Namibia, 1992

Since its inception in 1945, the United

Nations has spearheaded humanity's common yearning for a peaceful, just and

prosperous world, a world freed at last from war, caprice, greed and other

abominable human and social impulses.

The brilliant and forward-looking authors of the Charter of the United

Nations and the rest of us who are the beneficiaries of their collective

wisdom and imagination have reason to hope for a firm consolidation of a

democratic, stable and compassionate world order, which would make a clean

break with the past, characterized by two unprecedented and most destructive

world wars in this century.

This world order, the optimists proclaimed, would be governed by the rule

of law, respect for human rights, universal exercise of the right to

self-determination, recognition of the equality of all nations, large and

small, and sharing among the members of the human family. On this basis it

was fair to expect that the great achievements in science and technology could

generously be utilized to assure the common survival of humanity, protection

of the environment and the unfettered enjoyment of larger freedoms by every

individual on this planet Earth.

After all, the founding fathers themselves made a solemn pledge in the

Charter

"to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in

our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind".

Their vision of a peaceful and harmonious world and peoples' hopes for social

advancement and economic prosperity have had a common source: total revulsion

against war, destruction and darkness.

Forty-seven years later, reflecting on the intervening years, we note

that the world has witnessed more, not fewer, incidents of just and unjust

wars, regional conflicts, racial and ethnic strife, acute forms of human

suffering, environmental degradation and an unmitigated endangerment of life

itself.

Namibia joined other member States of the Movement of Non-Aligned

Countries at its Summit in Jakarta in stating that

"the world today is far from being a peaceful, just and secure place.

Simmering disputes, violent conflicts, aggression and foreign occupation,

interference in the internal affairs of States, policies of hegemony and

domination, ethnic strife, religious intolerance, new forms of racism and

narrowly conceived nationalism are major and dangerous obstacles to

harmonious coexistence among States and peoples and have even led to the

disintegration of States and societies."

Nuclear conflagration, thank heavens, has not occurred, but the world is

far from being a peaceful and secure place. History does indeed repeat

itself, at least some of the time, if not most of the time.

Let me add to this assessment one more observation made in Jakarta by an

eminent Asian leader. His view, which is consistent with our own, was:

"We must also ensure that the new world order to which the leaders of the

industrialised countries often refer does not turn out to be but a new

version of the same old patterns of domination of the strong over the

weak and the rich over the poor."

For the new world order to be universally acceptable, it should be genuine in

its import and distinct from the old unjust and undemocratic order, and it

should show a way forward towards greater human solidarity and cooperation.

At this very moment, in South Africa, Somalia, Liberia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Cambodia and various parts of the former Soviet Union and

elsewhere in the world millions of victims languish in perpetual tragedy.

This carnage includes innocent and defenceless men, women and children who are

killed by guns or hunger. The current state of world affairs hardly

encourages confidence and optimism about our common future. One need not be a

cynic to hold this view.

My delegation is delighted to see our illustrious Secretary-General

occupying a lofty place in the United Nations Organization at this critical

time of a changing global environment. It was Africa's pride and

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali's own crowning personal achievement when he was

unanimously elected last year as the first African Secretary-General of our

Organization. We commend him for his courage and initiative and for the manner

in which he has so ably carried out his daunting tasks.

Namibia welcomes the Secretary-General's "Agenda for Peace". Many of the

ideas and recommendations contained in it coincide with those emanating from

bodies such as the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Non-Aligned

Movement, the Commonwealth and others, notably the Nordic States, which some

time ago circulated their views on the United Nations reform process.

With this in mind, Namibia is alive to a suggestion made from this

rostrum, and endorsed by other delegations, that a special meeting of the

Security Council be convened to consider the Secretary-General's proposals. If

and when this suggestion is carried out and the proposed meeting takes place,

we expect the Secretary-General and the members of the Security Council to

take into consideration the contributions I have mentioned and to ensure that

the intended consultations are inclusive and transparent. There ought to be a

careful balance between the need for a renewed commitment to strengthen

mechanisms for maintaining world peace and security, on the one hand, and a

focus on the burning issues of poverty and other forms of socio-economic

injustice, on the other.

In this context, I should like to refer to a bold initiative taken by the

Secretary-General of the OAU, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim. I have in mind his

proposed creation of an institutional mechanism, within the OAU General

Secretariat, to deal promptly and effectively with conflict management,

prevention and resolution in respect of the eruption of major crises, similar

to those now prevailing in Somalia and Liberia, in any African State.

There is also a companion set of proposals in a package entitled "The

Kampala Document", which is the product of a meeting held last year in

Kampala, Uganda, devoted to guestions of security, stability, development and

co-operation in Africa. These proposals, in our view, are serious and

practical innovations by Africans themselves to confront major political and

security crises as and when they occur in any part of Africa, and we

wholeheartedly endorse them.

