YouSaid · the spoken record

Theo-Ben Gurirab

lines on the record: 122
first: 1994-09-24
most recent: 2000-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

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“The recent SADC Summit expressed itself on the situation, and it is important that I quote a few passages what it said, as follows: 29 â€œThe Summit expressed deep regret at the outbreak of war in DRC, as a result of attempts by rebels and their allies to forcefully remove the Government of President Kabila from power. â€œThe Summit welcomed the initiatives by SADC and its member States intended to assist in the restoration of peace, security and stability in the DRC, in particular the Victoria Falls and Pretoria initiatives.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Moreover, other misguided men, driven by a blind ambition and appetite for needless confrontation, have plunged the Democratic Republic of the Congo into a devastating war, which has resulted in inter-African fighting on the battlefield of that sister country. Namibia has joined the other SADC member States, at the express invitation of President Laurent Kabila and his legitimate Government, for the sole purpose of preventing the collapse of the State machinery and the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a fellow SADC member State by the invading armies and their collaborators. Namibiaâs involvement is for peace, democracy, human rights and regional cooperation.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Savimbi and UNITA with the decisions that member States have made through SADC, the OAU and United Nations resolutions. The Summit further called on the international community, particularly countries and leaders who have an influence on Mr. Savimbi, to persuade the rebel movement to rededicate itself to the path of peace and reconstruction in Angola, as a matter of urgency. On another front, the Kingdom of Lesotho is once again teetering on the brink of serious destabilization and social disorder just because some politicians, who were defeated in the last general elections, have taken the law into their own hands. It has become an acute situation, which our regional leaders are urgently and jointly trying to resolve peacefully.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Savimbi and UNITA have derailed the peace process and delayed the finalization of the implementation of the remaining aspects of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol. The Security Council has reacted forcefully to UNITAâs non-compliance by imposing stringent sanctions on it and, once again, has demanded speedy and full implementation of the Lusaka Protocol. Furthermore, the last summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), held in Ouagadougou, was equally unsparing in its condemnation of Mr. Savimbi and UNITA for unceasing delaying tactics and political violence against innocent Angolans and the unsuspecting citizens of neighbouring States, including my own country, Namibia. The recently concluded SADC Summit resolved, among other things, that measures must be taken to ensure compliance by Mr.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State of their own, cannot be sacrificed because of a single-minded insistence on security. An early agreement on a just, comprehensive and durable peace for the whole of the Middle East is the only viable guarantee for peace, stability, security and cooperation in the best interests of one and all. Namibia supports that approach and not the politics of confrontation and nullification. In our own SADC subregion, some of the old conflicts have gone from bad to worse and new ones have been ignited. In Angola, renewed military attacks and defiance of the demands of the United Nations and the rest of the international community by Mr.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In West and South Asia, a very explosive political, military and nuclear situation is fast developing into an undeclared state of war and a likely destabilization of that strategic region. We welcome the high-level and face-to-face meetings now taking place between some of the leaders from that region. Sadly, there is a serious situation of stalemate, reversals and prevarication in the Middle East, and the peace process has by now, to all intents and purposes, reached a precipitous dead end. Israel cannot hope to live in security if the universally accepted principle of land for peace is not scrupulously adhered to and implemented without delay.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“For 1999, the Summit set a theme for SADC: â€œSADC in the next Millennium: The Challenges and Opportunities of Information Technology.â€ That is the vision that seeks to promote the socio-economic empowerment of the people. Political and economic reforms that have started in Africa must stay on course and produce the results that our people want. Regarding regional conflicts, as other speakers have noted, the maintenance of international peace and security is constantly being threatened by ongoing as well as new regional conflicts. Lately, dastardly acts of terrorism and indiscriminate counter-attacks have become frequent happenings. In Europe, bloody confrontation and human suffering persist in Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The Summit reaffirmed the ongoing work on sectoral coordination by member States to ensure streamlining of sectors and increase regional integration and productivity. The member States were urged to expedite ratification of the trade protocol as a matter of the utmost priority. This will open up greater opportunities for regional economic cooperation and trade between them. Added to these actions that have already been taken or are being envisaged was the strong reiteration that all 28 SADC regional policies and activities must be carried out pursuant to the objectives and goals of the African Economic Community. The first significant step taken in this direction was the signing on 25 February 1998, in Addis Ababa, of the Protocol on The Relationship between the African Economic Community and the Regional Economic Communities.