I am pleased to join those
who have spoken before me in congratulating you, Sir, on
your election to the presidency of the sixtieth session of
the General Assembly. For us in Zambia your election is
especially significant given the historic bond of friendship
05-51226 9
that exists between our countries. It was in our country
that your illustrious compatriot, then Secretary-General
Dag Hammarskjöld, lost his life in 1961 while on a
mission for peace in the Congo.
I pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency
Mr. Jean Ping, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Gabon, who presided over the fifty-ninth
session, for his selfless commitment and devotion to
the search for consensus on the outcome document
which the Assembly adopted two days ago (resolution
60/1). My delegation’s appreciation also goes to the
Secretary-General, His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan,
for his outstanding leadership and dedication to the
well-being of the Organization.
Five years ago we committed ourselves to eight
identifiable Development Goals. Today we have
recommitted ourselves to uphold the principles and
meet the Goals set out in the historic Millennium
Declaration. We hope that the commitments we have
undertaken will not remain mere empty words but that,
this time around, the international community will
make a concerted effort to implement them. In this
regard we are inspired by the report of the High-level
Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change (A/59/565).
Those of us from Africa see the report of the Secretary-
General (A/59/2005) as an opportunity to realize the
goals set out in the Organization of African Unity’s
1997 Harare Declaration, which called for the reform
of the United Nations Security Council.
My delegation supports the demand of the
African Union for two permanent seats on the Security
Council, with all the privileges attached to such seats,
including the right of veto. Our position is not meant to
frustrate the reform process. The African region
considers the reform of the Organization as an
opportunity to correct historical injustices that stand as
a dark cloud over our people. We would actually prefer
that the right of veto be removed from the United
Nations, as it is undemocratic. We are, however, aware
that some permanent members of the Security Council
are reluctant to give up the veto power at the moment.
It is in this regard that Africa, like other regions,
deserves the right of veto, as the absence of that right
will only serve to perpetuate the marginalization of the
continent.
The position I have outlined does not in any way
mean that Africa is against the expansion of the
Security Council to include other important countries
that contribute to international peace and security. Let
me reaffirm in this regard that Zambia supports the
four candidate States of Brazil, Germany, India and
Japan for permanent membership of the Security
Council with full privileges, including that of veto
power. I am only stressing that Africa is entitled to, and
deserves the right of, permanent representation in the
Security Council, with the right of veto, not only as a
matter of correcting an historical injustice against
Africa but also to uphold the democratic principles of
regional equality.
Two days ago we adopted the outcome document
of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General
Assembly on the review of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). The High-level Plenary
Meeting provided a rare opportunity for us to share
experiences in the implementation of the development
agenda, in particular, and highlighted the need for
enhanced international cooperation and coordination if
we are to achieve much-sought-after economic
development. While the document does not contain
everything we would have wanted to include, it
nevertheless represents an important basis for
continued dialogue during this session.
Since 2001 Africa has been implementing the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD),
whose main objective is to enhance the capacity of
African countries to reduce the high incidence of
poverty on the continent and to strengthen efforts to
achieve sustainable economic development. While we
acknowledge the support that the international
community has so far rendered to the realization of
NEPAD’s objectives, it is also true that this support
that has proved to be insufficient.
It is the view of my Government that while
official development assistance (ODA) may help in the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,
trade would help to sustain those gains. In this regard,
Zambia urges all stakeholders to bring to a speedy
conclusion the Doha round of trade negotiations, which
will act as a catalyst towards achieving sustainable
development. The external debt problem is still a major
hindrance to development. The current unfavourable
terms in agriculture and commodity trading make the
problem even more unbearable.
My delegation commends the United Nations for
supporting the efforts of the African Union’s peace
initiatives on the continent. The Pan-African
10 05-51226
Parliament and the Peace and Security Council are part
of the infrastructure in support of peace and security. In
this regard, I wish to pledge Zambia’s continued
support of the process.
Zambia, as one of the core States of the Great
Lakes region, would like to associate itself with the
remarkable progress that continues to be made in the
areas of peace and security in the subregion since the
17 November 2003 report of the Secretary-General to
the Security Council on preparations for an
international conference on the Great Lakes region
(S/2003/1099). We are encouraged by some positive
developments brought about so far through the process
of regional ownership and international partnership and
the combined efforts of the United Nations, the African
Union, the Group of Friends and the subregional
Governments concerned.
My Government will continue to play its part in
the fight against international terrorism. Zambia rejects
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We are
determined to work with the rest of the international
community to implement the counter-terrorism
strategy.
Zambia is committed to promoting and respecting
human rights, the rule of law and democracy. In
Zambia we believe that democracy is a universal value.
We believe therefore it is under conditions of
democracy that all human rights are protected.
Allow me to conclude my statement by referring
to the efforts my Government is making to fight
corruption. The nation as a whole has realized that the
state of our economy could have been much better if
all the resources available had been utilized properly.
In this regard, one cannot overemphasize the fact that
corruption erodes the incomes of households and
businesses, thus defeating efforts to reduce poverty. I
wish to explain that the Zambia Task Force on
Corruption is an instrument for development that my
Government hopes will enhance the capacity to utilize
public resources for purposes that benefit the nation as
a whole. More important, the attainment of the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative completion
point by my country can, in large measure, be
attributed to the success of the campaign against
corruption, which prompted the Government to
introduce stringent financial controls and transparent
and accountable public expenditure measures. The
United Nations should consider increasing its resources
in the fight against corruption.
As we mark the sixtieth anniversary of this, our
great institution, we cannot but conclude that its
importance and continued relevance to mankind is
beyond question. It is in that context that we need to
revitalize it in order for it to fulfil the ideals for which
it was established.