General Assembly Session 53 meeting 35

Mr. Theron (Namibia)

I have the honour to present this statement on behalf of the Southern African States, namely, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We are about to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and simultaneously we find ourselves at the threshold of a new millennium. It is an appropriate moment to reflect and take stock on how far we have come in giving credence to the aims and objectives of the Charter. This is a period of great hope and confidence in the efficacy of the United Nations. The time is therefore quite appropriate for a new vision and foresight.

We are most grateful for this timely opportunity to participate in this very important debate. I therefore want to thank and congratulate the Secretary-General for his frank, analytical and comprehensive report on the causes of conflict in Africa and for the valuable recommendations for the prevention and resolution of social conflicts, as well as the proposals to ensure durable peace and sustainable development. Only a true son of Africa with wisdom and vision, like the Secretary-General, could so accurately and extensively report on the situation as it currently exists in our continent.

As stated in the report, the challenges which face the African continent, and their scope, cannot be discussed only in the Security Council. Hence the General Assembly, as well as the other components of the United Nations system, has also been tasked with discussing and implementing as appropriate the relevant recommendations contained in the report. This leaves us with an ideal opportunity to ensure that the expectations of "We the peoples" are met by further enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations.

We all know that economic and social problems are among the root causes of conflicts and that stability is closely linked to development. The Secretary-General therefore rightly emphasized the actions required -- such as democratization, good governance and sustainable development -- that would, if carried out, bring about durable peace and promote economic growth. The reality, however, is that official development assistance to Africa has been drastically reduced over the past few years. The impact of this decrease in resources considerably contributes to the inability of the continent to become self-sufficient. In order to support development policies in Africa, development assistance should be maintained and increased.

We wish to highlight particularly the importance of ensuring that women form part and parcel of all efforts towards conflict-resolution and sustainable development. The problems are numerous, but we have to ensure that equality between women and men becomes a fact of life, as this would set the stage for so much more to come.

The Secretary-General stated that Africa could not depend solely on the developed world for assistance. He also stated that the international community must show political will by taking concrete actions that would help to realize the objectives of advancing Africa's development priorities. In the same vein, we have time and again called on the Western creditors to write off Africa's external debt. This deed would be viewed as an exercise of concrete political commitment to assist and complement Africa's efforts to forge ahead with its own development. After all, Africa today remains underdeveloped and suffers the most in an unstable international economic environment. The developed world should therefore continue to cultivate a more equitable and fair trade partnership with the developing world.

In this regard, the Southern African region is working hard towards regional economic cooperation and integration. Several successful initiatives have been undertaken to consolidate these efforts under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Unfortunately, despite these positive developments, old and new conflicts are still part of our everyday lives.

Another important factor that could greatly contribute to alleviating some of our problems is the continued provision of post-conflict peace-building and rehabilitation. One can understand the concerns about the high costs involved in these exercises, but it should be obvious that the advantages of securing peace and stability far outweigh the costs of such exercises. Too often, frail, newly created peace initiatives are left alone, just to deteriorate into a war situation again.

Our region has closely followed the deliberations of the Security Council on this item. We have noted the positive responses by the Council members that left us with a sense of optimism for the future. They expressed willingness to assist in addressing the problems identified by promising to make the proposed solutions work and by strengthening cooperation on a number of issues. This positive attitude should give an impetus to our efforts to cooperate in a spirit of partnership.

We believe that peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building should remain high priorities for all of us. It is hoped that the outcome of these deliberations on the root causes of conflict in Africa will contribute to ensuring long-term stability, peace and sustained growth and development.

We have the unenviable responsibility to prevent when and where necessary the escalation of further conflicts within our region, and more so when called upon to do so by legitimate Governments. These interventions are necessary to prevent massive human suffering and further destabilization and to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. This requires close cooperation and collaboration among regional and subregional organizations that should be supported and promoted by the international community.

Finally, the Southern African region recommends that the General Assembly adopt measures that would ensure that the recommendations in the Secretary-General's report are implemented. Furthermore, we propose that the Assembly remain seized of this matter and that progress be reviewed on a regular basis.

Mr. Mochochoko (Lesotho)

Lesotho fully associates itself with the statements made by the representatives of Burkina Faso and Namibia on behalf of the African Group and of the southern African region, respectively.

