday a journalist asked me — after the movie there was forum at which he asked me — “Do you defend socialism even though the Soviet Union failed?” The reply is very simple. The Soviet Union lost its way early on. There was never real socialism in the Soviet Union. But this century, the twenty-first century, will be the century of socialism — the socialism of the human race. I’m sure everyone listening to me has read Einstein. Albert Einstein convinced the American President to build the atomic bomb — to begin the research before the Nazis did. Then later he regretted what he had done when he saw the disaster of Hiroshima and the disaster of Nagasaki. But Albert Einstein, after all his years of study, the great scientist, among the greatest scientists ever to have walked the Earth, came to the conclusion — and this is written in his own hand — “Why socialism?” Einstein came to the conclusion that the only way for the human race to live on this planet is socialism. Capitalism is the road to extinction of the human species. We as a species have only been around for what? This is Castro territory, he knows these figures. But, whereas life first appeared here at least three billion years ago, we the human species only appeared maybe less than 300, years ago, hardly 0.per cent of the time that life has existed on this planet. So we appear after so long and we’re going to wipe out life on this planet? We’ve heard it from everybody — Obama, Lula, Cristina Fernández, Al-Qadhafi, Sarkozy — everyone said the same thing. They have all clamoured for change. And what is the change? Capitalism allows no change. Let us not fool ourselves. It’s only through socialism that we can bring about genuine change. And the revolution in Latin America has it all and it has a strong socialist element. As Mariátequi, the great Peruvian thinker said, it is an Indian-American socialism. It is our own socialism. It is a Bolivarian socialism. It is a José Martí socialism. It is a new socialism. It has not been copied from anybody else. There are no manuals for socialism, said Mariátequi. It is a heroic creation that has to be constantly reinvented. Yesterday we were remembering what a North American President, that is to say a United States President, said shortly before he was assassinated, and this is on the record, in a speech before the United States Congress. John Kennedy spoke of a revolution in the South, saying that the principal cause was hunger. Only a few days later he was assassinated. John Kennedy was not a revolutionary, but he was an intelligent man, just as I think President Obama is an intelligent man. And I hope God protects Obama from the bullets that killed Kennedy. I hope Obama will be able to look and see — genuinely see — what has to be seen. It does not smell of sulphur here anymore. That smell has gone. It smells of something else — it smells of hope. And you have to have hope in your heart and believe in the hope. We cannot destroy this planet. What about our children? What about future generations? Come, let’s take on the challenge. Lula was saying yesterday that there was no political will. Those words were whips. I know Lula’s will. I am deeply aware of his humane attitude. He is a true brother of mine, and he was right to say what he said. But I would not exactly say that there is no political will. I would say rather that some political will is lacking, because Lula has it and we have it, but it has to be increased. It has to continue to grow in the leaders, in society, among the people, among the youth — particularly in the hearts of the young — and the workers, everywhere in the world. Kennedy said it: there is a revolution in the South. And he added, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable”. Jack Kennedy said that. You can find it on the Internet; you can find everything on the Internet. My dear Maria Fernanda Espinosa, once ambassador from fraternal Ecuador, whom I have not seen for days. We’d like to say hello to President Correa. The ambassador was Minister for Foreign Affairs at the beginning of the citizens’ revolution, with Correa leading the people of Ecuador, the people of Manuela Saenz and Bolivar and Eloy Alfaro, the noble and great people in Bolivia and that whole area. Some are trying to block the path to our peaceful revolution. And there’s another brave woman, Patricia Rodas, the Foreign Minister of Honduras; please, a hand for this brave Central American woman, from the people of Morazán. Long live Honduras! Long live Morazán! And long live the dignity of the people! 09-4 At 1 p.m. exactly, I was jotting down these notes — I don’t have much farther to go, Mr. President; don’t anybody throw a shoe at me. The Cuban Minister has taken off his shoe to throw it at me. He had some rubber shoes — if you are going to throw me a shoe, throw one of those. I spoke to Manuel Zelaya at 1 p.m. sharp; I remember it was 1 p.m. sharp — we started at 1 and finished at 1. While we are here, comrades of the world, there is a President, firm, dignified, who with a small group of people, almost martyrs, was able to escape those trying to carry out a coup d’état. The perpetrators of the coup had brought repression to the Plaza Morazán in Tegucigalpa and had taken every single road. They had an entire army; it was as if they had invaded Honduras with their own army — what an indignity. From here I make an appeal — I, who am a revolutionary soldier — to the soldiers of Honduras, to the sons of Morazán to not continue to repress an innocent people. While we are here, Manuel Zelaya, the President of Honduras, is in the Brazilian embassy, which has given him refuge. According to what the President has told me, there are more than soldiers surrounding the embassy in the most brutal fashion. Were they trying to go back to the Stone Age? It will not work. Is that what the perpetrators of the coup d’état had in mind? They will be swept away by the wind of the new age. The coup cannot succeed, these regressive forces cannot have their way, not in Honduras, not in any of the countries of the Americas. These people have been out in the streets for days, resisting, resisting, resisting. So, there we have a President, firm in his conviction, with a group of compatriots, with his wife, the First Lady. Apparently they are not letting food through; the water is cut off every now and then. Luckily there is a cistern with water. This morning they were able to get some of the most up-to-date telephone interception equipment, which the President told me is an Israeli brand. Israel has recognized the coup d’état Government; I think it is the only country in the world that has. They have all kinds of equipment to block signals and jam communications, and they are also trying to create panic among the few people inside the Brazilian embassy, threatening them with incursion into the embassy. Does the Assembly realize how retrograde this is? It is like some kind of trolls or dark giants or magicians, something from the age of the cavemen. But they will not return. The people are in the street, protesting. The airport is closed now. Who is behind the coup d’état? It is the Honduran bourgeoisie; the State is taken over by the bourgeoisie, by the rich. Four or five wealthy, powerful families own the State. I think we have to pull out our copies of Lenin, his State and Revolution, where he talks about the bourgeois State, the control of everything by the bourgeois State including the national congress, the judiciary, the army. The people are in the street, but they are being fired on. Yesterday the President told me that he knows of at least three people in the vicinity of the Brazilian embassy who were killed. And the President is asking for dialogue, so as to return to the road to democracy. So let us send the expression of our strongest solidarity to the people of Honduras and President Zelaya, and let us ask that the United Nations resolution be complied with, and the resolution of the Organization of American States. The United States Government — and this is strange — has not recognized that a military coup d’état has occurred. President Zelaya told me today that there is some friction between the State Department and the Pentagon. Yesterday I was reading Pentagonism, a book by the great Dominican author Juan Bosch, who was overthrown by imperialism. The Pentagon is the imperial cave. They do not want Obama. They do not want change. They want to dominate the world with their military bases, with all their threats, their bombs, their soldiers and bases. The Pentagon is behind the coup in Honduras. President Zelaya was dragged out of his home, out of his bed, at dawn on June, taken to a plane, bundled up by Honduran soldiers under command from the United States base there, in Palmerola. The plane took off from Tegucigalpa and landed at the Palmerola base. They held the Honduran President there for some time. Then they decided to take him to Costa Rica. The American military in Honduras knew about the coup; they supported it. They supported the Honduran military. Hence the contradictions that Obama has to face. At times we wonder if are there two Obamas — the one who spoke here yesterday and the other — a double? The one who supports, or allows his military to support, the coup on Honduras? I want to present 5 09- this question for thought. Is there one Obama, or are there two? Let us hope the one we heard yesterday will prevail. That is what the world needs; that is what the world is calling for. What is the backdrop of the coup in Honduras? It has to do with everything we are talking about here — it is the revolution of the South. It is not the kind of revolution where there are columns of guerrillas, heroes such as in the Sierra Maestra, heroes of the high mountains of Bolivia, where Ernesto Che Guevara was. But this is not that kind of revolution. This revolution is different. It does not break out in the mountains with guerrilla groups. No, it starts in the towns among the masses. It is a mass revolution, but it is peaceful and wants to remain peaceful. It is democratic, deeply democratic. Do not be afraid of democracy. Here, I am paraphrasing Noam Chomsky in another wonderful work that I did not know until I obtained the book in Madrid a few days ago. I went to visit my friend, the King of Spain, mainly because an Ibero-American summit was coming up in Portugal, and I said that I would go if he did not tell me to shut up. He told me that he would not. So, I am going. King Juan Carlos and I are great friends. I went to a recommended bookshop — La Casa del Libro — in Madrid, and I got Chomsky’s book Fear of Democracy. We should all read that book, Fear of Democracy. The elite are afraid of the people. They are afraid of true democracy, which Abraham Lincoln, another martyr, defined very clearly in three ideas: democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is not government of the bourgeoisie or of the elite when the people rise up and the thugs are pushed out. That happened in Honduras, and in Venezuela in It happened in Brazil with João Goulart, and in the Dominican Republic. Why were the peoples of Latin America and of the Caribbean not allowed to build their own future in the twentieth century? They did not let them. This century is ours. This century, in Latin America and in the Caribbean we will build our own way and no one can stop it. No one can stop it. Imperialism must end. At times, one wonders. I was once asking Lula what America, our Latin America, would be today if the Governments of the United States had not dug their claws into our America to impose a model by violently cutting off the hope and the struggle of millions of people, extinguishing the dawn. I was born in Fidel was already in prison, and they were dropping bombs in Guatemala. They invaded the Guatemala of Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán; and then the Bay of Pigs, although they failed there; then this revolutionary Cuba — admirable, but blockaded. I call on Obama to lift the blockade on Cuba. What is he waiting for? Let him do what he says. Or are there two Obamas? Yesterday, Obama said, and I noted it — here, I noted down Lula, who spoke before Obama, and then I noted Obama’s words — that a political system cannot be imposed on any people and that each people and its sovereignty must be respected. Then what is President Obama waiting for to order the lifting of the brutal and murderous blockade on Cuba? Does anyone have doubts about that? Does anyone think that it is rhetorical? No. There is persecution against businesses in any part of the world that provide even food to Cuba, and now also to Venezuela. Not long ago, Fidel Castro mentioned in one of his reflections that a company known throughout the world that manufactures and supplies medical equipment did not meet its obligations to the Governments of Cuba or of Venezuela this past year or the one before. They did not send the spare parts for hundreds of pieces of medical equipment that the two Governments had bought to bring free quality health care to our peoples. These include 64-row CT scanners and electrocardiogram machines that are now in the poor areas of Caracas. Where the indigenous people live, there are medical facilities. We have 30, Cuban doctors there and a free, good health-care system for the people. We tried to quietly find solutions with the company — Philips — but the company has refused to send the spare parts for that high-tech equipment. Why? Under pressure from whom? From the Government of the United States? Is it this Obama or another Obama? Is it Obama one or Obama two? Who are you, Obama? Who are you? I want to believe in yesterday’s Obama, whom I saw here, but these things keep happening, and they affect the lives of millions of human beings. Why? In whose name? Why does the United States continue to do that? It is fear of democracy, just as happened in Honduras. It is the fear of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas that rises up as a new and innovative mechanism of solidarity, and we have brought into line 09-6 the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our Americas and the Governments and the countries of Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. They attack us and try to stop us, but they will not succeed. The Common Market of the South and the Union of South American Nations are being set up and are all part of the great historic Latin American geographic and geopolitical revolution. Along the same lines are the seven military bases that the United States is going to establish in Colombia. Yesterday, Obama spoke — I have it noted here — about four pillars. Everyone remembers that. So let us accomplish that. I take him at his word. We take the President of the United States at his word: nuclear non-proliferation, agreed? They could begin by destroying all the nuclear weapons that they have. Then go ahead and destroy them. Obama’s second pillar — the first was non-proliferation — is the pursuit of peace. So, President Obama, let us pursue peace in Colombia, in dear sister Colombia. There is a civil war in Colombia. That some do not want to acknowledge it is another matter. There is a long-standing, historical conflict in Colombia. The United Nations must acknowledge it and consider it, and we all should extend a hand to Colombia, while of course respecting its sovereignty, to pull it from and help it out of that tragedy that that brother people is experiencing. I remember that I mentioned that peace to Obama in front of Lula in Trinidad and Tobago at the Summit of the Americas. Let us seek peace in Colombia. If only peace were achieved in Central America, in Guatemala. When I was an active soldier, I was in Guatemala. That was war. It was war, with thousands and thousands dead and disappeared. Look at El Salvador and Nicaragua. And now Daniel Ortega is back in Government after almost years. The Sandinista people brought him back. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Farabundo Martí and the people of El Salvador brought President Funés to the presidency of that sister republic. Peace was achieved — I know President Arias is here — and if peace was achieved in Central America, my God, why can peace not be achieved in Colombia? This is one of the greatest desires of my life. I am Venezuelan, but I feel like a Colombian — the Colombia of Bolivar, the Colombia of Miranda, our Colombia. Is President Obama thinking of seeking peace — his second pillar — with seven more military bases in Colombia? These seven bases are a threat, not only for the possible peace in Colombia but for peace in South America. We are right — we the Governments of South America — to have said, each in our own way and in our own degree of intensity, how concerned we are about the installation of these seven American military bases on Colombian territory. I would like to denounce it and point it out. I ask President Obama to think about it and that he apply his pillars. Let us promote peace. The United Nations could set up a peace commission in Colombia or Venezuela. Naturally, we would cooperate, I am sure, all countries that want peace. We do not want any more war among ourselves. I will skip some pages. There is another topic that Fidel touches upon in his September thoughts. It has to do with climate change. I am going to take another two minutes, Mr. President, to insist on this point. Some people think this is a metaphysical concern, it is for intellectuals. No, we are destroying our planet. As a reputable Venezuelan journalist has said, this rocket we are travelling on — because this planet is like a rocket ship — we are destroying it. Fidel says, in his piece entitled “A species in danger of extinction”, from September “At the international environmental conference held by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro” — that was in I remember because I was in jail at the time — “I stated, as the then head of the Cuban State, ‘A species is in danger of extinction — man’”. Fidel goes on to say: “When I uttered and backed up those words, received and applauded by the heads of State in attendance — including the President of the United States, a Bush less dismal than his son George W. — they still believed that they had several centuries to confront the problem. I myself” — Fidel — “did not envision a date any closer than or years. “Today we are dealing with a truly imminent danger and its effects are already visible. 7 09- “Average temperatures have increased 0.8 degrees centigrade since 1980.” That is scientific data, according to the NASA Institute for Space Studies — 0.8 degrees in the last almost years. Fidel continues, “The last two decades of the twentieth century were the warmest in hundreds of years. The temperatures in Alaska, the Canadian west and eastern Russia have gone up at a pace that doubles the world average. Arctic ice has been quickly disappearing and the region can experience its first completely ice-free summer as soon as the year The effects are visible in the 2-kilometre-high masses of ice melting in Greenland, the South American glaciers, from Ecuador all the way to Cape Horn, fundamental sources of water, and the gigantic ice cap covering the extensive area of Antarctica. “Current carbon dioxide concentrations have reached the equivalent of parts per million, a figure surpassing the natural range of the last 650,years.” We are destroying our planet. We must be aware of this, and we must act, as Lula stated at the 3rd meeting yesterday. With respect to climate change, Lula said there is no will. The most developed countries do not want to take decisions. But Obama says they do. But we are told that the United States is going to take some decisions. Please do, Mr. President, do that. But now is time to move from words to action. Let us save this planet. Let us save the human race. Let us hope that the summit in Denmark in December will produce decisions, truly forceful ones. Venezuela is willing to accept those decisions. Venezuela calls on everyone to take decisions proportionate to the extent of their responsibility. Now, what is the basic cause of this contamination? It is hyper-consumption. We are exhausting the petroleum, gas and other fossil fuel reserves. Reserves that accumulated over millions of years are being burned in a single century, in less than a century. And that of course has to do with the economy. I shall not read this document, Mr. President; I shall merely refer to it. It is the Stiglitz report. I invite the Assembly to analyse it. Yesterday the President of France also invited the Assembly to analyse it. It is thanks to him that the report of the Stiglitz Commission exists. But it is nothing more than a mere gesture. The report contains recommendations of the Stiglitz Commission. Let us assess them. I think that they address the substance, although they do not question the capitalist model. We socialists do question that model, but let us talk about it, let us find consensus solutions for the circumstances and later for the medium and long terms. In its recommendations, the Stiglitz report says, first, that we should look at income and consumption to assess material well-being. Second, it recommends prioritizing the family perspective; third, taking into account the heritage; fourth, giving more importance to redistribution of income beyond the average. Fifth, it recommends expanding indicators of non-commercial activities. For example, certain services such as child care, bricklaying, plumbing and carpentry appear in national accounts only if they are carried out by a salaried person. Delegates know that this has to do with accounting for gross domestic product (GDP). These are merely capitalist mechanisms. According to the report, the following is certain: the GDP rises with traffic, while the anxiety of the people also rises, just as the unhappiness of passers-by and passengers in traffic rises as they lost precious time in the traffic. The GDP rises. Why is it rising? It is rising because more gasoline is consumed. Moreover, pollution increases. We know why. The capitalist world has created measuring methods for the economy that are destructive. That is why I think the Stiglitz report offers important considerations. Here, in its second point, it says that we should establish a battery of indicators for the environment and for climate change. Turning to the economy, this report is very timely. Let us now adopt it, and above all, Governments, particularly Governments of the most developed countries — I think they are meeting in Pittsburgh today, not as the Pittsburgh Pirates, but as Presidents of the Group of — should discuss it. Tomorrow I will ask Lula and Cristina how the meeting went, because they are coming to Caracas on their way to Margarita Island for the Africa-South American summit. 