Namibia, 1999

Mr. President, the United Nations

is no foreign territory to you. For 14 difficult and

challenging years, you valiantly waged a diplomatic

struggle at the United Nations for the freedom of our

people and the independence of our country. Your sterling

personal efforts and unflinching commitment could not be

better crowned. The people of the Republic of Namibia are

very proud to see you preside over the fifty-fourth session

of the General Assembly. On their behalf and indeed on my

own, I express our deep gratitude to all United Nations

Member States for electing you President at this session.

Mr. President, as you assume this very important

office, you follow in the memorable footsteps of Mongi

Slim of Tunisia, Alex Quaison-Sackey of Ghana,

Angie E. Brooks of Liberia, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of

Algeria, Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania, Paul J. F. Lusaka

of Zambia, Joseph N. Garba of Nigeria and Amara Essy of

Côte d’Ivoire. These distinguished sons and daughters of

Africa presided over the General Assembly between 1961

and 1994. They did Africa proud and they served the

international community well. You should heed the views

of all United Nations Member States, large and small, rich

and poor. In that way, you will have maintained and

advanced even further the integrity and importance of this

most representative organ of the United Nations, the

General Assembly. I assure you, Mr. President, that you

can always count on the loyal and unqualified support of

the Namibian delegation.

During your term of office, you will be flanked by

another illustrious and committed son of Africa, Mr. Kofi

Annan, one who hails from Ghana, a country which lit

the torch of Africa’s decolonization. To you,

Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, I express

my Government’s fullest support. The Government and

the people of Namibia particularly commend you for your

determined efforts aimed at promoting the peaceful

settlement of conflicts and bringing relief to the needy in

Africa and elsewhere in the world.

I wish to add my voice to that of the current

Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU),

my brother and colleague, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. He

placed the demands and expectations of the African

people before this body, as well as their resolve to face

up to the challenges which confront Africa. Guided by the

spirit of the recent OAU summit held in Algiers,

President Bouteflika talked about a continent which is

confronted by development constraints, but whose people

have not lost hope: a people who are industrious, but

whose efforts to make Africa achieve its potential are

being impeded by social and economic problems. It is

some of these challenges that I wish to address.

Today, economic disparity, debt burden, social

injustice, unemployment, refugee problems and

environmental degradation have become unacceptable

hardships in various regions of the world. One may ask

whether these burdens of deprivation have become a

status quo for the majority of people in the developing

countries? Have we concluded that there are not enough

resources to educate every woman, man and child in this

world and to keep them healthy and productive? Can all

the technological achievements that are now at our

disposal not be put at the service of all humanity? Words

of reason have been spoken, saying that those who are

affluent today owe their tomorrow to those who live in

deprivation.

It has been argued that the solution to

underdevelopment is globalization and liberalization of

the world economy. This forces all of us to be equal,

while, in fact, we are not. I believe that for globalization

to work it must be transformed from a mere concept into

reality. It must be a collective undertaking for the benefit

of all. It is only logical and, indeed, morally right that no

man, woman or child should go hungry while others are

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basking in prosperity. Globalization should not amount to

protected and selective prosperity. If so, international peace

and stability will be jeopardized. As long as over a billion

people live in abject poverty, lack access to clean drinking

water and do not know how to read and write at all, the

benefit of globalization will not be universal. And the

reality of inequality of States must be at the centre of any

discussions of the world economy. The United Nations can

and should help developing countries to maximize the

benefits from a globalized economy.

The biggest menace of the twentieth century has been

the unacceptably high and ever-increasing poverty that

denudes humanity of its dignity. I wish to recall that among

the commitments made during the World Summit for Social

Development, held in Copenhagen in 1995, was the

commitment to halve poverty levels by 2015. Sub-Saharan

Africa requires a growth rate of 7 per cent annually if we

are to achieve those levels. The future looks bleak, but the

determination is strong to overcome all odds and succeed.

Africa carries 10 per cent of the world’s population,

but produces only 1 per cent of the world’s gross domestic

product. Foreign direct investment in sub-Saharan Africa is

estimated at a meagre 3 per cent of all total foreign direct

investment. With most of the least developed countries

being in Africa, this vast, rich but underdeveloped continent

continues to challenge our Organization. Poverty and

disease have all become much talked about to depict the

situation in many parts of Africa. Armed conflicts in

various parts of Africa continue to strip our continent of its

human and natural resources. This overshadows the overall

achievements that Africa continues to make. Africa today

is democratizing and undertaking economic reform to

maximize social and economic prosperity for its people.

