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GA/11831
Seventy-first Session, 20th & 21st (AM & PM)
Senior Officials in General Assembly Voice Fears over Climate Change, International Banking Regulations, as Annual Debate Continues
Decrying 'Lip Service' to United Nations Ideals, Speakers Declare Time for New Direction, Embracing Era of Engagement
While the United Nations had been founded on the belief that States could solve problems collectively, the time had come to move in a new direction, the General Assembly heard today, as speakers underlined the need to embrace a new era of engagement based on common needs, innovative ideas and mutual respect.
During the day-long discussion, speakers representing several developing and least developed countries as well as small island States said they remained marginalized from the world's bounty, pointing out that the current global order paid only lip service to the universal principles and ideals of the United Nations.
Indeed, it was time to recognize that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", said Prime Minister Gaston Alphonso Browne of Antigua and Barbuda. The latest challenge facing the Caribbean region was the withdrawal by global banks of correspondent banking regulations for its financial institutions, a practice known as "de-risking". The region would be cut off from the world trading system, which would lead to economic collapse as well as rising poverty, crime, refugee numbers and human trafficking. Huge opportunities for money-laundering and terrorism financing would be created, he said, warning that no country would be immune from those consequences.
Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet of Saint Lucia declared: "We must decide whether the United Nations can continue to be a place where we lament our outdated grievances or a place where we begin to forge common ground." Although Saint Lucia's voice was supposed to be equal to the voices of other countries, realpolitik had proven the contrary, he said. There was no need to perpetuate a world order that elevated one group of nations over others.
Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs said that international finance and trade must be responsive to the needs and concerns of least developed and landlocked developing countries. Echoing that sentiment, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh of Viet Nam said developing countries were suffering amid weak global economic recovery, protectionism in major economies, climate change and epidemics.
A number of speakers expressed concern about the impact of climate change and the lack of sustainable climate financing. Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini of Swaziland said: "The negative impact of climate change has become a thorn in our economy." It had depleted the country's limited financial resources, killed an alarming number of livestock and destroyed most of the ecosystem. A serious reduction in the amount of water had exacerbated food insecurity, compelling the Government to declare the drought a national disaster.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of Malaysia pointed out that climate-related disasters, such as landslides and coastal erosion, had affected livelihoods, economic activity and the safety of populations. "If left unchecked, I am afraid climate change could, in fact, constitute the greatest threat multiplier for global security," he warned.
Prime Minister Timothy S. Harris of Saint Kitts and Nevis reinforced that point, saying that a single climate event could wreak havoc on every aspect of life. Calling for a strategy to promote climate financing, he declared: "It means nothing to say that billions of dollars are available for climate financing if the mechanisms for accessing them are opaque, prohibitive and extremely difficult to penetrate."
The economic impact of environmental damage was dire, a number of speakers said, stressing that more urgent and wide-ranging action was needed to ensure the survival of their countries. Francine Baron, Dominica's Minister for Foreign Affairs, recalled that Tropical Storm Erika had killed 30 of her fellow citizens and caused economic damages estimated at $483 million, the equivalent of 90 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).
Also taking the floor today, Walid Al-Moualem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Syria, said that his country's citizens had paid dearly for terrorist crimes, but would not relent in their fight. Their belief in victory was even greater now that the Syrian Arab Army — with the support of the Russian Federation, Iran and the National Lebanese Resistance — had made great strides in the war. He welcomed international efforts to fight terrorism in Syria, but emphasized the need to coordinate with the Government. Uncoordinated action would be considered a breach of sovereignty and a violation of the United Nations Charter. Speaking critically of a number of States, he reiterated his Government's commitment to moving forward with the Geneva peace talks, under the auspices of the United Nations.
Also participating in today's debate were speakers representing Timor-Leste, Tonga, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Ireland, Iceland, Tajikistan, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Gabon, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Cambodia, Barbados, Burundi, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Grenada and Mauritania.
Representatives of Turkey, Indonesia, China and the Philippines spoke in exercise of the right of reply.
The General Assembly will reconvene at 9 a.m. on Monday, 26 September, to conclude its general debate.
RUI MARIA DE ARAÚJO, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, said that promoting intergovernmental coherence while strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission and partnerships would improve the United Nations system. "Our joint efforts need to be able to respond more effectively to the challenges facing our nations and peoples," he said, expressing concern over inequality and conflicts. International peace and security could only be maintained if countries became an integral part of solutions to problems. Regional integration generated opportunities for economic development and contributed to national and regional peace and stability, he said, adding that his country aspired to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the opportunity to fulfil the dreams of its people.
"Without peace and stability, we cannot think of development," he continued, reiterating his commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2015, Timor-Leste had joined a group of eight other countries to serve as models for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and the Government had formed an inter-ministerial working group to map indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals. It had selected 20 targets to monitor their implementation. Among other things, Timor-Leste would convene a high-level international conference in March 2017 to discuss ways to advance the 2030 Agenda under the most difficult circumstances, he said. "We are committed to show our youth how important their role is in achieving these Goals," he said, calling upon all stakeholders to contribute. While it was not an easy exercise, the Government was working towards harmonizing the Goals with national activities and budget.
He went on to note that the situation of refugees and migrants remained unresolved and deserved further focused attention and support. "We need to establish a frank political dialogue and international partnerships to ensure continued respect for human rights and humanitarian assistance," he said. Having experienced conflict, Timor-Leste knew only too well the high price of war and was ready to contribute to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, it had ratified the relevant conventions and strengthened its commitments to fight terrorism and organized crime. Turning to the issue of maritime boundaries, he emphasized that, even 14 years after Timor-Leste had become the 191st Member State of the United Nations, it had not defined its maritime boundaries with Indonesia and Australia. "The delimitation of our maritime borders will ensure our sovereign rights and give us certainty with respect to what belongs to us," he said. Delimitation was also essential in order to ensure economic stability and self-sufficiency, and to create a better future for Timor-Leste's people. For that reason, the Government had started a process of compulsory conciliation in April in order to resolve disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said, adding that he was confident the panel of experts would contribute to an amicable solution.
ALLEN MICHAEL CHASTANET, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service of Saint Lucia, said "old habits and old arguments" were irrelevant to the challenges of today, and called upon the United States to lift its embargo against Cuba. Most of the world's challenges stemmed from the denial of access to basic human rights, such as education, health care, justice and security. The very format of engaging in a "general debate" was a contradiction because, while many spoke, few "stayed around to listen" and far fewer responded, he pointed out. "We wonder how and why this entity is so negatively perceived by the persons we are elected to serve?"
As a small island State, Saint Lucia's voice was meant to be equal, but realpolitik had proven the contrary, he continued. Instead of being invited to participate in a solution to the world's challenges, small islands had been forced to adopt programmes created by more advanced States, only to be criticized by the very same countries and branded as tax havens. "We are left to dance between the raindrops," he said, noting that, while deeply affected by the 2008 financial crisis, they had not participated in the solutions.
The Group of 20 had a legitimacy problem because it was unofficial and non-inclusive, he said, adding that many of its members championed the very financial and economic systems that had created the crisis, he said, emphasizing that there was no need to perpetuate a world order that elevated one group of nations over others. Recalling that the United Nations had been founded on the belief that nations could solve problems collectively, and rooted in the hard lessons of war, he said the time had come to move in a new direction. With the advent of the technological revolution, there was a need to embrace a new era of engagement based on common needs, innovative ideas and mutual respect, he stressed. "We must decide whether the United Nations can continue to be a place where we lament our outdated grievances or a place where we begin to forge common ground."
GASTON ALPHONSO BROWNE, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Corporate Governance of Antigua and Barbuda, expressed support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and disappointment that many of its goals remained aspirational, lacking legally binding funding commitments. "We are realistic enough not to reject the good for the perfect," he said, adding that his Government would continue to advocate for fairness and equity in pursuing the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Earlier this week, Antigua and Barbuda had deposited its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change and urged other nations to do the same. "Time is not on our side," he said, warning that, even at a temperature rise of 1.5°C, many countries — or parts of them — would be washed away. The ravages of climate change would also generate many refugees and displaced persons.
He said that, as a solution to those challenges, his country had repeatedly proposed debt swaps for climate change adaptation and mitigation. That plan included the provision of soft loans to stop further debt accumulation, while helping to build resilience to global warming and sea-level rise. International financial institutions and donor Governments must stop using per capita income as the criterion by which nations qualified for loans, he emphasized, while noting that such pleas had long fallen on deaf ears. Year after year, Heads of Government of small States had called on the Assembly to address those challenges to no avail. "We remain trapped in the reality of a narrow tax base, high debt, large trade deficits, small underdeveloped domestic financial markets, small private sectors and fragile banking systems," he said, adding that the latest challenge facing the Caribbean region was the withdrawal by global banks of correspondent banking regulations for its financial institutions — known as "de-risking".
