Cameroon, 2005

I am particularly pleased to express to you,

Sir, Cameroon’s heartfelt congratulations on your

election to the presidency of the General Assembly at

its sixtieth session. I wish you every success in

carrying out your noble mandate and assure you of my

delegation’s full cooperation. I pay a warm tribute to

your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping,

Minister of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Cooperation and Francophonie of the Gabonese

Republic. His great talent, consummate negotiating

skill and competence contributed decisively to the

success of the work of the fifty-ninth session. To the

Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, I

once again express Cameroon’s full appreciation for

his tireless efforts and dedication in the service of the

Organization and its ideals.

At your wise suggestion, Mr. President, the main

theme of our debate is the implementation and follow-

up of the outcome document (resolution 60/1) of the

High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly.

That reflects the great importance of this debate —

importance clearly shown by the strong participation in

it. My country is pleased to add its voice to those of the

representatives of 184 other countries, who have

already spoken during this exercise.

Cameroon fully supports the outcome document

adopted at the end of that historic summit. Some would

have preferred that it be stronger, others that it be more

proactive. Cameroon believes it is a balanced and

realistic document with regard to all the major global

concerns now considered to be priorities. Furthermore,

it is a document that reflects a new consensus on the

role of the United Nations and its place in today’s

international system.

Our heads of State or Government took stock of

the main challenges of our time and of the priority

actions that we must take together to build a genuine

global partnership for development and to ensure

lasting collective peace and security. They also set out

guidelines to be followed over the next decade to

complete the whole United Nations renewal process

and the effective achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs). The time has come to

move from words to action. Indeed, it is only by

implementing those commitments that we can measure

their value, force and relevance.

It is indisputable that the world has made

considerable progress in implementing some of the

MDGs. But there is another undeniable fact that is far

less encouraging: the situation in Africa. Africa is the

world’s only region that, with 10 years until the

deadline, is alarmingly behind in implementing the

MDGs. If it does not receive substantial external

assistance very soon, most of the Goals will not be

attained by 2015. Most of them may remain a mirage

for a long time.

We are aware that the current economic growth

rate in our countries averages approximately 3 per cent

. That is not sufficient to create the macroeconomic

conditions necessary to achieve the MDGs. Today —

particularly in sub-Saharan Africa — without large-

scale job creation, revenue creation, a massive inflow

of private capital or official development assistance, an

effective global and sustainable solution to the nagging

issue of debt, and equitable participation in world

trade, our efforts will be doomed to failure.

For their part, the Governments of African

countries, who have the primary responsibility for their

own development, are implementing national poverty

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reduction strategies in keeping with the need to achieve

the MDGs. With specific regard to Cameroon, the

Government is tackling that with determination.

Furthermore, the implementation of its Poverty

Reduction Strategy Paper is supported by the donor

community.

My country has begun to review its strategy to

ensure that it is fully in line with the Millennium

Development Goals. It is also implementing, with the

same determination, its national programme of

governance. Thus, the Government of Cameroon has

stepped up its efforts to combat corruption and has

committed itself to a more transparent and effective

management of public finances.

My country would have liked to see more

ambitious and courageous commitments adopted

together with a specific timetable for the development

of Africa. Nevertheless, if the commitments made by

world leaders in the outcome document are speedily

implemented, Africa would make considerable

progress in implementing most of the Millennium

Development Goals and could even — depending on

the adequate mobilization of national and external

resources and the political will to take action —

achieve all those goals by the agreed date.

During a recent crisis, the United Nations was

nearly shaken to its very foundations. During those

events, our sometimes differing views about our

system of peace and collective security became openly

apparent. Fortunately, given the need to overcome all

the global threats that weigh on our collective security,

the summit reached a healthy consensus on the

essential nature of joint actions that we need to take for

the peaceful settlement of disputes, counteracting

terrorism and the maintenance and consolidation of

peace.

Nonetheless, the process of revitalizing the

Organization will remain incomplete until we are able

to agree on the enlargement of the Security Council.

May I recall that, as the President of Cameroon, His

Excellence Mr. Paul Biya, declared on 14 September,

Cameroon remains faithful to the African position on

reform of the Security Council. This reform is

necessary and must take place soon, bringing nations

together rather than dividing them. This is the firm

conviction of Cameroon, and my country will continue,

however long it takes, to work with other States to

overcome our differences and forge a solid consensus

in order to achieve this very important reform.

Recourse to law for the peaceful settlement of

disputes has, necessarily, as a corollary, the obligation

to implement fully, willingly and in good faith the

decisions of the International Court of Justice. This is

how we understand the reference made in the outcome

document concerning “the obligation of States to settle

their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with

Chapter VI of the Charter, including, when appropriate,

by the use of the International Court of Justice”

(resolution 60/1, para. 73).

Implementation of a decision of a court through

positive negotiations is based first and foremost on a

peaceful course of action, specifically on the basis of a

deep commitment to the values and principles

enshrined in the Charter. In no case may that be

interpreted as an open possibility to renounce even

partially the fundamental elements of that decision.

Very much to the contrary.

The outcome document of the High-level Plenary

Meeting allows for coordinating the activities of the

principal bodies of the Organization within the

framework of their mandate under the Charter for the

prevention of armed conflicts and settlement of

disputes. Cameroon therefore believes it desirable that

we should find ways to ensure that Member States,

through the Security Council and in the General

Assembly, are informed formally of the status of

implementation of judgements handed down by the

International Court of Justice, as they are of the

Court’s annual activities.

The Secretary-General could thus inform the

Security Council regularly and in detail and report to

Member States as is done in his report to the General

Assembly on the activities of the Organization.

Good practices in this area would take root and

inspire us all. In that way, we would be able to identify

potential sources of conflict at a very early stage

through difficulties identified and to make timely

recommendations to prevent them.

Cameroon, which looks forward to the rapid

creation of the Peacebuilding Commission and the

Human Rights Council, counts on your wisdom to

ensure that the negotiating process that will lead to

their creation will be open, transparent and inclusive.

35

During the present session, which coincides with

the Organization’s sixtieth anniversary, we should be

inspired by the visionary dynamism provided by the

heads of State and Government. This is a new

opportunity, perhaps one of the best opportunities,

along with the Millennium Summit, to make a decisive

contribution to improving the human condition and

achieving an ideal world where all women, men and

children live free from fear, hunger and disease.

It is our responsibility here and now to fulfil the

generous promises made by our leaders to humanity a

week ago. Let us do so without making excuses,

without seeking loopholes. Let us do it now.