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“For globalization and liberalization to be carried out successfully in pursuit of our shared ideals of democratization, economic justice and human security, South-North dialogue should be open and constructive in the spirit of â€œsmartâ€ partnership, devoid of confrontation and blackmail. At the 1998 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State or Government, held at Grand Bay, Mauritius, on 13 and 14 September, the regional African leaders endorsed policy guidelines that will facilitate the speedy completion of SADCâs transformation into a dynamic development community. This exercise will be carried out on the basis of the review and rationalization of the SADC Programme of Action.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Bretton Woods institutions should rethink their insistence on bleeding conditionalities in terms of official capital flows and debt relief in favour of providing assistance towards stimulating economic growth and productivity that will help poverty eradication in the developing countries. In this connection, it is to be hoped that the recent meeting held in New York with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be a harbinger of new and better things to come. The Group of 77, which is the task force for the member States of the Non-Aligned Movement, together with our many friends, must continue to work hard in order to hasten implementation of the Agenda 21 Programme of Action in its entirety.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“But it is not in itself a panacea for ensuring the peopleâs economic rights at home or a just world order, based on cooperation and equity. Globalization must be our thing collectively as members of the human family. When one section of the family prospers, the rest should be allowed to share in that bonanza. To condemn a section of the family to a perpetual state of marginalization would be inhuman and unkind. The heavy burden of external debt is denuding the resources and capacity of poor nations, mainly those in Africa. External debt cannot merely be reorganized. Debt write-off is the best and the most humane thing to do, under the present circumstances. Some major Western creditors have written off debt, others should follow.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“There is very little justice. The high and the mighty rule everywhere. The weak and the poor just have to lump it.â€ It is hardly possible to dispute this. With regard to issues of multilateral trade that are of concern to the developing countries, there is an imperative need for us to articulate a specific and constructive South agenda. The developing countries must develop a common position on, for example, whether there should be a new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations or whether a sectoral approach is preferable. These are our common concerns that the Group of 77 should be spearheading in WTO negotiations, as well as in the South- North dialogue. Globalization is here to stay. We welcome it.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Much needed resources are being driven more and more away towards greater benefits for the military-industrial enterprises of the rich and the powerful nations. The result is further impoverishment of the nations and peoples of the third world. Happily, we have been joined by two illustrious champions in a worthy human cause: Danny Glover, African-American actor activist, and Nadine Gordimer, South African Nobel laureate, who will, jointly and individually, articulate worldwide the plight of the forgotten masses in the third world, as the United Nations Development Programmeâs Goodwill Ambassadors. Both of them are my personal friends, and I congratulate them and heartily welcome them aboard. It has been said by a third world leader that: â€œWe live in an international jungle. There is no law and order in international relations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Much more needs to be done in the areas of poverty eradication, human resource development and gender equality, as well as transfer of technology and resources for development from the rich to the poor. 27 Wherever in this, our one world, economic disparity, social injustice, armed conflicts, political instability and indeed environmental degradation prevail, there can be no rewarding human existence, meaningful productivity to sustain life and civilization, nor lasting scientific and technological breakthroughs in the service of this and future generations. Todayâs very topical questions of democracy, human rights, good governance and globalization now seem to end up on the back burner of the global agenda. Other priorities always seem to enjoy more attention.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In this regard, Namibia urges all Member States to pay their contributions in full and on time and to clear their arrears in order to enable the Secretary-General to fully carry out the resolutions of the General Assembly and, indeed, also those of the Security Council. I wish to say a word or two about peace and development. In 1995, all the world leaders who converged on New York for the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations reiterated, in their different languages yet in unison, their common commitment to the highest virtues of human dignity, peace and security, sustainable development and prosperity for all. Three years later, it looks everywhere as if it is a question of business as usual.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Economic disparities and social backlogs in our societies must be mitigated. Africaâs position on the enlargement of the Security Council is on the table. It includes two permanent seats on the Council and additional non-permanent seats. Namibia also calls for the abolition of the veto power. We have done so before and I am repeating that call once again, for the veto negates the very idea of United Nations reform and democratization. Let me also say here that, while we take into account the purposes of the United Nations as stated in Article 1 of the Charter, it is also important that we take effective and collective measures to finance the United Nations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“I congratulate him for his vision and initiatives. Let me say a word or two about the United Nations reform process. We are two years away from the new millennium and, for some time now, we have all being addressing some of those challenges that lie ahead and how the United Nations can transform itself to more effectively respond to the needs and aspirations of its Members in the twenty-first century. The initial work of revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and development fields has been partially completed. Reform of the United Nations is an ongoing process and Namibia believes that an important lesson can be learnt from what has been achieved so far: no quick fixes, but also no indefinite negotiations. The management of the global economy is a top priority.