As a result of that practice, he continued, the region would be cut off from the world trading system, which would lead to economic collapse, as well as rising poverty, crime, refugee numbers and human trafficking. Huge opportunities for money-laundering and terrorism financing would be created. Warning that no country would be immune from those consequences, he said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had decided to convene a high-level conference on the matter, to be held in Antigua on 27 and 28 October. In that regard, he called upon the Assembly to recognize the substantial and dangerous threat posed by de-risking and work to address it constructively. Pointing out that developing countries and small States remained marginalized from the world's bounty, he said the current global order paid only lip service to the universal principles and ideals of the United Nations. Indeed, it was time to recognize that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", he stressed.
TIMOTHY S. HARRIS, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, said many global problems stemmed from years of social neglect and economic inequalities. Solving them would require greater partnership and finding common ground. Critical to transforming the world was the empowerment of young people, and significant intervention would be required to feed their sense of leadership and civic responsibility. Saint Kitts and Nevis had focused on job creation, skills enhancement, entrepreneurship and support for teen mothers. Small arms and light weapons had also had devastating effects on young lives, and while the Government had ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, it needed support, he said.
Indeed, given the country's small size, one climate event could wreak havoc on every aspect of life, he said, calling for a strategy to promote climate financing. "It means nothing to say that billions of dollars are available for climate financing if the mechanisms for accessing them are opaque, prohibitive and extremely difficult to penetrate," he pointed out, urging "common sense cooperation". Small islands were also being marginalized in the global financial system, he said, noting that 16 banks across five countries had lost all or some of their correspondent banking relationships in the first half of 2016, placing their financial lifelines at great risk.
Urging the Group of Seven, the Group of 20 and international financial bodies to re-evaluate how and whether a country qualified for concessional support, he said that the arbitrary classification of some small States as middle-income countries could never make sense when one could grow at 4 to 6 per cent one year only to see nearly 100 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) wiped out by a tropical storm. Noting the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, he called for lower treatment costs for non-communicable diseases. Saint Kitts and Nevis had forged durable partnerships that had been integral to its efforts to modernize its economy, he said, adding that Cuba's support in the areas of education and training, health care, agriculture and heritage development had dwarfed the assistance provided by many advanced economies. Support from Taiwan had also been remarkable, he said, welcoming new opportunities for that country's integration into the international community. He also decried the nuclear tests carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in violation of Security Council resolution 2270 (2016).
BARNABAS SIBUSISO DLAMINI, Prime Minister of Swaziland, said that his country had started mainstreaming and popularizing the Sustainable Development Goals through awareness-raising campaigns, education and training at all levels. In addition, the country had integrated the Goals into the national development framework. In that regard, appropriate institutional arrangements had been put in place to monitor the 2030 Agenda's implementation. Both the executive and legislative arms of Government were fully involved and progress was periodically reported to the Cabinet and to Parliament. Among other things, the Government had translated its national "Vision 2022" into practical and feasible targets so as to expedite economic growth while improving health care, service delivery, infrastructure and governance, as well as fighting corruption.
Turning to climate change, he expressed commitment to fighting global warming, pointing out that Swaziland had participated in all the negotiations that had culminated in the adoption and subsequent signing of the Paris Agreement. "The negative impact of climate change has become a thorn in our economy," he said, adding that it had depleted the country's limited financial resources, killed an alarming number of livestock and destroyed most of the ecosystem. At the same time, drought had led to a serious reduction in the amount of water required for crop production, human use and consumption, and exacerbated food and nutrition insecurity. In view of that situation, the Government had declared drought a national disaster, he said.
Noting that his country continued to be a big and active player in promoting regional and continental integration, he recalled that in August, Swaziland had hosted the thirty-sixth Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit — under the theme "resource mobilization for investment in sustainable energy infrastructure" — which had focused on inclusive industrialization. Furthermore, Swaziland was a signatory to a number of trade integration arrangements, ranging from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to the Tripartite Free Trade Area. Those arrangements had opened up preferential market access opportunities to maximize trade at the regional and international levels, he said.
SAMIUELA 'AKILISI POHIVA, Prime Minister of Tonga, said that his country continuously advocated for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its natural resources. Tonga attached great importance to Sustainable Development Goal 14 and believed it could be attained through set targets and indicators. In that regard, the country looked forward to the first United Nations conference on Goal 14 as an opportunity to see where the international community stood in terms of conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources. Regarding the exploitation of biological diversity, he said that regulation of areas beyond national jurisdictions was yet to be realized. In accordance with the 2014 decision of Pacific Island Forum leaders, Tonga supported the ongoing process of preparatory meetings.
He said that his country paid close attention to the interaction of the ocean with climate, noting that Tonga had signed and ratified the Paris Agreement. "We cannot face the challenges of climate change alone," he emphasized. Calling attention to his country's clear and unambiguous links to international peace and security, he called upon the Special Representative on Climate and Security, as well as the Security Council, to raise the issue in the necessary platforms. "Tonga is the third most vulnerable country in the world to the adverse impacts of climate change," he said, stressing that their seriousness could not be underestimated.
Noting that the maintenance of international peace and security would be determined by the issue of disarmament, he said the proliferation of weapons in all their forms not only threatened international peace and security, but demonstrated the sheer waste of financial resources. Those funds might be better spent on international sustainable development initiatives and improving people's lives, he pointed out. Part of the challenge of ensuring equitable development was preventing unfair economic dominance by one country over another, which had resulted in the suffering of innocent people, and was not acceptable. In that regard, he congratulated the United States on its incremental easing of restrictions on its economic interactions with in Cuba. Among other things, he expressed concern about the welfare of the Pacific peoples in West Papua Province of Indonesia. Regarding human rights abuses in that province, he called for an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on the status and welfare of West Papuans.
PHAM BINH MINH, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, said the Sustainable Development Goals were within reach, with reform, innovation, creativity and economic restructuring setting countries on a prosperous path. Yet, developing countries were suffering amid weak global economic recovery, protectionism in major economies, climate change and epidemics. Of particular concern were conflict and terrorism in many regions.
He called for strengthening multilateralism and the operation of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, given the Organization's indispensable role in coordinating responses to global challenges. The Security Council must be reformed to ensure greater equality, democracy and transparency, while the development system should be better resourced, he emphasized. Viet Nam supported the broadest participation of countries in the formulation of resolutions, he said.
"International law remains the linchpin of a stable international security architecture," he said, while noting that unilateralism had created tensions. Peace could be achieved through a comprehensive approach that harmonized the interests of all stakeholders, he said, welcoming the positive developments between Cuba and the United States in that regard. He urged all parties involved in recent developments in the South China Sea to exercise self-restraint and to resolve disputes peacefully.
WALID AL-MOUALEM, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Syria, said his people had paid dearly for the crimes of terrorists who had undermined their security, stability and livelihoods. It was no secret that Qatar and Saudi Arabia had played a role in spreading terrorism throughout Syria, promoting their Wahhabist ideology and equipping mercenaries with sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, Turkey had opened its borders and provided logistical support to tens of thousands of terrorists from around the world, he said.
In spite of that, Syrians would not relent in the fight, he vowed, saying that their belief in victory was even greater now that the Syrian Arab Army — with the support of the Russian Federation, Iran and the Lebanese national resistance — had made great strides in the war. While welcoming international efforts to fight terrorism in Syria, he emphasized the need to coordinate with the Government, warning that any uncoordinated action would be considered a breach of sovereignty and a violation of the United Nations Charter. As such, the Syrian Government strongly condemned the attack on a Syrian army site near Deir ez-Zor Airport by United States warplanes on 17 September, he said.
He went on to condemn Turkey's incursion into Syrian territory, calling for an end to "this flagrant aggression". Any solution to the crisis must follow parallel counter-terrorism and political tracks through the intra-Syrian dialogue, which would enable Syrians to determine the future of their country without foreign interference. Despite hurdles created by regional and Western States on behalf of the self-proclaimed "Syrian opposition", the Government had always been open to a political track that would stop the bloodshed and end the prolonged suffering of Syrians. On that note, he reiterated his Government's commitment to moving forward with the Geneva peace talks, under the auspices of the United Nations.
AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, said that his Government's national development plan was based on three pillars — increasing incomes, focusing on inclusiveness and promoting sustainability. Malaysia had initiated several programmes that would provide technical and vocational training to facilitate the entry of young professionals into the labour market, and to establish the country as the start-up capital of Asia, he said. However, sustainable development could be hampered by the devastating impacts of climate change, as witnessed by various small island developing States. The phenomenon presented "an existential threat to their subsistence".
He went on to point out that the world had witnessed an increase in the intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters, such as landslides and coastal erosions, which had affected livelihoods, economic activity and the safety of populations. "If left unchecked, I am afraid climate change could, in fact, constitute the greatest threat multiplier for global security," he warned. The international community must follow through with the commitments made in Paris, he said, noting that Malaysia had committed to reducing its greenhouse-gas emission intensity of GDP by up to 45 per cent by 2030.
