YouSaid · the spoken record

Hifikepunye POHAMBA

lines on the record: 84
first: 2005-09-24
most recent: 2014-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“My delegation is concerned that the question of Western Sahara remains unresolved. We support the ongoing direct talks between the parties under the auspices of the Secretary-General. We also call for the implementation of the United Nations settlement plan for Western Sahara and of all relevant United Nations resolutions providing for a free and fair referendum in that territory. Namibia is also concerned about the conflict situations in the Darfur region of the Sudan and in Somalia. We urge the respective parties to those conflicts to work to find lasting peace. The people of Palestine have an inalienable right to self-determination. Namibia is concerned about the lack of progress in the negotiations on the question of Palestine.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“On 15 September 2008, the political leaders of Zimbabwe signed a power-sharing agreement designed to restore political and economic stability to their country. We wish to congratulate the leaders of Zimbabwe on that important milestone and to express the hope that it will put that sister country on the path towards economic recovery. We commend the mediation efforts of the Southern African Development Community, led by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who invested extraordinary skill, time and energy in the process. We urge the international community to support the implementation of the 35 08-51606 agreement by providing economic, financial and humanitarian assistance. We call for the immediate lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on that country.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let us act in unity of purpose to address not only the manifestations of poverty, but also its underlying causes, which make communities vulnerable. Let us harness the technological, financial and other resources necessary to eliminate the dehumanizing effects of poverty on all members of the human family. Peace and security as well as social justice are paramount to the achievement of the MDGs and to the resolution of conflicts. In that regard, all countries must commit themselves to implement the policies that promote economic growth, social justice, the rule of law, democracy, respect for human rights and the protection of the environment, in order to guarantee durable peace and security. Mr. Beck (Solomon Islands), Vice-President, took the Chair.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“There is a need for genuine political will, especially among donor countries, if the MDGs are to be attained. In this context, open, predictable and non-discriminatory trading and financial systems must be developed. We call for the intensification of the implementation of the Global Partnership for Development as agreed upon at Monterrey in 2002. We also appeal to the Bretton Woods system and other international financial institutions to create special mechanisms to enable middle-income countries to access financial resources for development on concessional terms. That was called for by the Windhoek Declaration on Development Cooperation with Middle-Income Countries. The scourge of poverty is one of the most serious challenges facing humanity today. I believe that, with the requisite political will, poverty can be overcome.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“There is a real risk that the gains made by developing countries in poverty reduction and the attainment of the other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over the years will be reversed if we do not act rapidly. Global efforts to address the food crisis, the impact of climate change and the drive to achieve the MDGs must go hand in hand. In that regard, we support the proposal for the General Assembly to hold thematic debates until 2015 to take stock of success achieved and setbacks encountered in the achievement of the MDGs. That will give development cooperating partners an opportunity to account for the fulfilment of their commitments. On the other hand, developing countries should also account for their commitments to strengthen democratic institutions, enhance good governance and fight corruption.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As a net importer of food and fuel, Namibia has been hit hard by the soaring prices of commodities. There will be catastrophic increases in the incidence of hunger, malnutrition and infant mortality in developing countries unless the trend is reversed. That calls for a decisive national, regional and international response. In our case, the Government of Namibia has exempted some basic foodstuffs from value-added tax in order to mitigate the effects of higher prices on food. Such interventions can provide some relief to households. However, there remain long-term challenges, which demand appropriate policies and substantial new investment to raise agricultural productivity and increase food production around the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In their wake, they left poor harvests, livestock losses, environmental degradation, damaged infrastructure and destroyed livelihoods, thus putting a severe strain on our plans to invest in new development projects. Namibia is committed to the Bali road map in order to conclude the negotiations on the post-Kyoto regime by 2009. We call on all parties to honour their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, including the immediate and full capitalization of the Adaptation Fund. Namibia will play its part in the lead-up to Copenhagen. We want to contribute to making Copenhagen a success in terms of commitments and substantial mitigations, financial instruments for adaptation efforts in developing countries and mechanisms for sharing and harnessing appropriate technologies.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I have in mind the financial crisis in the industrialized countries, the global energy crisis, the devastating impact of climate change as well as the food crisis which has adversely affected poor people around the world. Other, no less daunting, challenges are the HIV/AIDS pandemic, underdevelopment and abject poverty, as well as the need to foster peace and security around the world. We must act decisively and collectively at national, regional and global levels to overcome these challenges. The devastating effects of climate change have become present-day realities in all parts of the world. Namibia has experienced the negative impact of climate change. The floods and droughts during 2007 and 2008 were some of the most devastating in recent 08-51606 34 times.