UN General Assembly
2012

of Formosa to work peacefully to agree to frame and normalize their relations. The High-level Meeting that preceded the general debate was an excellent opportunity for Member States to share information on how democratic reforms are being implemented and the rule of law strengthened both in individual countries and at the international level. It is very pleasing that this discussion is leading to significant progress in implementing the democratic and institutional reforms that can help to strengthen the rule of law, internally and internationally. In that regard, Sao Tome and Principe congratulates the Republic of Angola on its recent successful and transparent general elections, since they also constitute another step towards strengthening the democratic process in its sister country of Sao Tome and Principe. Threats to our global security, particularly transnational crimes such as piracy and the trafficking and sale of arms and drugs, are a matter of great concern for Sao Tome and Principe, a country with a long coastline located in the Gulf of Guinea. Such events are threats that we cannot ignore; they demand that we