09-8 The economy, the economy, the economy. We are in favour of socialism, but let us discuss it and talk about indicators and methods and modes of production. As President Obama said yesterday with regards to his fourth pillar, we need an economy that serves human beings. Well, President Obama, that is called socialism. Come over to the side of socialism, President Obama, come join the axis of evil and we will build an economy that truly serves human beings. It is impossible to do that with capitalism. Capitalism only benefits a minority and excludes the majority. Besides, it destroys the environment and destroys lives. That is capitalism. Finally — and I think I have now been speaking for my allotted minutes — I will end with a phrase of Lula’s. He was the first speaker in the Assembly yesterday. He said there is no political will. I have already commented on that, and I would add to it because I know Lula and I know exactly what he said to us. He is calling upon all of us to strengthen political will. Unlike other Governments elsewhere, which have doubts and do not want to change despite the terrible crisis in which we are living, we in southern America have a lot of political will — here I am speaking for Venezuela and, I know, also for South America, for Latin America — a tremendous political will for true change. I recommend this book by István Mészáros, a great Hungarian philosopher and thinker who has been a professor at various universities in London for many years: Beyond Capital: Toward a Theory of Transition. I think the book is among the greatest writings of the twentieth century. It is a complete renewal of socialist theory. In one of the interesting chapters Mészáros quotes another great person, Karl Marx. We must not be afraid of Karl Marx — he was the Einstein of politics. Yes, he was demonized, but Karl Marx was right about so many things. Quoting Marx, Mészáros says in this book that crises act as a general threat and thus urgently lead us beyond presuppositions towards a new historic paradigm. We need a new historic paradigm. For years we have been hearing about a new world, but what actually exists is this old, moribund order. We need the new order to be born, the new historic paradigm, the new political paradigm, a new global paradigm. Yesterday Al-Qadhafi said here that we need a new institutionalism, a new economy, a new society, but truly new — a world that is new. Now, I think Lula said yesterday — he finished speaking at 10:in the morning — that we must become the midwives of history. I agree. I would add to what Lula said. Has the birth already started? The birth is not a future event; it is here. Let us be, as Comrade Lula said, midwives of the new history, prevailing over those who would bury it. Let us struggle on the planet for the birth of this new history, this new time, this new multi-polar, free world, this economy at the service of all people, not of minorities, this world of peace. I am a Christian. One day Christ said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” It is of a future world, the reign of love among us, where we can truly live as brothers and sisters. Last Sunday in Havana — and I will put my little books away and I will wind up now — on the Plaza de la Revolución there was a great concert, the “Concert for Peace”, with Miguel Bosé, Juanes, Olga Tañó and Cuban singers. Silvio Rodríguez was there — the Great Silvio — and they sang to the whole world. Some people in Miami went crazy and tried to destroy Juanes’ CDs — that great Colombian — just because he had gone to sing on the Plaza of the Revolution. How crazy can you get? Fortunately they are a minority. Silvio was there with his guitar, and I am sure he sang, “This era is giving birth to a heart”. He ends his song, Cita Con Angeles, like this: “Let us be a tiny bit better and a little less selfish.” Cheers!
CAF_64_2009	May I begin by congratulating Mr. Treki on his unanimous election to preside over the work of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. His election to that position is an honour to the entire African continent and a worthy tribute to the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, whose devotion to the African cause goes without saying. Furthermore and on behalf of His Excellency General François Bozizé, President of the Republic, who wishes him every success in his work, I assure him of the support of the Central African delegation in achieving the full success of his lofty task this year. His demonstrated knowledge of the United Nations and of world problems will ensure the success of the present session. I also wish to congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua on his excellent contribution to the previous session in his capacity as President. However, before delivering my assessment the state of the world in the face of the new challenges of the twenty-first century and my country’s perspective on the main issues to be addressed at this session, I should also like to commend the tireless work of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who spares no effort in promoting the principles and purposes of the United Nations. To him, I once again express the deep gratitude of the people of the Central African Republic for his notable contributions with regard to the situation in the Central African Republic and his support within the framework of the Peacebuilding Commission. In fact, in March this year, pursuant to my Government’s request, a country configuration of the 09- Peacebuilding Commission was established under the Belgian presidency. The Commission is working together with Central African authorities to strengthen the achievements of peace and make it possible to implement the recommendations resulting from the inclusive political dialogue held from 8 to December regarding in particular the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, security sector reform and the process leading up to the general elections. My country welcomes this session because of the items on our agenda, which are true matters of global concern. Indeed, it should be recalled that we have several challenges to meet: development, peace and security, climate change and its effects, terrorism and necessary United Nations reform. The choice of theme for this debate — “Effective responses to global crises, strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilizations for international peace, security and development” — is inspired. In fact, the changes in the world’s configuration have given rise to new challenges that can be addressed only through international cooperation. Thus, multilateralism now appears to be the only way to resolve the world’s problems. In this era of globalization and technological advances, forums for cooperation — even the most firmly established ones — must address new demands calling for appropriate and united responses. I am grateful for the honour shown to the Central African Republic, and I should like to stress the correlation among some of the issues raised since the beginning of this general debate. With regard to the world situation, this session is being held in a particularly worrisome context. This is a critical time for addressing global political issues at all levels — a time that requires us, as nations, to seek solutions in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and openness. The current world scene poses major challenges in the areas of peace and security, economic development and social progress, and human rights and the rule of law. As far as crucial development issues are concerned, the world economic and financial crisis remains an unprecedented event in terms of its impact and the upheavals in the world’s economic and financial systems. It requires a reorganization leading to a new world order in this area. Besides that option, however, other ways to emerge from the present crisis could be to develop production capacity, to strengthen trade capacity for the benefit of developing countries and to implement strategic partnerships among the various regions to which the Organization’s Members belong. The food crisis, which was caused by rising prices and whose harmful effects continue to keep a large part of the world in conditions of famine and abject poverty, requires that we promote the agricultural sector, industry and the utilization of mining resources. The rise in food prices has caused a significant deterioration in the terms of trade among countries in the most affected regions, including the African continent generally and, in particular, the Central African Republic. That situation could lead to greater inflationary pressure and a deteriorating balance of payments. The impact is being felt both at the macroeconomic level and in terms of household income and food security. The contributions of regional economic communities and United Nations agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Bank, will be invaluable in the quest for a coordinated solution to this crisis. Agricultural development should be encouraged with a view to ensuring sustainable growth and improvements in people’s means of subsistence, based on the sound management of environmental and natural resources. Programmes and activities to promote long-term growth should, of course, be carried out in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In when we committed ourselves to achieving the Goals by we aroused legitimate hopes throughout the developing world. We do not have the right to dash those hopes, which would worsen the North-South fracture and further deepen the divisions within our own societies, with incalculable risks for the governance and stability of States. A little more than nine years after the Millennium Summit, it is indisputable that significant progress has been made, but we must acknowledge that, in many countries in Africa and elsewhere, a large majority of the population lives in abject poverty. The Millennium Development Goals are the surest way to speed the progress of African peoples towards well-being. The development projects in the MDG sectors need stable, 09- sufficient and predictable long-term funding. We thus regard this session of the General Assembly as an opportunity to raise the awareness of all international development financing institutions, without exception, and lead them to effectively pledge to mobilize and transfer the financial resources necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Likewise, the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-aimed at significantly improving the living conditions of the more than million people living in those countries, is concluding and thus should be reviewed in order to address the marginalization and the new socio-economic challenges facing least developed countries. Climate change joins the challenges confronting our world, because the economy, the environment and the way of life of every nation represented here are threatened. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in world leaders decided to negotiate a new agreement on climate change to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in In the Bali Road Map, States defined spheres of action and agreed to take them into account during the post- Kyoto negotiations. The working meeting of the heads of State of the G8+5 in L’Aquila on 9 July examined the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. My country is committed to the global fight against climate change, as demonstrated by its ratification of several international instruments on climate issues. I am referring to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. For the Central African Republic, the challenge of climate change relates to not only mitigation, namely reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but also to adaptation to the harmful effects of that change. However, for vulnerable States, with a weak economy like ours, the cost of adaptation, calculated at several tens of billions of dollars a year, puts a still greater strain on our limited resources and increases poverty. This is an opportunity for me to express the wish that assistance in combating climate change not replace official development assistance. We have not come to this sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly to point an accusing finger at the States responsible for global warming, but rather, like the brother countries of Africa, to convey a message to the leaders of the world. Africa will continue its efforts to preserve its forest ecosystems, but the rich countries must assume their responsibilities to reach concrete proposals for post-Kyoto. We support France’s proposal at the summit on climate change, held on September for the establishment of a world environment organization, the implementation of the Bali Road Map through technology transfers to developing countries, and the financing of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we strongly hope that, in Copenhagen next December, the common position of the countries of Central Africa, which share the forests of the Congo basin, will be taken into account. Allow me here to recall that the countries of Central Africa, members of the Commission for the Forests of Central Africa (COMIFAC), signed a declaration in Bangui on September in which they call on the institutions of the United Nations system, the European Union, the International Organization of la Francophonie, the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the high-level panel of experts to support them in their effort, inter alia, to include issues relating to the management of tropical forests in the post-Kyoto arrangements. The forests of the Congo basin, the second largest forest system in the world, play a key role in regulating the global climate. The efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the forests of that natural space agreed to by the member countries of COMIFAC should be encouraged as part of the process of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. In Copenhagen, we must reach a fair agreement, based on win-win partnerships that enable developing countries to reconcile the preservation of natural resources with economic development. The Central African Republic fully supports the statement made by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission at its recent special session on the consideration and resolution of conflicts in Africa, held in Tripoli, Libya, on August It shares the conviction that economic growth and sustainable 09- development are intertwined with the status of and trends in world peace and security. In view of the proliferation of arms of all kinds, disarmament is a pressing issue. The United Nations Disarmament Commission must promote resolutions that encourage multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, the reduction of military budgets and respect for environmental standards in the drawing up and implementation of disarmament agreements. An effort is also needed to overcome the current impasse and to achieve nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all their forms. The strategic doctrine adopted by nuclear- weapon States that justifies the use of or threat of the use of atomic weapons is as dangerous as uranium enrichment for weapons purposes and should simply be discarded. On the other hand, a national security concept based on the promotion and development of military alliances and nuclear deterrence policies seems better suited to the ideals that we pursue. The Central African Republic welcomes the initiative of United States President Obama in convening a meeting of the Security Council on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Terrorism is the most flagrant violation of international law. It prevents people from enjoying their basic freedoms and destabilizes legitimately established Governments. For those reasons, it must not be tolerated by or associated with any religion, civilization, ethnic group or claim, however legitimate it may seem. My country resolutely condemns terrorist acts and aligns itself with the fight against terrorism being carried out by the committees established by the United Nations Security Council. The issue of the control of conventional weapons at the regional level is all the more relevant in view of the fact that it is the most effective way to tackle the illegal proliferation of armed groups and transnational crime. The peace and security of Central Africa are hampered by that recurrent problem. Armed groups threaten the stability of the national institutions of some of our States. Along those lines, the comprehensive peace agreement signed at Libreville in neighbouring Gabon on June enabled the Central African Republic to thwart an ill-intentioned plot to seize power. However, its concern, like that of other States of Africa’s Great Lakes region, such as the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, is with the criminal activities of the uprising of the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army, which has become a transnational criminal organization, causing death and destruction as far as the Central African Republic. Its destructive capacity goes beyond the territory of the Republic of Uganda and is becoming a regional problem, for which an agreed solution is essential. The affected States are striving to achieve that with the limited resources that they have. I am convinced that the Charter of the United Nations and international law continue to be essential instruments and the pillars of the preservation and maintenance of international peace and security. Representing nearly the entire international community, the United Nations has well-established international legitimacy and is the best forum for finding a lasting solution to problems of that kind. The United Nations remains the primary and fundamental forum for addressing world issues and seeking consensus. That is why we Member States attach great importance to strengthening its role and believe that reform is necessary in order to develop its full potential. The reform must be comprehensive and cover all areas, while respecting its political nature and its intergovernmental and universal character. However, adjustments to two organs of our Organization seem to be a priority in that reform: the Security Council and the General Assembly. The General Assembly must be invigorated by giving greater weight to its role and to its authority as the main deliberative and representative organ of the Member States. The General Assembly’s prerogatives as the chief oversight body of the United Nations, even in the area of peacekeeping, must be respected. As for reform of the Security Council, it must be directed at achieving transparency and balance within that body. Its enlargement will enable better representation of all regions in order to allow us to debate new approaches to the maintenance of international peace and security. This is an African position that has been advocated during this general debate by the Leader of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (see ), and it is one that the Central African Republic supports. My country hopes that reform of the United Nations system will 09- have a positive impact on the development of multilateral cooperation in our ever-changing world.
