PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar’s inaugural address to world leaders at the 67th United Nations (UN) General Assembly yesterday reflected the Guyana Government’s long-held position on upholding the rule of law and creed-based tolerance.

His address was relevant to current issues like the protest demonstrations in the Middle East and the subsequent attack on the United States Embassy in Libya, where appointed Ambassador Chris Stephens was killed after a recently released video, disparaging to Prophet Mohammad sparked outrage in the Middle East.
Insurgencies in Egypt, Tunisia, Indonesia and other Muslim nations also targeted US missions in those countries.

The incident was described by US President Barack Obama as an “attack on America,” when he addressed the UN General Assembly on September 25, and by President Ramotar as unjustifiable in his address yesterday.
“While we condemn the attacks and the insult that the recent film heaped on Islam, we believe that nothing of that nature can justify the murder of diplomats and the violence we have seen,” President Ramotar said.

The Guyanese Head of State is of the view that the best homage that can be paid to the US Ambassador’s memory and those who lost their lives in that kind of conflict, is by working “even harder for a just, peaceful and tolerant world.”
The president also zeroed in on conflicts around the world, particularly those waged over politics, and called on the UN to continue the pursuit of peaceful solutions, regardless of the challenges.

The ongoing conflict in Syria over incumbent President Bashar Al Assad’s rule and the countless number of civilian deaths that occurred as a result, have been engaging the attention of the UN.

President Ramotar reiterated the Guyana Government’s position for the “warring parties” to meet at the negotiating table and he appealed to the international community to promote peace instead of fuelling strife and conflict.
“Any abandonment of its role in bringing peace to Syria will result in greater suffering in that country and the undermining of security in that part of the world. The United Nations must therefore persevere in finding peaceful solutions to the conflict. We therefore support the efforts of the joint special envoy of the United Nations in trying to bring a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria,” President Ramotar said.
The prolonged period of war between Israel and neighbouring Palestine is still making international headlines and a resolution, according to President Ramotar, is key to a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Guyana recognises the State of Palestine based on its 1967 borders and supports its aspirations to full membership of the UN. President Ramotar said the Palestinian people deserve the same right as people everywhere: to live in dignity, security, freedom and independence, at peace with all their neighbours and with the right to move freely within their homeland.

The recent settlement of disputes between neighbours Sudan and South Sudan, through the signing of agreements on resuming oil exports and a border buffer zone, was encouraging news and, according to President Ramotar, there is hope that the people of Mali will be able to overcome their current crisis and restore the celebrated legacy of Timbuktu.

Guyana again placed on record its opposition to the economic, financial and commercial embargo imposed against Cuba, having regard to the principle of sovereignty of states within the United Nations Charter, and called for an immediate end to this policy.

President Ramotar expressed the view that lifting the blockade can allow Cuba to make greater contributions as it has done to the social development of many developing countries.

He said the myriad challenges affecting the world today pose a formidable test to the multilateral system which embodies collective aspirations for peace and development, and in this regard, called for major reform in the organisation to reflect the realities of the present time.

He also argued in favour of an early reform of the UN Security Council with particular regard to the representation of developing countries.