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President Michel holds talks with UN chief |02 September 2014

Small island developing states, climate change and piracy were the focus of talks between President James Michel and the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon on Sunday.

President Michel met the UN chief in Apia, Samoa, on the eve of the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (Sids).

The two leaders discussed the work of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) and expressed their desire that the institution should grow in capacity and become stronger.

“We need to strengthen Aosis to build institutional capacity to better represent the voices of Sids… We will continue to speak with a loud and strong voice, as one voice of the Sids,” said President Michel.

Mr Ban Ki-moon said that Seychelles’ involvement at the conference would make a great difference in shaping the future development agenda, and that he would ensure that Seychelles’ concerns and aspirations would be reflected in the outcome.

He added that UN agencies would be mobilised to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations of the Sids.

“I count on your continued involvement and leadership,” said the UN secretary general.

President Michel also spoke to Mr Ban Ki-moon about the Blue Economy concept and the way it can be integrated into Sids’ development strategy.

“Development of the Blue Economy can allow Sids to mobilise previously untapped resources. We all have land constraints but we are also guardians of large exclusive economic zones and oceanic spaces. We are calling for a framework that assists Sids in mobilising the necessary research to allow them to better manage their oceanic resources,” said Mr Michel.

The President also emphasised the importance of addressing Sids’ vulnerability and their debt issues during the conference.

The President also commended the UN chief for his efforts to put climate change on the international agenda as a matter of urgency, especially the upcoming Climate Change Summit in New York in September.

Mr Ban Ki-moon said that climate change should be a number one priority for the world community, particularly the rising sea levels, and that he would be mobilising various governments to materialise their pledges for funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The head of the UN also thanked Seychelles for its efforts to solve the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia. He said it is imperative that the international community continues to support Seychelles in the fight against piracy and to improve regional capacity in relation to maritime security.

President Michel also thanked the United Nations for its role in helping Seychelles via the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) to build capacity and infrastructure to bring pirates to justice as well as repatriate them after conviction.

“Piracy has been reduced considerably, but we need to continue to be vigilant…Until the security situation is resolved in Somalia, until the rule of law is established, piracy will continue to be a threat in our region,” said President Michel.

The President was accompanied at the high-level meeting by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam; the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet; the secretary general in the Office of the President, Lise Bastienne; the chief executive of the Islands Development Company, Glenny Savy; the chief press secretary, Srdjana Janosevic; and First Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rebecca Loustau-Lalanne.

During his meeting with Mr Ban Ki-moon President Michel also gave him a book on early childhood aspirations which was recently launched and which he promised the children who came to State House that he would deliver it.

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