BLR_64_2009	This General Assembly Hall is, in fact, the situation room of the entire world. It seems to me that over the years we here in this Hall have collectively understood and known what to do. The main thing now is to agree how to do it. We all need an effective tool. There is hope that we are already close to a common understanding of how and with what tool we can achieve our goals. For the international community to emerge from a series of multiple crises and to overcome multidimensional new threats, we must achieve a policy of partnership. Modern international relations are increasingly being built on the basis of horizontal networks that include all interested and constructive stakeholders in today’s world — States, international organizations, civil society and the private sector. Partnerships are a mechanism of engagement that has no reasonable alternative in the context of a pluralistic and contradictory world. One particular political factor that raises hope that that approach is a realistic instrument is an emerging meeting of minds — involving various forces on different continents — that see in partnerships a link by which one can extend the chain. By way of illustration, I will cite the example of the call of Belarus, from this rostrum two years ago, for systems based on opposition and confrontation to become new international ones based on engagement and partnership (see A/62/PV.11). A year ago, when opening the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted, “Nations can no longer protect their interests or advance the well-being of their peoples without the partnership of other nations.” (A/63/PV. p. This year the United States declared its readiness to “build partnerships and solve problems that no nation can solve on its own”. The European Union has also addressed the General Assembly with the same message of cooperation and partnership. The President of Russia spoke from this rostrum about a “collective agenda for unification” () dictated by life itself. After a long break it seems that the international community is starting to think along the same lines on security, partnership and development and that the world’s political leaders are beginning to speak the same language — that of common sense. An important proof of the principled readiness to walk the path of partnership is the efforts of the largest world economies to combine their resources to lead the world out of the global economic crisis. We welcome in that connection recent meetings of some regional economic and political groups of States. On a less positive note, it should be noted that some aspects of the agreements reached remain to be carried out by the parties, for example, the rejection and removal of protectionist measures in international trade. It should be said that the Group of Twenty format — let alone the Group of Eight — is too narrow to be considered a representative partnership. In this regard, engaging economic regional groupings of States with significant potential, for example in our region — the Eurasian Economic Community — would make the format more representative. We also believe there is great potential for dialogue and partnership between the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other major centres of power, as was discussed recently at the recent summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt. After all, today the Movement represents a significant international factor. Its members make tangible contributions to international security and are important actors on the international socio-economic stage. Today I address my colleagues from the European Union, the United States, Russia and other developed countries and call upon them to show leadership in dealing with the unprecedented global challenges through close partnerships and coordination with all members of the international community, including Belarus. Members of the international community, especially the world’s power centres and leading political groups, should give practical effect to their good intentions by developing global partnerships and crisis strategies. The greatest potential for responding to global threats and challenges is clearly here in the United Nations. As a founding member of the Organization, 09- Belarus is convinced of the ability of the United Nations to play a leading role in generating partnerships to overcome the most acute global problems. Was it not under the aegis of the United Nations that the foundation was laid for the establishment of an anti-terrorism coalition and elaboration of a counter- terrorism strategy after the tragic events of September And by the way, should the United Nations not consider proclaiming September as the day of the fight against terrorism? We would be interested in hearing States’ reactions to this idea. Have not the achievement of the General Assembly in establishing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development been acknowledged worldwide? The Millennium Development Goals were also formulated in the context of a global partnership for development. United Nations capacities have been strengthened by some of the progress made in reforming the Organization. In this regard I note, in particular, a new positive element, namely, the thematic debates in the General Assembly. Bearing in mind the experience and potential of the United Nations, Belarus has proposed the establishment of a global thematic partnership against human trafficking and slavery in the twenty-first century. An informal mechanism on the topic initially took shape at the Global Forum to Fight Human Trafficking in Vienna in February It must be institutionalized to work effectively — I stress institutionalized, not bureaucratized — through the elaboration and adoption by the General Assembly of a global plan of action to combat human trafficking. The idea for such a plan garnered wide support in May during the thematic debate in the General Assembly. We have also heard expressions of support from high ranking participants in this general debate. We welcome the recent decision by the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session to appoint the Permanent Representatives of Cape Verde and Portugal as facilitators of the consultations on the global plan. We call on all our partners and friends to engage actively in this work. Global economic development is always driven by certain engines, which are replaced by new and more effective ones. For example, coal and steel were engines for the European industrial revolution; the engine for the global economy after the Second World War was oil, which was replaced by information technologies in the 1990s. The economic engine of the past decade was finance. It is absolutely obvious that the global crisis has demonstrated the need to replace the outdated financial engine. What can and should replace it? We believe there will be not just one engine for the future, but a number of elements that include a leading role for clean, green technologies. Given the increasing interdependence of energy and environment and the determining role of energy in global survival, it cannot be otherwise. This year we face an especially momentous task: elaboration of new post-Kyoto agreements to deal with global warming that include universal introduction of new and renewable energy sources. This issue was discussed in depth at the thematic dialogue of the General Assembly held in June That was a good beginning, yet we must move decisively forward. The increasing topicality of the energy and environment agenda requires creation of a specific partnership — a global mechanism to improve the access of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to new and renewable energy sources. This issue must not be shelved. We need to lay the foundations for a qualitative breakthrough at this session of the General Assembly. Belarus will initiate a comprehensive study of this issue with the involvement of leading international experts and include in its results conclusions and recommendations for the future report of the Secretary-General. We believe that, given current conditions, the strengthening of the economic potential and political role of middle-income countries could be yet another motor of economic and social progress. Experience has clearly shown that resources and capacities of a narrow circle of traditional world leaders are insufficient for overcoming the crisis. The greatest potential for growth rests with middle-income countries. To a certain extent, one could draw a parallel here with the key role played by the middle class in the stable economic and political development of States. It is no coincidence that the majority of United States and European companies are turning their eyes to the Asian and other developing world markets. Mindful of such importance, let alone the mere numerical strength of this group of countries, which includes more than States, the United Nations system must take an active role. With this idea in mind 09- last year, Belarus, together with its partners, sponsored the adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution on cooperation for development with middle-income countries. This year, for the first time within these walls, a substantive discussion was held on how to make the best use of the capacity of the United Nations system to assist such countries in addressing their specific social and economic problems, which are particularly important for sustainable global development. We hope that the work of the General Assembly on that topic will not be seen simply in terms of competition for the scarce resources of the donor community and the United Nations. That is not the point. The larger the number of economically prosperous States in the world, the stronger and more predictable the world economy will be. There will be increased predictability and fewer crises and catastrophes. There will be more opportunities for economic growth in the poorer countries and an increase in international assistance will be generated. In the long run, everyone will be a winner. I cannot but turn to the subject of Kyoto and post- Kyoto, which sets the tone for the current session of the General Assembly. The possible outcome of the Copenhagen meeting is, unfortunately, not quite clear. All of us, big, medium-size and small States, have to do our utmost to ensure its success. But the perfect does not have to be the enemy of the good. Belarus is the only State in the world that, for several years, has been trying to achieve what may seem, at first glance, to be a paradoxical goal. That is, to take on significant commitments to reduce harmful emissions. The commitments we have taken happen to be more significant than many of our neighbours, and even than those of some European Union countries. Since we are all partners here, I will put it in a blunt and straightforward way. We do not understand why many States, including powerful groups of States, which are, by the way, leading the way in post-Kyoto advocacy, do not allow us to assume legally binding and significant Kyoto commitments. I address this call to partners and colleagues. If we want to strengthen the Kyoto paradigm, let us not undermine it. I sincerely hope that the call of Belarus for speedy ratification of our accession to Kyoto will be heeded. In a year’s time, here in New York, there will be the United Nations Summit. That is the only forum that has united the heads of State and Government of the G-the G-the European Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Independent States and others. Belarus proposes considering the Summit as a summit of partnerships, the venue for putting forward and acting upon the ideas of global partnerships. We support the intention of the President of the current session of the General Assembly to start preparations for the Summit well in advance. At the Summit itself, we propose the adoption, at the level of heads of State and Government, of a mechanism, an algorithm or a plan of close cooperation on the part of Member States for the years to come on how to overcome global challenges. And in the next few months, delegations could make suggestions as to the substance of such a document. Negotiations on the document could start in January Sixty-five years after the signing of the United Nations Charter, we can and should make an honourable attempt to return to the roots of the United Nations by restoring the original meaning of the word “united”, which forms part of our name. It all depends on us.
ZMB_64_2009	Let me join previous speakers in congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency at the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly. I should also like to extend Zambia’s sincere appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for his able leadership during the sixty-third session. The theme for this session provides us with an opportunity to evaluate existing multilateral approaches to address the challenges arising from globalization. Those include threats to socio-economic development and international peace and security. There is a need to develop innovative approaches and responses to those challenges, which include HIV/AIDS and influenza A(H1N1), terrorism, climate change, nuclear weapons and, more recently, the global economic and financial crisis. In this globalized and interdependent world, no country, however wealthy or powerful it is, can resolve all those challenges single- handedly. Common solutions are therefore required through a strong United Nations. This session is taking place against the backdrop of the adverse effects of the recent global economic and financial crisis, which has spared no one. In my own country of Zambia and in other African countries, the economic growth achieved from to is now declining as a result of the global economic and financial crisis. We are faced with serious financial constraints, lower commodity prices and weak external and domestic demand for our products, high inflation and rising unemployment. Manufacturing and construction activities have also slackened. As copper accounts for about per cent of Zambia’s exports, the effect of the collapse of international copper prices — from $8,per metric tonne in August to $2, at the end of — has, among other things, resulted in greatly reduced revenue collections. Zambia’s experience from the recent global financial and economic crisis is a timely reminder of the consequences of overdependence on a single economic sector. My Government has therefore developed a diversification plan to shift the economy from dependence on copper. That is being done through policy interventions in the agriculture, tourism and manufacturing sectors, coupled with programmes aimed at improving the business environment in Zambia. For those efforts to succeed, however, there must be an expeditious conclusion to the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round of negotiations. Zambia considers the aid-for-trade component of the negotiations as critical, as it will develop our country’s capacity to overcome supply-side constraints and encourage value addition in its commodities. 09- Zambia’s response to the global economic crisis needs the support of its international development partners. We appreciate that our cooperating partners have also been affected by the global economic crisis. Nonetheless, we urge them to fulfil their pledge to increase their contributions to official development assistance to 0.per cent of gross national income. That is necessary if the global development agenda is to help vulnerable economies, such as Zambia’s, meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by Zambia believes that there is a need to reform international financial governance systems in order to avoid future global financial crises. The changes, which must be inclusive, should respond to the needs and concerns of all nations, regardless of status. It is essential that there be an increase in the voice and power of developing countries at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The reform process should aim to improve the predictability of aid flows and emphasize reforms that promote faster aid delivery and fewer conditionalities. Zambia roundly applauds the leadership that the United Nations provides in tackling climate change, as was illustrated only two days ago by the hosting of the high-level Summit on Climate Change. Our efforts to raise the standards of living for the world’s poor people in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals are being frustrated by the effects of climate change. Scientists have spoken. We have seen with our own eyes, in just one generation, how great an effect climate change has had on our environment. On the eve of the Climate Change Summit, just a few days ago, unprecedented floods hit the state of Georgia in this country, as if to rebuke any of us who still doubt the evidence. Let us just look around us. We do not need science to tell us that deserts have expanded, that forests have drastically shrunk, that rivers have dried up and that it rains less and less in many places, and yet so much more in others. Nature has lost its balance and humankind has lost its footing. In our own short lifespan, in my own country, I remember a time when forests were within a child’s walking distance, teeming with a profusion of animals, birds, plants, insects and fruits. Today my grandchildren would be lucky to name the indigenous fruits of our country on the fingers of one hand. So many species of our countries’ flora and fauna have become extinct — forever lost to the world — in such a short time. Our children have spoken. Our citizens have spoken. If we go to Copenhagen to question the science yet again, or to make more speeches justifying inaction, if we still believe that we can only act after our competitors act, then we as leaders will have failed our peoples and consigned the world to utter destruction. Copenhagen is the precipice, either we step back and let live or tip over into the abyss. We must act, and act now. With regard to mitigation, Zambia’s view is that the shared vision should be based on shared responsibilities for climate change; and that there must be an equitable burden-sharing mechanism that requires developed countries to commit to reducing emissions to legally binding levels, while developing countries take actions to ensure a substantial reduction from environment-degrading development programmes. As the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference draws near, Zambia expects an agreement that will balance climate change concerns with development. The Copenhagen agreement must provide increased and predictable support for the implementation of the adaptation programme, which must be established within a binding legal instrument under the United Nations Framework Convention. Speaking in my capacity as the Chairman of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region, I am happy to report to the Assembly that the Great Lakes region of Africa is now more stable and peaceful than it has ever been in the past years, albeit with challenges. The improved relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and their joint efforts to tackle the problem of negative forces in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has opened up opportunities for achieving sustainable peace and stability in the region. However, the region is still faced with the threat posed by the continued presence of illegal armed groups and negative forces, namely, the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR)/ ex-Forces armées rwandaises/Interahamwe, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Allied Democratic Forces. Although the recent joint military operations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda succeeded in dislodging FDLR elements from most of their strongholds, the continued atrocities 09- committed by the remnants of that group against civilians remains a great source of concern. We applaud the role of the international community through the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in providing support for the Government of that country in its efforts to build military capacity to neutralize the negative forces in the eastern part of its territory. The international community needs to exert more sustained pressure on the leadership of those negative forces living within and outside the region, so that they are brought to justice. The Lord’s Resistance Army, which fled to the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic after the Juba talks failed, continues to commit atrocities against the innocent civilian population. The Great Lakes mechanisms allowed for a joint military operation against the LRA, which, challenges notwithstanding, achieved some progress in dislodging rebel forces. There is a need for sustained military and diplomatic pressure to bring Joseph Kony back to the negotiating table. There is also a need for more logistical support from the international community to protect the civilian population and, at the same time, put an end to the atrocities and brutality committed with impunity by the LRA. The Great Lakes region is organizing a round table conference in Bujumbura, Burundi, to be held from 5 to 6 November at which we expect renewed support from the Group of Friends and other partners to finance the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. Prior to the global economic downturn, Zambia’s economic growth was on course to meet all but one of the Millennium Development Goals, namely, ensuring environmental sustainability. However, the effect of the global financial and economic crisis, coupled with the effects of climate change, threaten the prospects of meeting the MDGs on poverty, agriculture and environmental sustainability. The United Nations remains the central principal organ for coordinating international cooperation in socio-economic development, peace, security, human rights and the rule of law. There is a need to reform the United Nations in order to make it more effective and efficient. Zambia believes that the reform of the United Nations will not be complete without meaningful reform of the Security Council. Making the Council more representative, democratic and accountable to all Member States, irrespective of status, is essential if its decisions are to be acceptable to the entire international community. The Security Council must adapt to the realities of the new geopolitical situation that characterize the world. Given that Africa constitutes the second largest bloc of United Nations membership, proposals to reform the Security Council should heed Africa’s call for two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats. That would address the historical injustice against Africa while responding to the need to democratize the Security Council. Equally important in that regard is the need to reform the working methods of that important United Nations body. Human rights issues are an important component in the maintenance of peace and stability in any country. I wish to inform the Assembly that, since Zambia was elected a member of the Human Rights Council, in it has continued to advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights. In May Zambia extended an open invitation to all mandate holders on special areas of focus relating to issues of human rights to visit and evaluate the extent to which Zambia observes its obligations under the various United Nations conventions. We urge other countries to follow suit. Even in the post-cold-war era, nuclear arms pose a threat to international peace and security and the very existence of humankind. It is for that reason that Zambia stands for general and complete disarmament in a time-bound manner, to include biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons. The demand of the time is that we compete for peace, not war, for development and not armaments. There is no doubt that the United Nations continues to be the only multilateral institution capable of addressing the challenges of our one world. This session’s theme attests to that fact. The world looks up to this body to encourage dialogue among civilizations on all global challenges in an inclusive manner as the only practical way to ensure meaningful and effective international cooperation. Allow me to conclude by quoting Jonathan Rauch in the January issue of The Atlantic magazine, in 09- his article entitled “The New Old Economy: Oil, Computers and the Reinvention of the Earth”, as quoted by R. A. Bisson and Jay Lehr in the preface to their book entitled Modern Groundwater Exploration. In the article, which looked at future oil supply, Mr. Rauch predicted that demand for oil will peter out well before supply runs out because, he argued, something cheaper and cleaner would come along. He concluded by stating that “knowledge, not petroleum, is becoming the critical resource in the oil business” and that, although the supply of oil is fixed, the supply of knowledge is boundless. Thus human ingenuity holds the secret to resolving problems confronting humankind. So it is with all the issues facing us and this United Nations of ours today. The resolution of our problems of climate change, the economic and financial crisis, peace and security and human rights and democracy depends upon human ingenuity. The United Nations must therefore first — and most important — work to create an environment where ingenuity can indeed flourish, that is, a peaceful world where all feel they belong and are treated with dignity. Before I conclude my remarks, let me just say a word or two about the embargo that has been imposed on the people and Government of Cuba since by the United States of America. Those unfair and unjustified sanctions have greatly hurt the people of Cuba. The time has come for those sanctions to be lifted. I join those who are calling for the lifting of sanctions.
