UN General Assembly
2011

found to the global problems afflicting the world today. At the national level, we require greater cohesion among the vital forces of the country and greater determination in the context of actions aimed at eliminating the obstacles that impede development. With respect to preserving democratic institutions, when the fundamental values enshrined in the Charter are at stake, the United Nations must be at the forefront of the efforts of the international community. In that regard, impartiality cannot be synonymous with neutrality, which would be unfathomable and make the United Nations a passive bystander to the triumph of aggression over the rule of law. I should therefore like to thank the Secretary-General for the courageous choices he has made. In Benin, democracy has been strengthened by the tireless commitment of the United Nations to ensuring electoral transparency, which it accomplished through its support for the creation of a computerized permanent voters’ list, which prevents any manipulation or other fraudulent manoeuvres and thereby ensures fairness in our country’s elections. Based on the success of our young democracy in