Zambia, 2005

I am pleased to join those

who have spoken before me in congratulating you, Sir, on

your election to the presidency of the sixtieth session of

the General Assembly. For us in Zambia your election is

especially significant given the historic bond of friendship

05-51226 9

that exists between our countries. It was in our country

that your illustrious compatriot, then Secretary-General

Dag Hammarskjöld, lost his life in 1961 while on a

mission for peace in the Congo.

I pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency

Mr. Jean Ping, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the

Republic of Gabon, who presided over the fifty-ninth

session, for his selfless commitment and devotion to

the search for consensus on the outcome document

which the Assembly adopted two days ago (resolution

60/1). My delegation’s appreciation also goes to the

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

for his outstanding leadership and dedication to the

well-being of the Organization.

Five years ago we committed ourselves to eight

identifiable Development Goals. Today we have

recommitted ourselves to uphold the principles and

meet the Goals set out in the historic Millennium

Declaration. We hope that the commitments we have

undertaken will not remain mere empty words but that,

this time around, the international community will

make a concerted effort to implement them. In this

regard we are inspired by the report of the High-level

Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change (A/59/565).

Those of us from Africa see the report of the Secretary-

General (A/59/2005) as an opportunity to realize the

goals set out in the Organization of African Unity’s

1997 Harare Declaration, which called for the reform

of the United Nations Security Council.

My delegation supports the demand of the

African Union for two permanent seats on the Security

Council, with all the privileges attached to such seats,

including the right of veto. Our position is not meant to

frustrate the reform process. The African region

considers the reform of the Organization as an

opportunity to correct historical injustices that stand as

a dark cloud over our people. We would actually prefer

that the right of veto be removed from the United

Nations, as it is undemocratic. We are, however, aware

that some permanent members of the Security Council

are reluctant to give up the veto power at the moment.

It is in this regard that Africa, like other regions,

deserves the right of veto, as the absence of that right

will only serve to perpetuate the marginalization of the

continent.

The position I have outlined does not in any way

mean that Africa is against the expansion of the

Security Council to include other important countries

that contribute to international peace and security. Let

me reaffirm in this regard that Zambia supports the

four candidate States of Brazil, Germany, India and

Japan for permanent membership of the Security

Council with full privileges, including that of veto

power. I am only stressing that Africa is entitled to, and

deserves the right of, permanent representation in the

Security Council, with the right of veto, not only as a

matter of correcting an historical injustice against

Africa but also to uphold the democratic principles of

regional equality.

Two days ago we adopted the outcome document

of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General

Assembly on the review of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs). The High-level Plenary

Meeting provided a rare opportunity for us to share

experiences in the implementation of the development

agenda, in particular, and highlighted the need for

enhanced international cooperation and coordination if

we are to achieve much-sought-after economic

development. While the document does not contain

everything we would have wanted to include, it

nevertheless represents an important basis for

continued dialogue during this session.

Since 2001 Africa has been implementing the

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD),

whose main objective is to enhance the capacity of

African countries to reduce the high incidence of

poverty on the continent and to strengthen efforts to

achieve sustainable economic development. While we

acknowledge the support that the international

community has so far rendered to the realization of

NEPAD’s objectives, it is also true that this support

that has proved to be insufficient.

It is the view of my Government that while

official development assistance (ODA) may help in the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,

trade would help to sustain those gains. In this regard,

Zambia urges all stakeholders to bring to a speedy

conclusion the Doha round of trade negotiations, which

will act as a catalyst towards achieving sustainable

development. The external debt problem is still a major

hindrance to development. The current unfavourable

terms in agriculture and commodity trading make the

problem even more unbearable.

My delegation commends the United Nations for

supporting the efforts of the African Union’s peace

initiatives on the continent. The Pan-African

10 05-51226

Parliament and the Peace and Security Council are part

of the infrastructure in support of peace and security. In

this regard, I wish to pledge Zambia’s continued

support of the process.

Zambia, as one of the core States of the Great

Lakes region, would like to associate itself with the

remarkable progress that continues to be made in the

areas of peace and security in the subregion since the

17 November 2003 report of the Secretary-General to

the Security Council on preparations for an

international conference on the Great Lakes region

(S/2003/1099). We are encouraged by some positive

developments brought about so far through the process

of regional ownership and international partnership and

the combined efforts of the United Nations, the African

Union, the Group of Friends and the subregional

Governments concerned.

My Government will continue to play its part in

the fight against international terrorism. Zambia rejects

terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We are

determined to work with the rest of the international

community to implement the counter-terrorism

strategy.

Zambia is committed to promoting and respecting

human rights, the rule of law and democracy. In

Zambia we believe that democracy is a universal value.

We believe therefore it is under conditions of

democracy that all human rights are protected.

Allow me to conclude my statement by referring

to the efforts my Government is making to fight

corruption. The nation as a whole has realized that the

state of our economy could have been much better if

all the resources available had been utilized properly.

In this regard, one cannot overemphasize the fact that

corruption erodes the incomes of households and

businesses, thus defeating efforts to reduce poverty. I

wish to explain that the Zambia Task Force on

Corruption is an instrument for development that my

Government hopes will enhance the capacity to utilize

public resources for purposes that benefit the nation as

a whole. More important, the attainment of the Heavily

Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative completion

point by my country can, in large measure, be

attributed to the success of the campaign against

corruption, which prompted the Government to

introduce stringent financial controls and transparent

and accountable public expenditure measures. The

United Nations should consider increasing its resources

in the fight against corruption.

As we mark the sixtieth anniversary of this, our

great institution, we cannot but conclude that its

importance and continued relevance to mankind is

beyond question. It is in that context that we need to

revitalize it in order for it to fulfil the ideals for which

it was established.