PAN_64_2009	The people of Panama welcome the very sound decision to elect Mr. Ali Treki to serve as President of the General Assembly at its current session. We are sure that he possesses the vision and the leadership to guide the nations represented here today. I should also like to thank the Secretary-General for his tireless pursuit of dialogue in the interests of peace, security and the peaceful coexistence of peoples and brothers. Yesterday saw the conclusion of the Summit on Climate Change. I congratulate all nations for their collaborative efforts in confronting the global-warming crisis. The beauty, resources and biodiversity of our shared heritage are in peril. Global warming is the most serious symptom of a crisis caused by the excessive exploitation of resources. We must apply new formulas, change our behaviour and learn to value our relationship with nature. Our options are clear: we can talk or we can act. If we do not act with global responsibility, the consequences will be irreversible. Three million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea. We are one of the youngest countries on Earth. As a result of our birth, a land bridge was formed between North and South America and constituted the narrowest stretch of land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Panama parted the seas to unite continents, and generated a new global network of ocean currents that transformed the climate of the entire planet. The whole world changed when Panama came into being. Today, all forms of life upon this planet are the result of an evolutionary process that adapted to our birth. The great African savannahs and deserts came forth from these changes, and modern man evolved from those new savannahs. Panamanians have always played an important role for our neighbours and for the world at large. In the next five years, it is our duty to demonstrate how our economic and governmental model can serve as an example for all who aspire to prosperity and progress. I am an entrepreneur, not a politician. I went into politics to change how things are done. I am a simple and direct man. I believe that time is very short and very valuable. I will expand upon my experiences in the private sector and put them to work in the public sector. I was elected to the presidency with an unprecedented mandate. Panamanians gave me a clear mandate to deliver change to our country and build a better Panama for all. We are placing the interests of the people first and foremost, above personal or partisan interests, because a country is more important than a political party. I have selected the best people to work in our Government without regard to their political affiliations. I have plans for the nation. We want capitalism which is based on opportunities and rewards responsible entrepreneurs who show solidarity, but 09- capitalism which also strongly demands responsibility and solidarity from any old-fashioned entrepreneurs who do not satisfy those two criteria. We formed this Government during a crisis. Less than a year ago, we saw the collapse of the international financial framework. The global economic model was forever changed. Our guiding light is the improvement of our peoples’ quality of life. That is why, during the first days, we increased the salaries of all public officials and distributed $per month to senior citizens over the age of who do not have a pension and require economic aid. We will be building a modern new metro in Panama, and it will be the largest employment programme in the history of the country after the expansion of the canal currently under way. We have launched a construction project for low- cost housing which will not only provide a safe roof over the heads of thousands of Panamanians, but will generate jobs at difficult times during a crisis. The promises we have made meet the demands of our people. But beyond that, they are part of the plan we need to boost our economy. America is a recently populated continent, and Panama was the bridge across which the first native Americans crossed to South America. They built great cultures and civilizations such as those of the Incas and the Chibchas. When the Spanish arrived, they made our country into the commercial hub of their colonies. When Panama separated from Spain, the first railroad in the world between the Atlantic and the Pacific was built, and that in turn led to the construction of our canal. Today, Panama is the gatekeeper of the global economy. We are a small country, with less than 3.5 million inhabitants, and services represent more than per cent of our gross national product. The United States dollar is our currency. We have a solid banking and financial centre which is very conservative and strictly regulated. The Colón Free Zone is the largest in the hemisphere, thanks to the most important commercial maritime route in the world, and this makes us the most efficient logistical hub in the Americas. We shall soon begin the construction of a third set of locks to expand the capacity of the Panama Canal, thereby opening an important gateway for international trade. Panama is an ideal place to invest, to establish enterprises and also to live. We will be transforming Panama into the Hong Kong or the Dubai of the Americas. Within the new Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area, labour and immigration laws are welcoming and flexible. Throughout our national territory, there are fantastic incentives for investors. Our spirit of service and open door policy make Panama an enjoyable, exciting place of true opportunities. And despite the crisis Panama is growing. Talent and creativity, social assistance, infrastructure and investment in human capital will allow us to weather the storm. Panama was born to serve the world. Everyone is more than welcome in Panama. We are open for business. We believe in free trade as a tool to improve people’s lives. We want to do business with all nations and have signed free trade agreements with our strategic partners. We have already signed one with the United States. To be ratified, it just needs one small “push”, and I believe that President Obama will deliver that push very shortly. In Panama, we are proud of our history and our heritage, our freedom of expression and thought, our freedom to determine our country’s direction, and our tradition of peace. Peace is the best sentiment that any country or, indeed, the whole planet can have. Peace brings with it tranquillity, stability and growth. There is absolutely no reason why neighbouring peoples should offend one another, because no one wins and we all lose. The children of Bolívar share the same history and the same challenges. We have the same blood in our veins. We are a single nation. Here, anyone who attacks, attacks only himself. Anyone who retaliates, retaliates against himself. Anyone who bears arms does so against himself. Because here we are all siblings. Weapons of war bring poverty. They steal the bread from our mouths and the future from our children. These weapons are not necessary, and at the end of the day they solve nothing. Let us sit down together, for there is nothing that we cannot solve together. There is nothing like peace. And peace is 09- what all countries of the world should be pursuing until it is achieved. I would like to talk here about our sister country of Honduras, and the need for it to return to the rule of law, which is necessary for its well-being and that of Central America. That is why we are closely following the reconciliation in Honduras. The San José accord constitutes the best method for formulating a consensus Government that can oversee new elections and guarantee a peaceful return to democracy. Let us allow the Honduran people to solve their destiny and future with one another. We Panamanians have the utmost trust in the Honduran society’s capacity for reconciliation. Nothing is stronger than words, either spoken or written, and through dialogue we understand one another, to paraphrase the poet. Communication is the best conduit for cultures, education, ethnicities, history, religions and politics. In Panama, we are a melting pot of races, nationalities and ideologies that, through communication and mutual respect, has created a diverse society with common interests. That is part of our idiosyncrasy and is what makes us who we are. Tolerance is the secret to the coexistence of peoples. Nuclear tests make us all nervous, and living in a state of alert only serves to increase tensions between nations whose relations are already less than stable. That is why we live in constant fear and mistrust, which has a significant impact on dialogue between us. In Panama, we respect the use of science as a tool for human development, but we reject its use as a front to conceal nuclear proliferation and the production of weapons of mass destruction. A challenge to global peace and security lies in the war on drug trafficking, money-laundering and arms trafficking. Because it is a crossroads, Panama is used by organized crime for drugs and arms trafficking. But we are declaring our own war. We have become an active partner with Mexico and Colombia in the battle against narco-terrorists. Alongside President Uribe and President Calderón, we are committed to strengthening the ties of cooperation, so that Panama can be an active source of intelligence. The many efforts and improvements that Panama has achieved in this field have been recognized in reports by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and the International Monetary Fund. Panama has information exchange agreements with countries to combat money-laundering and the financing of illicit activities. Drugs are not good business. Those who dedicate themselves to them are destined to jail or the cemetery. They have no future. Mr. Nasheed (Maldives), Vice-President, took the Chair. Everyone knows Panama as a banking centre, as a place to do business, and because of our canal. But in fact, we are nature’s best-kept secret in the world. Tourism is our new passion. Panama City has the highest concentration of migratory birds on the planet. We are the hub for America’s flying species. The Gulf of Chiriquí has the greatest biodiversity of any spot in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Forty percent of our national territory is protected. This includes over 1.5 million hectares of uninterrupted forests between Chagres and Darién. Our national parks have been declared biosphere reserves and world heritage sites, as has the island of Coiba, a natural jewel where they are still discovering new species and where whales from the Arctic and Antarctic meet to give birth to their calves. Over 1,islands and coral reefs beautify our seas, and we are framed by over 2,kilometres of coastline, many of them as pristine and untouched as when Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas. But the very best resource we have is our people. We are a multiethnic and friendly people. Our indigenous peoples of the comarcas are an example of resistance to mistreatment at the hands of nature and cultural assimilation. All the countries represented in this Hall have their own wonders that the entire world admires. We must unite to protect and conserve our beauty, resources, biodiversity, world heritage and, first and foremost, our peoples. I am an eternal optimist. I see my country, Panama, providing more jobs for its men and women. I see a middle class that keeps growing and earning more. I see new technologies spawning unprecedented economic growth. I see the first country in the world with free internet access for all its citizens. 09- I see Panama with better health care, better education, better transportation, and with families that are happier and more unified. We Panamanians can do anything we dream of. And if each and every one of us achieves our dreams, we will have a better world. In the five years ahead of us, we are going to dream big. Our best days are yet to come. If I had to describe Panama in just a few words, I would say we are a country and a people full of surprises. Panama will amaze you, and Panama will amaze the world.
MRT_64_2009	I should like at the outset, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania as well as on my own account, to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to preside over the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session and to wish you every possible success in your serious and noble mission. I have a great deal of confidence that your efforts will bear fruit and enable the Organization to continue to achieve the success attained under the presidency of your predecessor, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. I should also like to convey my gratitude and appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the efforts he has devoted to consolidating peace and security throughout the world, to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to promoting the fight against climate change. This session is being held at a time when my country is extricating itself from a political and institutional crisis that lasted for a few months and was resolved, with the help of the efforts of the International Contact Group on Mauritania, through a consensus reached by the political parties of Mauritania and enshrined in the Dakar Accord. This agreement provided for the elaboration of an electoral agenda supervised by a Government of national unity in which minority parties in Parliament enjoy half of the number of seats, including among the sovereign ministries, such as the Ministries of Home Affairs, Information, Defence and others. The normalization of the constitutional process led to the election of Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. He received per cent of the votes during the first round of the elections held on July and all national and international observers attested to the transparency and fairness of this election. On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, I convey my special gratitude to the International Contact Group, and especially to the President of the African Union, the Leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi, who was one of the first to call for a domestic solution, thus enabling Mauritanian stakeholders to normalize the political situation in their country. I also convey my gratitude to His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade, President of the brotherly country of Senegal, who accompanied the signing of the Dakar Accord and ensured its follow-up implementation. Mauritania, under the presidency of Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, is determined to consolidate democracy and institutions and uphold the rule of law in a spirit of calm and stability, thereby 09-2 providing for the progress and well-being of the people of Mauritania. Aware of the need to integrate peoples and States, Mauritania reiterates its attachment to the Arab Maghreb Union as a strategic choice for the people of the region. It also affirms its attachment to joint work within the framework of the League of Arab States, as well as its commitment to the African Union and to United Nations purposes and principles, We reiterate our support for efforts aimed at reforming the United Nations, especially the expansion of the Security Council, where a permanent seat should be granted to the African continent and another to the Arab Group, whose people make up more than per cent of the world population. The tremendous efforts undertaken during the sixty-third session of the General Assembly are praiseworthy, whether we are referring to the Doha Review Conference or the conference on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development. Despite these commendable efforts, the world continues to be wracked by a stifling financial crisis that has undermined development efforts, especially in the least developed countries (LDCs). The impact of the financial crisis on the economies of the LDCs is disastrous. While the rich countries of the North have achieved economic and social progress during these past few years, the least developed countries will face many obstacles that will have an impact on programmes aimed at achieving their Millennium Development Goals. The international community must act rapidly to confront this disaster that threatens the global economic order. It must take concrete measures aimed at restoring confidence, achieving economic progress and creating jobs. Commerce, trade and investment must be revitalized to provide the necessary financing to poor countries and to maintain achievements made thus far in the fight against poverty and in strengthening the role of the United Nations Development Programme in countering the economic crisis and its adverse impact on development. In this respect, we urge rich countries to fulfil the commitments made in London in early April towards financing development in developing countries, and their pledges to allocate $1 trillion to revitalize the global economy, including $billion devoted to the low income countries. I pay tribute to all of those steps from this rostrum. The economic, social and environmental dimensions of development are all closely interlinked. For that reason we call upon all countries to fight against climate change. My country is one of the ten countries most affected by global warming, which could lead to a rise in sea level. Here, we request that industrialized States limit their greenhouse gas emissions. We also welcome the meeting on climate change that was convened by the Secretary-General and await the outcome of the international conference on climate change to be held in December in Copenhagen, with great interest. My country follows the issue of the Western Sahara with great interest and reaffirms its backing for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy aimed at finding a final solution to this issue, which would strengthen security and stability in the region. The Arab-Israeli conflict is a source of ongoing tension and a threat to international peace and security in a sensitive and vital region of the world. For that reason, we support peace efforts aimed at finding a solution to the conflict that will, on the one hand, guarantee the brotherly Palestinian people all of their rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right to live in peace and security side by side with Israel; and on the other hand, will restore all occupied Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan and the Lebanese Sheba'a farms. Turning to the situation in the Sudan, we wish here to underscore our categorical rejection of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for the Sudanese President, because it undermines peace efforts under way in that country and runs counter to international norms. The culture of peace, tolerance, justice and respect for peoples and civilizations is the best possible way to uphold international peace and security. Outstanding issues are still without an available solution; the chasm between the rich and the poor and the turbulent international economic infrastructure have led to tension, extremism and terrorism. Here I reaffirm that the Islamic Republic of Mauritania rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterates its commitment to Islamic values, which 3 09- reject violence and extremism and call for tolerance and fraternity. We believe that it is the duty of the international community to consider seriously the causes of this phenomenon and to devise ways to confront it and eradicate it once and for all. Fulfilling the commitments that the international community made in creating this Organization will only be possible if all peoples and all countries share the available resources and possibilities for successful development, and if the policies of the countries of the North are rooted in a vision of dignified, free and equal existence for all. In my view this is the only way to reach the objectives that this Organization was created for.

