Statement by
H.E. MR. HARRI HOLKERI
President of the General Assembly
On the occasion of
the commemoration of Africa Day
24 May 2001
I am very pleased to have
this opportunity to address the commemoration of Africa Day which marks the
38th Anniversary of the signing of the OAU Charter.
At the Millennium Summit Member States pledged to strengthen the United Nations
as an indispensable common house of the entire human family. The challenges
facing us are huge and to be successful the United Nations must deepen its relationship
with other organizations.
I have stressed the important role that regional organizations play in promoting
the UN's goals and fulfilling the Summit outcome. I also believe that we need
to do more to improve these relations in order to intensify co-operation not
only through words but also by deeds. I look forward to working with the OAU
and its members in this respect.
When we celebrate Africa Day we should note that Africa enters the new millennium
with hope and optimism. After a long period of stagnation and slow growth, witnessed
not only by negative per capita income but also deterioration in the social
situation, per capita income in several African countries has grown at a positive
rate since 1994, peaking at 4.8 per cent in 1996. This was made possible because
the majority of African countries are pursuing economic policies, aimed at reducing
macroeconomic imbalances and providing an enabling environment to stimulate
private sector development. It should also be stressed that economic reforms
have been accompanied by political liberalization and a movement towards participatory
forms of government. This in turn is giving rise to improved relationships between
the State and civil society.
However, economic growth has not been sustained in the majority of African countries.
Since 1996, growth has slowed down, though it has remained positive. But growth
projection of 3.1 per cent for 2001 and 4.3 per cent for 2001 provide cause
for optimism.
Recent improvements in economic performance notwithstanding, Africa remains
the poorest and least developed region of the world, the least developed technologically,
the most indebted in terms of external debt to GDP ratio, and the most affected
by civil conflict. And yet, overseas development assistance to Africa has fallen,
from $32 per head in 1990 to $19 by 1998. This decline took place despite the
efforts by African countries to undertake economic and political reforms. ODA
can catalyse development, especially through investment in the social sector
and the infrastructure. The donor community must meet the ODA target of 0.7
per cent. So far is only a few countries have met or exceeded this target.
It is in this connection that I should like to recall that at the Millennium
Summit we resolved to support the consolidation of democracy in Africa and assist
Africans in their struggle for lasting peace, poverty eradication and sustainable
development. The observance of Africa Day this year gives us all an opportunity
to recommit ourselves to fulfilling the commitments we have made at the Summit.
The Third United Nations Conference on the LDC's, which was part of the follow
up process to the Summit, reinforced some of the critical issues relating to
financing for development in the LDCs, including, among others, debt, market
access, ODA and foreign direct investment. A number of concrete promises were
announced in the Conference, and we must ensure an effective follow up in order
to implement the outcome which will benefit the African region, which hosts
34 out of 49 LDCs.
One important issue raised at the Summit was the need to tackle the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, also addressed by the recent Abuja Summit, which I had an opportunity
to attend. Largely due to HIV/AIDS, life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is
declining: from 59 years in early 1990 to only 45 years by the year 2010. At
the same time, it is estimated that the number of AIDS orphans will rise to
40 millions in Africa alone. These figures illustrate that HIV/AIDS not only
destroys individuals, it destroys entire societies. At this very moment negotiations
on the action plan for the HIV/AIDS Special Session are going on in another
room. We all must make our best effort to focus the discussion on the core issues,
which would ensure that the outcome is relevant also to Africa.
Let me now briefly touch upon the role of regional organizations in conflict
prevention and peace building. The role of regional organizations, such as OAU
is particularly important in conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building.
The OAU with its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention and Resolution and together
with other regional organizations and civil society can make an important contribution
towards peace in Africa. The UN will continue to support the OAU in its efforts
to prevent and resolve conflicts in Africa. I hope to benefit fully from the
experience of OAU and its members next week when we discuss conflict prevention
and post-conflict peace building in the Working Group on Causes of Conflict
and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa. I
count on your active participation and support in making that discussion productive.
African development remains the UN's priority and in line with the spirit of
the Millennium Declaration, the UN system has an important role to play in building
and strengthening partnerships for development and peace in Africa. Only by
working together with African leaders and the OAU can we achieve this goal.