I begin by paying tribute to the Secretary-General for his keen interest in the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa and for his focused and comprehensive report on the causes of conflict in Africa.

I also wish to express Lesotho's gratitude to the Secretary-General for the interest he has shown regarding the situation in Lesotho. We are encouraged by the special interest and concern shown by the Secretary-General, and indeed by the international community, regarding developments in Lesotho. It is our hope that the Secretary-General and the international community will continue to be actively involved in support of Lesotho's efforts to consolidate peace and prevent the recurrence of armed confrontation through assistance in areas which will facilitate the rapid re-establishment of income-generating activities as a means of laying a solid foundation for the development of our country.

Over the last year, the issues of peace and security in Africa have dominated the agenda of the Security Council. On 25 September 1997, an unprecedented meeting of the Council was convened at the ministerial level to review the state of the African continent and to consider appropriate concerted international action to promote peace and security there. As the Secretary-General pointed out this morning, in April he submitted to the Security Council his report on the causes of conflict in Africa in an effort to accelerate the settlement of conflicts and to promote peace and development on the continent. After its deliberations, the Council recognized that achieving peace and security in Africa is a continuous process; the Council therefore resolved to continue to assess progress in promoting peace and security in Africa at the level of foreign ministers on a biennial basis.

We welcome the Security Council's endorsement in resolution 1170 (1998) of the Secretary-General's proposals in this regard, the aim of which, we believe, is the continued in-depth examination of the causes of conflicts in Africa with a view to promoting durable peace and development in all parts of the continent. The Secretary-General's proposal on holding Security Council meetings at the summit level every five years is commendable and deserves the support of the Assembly.

As the Secretary-General's report indicates, each year one in four countries in Africa experiences conflicts, and Africa accounts for half of the worldwide deaths from conflicts. The sources of these conflicts are attributed to both internal and international dimensions. It is for these reasons that joint African and international concerted efforts and coordinated contributions are essential to settle these conflicts and eliminate their causes. More importantly, Africa has to demonstrate the will to use other, alternative means of dispute settlement rather than resort to the use of force to settle conflicts. We remain confident that the majority of African women and men are still eager to expend their time, energy and creativity on the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development through dialogue.

The recent sad experience in Lesotho has taught us that violence cannot be the basis for asserting one's viewpoint, nor can it help solve disputes. As we embark on the social and economic reconstruction of our country, we are acutely aware that dialogue must be the basic two-way instrument in solving problems.

We agree with the Secretary-General's assertion that, even though the primary responsibility for matters of peace and security lies with the United Nations, support for regional and subregional initiatives is both necessary and desirable in view of the fact that the United Nations lacks the capacity, resources and expertise to address all problems that may arise in Africa. The contagious results of events such as occurred in Lesotho call for a much more concerted effort by regional organizations in the promotion and resolution of conflicts. In this regard, we commend the efforts of subregional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in quelling dissidents in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and recently in Lesotho. These efforts strengthen our view that wherever possible, the international community should strive to complement rather than supplant Africa's efforts to resolve Africa's problems.

We therefore support stronger collaboration between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in Africa, which in our view is essential for dealing with some of the conflict situations in Africa. The recent meeting between the United Nations and regional organizations on this issue is thus commendable. We are also encouraged by Security Council actions to help strengthen support for regional and subregional initiatives as well as to enhance coordination between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the areas of conflict prevention and the maintenance of peace.

The Secretary-General is right in pointing out that high among those who profit from conflicts in Africa are international arms merchants. The proliferation of small arms continues to pose a serious threat to human security, not only in Africa but the world over. Better control measures will be required to counter this proliferation. As the Working Group created pursuant to Security Council resolution 1170 (1998) has rightly said, the flow of arms, ammunition and explosives into Africa's tensest regions is an area where the international community could quickly make a great deal of difference. Among initiatives that can be taken in this regard are support for Africa's efforts to build social cohesion, restoring the authority and legitimacy of States as providers of safety and security, and enhancing African societies' capacity to dialogue on security issues in order to minimize the need for these weapons.