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Not only did he prove his leadership qualities and diplomatic skills, but he also, and more importantly, sought to promote the important role of the General Assembly itself in the larger context of the maintenance of international peace and security, and particularly the preservation of human security. For small and developing countries like Namibia, the Assembly is where democracy comes alive as the worldâs biggest parliament. To the Secretary-General of our Organization, Mr. Kofi Annan, my delegation pledges its fullest support for his tireless efforts to provide effective leadership and practical ideas as we try to find workable solutions to the new challenges facing the global community. His annual report and the important statement he delivered yesterday provided inspiration and reassurance.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Our two countries â€” Uruguay and Namibia â€” have worked very closely together and with other friendly countries in bringing about the African-Latin American initiative, a necessary and timely innovation aimed at concretizing a mutually felt need for greater interaction between our two neighbouring continents. I wish him all the luck. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate his predecessor, Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, former Foreign Minister of Ukraine, who so ably presided over the work of the General Assembly during a period in which the Organization took bold steps towards institutional transformation and in various social and technical fields.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Before I deliver my statement, let me express on behalf of my country our heartfelt sympathy to the Governments and peoples of the Caribbean that have fallen victim to the devastating onslaught of Hurricane Georges. I hope that we all in the international community will extend to them comfort and humanitarian assistance with all deliberate speed. Let me add my voice to the other speakers in felicitating Mr. Opertti upon his unanimous election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session. Namibia will readily lend him our full support and cooperation during his tenure of office.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Finally, let me end with President Nujoma’s concluding words, spoken here last year: “The future belongs to the youth and children. Our collective duty must be to reinforce their vision for a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous future in the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation”. h”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“President Nujoma will attend this crucial and timely meeting. Before concluding, let me say that an enduring challenge for the United Nations, now and into the next century, is to reactivate multilateralism as the centrepiece of international relations and constructive cooperation in the emerging world order. This new world order cannot be built with a cold war mind-set characterized by confrontation, military intervention, economic blockade and political 8 assassinations. There is no place for it in today’s world of cooperation and open trade. The General Assembly, where all United Nations Member States are represented, is the ideal forum for resolving the conflicts of interest of the haves and the have-nots, guided by the principles of equality, justice and equity for all.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The other concern we have in Namibia is about the fast-approaching deadline of the presence of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) in Angola, which includes financial implications arising out of the obstacles and delays which keep cropping up in the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol. Be that as it may, Namibia is bound by blood and common destiny to stand with Angola. That is why our military contingent attached to UNAVEM III will remain in Angola until the Mission is satisfactorily concluded. This week, the leaders of the Southern African Development Community Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, under the co-chairmanship of President Robert Mugabe, will meet in Luanda to exchange views on the critical situation in Angola and its implications for the region, the United Nations and the world at large.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The objective we would all like to see implemented, I believe, is the early holding of a United Nations-sponsored referendum in which only the authentic Saharawis will be able to express their unfettered will and assume their destiny. There is an extensive update on Angola in the Secretary-General’s annual report. In his important statement of 23 September 1996 to this Assembly, my colleague, Venancio de Moura, Foreign Minister of Angola, provided representatives with useful additional information on the worrisome situation in his country, inclusive of constitutional and political issues. I can hardly add to this information. For Namibia, nonetheless, the suffering of our Angolan brothers and sisters, not to mention the children, is of paramount concern.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Namibia hopes that the progress achieved so far will continue and will eventually lead to lasting peace and reconciliation in the area. Namibia cannot have a split personality on the question of self-determination and decolonization. Western Sahara is crying out for self-determination and decolonization. Only when these goals are fully realized can Africa and the United Nations boast of the complete political emancipation of our beloved continent. Namibia welcomes the high-level contacts that the Kingdom of Morocco and the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) have commenced. I should like to entreat them to maintain and invigorate these encouraging political talks.