Allow me at the outset to
convey my very warm regards and congratulations to
you, Sir, on your well-deserved election to preside over
the sixty-third session of this Assembly.
On behalf of the African Union, the United
Republic of Tanzania and in my own name, I would
like to assure you of our unqualified support and
cooperation throughout your term of office. Allow me
also to use this opportunity to thank and congratulate
your predecessor, Ambassador Srgjan Kerim, President
of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, for
his leadership and for a job very well done.
Our illustrious Secretary-General, His Excellency
Ban Ki-moon, deserves special tribute from us for the
excellent manner in which he is discharging the
responsibilities of his high office. We appreciate the
way in which he has answered the call of duty. My
delegation and I reaffirm our support for his great
work. His devotion to achieving the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) reversing the impact of
climate change and his concern for Africa’s
development have won the hearts of many of us in the
continent.
As I stand before this Assembly in my dual
capacity as Chairman of the African Union and as
President of my country, I bring with me a message of
hope and optimism from Africa. Africa is no longer the
hopeless case as perceived by some. There are so many
good things happening in the continent. There is
increasing political stability, peace reigns in almost all
nations but a few and the economies of many nations
are blossoming.
Africa is now a continent in full embrace of
democracy, good governance, rule of law and respect
for human rights. There is stronger commitment to deal
with vices in society, including the problems of
corruption.
Most African countries have embraced
democratic governance and regular, periodic elections
are the norm. In the past two years, a good number of
African countries have successfully held democratic
elections. It is a matter of principle enshrined in the
Constitutive Act of the African Union that leaders who
come into office through undemocratic means are not
allowed to participate in the activities of the African
Union. It is this principle that guided the African Union
in suspending Mauritania from the organs of the
African Union until democratic dispensations are
restored.
It is heart-warming, indeed, that Africans,
through the African Union and their regional economic
organizations, have been proactive and have taken the
lead in monitoring elections and resolving conflicts
where they have arisen. This was the case with Kenya
and very recently with Zimbabwe. Indeed, Africa has
come of age. The old principle of non-interference in
internal affairs is surely being replaced by
non-indifference to violations of democracy and abuse
of human rights in Member States.
There are fewer conflicts in the continent today
than was the case a few years ago. This is testimony to
the fact that democracy and good governance are
taking root and the African peace and security
architecture is working. However, much more needs to
be done to strengthen the African Union’s capacity for
early warning, conflict prevention and conflict
resolution. There is also a need to do the same with the
regional economic groupings to buttress their
peacebuilding efforts.
I would like to recognize the United Nations, the
European Union and States and other institutions in the
world that have generously supported the strengthening
of the infant African Union peace and security
mechanism. I would like to call on all of them to
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continue supporting the African Union mechanism as
well as the regional mechanisms and peacekeeping
operations in Africa.
There are only three conflict situations worth
mentioning and discussing in this Assembly today.
These concern the conflicts in Darfur and Somalia and
the volatile security situation in the eastern part of
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In Darfur, the humanitarian crisis still persists
although there may be some encouraging signs of
improvement. I believe the situation would be much
better if the entire contingent of the United Nations
Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) forces was
deployed, and the peace talks between the rebels and
the Government of Sudan were resumed and
concluded. Also, improvement would be seen if
humanitarian aid work was allowed to be carried out
unencumbered and matters related to justice were dealt
with judiciously.
There is a need therefore for the United Nations,
the African Union and the Government of the Sudan to
continue to work together expeditiously to remove the
obstacles impeding the deployment of UNAMID, to
remove the obstacles impeding the dialogue between
the Government of the Sudan and the rebels, impeding
humanitarian operations and impeding the process of
dispensation of justice in Darfur.
I was in Sudan two weeks ago and held very
fruitful discussions with His Excellency President
Omar Al-Bashir. I also met officials of the Joint
UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur. We discussed
the situation in Darfur, the obstacles involved and
came to some understanding on the way forward. I am
hopeful that progress can be made. We need to seize
the moment and the opportunities that are now
unfolding.