Turning to peace and security, he noted that the international community continued to witness horrific acts by non-State actors. However, the fight against extremists would not be won exclusively through the use of force or punitive measures, which was why Malaysia had focused on de-radicalization and rehabilitation programmes to change the mindsets of radicalized individuals, in addition to complementary forms of humanitarian assistance to help them reintegrate into society. The success rate of those programmes had been around 97.5 per cent, he said, adding that the Government was prepared to share its experience with other countries since "no nation is immune to the threat posed by international terrorism".
PASQUALE VALENTI, Minister for Foreign and Political Affairs of San Marino, described the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as one of the most important moments in the Organization's history. The 2030 Agenda defined the planet's future and the vision of the world "we want to live in". In particular, San Marino appreciated the commitment shown by Member States to reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by 2020, and attached great importance to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the monitoring mechanism identified during the High-Level Political Forum.
Emphasizing the need for all international stakeholders to play their part, he said that his country had made several humanitarian contributions in recent months. Apart from its financial contribution to international programmes, San Marino had joined the humanitarian corridor project supported by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and had hosted some migrants. San Marino recognized that a culture of understanding and peaceful coexistence among different people was the only way to face the challenges of globalization and build a planet for all, he said.
AURELIA FRICK, Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein, said migration should be a choice not a necessity. Exploiting fears for political gain was cynical and unproductive, while preventing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes would eliminate one of the main reasons why people were forced to flee their homes. The Security Council had an opportunity to enter a new phase of its historical engagement in crises. "The world is looking to this Organization to provide this engagement, and it is too often disappointed," she said, reminding leaders that, for 70 years, it had been illegal to engage in armed conflict except in narrowly defined circumstances. Accountable institutions, access to justice for everyone and significant reduction of corruption were all key ingredients of sustainable development. "Only if it is clear that nobody is above the law can the law prevail," she said, adding that it was, therefore, crucial to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law.
She said she looked forward to the completion of the Rome Statute, which would give the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over the crime of aggression and criminalize the most serious forms of the illegal use of force. While the Court was the strongest symbol that impunity was no longer an option, it was not a solution to all problems. Noting that more than 45 million people lived in conditions that qualified as modern slavery, generating billions of dollars, she said modern slavery was the biggest human rights scandal of modern times. To combat one of the biggest illegal business models, Liechtenstein would focus on disrupting financial flows and using relevant data for criminal prosecutions. It would also work towards greater involvement of international justice mechanisms where national judiciaries systematically failed. While the best person for the job should be appointed the next Secretary-General, she said it would make her "very happy if this person was to be a woman".
CHARLES FLANAGAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, said the Sustainable Development Goals had the capacity to address many of the root causes of mass migration, including poverty, inequality and climate change. In tandem with long-term development efforts, a multilateral response was needed to address the more urgent needs of migrants and refugees, he said, noting that his country was doing its part through a €60 million pledge in support of the Syrian people, and its participation in a European Union resettlement programme. In addition to humanitarian relief, greater investment was needed in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconciliation, he said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring greater representation of women in those and other activities — a goal that Ireland would prioritize during its membership of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2017.
He welcomed the French initiative to revive the stalled Middle East peace process and reaffirmed his support for United Nations efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Syria through dialogue and diplomacy. Turning to Africa, he called for a "transparent, accountable and human-rights-based resolution" of the continent's numerous conflicts, which were undermining sustainable development efforts. While reaffirming Ireland's commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations, he emphasized his country's absolute condemnation of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. "Ireland calls for an end to impunity for these crimes," he said, stressing his country's commitment to hold its own troops accountable for their behaviour while deployed overseas. Finally, he called for Security Council reform and for African representation, in particular.
LILJA DÖGG ALFREÐSDÓTTIR, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland, addressed a number of her country's key priorities, including the migration crisis, climate change, minority rights and the protection of international law. Recalling the mass migration of Icelanders to North America at the end of the nineteenth century, she called upon the international community to "step up to the plate" in response to the current migration crisis, saying Iceland would have taken in 100 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016. In proportion to its size, that number would have been equivalent to 100,000 refugees in the United States, she observed. Emphasizing the need to resolve several protracted conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the crisis in Syria and the dispute over Western Sahara, she said injustice and the failure of governance were driving them.
She said education was a precondition of good governance and a key pillar of her country's development cooperation. On the issue of minority rights, she stressed the need to protect the rights of women, as well as those of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Pointing out that she was one of only 30 female foreign ministers around the world, she underlined how far the world still had to go and welcomed in that regard the strong field of female candidates for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. Regarding the Paris Agreement on climate change, she said that Iceland had "handed over its instruments of ratification earlier this week" and aimed to present its progress in two years' time. Finally, she expressed concern about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear weapons programme, saying it was in violation of international law and threatened the security of its own people, the wider region and the world. "For a small and peaceful country like mine, international law is our sword, shield and shelter," she said.
SIRODJIDIN ASLOV, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, said that, while the global community had recently made headway in the area of development, it had been less successful in addressing issues of peace and security. In particular, combating international terrorism and violent extremism had become a top priority. There was a need to develop national, regional and international mechanisms aimed at eliminating military infrastructures, financing channels, logistical support, recruiting and propaganda of violence, as well as the use of modern information and communications technology (ICT) for purposes of terror. Preventing illicit drug trafficking, which had turned into a breeding ground for terrorism and organized crime, also required concerted joint action. Tajikistan stood for a comprehensive settlement of the crises in the Middle East, which would help to enhance global security, he said, while also expressing support for the international strategy for a comprehensive settlement and post-conflict reconstruction in neighbouring Afghanistan.
With the setting of the 2030 Agenda, the world had begun a process of transformation, he said. "It is obvious that the path towards sustainable development is not going to be easy and smooth," he said, noting that both traditional and emerging challenges presented additional and complex tasks, seriously undermining security and stability around the globe. The response required regional cooperation and political will, reinforced by adequate means of implementation. It was crucial to remember that countries in special situations — including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States — would begin implementing the 2030 Agenda under less favourable conditions and required special support. Underlining the importance of water in the 2030 Agenda, he warned that climate change, urbanization and population growth would exacerbate water-related challenges. In that regard, countries must work together on a new water agenda, particularly in cases of waters shared among various sectors, such as health, agriculture, energy and navigation.
PRAKASH SHARAN MAHAT, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, said the international community's failure to agree a comprehensive convention on terrorism was highly frustrating. He called for speedy resolution of the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, and expressed support for lasting peace in the Middle East. Nepal would remain committed to fulfilling its international obligations and providing additional troops and civilians to United Nations peacekeeping operations, he said. For peace missions to be successful there must be unity of purpose in mobilizing the Security Council's political capital, clearly defined mandates and adequate resource back-up, he emphasized. Troop-contributing countries must have fair opportunities to serve in leadership positions, both in the field and at Headquarters, and human rights must not be used as tools to serve hidden political objectives.
Nepal's new Constitution contained a list of human rights measures, he said, noting that the country had abolished the death penalty and put legal and institutional measures in place for the realization of all human rights. On migration, he said the welfare of migrant workers must have priority in the countries where they worked. As the source country for more than 3 million migrant workers, Nepal called for concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels to ensure their well-being. International finance and trade must be responsive to the needs and concerns of least developed countries and landlocked developing countries, he said, adding that climate justice must be based on common but differentiated responsibilities, with special attention to climate-vulnerable countries, particularly mountainous countries. The success of Nepal's peace process could be a good example for countries transitioning from conflict to peace, he said, adding that his country's constitution guaranteed equal opportunity and protection for every citizen. Women were guaranteed at least one-third representation in Parliament and 40 per cent in local government, he added.
JEAN-CLAUDE GAKOSSO, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Congo, said the 2030 Agenda had heralded a new era of sustainable development. Recalling that his country had allocated many resources on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, he said it would now turn its attention to the implementation of the new agenda. However, it would require the international community's support, including through mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund. Pledging to ensure that each Congolese citizen lived in dignity and that no one was left behind, he underscored the significance of the recent Group of 20 decision to support industrialization in developing countries, especially in Africa. The continent would not be able to develop sustainably without first industrializing and gaining better access to energy. Recalling that, five years ago, the world had welcomed the birth of its newest nation, he said it was regrettable that South Sudan had rapidly plunged into a fratricidal conflict. All parties to that conflict must demonstrate political will and commit in good faith to implementing the 2015 peace agreement. Calling for the deployment of a regional stability force under a Security Council mandate, he said the time had come to put an end to the bloodbath in South Sudan, which imperilled global security.
Noting that the Central African Republic had, not long ago, been caught up in another serious crisis, he said that country had been able to successfully implement a political transition with the help of its international and regional partners. Deploring the tragic events that had rocked Kinshasa almost a week ago, he invited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to seek peaceful solutions through an inclusive dialogue. Turning to Gabon, where a post-electoral crisis had led to violence, he said the country should aim to emerge reconciled from that painful ordeal. In his own country, he cited a number of recent institutional developments following last year's referendum. Those had led to the adoption of a Constitution that strengthened the principle of the separation of powers, abolished capital punishment, provided for gender equality, recognized the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples and provided a blueprint for participatory democracy.