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Arafat cannot afford to waste one more minute. An urgent one-on-one meeting and joint action, which ought to be routine, to end the vicious circle of violence should take place without delay. The first step in this direction is putting an immediate end to the creation of new settlements and to the reconstruction work in the Old City of Jerusalem. The initiators as well as the supporters of the Madrid peace process should also bring their weight to bear towards restoring the partnership for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, in the best interest of all parties in the Middle East, especially in the exercise of self-determination by the Palestinians and the establishment of an independent state of their own. And, of course, we are not forgetting Bosnia.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In addition to reaffirming their continued commitment to and strengthening, of South-South cooperation, the member States of the Group of 77 and China, in their latest report, renewed their call for a just and predictable multilateral trading system that would ensure the complete integration of the economies of the South into the world economy and the emerging international trading system. To this end, the South attaches great importance to the first Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, to be held in Singapore in December 1996. Namibia strongly supports this meeting. The 1993 Israeli-Palestinian peace accord and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority raised hopes for lasting peace in the Middle East. Regrettably, bloodshed and enmity are once again threatening to derail the Middle East peace process.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It stands to reason, therefore, that United Nations reform must not end up by making the Assembly a rubber stamp of other principal organs, be it the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council. We should like, in the end, to see well-balanced and mutually complementary organs and institutions of the United Nations system. Multilateralism is the essence of the United Nations system. Decisions taken by the majority of Member States 7 should not be changed in the interest of a few through administrative fiat. It is for the General Assembly itself, if need be, to reconsider or to change any programme activities or personnel requirements approved previously.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In this context, Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean each deserve to be allocated at least two permanent seats on the Security Council, as well as a concomitant increase of non-permanent seats in the spirit of democracy and fairness. Namibia has already expressed on a number of occasions a position on the addition of Japan and Germany as permanent members of the Security Council, but not in isolation of the representation envisaged for the aforementioned three continents. At the same time, Namibia believes that the General Assembly was not meant by the authors of the United Nations Charter to play second fiddle to any of the other principal organs. It is a universal parliament of equal members with the same preoccupation for world peace and security, as well as for human survival and prosperity.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Without exception, during last year’s fiftieth anniversary commemoration of the founding of the United Nations, world leaders dealt, one way or another, with the democratization, restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations. This was as it ought to be. Systemic reform of the United Nations was already overdue decades ago. While the reform process itself is still very much on course, its forward momentum seems to have been deflected for one reason or another. The common position shared by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Non-Aligned Movement and other fair-minded bodies and persons is based on the principle of equitable representation and transparency in terms of decision-making at all levels of our Organization.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“While renewing our plea, it is worth acknowledging with appreciation the implementation of General Assembly resolution 46/204, concerning “as if” least-developed country status, which has aided Namibia in some constructive ways. This was made possible by United Nations Member States, as well as by specialized agencies. We thank them all for their support and also for having extended the “as if” least-developed status for an additional three years. We believe, as most do, that economic growth, job creation, human resource development and gender equality must be visible and qualitative in content as critical weapons against social dislocations and strife.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In this connection, we encourage other ongoing initiatives aimed at banning anti-personnel landmines, as well as the commendable work which some countries are doing in the field of demining, including in Namibia. Namibia therefore supports the inclusion of a ban on anti-personnel landmines in the agenda of the forthcoming session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. In the interest of democratization and national reconciliation, and in order to mitigate the existing harsh and racially biased social disparities which we inherited from the apartheid order, Namibia has been pleading with the United Nations and the rest of the international community for least-developed country status. So far, this plea has remained unheeded in the main, but, to be fair, not entirely.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Today, the risk of dying due to anti-personnel landmines in many parts of the world has increased astronomically. This risk exists in southern Africa as well, mainly in Angola, but also in Mozambique and Namibia. This is another area in which SADC is combining the efforts of its members with a view to regional initiatives. Cooperation between SADC and the European Union has made it possible for us to benefit from resources and expertise to deal more effectively with this very serious problem. That is why Namibia welcomes the initiative taken on this matter by my colleague, Mr. Klaus Kinkel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, and supports his Seven-Point-Action Programme on Anti-Personnel Mines.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“But he is short of resources, including personnel, as well as of appropriate capacity to do the job. Namibia will continue to make its contribution in spite of its limited means. We urge the international community to render generous assistance to the OAU for this purpose. 