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. We support the priorities that you have identified for this session. I wish to express Namibia’s appreciation for your predecessor, Srgjan Kerim, for focusing the agenda of the sixty-second session on matters of crucial importance to Member States. We commend the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for tirelessly taking up the challenging issues of peace, security and economic development. The sixty-third session of the General Assembly is taking place at a time when the global economy is dominated by four interrelated crises.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let us strive to re-energize the United Nations and make it an Organization that we can all be proud of, so that we can make planet Earth a common home for all humanity to live in peace, stability and prosperity.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Namibia is fully committed to the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. We are, equally, grateful for the support for the call to mobilize resources and to forge a stronger partnership in confronting the pandemic. We stress the need for universal and affordable access to comprehensive service packages for all those infected. In our ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen the United Nations, making it more effective and responsive to today’s challenges — poverty and hunger, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, civil wars and the war on terror — we should place human lives and human dignity at the centre of all our efforts. The reform we have embarked upon should be seen as a process and should be undertaken in a spirit of mutual understanding and with a sense of collective ownership.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia upholds the principles of peaceful coexistence of nations and fair and open trade among nations. Thus, we call on all Member States, in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, for an immediate and unconditional lifting of the embargo against the Republic of Cuba, as called for in General Assembly resolution 60/12 and many previous resolutions. In June 2006, the General Assembly convened a High-level Meeting on the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. That Meeting served as an important opportunity for Member States to assess progress and further strengthen and expand responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Before the High-level Meeting, the African Union had adopted an African Common Position at a special session in Abuja in May 2006.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Sadly, the people of Lebanon have once again been subjected to war and indiscriminate bombing, 19 06-52885 which have caused enormous suffering and the deaths of innocent people, including children and the elderly, as well as severe damage to and destruction of property and infrastructure. Against that background, we call for the immediate and unconditional implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and appeal to the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon in dealing with the resulting humanitarian crisis. For many years now, the majority of Member States in this Assembly have expressed concern over the continuous economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, which continues to cause severe hardships for the Cuban people.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We therefore call for the urgent implementation of all relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, with the aim of holding a free and fair referendum in Western Sahara. Namibia is also deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the people of Palestine. We wish to reaffirm our full and unequivocal support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self- determination and national independence. In this context, we appeal to the United Nations to assume its full responsibility by implementing all its resolutions and decisions on Palestine, with immediate effect and without precondition.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We urge the Government of the Sudan and other parties concerned to accept this transition, which we believe will be in the best interest of the people of the Sudan in general and those of the Darfur region in particular. I would like to join other countries around the world in expressing our concern about the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which remains a menace to humanity. The proliferation of such weapons compromises peace and security. They also pose serious challenges to law enforcement agencies around the world. We are concerned that the question of Western Sahara remains unresolved. The inalienable rights of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence must be upheld and respected, as stipulated in the relevant United Nations resolutions.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan is cause for serious concern. The African Union, through the African Union Mission in Sudan and with the assistance of the international community, has made efforts to bring peace to that region under exceptionally hard conditions. We commend the African Union Special Envoy, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, for his tireless efforts in bringing the parties to an agreement. We urge all the parties to respect their commitments. We welcome the visit to the Sudan by the United Nations Security Council team in June this year and the recommendations they made. Namibia looks forward to an urgent and smooth transition from the African Union Mission to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur in accordance with Security Council resolution 1706 (2006).”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We reiterate our call for cooperation among the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the African Union and its subregional organizations dealing with economic and social development on the continent. We continue to emphasize the importance of the Economic and Social Council as a central intergovernmental body for promoting a more integrated approach to global peace and development. Namibia welcomes the presidential and parliamentary elections recently held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which, most international observers agree, were conducted in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere. We urge the United Nations and the international community at large to continue to support the people of the Democratic Republic during this crucial democratic transition.