And, indeed, some significant economic growth has been

recorded in a large number of countries.

However, political and economic reforms in

themselves will not deliver sustained economic growth.

Increased foreign direct investment is very important to

complement these reforms and to sustain the current growth

rate. Only then can the lives of the African people improve.

Let me emphasize that foreign direct investment should not

replace official development aid. In the short term, foreign

aid will be a necessary complement to Africa’s own efforts

for recovery and development of its people.

In 1990 I attended the World Summit for Children,

here at the United Nations, as the newly elected President

of the Republic of Namibia. I feel proud to say that we

were among the first countries in Africa to complete our

national programme of action for the implementation of

the Summit’s outcome. Our Parliament ratified — and, in

fact, most of Africa has ratified — the Convention on the

Rights of the Child, whose tenth anniversary we are about

to commemorate. This embodies the legal standard with

which we should comply in ensuring that children reach

their fullest potential. Yet, to our dismay, too many

children are being denied their childhood.

When a child is subjected to armed conflict, with

each and every right being taken away, then that child is

placed on an equal footing with adults. And when that

course takes effect, then, regrettably, society has stooped

to its lowest and the rest of humanity cannot and should

not stand idly by. We can and must prevent conflicts

from occurring, so as to create an environment in which

all children can live, play and grow up under safe

conditions. Only through a culture of peace can we

combat all forms of child exploitation and, in particular,

put an end to the phenomenon of child soldiers.

I would therefore like to stress that if every square

metre of land that is inaccessible because of landmines

could once again become productive, many children,

especially in Africa, would be spared from hunger. And

if every child soldier in Africa carrying a gun can be

turned into a student, Africa’s future will have been

secured.

On the eve of the new millennium, we can all look

back with pride on the fact that humankind has made

major strides towards the betterment of the living

conditions of millions across the world. The information

superhighway has changed for ever the way we do

business. Much of the world is now fully connected

through the Internet.

Notwithstanding all this, much of Africa is still

struggling to gain meaningful access to knowledge and

information. In addition to our efforts to become more

“wired”, we are now faced with the enormous challenge

of ensuring that our countries are all Y2K-compliant

before 31 December 1999, in order to avert disaster.

Namibia calls on all those countries which have the

resources and the necessary know-how to assist

developing countries in dealing with this problem. The

international community needs to share knowledge

because it is mutually beneficial. Developed countries

have nothing to lose and everything to gain by sharing

information technology with the developing countries.

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The HIV/AIDS pandemic is eroding the socio-

economic and developmental gains that many African

countries have made. HIV/AIDS has been rated the

number-one killer in many countries, including Namibia.

My Government adopted a National Strategic Plan on

HIV/AIDS for the period 1999-2004. The aim of our

national plan is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS

significantly by strengthening efforts towards prevention

and control. In addition to the existing Southern African

Development Community (SADC) regional programmes,

we have also undertaken other measures to ensure that there

is no discrimination against all those living with HIV/AIDS.

The international community should assist the efforts of the

African Governments in the implementation of their

national programmes to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Next June, we shall convene two special sessions of

the General Assembly to review the progress made by

Governments in the implementation of the commitments

made at the Fourth World Conference on Women and the

World Summit for Social Development, respectively. Let us

use those opportunities to make equality among people a

reality and social integration the norm, so that men and

women can live together in equality and as partners.

In recent years, we have witnessed a number of

positive developments in the field of disarmament.

However, despite these developments, we remain concerned

at the lack of tangible movement on the core issue of

nuclear disarmament. The central problem is the

determination by nuclear-weapon States, despite their

obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons, to retain nuclear weapons indefinitely.

This is being done under the pretext that nuclear weapons

are essential for national security. To make such a claim is

a clear invitation to other States to acquire nuclear weapons

under the same pretext, as by nature every State has its

vital national security to protect. In practice, nuclear

weapons have also become a means of exerting pressure on

and blackmailing other countries. No State or group of

States should have a monopoly on nuclear weapons. This

is a new type of apartheid, which is unacceptable today.

