Ethiopia, 2008

I should like to begin by

congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the

presidency and wishing you every success in the

months ahead. I pledge my country’s fullest

cooperation and support in the discharge of your duties

and responsibilities. I must also extend my sincere

appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his

effective leadership in promoting global peace, security

and development.

Last year, this Assembly declared and honoured

the opening of Ethiopia’s third millennium. We

appreciate that honour. It provided a tangible

foundation for the renaissance of Ethiopia, most

recently symbolized by the re-erection of the Obelisk

of Axum, brought back from Italy to the land of its

origin, where it was carved 17 centuries ago. We are

grateful to the Italian Government for that right and

bold decision.

A central element of our millennium celebrations

has been the initiation of numerous development

activities for the war on poverty and our commitment

to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

As the Secretary-General has noted, progress towards

the MDGs in Africa has been uneven. It is indeed

alarming that no country is likely to reach all the

MDGs by 2015. We are at the moment at the midway

mark and we all recognize that we are behind schedule.

We hope that the high-level event on the MDGs has

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achieved its objective of creating global awareness and

renewed commitment, with particular focus on Africa.

I concur with the Secretary-General that we are

facing a development emergency. In that regard,

decisive and timely action must be taken by developed

and developing countries alike to live up to their

commitments to the Millennium Development Goals.

Food insecurity could undermine core democratic

values and ruin national development efforts.

Governments should therefore take the lead and work

together in the economic sector to resolve the current

global food crisis.

The Monterrey Consensus on financing for

development, integrating aid, debt relief, market

access, good governance and foreign direct investment

is a litmus test for the success of global partnerships.

We call on the developed countries to honour their

commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross

national income to overseas development assistance.

The Millennium Development Goals provide the

critical minimum for our survival as a nation and the

basis for the profound transformation in which we are

currently engaged. Ethiopia’s priorities remain the

eradication of poverty, sustainable development and

ensuring good governance, democracy and respect for

human rights. Those are not a choice, but a necessity

for our survival as a nation. We have laid the

foundations for continued growth and democratization,

building democratic institutions from the grass roots

and providing the necessary political space for

responsible democratization.

Our average of 10 per cent growth over the last

five years is continuing despite the setbacks of recent

months. We continue protecting poverty-targeted

outlays and increasing capital expenditure on

infrastructure, education, health and pro-poor sectors.

For the first time in its history, Ethiopia is making real

and meaningful economic progress. It is the fastest

growing non-oil economy in Africa.

Ethiopia is both landlocked and one of the least

developed countries. Accordingly, we attach great

importance to the full implementation of both the

Brussels and the Almaty Programmes of Action. While

we appreciate all external assistance, we are equally

conscious of the need for predictable, strong and

enduring partnerships for mutual benefit. We need

economic relations that no longer penalize poor

countries and ones that provide greater flexibility in

development aid, the transfer of capital and the

removal of excessive indebtedness.

The objectives of the Millennium Development

Goals make it clear that global affluence and welfare

are inseparable and that prosperity cannot coexist with

abject poverty. In the context of the present world

trading system, we urge realistic preferential terms of

trade, especially to least developed countries, including

quota- and duty-free market access for all their goods

and services.

Ethiopia has consistently helped to promote peace

and stability in our region. We have no doubt that

sustainable development will be possible only with

durable peace and security. Those form the very

foundation of our subregional organization, the

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

As the current Chair of IGAD, Ethiopia is determined

to ensure that its revitalization will become a reality,

enhance regional integration and promote peace,

security and development.

We know the dangers of continued conflict in our

region. That is indeed why we have committed

ourselves to peace in Somalia ever since we helped

organize the first broad-based peace conference in

1992. We have consistently supported all efforts to

bring about an effective Government in that country. In

that regard, we are encouraged by the latest positive

political developments in Somalia. The Djibouti

Agreement and the Addis Ababa road map open the

way for further progress in the peace process. We now

look forward to the planned IGAD summit in Nairobi

early next month to help Somalia’s leaders do more for

national reconciliation.

At the same time, we urge the Security Council to

discharge its responsibility by deploying a

peacekeeping mission to Somalia as soon as possible or

at least by allocating the necessary resources to

strengthen the African Union Mission to Somalia

(AMISOM). We commend the deployment of troops

from Uganda and Burundi to AMISOM. It is never too

late for others to follow their example.

Ethiopia appreciates the progress made in the

implementation of the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement in the Sudan. We urge the parties to do

more in overcoming the challenges facing them.

However, we must emphasize that the international

community should also bear its shared responsibility in

that regard. Ethiopia fully supports the African Union

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position on Darfur and the handling of the International

Criminal Court-Sudan issue.

Ethiopia stands firmly committed to resolving all

outstanding issues with Eritrea through peaceful,

political, legal and diplomatic means.

Terrorism is a scourge that impedes peace and

development in any part of the world. As its occurrence

in any form threatens global security as a whole,

Ethiopia believes that it should be addressed

collectively. In that regard, we attach great significance

to the ability of dialogue among civilizations to build a

culture of tolerance that will enable us to create closer

understanding among nations — all nations.

Ethiopia remains committed to the United

Nations reform process and its revitalization. They are

critical to the credibility of the United Nations and the

future of multilateralism. As a founding Member of the

United Nations, Ethiopia will always remain loyal to

its purpose and principles.

The United Nations is the custodian of

multilateral diplomacy. At no time since the Second

World War have multilateralism and genuine

cooperation been as critical as they are today. That is

why we need the United Nations as never before. It is a

body that remains vital to the future of us all,

developing and developed countries alike.