Tokenization is the process of breaking down text into smaller units, typically sentences or words, so that they can be analyzed more easily. This is often the first step before counting words, tagging named entities, or identifying themes.

This chunk of code takes a data frame of documents (the corpus) and breaks each document into individual sentences, creating a clean, structured format suitable for downstream tasks like NER.

library(tidytext)
library(stringr)
library(stringi)

df_sentences <- df %>%
  select(doc_id, text) %>% 
  mutate(
         text = str_replace_all(text, "Mr.", "Mr"),
         text = str_replace_all(text, "Mrs.", "Mrs"),
         text = str_replace_all(text, "Ms.", "Ms"),
         text = str_replace_all(text, "Dr.", "Dr"),
         ) %>% 
  unnest_tokens(sentence,
                text,
                drop = T,
                to_lower = F,
                token = "sentences") %>% 
  group_by(doc_id) %>% 
  mutate(rank = row_number(),
         sentence_id = paste(doc_id, rank, sep = "_")) %>%
  select(-rank) %>%
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(
         sentence = str_remove_all(sentence, "[:punct:]"),    
         sentence = stri_trans_general(sentence, "Latin-ASCII"),
         sentence = gsub("\n"," ", sentence),
         sentence = gsub("[^\x01-\x7F]", " ", sentence),
         sentence = str_replace_all(sentence, "[:blank:]{2,}", " ")
  )

