It is always a great
honour for me to address this magnificent House,
symbol of equality among States and an irreplaceable
forum of multilateralism that seeks sustainable
solutions to the growing global challenges.
I join those who spoke before us in congratulating
you, Mr. President, on your election to preside over the
General Assembly at this session. We believe that your
vast experience and knowledge will contribute to the
success of our work. We would like to assure you of our
support so as to ensure that your mandate is crowned
with success.
We also congratulate your predecessor, Mr. Vuk
Jeremi., for a job well done during the sixty-seventh
session, which resulted in the reaffirmation of the role
of the United Nations as an indispensable multilateral
forum.
We are shocked by the sad news from Kenya
regarding the killing, in an act of terrorism, of innocent
citizens at a shopping mall. We would like to convey our
solidarity to the people and the Government of Kenya
and to all those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.
Mr. President, we commend you for your wise and
opportune choice of the theme of this session, “The
post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”,
based on the goal of creating a better world for us
all. That agenda, like the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), should be based on principles such
as inclusiveness in its approach; national ownership,
within the context of its sustainability; and shared
responsibility among development partners for its
implementation.
The theme of this session is the logical outcome
of the decisions emanating from the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, which
galvanized the ongoing preparatory process for the
development agenda that will follow the MDGs and is
based on a multidimensional approach to development.
In carrying out that agenda, it is important that
we eradicate, from both our vocabulary and our
attitude, the dichotomy by which an attempt is made
to group the members of the United Nations family,
which is all of us, into two categories — the generous
and the deprived — because in this partnership each
complements the other with one’s natural and human
blessings. Those that do not contribute financially
contribute in kind.
In that context, the inability of a State to meet its
development targets as conceived and agreed upon in
this great House represents a collective failure on the
part of the entire international community, because
such targets are the shared responsibility of all States.
Otherwise, why would we set international targets that
are later incorporated into national agendas if they are
not to be met?
On that basis, we reiterate our appeal for the
commitments made to be honoured within the context
of the MDGs, because promises must be kept and we
must not fail to meet the expectations that we have
created.
We would like in particular to commend the
Secretary-General for his initiative in creating the
High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015
Development Agenda. The valuable conclusions and
recommendations contained in the report of the Panel
constitute an important reference in the formulation
and negotiation of the development agenda that is to
follow the MDGs.
Mozambique had the privilege of being part of
the group of countries chosen to carry out a national
consultation on the post-2015 development agenda. The
trust shown in Mozambican civil society to drive that
process must be commended because it strengthened
the principle of national ownership of the process. It
also created the conditions for Mozambican social
actors to demonstrate their growing vitality, which is
in itself a true reflection of the consolidation of the
processes of democratic and inclusive governance in
our country.
Indeed, we have been furthering our democracy,
reinforcing our democratic institutions and
consolidating our democratic practices. We do so
through transparency, dialogue and participation,
instilling respect for the Constitution and broadening
inclusiveness to encourage more Mozambicans to
become involved in the fight against poverty. An open
and inclusive presidency and a governance mechanism
replicated at other levels lead us, on the one hand, to
interact in a direct and comprehensive way with our
people in the places where they live and fight against
poverty and, on the other hand, places our governing
method under the scrutiny of the people.
It is in the context of our commitment to democratic
principles and values and to abiding by the legal tenets
of our Constitution and laws that, on 20 November, we
will hold municipal elections for the fourth time and,
in 2014, our fifth general and multiparty elections. The
implementation of this electoral cycle is the pinnacle
of the exercise of freedom of choice and of citizens’
political participation in the democratic process.
In the context of our commitment to the
disarmament agenda — an issue of paramount
importance in promoting peace and fighting poverty
in Mozambique — and as a way for us to associate
ourselves with the cause of international peace and
security, we will host, from 29 June to 4 July 2014, the
Third International Review Conference of the States
Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction. We invite all Member
States, observers and international and civil society
organizations to participate in the Conference.
In August, Mozambique successfully concluded its
mandate as Chair of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC). Given its relevance to our
theme, we would point out that, over the course of a
year and in close collaboration with other member
States, the Africa Union, the United Nations and other
international partners, we engaged in galvanizing the
process of regional integration and in seeking peace
and stability for the region.
We reiterate our congratulations to Zimbabwe
on holding successful elections, whose results were
validated by the country’s institutions and endorsed
by SADC and the African Union. All the conditions
have now been met for the sanctions imposed on that
country to be lifted in order to allow for Zimbabwe’s
development and full participation in the global agenda.
The stability of the Democratic People’s Republic
of the Congo continues to be a challenge for our
region. We would like, once again, to congratulate the
Secretary-General for his efforts — in conjunction
with SADC, the International Conference on the Great
Lakes Region and the African Union — which resulted
in the signing of the Peace, Security and Cooperation
Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the Region and in the appointment of President
Mary Robinson as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-
General, whom we also congratulate. We reiterate
our appeal to all signatories to honour the tenets of
that agreement. We appeal to the Congolese actors to
conclude the Kampala negotiations so as to ensure the
return of lasting stability in the Democratic People’s
Republic of the Congo.
The establishment of dates for the presidential and
legislative elections this year in Madagascar creates
good prospects for the conclusion of the political
transition process in that country. We must therefore
continue to provide our support to ensure that this
process is successful.
Within the framework of our chairmanship of
the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries,
we remain steadfast and committed to the stability of
Guinea-Bissau. We welcome the efforts of the Guinea-
Bissau political actors to restore stability to their
country. We also commend other partners of Guinea-
Bissau — including the Economic Community of West
African States, the African Union, the European Union
and the United Nations — which have contributed to
the creation of a new dynamic that seeks to find lasting
solutions to the political crisis. We also welcome the
appointment of President Ramos-Horta as Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of
Mission for the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding
Office in Guinea Bissau. We reiterate our appeal to the
international community to continue to mobilize the
resources needed to fundamental elections and, above
all, to strengthen State institutions in Guinea-Bissau.
The agenda of this session focuses on development,
the successful implementation of which can occur only
in a climate of international of peace and security. In
seeking solutions to the conflicts in different parts
of the world, the multilateral approach, based on the
principles of the Charter of the United Nations, must
prevail. Safeguarding world peace will always be our
collective responsibility and never that of one country
or of group of States. In that context, the reform of the
United Nations, particularly of the Security Council,
must continue to receive our special attention so as to
ensure that that organ is more representative, democratic
and credible and that it can respond more effectively to
the various challenges of the contemporary world.
It will always be a paradox that whenever social,
environmental and economic issues arise, all countries
understand that multilateral cooperation is a mechanism
that cannot be avoided, but that decisions involving
peace or war tend to be made behind closed doors by a
small group of States. At a time in which concepts such
as democracy, inclusion, ownership and transparency
enjoy renewed prominence, we must all accept that
the time has come to balance the imbalances that are
contrary to multilateralism.
It is in the context of this overall framework that
the Republic of Mozambique maintains its support for
the self-determination of the Palestinian people, the
existence of a Palestinian State based on the relevant
United Nations resolutions and the two-State solution
in which Palestine and Israel live side by side and in
an environment of peace and security. We further
support the self-determination of the Saharawi people.
Moreover, the Republic of Mozambique reaffirms the
need to end economic trade and financial embargos
against Cuba.
Once again, we reiterate our commitment to the
noble ideals of the United Nations and reaffirm that we
will continue to do our part in building an increasingly
better, more stable and prosperous world.