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In this regard, I urge all fellow leaders to stand together in finding effective solutions to push back the ever-encroaching frontiers of poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance. The African people know that they must take a lead in resolving problems and challenges on the continent. In those endeavours, they need to form effective partnerships with the international community. I therefore welcome the commitments made by the Group and Eight last year in Scotland to consider increasing development aid to Africa, to cancel the debt owed by the poorest countries and to promote universal access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS by the year 2010.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“06-52885 18 The fruits of those efforts are visible to us all, as they culminated in the inauguration of the Peacebuilding Commission, the creation of the Human Rights Council, the creation of the Central Emergency Response Fund and the establishment of the Ethics Office. We also welcome the accomplishments in the area of management reform. People around the world have high hopes that these newly created instruments will achieve the specific mandates set for them. We therefore encourage all Member States to continue, in an open and transparent manner, to finalize the review of the process. Namibia attaches importance to the global development agenda. Thus we are concerned about the slow pace at which this essential matter is being handled and about the lack of adherence to the commitments in line with the Millennium Declaration.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“My Government believes that the reform of the Security Council, including its expansion, is essential. The African continent deserves to be fairly and equitably represented in the Council. That is not too much to ask. During the World Summit in September last year, we reaffirmed our commitment to the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2), adopted more than six years ago. The Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1) reiterated our commitments to the implementation of the decisions made during previous conferences and summits. My Government appreciates the work done under the guidance and able leadership of former President Eliasson in the realization of the Summit decisions.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Today, the world needs a stronger United Nations and effective multilateralism that reflects current realities. Only thus will humanity be able to respond in a timely manner and without hesitation to the global challenges that we face. We fully support the comprehensive reform of the United Nations as proposed by the Secretary-General. The reforms should aim at strengthening the Organization and making it more efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of all its Members. We further attach great importance to strengthening the role and authority of the General Assembly as the main deliberative and policy-making body, whose relationship with other principal organs should be placed in a fitting context so as to ensure cooperation and respect for their roles as provided for in the Charter.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“My delegation would like to pay him special tribute for his distinguished leadership and remarkable contribution to the United Nations, taking into consideration his imminent departure at the end of a long, dedicated and brilliant career in the service of our Organization. Under his leadership, the United Nations has recorded significant achievements. He ably laid the foundation for Member States to make further progress, especially with regard to the reform of the United Nations. We will carry on with this task, bearing in mind his vision of sustained global cooperation among States. Allow me to wish him the very best in his future engagements. We are gathered here to reaffirm our faith in the United Nations and to recommit ourselves to the purposes and principles of the Charter.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“I should like at the outset to congratulate Ms. Al-Khalifa on her well-deserved election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty first session. I am confident that, given her wisdom and experience, she will steer the proceedings of the Assembly successfully. I also express our profound appreciation to her predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson of Sweden, for his excellent work during the sixtieth session. In the same vein, we salute the Secretary- General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for his dedication and commitment to the work of the United Nations.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“I am equally concerned at the fact that the people of Cuba continue to suffer from the effects of the unilateral embargo imposed on them by the United States of America. We call on the international community to demand the unconditional lifting of that embargo. 21 In conclusion, I wish to reiterate my Governmentís hope that, when we accept our collective responsibility, the United Nations can and will succeed in preserving international peace and security and therefore guarantee equality and justice for all humanity. We, the peoples of the United Nations, must do what is required to bequeath to the next generations a better future. To that end, the Government and the people of Namibia pledge our total commitment.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“It is therefore important that we narrow our differences and form a common front with a common objective to better serve humanity. We should therefore make collective and effective use of existing multilateral mechanisms, especially the United Nations, in order to succeed in eliminating current and future threats. The process of decolonization has not yet been completed. The peoples of Palestine and of the Western Sahara continue to suffer under foreign occupation and are denied the exercise of their inalienable rights to self-determination and national independence. It is our collective responsibility to rectify that historical injustice. In that regard, we call for the immediate and unconditional establishment of an independent State of Palestine and the full implementation of the United Nations settlement plan for Western Sahara.