Namibia, 1995

Mr. President, Namibia joins

the preceding speakers in extending sincere congratulations

and best wishes to you upon your unanimous election. This

also goes for your esteemed General Committee, of which

Namibia is a proud member.

This historic session of the General Assembly —

marking the golden jubilee of our Organization — coincides

with the fifth anniversary of Namibia’s independence,

brought about through a long and bitter struggle and the

sacrifices of the Namibian people and, no less, in

partnership with the United Nations, which played a crucial

role in the process of our country’s decolonization. We are

filled with immense joy and satisfaction over this happy

coincidence.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, my

good brother and colleague, His Excellency Mr. Amara

Essy, presided over the forty-ninth session of the General

Assembly with great skill, wisdom and dedication. I

commend him for a job well done and, in particular, for

bringing excellence and industry to this important office,

all aimed at partnership and development. In this context,

Namibia will fully cooperate with the presidency of the

General Assembly and the Secretary-General in pursuit of

our common objectives that have been assigned to various

open-ended working groups aimed at restructuring and

strengthening the United Nations.

This special commemorative session of the General

Assembly will bring together a record number of world

leaders including, naturally, the Head of State of the

Republic of Namibia, Mr. Sam Nujoma, for a big

celebration, collective stock-taking, introspection and

reflection, and for renewed commitment to action on the

basis of a new vision for the future and rededication

towards peace, development, gender equality, tolerance

and brotherhood in this, our one global village.

The cardinal purposes and principles of the Charter

of the United Nations, since its adoption in 1945, have

been these: to save lives, to liberate all those everywhere

still in bondage, to promote democratic ideals and values,

to protect and defend human rights and civil liberties —

codified subsequently in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights — and, above all, to protect succeeding

generations from the scourge of war, which has wrought

so much devastation and human suffering in the world in

the course of this century.

In furtherance of these purposes and principles and

their early realization, our illustrious Secretary-General,

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has applied his mind and

energy to the challenges of our times by formulating two

seminal documents — “An Agenda for Peace” and “An

Agenda for Development”. These timely and compelling

initiatives call for international cooperation, as well as for

the allocation of new and additional resources. Indeed,

they also place domestic obligations on Governments and

civil societies alike.

Specifically, in the context of the fiftieth anniversary

session of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General

has submitted a comprehensive annual report, complete

with focused recommendations for action on various

fronts. Namibia therefore pays a well-deserved tribute to

the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts in the service

of the United Nations and for fresh initiatives to further

advance peace and development in the world.

Reviewing history and past achievements, on this

occasion marking the fiftieth anniversary of the United

5

Nations, is necessarily in order. At the same time, however,

balancing present challenges and opportunities requires

leadership, vision, commitment and courage on the part of

world leaders. Let us hope that this commemorative session

will show the way forward and achieve the desired

objectives.

The most important of all the commitments that the

global community must fulfil is to use the collective

political will and resources of the States Members the

United Nations

“to promote social progress and better standards of life

in larger freedom”.

This is the soul of the Charter of the United Nations.

Today, the world is united behind the promotion of

democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Let me, however, hasten to add that the eradication of

poverty on a sustainable basis, through the provision of

adequate education, health care, employment and housing

and the empowerment of women, needs to be placed at the

top of the priority list of the United Nations and its

specialized agencies, which have been playing a vital role

in social and economic development.

With the hindsight of 50 years, we know that the

United Nations was at the start, and remains today, more

than a mere response to the horrors and circumstances of

the Second World War and its tormenting legacies. It is a

sacred trust of life itself and an indispensable vehicle for

the preservation of civilization, in the interests of all nations

and peoples.

One of those tormenting legacies was the cold war.

The hopes and expectations of millions the world over were

held hostage for decades by the politics of confrontation

and the division of the world into hostile military blocs and

rival ideological camps. This resulted in the derailing of the

purposes and objectives for which the United Nations

stands.

The arms race and espionage, as well as competing

alignments, seriously sapped the vital resources, time and

energies of nations, creating more and more hotbeds of

tension, thus militating against peaceful coexistence and

mutually beneficial inter-State relations.

Fortunately, a nuclear holocaust was averted. A third

world war did not happen. But violence, distrust and

military build-up characterized world affairs for a very long

time. During this dangerous period the planet Earth

teetered on the brink of a ghastly disaster. In the face of

all this, men and women of peace, wisdom and

compassion, from all corners of the Earth, kept raising

voices of reason and appealing for sanity, disarmament

and dialogue.

Decolonization is perhaps the most laudable

achievement of the United Nations. The world witnessed

an unprecedented and unstoppable wave of demands, by

millions the world over, for freedom and the exercise of

the right to self-determination. This, happily, led to the

achievement of independence by so many countries in

Asia, Latin America — especially the Caribbean — and

Africa, which swelled the membership of the United

Nations beyond 100. Today the number of Members, at

185, is more than three times the original number — the

51 founding nations of 1945.