Table 2

Sample of UNGA Corpus Sentences

doc_id	sentence	sentence_id
VEN_64_2009	Then they decided to take him to Costa Rica	VEN_64_2009_199
TCD_64_2009	There too our countries are victims of a phenomenon caused by the major greenhouse gas producers which are the industrialized countries	TCD_64_2009_17
MHL_64_2009	I now turn to a matter that is very dear to the heart of every Marshallese	MHL_64_2009_44
TUV_64_2009	This has to do with the actions of pirates off the coast of Somalia	TUV_64_2009_17
SYC_64_2009	The process has also marked a milestone in the relationship between multilateral financial institutions and a small island developing State	SYC_64_2009_13
LBY_64_2009	Enjoying the veto they granted themselves as permanent members of the Security Council they have initiated wars that have claimed millions of victims	LBY_64_2009_49
HND_64_2009	Free transit through airports and land borders has been halted	HND_64_2009_27
SWZ_64_2009	The Kingdom of Swaziland continues to support efforts to bring lasting peace to the situation in the Darfur region Somalia Madagascar and other parts of our continent	SWZ_64_2009_44
TJK_64_2009	We hope that important measures for 5 09 coordinating further steps in this direction will be developed at the next Biennial Meeting to be held on the Programme of Action	TJK_64_2009_13
NIC_64_2009	We also embrace the just cause of Puerto Rican independence and support the return of the Malvinas Islands to their rightful owner the Argentine people	NIC_64_2009_38

Apply the NER Model

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a technique in Natural Language Processing (NLP) used to identify and classify entities in text into predefined categories such as people, organizations, locations, and dates. In social science research, NER can help uncover patterns in political speeches, legal documents, and media coverage by extracting key actors and institutions.

The code below shows how to import the model from the library transformers using the Python-R bridge reticulate. We use the dslim/bert-base-NER which is a fine-tuned BERT model trained to recognize four types of entities: location (LOC), organizations (ORG), person (PER) and Miscellaneous (MISC).

transformers <- import("transformers")

pipeline <- transformers$pipeline

ner_model <- pipeline("ner", 
                      model = "dslim/bert-base-NER",
                      grouped_entities = TRUE)

Below is a short sentence that mimics UN General Assembly speech style, containing a person, organization, and location. Let’s apply the general ner_model() function to this example to see the raw output.

example <- "During my recent visit to Geneva, I had the honor of meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the ongoing efforts of the World Health Organization in addressing global health disparities."

ner_model(example)

[[1]]
[[1]]$entity_group
[1] "LOC"

[[1]]$score
[1] 0.999416

[[1]]$word
[1] "Geneva"

[[1]]$start
[1] 26

[[1]]$end
[1] 32


[[2]]
[[2]]$entity_group
[1] "PER"

[[2]]$score
[1] 0.9985098

[[2]]$word
[1] "Antonio Guterres"

[[2]]$start
[1] 84

[[2]]$end
[1] 100


[[3]]
[[3]]$entity_group
[1] "ORG"

[[3]]$score
[1] 0.998877

[[3]]$word
[1] "World Health Organization"

[[3]]$start
[1] 139

[[3]]$end
[1] 164

A function in R is a reusable block of code that performs a specific task. You can “call” a function with inputs (called arguments) to get outputs. We can make our own functions help keep code clean, organized, and efficient—especially when performing the same operation many times.

The function classify_ner_parallel() we are creating below takes a data frame with text (e.g., political speeches, news articles) and applies an NER model to each text entry. It returns the original data frame plus new columns showing how many people (PER), organizations (ORG), locations (LOC), and miscellaneous (MISC) entities were found in each row.

library(purrr)
library(tibble)
library(furrr)

classify_ner_parallel <- function(df, 
                                  text_col = "text", 
                                  parallel = FALSE) {
  
  require(furrr)
  require(purrr)
  require(tibble)
  
  text_vec <- df[[text_col]]
  
  mapper <- if (parallel) furrr::future_map else purrr::map
  
  # Run NER model
  ner_results <- mapper(text_vec, function(txt) {
    ents <- ner_model(txt)
    tibble::tibble(
      entity = sapply(ents, function(e) e$entity_group),
      word   = sapply(ents, function(e) e$word),
      score  = sapply(ents, function(e) e$score)
    )
  })
  
  # Extract summary features
  df_out <- df %>%
    mutate(entities = ner_results) %>%
    mutate(
      PER_count  = map_int(entities, ~ sum(.x$entity == "PER")),
      ORG_count  = map_int(entities, ~ sum(.x$entity == "ORG")),
      LOC_count  = map_int(entities, ~ sum(.x$entity == "LOC")),
      MISC_count = map_int(entities, ~ sum(.x$entity == "MISC")),
      
      PER_texts  = map_chr(entities, ~ 
                             paste(.x$word[.x$entity == "PER"], collapse = ", ")),
      ORG_texts  = map_chr(entities, ~
                             paste(.x$word[.x$entity == "ORG"], collapse = ", ")),
      LOC_texts  = map_chr(entities, ~
                             paste(.x$word[.x$entity == "LOC"], collapse = ", ")),
      MISC_texts = map_chr(entities, ~ 
                             paste(.x$word[.x$entity == "MISC"], collapse = ", "))
    ) %>%
    select(-entities)
  
  return(df_out)
}

After tokenization, there are in total 15838 sentences across 193 documents. Though the NER model from Devlin et al. (2018) is small when compared to an LLM, it can still be rather time consuming when applied to a large corpus. For the examples below, we will use only a sample of 100 sentences.