The United Nations Charter itself devotes its chapter VIII to regional

arrangements or agencies for dealing with issues such as peace, security and

conflict, and encourages appropriate action which is consistent with the

purposes and principles of the United Nations. The current Secretary-General

himself lamented the fact that the "cold war had impaired the proper

activation of this key provision of the Charter and also the fact that", to

paraphrase him, rather than helping to resolve regional conflicts super-Powers

actually managed to exacerbate them for their own selfish ends.

Quite clearly, there is a linkage between the priority agendas of the

Secretaries-General of the United Nations and of the Organization of African

Unity, and this is, as a matter of fact, in keeping with the long-standing

co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity.

Mr. President, at this juncture I should like to address a few words to

you personally. May I begin by stating that your own unanimous election and

the critical role required of your office become not only propitious on the

time-scale of the global agenda, as evidenced by the items for discussion

during the current session of the Assembly, but equally by affording an ideal

opportunity to you boldly and unambiguously to articulate the concerns and

aspirations of the poor and developing Members of this Organization.

It gives me great pleasure, therefore, on behalf of the Government and

people of Namibia, to extend congratulations to you upon your brilliant

election. I have no doubt in my mind that, given your diplomatic skills and

vast practical experience, our deliberations will be crowned with success.

Our two friendly countries enjoy excellent relations, and I extend best wishes

to you.

To your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Shamir S. Shihabi of the Kingdom

of Saudi Arabia, I say many congratulations for a job well done, and I should

like to wish him great success and happiness in his future endeavours.

The long cherished ideal of the universality of our Organization has been

further enhanced as more and more new nations have joined its membership. As

this world becomes unavoidably interdependent and we collectively realize that

the world is truly a global village, increasingly high expectations are now

being placed in the United Nations. This is yet another reason why the

Organization needs to be further revitalized and genuinely democratized.

The world's contemporary challenges stemming from rapidly changing

inter-State relations and social problems cannot be adequately dealt with by

the United Nations without fundamental institutional and procedural reforms,

including the revision of its Charter. It is in this context that Namibia

welcomes all the new Members and wishes them well, while assuring them of our

desire to promote close co-operation with all of them in a spirit of

friendship and peaceful coexistence.

The Rio Earth Summit made the matter abundantly clear: that global

economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand.

Development must be based on the sustainable utilization of the environment

for the sake of this and all future generations.

Namibia's Constitution contains a special provision on this crucial

subject. It states:

"The State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the

people by adopting, inter alia, policies aimed at ... the maintenance of

ecosystems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of

Namibia and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable

basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future; in

particular, the Government shall provide measures against the dumping or

recycling of foreign nuclear and toxic waste on Namibian territory."

Moreover, it further charges the Ombudsman with the duty

"to investigate complaints concerning the over-utilization of living

natural resources, the irrational exploitation of non-renewable

resources, the degradation and destruction of ecosystems and failure to

protect the beauty and character of Namibia."

Towards implementing environment-friendly policies which aim at

sustainable development, the Government had, prior to the Rio Earth Summit,

adopted a "Green Plan" for Namibia that outlines a comprehensive framework for

development in accordance with sustainable environmental principles. The Plan

elaborates on the Government's approach to our ecological challenges and the

conscientious management of our natural resources and national assets.

During the days of apartheid colonialism and foreign exploitation, both

renewable and non-renewable resources that provided the very basis of the

economy were subjected to ruthless plunder mainly for the benefit of

foreigners. The Government has taken steps to put an end to this disastrous

situation. Many in the developing world, Namibia foremost among them, depend

on these resources for daily subsistence, and unless there are going to be

alternatives for dealing with debilitating problems such as the debt burden,

the foreign exchange dilemma and technological backwardness, many of us are,

sad to say, bound to remain in a perpetual state of poverty and

underdevelopment. This would in turn mean further degrading the environment

and endangering our very existence.

It follows that what is required now is an undertaking to speed up

implementation of Agenda 21, adopted in Rio. Its financing, it must be

stressed, is not only to assist the developing countries to fight poverty and

create jobs but equally to protect the ecosystem itself, which is very vital

for the survival of humankind.

In the same vein, let me add that Namibia, being a dry, semi-desert

country, endorses the proposed convention on combating desertification and

urges that the preparation of the international convention on desertification

be undertaken during the current session.

This brings me to the next topic, namely the current drought and acute

situation of hunger and suffering which has afflicted the whole of the

southern African subregion. Crop production, livestock farming and our

efforts to become food-sufficient and to achieve security have suffered

severely. The Government established a National Committee on Drought to

ensure, inter alia, better coordination and more efficient delivery of water

and food to the most needy sections of the population and the sustenance of

the livestock and game. An initial amount of 120 million rand was budgeted

for these vital schemes.