We urge all those who sell arms and assist their proliferation into conflict areas, particularly in Africa, to take the necessary measures aimed at curtailing the threat posed by arms flows. We also urge the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to take immediate steps aimed at monitoring the accumulation and transfer of small arms into conflict areas. In this regard, efforts by the Security Council aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of arms embargoes imposed by the Council are steps in the right direction.

It is evident that the scourge of conflicts in Africa undermines efforts towards economic and social development of the continent. The Secretary-General's report clearly shows the intrinsic linkage between peace and development. The challenge before the international community is thus to work towards the achievement of peace and development in Africa. We reiterate the hope that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, other relevant bodies of the United Nations, regional and subregional organizations, international financial institutions and other relevant organizations as well as Member States will consider the Secretary-General's report and its recommendations, and take action as they deem appropriate within their respective areas of competence.

Finally, as Africans, we are naturally perturbed by the recent increase in the number of conflict situations in Africa: the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the stalled peace process in Angola; the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea; continued violence in Sierra Leone and the exacerbation of conflict between Somalia and Sudan, to mention a few, are all causes of concern to us. We appeal to all parties to these conflicts to summon the necessary political will and rise to the challenge of giving peace a new momentum. It is our hope that the international community will continue to rally behind Africa's tireless efforts to find lasting peace, stability and development for the region. Africa's quest for making peace, maintaining peace and building sustainable peace can be achieved through strengthening the United Nations capacity to prevent conflict, to respond rapidly when conflicts erupt and to be able to provide post-conflict peace-building instruments.

Mr. Mwakawago (Tanzania)

I am speaking on behalf of the eastern African subregion, comprising 12 countries -- the Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and my own country, Tanzania -- in support of the statement made by Burkina Faso on behalf of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and in the anticipation of that to be made later by Nigeria, which has the chairmanship of the African Group for October.

The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa is our major preoccupation. We have commended the Secretary-General for an insightful report on sources of conflict in Africa, ways to prevent and address those conflicts, and how to lay the foundation for durable peace and economic growth following their resolution. Allow me to reiterate those sentiments once again.

The gravity of the situation in Africa is self-evident from a cursory examination of the agenda of the Security Council. Africa dominates that agenda. The concerns of the Security Council in exploring practical ways to prevent, reduce and resolve conflicts in Africa were therefore both legitimate and necessary. But significantly, there have been few solutions to the conflicts because the root causes have not been addressed.

It is, however, true that the causes of conflict in Africa are not unique. The conflicts in Africa are not conflicts only because their causes are African. They are conflicts most significantly because, like anywhere else, the pervasiveness of abject poverty engenders frustrations, instability and conflict. Indeed, there can never be real peace where injustice abounds.

The Secretary-General pointed the way. The key to the resolution of conflicts in Africa and in all regions lies in meaningfully addressing the problems of development. Indeed, in presenting his report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General rightly observed that

"it is the persistence of poverty that is impeding the full promise of peace for all of Africa's peoples. The alleviation of poverty must be the first aim of our efforts. Only then -- only when prosperity and opportunity become real -- will every citizen, young or old, man or woman, have a genuine and lasting stake in a peaceful future for Africa -- politically, economically and socially." (S/PV.3871, p. 4)

Africa, composed of 53 States, remains the poorest region in the world. Of the 48 least developed countries in the world, 33 are in Africa. Africa's poverty is further exacerbated by pressures of debt servicing, which accounts for one third of these countries' export earnings; deteriorating terms of trade; declining official development assistance; falling commodity prices; increasing protectionism; and the negative effects of structural adjustment programmes. Needless to say, such an environment attracts very little foreign direct investment. It is apparent, therefore, that the cake available to meet Africa's needs is a very small one. And it is no wonder there are many conflicts in the continent.

It is in this regard that we welcomed the initiative of the Security Council and the report of the Secretary-General on Africa. Indeed, when the report was first discussed in the Security Council, there was unanimity that, while Africa bore primary responsibility for dealing with the challenges it faced, the challenge was such that Africa was incapable of facing it alone. It is in this context that we express the hope that specific and deliberate measures will be taken to transform the Secretary-General's recommendations into a workable strategy for real and meaningful change in Africa. In doing so, we need to bear in mind the World Bank's 1997 assessment of the situation:

"Social indicators remain below those of other regions; fiscal deficits are high and domestic savings low; aid dependency remains high; private investment and foreign direct investment levels, though beginning to improve, are low; and there is a significant unfinished agenda in areas such as the financial sector, public expenditure management, and privatization." (The World Bank Annual Report 1997)

It is a very bleak picture indeed.