It is the considered view of the African Union
that the indictment of President Omar Al-Bashir at this
particular point in time will complicate the deployment
of UNAMID and the management of the humanitarian
crisis in Darfur. It is for this reason that the African
Union sees deferment as the most expedient measure
now.
Let me make one thing clear: when we talk about
deferment, we should not in any way be perceived as
condoning injustice. Justice is a matter of essence. It
must be done, it must be seen to be done. We are
simply concerned with the best possible sequencing of
measures so that the most immediate matters of saving
lives and easing the suffering of the people of Darfur
are taken care of first. Getting the support and
cooperation of the Government of the Sudan is a matter
of essence in the fulfilment of all that we want to seen
done in Darfur.
The conflict in Somalia remains difficult to
manage and resolve. The inter-party dialogue has not
yet borne the desired results. The African Union
peacekeeping efforts seem to be overstretched. We call
upon the United Nations to step in and take over the
peacekeeping responsibilities at the earliest possible
time before the African Union mission is overwhelmed.
Time is of the essence. Let me use this opportunity to
commend the Governments of Ethiopia, Uganda and
Burundi for their invaluable contribution to
peacekeeping efforts in Somalia.
The volatile security situation in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo is a matter of great
concern. We are deeply saddened by the ongoing
fighting between the government forces and rebel
forces of General Laurent Nkunda. The continued
presence of negative forces threatening the security of
countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the
Congo is another complicating factor.
The African Union is committed to be more
proactive in the search for lasting peace in that
troubled region. We will work with regional leaders
and the United Nations in that regard.
On September 15 this year, a landmark
breakthrough was achieved in the Zimbabwe political
crisis when the three political parties to the conflict:
The African National Union-Patriotic Front, the
Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai and the
Movement for Democratic Change-Mutambara, signed
the historic agreement for ending the conflict and
forming an inclusive Government. The leaders of those
three parties are now engaged in the process of
implementing that agreement. Getting to this point in a
conflict situation that seemed almost impossible to
resolve is a major achievement indeed.
We need to congratulate President Robert
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on their
wisdom and statesmanship. We also need to
acknowledge, recognize and commend, in a special
manner, President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of
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South Africa for his sterling leadership. It was his
patience, perseverance and understanding that made it
all happen. His imminent departure from office, which
comes suddenly, raises some concerns about what may
happen if difficulties are experienced with the
implementation of the agreement. I see no cause for
alarm. The South African Government remains, and I
am sure the new leadership will continue to be, seized
of the matter.
Moreover, since the agreement is the product of
the decision taken in July by the African Union at its
summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the African Union
and the Southern Africa Development Community
stand ready to assist if need should arise.
We in Africa thank you, Mr. President, for
including the food and oil crises among the themes for
this session of the General Assembly. The current
global escalation of food and fuel prices has reached
crisis proportions. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region
affected the most. It is home to the majority of the least
developed countries on this planet. Their food and oil
bills have increased exponentially. Food import bills
have increased by over 40 per cent over the past year,
while oil prices have increased by over 100 per cent
since 2005. Even the recent drop in oil prices has not
helped much, because prices are still more than twice
what they were in 2005.
The high food and oil prices threaten to erode the
humble gains made in implementing the Millennium
Development Goals and sustaining macroeconomic
stability in Africa. The food and oil crisis, coupled with
the worsening financial crisis throughout the world,
gives us every reason to be very worried. The need for
comprehensive action to reverse the situation cannot be
overemphasized. We call upon the international
community and key players in the global economy to
act quickly. The United Nations should take the lead.
Yesterday, this Assembly held a high-level event
on Africa’s development needs. The meeting received a
comprehensive report from the Secretary-General on
“Africa’s development needs: state of implementation
of various commitments, challenges and the way
forward” (A/63//130). We are glad to note that the
report incorporated some of the recommendations of
the Millennium Development Goals Africa Steering
Group.
