Malawi, 2009

I wish to add my voice to

those who have spoken before me on the need for

effective responses to global crises and for

strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among

civilizations for international peace, security and

development.

I believe that there is no longer an excuse for

world leaders to be reluctant to move closer together

and stimulate debate on how multilateralism and

dialogue could be strengthened. We need to strengthen

collaboration so that the international community

responds effectively to such global challenges as

climate change, the financial and economic crisis, food

and energy crises, armed conflicts, terrorism and,

above all, poverty reduction.

The first item on the multilateralism agenda is to

reach a global consensus on reforming multilateral

institutions, including the United Nations, to ensure the

equitable and geographical representation of developed

and developing countries alike. It is imperative that

developing nations have an effective voice on matters

that concern them. Therefore, the United Nations

should promote dialogue that ensures the inclusiveness,

transparency and accountability that are needed to

attain genuine global peace, security and development.

The Security Council must be made flexible to

allow the countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and

the Middle East to have fair representation in that

body. The continued monopoly of that body by the

super-Powers is no longer justifiable. Developing

nations cannot continue to be silent spectators in

matters that affect them. Every sovereign nation is an

integral part of the global village. Gone are the days

when conflicts, wars and economic crises in Africa,

South-East Asia, the Middle East and Latin America

were the concerns only of the peoples and

Governments in those areas.

The second agenda item for multilateral dialogue

is the attainment of world food security. Food

shortages threaten the foundations of democracy and

good governance. The United Nations cannot sustain a

world system where huge populations live permanently

with hunger and starvation. This world body must find

a formula whereby the world can produce enough food

for all at affordable prices. I believe that it is possible

under the auspices of the United Nations to achieve

global food security.

Malawi has a well-organized agricultural

development strategy and can contribute to United

Nations efforts in this matter. Malawi has, within a

short period of time, transformed itself from being a

food-deficit and hungry nation to a food-surplus

nation. Malawi now produces enough food for all its

people, and we are able to export to neighbouring

countries.

The key factor behind this success story is that

Malawi has allocated huge budgetary resources and

heavy investment to the agricultural sector. We have

also successfully introduced an agricultural input

subsidy programme that enables poor and low-income

households to buy fertilizer, seeds and chemicals at a

heavily subsidized price. As a result, poor smallholder

farmers have become more productive. At the same

time, there are visible signs of improvements in the

standard of living of the people, particularly in rural

areas.

The third agenda item for multilateral dialogue is

to manage climate change. Malawi is happy that this

matter will be fully discussed at the Copenhagen

Conference later this year. At the national level,

Malawi is responding to the challenge of climate

change through intensive irrigation farming and by

moving away from dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

The Government has introduced the Green Belt

programme that will irrigate up to 1 million hectares of

land for small-, medium- and large-scale farmers by

harnessing water sources from the rivers and lakes to

provide extensive irrigation. We shall grow a broad

range of food crops, such as rice, wheat, maize, beans

and lentils, as our way to contribute to resolving the

world food crisis.

The threat of climate change is real. I believe that

the price of complacency will be much higher if we fail

to act today. For Africa and developing countries

elsewhere, we need to adequately address the issue of

deforestation, environmental degradation and

agricultural productivity. We need to act now.

Let me conclude by stating that we also need a

global dialogue on democracy, good governance,

human rights, the rule of law and the fight against

terrorism in all its manifestations. We also need a new

understanding of how developing nations can cope

with the shocks of global financial crises and

escalating fuel prices.

I believe that, working together, all nations of the

world, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, can

strengthen multilateralism and dialogue for lasting

international peace, security and development. We live

in one world. We have the same destiny.