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“To that end, if the countries regarded as low- middle-income countries are to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, they will require increased support from the international community, including market access as well as access to financial sources such as the International Development Association and official development assistance. Our ability to effectively eliminate threats to international peace and security will depend on the manner in which we address the social and economic challenges facing our peoples at the global level. In our review, during the 2005 summit, of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and of other decisions taken by major international conferences, it became clear that we still have a long way to go to honour our commitments.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We accept the fact that Governments in developing countries have a responsibility to work together and to encourage the active participation of the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders in bringing about sustainable social and economic development for all segments of our society. It is equally important that Governments and institutions in the economically advanced countries offer genuine partnership by providing new and additional resources, commensurate with their commitments in line with the Millennium Development Goals.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“In order to achieve that goal, we must be guided by a strong spirit of human solidarity and a shared sense of justice and fairness for all. For many developing countries, implementation of the Millennium Development Goals is severely hampered by the lack of adequate resources, compounded by other challenges, including the HIV/AIDS pandemic, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as other socio-economic difficulties. Against that background, the Economic and Social Council must be strengthened and given sufficient resources, together with the United Nations agencies, in order to take the lead in implementing effective human-centred country programmes.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“It is indeed only when we stand together on firm principle that we can effect real and meaningful change in our only truly international Organization, the United Nations. Concerning the General Assembly, Namibia holds the strong view that that organ, which provides a genuinely democratic and representative platform for all Member States to be heard, should play a critical role in the entire reform process of our international Organization. We are equally of the strong conviction that the authority of the General Assembly should be reasserted, to ensure that its resolutions and decisions are binding and enforceable. In this crucial process, our highest priority should be our collective commitment to ensure sustainable social and economic development on a global scale.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“However, if the veto power is maintained, it is only logical that new permanent member States who join the expanded Security Council must of necessity be accorded the same rights and privileges. Otherwise, such reform will be cosmetic at best, and meaningless at worst. On this very crucial matter, Namibia fully stands by the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, as reaffirmed by the Fourth Extraordinary Summit of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa on 4 August 2005. We collectively maintain that the African continent, which has been underrepresented for so long, deserves two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats on the Council. This demand is logical, reasonable and justifiable. We therefore call on all regions to support Africaís position.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“At the centre of this overdue exercise must be the compelling need to serve all our people better, regardless of their race, religion or status of development. With specific reference to the Security Council, genuine democratization and reform can take place only when all its members are accorded the same privileges - including the veto power, which is currently enjoyed only by a few member States, who use it for national self-interest. That creates resentment and mistrust from those who are negatively affected by the abuse of veto power. It is against this background that African States adopted the Harare Declaration in 1997, in which they 20 demanded that the veto power be abolished.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“As we mark the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations, it is indeed proper and fitting to reflect on the achievements and setbacks of our Organization since its inception. In this exercise, we must be guided by an honest and objective analysis of events along the path we have travelled so far. In this connection, I would like to take this opportunity to commend our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, most sincerely for his tireless efforts to strengthen the United Nations system through the proposed reforms. Indeed, the challenges we face today require renewed commitment and visionary leadership to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to all humanity. When we address the crucial issue of the reform of the United Nations system, we must be guided by the principles of democracy, equity, justice and fairness for all.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“At the same occasion, we celebrated 15 years of our national independence, which, as the Assembly will recall, was brought about by a long and bitter struggle waged by the people of Namibia under the leadership of the national liberation movement, SWAPO, with wide international support, and thus culminating in the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). I recall these important events in our history to underline the fact that Namibiaís nationhood is directly linked to the United Nations. In this regard, allow me, therefore, on behalf of the Government and people of Namibia and indeed on my own behalf to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the men and women of the United Nations family, who stood side by side with us until final victory was achieved.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“I wish to congratulate you most warmly, Mr. President, on your unanimous election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session and to assure you of my delegationís full support. May I also express our profound appreciation to your distinguished predecessor, Mr. Jean Ping of Gabon, for the effective leadership he provided during the fifty-ninth session. I am most delighted and indeed honoured to address this Assembly for the first time as President of the Republic of Namibia. I stand before you with the democratic mandate given to me by the people of Namibia during our presidential elections in November 2004 and following my inauguration on 21 March 2005.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)