Uganda, 2012

Uganda joins other

delegations in congratulating Mr. Jeremić on his

election as President of this body. My delegation has full

confidence in his ability to steer our deliberations, and

he can count on our support. I also wish to commend

Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for his effective

leadership during the last session.

The international community has made significant

progress in reducing conflicts around the world over

the two decades since the end of the Cold War and

the eventual freedom of South Africa from apartheid.

However, we still face challenges arising from conflicts

that take a heavy toll on nations and people around the

world. The theme for this session’s debate is therefore

timely and pertinent. We are again seeing an increase

in conflicts brought about by unconstitutional changes

of Governments, disputed elections, social tensions,

extremist ideologies and territorial or border disputes,

among other causes. We must redouble our efforts to

resolve conflicts and disputes through peaceful means

and in conformity with justice and international law, as

enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

From Uganda’s experience over the years, conflicts

are best handled, first and foremost, by the political

actors and citizens of the countries in question,

following democratic principles and guided by the

principle of equality of all persons before the law. In

cases where national actors for some reason cannot

resolve the problem, then subregional organizations

should step in. In the case of Africa those include the East

African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority

on Development, the International Conference on the

Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African

Development Community, the Economic Community

of West African States and others. The United Nations

and the international community would then provide

the necessary support to subregional and regional

initiatives.

Our recent achievements in the peace processes in

Burundi, the Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, among

others, attest to the progress we can achieve by working

together. The advantages of such an approach include

the use of local actors who have more discerning

knowledge of the problems and those in close proximity

and with a greater stake in getting the problems

resolved. In addition, there is the international support and legitimacy that the United Nations provides. The

current ICGLR initiative on the situation in the east

of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is based on

such experience. We call upon the Security Council

and the international community to give the necessary

support to the decisions of the ICGLR summit held in

Kampala on 8 September. That regional initiative is

aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict in

eastern Congo, deploying a neutral international force

and responding to the humanitarian crisis.

Our preference for home-grown solutions is

premised on the realization that external influences

or interventions do not necessarily offer sustainable

solutions for the resolution of conflicts. On the contrary,

external interventions often contribute to a cycle of

destabilizing tendencies — which is why we are still

grappling with situations like the one in eastern Congo.

The African Union (AU) has shown strong political

will to resolve conflicts on the continent peacefully and

to contribute to the maintenance of international peace

and security. We call upon our partners to support the

dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as the peace and

security efforts of the AU and subregional organizations.

Uganda’s participation in and contribution to conflict

resolution in our subregion, on the African continent

and on the international scene are guided by that

approach, which has proved to be largely successful in

resolving conflicts and wars.

Regional initiatives need to be complemented by

international support, including assisting countries

emerging from conflict to build the requisite capacities

for the consolidation of peace. It is also important that

such support include provision of immediate post-

conflict humanitarian assistance and material input

for reconstruction and development. We welcome the

continuing deepening of cooperation between the United

Nations and regional and subregional organizations

in the resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of

peace and security. This positive trend should continue,

and every effort should be made to avoid repeating the

mistakes of the past.

Uganda strongly believes that conflicts that might

arise between and within countries should be resolved

through dialogue among all the parties concerned. In

the recent past we have witnessed regrettable instances

in which peace initiatives have been frustrated through

the intransigence of the parties, with support from some

members of the international community. That can only be a recipe for long-term turmoil and instability in the

affected countries and neighbouring regions.

In our view, in situations of armed conflict the

first priority should be securing a verifiable ceasefire,

followed by a political process involving an all-inclusive

dialogue without preconditions. It is up to the parties,

with the assistance of a mediator or facilitator, to reach

a settlement that addresses their interests.

There is no doubt that resolving conflicts requires

identifying and addressing their underlying causes,

which include social, political and economic factors

that are often deeply entrenched and interwoven. In

seeking to resolve any conflict, national, regional and

international actors need to adopt approaches that take

into account the following complexities.

First, it is important to address the substantive issues

that give rise to conflicts in the first place, such as lack

of access to or inequitable distribution of resources,

social or political exclusion and other grievances.

The linkage between development and security in

peacebuilding is now widely recognized, and once

conflicts are resolved, the affected communities need

peace dividends in terms of delivery of basic services

such as health and education as well as opportunities

for employment.

Secondly, efforts should be made to defuse the fear,

hatred and other negative emotions that make conflicts

intractable and often violent. We must collectively

speak out against intolerance and extremism in order

to advance mutual respect and understanding of the

values and beliefs of others. Uganda condemns all acts

of terrorism and violence. We strongly condemn the

recent spate of violence and attacks, including targeting

diplomatic missions of the United States and other

Member States.

Thirdly, political leaders and all actors need

to forge national reconciliation, including through

transitional justice mechanisms, as well as establishing

truth and reconciliation mechanisms, which play a key

role in promoting durable peace. We would also like

to reiterate the need to increase the role of women and

youth in the peaceful settlement of disputes, given the

significant contribution they can make.

On the Israeli-Palestinian question, Uganda

continues to call upon both parties to negotiate and

reach a peaceful settlement based on a two-State

solution, with a Palestinian State living side by side

with Israel in peace, security and mutual recognition.

Finally, we affirm our commitment to the peaceful

settlement of conflicts and to fostering international

cooperation based on the principles of sovereign

equality, justice and adherence to international law.