ERLAN ABDYLDAYEV, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, celebrated the conclusion of his country's October 2015 parliamentary elections, and thanked the Secretary-General for his support during that process. He called upon the United Nations and partner organizations to support the country's upcoming elections in 2017. He expressed his support for the Sustainable Development Goals, which included a number of priorities for his country, including poverty reduction, high-quality education, health care, economic growth and environmental protection. On that note, he announced that he had signed the Paris Agreement outside the General Assembly hall the preceding day. Enumerating the many environmental stresses Kyrgyzstan faced, he called for international support to help his country adapt to climate change. Particularly concerning was the rapid rate of glacial melting, shrinking biodiversity and uranium mining sites, which despite having been addressed under General Assembly resolution 68/218, now required a high-level international meeting.
Turning to issues of security and stability, he expressed concern about tensions in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Ukraine, and noted that terrorism, extremism and religious intolerance afflicted his country like so many others. Observing that the "confrontational position of some countries" was hindering the international community's ability to tackle those threats, he called for world Powers to set aside their disputes and undertake joint efforts to counter threats to international security. There needed to be a General Assembly resolution on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation for peace. Concerned about his country's electricity shortage, he called for Central Asia to reach a common understanding on the rational use of energy resources and an expeditious resolution of border disputes. He added his voice to others calling for Security Council reform, and welcomed recent procedural changes in the election of the Secretary-General. Finally, he expressed his concern about the involvement of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in the case of Azimjan Askarov, who had been convicted by the Kyrgyz Supreme Court. Such interventions were liable to destabilize his country.
EMMANUEL ISSOZE-NGONDET, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gabon, said the present General Assembly session was taking place following a disputed presidential election in his country. Yesterday, the Constitutional Court had reaffirmed the victory of Ali Bongo Ondimba as President and Head of State. Recalling that the Government had institutionalized the use of biometric data to draw up its voters lists, and that it had welcomed over 1,200 observers and 200 foreign journalists to ensure the election was fair and democratic, he said there had nevertheless been several violent incidents and loss of life associated with the election. President Ondimba had called for an inclusive dialogue as well as reconciliation and national unity, which were now among the country's main goals. Citing a number of recent international successes, including the thawing of relations between the United States and Cuba and the signing of the Paris Agreement, he said the latter now required implementation. Gabon had begun its ratification procedure, and it looked forward to the next Conference of States Parties.
In that regard, he stressed that a major challenge that remained to be addressed was that of ensuring energy across Africa. Noting that two thirds of Africans still lacked access to energy, he said environmental issues were at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and required sustained enthusiasm as well as concrete action. Calling for the greater mobilization of human, financial resources and more direct involvement of the private sector, he stressed that "we must redouble our creativity" and explore new pathways of development. For its part, Gabon had established a new Government agency to design and implement a sectoral approach to the environment, as well as other key priority issues. It also participated actively in the fight against terrorism. Emphasizing that more efforts were needed to cut off financing to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), he said addressing the terrorist threat also meant resolving the crises in Libya, Syria and elsewhere.
FRANCINE BARON, Minister for Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs of Dominica, said that realizing the Sustainable Development Goals was not about ticking boxes, but about making a real difference. The international community must sharpen its focus on the impact of climate change on small island developing States. They had seen agricultural production dramatically reduced, leading to prolonged drought and soil erosion. The economic impact of the environmental damage was dire, and "more urgent and wide-ranging action is needed in fighting against climate change to ensure our very survival". Dominica had been painfully reminded of that in 2015, when Tropical Storm Erika had killed 30 of its citizens, she recalled.
That event had caused economic damage estimated at $483 million, the equivalent of 90 per cent of national GDP, she recalled. Dominica had since made great strides in building more climate-resilient and adaptive infrastructure in a process facilitated by the support of bilateral and multilateral partners, she said. Still, the country continued to suffer the "disproportionate burdens and impacts of climate change", which hampered its efforts to develop in a sustainable manner, she said, adding that resources intended for sustainable development programmes had instead been shifted to post-disaster rehabilitation efforts. Dominica, therefore, continued to call for the establishment of an international natural disaster risk fund, she said, describing the Caribbean Risk Fund and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Disaster Recovery Facilities as "good starting points".
PERFECTO R. YASAY, JR., Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said that after his country's hard-fought and hard-won independence, it zealously valued and guarded its rights and liberties through democracy and a system of checks and balances. Five months ago, the people had elected new President Rodrigo Roa Duterte with an unprecedented and resounding electoral mandate. For far too long, the Philippines had been unable to fully advance due to corruption, worsening crime, and the prevalence of illegal drugs, and corruption had become the breeding ground for the illegal drug trade. The Government was determined to eradicate illicit drugs and their manufacture, distribution and use. The rule of law and strict adherence to due process fully governed the campaign against corruption and criminality. Noting that the Government's actions had grabbed national and international attention for all the wrong reasons, he urged everyone "to allow us to deal with our domestic challenges in order to achieve our national goals, without undue interference". Extrajudicial killings had no place in Philippine society, and the Government did not and would never empower its law enforcement agents to shoot-to-kill any individual suspected of drug crimes, though police had the right to defend themselves when their lives were threatened.
The goal of the Government was to "leave no one behind" in its development strides, he said. The Philippines continued to enhance the delivery and quality of social services, including in health, education, food, water and housing. As one of the most disaster-prone and vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change, the Philippines reiterated its call for climate justice and the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities in the implementation of obligations under the Paris Agreement. The country remained committed to the rule of law and to peace, including the recent decision on the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with regard to the disputes in the South China Sea. Noting the final and binding nature of the Arbitral Award, the Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing peaceful resolution to regional disputes.
SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, said that several countries in the region were facing multiple crises and conflicts ignited after 2011. A number of Arab countries had descended into internal fighting and the plight of the Palestinian people continued under Israeli occupation without a just solution on the horizon. Countering terrorist groups was a right and duty of all; however, resorting to "blindly placed laws", such as the United States Congress' Justice against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, ignoring the effective roles played by a number of nations, would lead to further arbitrary policies and destabilize relationships between allies. He went on to observe that Iran, with expansionist regional policies and interference in its neighbours' internal affairs, had played the greatest role in causing regional tension and instability. Despite the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1, he said, that country had continued its efforts to undermine regional security through aggressive rhetoric and by developing its ballistic missile programme.
With regards to Libya, he said that his country welcomed the Skhirat Agreement and the formation of the Government of National Accord. On Syria, the United Arab Emirates saw no possibility of resolving the crisis through military force. "Bandaging the wounds" by repeating charitable humanitarian efforts or holding international conferences were no substitutes for resolving such crises. His country had built mechanisms to protect youth by establishing the Hedayah Centre to combat extremism and the Sawab Centre with the United States. It had also established the Muslim Council of Elders and the Forum for the Promotion of Peace in Muslim Communities to demonstrate the true face of Islam. However, regional crises should not distract from his country's core issue — its sovereignty over three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, occupied by Iran against the provisions of international law and the Charter. The United Arab Emirates had called on Iran to return the islands, particularly through international justice or arbitration, and would continue to do so. He affirmed that his country would never give up its right over those islands.
IBRAHIM AHMED ABD AL-AZIZ GHANDOUR, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan, stressed the need to reform the United Nations and its various structures. He expressed hope that countries calling for such reform would be heeded to ensure the Organization became a platform for implementing principles of international legality and justice. He also emphasized that the fight against impunity through international mechanisms should be depoliticized. The International Criminal Court, rather than dispensing justice, hampered efforts to achieve peace. Many African States were threatening to withdraw from the Court due to its politicization.
His country would knock on every door in pursuing peace, stressing that dialogue was the only means of strengthening the social fabric, he said. Darfur had now become a peaceful and secure region, with the United Nations as a witness. His Government reiterated its call for the withdrawal of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Its considerable forces could be better employed elsewhere. He also called for the removal of sanctions against his country and the writing off of its billions of dollars in foreign debt, which was hampering Sudan's economic capabilities and ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
PRAK SOKHONN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, noted that despite progress made in the areas of development and technology, there had been challenges in areas of peace and security. The latter would need to be addressed with actions, not words alone. New tensions were reason for great concern as well, especially in the Middle East. That required a more effective international response, including a more equitable representation of countries among the members of the Security Council. He stated his intention to work with all constructively to achieve lasting peace. The root causes of terrorism, most notably inequality and discrimination, had to be addressed. There must be peaceful coexistence among religions and countries, and radicalization had to be addressed.