In Namibia, the moment came for the United

Nations to put its resources where its convictions and

responsibilities were. It demonstrated its firm commitment

by providing necessary funds and technical capacity to the

United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG),

which facilitated Namibia’s smooth transition to

nationhood in 1990. This success story stands out today

as a model of successful United Nations peace-keeping

and decolonization.

Other major United Nations success stories

followed — in Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique and

Haiti. We hope for the same positive outcome in Angola

and other places. In all these cases, what ensured success

was a combination of political consensus, peace-keeping,

peace enforcement and humanitarian assistance.

It has been said many times in so many ways that if

the United Nations had not existed, collective yearning to

create it would have been irresistible. That is why

Namibia attaches great importance to its membership of

the United Nations. Since joining the United Nations,

Namibia has been playing an active role in all the

activities of the Organization. Namibia participated in the

peace-keeping operation in Cambodia and sent election

observers to Angola under United Nations auspices.

Namibia also sent a legal expert as a rapporteur to

represent the Human Rights Commission in Somalia. But

more than that, Namibia has been paying its assessed and

voluntary contributions on time and in full, for we believe

membership is not enough: without resources the

Organization cannot carry out its mandate.

6

As we look towards the next millennium, I should like

to state the position of the Government of the Republic of

Namibia on the following issues: regional cooperation;

international economic cooperation; major United Nations

conferences; nuclear disarmament; and reform of the United

Nations.

Regional cooperation: in southern Africa, member

States of the Southern African Development Community

(SADC), which now includes Mauritius, have combined

their efforts to bring about genuine reconstruction and

development in our subregion. Peace is a prerequisite of

development. Without sustainable development, there can

be neither peace nor stability. While achievement of peace

has created favourable conditions for socio-economic

development in southern Africa, the scars of apartheid and

destabilization remain. For example, to realize these

objectives, States members of SADC have decided to pool

their resources in order to implement joint projects in the

fields of energy and water. With this in mind, several

protocols were signed at the recent SADC Summit in

Johannesburg.

Additional areas in which SADC member States are

coordinating their policies include de-mining, combating

crime, gun-running, drug-trafficking, money-laundering,

illicit cross-border trade, and other forms of criminal

activity. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to an ideal

situation allowing for free movement of people, capital,

goods and services, thereby transforming SADC into a

community of shared experiences and aspirations.

Moreover, mechanisms for conflict resolution, political

consultation and peace-keeping are enjoying high priority

among these regional concerns.

I felt reinforced after listening to the inspiring

statement delivered this morning by my brother and

colleague, His Excellency, Mr. Alfred Nzo, Minister for

Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa. May I

reassure him here of Namibia’s firm commitment to

continue working closely with the Government and people

of South Africa for the achievement of genuine peace,

stability, development and prosperity throughout southern

Africa.

The completion of the Trans-Caprivi and Trans-

Kalahari highways connecting land-locked neighbouring

countries to the Namibian port of Walvis Bay will further

strengthen regional cooperation, trade and integration. We

do all this pursuant to the letter and spirit of the Abuja

Treaty establishing the African Economic Community.

There is no doubt that a successful SADC will strengthen

the African Economic Community.

On international economic cooperation, Namibia

subscribes to the view, emphasized by the Economic and

Social Council at its last meeting, that development

cannot flourish in the midst of conflict and instability. It

follows from this that mutually beneficial economic

cooperation is not possible as long as an unjust

international economic system exists. Until we all become

equal partners in the global economy, developing

countries, especially African countries, will for ever

remain underdeveloped. Contrary to the views being

expressed in some quarters, Namibia maintains that the

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

and the United Nations Industrial Development

Organization have played a vital and constructive role in

assisting developing countries.

The strengthening of South-South cooperation is

more than ever a vehicle that is needed for the

enhancement of the trade and economic development of

the countries of the South. Namibia therefore supports the

South Centre and appeals for financial and material

contributions to its programmes.

It is also Namibia’s firm belief that the recently

inaugurated African-Latin American Institute, with

regional headquarters in Namibia and Uruguay

respectively, will further strengthen South-South

cooperation. Namibia also welcomes the emerging

initiatives aimed at encouraging horizontal dialogue and

cooperation among SADC, the Association of South-East

Asian Nations, the Common Market of the South

(MERCOSUR) and other economic groupings of the

countries of the South.

As regards major United Nations conferences, we

may say that never before in the history of our

Organization have the social needs of humankind taken

centre stage. Humanity has recognized that conservation

of the environment is tantamount to preservation of

human life; respect for and protection of human rights is

the basis for democracy, good governance and

development; addressing population issues within the

framework of development is necessary in order to

identify the impact of socio-demographic trends on the

well-being of people; peace is not only the absence of

war but also a necessary condition for the attainment of

social and economic development; and gender equality is

central to development and peace.

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The realization of the commitments made at all these

conferences should form the centrepiece of the agenda for

the twenty-first century.