Furthermore, in addition to these national efforts, we have also made a

special appeal to the international community and, generally speaking, the

response has been prompt and helpful, for which Namibia is exceedingly

grateful.

A regional effort is under way which involves both the sharing of data

and the coordinating of programmes and communication and transport facilities,

coupled with the assistance received from the United Nations system,

intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals around

the world.

In this connection, I should like to express a special word of

commendation and appreciation to Sir Ketumile Masire, President of the

Republic of Botswana, and to the secretariat of Southern African Development

Coordination Conference (SADCC) for having taken timely and decisive steps

with a view to sensitizing and mobilizing the international community as to

the plight of all our peoples in the subregion and for co-sponsoring an

important conference on the situation in Geneva early this year. Of course,

we all remain hopeful that there will be early and abundant rains this year,

and in all subsequent years, as this will, no doubt, mean saving lives. I

thought I should also add here a point which, with each passing day, is

becoming more and more clear to all Namibians. This has to do with finding,

preserving, planning and distributing water resources, as being perhaps the

single most precious primary commodity needed to keep us going and sustain

life itself.

The realization that the world is a global village and one market-place

with interlocking financial institutions and credit arrangements underlines

the internationalization of the world economy.

Namibia, being one of the poorest countries in the South, must continue

to raise its voice, in unison with other members of the non-aligned movement

and the rest of the developing countries, in favour of the creation of a new

and just international economic order. The call for global economic

restructuring and reform is a legitimate demand, which should find its place

among the top priorities on the agenda of this and other international forums.

The ending of the cold war, as it is alleged, and the emergence of a

so-called new world order, characterized in part by the rapprochement of the

nuclear Powers, have engendered a peculiar, new culture of economic blackmail

and sabotage. Powerful and rich countries have lately tended to tamper with

the sovereignty of weaker and poorer nations by using the power of the purse

and by laying down some stringent conditions. This is being done supposedly

to promote democracy, transparency in governance and public accountability a

situation which leads to unilateral and often punitive actions just to prove a

point. To us, it unfortunately constitutes an arbitrary and precipitous

exercise of power and judgement.

As Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the former Chairman of the South Commission,

put it recently on another occasion:

"these events have had two very important consequences for the South, and

all the countries of it. First, they increase the urgency of developing

countries building national self-reliance and increasing their economic

co-operation in all fields. Secondly, the triumphant West now believes

that its success in the cold war gives it the right as well as the

untrammeled power aggressively to promote its economic and political

philosophy throughout the South.

"Directly, and through international finance and trade institutions

controlled by the wealthy States, and sometimes by embargoes or even

political intervention, the North is therefore forcing developing

countries of the South to conform to the patterns it designs.

"At the same time protectionism of different kinds is increasing in

the North, and our separate weakness is being used to ride roughshod over

our opinions in international negotiations as well as in bilateral

South-North discussions."

How can one disagree with this poignant observation?

The non-aligned Movement which represents the majority of humankind

is an ideal forum for the developing countries within which to plan and act

together on issues, including the important issues which preoccupy the United

Nations.

Allow me, once again, to cite Mwalimu's wise and telling words when he

asserted thus:

"We need a Movement of the South to speak for the rights of the countries

of the South. At present what we have is the Non-Aligned Movement, and

for United Nations negotiating purposes the Group of 77. Why then is

there this talk of the Non-Aligned Movement no longer being needed?"

This, I believe, remains the inescapable reality, whether the world was or is

bipolar or unipolar.

On the situation in South Africa, Namibia expresses support for and

solidarity with the liberation movements and all the democratic forces inside

that violence-torn neighbouring country. That is why we felt gratified, and

participated in the debate, when the issue of the raging violence in South

Africa was brought to the Security Council last July.

Our emphasis in our statement was that, now that the United Nations had

become engaged in the situation, its presence should be prolonged and the size

of its team increased in order to monitor the violence and assist in the

transition to a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa. For now, the

situation remains explosive and dangerous and, therefore, warrants the

continuation of international pressure on the South African Government.

In the meantime, we call upon Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi of the

Inkatha Freedom Party to rejoin Comrade Nelson Mandela, President de Klerk and

his other compatriots in the negotiations, with the establishment and

consolidation of peace as the first prerequisite, and the adoption of a

democratic constitution as the next step in the transition.