He urged that equality must also be pursued in international trade and economic development. The Paris Agreement must be implemented without delay to avoid serious consequences. With regard to the Sustainable Development Goals, he noted the responsibility of the developed countries to work in close partnership with developing States. He recounted the terror his own country had to experience, which depleted all its resources. Only Viet Nam responded during that dark period and accepted displaced persons. That past continued to weigh upon citizens and society as a whole. Despite the challenges, progress has been made in Cambodia in terms of development and reconciliation. His State had gained expertise in demining and supported other countries in the removal of such devices. Concluding, he said that mass terror and violence had to be prevented.
MAXINE PAMELA OMETA MCCLEAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, said it was necessary to act now to make the vision of Agenda 2030 a reality, and that this was particularly true for the small island developing States. She was proud to have participated in the launch, in Barbados, of the Caribbean Human Development Report 2016, and noted the three central issues it highlighted for low-lying coastal Caribbean States: vulnerability, resilience and sustainability. The existential threat which climate changed posed for island States was well-documented. The Prime Minister of Barbados had participated in the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement in April, and deposited the instrument of ratification on the same occasion. Barbados had developed a National Climate Change Policy Framework, and recognized the potential of sustainable ocean exploitation as an important component of its future development.
In 50 years since its independence, Barbados had achieved a significant level of human development, she said, but the country was concerned that international development agencies were penalizing it for its progress, while ignoring its obvious vulnerabilities. Another obstacle was "the persistent and unwarranted attacks" on the country's international financial services sector. Barbados welcomed the progress towards the normalization of bilateral relations between Cuba and the United States of America, and looked forward to the dismantling of the final vestiges of the long-standing embargo.
ALAIN AIMÉ NYAMITWE, Minister for External Affairs of Burundi, acknowledged the importance of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, but said it should not replace or undermine the country's Constitution. His Government believed that peaceful political stakeholders should discuss the country's future but must adhere to its policies. In reacting to recent conflict in the country, citizens of Burundi had called for several important reforms, which could not be ignored, and the Government had maintained an unwavering commitment to human rights. The Government had reiterated its commitment to ensure the safety of all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity. It was imperative that any human rights assessment of the country be executed with caution, as falsified information and reports on social media had all been used to place the country under a bad light. His Government rejected any politicized or falsified reports on human rights in the country and would produce a comprehensive counter-report.
Turning to global security, he said terrorism was now affecting all regions of the world. Some progress had been made to combat it, but international efforts or a common strategy had not yet yielded the desired results. His Government condemned terrorism and believed the fight against it must continue with greater determination. Since 2007, Burundi had been contributing troops to fight terrorism, based on an ironclad commitment against the scourge and in support of global peace. Burundi was determined to help its brothers and sisters recover their dignity and freedom. He called on the United Nations to fill in the financial gap left by a reduction in the European Union budget for AMISOM.
ABDUSALAM HADLIYEH OMER, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia, noted that after almost two decades of instability, his country had permanently turned the corner towards prosperity. The Government had made tangible progress on elections, State formation, security and economic development. Somalia was also winning the war against terrorism at home and contributing to creating a safer world by cooperating with international partners. With the support of its national security services and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Al-Shabaab had been militarily defeated. Today, that group controlled less than 10 per cent of the country's territory. In recent months, many of its key leaders had been killed while others had defected, and it had turned to small-team asymmetric warfare tactics to conduct terror attacks against "soft targets" in Somalia and its neighbours.
He continued to say that his country was grateful to nations which had contributed troops to the AMISOM, as well as to international partners. But the only way to achieve long-term stability and development was to have trained, equipped and funded Somali national security forces, he said, expressing hope that the aim could be achieved ahead of the Mission drawdown in 2018. The President had recently launched the National Strategy and Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, which would provide a holistic framework for addressing security threats. In addition, the Government was determined to ensure a smooth and inclusive electoral process for a peaceful democratic transition in November, championing a 13 per cent quota for women in Parliament. Through diverse partnerships, it was also working on successfully returning Somali refugees home from Kenya voluntarily and with dignity so they could actively participate in their nation's rebuilding efforts.
MOHAMED ASIM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Maldives, said that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda provided a rare opportunity for the whole world to come together in a moment of collective agreement. The Maldives was focused on investing in health and education. The country sought to deliver easily accessible health care, a feat that was challenging for a population of 338,000 dispersed over 188 islands. "Investing in our people will put us on the right path, and no investment has higher returns than when we invest in women and girls," he said. As a small island developing State, the Maldives was susceptible to economic, environmental and institutional shocks. It was necessary to re-evaluate development status beyond simply GDP per capita, a metric which disadvantaged smaller countries with small populations. Vulnerability needed to be a factor in those assessments. "Evaluate our progress relatively, not against inapt benchmarks," he said.
Climate change was an existential threat to the Maldives, he said, and his country had long advocated urgent action on that issue. As a lone voice, it could not go far, but today, together with 43 members of the Alliance of Small Island States, it could accomplish much more. The Maldives was among the first to ratify the Paris Agreement. His nation was also concerned about the sustainable use of the oceans, an issue that needed a collective response. On Syria, he said that a military solution was never the answer. "Fences and wires don't stop violence […] compassion and tolerance do," he said. Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he warned against the rising tide of hatred, Islamophobia and xenophobia in the name of security, which could only lead to more violence.
LYONPO DAMCHO DORJI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bhutan, noted with concern the occurrence of recent acts of terrorism, and protracted and new conflicts which had resulted in massive and unprecedented levels of displacement. To achieve sustainable peace, much remained to be done with regard to the arms trade. He went on to address other major global challenges the international community had to address, including poverty, child mortality, gender equality, inequality and climate change. The latter had the most serious impact on the most vulnerable countries, such as small island States and least developed countries.
He stated that Bhutan aligned the Sustainable Development Goals with national priorities. He also noted that the Goals were consistent with the national framework of Gross National Happiness. With regard to successful implementation, he stressed the importance of the support of Bhutan's development partners. Partnerships and a strengthened multilateral system were crucial for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.
ELVIN NIMROD, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Grenada, expressed the commitment of his country to the full and inclusive implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Grenada was particularly committed to conserve and promote the sustainable use of the oceans and all marine resources. He stressed the importance of securing adequate resources to protect marine resources, and he shared an innovative approach in that field. During Blue Week 2016, a "shark tank" approach was used to allow local and international ocean entrepreneurs to pitch project ideas for funding. According to research carried out by the Boston Consulting Group and the World Wildlife Fund, the ocean economy has an estimated $24 trillion asset value. Furthermore, he urged small island, Caribbean and Pacific States to be lead advocates on the issue of oceans and climate change. On climate change, he urged leaders to ratify the Paris Agreement by the end of 2016, noting that small island and least developed States would require ongoing technical assistance and capacity-building in the areas of climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development.
Regarding peace and security, he reiterated that the sovereignty of countries had to be respected, and he did not condone the embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States. He also expressed his support for a two-State settlement for Israel and Palestine and the self-determination and protection of the Palestinian people. At home, Grenada continued to strengthen democratic values and practices, including through a reform of the Constitution.
ISSELKOU OULD AHMED IZID BIH, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, said his country played a crucial role in regional peace and security. Against the backdrop of a complex regional situation, it had successfully fought against several terrorist organizations. It had beefed up security and defence without undermining individual freedoms. Mauritania believed that security and development were two sides of the same coin, he said, noting the country's efforts in such areas as tackling corruption and providing safe drinking water in shanty towns.
Mauritania adhered to a policy of neutrality with regard to conflicts in its region, he said, noting its support for United Nations efforts to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara and its contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions in Côte d'Ivoire and Central African Republic. He emphasized the right of Palestinians to have their own State with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding that ongoing violations of Palestinians' rights by Israel only fanned the flames of terrorism and violent extremism worldwide. He urged Yemen, Libya and Syria to "choose the path of wisdom" and recognize it was not possible to end conflict militarily. On climate change, he drew attention to Mauritania's efforts to limit desertification and hoped that all parties to the Paris Agreement would respect their commitments.
In exercise of the right of reply, the representative of Turkey expressed dismay over certain contents of the Syrian regime's statement, which had contained baseless accusations at Turkey. She was confident that those responsible for the destruction of Syria would be held responsible for their crimes. Until then, her country would stand behind the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people.
Also exercising the right of reply, the representative of Indonesia spoke in response to statements made by the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and echoed by others regarding Papua, a province of Indonesia. She rejected the insinuating statements they had made, which reflected an unfortunate lack of understanding of history and progressive developments in Indonesia, including in the provinces of Papua and West Papua. Their politically motivated statements were designed to support separatist groups which had engaged in inciting public disorder and armed attacks on civilians and military personnel. It was regrettable and dangerous of States to use the United Nations and the Assembly to advance their domestic agenda and divert attention from problems at home. Indonesia's commitment to protecting human rights was unquestionable. It was a founding member of the Human Rights Council and had initiated the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Commission on Human Rights. It had a full-fledged functioning democracy, coupled with the protection of human rights at all levels. Thus, it was impossible for any human rights allegations to go unnoticed and unscrutinized. Domestic mechanisms were in place at the provincial levels in Papua and West Papua, and Indonesia would give focus to the development of those provinces and to the best interests of all.