6 Drug trafficking is a horrendous killer disease which permeates the social fabric of society. Drug lords are notorious gangsters not unlike those responsible for organized crime, with corrupting inroads into Governments, businesses and civil society, targeting youth, students and even small children. The member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recently signed a protocol on drug trafficking in our region and agreed to coordinate their law enforcement efforts to combat this menace jointly.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The long-standing partnership and cooperation between the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations should be brought to bear in the emerging favourable situation in Liberia with a view to stabilizing the transition and to preventing any military reversals. Just as peacekeeping cannot be successful without international involvement, so also do regional post-conflict peace-building and reconstruction depend on international support to be successful. It is here where preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacemaking come together to do good for all. Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, the very able and hardworking Secretary-General of the OAU, is anxious to apply in all those conflict situations, the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“How long must this carnage and dehumanization be allowed to continue in Somalia, Burundi and other tormented places in Africa? The glimmer of hope in Liberia engendered by the recently concluded peace accord, brokered by States members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the inauguration of Mrs. Ruth Perry as the first-ever woman Head of State in Africa, must not be snatched away again by unscrupulous power- grabbers and political opportunists. Rather, the newly inaugurated Head of State must be given all the support she needs to pursue a national course of democratization, reconciliation and reconstruction for all Liberians.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It is for these reasons that Namibia insists on complete nuclear disarmament in all respects. The other day I signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on behalf of the Republic of Namibia, not out of complete satisfaction but to encourage the ongoing work towards disarmament, bearing in mind the constructive and timely advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on nuclear weapons, as well as the Treaties of Pelindaba, Rarotonga and Tlatelolco, which created nuclear-free zones in Africa, the South Pacific and Latin America respectively. Africa is bleeding, just as the souls of our people, the African people, are burning in misery and mayhem. Their precious humanity and lives have been denuded of dignity and worth.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The nature of democratic practice needed for such an enterprise is one based on careful deliberation and consultation so that compromise to the lowest value is minimized in favour of optimizing the best options that will protect universal values.” (Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-First Session, Plenary Meetings, first meeting, p. 4) I could hardly agree more with those sentiments. I shall never be convinced, and I shall never succumb to the notion, that nuclear weapons assure world peace and security, development, prosperity or equality among nations. On the contrary, I am convinced that peace, disarmament, democracy, multilateral cooperation and resource allocation can unleash human ingenuity and industry for development and social progress.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“These are living commitments for all nations and peoples and must be realized fully. They bind us together as members of one human race and as each other’s keepers. You, Mr. President, issued a charge to the fifty-first session of the General Assembly in your acceptance speech on 17 September 1996. I thought its essence was encapsulated in these words, which seemed to echo what my leader had said: “The United Nations must begin to embed itself in reality and push the critical issues, especially poverty and social injustice, to the centre of national and public debate. What will it take to do this? Of immediate need is political will by Member States to commit to the principles of democracy and accountability.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“At the same time, it was a celebration of the triumph of the will and determination of world leaders and citizens alike to conquer tyranny, hegemony, poverty, 5 illiteracy, social inequities and underdevelopment amidst the wealth and knowledge that abound in the world. President Nujoma had this to say last year, from this rostrum: “During the past 50 years, this Organization has served humanity as a universal market-place of great ideas and collective action.”(Official Records of the General Assembly, Fiftieth Session, Plenary Meetings, 35th meeting, p. 10) President Nujoma has also said that the promotion of world peace and security was meant to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and, moreover, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Africa holds the Secretary-General in high esteem and supports his tireless efforts in behalf of peace and a better future for humanity, an outlook that is common to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. At the most recent OAU summit, held at Yaoundé, African leaders demonstrated unity and solidarity by endorsing Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali for reelection as Secretary-General of the United Nations. Namibia stands behind that decision. The fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations was a celebration of the success and durability of our Organization.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“His eloquent voice illuminates the burning international issues advocated by the South. It also serves to define most clearly the basis of South-North dialogue, as well as the vital work being done for the developing countries by the Group of 77 and China. Your predecessor, Mr. Diogo Feitas do Amaral, earned himself a place of honour in the annals of history by presiding over the fiftieth commemorative session of the General Assembly. I commend him for his valuable efforts and constructive contribution. Our illustrious Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has been a devoted champion of the Charter of the United Nations, a firm reformer and an indefatigable promoter of peace, social development and peacekeeping throughout the world.