For the first time in their history, our Angolan neighbours went to the

polls on 29 and 30 September, in multiparty elections, to choose a party and

candidates who must now install a new Government. It has not been easy, but

the sheer will and determination of the voters and monitors alike have

confounded many a cynic who believed that it would be impossible to hold free

and fair elections in Angola. Namibia sees this is a great victory for the

Angolan people,-and congratulates them. It also congratulates the leaders of

all the political parties on believing in their people's political maturity

and accepting the final verdict of the ballot-box. Namibia once again gives

its assurance that it will continue to work closely with the Government of the

day in that sisterly and friendly country, on the basis of friendship and for

the benefit of both countries.

The Government of President Chissano and RENAMO finally sat down together

in Rome and signed a ceasefire agreement to end the fighting in Mozambique and

rebuild the country. We congratulate both President Joaquim Chissano and

Mr. Afonso Dhlakama on demonstrating political will and for giving the

Mozambican people hope and confidence in their future. They deserve our full

and hearty congratulations on this momentous achievement, and we wish them

further success as they work for the adoption of a new constitution and for

the restoration of peace and order in their country.

Many helpers and interlocutors made this achievement possible. They

include the Italian hosts and, in particular, the United Nations. But I

should like to commend Presidents Mugabe and Masire for their mediation

efforts, which have paid off, to the great happiness of all Africans and their

well-wishers around the world. There was one more key player: Mr. Pik Botha,

the South African Foreign Minister, who was very active during the final,

delicate hours, thereby securing the signing of the cease-fire agreement.

Namibia is also pleased to acknowledge his contribution.

As regards the situation in Somalia, Namibia supports the request of

President Abdou Diouf of the Republic of Senegal, current Chairman of the

Organization of African Unity (OAU), that an international conference on the

human disaster in that African country be convened as a matter of the utmost

urgency. As the United Nations Secretary-General himself has put it,

"when it comes to death and misery, no one situation takes priority over

another." (A/47/1, para. 116)

On the situation in Western Sahara, Namibi supports the principle of

self-determination for the Saharan people. To this end, we endorse the

efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to remove all

the obstacles and help resolve disputes about the criteria for eligibility to

vote in the referendum, and thus to advance the process.

Likewise, Namibia has always held the view that the political

aspirations, and in particular the right to self-determination, of the

Palestinian people, led by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), are at

the core of the conflict in the Middle East. Here we include the

establishment of an independent Palestinian State, in accordance with Security

Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The season of peace and

dialogue has arrived. In the present circumstances, that is the only viable

and sensible game in town. If a face-to-face meeting between the President of

Syria and the Prime Minister of Israel will give further impetus to the Middle

East peace process and pave the way towards a just, comprehensive and lasting

settlement, Namibia will strongly encourage such a historic undertaking within

the framework of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

Iran and the United Arab Emirates two sisterly and friendly

neighbours - ought not to allow the present misunderstandings to be magnified

beyond the confines of their bilateral relations. Rather, they should resolve

those misunderstandings through dialogue and by peaceful means.

Happily, Kuwait is going ahead with the consolidation of peace and the

reconstruction of the country. Namibia expresses its unswerving solidarity

with its Kuwaiti friends, and extends best wishes to them.

The carnage in Bosnia and Herzegovina is but the latest instance of man's

inhumanity to man. Whether it takes place under the banner of the notorious

"ethnic cleansing" or as religious retribution, this ugly tragedy cannot be

allowed to continue.

In and around the Korean peninsula, we see steady movement by all the

parties concerned in favour of dialogue, while de-emphasizing confrontation

and military solutions. This is indeed good news for world peace and

security. The reunification of Korea is no longer an unthinkable goal, as the

North and the South of that divided nation earnestly continue to regularise

high-level meetings and to encourage families to interact freely.

We urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea,

with both of which Namibia maintains excellent diplomatic and cooperative

relations, to remain engaged in those critical discussions until an amicable

and peaceful solution is found.

Peace and reconciliation in Cambodia are yet to be realized. Inspired by

the success of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in

Namibia, we hope and pray that the ongoing United Nations Transitional

Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) operation in that troubled country, too, will be

crowned with huge success.

In concluding my statement, I would be remiss if I did not give an update

to the General Assembly and the Secretary-General on the outstanding dispute

between Namibia and South Africa on Walvis Bay and the offshore islands. As

the matter stands now, a joint transitional administration of a limited

duration will be established over these territories on 1 November 1992. It

will be known as the Joint Administrative Authority and headed by two Chief

Executives, one Namibian and one South African. In the meantime, the two

Governments will keep the negotiations going on the core issue of

re-integration, in accordance with Security Council resolution 432 (1978).

Finally, may I also inform the Assembly that Namibia became the one

hundred and fifth member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

on 15 September 1992 and also acceded to the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty

(NPT) and deposited the instruments to this effect with the designated

authorities.