For Namibia, protection of the environment is

enshrined in our Constitution. The promotion and defence

of democracy and human rights have become the vital

pillars of Namibia’s Government and society. In keeping

with the Programme of Action adopted at the International

Conference on Population and Development in Cairo,

Namibia has fully integrated population issues into its First

National Development Plan.

Similarly, the commitments we made at the World

Summit for Social Development continue to be a top

priority of the Government. The Law Reform Commission

is finalizing recommendations to the Namibian Parliament

for enactment of the necessary legislation.

Namibia is proud of its contribution to the preparation

for the Fourth World Conference on Women and the

honour bestowed upon its delegation to serve as

Rapporteur-General at that Conference, in Beijing. It

therefore goes without saying that Namibia will do

everything possible to ensure implementation of the

Platform for Action adopted at the Conference.

The scientific and technological achievements of

humankind should be used for peace and development. All

weapons of mass destruction must be destroyed. The time

has come for complete nuclear disarmament.

Furthermore, Namibia calls upon the nuclear-weapon

States to fulfil the commitment made at the last Conference

on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

and to move speedily towards the destruction of all nuclear

weapons. In this regard, Namibia deplores the new spate of

nuclear testing. Namibia will continue to participate actively

towards the early completion of the draft treaty of the

denuclearization of Africa.

With regard to United Nations reform, Namibia

believes that the decision-making machinery of the Security

Council, as it exists today, cannot effectively serve the

international community in the twentieth century. The

phenomenal numerical growth in the membership of the

United Nations must be reflected in representation on the

Security Council. The reform, restructuring and enlargement

of the Security Council should reflect the cardinal principles

of sovereign equality of all States, universality, democracy

and transparency. It is only in this way that the authority,

legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the Security

Council can be ensured.

Namibia sees no problem in the addition of Germany

and Japan as permanent members of the Security Council.

But at the same time, it is Namibia’s strong view that

Africa, Asia and Latin America are entitled to

representation as permanent members as well as through

the allocation of additional seats in the Security Council

for non-permanent members. What we seek is the

acceptance of the principle. The mechanism of how to

bring this about is the subject of ongoing consultations in

the relevant Open-ended Working Group. The new world

order has no place, in Namibia’s view, for the outmoded

veto power, and it must be abolished.

The new world order, which is thought of as

offering the best hope for economic cooperation and free

trade, should liberate itself from the remaining shackles

of the cold war and replace confrontation with dialogue

wherever differences still exist.

Namibia welcomes the latest agreement on

Palestinian self-rule, signed between the State of Israel

and the Palestinian Authority. We look forward to the

early achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting

peace in the Middle East, leading to the establishment of

a Palestinian State.

The decolonization of Africa is not yet complete.

Namibia therefore supports the early exercise by the

Saharan people of their right to self-determination on the

basis of a free, fair and transparent referendum in

Western Sahara, under the joint supervision and control

of the United Nations and the Organization of African

Unity.

There can be no military solution to the conflict in

Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict. Therefore, Namibia

urges all parties involved to end the suffering of their

people and find a lasting and peaceful political solution to

that conflict.

As the year comes to an end, it is heartening to note

that the conflict in Liberia has been resolved with the

establishment of a broad-based, multi-party provisional

Government. We welcome this wholeheartedly. Let us

hope that this is a good omen for the resolution of the

conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Burundi and Sierra Leone.

Since the signing of the Lusaka Protocol on Angola

last year, the peace process in that sisterly country is

8

making steady progress. The spirit of reconciliation and

dialogue is permeating the entire society, encouraged by the

regular face-to-face talks between President José Eduardo

dos Santos of Angola and Mr. Jonas Savimbi of UNITA. It

is Namibia’s sincere hope that the pledges made in Brussels

at the recent round-table conference on Angola will be

translated into actual resources for reconstruction and

development in that country, a neighbour of ours.

Africa is long overdue to root out, once and for all, all

the criminal activities of mercenaries, which, like acts of

terrorism, stand condemned in the resolutions of both the

United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. The

latest coup on one of the islands of the Comoros has made

this an extremely serious matter which now calls for urgent

action by the international community. Namibia therefore

welcomes the action taken to restore the Government and

law and order on the island.

The address His Holiness Pope John Paul II delivered

from this rostrum yesterday was a thoughtful message

conveying optimism, hope and good will as we stand on the

threshold of the next millennium. The Pope stressed

universal love and family, subjects which embrace the

entire human race.

Let me conclude by expressing my sincere wish that

this historic commemorative session of the General

Assembly will not fail to highlight public awareness of the

work of the United Nations and the continued relevance of

the Organization to the lives of individuals and

communities everywhere. The vision of the founders 50

years ago focused on the welfare and security of succeeding

generations. Nations and peoples, as represented by non-

governmental organizations, should move forward together

into the next millennium for a better world in which

children will feel safer.