I should like to begin by
congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the
presidency and wishing you every success in the
months ahead. I pledge my country’s fullest
cooperation and support in the discharge of your duties
and responsibilities. I must also extend my sincere
appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his
effective leadership in promoting global peace, security
and development.
Last year, this Assembly declared and honoured
the opening of Ethiopia’s third millennium. We
appreciate that honour. It provided a tangible
foundation for the renaissance of Ethiopia, most
recently symbolized by the re-erection of the Obelisk
of Axum, brought back from Italy to the land of its
origin, where it was carved 17 centuries ago. We are
grateful to the Italian Government for that right and
bold decision.
A central element of our millennium celebrations
has been the initiation of numerous development
activities for the war on poverty and our commitment
to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
As the Secretary-General has noted, progress towards
the MDGs in Africa has been uneven. It is indeed
alarming that no country is likely to reach all the
MDGs by 2015. We are at the moment at the midway
mark and we all recognize that we are behind schedule.
We hope that the high-level event on the MDGs has
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achieved its objective of creating global awareness and
renewed commitment, with particular focus on Africa.
I concur with the Secretary-General that we are
facing a development emergency. In that regard,
decisive and timely action must be taken by developed
and developing countries alike to live up to their
commitments to the Millennium Development Goals.
Food insecurity could undermine core democratic
values and ruin national development efforts.
Governments should therefore take the lead and work
together in the economic sector to resolve the current
global food crisis.
The Monterrey Consensus on financing for
development, integrating aid, debt relief, market
access, good governance and foreign direct investment
is a litmus test for the success of global partnerships.
We call on the developed countries to honour their
commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross
national income to overseas development assistance.
The Millennium Development Goals provide the
critical minimum for our survival as a nation and the
basis for the profound transformation in which we are
currently engaged. Ethiopia’s priorities remain the
eradication of poverty, sustainable development and
ensuring good governance, democracy and respect for
human rights. Those are not a choice, but a necessity
for our survival as a nation. We have laid the
foundations for continued growth and democratization,
building democratic institutions from the grass roots
and providing the necessary political space for
responsible democratization.
Our average of 10 per cent growth over the last
five years is continuing despite the setbacks of recent
months. We continue protecting poverty-targeted
outlays and increasing capital expenditure on
infrastructure, education, health and pro-poor sectors.
For the first time in its history, Ethiopia is making real
and meaningful economic progress. It is the fastest
growing non-oil economy in Africa.
Ethiopia is both landlocked and one of the least
developed countries. Accordingly, we attach great
importance to the full implementation of both the
Brussels and the Almaty Programmes of Action. While
we appreciate all external assistance, we are equally
conscious of the need for predictable, strong and
enduring partnerships for mutual benefit. We need
economic relations that no longer penalize poor
countries and ones that provide greater flexibility in
development aid, the transfer of capital and the
removal of excessive indebtedness.
The objectives of the Millennium Development
Goals make it clear that global affluence and welfare
are inseparable and that prosperity cannot coexist with
abject poverty. In the context of the present world
trading system, we urge realistic preferential terms of
trade, especially to least developed countries, including
quota- and duty-free market access for all their goods
and services.
Ethiopia has consistently helped to promote peace
and stability in our region. We have no doubt that
sustainable development will be possible only with
durable peace and security. Those form the very
foundation of our subregional organization, the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
As the current Chair of IGAD, Ethiopia is determined
to ensure that its revitalization will become a reality,
enhance regional integration and promote peace,
security and development.
We know the dangers of continued conflict in our
region. That is indeed why we have committed
ourselves to peace in Somalia ever since we helped
organize the first broad-based peace conference in
1992. We have consistently supported all efforts to
bring about an effective Government in that country. In
that regard, we are encouraged by the latest positive
political developments in Somalia. The Djibouti
Agreement and the Addis Ababa road map open the
way for further progress in the peace process. We now
look forward to the planned IGAD summit in Nairobi
early next month to help Somalia’s leaders do more for
national reconciliation.
At the same time, we urge the Security Council to
discharge its responsibility by deploying a
peacekeeping mission to Somalia as soon as possible or
at least by allocating the necessary resources to
strengthen the African Union Mission to Somalia
(AMISOM). We commend the deployment of troops
from Uganda and Burundi to AMISOM. It is never too
late for others to follow their example.
Ethiopia appreciates the progress made in the
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement in the Sudan. We urge the parties to do
more in overcoming the challenges facing them.
However, we must emphasize that the international
community should also bear its shared responsibility in
that regard. Ethiopia fully supports the African Union
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position on Darfur and the handling of the International
Criminal Court-Sudan issue.
Ethiopia stands firmly committed to resolving all
outstanding issues with Eritrea through peaceful,
political, legal and diplomatic means.
Terrorism is a scourge that impedes peace and
development in any part of the world. As its occurrence
in any form threatens global security as a whole,
Ethiopia believes that it should be addressed
collectively. In that regard, we attach great significance
to the ability of dialogue among civilizations to build a
culture of tolerance that will enable us to create closer
understanding among nations — all nations.
Ethiopia remains committed to the United
Nations reform process and its revitalization. They are
critical to the credibility of the United Nations and the
future of multilateralism. As a founding Member of the
United Nations, Ethiopia will always remain loyal to
its purpose and principles.
The United Nations is the custodian of
multilateral diplomacy. At no time since the Second
World War have multilateralism and genuine
cooperation been as critical as they are today. That is
why we need the United Nations as never before. It is a
body that remains vital to the future of us all,
developing and developed countries alike.