Zambia, 2002

Let me begin by

congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the

Presidency of the fifty-seventh session of the General

Assembly. My delegation is confident that, given your

vast political skills, you will execute your

responsibility as President of the fifty-seventh session

of the United Nations General Assembly most

honourably.

My delegation pledges its total support and

cooperation to you in the discharge of your important

responsibilities. You can depend on Zambia's support

and cooperation.

May I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to

your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Han Seung-soo

of the Republic of Korea, for the excellent manner in

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which he presided over the fifty-sixth session of the

United Nations General Assembly.

My delegation also congratulates the Secretary-

General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for the able

manner in which he has steered the work of the United

Nations.

We are happy to welcome Switzerland and East

Timor as new Members of the United Nations family.

My delegation looks forward to working closely with

the two new Member States.

Three days ago, the world commemorated the 1st

anniversary of the tragic events of 11 September 2001.

The past year has witnessed a global resolve to fight

international terrorism. My Government wishes to join

the host country in remembering the tragic events of 11

September 2001.

My delegation salutes the efforts of the United

Nations in ensuring that there is peace in the world. I

am pleased to note that there are signs of positive

developments in most of the trouble spots where there

have been conflicts.

The African Union and the international

community have to work together as partners in

conflict prevention and peace-building. In the past

forty years, Africa has lost too much blood through

conflicts. Zambia is ready and willing to play her part

to create in Africa a culture of respect for the rule of

law and human rights, social and economic

development, and to promote peace and security. In

this regard we welcome the positive signs towards

peace in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of

Congo and other conflict areas in Africa.

The search for peace is a continuous process. I

therefore appeal to the international community to

continue extending assistance to bring about peace in

the conflict areas around the world.

It is against this background that my Government

welcomes the implementation of the Lusaka Peace

Protocol in Angola and the Democratic Republic of

Congo. Since the death of Dr. Jonas Savimbi, the

former UNITA rebel leader, in February 2002, the

prospects for peace in that country and the entire

subregion are encouraging.

The ceasefire agreement, signed between the

Angolan Government and the UNITA military, further

paved way for the implementation of the Lusaka Peace

Protocol of November 1994.

The full implementation of the Lusaka Protocol is

vital for the reintegration of Angola in the Southern

African economy and the promotion of regional peace

and stability. The people of Angola require the moral

and material support of the international community to

complete that process.

I would like also to express my country's

appreciation to the United Nations Security Council for

the measures being undertaken to strengthen the United

Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic

Republic of Congo (MONUC). I am further gratified

that the efforts by His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire,

former President of Botswana, to promote internal

political dialogue are bearing fruit. I also wish to note,

with appreciation, that the number of foreign troops

still on Democratic Republic of Congo soil has been

significantly reduced.

Conflicts have a negative impact on the economic

life of the region. To Zambia, as a host to refugees

from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

and other parts of the continent, the recent signs of

peace are significantly important. My Government

hopes that these positive signs will result in the

voluntary repatriation of refugees to their countries.

Currently, there are 270,000 refugees in designated

camps and about 120,000 others who are

simultaneously settled in the border areas among the

local people in Zambia. My Government will continue

to require the material and financial support of the

international community to help in the refugee

management effort.

Since the thirty-seventh session of the Assembly

of the former Organization of African Unity, held in

Lusaka in July 2001, Africa has continued to refine its

partnerships with the rest of the world to foster

development. The vehicle for this effort is the New

Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). I wish

to convey my Government's appreciation to the leaders

of the Group of 8 for endorsing the NEPAD programme

during their annual meeting, held in Kananaskis,

Canada, on 27 June 2002. I note with appreciation that

the G8 countries considered positively the request by

the four-nation African representatives of Algeria,

Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, that they earmark

for Africa 50 per cent of their projected foreign aid

increases in the coming years. I wish to thank the

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European Union, which has supported the NEPAD

programme and remains committed to its pledge of

support for the initiative.

The past year has seen practical and positive

developments in the response of the cooperating

partners to African trade liberalization initiatives. In

this regard, I wish to take this opportunity to welcome

the initiative of the United States Government to refine

the scope of the African Growth and Opportunity Act

to increase the number of products eligible to be

exported to the United States.

In the health sector, Africa is experiencing the

catastrophic impact of a combination of the HIV/AIDS

pandemic and a series of outbreaks of such diseases as

malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhoea. Unfortunately, my

country is one of those hard hit in this regard. Although

my Government has implemented health reforms that

focus on ameliorating the situation, far more resources

are required to address the problem.

My Government has taken a decision to acquire

affordable antiretroviral drugs for distribution to

people affected with AIDS. My delegation wishes to

express its gratitude to our cooperating partners, who

have been forthcoming in providing resources for this

effort. Early deaths from HIV/AIDS-related illnesses

are robbing the country of skilled professionals and

creating large numbers of orphaned children.

As members are aware, a combination of natural

and other factors has caused a food shortage and crisis

in the southern African subregion. In response to this

impending catastrophe, on 18 July 2002 the United

Nations World Food Programme launched an appeal for

food aid in support of the affected areas. In response to

the food shortage, a number of countries and

international organizations have pledged their support.

My delegation pays tribute to the United Nations and

other cooperating partners in providing assistance to

Zambia to mitigate the food shortfall.

However, it has come to the Government's

attention that some of the food aid products offered to

Zambia constituted genetically modified organisms

(GMOs). The offer of genetically modified foods has

created a difficult situation for the Government. While,

on the one hand, we are determined to procure food

and seed for the mostly rural population that is hardest

hit by the food shortage, we have expressed concern

over the true impact of GMOs on our people and soil.

Due to our low scientific and technological base,

Government has opted for the procurement of non-

GMO food products. It is not my Government's

intention to sacrifice the lives of the Zambian people

by taking this position. However, given the lack of and

often conflicting international information on the

possible effects of genetically modified products on

humans, I therefore wish to request Members'

understanding of Zambia's position on GMOs. In this

regard, my Government has accepted an offer from the

United States Government for Zambian scientists to

visit America to study first-hand the GMO factor. Their

findings will help us to map out a way forward and to

make informed decisions and choices.

In conclusion, I wish the General Assembly at its

fifty-seventh session successful deliberations of the

issues before it. I wish to appeal to all Member States

to ensure the rapid implementation of decisions

emanating therefrom.