The representative of China, speaking in exercise of the right of reply and in response to the Philippines, said his country had already made statements on its position on the Arbitral Tribunal findings. Its awards were null and void and had no binding force. Territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea should not be affected by those awards, and China would never accept any claim or action based on them. It would continue to abide by international law as enshrined in the Charter including with respect to State sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
In response, the representative of the Philippines said its position had been exhaustively discussed at the 12 July arbitration. Both his country and China were State parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and thus the awards should be final and complied with by all parties. His country had allowed China to move forward on dispute resolution and preliminary talks were ongoing. The award of the Arbitral Tribunal should be a starting point. The award was now a significant part of jurisprudence, and could not be ignored in terms of the maritime entitlements of both countries together with their respective rights and obligations. The Tribunal did have jurisdiction over the dispute. In October 2015, it had found that its jurisdiction applied to China even if that country chose not to participate in proceedings. On 12 July, it had rendered an award on the merits. Some of its points included finding that China's claims to historic maritime rights ran contrary to the Convention and exceeded geographic limits. Under the convention ruling, none of the islands could sustain human habitation and accordingly should have no economic zone or continental shelf; they were all rocks. The Tribunal had also found that China's artificial island building had caused devastating and long-lasting damage on the marine environment and that it had not cooperated with other States bordering the South China Sea.
The representative of China said unilateral arbitration was aimed not at resolving the dispute or maintaining peace and stability, but at denying Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The Tribunal's conduct contravened the practice of international arbitration. Currently, thanks to China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the situation in the South China Sea was progressing in a positive direction.
In response, the representative of the Philippines said China's actions were the cause of destabilization in the South China Sea, and not the arbitration procedures initiated by the Philippines. Arbitration had been an attempt by the Philippines to resolve the issue on an equal footing. He said his country was ready to talk with China on the basis of the arbitration award. China's non-acceptance of the arbitration decision would have grave consequences for international law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea.


Despite that fact that it's filled with some absolutely terrifying animals, Australia is a pretty good place to live. In fact, according to the Australia 2018 Wealth Report from New World Wealth, it's one of the best places in the world. Australia ranks fifth in net assets per capita at US $279,000. Australia tops the world in median wealth per adult and trails only Switzerland in wealth per adult, according to Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Report 2018. Overall, it's a rosier picture than a decade ago, with the average Australian now wealthier than the average American.
Per capita wealth for Australians is up 83 per cent from a decade ago, and the country now ranks behind only small European tax havens — Monaco, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland — in net assets per person. Overall, Australia has the ninth most wealth in the world at US $6.1 trillion. The surge in the last decade has been driven by an increase in real estate values, along with advances in key industries such as mining, IT, telecommunications, transport, and healthcare. Australia was largely able to weather the Great Recession that plagued most of the world in 2008-09. It was one of three Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members to avoid consecutive negative quarters and one of just two that did not post a negative yearly GDP.
Housing prices are on the downturn, and that trend is expected to continue in the near term. "We've long expected the value of home loans to drop by a cumulative 20 per cent, which is the main driver of home prices, which consequently will likely fall 5 per cent plus," UBS economist George Tharenou told the Sydney Morning Herald. While that is an ominous sign, the overall economy is still growing, and New World Wealth's forecasts don't see a housing bubble dragging the country down too much over the next decade.
In fact, projections see the nation's total wealth topping US $10 trillion by 2027, with the number of billionaires more than doubling and Australia overtaking Canada and France in net wealth. Proximity to and trade with burgeoning economies in China, Japan, and Korea will fuel that growth. Credit Suisse reported that Asia's economic output will continue increasing, accounting for 30 per cent of the global total by 2030 and 55 per cent by 2050.
All this success is helping to sustain itself, attracting high net worth individuals (HNWIs) to Australia. New World Wealth reported that 10,000 HWNIs — people with net assets of at least US $1 million — migrated to Australia in 2017, more than to any other country. "Australia's superior growth over the past decade has also no doubt had an impact on confidence and business opportunities," New World Wealth said. Low population density in a mineral rich area is one factor, as are relative safety and low crime rates.
Australia's political climate also makes it an attractive destination. While changing prime ministers six times in just more than a decade might be viewed as instability, the report views turnover as healthy. "In Australia, politicians are seen as easily replaceable, which is probably the way it should be," the report states, noting that politicians are seen as public servants and not above the general populace.
Though Australia isn't quite as accommodating as the nations it trails in per person wealth, the lack of an inheritance tax provides incentive for HNWIs looking to keep money in the family. High inheritance taxes, along with concerns over Brexit, have led hundreds of HNWIs to leave the UK for Australia. The inheritance tax situation also helps Australia retain HNWIs, as does the relative lack of competition for resources found in more crowded countries. "During our analysis we noticed that countries with low population densities such as Canada and Australia are some of the richest countries in the world on a wealth per capita basis, whereas densely populated countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are some of the poorest," New World Wealth said.


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Featured: New Super Lucky's Tale - A casual but memorable 3D platformer - New Lucky's Tale is through and through a 3D Platformer. It's odd to play…
Movie review: 'A Whisker Away' (2020)
Posted by dronon on Sat 10 Jul 2021 - 20:08 — Edited as of 20:09
A Whisker Away (trailer) is an anime film about a young Japanese teenager who gains the ability to turn into a cat. Released in the summer of 2020, it was written by Mari Okada, directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama, and animated by Studio Colorido. Its original title is Nakitai Watashi wa Neko o Kaburu, which translates to "Wanting to cry, I pretend to be a cat".
The main protagonist is a girl in her early teens, nicknamed Muge. She's madly in love with Hinode, a boy in her class who doesn't appreciate her advances. One night, she encounters a mysterious anthropomorphic feline who offers to sell her a magical mask. With it, Muge can turn into a cat and spend time with Hinode, getting to know him better. As she switches back and forth, she begins to wonder if she'd prefer to be a cat, rather than a human - but doesn't know what it might cost her.
Judging by online discussions, this is a film that polarizes its audience over Muge's character. I can relate, I disliked her in under ten minutes. It boils down to whether you find her behavior towards Hinode to be awkward and romantic, or obnoxious and self-centered. I fell squarely into the latter camp, but I can understand how Muge can be seen the other way, or as a mixture of both. However, if you reversed their genders, Muge would definitely come off as a creepy stalker.
What saved the film for me was its second half, where three things happen. First, we get a little backstory about why Muge acts the way she does. Secondly, the plot finally kicks into high gear, with more action and less of Muge's personal issues. Thirdly, things get furry! I mean, things were already furry in the beginning. We meet the Mask Seller very early, and Muge spends a lot of screen time as a cat. But in the last third of the film, we get to visit an entire hidden realm of cats!
Still, for an audience of furry fans, I think A Whisker Away is going to be a bit disappointing. Although it's technically furry, I feel it's far less so in terms of a theatrical experience? I'm not sure how to put this into words. For the escapism of what being an animal might be like, Muge doesn't develop feline instincts, and decides to embrace her humanity. For people interested in alternate worlds, the cat realm is mostly a visual backdrop, and we don't really learn about it. For those interested in transformation, it happens in a flash of light, off-screen.
While the cat realm is definitely trying to evoke an other-worldliness like Spirited Away, the first half of the film felt very... mundane, even with magic. The animation didn't hit me as strongly as Studio Colorido's earlier film, Penguin Highway. The love story didn't really work for me until the end, because it was so difficult to sympathize with Muge at the beginning.
And despite how I'm describing it, I think this is an ok film! I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10. However, I'd say the experience is way more anime than furry. Underneath, you'll find a story about being open with your emotions instead of masking them, and about how people want to feel loved and appreciated.
But if you want furry anime with cats, I would much more recommend 2002's The Cat Returns (trailer). It, too, has a teenager who turns into a cat. It's got an alternate realm of cats, and the main character decides to stay human. And yet watching it, it's just so much more, well... furry! If you're in the mood for anime, A Whisker Away will fill some time. If you're in the mood for furry anime, watch The Cat Returns.
A Whisker Away is 104 minutes long and is available on Netflix. The Cat Returns is short, only 75 minutes long, and is available on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video.
Rakuen Growlithe — Sun 11 Jul 2021 - 03:19
I've been meaning to watch this for weeks. I should probably just do it this evening.
Rakuen Growlithe — Sun 8 Aug 2021 - 06:21
I actually got around to watching it!
I can see your points here (I didn't read the review until I had watched the film. I was always going to watch it but I didn't want to be influenced.), Muge did come off badly at the start of the film and, even without gender shifting, comes off as stalkery. (That really doesn't change whether male or female.) While it's true the main furry content comes near the end, I think it's still worth watching just for Taro (the cat form) as it absolutely adorable.