The report’s findings underscore the fact that
Africa cannot meet its development needs without the
support of the international community. Indeed, the
international community has been responding
favourably. A number of commitments to assisting
Africa have been made over the years in different
international forums. Unfortunately, the commitments
made have not been met fully.
We appeal to the General Assembly to echo the
call and impress upon Africa’s development partners
the need to honour their promise and deliver on their
commitments. I also urge this family of United Nations
Member States to fully support the political declaration
adopted at the high-level meeting yesterday, as we re-
dedicate ourselves to meeting the development needs
of Africa.
We in Africa have been following with keen
interest the ongoing process of the reform of the United
Nations. We remain convinced of the ideal that a
reform of the United Nations would be incomplete
without a reform of the Security Council. On our part,
we have authorized our permanent representatives in
New York to embark on negotiations with all parties on
the reforms of the Security Council. At this juncture, I
should reiterate the position of the African Union of
asking for two permanent seats with veto power and
two non-permanent seats. Our demand should be seen
against the backdrop of the reality that Africa is the
only continent without a permanent seat in the Security
Council, despite our large membership in the United
Nations. That is an anomaly. It has to be corrected. The
reform of the Security Council, therefore, should take
that into account.
The reforms of the United Nations have, on the
other hand, to enable the Organization to work better
and be more efficient, effective and responsive to the
challenges of our times. We are happy with the work of
the General Assembly at its previous sessions on
advancing the United Nations system-wide coherence
agenda. The work has thus far advanced
intergovernmental consultations on the United Nations
delivering as one: one programme, one budget, one
office and one leader.
Tanzania is one of the eight pilot countries on the
United Nations “delivering as one” project. Our
experience so far has shown that delivering as one is
possible. It improves national ownership and
strengthens national leadership in the development
process. It permits the realignment of United Nations
assistance with national priorities and streamlines
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business transactions, thus enhancing the efficiency
and effectiveness of United Nations activities. I urge
this Assembly to follow up on the implementation of
this important reform, and I appeal to our development
partners to provide the requisite resources.
At the sixtieth session of this Assembly, I
reported on the work of the Helsinki Process on
Globalisation and Democracy, a joint initiative
launched in 2003 and co-chaired by Finland and
Tanzania. The Helsinki Process, a forum to facilitate
multi-stakeholder dialogue on the possibilities offered
and challenges posed by the process of globalization,
has come to an end. The main objective of that
initiative was to mobilize political will in support of
the Millennium Development Goals. The President of
Finland, Ms. Tarja Halonen, and I would be glad, as
co-chairs of the Process, to present the final report to
the Secretary-General this week. We trust that the
report will add impetus to global efforts to see political
will prevail in the implementation of the Millennium
Development Goals. A democracy deficit in
international institutions is attendant.
Before I conclude, allow me to mention three
things. First, I would remind this world body that the
Western Sahara problem remains unresolved. Allow me
to make a humble appeal to the Security Council to
expedite the process so that the matter is concluded
soon. It has been going on for too long. The people of
the Western Sahara will then be given the opportunity
to determine which way to go. They deserve to be
afforded the opportunity to live a normal life in a
nation that has been designated as theirs.
Secondly, we should remain seized of the
Palestinian question until the two-State solution — the
State of Israel and a State of Palestine living together
side by side and in harmony — is attained.
Thirdly, there is a matter that we discussed at the
most recent African Union summit. It is with regard to
the issue of universal jurisdiction being practiced by
some European nations. It has now become a matter of
harassment for African leaders. We discussed the matter
at length at the summit, and we intend to raise this issue
with the United Nations for appropriate attention.
Once again, I would like to reiterate the support
of the African Union and Tanzania of your efforts, Sir,
in fulfilling our collective objectives during this sixty-
third session of the General Assembly. Count on our
support; rely on our support.