df_sample <- df_sentences %>% 
  sample_n(100)

Below is our classifier function classify_ner_parallel() applied to the df_sample object. We use system.time() to evaluate how long it takes to process. This is completely optional but it can give you a good idea of how long a larger data frame might take.

system.time({
  df_ner <- classify_ner_parallel(df = df_sample,
                        text_col = "sentence",
                        parallel = T)

  })

   user  system elapsed 
  3.946   0.406   4.430 

Table 3

NER Coded Sentences Sample

doc_id	sentence	sentence_id	PER_count	ORG_count	LOC_count	MISC_count	PER_texts	ORG_texts	LOC_texts	MISC_texts
IND_64_2009	The United Nations Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis held in June was opportune and provided a useful platform for collectively seeking ways and means to respond to the crisis	IND_64_2009_23	0	0	0	1				United Nations Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis
IDN_64_2009	We have a surplus production of rice and part of that surplus will become a buffer stock for our national food security	IDN_64_2009_34	0	0	0	0
UZB_64_2009	Thanks to the measures taken macroeconomic stability steady annual rates of economic growth averaging 8 to 9 per cent low rates of inflation the widescale attraction of foreign investments and an increase in the real level of income of the population have been ensured in the country in recent years	UZB_64_2009_7	0	0	0	0
VEN_64_2009	In one of the interesting chapters Meszaros quotes another great person Karl Marx	VEN_64_2009_389	2	0	0	0	Meszaro, Karl Marx
DZA_64_2009	I would also like to pay heartfelt homage to your predecessor Father dEscoto for the skill he has demonstrated his moral probity and his full commitment to multilateralism based on the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations	DZA_64_2009_3	1	0	0	1	Father dEscoto			Charter of the United Nations
MUS_64_2009	At the same time we agree that the Organization needs to be reformed	MUS_64_2009_197	0	1	0	0		Organization
CYP_64_2009	The magnitude of the financial crisis shows that it is a crisis of the system and of its most extreme manifestation namely neoliberalism and market lawlessness	CYP_64_2009_11	0	0	0	0
BHS_64_2009	The current global financial and economic crisis possibly the worst since the Great Depression threatens to negate all that we have achieved thus far on our development agenda at both the national and the international levels	BHS_64_2009_4	0	0	0	1				Great Depression
GBR_64_2009	And if in Afghanistan we give way to the insurgency and AlQaida other terrorist groups and AlQaida will return and from that sanctuary once again plot train for and launch attacks on the rest of the world	GBR_64_2009_21	0	2	1	0		AlQ, AlQaida	Afghanistan
DJI_64_2009	My country is keen to have peace and security soon restored in the northern part of the sisterly nation of Yemen within the framework of its territorial integrity sovereignty and unity	DJI_64_2009_57	0	0	1	0			Yemen
SLV_64_2009	It is time to adopt measures and mechanisms to rectify the mistakes and shortcomings of the past and to launch a process to bring development into harmony with environmental protections	SLV_64_2009_96	0	0	0	0
CPV_64_2009	As a neighbouring friendly and longstanding partner country of Guinea I wish on behalf of my country to express my deep sympathy and the unequivocal condemnation of an act that disgraces the entire continent	CPV_64_2009_3	0	0	1	0			Guinea
SRB_64_2009	There is 3 09 no doubt that the Courts conclusions will constitute a powerful legal precedent with overarching consequences for the United Nations system	SRB_64_2009_44	0	2	0	0		Courts, United Nations
AUT_64_2009	Despite significant progress armed conflicts continue to darken the lives of men women and children in many parts of the world	AUT_64_2009_10	0	0	0	0
AFG_64_2009	Afghanistan fully endorses President Obamas new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the new assessment by General McChrystal in particular their emphasis on the need for a comprehensive and longterm strategy	AFG_64_2009_41	3	0	3	0	Obama, M, ##cChrys		Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan
IDN_64_2009	Likewise the challenge of terrorism demands the broadest possible coalition of nations to put an end to it not only through sheer force of arms but also and mainly through a dialogue of faiths cultures and civilizations that will put the merchants of hate out of business	IDN_64_2009_54	0	0	0	0
PLW_64_2009	Palau believes that the best model for a regional effort to conserve our tuna resources and maximize the benefits to us is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC	PLW_64_2009_42	0	2	1	0		Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC	Palau
LBY_64_2009	How can we be happy about global peace and security if the whole world is controlled by only five countries	LBY_64_2009_103	0	0	0	0
NPL_64_2009	I bring greetings and good wishes from the people and Government of Nepal a country that expresses unswerving commitment to the ideals of the United Nations	NPL_64_2009_7	0	2	0	0		Nepal, United Nations
IRL_64_2009	The Irish Government has been developing over the past years a focus on conflict resolution work building on our own practical experiences with the Northern Ireland peace process	IRL_64_2009_54	0	1	1	1		Government	Northern Ireland	Irish
FIN_64_2009	The latest developments in the Middle East peace process provide a reason for cautious optimism	FIN_64_2009_40	0	0	1	0			Middle East
NER_64_2009	And we welcome the commitment and goodwill of all parties carrying out concerted actions to ensure international peace and security	NER_64_2009_15	0	0	0	0
GRD_64_2009	This is our fear and it is also our reality	GRD_64_2009_43	0	0	0	0
IRQ_64_2009	In an attempt to derail the security and stability achieved in Iraq during and they have recently engaged in a series of criminal bombings and terrorist attacks the most recent of which were the Bloody Wednesday explosions of August which targeted the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance sovereign institutions of the country	IRQ_64_2009_31	0	2	1	2		Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance	Iraq	Bloody Wednesday, Iraqi
FJI_64_2009	On 1 July of this year I announced a road map to lead Fiji to a new constitution and elections based on equality equal suffrage human rights justice transparency modernity and true democratic ideals	FJI_64_2009_21	0	0	1	0			Fiji
BRN_64_2009	In other words it is our children and grandchildren who are going to look back at the past and see whether we did a good job	BRN_64_2009_12	0	0	0	0
VEN_64_2009	As President Obama said yesterday with regards to his fourth pillar we need an economy that serves human beings	VEN_64_2009_373	1	0	0	0	Obama
PRY_64_2009	But we forget that our defence expenditures promoted by the great weapons industries from high snow covered summits of complacency end up exchanging a container of vaccine for a rifle or a significant part of the public health budget for a warplane	PRY_64_2009_6	0	0	0	0
TTO_64_2009	We are encouraged by the diverse United Nationsrelated initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security in that country but greater attention is required by the international community	TTO_64_2009_40	0	1	0	0		United Nations
MUS_64_2009	I therefore make a strong appeal that we unite to act collectively and quickly in our own interest and that of future generations	MUS_64_2009_112	0	0	0	0
NER_64_2009	We believe that that issue is worthy of much attention and of action throughout the sixty fourth session	NER_64_2009_58	0	0	0	0
FJI_64_2009	Each society must search for its own path and no path is perfect	FJI_64_2009_50	0	0	0	0
BLR_64_2009	Given the increasing interdependence of energy and environment and the determining role of energy in global survival it cannot be otherwise	BLR_64_2009_47	0	0	0	0
USA_64_2009	We have removed American combat brigades from Iraqi cities and set a deadline of next August to remove all our combat brigades from Iraqi territory	USA_64_2009_32	0	0	0	3				American, Iraqi, Iraqi
PNG_64_2009	Secondly we must achieve together the social agenda of the Millennium Development Goals MDGs	PNG_64_2009_17	0	0	0	2				Millennium Development Goals, MDG
ISL_64_2009	The other cause that I wish to mention as a reason for my gratitude is the unanimous decision of the Security Council earlier this week to call for global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms and to boost disarmament Security Council resolution 2009	ISL_64_2009_63	0	2	0	1		Security Council, Security Council		##ma
GRC_64_2009	The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which embodies customary law shows the way to settle maritime boundary disputes peacefully	GRC_64_2009_119	0	0	0	1				United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
LIE_64_2009	Most important rules must apply to everyone equally on the basis of a level playing field	LIE_64_2009_22	0	0	0	0
USA_64_2009	In pursuit of that goal we will develop regional initiatives with multilateral participation alongside bilateral negotiations	USA_64_2009_136	0	0	0	0
VEN_64_2009	And I asked her why	VEN_64_2009_25	0	0	0	0
TKM_64_2009	For a variety of reasons those problems are of particular importance for our region	TKM_64_2009_58	0	0	0	0
SVN_64_2009	Slovenia was one of the first Member States to sign today the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights	SVN_64_2009_45	0	0	1	3			Slovenia	Member, Optional Protocol, International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
MLT_64_2009	I had indicated that our size and our financial and human resources which are very limited make it extremely difficult for Malta to cope with the large number of these unfortunate people arriving on our shores on their way to mainland Europe	MLT_64_2009_54	0	0	2	0			Malta, Europe
SRB_64_2009	Serbias robust European vision is complemented by our strong determination to pursue a carefully balanced artfully executed and active foreign policy aimed at engagement with nations throughout the world near and far	SRB_64_2009_81	0	0	1	1			Serbia	European
LBN_64_2009	In ancient times and now in the modern world as told in the fiercest epic tales wars beget tragic and painful events and give rise to costly and horrific experiences where endless blood and countless tears are shed and disappointment and tragedies prevail	LBN_64_2009_51	0	0	0	0
PAK_64_2009	We urge our friends and partners to help Pakistan by providing market access for the economic revival and wellbeing of their own people	PAK_64_2009_62	0	0	1	0			Pakistan
GNB_64_2009	We hope this new and dynamic level of cooperation will enable us to benefit from the initiative for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative	GNB_64_2009_48	0	0	0	2				He, ##ly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
SVN_64_2009	Four areas of work are of special importance	SVN_64_2009_59	0	0	0	0
SVN_64_2009	Sometimes matters such as the situation in and around Afghanistan are discussed at specialized international conferences but wisdom and common sense suggest that the experience of the United Nations be put to use	SVN_64_2009_81	0	1	1	0		United Nations	Afghanistan
LBY_64_2009	It has led to war crimes and genocides	LBY_64_2009_180	0	0	0	0
KHM_64_2009	Our tribute also goes to Mr Miguel dEscoto Brockmann of Nicaragua who successfully presided over the General Assembly at its sixtythird session	KHM_64_2009_3	1	1	1	0	Miguel dEscoto Brockmann	General Assembly	Nicaragua
ZAF_64_2009	Rather it should urge us to double our efforts to achieve greater and faster progress	ZAF_64_2009_21	0	0	0	0
NIC_64_2009	The time has also come for cooperation without humiliating preconditions the construction of the most beautiful dream of Bolivar and Sandino and the dawn of a realistic and coherent solidarity	NIC_64_2009_53	4	0	1	0	Bo, ##liva, ##r, Sand		##ino
SWE_64_2009	And the United Nations for its part has to adapt in order to stay relevant and to be able to address the issues before us	SWE_64_2009_14	0	1	0	0		United Nations
PRK_64_2009	If the United States brings sanctions to the talks we will for our part 09 participate in such talks by bolstering our nuclear deterrence	PRK_64_2009_49	0	0	1	0			United States
CHE_64_2009	Economic activity must revert to fundamental values and virtues	CHE_64_2009_21	0	0	0	0
GRD_64_2009	While it continues to chair AOSIS Grenada will always advocate for sustainable development goals as well as for agreements in the Copenhagen negotiations that are commensurate to the level of the threat	GRD_64_2009_34	0	2	2	0		A, ##OSIS G	##renada, Copenhagen
LBY_64_2009	We are here today to decide the future of the world in a democratic way that will maintain the peace and security of all nations large and small as equals	LBY_64_2009_145	0	0	0	0
ARM_64_2009	The region is devastated by conflicts and interState tensions dividing lines and economic blockades	ARM_64_2009_46	0	0	0	1				##S
AUS_64_2009	For us all this will be a test of our leadership leadership which seeks to lift our collective vision beyond today and instead focus on the needs of tomorrow	AUS_64_2009_54	0	0	0	0
BHR_64_2009	It is clear that global security cannot be achieved through the sole efforts of the superPowers because the challenges we face are more serious daunting and more widespread than ever before	BHR_64_2009_12	0	0	0	0
VEN_64_2009	But they will not return	VEN_64_2009_177	0	0	0	0
NAM_64_2009	We wish to reaffirm our full and unequivocal support for the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine to selfdetermination including the return to their land	NAM_64_2009_44	0	0	1	0			Palestine
KIR_64_2009	It constitutes something like per cent of our exclusive economic zone	KIR_64_2009_42	0	0	0	0
CAF_64_2009	To him I once again express the deep gratitude of the people of the Central African Republic for his notable contributions with regard to the situation in the Central African Republic and his support within the framework of the Peacebuilding Commission	CAF_64_2009_7	0	1	2	0		Peacebuilding Commission	Central African Republic, Central African Republic
FRA_64_2009	And we have waited too long to guarantee the people of Israel the right to live in security which the tragedies of history have made so necessary for them	FRA_64_2009_28	0	0	1	0			Israel
TUN_64_2009	Based on the special status that we reserve for our young people whom we consider to be our true wealth the support of the present and foundation of the future we in Tunisia have insisted on entrenching the spirit of responsibility within this group and encourage them to participate actively in all aspects of public life and in establishing the countrys future policies and objectives	TUN_64_2009_18	0	0	1	0			Tunisia
GHA_64_2009	I would therefore want all of us to strengthen our resolve and muster the necessary political will to assist the United Nations to more effectively discharge its obligation to redeem our peoples from war disease and poverty	GHA_64_2009_58	0	1	0	0		United Nations
LCA_64_2009	We pledge to work with Mr Treki in the furtherance of that approach	LCA_64_2009_4	1	0	0	0	Treki
MAR_64_2009	I wish also to seize this opportunity to express our appreciation and support to His Excellency SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon for his tireless efforts not only to realize the objectives for which our Organization was created but also to enable the Organization to fulfil the aspirations of the peoples of the world in the course of this third millennium	MAR_64_2009_4	3	2	0	0	##G, ##ener, ##al Ban Kimoon	Organization, Organization
KIR_64_2009	Kiribati and the Pacific are committed to the sustainable conservation and management of its oceans	KIR_64_2009_48	0	0	3	0			Ki, ##ribati, Pacific
LBY_64_2009	The Russian Federation and the United States of America are already permanent members of the Security Council	LBY_64_2009_117	0	1	2	0		Security Council	Russian Federation, United States of America
ETH_64_2009	With respect to the latter category of rights Ethiopia as has so emphatically been asserted in our Constitution is no longer a prison of nations and nationalities	ETH_64_2009_21	0	0	1	0			Ethiopia
GBR_64_2009	So I urge my fellow leaders to commit themselves to backing up our official negotiators by going to Copenhagen too	GBR_64_2009_39	0	0	1	0			Copenhagen
BOL_64_2009	I perfectly understand that sometimes when change is desired it is difficult to change State structures	BOL_64_2009_93	0	0	0	0
PRY_64_2009	I believe in Jesus Christ in Gandhi and in Martin Luther King	PRY_64_2009_55	3	0	0	0	Jesus Christ, Gandhi, Martin Luther King
GRD_64_2009	We are among the smallest and most open markets in the world	GRD_64_2009_51	0	0	0	0
TZA_64_2009	We are also happy that under the leadership of Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom consensus has been emerging on making additional resources available to assist developing nations in their efforts at adaptation mitigation and the pursuit of clean development	TZA_64_2009_48	1	0	1	0	Gordon Brown		United Kingdom
LUX_64_2009	Giving hope and motivation to the Palestinian people is a basic human obligation	LUX_64_2009_37	0	0	0	1				Palestinian
ISL_64_2009	During the course of this week I have heard many speakers criticize the United Nations but I would like to use the occasion of my first speech to this Assembly to praise the work of the Organization	ISL_64_2009_55	0	3	0	0		United Nations, Assembly, Organization
PHL_64_2009	We recently enacted a landmark law to promote the development and use of renewable energy resources especially biofuels	PHL_64_2009_53	0	0	0	0
TLS_64_2009	Our Government has been severely criticized both internationally and nationally on some positions that we have adopted and some decisions that have been taken	TLS_64_2009_48	0	0	0	0
KAZ_64_2009	This terrorist act and the worlds unity in its strict condemnation showed that only together can we make our present and our future safer and better	KAZ_64_2009_6	0	0	0	0
URY_64_2009	When we add up all the deaths caused by these pathologies we find that the number of tobaccorelated deaths is greater still	URY_64_2009_31	0	0	0	0
GIN_64_2009	In this area audits have revealed many cases of financial misappropriation at high levels within the State	GIN_64_2009_25	0	0	0	0
LBN_64_2009	Meanwhile Arab countries have together introduced a comprehensive Peace Initiative which was unanimously adopted at the Arab League Summit held in Beirut	LBN_64_2009_19	0	0	1	3			Beirut	Arab, Peace Initiative, Arab League Summit
ECU_64_2009	We firmly support the need for a global plan of action and we offer to the Organization our national experience in terms of legal and control issues	ECU_64_2009_99	0	1	0	0		Organization
TON_64_2009	The World Bank the European Union the Asian Development Bank Australia New Zealand and Japan readily accepted this opportunity to actively participate in the development of our Energy Road Map	TON_64_2009_30	0	3	1	1		World Bank, European Union, Asian Development Bank Australia New Zealand	Japan	Energy Road Map
RWA_64_2009	With regard to the global environmental challenge this session of the General Assembly provides an important platform for preparing for the Copenhagen climate change summit	RWA_64_2009_26	0	1	1	0		General Assembly	Copenhagen
GMB_64_2009	My delegation would like to thank President Obama the Government and people of the United States of America and the leadership of the United Nations for their warm welcome and the facilities placed at our disposal since our arrival	GMB_64_2009_2	1	1	1	0	Obama	United Nations	United States of America
ESP_64_2009	We encourage them	ESP_64_2009_44	0	0	0	0
NAM_64_2009	In the same vein I wish to commend His Excellency Mr Miguel dEscoto Brockmann for the able manner in which he presided over the Assembly at its sixty third session	NAM_64_2009_4	2	1	1	0	Miguel d, Brockmann	Assembly	##Es
SLB_64_2009	The benchmark for the negotiations must be founded on the vulnerability of the small island developing States and the least developed countries	SLB_64_2009_20	0	0	0	0
PLW_64_2009	Climate change environmental degradation and the world financial crisis are challenges that we will only be able to overcome if we work with the international community	PLW_64_2009_11	0	0	0	0
EGY_64_2009	This politicization weakens the potential to reach consensus on a variety of issues that should not be subject to differences as they are of concern to us all and affect the credibility of the work of the United Nations in this vital field	EGY_64_2009_32	0	1	0	0		United Nations
JOR_64_2009	Israel continues to reject the Arab and international option of a just and comprehensive peace and a twoState solution under the international terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative	JOR_64_2009_19	0	1	1	2		Arab Peace Initiative	Israel	Arab, ##S
THA_64_2009	Let us use our gathering here to remind ourselves of what the United Nations stands for	THA_64_2009_100	0	1	0	0		United Nations
ECU_64_2009	This important event was part of the proposal put forward by my country on the creation of a new international financial architecture based on a series of regional responses	ECU_64_2009_45	0	0	0	0
LBY_64_2009	You are selling Hariris corpse	LBY_64_2009_669	1	0	0	0	Hari
ECU_64_2009	We are sure that all Member States will strive to make the Organizations efforts more effective in the promotion and defence of the rights of differently abled persons the recognition and implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples gender equality and efforts to combat human trafficking among other important issues	ECU_64_2009_97	0	1	1	1		Organizations	States	Member