I think it's important to note that the film isn't about big action sequences or even the transformation aspect, though those both do play a part, but it's about the characters and their emotions. Until the climax everything is subdued because it's about introspection, honesty and masking one's feelings. I think you can see some similarity there with Neon Genesis Evangelion. That has the big robot battles and action but there's also a lot of quieter moments about Shinji's feeling, depression and how he copes or doesn't cope with different aspects of his life.
I think the story was good though and it is beautifully animated.
Andrew-R (visitor) — Sat 14 Aug 2021 - 01:10
"As she switches back and forth, she begins to wonder if she'd prefer to be a cat, rather than a human - but doesn't know what it might cost her." - my first thought was - "yeah, what about this forced sterilization thing". Sure, I know this is pushed as "The Humane (final?) Solution To Pet Overpopulation". But I dislike it exactly because it normalizes such non-trivial forced alteration of someone's body, among humans who hardly can be considered animal, or even humananimal friendly..
Also, word 'escapism' rubbed me wrong way, so I paused to think. May be escapism get a lot of bad press because it usually framed as 'oh, you just avoid confronting your problems!' while in reality not all problems should be confronted like this, frontally. Sometimes you need look at everything from other angles, and pause to think, yes.. So, escapism might come in few different shapes, it seems.. with different possible conseqences.
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Lost: One Plushie Rabbit
Streaming review: 'My Little Pony: A New Generation...
Movie review: 'Hayop Ka!' (2020)
Movie review: 'Wish Dragon' (2021)
'Redwall' adaptations coming to Netflix
Review: 'Aggretsuko' season 3
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Motorsport • Sports
Is this the future of Formula 1?
The Formula 1 in 2050?
McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT), let us see how the Formula 1 and within thirty years.
No need to explain that the industry is facing enormous challenges, the self-propelled car is no longer merely something we in science fiction films and electric drive seems to be the future of motoring. MATT with the help of these trends in the future a picture to try to paint what impact that will have on Formula 1.
"The concept has been developed by taking into account the international agreements as it is about driving electric and the emissiedoelen, the developments of the technology for human as well as auto, the emergence of fast growing economies and attracting a more diverse fan base," said MATT.
There was also appeal to students of the most prestigious universities to go deeper on certain issues. MATT based his research around four central themes.
The MCLExtreme is an electric rear-wheel drive monster that has a top speed allows recording of up to five hundred kilometers per hour. There will be made actively changing aerodynamics, self-healing tires, and the rider will have the assistance of a co-pilot with artificial intelligence.
The circuits are longer and wider with curves. There will be E-pitlanes are to reload, transparent roofs so that the spectators as close as possible to the spectacle. The circuits are also adaptable to the weather, and there are also so-called " black-out-parts,' as will the rider no assistance from the AI or be able to communicate.
The rider will have a G-suit to the body to protect him against the extremely high speeds. The AI co-pilot will be the behavior of the rider monitor and have him assist during a race. The emotions be reflected on the chassis of the car and the performance will depend on the knowledge, the emotions and the psychological response.
The fans will be able to sympathize with the riders because of the huge variety of cameras that he's decision will have. E-athletes will have the chance to live in the race to virtually compete. Gamers will also have on the GP racing for the AI system to the new strategies to learn.
?The images that McLaren on the us release seem to be from the distant future to come and they also seem to be unfeasible for 2050 but there they are in Woking still not so sure.
?"This is a tremendously exciting vision that inspires thought, one that also takes into account the vision of the fans, university students, McLaren-riders and our talented team at MAT," said Rodi Basso, head of the motorsportafdeling of MAT.
?"We hope that this debate will stimulate about how the motorcycle will react to the technology and the sport-amusementsfactor so that we know what the fans want."
More F1 news on F1journaal.be:
F1-pilot fear one specific team: "I love them in the holes"
Ex-team-mate Verstappen: "Yes, it is possible that Red Bull and Honda doing great in 2019"
Rare helmet that Ayrton Senna ever drove for sale at Sotheby's
Renault: "These F1-pilot is its huge investment really worth it"
F1-pilot experienced emotional moment with a Honda engineer


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DOT Grants $5 Million to Repair Ike-Damaged Roads, Bridges, Airports
The federal government is making $5 million available immediately to begin funding work to repair roads, bridges, and airports damaged by Hurricane Ike, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced yesterday during a visit to the Houston region. She added that more funds will be made available for repair and reconstruction work once damages assessed for the region's transportation network have been completed.
"These funds are a down payment on our commitment to the people of this region," Peters said. "We will help reopen the roads so people can get back to their homes, and back to their lives, as quickly as possible."
The secretary said that the Federal Highway Administration was providing $2 million in quick release emergency highway funding for road and bridge work in Texas, and another $2 million in emergency highway funding for Louisiana. She noted that the money would be immediately available to reimburse road crews for the costs of clearing debris, rerouting traffic, and making initial repairs.
Peters also committed to helping provide the resources needed to Texas and Louisiana to support the states' efforts to complete damage assessments for the region's highways network. Once those assessments are completed, Peters added, then both states would be eligible for additional emergency highway funds.
Peters also announced that the department's Federal Aviation Administration was making $1 million in Airport Improvement Program funds immediately available for repair work at the Galveston Scholes Airport. She said the money would help pay for structural and engineering assessments needed to catalogue the widespread damages to the airport.
"These airports are absolutely vital to the economy of this area," Peters said. "Getting communities reconnected to the skies is a good way to make sure this region soars again."
Transportation Secretary Suspends Air Service Between U.S. and Venezuela
DOT Announces Appointment of Maritime Advisory Committee Members
NIOSH Publishes Final Public Safety Research Agenda
US Joins Canada in Grounding 737 Max Aircraft
TxDOT to Form Connected and Automated Vehicle Task Force
NTSB Postpones Most Wanted List Unveiling


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Star Wraith 3: Shadows of Orion
Written by SSquared
Category: Computer
Very rarely does a game catch me off guard and completely surprise me. Most of the time this happens when I know very little regarding the game. And so it was with Star Wraith 3 (the 3rd in the StarWraith series). The space-sim genre has not seen too much action recently. Sure, there was Freelancer earlier this year, but there was no denying it was quite a bit different from what we had been used to in space-sims. If you want to relive the excitement and strategy of older space sims, Star Wraith 3 brings the glorious feeling back.
Star Wraith\'s game play is wildly fun. You aren\'t just flying around and firing on enemy spaceships, but the game includes strategic value which adds to game play depth. You not only have counter measures for evading missiles, but you can use your environment as well. I was able to evade a missile by escaping into an asteroid field. You can also use afterburners and special jump jets to try and outmaneuver the enemy. You may do ok without really getting into the strategic side, but to become a really good pilot, you will need to spend some time learning the strategic elements. For example, learning the art of balancing your shields and energy. Learning how to properly evade the enemy using jump jets or afterburner. And...YES...there are also wingmen. There are a few, easy to understand wingmen commands (\'attack my target\', for example). There are over 20 missions in the single player campaign, but you won\'t be playing all of them your first time through. The direction of the campaign depends on which missions you choose and your outcome. This leads to a dynamic campaign system. You will need to try different paths and replay the campaign if you want to play all the missions. The campaign was fun, challenging, and you do get rewarded with a relatively short cut scene if you complete the game with the correct path. In the end, the single player campaign is fairly short and does not have a very strong storyline. I would have liked to see a more in-depth storyline to make you feel even more a part of the game. One very exciting feature is the ability to fly down to a planet. Adding this to the game is brilliant and adds to new strategies, new scenery, and...it\'s just COOL! There is also a map where you fly inside an asteroid cave. The game includes an option for creating Instant Action missions. These can be random or user created settings. These are very fun (just like the single-player campaign) and I find myself continually going to Instant Action. Some nights I\'ll just play a few rounds of instant action. This feature certainly adds to the replay value. The enemy AI can be pretty challenging. They can be difficult to track at times, and also know when to throw a bunch of missiles at you. In addition, their shields are able to recharge, so if one gets away, it will most likely reappear with full shields.
Asteroids, explosions and nebulas look fantastic. They certainly add to the feeling of \'being there.\' There are also some nice lens flares. Overall, the look of outer space is nicely done. But the ships themselves have very plain, gray/brown textures. Planet surfaces are simply green textured rolling hills. And the HUD appears a bit chunky. There is room for improvement, but the current graphical weaknesses do not in any way take away from the exciting game play. The developer continues to improve the game, so the graphics can only get better. In fact, the developer is already reworking some of the ship s and they will look much better. That will go a long way to improving the visual feeling of the game.
The sound is ok. There is some nice music, but I wish there was more. The voices and weapon sounds are decent, and again, I wish there were more. What\'s there isn\'t bad, it\'s just not enough. 4Interface I did find the configuration menus a bit confusing. Once I figured out how to configure my joystick, everything was up and running very smoothly. The built-in tutorial explains most of the HUD and how to control your ship. When outfitting your ship, you simply click on which weapons you want to load. Very easy.