In this century, international peace and security have

been challenged by the barbaric conduct of a few

individuals who have offended the very conscience of

humankind by committing heinous crimes. Namibia wishes

to record its firm stand against all acts, methods and

practices of terrorism and reiterates its unequivocal

condemnation of such acts. At the Organization of African

Unity (OAU) summit in Algiers, the African leaders

adopted the OAU Convention on the Prevention and

Combating of Terrorism. Its elimination therefore requires

the close cooperation of all United Nations Member

States. However, international cooperation in combating

terrorism, and the measures adopted to combat it, must be

based on international law, the relevant international

Conventions and, above all, conducted in conformity with

the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The reform of the Security Council constitutes one

of the important components in the efforts to strengthen,

revitalize and democratize the United Nations. The

composition of the Security Council does not reflect the

substantial increase in the membership of the United

Nations. Furthermore, it does not respect the principles of

equitable geographical representation and the sovereign

equality of States. In the existing Security Council,

particularly in the permanent members’ category,

developing countries are grossly under-represented. To

maintain such a situation is to erode the principle of

democracy and fairness. Equally, a selective or partially

reformed Council which overlooks the principles of equity

and balance is against the spirit of the Charter.

My Government is therefore strongly in favour of

the position that we must correct the existing imbalances

in the composition of the Security Council. It must

become a democratic and truly representative institution,

unfettered by the unfair tendencies and practices of the

past.

We support the expansion of the Security Council in

both categories, permanent and non-permanent.

Developing countries must adequately be represented in

a reformed and democratized Security Council. Africa

deserves at least two permanent seats and additional non-

permanent seats in the expanded Council. Namibia, being

a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, supports a

reformed Council of no less than 26 members. We do not

support those who advocate a lesser number on the

ground of effectiveness.

Experience has shown that the ineffectiveness or

inaction of the Security Council has been due to the threat

of veto by those who possess it, and not to the Council’s

size. As a matter of policy, Namibia is opposed to the

veto, because of its undemocratic nature. It cannot even

be overridden by law or by procedures, as is the practice

in democratic countries. The exercise of the veto

perpetuates differences between members of the Council.

In some instances, it has greatly contributed to division

and inaction in the Security Council. In other instances,

it has even prolonged conflicts and human suffering. If

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the veto cannot be abolished now, its application should be

progressively curtailed until it is removed altogether.

The question of Palestine remains at the core of the

problem of the Middle East. Only when the inalienable

rights of the Palestinian people are restored can there be

lasting peace. We welcome the resumption of the peace

negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. I

reaffirm my Government’s unwavering political and

diplomatic support for the Palestinian people under the

leadership of President Yasser Arafat.

With the end of the cold war nearly 10 years ago, we

all expected to share in the peace dividend. In this

connection, it is regrettable that Cuba continues to be

subjected to a cruel economic, financial and commercial

embargo, which must be lifted forthwith. Namibia calls for

the end of the embargo so that the people of Cuba can live

in peace and prosperity with all their neighbours.

The people of East Timor have long yearned for their

right to self-determination, freedom and independence. On

30 August 1999 their dream to determine their own future

was overwhelmingly expressed in a referendum. The

international community should assist the people of East

Timor to complete the process towards statehood, peace,

security and development. We welcome the decision of the

Government of Indonesia to invite the international

community, through the deployment of a United Nations

peacekeeping force, to East Timor. We call on Indonesia to

cooperate fully to ensure the success of that operation.

With regard to Western Sahara, my Government notes

the progress made towards the holding of a free and fair

referendum. We call on the parties, in particular the

Kingdom of Morocco, to cooperate with the United Nations

so as to enable the Sahraoui people to exercise their right

to self-determination.

Despite the difficulties of the United Nations, my

Government regards the Organization and its various

agencies as the best possible instruments we have to

promote world peace, international trade and increased

cooperation. The admission of the Republic of Kiribati, the

Republic of Nauru and the Kingdom of Tonga has further

strengthened our Organization. Namibia congratulates them

and welcomes them into our fold.

In the current international climate, the United Nations

is the only voice which can bring peace to strife-torn areas,

bring development to those regions where is it needed most

and settle disputes between States. However, to carry out its

manifold tasks and duties effectively and efficiently, the

United Nations needs money and resources from all

Member States, without exception. In short, the United

Nations must embody the hopes and aspirations of

humankind and still reflect the realities of our times.