Having classified the named entities in the sample (see Table 3), let’s plot how many times each named entity class was found across this sample corpus.

library(ggplot2)
library(tidyr)

df_ner %>%
  summarise(
    PER = sum(PER_count, na.rm = TRUE),
    ORG = sum(ORG_count, na.rm = TRUE),
    LOC = sum(LOC_count, na.rm = TRUE),
    MISC = sum(MISC_count, na.rm = TRUE)
  ) %>%
  pivot_longer(cols = everything(), names_to = "entity_type", values_to = "count") %>%
  ggplot(aes(x = entity_type, y = count, fill = entity_type)) +
  geom_col() +
  labs(title = "Counts of Named Entities", 
       x = "Entity Type", 
       fill = NULL,
       y = "Count") +
  theme_classic_dark()

Figure 1: Total Named Entity Mentions in Sentence Sample (N=100)

Conclusion

While large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Claude are both popular and powerful, smaller task-specific models like NER still have a valuable place in the social scientist’s toolkit. They are fast, interpretable, and well-suited for extracting structured information from large volumes of text—especially. They are especially useful when when you don’t need full-text generation.

Appendix

Table 4: Comparison of RDS and CSV File Formats

Feature	.rds	.csv
Readable by humans	❌ No	✅ Yes
Stores complex R objects	✅ Yes	❌ No (only flat tables)
Preserves data types	✅ Yes	❌ No (types guessed)
File size	Smaller	Larger
Speed	Faster	Slower
Cross-platform	❌ R-only	✅ Widely supported

Code for the theme_classic_dark() function in Figure 1.

theme_classic_dark <- function(base_size = 11, base_family = "") {
  theme_classic(base_size = base_size, base_family = base_family) + 
    theme(
      plot.background  = element_rect(fill = "#1e1e1e", color = NA),  
      panel.background = element_rect(fill = "#1e1e1e", color = NA),
      # Grid lines (none in classic theme)
      panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
      panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
      axis.line   = element_line(color = "#e5e5e5"),  
      axis.ticks  = element_line(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      axis.text   = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      axis.title  = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      legend.background = element_rect(fill = "#1e1e1e", color = NA),
      legend.key        = element_rect(fill = "#1e1e1e", color = NA),  
      legend.text       = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      legend.title      = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      plot.title    = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5", hjust = 0.5),
      plot.subtitle = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5"),
      plot.caption  = element_text(color = "#e5e5e5")  
    )
}

References

Devlin, Jacob, Ming-Wei Chang, Kenton Lee, and Kristina Toutanova. 2018. “BERT: Pre-Training of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understanding.” CoRR abs/1810.04805. http://arxiv.org/abs/1810.04805.

Jankin, Slava, Alexander Baturo, and Niheer Dasandi. 2017. “United Nations General Debate Corpus 1946-2023.” Harvard Dataverse. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/0TJX8Y.

Footnotes

1. The file can be found HERE in an .rds format (see more in Table 4.