There are a few stability issues listed in the README and on the forums. Most of these are related to video cards and are along the lines of needing to use the right driver. I did experience one of the problems listed. It only happened once and I simply shutdown and restarted the game.
Unless you have a problem with shooting down spaceships, this game is totally clean.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with Star Wraith 3. If the developer adds a good, strong storyline, and makes some graphics updates, the game will definitely get pushed into the ?A? grade. Star Wraith 3 was definitely a nice surprise and helped to fill a void in a genre that has been relatively silent. For $19.95, this is an amazing buy. Whether you are a longtime fan of old-school space sims or you want to try something new, Star Wraith 3 is fun and exciting. There is also multi-player capability which extends the life of the game even longer. Now for the amazing part about this game. It is an independent developer. With a few exceptions (music, voices), one person created the whole thing. Not only are you getting a great game, but you are getting friendly service too. That\'s why I think this game can only get better. The developer listens to feedback and continues to release updates.
Graphics B Game play A- Sound B Interface B+ Stability B+ Offensive Content A
Overall 87% B
Sniper Rust VR (Oculus Rift)
Axis (Preview) (PC)
Castle Storm VR (Oculus Rift)
President Forever
Aftercharge (PC)
League of War: VR Arena (PSVR)
Defenders of Ardania (PC)
Saitek P880 Dual Analog PC Gamepad
Trine 2 (PC)
Elemental Saga
The Pilgrim's Progress (PC)
A Hat in Time (PC)
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars (3DS)
Mixups by POWGI (PS4/Vita)
FlatOut 3 (PC)
PC/Mac/Linux \\


After seeing heart-tipped nails I got it in my mind that I could take things a step further and go after one of my favorite logos, Comme des Garcons Play. I loved how accurately these turned out and it was surprisingly fun to have a ton of little eyeballs staring at me all day. These are very DIY-able, but I do recommend starting out with slightly rounded/pointed nails to get the heart shape.
In the pics I'm holding my new Comme des Garcons jewel wallet and wearing my new favorite item, my Nike Destroyrer jacket.
Haven't seen such cute nails before.
omg, YESS! these are beautiful!!! I'm obsessed now and forever!
Those nails are so much fun!
What a fabulous idea!! They are Gorg!! Love them both!!
this is so crazy awesome!!
such a simple and extremely coold idea!!!
am gonna totally DIY this!!!
Absolute gorgeousness! They are incredibly cute.


William D. Bowlin, of Loogootee, passed away on Sunday September 9, 2018 at Martin County Health and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born on May 1, 1936 in Scott County, Indiana to Addis Glenmore and Georgia Marie (Ely) Bowlin. He was one of fifteen children. His family worked together to grow tobacco and tomatoes to help supplement the family income. Bill plowed the fields by moonlight with mules and horses, and later with tractors, and during the day attended school. During harvest time, he would work nights at the local canning factory and then wake up and attend school during the day.
Bill took pride in being self-sufficient and took care of his own needs. He graduated High School in 1954 and shortly after, he joined the United States Air Force. Bill was stationed all over the world, Greece, Italy, Germany, Japan, Okinawa, Vietnam, New York, Biloxi, Mississippi, and San Angelo, Texas. He retired after close to 24 years of service.
Bill married Janet Ruth (Allen) Bowlin on November 1, 1985. He was a very generous character, with his time and money. Bill kept a notebook with records of all the charities he gave to. He was known for his laugh and his great sense of humor.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents; Addis and Georgia Bowlin, his siblings; Anna Belle Neff, Charles Bowlin, Sue Morrison, Judy Ellis, and Jean Dillinghman.
He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years Janet Ruth (Allen) Guy Bowlin of Loogootee, his children; Shiela Bowlin, Bill Bowlin, Theresa McNew, Mike Goodsen, Christina Barone, 8 Grandchildren, 18 Great - Grandchildren, his first wife Rita (Trubac) Bowlin, his siblings; Virginia Garvey, Donald Bowlin, Norman Bowlin, Lola Silva, Robert Bowlin, Ronald Bowlin, Nadine Kelso, Sandra Moon, Kenneth Bowlin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A funeral service will be held on Friday September 14, 2018 at 11:00 A.M at Blake Funeral Home with Ed Frost officiating. Military Rites will follow at the burial in Goodwill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Thursday September 13, 2018 from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M and again on Friday from 9:00 A.M until the time of service at Blake Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to The American Diabetes Donation, P.O Box 15829 Arlington, VA 22215, or any Military Organization of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Blake Funeral Home in Loogootee, Indiana.


View Commerce Data Connection (CDC) price charts (1H, 24H, 7D), market cap, volume, available supply and buy/sell prices on different exchanges with live updates. Commerce Data Connection (CDC) prices and information updated in real time.
@Chronicallykoa @Enough212 It's not just getting drs back on the same page w/rx'ing. Actual laws have been passed in a lot of states based on these garbage guidelines. #AMA, #CDC, etc have done damage to ppl's lives. This needs a better fix than just a few published articles on how they f'd this up.
Epidemiology involves tracing the origin and route of a #disease. Find out how scientists traced the evolution of the Zika virus in our #upcoming video!
@tiger063 @MarieCo92176893 @ChrisEgginton Can't trust Drs bc they crippled me w/alt "pain treatments"! #CDC lies about meds & forcing #cpp to use extreme measures instead of removable pills!
Desperate from pain I did alts, injection crippled me 15yrs now.
No recourse & @CDCgov, @US_FDA & #media lies!


Howdy, ya'll. I hope your weekends were filled with chocolate and sleep. Mine was a slurry of sickness and writing angst, punctuated by trying to build an IKEA bed. No worries, time marches on and we all turn to ash in the end.
Now that the fun part of the blog is over, let's get down to the nitty gritty (to borrow from Scott Rogowsky).
You should follow other writers on social media. It's not just the polite thing to do, but they often offer outstanding advice for free. When you're choosing whom to follow, make sure you put together a diverse list of creators in order to build toward a better education.
That means don't just follow men, nor just white men, nor just cis/straight/white men. Follow women, follow non-binary, follow LGBTQ authors, follow artists and poets and directors and actors. Follow creators of all different kinds, and you will be delighted by the results.
Today, I'm going to recommend Delilah S. Dawson. She is an incredibly talented writer, and lately she's been giving away HUGE tips for new and established writers. Go to her Twitter today and get your learn on.
As for me, I'm going to swim in some DayQuil and hopefully be dead soon. Or healed. Dead or healed, I'll take my chances. Much love, ya'll.


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Aqib Talib says new rule changes regarding helmet contact are "good for the game"
Posted by Curtis Crabtree on August 3, 2018, 2:43 AM EDT
Discussion about the new helmet rule instituted by the league this season doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. Thursday's Hall of Fame Game between the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears was the first time to see how the penalty would be officiated and it resulted in two flags being thrown for hits deemed to now be illegal under the rule changes.
While defenders like Washington's D.J. Swearinger and San Francisco's Richard Sherman have been critical of the new rule, at least one prominent defender is in favor of the changes.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib told Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com that the rules changes are a good move for the sport.
"They're just trying to keep the game safe," Talib said. "Trying to keep guys healthy."
Swearinger said he believes it will force defenders to aim for an opponent's knees even more than before. Sherman told Jarrett Bell of USA Today that the changes are "ridiculous" and believed everyone would see just how much so when officials actually had to begin legislating such hits.
"It's going to be worse than holding, worse than the catch rule," Sherman said. "On a good form tackle, guys will lead with their shoulder pads, but you bring your head.
"It's going to be a disaster."
Talib was more open to the changes. Defenders have already had to make adjustments in recent years upon the implementation of the defenseless player rules. These changes just take the matter a step farther and also bring more potential offensive penalties to the table as well as ball carriers lower their heads into oncoming opponents.
""They put an emphasis on something every year, so we've just go to adjust," Talib said. "That's why we're pros. We adjust on the fly, we adapt to all kinds of situations."
Of course, the previous versions of the catch rule attempted to simplify matters by creating an objective measure for what a catch is. That process required securing the ball through contact with the ground and if that didn't happen, it wasn't a catch. It was a clear line in the sand and was supposed to be an improvement.
It backfired tremendously because it bucked common sense in many situations. It led to the catch rules being amended this offseason.
It's possible the same process could occur here with a good idea having unintended consequences. With ejections being a greater possibility under this mandate, it could create some sticky situations as well moving forward.
Opinions are going to vary on the changes for now. Once they start being put on display on national television, those opinions might skew one way or the other a whole lot faster.
2 responses to "Aqib Talib says new rule changes regarding helmet contact are "good for the game""
xxsweepthelegxx says:
"As long as I can still pull gold chains I'm good, new helmet rule fine with me"
-Talib
screamingyellowzonkers says:
Hard to tell from one preseason game.
But it looks like the games will be like the pro bowl every week.