In Washington the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have just concluded. Warnings about impending global economic crisis and recession have been given. The stakes for Africa are therefore even higher. The Bank's President is reported to have expressed concern that too little attention was being paid to the growing ranks of the unemployed and the risks of undercutting political stability. The poor, he warned, cannot wait. I would add that a hungry individual without shelter cannot appreciate exhortations on human rights. That individual's human rights are violated several times over. Thus gullibility becomes a weapon of survival to the detriment of Africa. We commend Mr. Wolfensohn for his call to focus on sustainable development and on social issues. The warning he gave in his 6 October address to the Board of Governors is apt:

"We must do all this. Because if we do not have the capacity to deal with social emergencies, if we do not have longer-term plans for solid institutions, if we do not have greater equity and social justice, there will be no political stability."

Africa is in a state of emergency. The result of well-meant programmes such as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative of the Bretton Woods institutions has proved disappointing. And yet Africa continues to face a crippling debt burden at a time when the global economic outlook is not full of promise. And it is in Africa that both the Bank and the international community are most needed.

One of the dangers resulting from the prospect of a global economic slowdown is an increased tendency by States to be inward looking. It is our hope that our shared concern about our common humanity will drive us to overcome destructive tendencies towards isolationism. At this moment of trial, Africa needs a global partnership, a partnership that would allow it to use and fully live up to the promise and aspirations of its people, the United Nations and, indeed, the international community.

It is also in this regard that we wish to take the opportunity to especially commend those Governments that have either taken or promised to take the necessary steps towards debt cancellation for African countries, and particularly the least developed among them. We should also express our appreciation to the donor countries for their commitment to Africa. Our special gratitude goes to the Netherlands and the Nordic countries for having attained the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance. They are standard bearers for any undertaking this Organization is committed to. We also recognize and appreciate Japan's initiatives on African development based on new partnerships. The second Tokyo International Conference on African Development is scheduled to convene in Tokyo in less than a fortnight's time.

There are countries such as Tanzania that have not experienced the kind of conflicts that have bedevilled Africa and yet are not immune from the effects of tension and strife elsewhere. Conflicts have been sources of uncontrollable influxes of refugees. These have occasioned untold human suffering to both the refugees and the host countries. While refugees deserve and desperately need help, so do the host countries, which have to cope with an unbearable burden with very limited resources, and experience considerable destruction to the environment. The United Republic of Tanzania -- host to over 300,000 refugees, a number that is growing as a result of the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi -- is particularly concerned about the level of international commitment to the burden it bears. We therefore continue to make a special appeal for support -- for it is not uncommon to read reports on contributions to refugees that are silent about the great sacrifice that is being made by the host countries.

In conclusion, I should like to express the wish of my subregion, and indeed of Africa, that all hope is not lost. It will therefore be reassuring if this Assembly adopts under this agenda item a resolution that seeks to implement the twin goals of peace and security, on the one hand, and development on the other. This, we believe, is the challenge the report of the Secretary-General has set us. Indeed, what Africa needs are not handouts, but the wherewithal for meaningful development. Consequently, investments in human capital, physical infrastructure, such as roads and railways, the provision of credit, and access to markets -- to mention but a few critical elements -- can speed up the positive changes that have been the hallmark of the last five years.

Africa is ready to move forward. What is required is a new, genuine partnership based on mutual respect and predicated on the premise that Africa needs to be taught how to fish and not to receive shiploads of fish.

Mr. Kasanda (Zambia)

In the past few years the Security Council agenda has been crowded with problems relating to Africa. Last April the Secretary-General took a bold step in producing a report entitled "The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa". It is fitting that we should be considering this well-thought-out report.

My delegation wishes to thank the Secretary-General for his landmark document, which brings many ideas and approaches to the range of problems and opportunities in the continent of Africa. To be sure, through this document the Secretary-General has neatly put Africa's problems in their proper perspective. He has rightly identified the fact that the sources of Africa's problems lie in both diverse and complex internal and external interactions. He has also made far-reaching recommendations on which action by the United Nations is urgently required.

