I wish to add my voice to
those who have spoken before me on the need for
effective responses to global crises and for
strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among
civilizations for international peace, security and
development.
I believe that there is no longer an excuse for
world leaders to be reluctant to move closer together
and stimulate debate on how multilateralism and
dialogue could be strengthened. We need to strengthen
collaboration so that the international community
responds effectively to such global challenges as
climate change, the financial and economic crisis, food
and energy crises, armed conflicts, terrorism and,
above all, poverty reduction.
The first item on the multilateralism agenda is to
reach a global consensus on reforming multilateral
institutions, including the United Nations, to ensure the
equitable and geographical representation of developed
and developing countries alike. It is imperative that
developing nations have an effective voice on matters
that concern them. Therefore, the United Nations
should promote dialogue that ensures the inclusiveness,
transparency and accountability that are needed to
attain genuine global peace, security and development.
The Security Council must be made flexible to
allow the countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and
the Middle East to have fair representation in that
body. The continued monopoly of that body by the
super-Powers is no longer justifiable. Developing
nations cannot continue to be silent spectators in
matters that affect them. Every sovereign nation is an
integral part of the global village. Gone are the days
when conflicts, wars and economic crises in Africa,
South-East Asia, the Middle East and Latin America
were the concerns only of the peoples and
Governments in those areas.
The second agenda item for multilateral dialogue
is the attainment of world food security. Food
shortages threaten the foundations of democracy and
good governance. The United Nations cannot sustain a
world system where huge populations live permanently
with hunger and starvation. This world body must find
a formula whereby the world can produce enough food
for all at affordable prices. I believe that it is possible
under the auspices of the United Nations to achieve
global food security.
Malawi has a well-organized agricultural
development strategy and can contribute to United
Nations efforts in this matter. Malawi has, within a
short period of time, transformed itself from being a
food-deficit and hungry nation to a food-surplus
nation. Malawi now produces enough food for all its
people, and we are able to export to neighbouring
countries.
The key factor behind this success story is that
Malawi has allocated huge budgetary resources and
heavy investment to the agricultural sector. We have
also successfully introduced an agricultural input
subsidy programme that enables poor and low-income
households to buy fertilizer, seeds and chemicals at a
heavily subsidized price. As a result, poor smallholder
farmers have become more productive. At the same
time, there are visible signs of improvements in the
standard of living of the people, particularly in rural
areas.
The third agenda item for multilateral dialogue is
to manage climate change. Malawi is happy that this
matter will be fully discussed at the Copenhagen
Conference later this year. At the national level,
Malawi is responding to the challenge of climate
change through intensive irrigation farming and by
moving away from dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
The Government has introduced the Green Belt
programme that will irrigate up to 1 million hectares of
land for small-, medium- and large-scale farmers by
harnessing water sources from the rivers and lakes to
provide extensive irrigation. We shall grow a broad
range of food crops, such as rice, wheat, maize, beans
and lentils, as our way to contribute to resolving the
world food crisis.
The threat of climate change is real. I believe that
the price of complacency will be much higher if we fail
to act today. For Africa and developing countries
elsewhere, we need to adequately address the issue of
deforestation, environmental degradation and
agricultural productivity. We need to act now.
Let me conclude by stating that we also need a
global dialogue on democracy, good governance,
human rights, the rule of law and the fight against
terrorism in all its manifestations. We also need a new
understanding of how developing nations can cope
with the shocks of global financial crises and
escalating fuel prices.
I believe that, working together, all nations of the
world, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, can
strengthen multilateralism and dialogue for lasting
international peace, security and development. We live
in one world. We have the same destiny.