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Your election, Mr. President, represents a fitting tribute to you personally for your well-known qualities as a consummate diplomat and to Malaysia for its constructive role in world affairs and remarkable success in economic development and social integration at home. I cannot forget the skilful and decisive role you played as President of the Security Council, in defence of our interests, against attempts aimed at weakening the effectiveness of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia. Our two countries have since joined hands in cooperative relations, which are growing from strength to strength. I congratulate you and wish you every success in your challenging task. Your Prime Minister, Mr. Mahathir Mohamad, is a great friend of the Namibian people.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In conclusion, as we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations and are about to usher in a new millennium, it is time for the world to take stock. The world leadership of today comes largely from a generation that saw violent conflicts, the untold devastation of societies and families and shattered hopes and dreams. We can, on the whole, visualize peace, though it is not yet assured in all regions. However, the vision of peace prevails over the vision of conflicts, and we must be determined to defend it. It is the vision of peace that we must bequeath to the next generation. That should be the gift of our time to the next century.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“20 Other critical issues, such as general and complete disarmament, nuclear technology, nuclear-weapon-free zones and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, also need to be discussed and resolved. Once there is consensus on these and other related concerns, the extension of the Treaty, limited or unlimited, can be resolved to the satisfaction of both nuclear and non-nuclear States parties. The peace process in the Middle East continues to gain momentum and wider acceptance in the region and beyond it. For us, the centre-piece of this peace process is and must remain full realization of the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, led by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which must lead to complete nationhood.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“On another issue, we are encouraged by Libya’s acceptance of Security Council resolution 731 (1992) and its expressed willingness to resolve the Lockerbie crisis with the three Western Powers. Dialogue and diplomacy should be placed on the front burner. Next year the Non-Proliferation Treaty review and extension Conference will be held. Namibia is a signatory to the Treaty. It goes without saying that the Conference will provide a golden opportunity for review, assessment and extension of this vital Treaty, which has so far helped to prevent nuclear war. There is also a proposal by Zimbabwe, a proposal that we fully support, to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of the use and threat of use of nuclear weapons.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Rather, it too needs further strengthening in all aspects. Namibia is of the strong view that the United Nations, and Africa in particular, should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people of Western Sahara are not left to face their fate alone. The decolonization and political emancipation of Africa cannot be declared complete without self-determination for them as well through a democratic referendum jointly supervised by the United Nations and the OAU. With regard to the dispute between two of our esteemed friends, India and Pakistan, on the question of Jammu and Kashmir, Namibia urges them to pursue peaceful dialogue and promote bilateral negotiations without public confrontation.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Change towards a more representative Council would enhance its legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness. Representation on the Security Council must reflect the phenomenal numerical growth in the membership of the General Assembly. In line with the principle of geographical and equitable representation, Africa is entitled to an appropriate representation of no fewer than two permanent seats on the Security Council. For us, Security Council reform means more than merely adding two or more industrialized permanent members. What is required is democracy, transparency and fair play. Namibia reiterates its position that the veto power is outdated and undemocratic and should be abolished. Equally, the General Assembly should not be allowed to lose its authority, competence and relevance in the reform process.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“In recent weeks, important meetings of Ministers and officials of the African and Latin American countries have taken place in Punta del Este, Uruquay, and Brasilia, Brazil, to further advance dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest. It was in this spirit of South-South cooperation that Namibia supported the establishment of the South Centre, towards whose operations we have already made a significant contribution. I should now like to state Namibia’s position on the overall reform of the United Nations, and in particular equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council. Namibia does not believe that the present decision- making machinery of the Security Council will effectively serve the international community in the twenty-first century.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Namibia’s Constitution calls for affirmative action and enlightened policies to effect positive change in this area of human endeavour. Namibia is an active member of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic and will continue to pursue the vigorous promotion of trade in the South Atlantic region, including the development of fisheries and marine resources as well as tourism on a sustainable basis. The South Atlantic region comprises a great expanse of waters, which the countries of the Zone are committed to keep nuclear-free. Similarly, African countries are about to sign a treaty for the denuclearization of the continent.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)