The fact that the Assembly today is considering agenda item 164 on Africa underlines the international community's growing concern about the need to establish conditions amenable to peace, security and sustainable development in Africa. It is common knowledge that Africa, in the overall global framework, is lagging behind in economic development and is facing the stark realities of marginalization as compared to other continents. The reason for this situation lies in the severe socio-economic and political problems that confront Africa.

The countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have not only continued to face the age-old problem of Angola; the new conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has also further complicated and enlarged the region's area of concern for peace and security.

The situation in Angola has continued to deteriorate, despite the international community's patience and its efforts to bring Africa's oldest civil conflict to an end. Zambia is concerned that the hopes for peace and stability, as envisaged in the Lusaka Protocol, have not so far been realized. The reason for this lies squarely at the door of Jonas Savimbi, who has refused to abide by his obligations under the Lusaka Protocol. We have already gone a long way down the road to peace. Neighbouring countries and the United Nations have invested considerable effort and resources in the search for peace in Angola. We cannot afford now to abandon the Angolan people, who have suffered so much and whose hopes were pinned on the Lusaka Protocol. We hope, therefore, that in spite of the setbacks, the international community, through the Security Council, will reassert its authority and use its immense wisdom to put the Angolan peace process back on track.

With regard to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia has been actively involved in the search by regional leaders for a lasting and peaceful solution. The leaders of the Southern African Development Community and other regional leaders have done a commendable job in this regard under very difficult circumstances. As the Assembly is well aware, the maintenance of international peace and security is the primary responsibility of the Security Council. There is no doubt that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, if unresolved, could pose a threat not only to the region, but also to international peace and security. The mediation efforts of SADC and other regional leaders, therefore, deserve the support of the international community, as these efforts are intended to forestall the threat to international peace and security which this crisis poses.

In the same vein, Africa has a responsibility to ensure good governance and respect for human rights in the process of achieving durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. All too often conflicts are in large measure the result of lack of political tolerance, lack of respect for the sanctity of life and lack of inclusiveness in the public administrations in African countries. It is pleasing, however, that many countries in Africa have taken appropriate steps to permit democracy to thrive and to ensure respect for the rule of law, which are part of the primary conditions for peace and sustainable development.

The Secretary-General in his report has neatly captured the interrelationship between peace and development in Africa. Africa's greatest development challenge is to reduce poverty. The international consensus is that there should be a 50 per cent reduction of poverty among the world's poor by 2015. My country has challenged itself to reduce poverty among 50 per cent of its population by 2004.

While we recognize that development is a supreme national effort, the complementary process of international cooperation is also a vital input. Market access is a key factor in regenerating growth and development in Africa. Developed countries need to resist protectionist tendencies towards African exports, not just to facilitate a qualitative and quantitative expansion of African export trade, but also to facilitate the sustenance of the extensive liberalization that Africa has been painfully undertaking.

The external debts of African countries need to be significantly reduced beyond the internationally agreed 80 per cent relief. Complete write-offs will have to be undertaken for many African countries as well. The international community faces the challenge to provide Africa with a lasting exit from unsustainable debt burdens. The Mauritius Mandate is a welcome step in this direction. We also welcome the recent agreements to liberalize and extend the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt (HIPC) Initiative.

After a period of decline, World Bank lending to Africa is recovering. Since much of Africa depends on concessional borrowing, early agreement on the twelfth replenishment of the International Development Association is vital. We fully support the view that this should be achieved before the end of this year. Official development assistance in general has been declining for the past five years. This trend needs to be reversed with a sense of urgency.

Capacity-building in economic management is a vital part of promoting African development. Technical assistance programmes should give a major emphasis in this area. African development will continue with a dynamism of its own if the local capacity to manage African economies is established and sustained.

For its part, Africa is proceeding with numerous initiatives to promote development in such areas as democratization, economic liberalization and the promotion of economic integration. However, situations such as those obtaining in Lesotho, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other parts of Africa will always cruelly remind us that the greatest internal impediments to African development are conflicts. The interplay of peace-building and prosperity should go a long way in removing conflicts in Africa.

Mr. Konishi (Japan)

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