Angola, 2002

Allow me, on

behalf of my Government and in my own name, to

salute Mr. Kavan on his election to the presidency of

the General Assembly. We are convinced that his

knowledge and diplomatic experience will guide us to

success in our activities.

As the international situation remains caught in

the throes of instability, insecurity, economic

backwardness and the scourge of pandemics and

hunger, we nevertheless note with pleasure the great

progress that has been made since our last session.

After decades of conflict, peace was finally restored

throughout southern Africa and is now slowly

becoming a reality in other regions. The people of East

Timor were finally able to assert their self-

determination and independence. Countries such as

Angola, which have actively advocated the legitimate

rights and interests of East Timor at the United

Nations, take great pleasure in welcoming that new

sister republic to the family of this world Organization.

Important advances were also made by the

international community in the struggle against

terrorism. Thanks to a global and coordinated effort,

major terrorist networks have been dismembered.

Angola reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorist

acts, such as that perpetrated against the American

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people in September last year. Angola continues to be

committed to the strict implementation of Security

Council resolution 1373 (2001). We support stronger

control measures, particularly in the financial area, so

as increasingly to curb the scope of action of terrorist

groups.

All these advances underscore the fact that, in

spite of their complexity, the serious problems that

afflict our world today can be resolved. No country or

region should be doomed to live forever under the

scourge of war and terror or be deprived of its rights.

Under the auspices of the United Nations, the

international community must react to crisis situations

expeditiously and effectively. Experience has shown

that belated and ineffectual reactions lead to the

escalation of protracted and intractable conflicts,

especially in Africa. Fortunately, however, the

individual and collective efforts of many Governments

in Africa are now easing these tensions, laying the

essential bases for a solid, just and lasting peace.

The current situation in Angola is a reflection of

that reality. For the first time since our independence,

Angola and Angolans are now enjoying a climate of

authentic peace, thanks to the allaying of factors that

could have provoked a resurgence of the past war and

insecurity. The efforts of the Angolan Government

have blazed the trail from a fratricidal war towards

irreversible peace, thanks to the goodwill and profound

patriotic spirit demonstrated by all Angolans. Military

hostilities effectively ended seven months ago. The

peace understandings reached on 4 April have been

scrupulously adhered to. Armed political parties no

longer exist. Today, there is just one single army, under

the authority of the Angolan Government.

The peace process will soon be concluded with

the completion of the political tasks still pending under

the Lusaka Protocol. In Angola, the process of

economic and social rehabilitation is well under way

and Government institutions have begun to operate

normally throughout our national territory.

Clearly, given the current situation, it will be

difficult for the Angolan Government to rise

appropriately to the nation's economic and social

challenges. Our main challenge now lies in the

reintegration into society of thousands of combat

veterans, 4 million displaced persons, refugees and

thousands upon thousands of handicapped, war orphans

and widows.

On behalf of my Government, I would like to

avail myself of this opportunity to thank the Secretary-

General, members of the troika of observer nations in

the peace process and all those who, in various ways,

have contributed to the achievement of peace in Angola

and who have pledged their assistance to solve the

problems caused by the recently ended war.

Now at peace, Angola is more than ever ready

and willing to take up its role as a sister nation of

Africa and of the world. In the coming days, it will

assume the presidency of the Southern Africa

Development Community, the most important regional

organization for the economic integration of southern

Africa. Angola is also a candidate for a non-permanent

seat in the Security Council in the elections scheduled

for this session of the General Assembly. In these

bodies, Angola intends to contribute actively towards

an environment of stability, fostering the development

and economic welfare of our peoples. Of central

concern to Angola is the issue of peace in Central

Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the

Congo. Only over time will it be possible to avert the

widespread destabilization of the region.

Angola has been a factor of stability in Central

Africa, having contributed substantially to the

cessation of the wave of violence and to the relative

peace now enjoyed by the population in the area.

In the context of these efforts, and under

Angola's aegis, the Presidents of the DRC and Uganda

signed an agreement in Luanda on 6 September. This

was seen as a crucial step for the complete settlement

of the Congolese conflict and for the establishment of

good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

Angola welcomes the diplomatic initiatives

undertaken by other countries to resolve the conflict,

whether or not they are involved in the conflict, under

the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the

understandings reached by the Congolese parties

themselves. Angola advocates a new regional order of

peace, security, cooperation and development, to be

based on respect for sovereignty and territorial

integrity, non-intervention in the internal affairs of

other States, democratic values and respect for human

rights. We are willing to work together with other

central and southern African countries and to offer

them our good offices.

The instability in some parts of the world requires

a greater measure of commitment by the United

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Nations and the parties concerned for peace and

security. Special attention should continue to be

focused on the settlement of the Somali conflict,

fostering unification of the country and consolidation

of lasting peace there. In Western Sahara, we are

concerned at delays in the process towards a

referendum by those resident in the territory. Angola

urges the parties involved to show flexibility and to

continue cooperating with the United Nations and the

African Union towards a negotiated settlement.

In the Middle East, renewed escalation of the

violence may hamper current initiatives towards a

peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the

termination of Arab-Israeli crisis. We urge the parties

to return to the negotiating table and to find a political

settlement that will serve the best interests of all

peoples living in the region and meet their security

requirements.

Last July, the African States established the

African Union as a more effective tool to help in the

resolution of innumerable problems that are at the root

of underdevelopment, such as poverty, foreign debt,

lack of know-how and epidemics, among others. Our

priority is to end the current economic stagnation in

Africa. The establishment of the New Partnership for

Africa's Development reflects the determination of

African Governments to resolve the problems of

economic backwardness, poverty and social exclusion

that afflict the majority of their peoples and the

continuing marginalization of Africa from international

markets in terms of capital, services and goods. Angola

hopes that the international community, especially

donor nations, will lend Africa a helping hand by

increasing official development assistance on the basis

of fair and non-discriminatory criteria.

In closing, allow me to offer my hearty

congratulations to Switzerland as it joins our family of

members of the United Nations.