I take this opportunity to once
again congratulate the President on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth
session. I am confident that his long years of
diplomatic service and experience will be crucial in
steering the work of this session to a complete success.
Allow me to also congratulate His Excellency
5 11-50871
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his re-election to a
second term. This demonstrates our collective trust and
confidence in his leadership.
The twenty-first century presents us with new and
complex security challenges arising, among other
things, from a range of political, economic, financial
and environmental factors. This session of the General
Assembly offers opportunities to address the
challenges that we face collectively. Most significant is
the promotion of mediation as a tool for conflict
management and the peaceful settlement of disputes
between and within States.
In that context, the role of regional organizations
in the mediation and resolution of conflicts is of
increasing importance. On the African continent, the
African Union (AU) and regional organizations such as
the East African Community and the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD) continue to serve
as significant building blocks in the search for global
peace and security. As the Assembly is aware, IGAD is
at the forefront of efforts to bring peace to Somalia and
the Sudan. I am pleased that Kenya’s role in both cases
has been, and remains, crucial.
On 9 July, we witnessed the birth of a new nation,
South Sudan. I wish to take this opportunity to
congratulate and welcome the Republic of South Sudan
to the community of nations. The independence of
South Sudan and its entry into the United Nations
family is the result of intense negotiations under
IGAD, safeguarded by the AU and the international
community. This success story exemplifies the
potential of regional organizations to resolve complex
and deep-rooted conflicts. I would like to reiterate
Kenya’s continued commitment to engage with both
the Sudan and South Sudan, through IGAD as well as
bilaterally, in their efforts to resolve the outstanding
issues under the just concluded Comprehensive Peace
Agreement. I am confident that the leadership of both
the Sudan and South Sudan will continue to
demonstrate their commitment, courage and resolve in
that effort. We will also maintain active support for the
African Union High-level Implementation Panel on the
Sudan, led by former President Thabo Mbeki.
The recent improvement in the security situation
in Mogadishu gives us great optimism. This has been
achieved through the concerted efforts of the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG), supported by
the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and
the international community. The exit of Al-Shabaab
from Mogadishu provides a unique window of
opportunity for the international community to rally
behind Somalia and consolidate the gains made thus
far. I urge the United Nations and the international
community to seize the moment, support IGAD and
partner with the TFG in the efforts to restore lasting
peace and stability to Somalia.
As a first step, I call upon the international
community to enhance the mandate of AMISOM by
providing it with the necessary enablers and resources.
Only then can AMISOM have the required capacity to
extend its coverage and control. In addition, we must
support the TFG in the implementation of the Kampala
Accord, which spells out a range of political processes
necessary for the attainment of sustainable peace and
development in Somalia.
The complex challenge of climate change
continues to manifest itself in the Horn of Africa. As
the General Assembly is aware, the region is currently
experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. The
drought has resulted in a severe crisis that is affecting
more than 12 million people. The region is now
suffering from increased environmental stress, the loss
of livelihoods and intense competition for scarce
resources. Moreover, the situation has sometimes led to
armed conflict among neighbouring communities. This
reality requires us to enhance the regional capacity for
early warning systems and adequate response
arrangements.
The scale of climate change and environmental
degradation calls for sustained action. In that regard,
Kenya hopes that the seventeenth session of the
Conference of Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held
in Durban, will deliver on African expectations in the
form of support for adaptation measures. Furthermore,
Kenya believes that the international organizations
working on the environment will be streamlined and
given sufficient support. In that regard, the
transformation of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) into a specialized United Nations
agency, as recommended by the AU, will be of critical
importance. It is my hope that the Rio Summit
scheduled for next year in Brazil will endorse this
position and upgrade UNEP accordingly.
Finally, I cannot conclude my statement today
without once again restating Kenya’s position on the
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issue of Palestine. Kenya believes in the two-State
solution where the territorial integrity of Palestine
within the 1967 borders is upheld and the peace and
security of Israel are both assured and guaranteed. It is
therefore our hope that Palestine will be welcomed into
the community of nations with full membership in the
United Nations.