Permanent Mission of

The Republic of Angola to the United Nations

STATEMENT BY

H.E. DR. JOAO BERNARDO DE MIRANDA

MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

AT THE MILLENIUM SUMMIT

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK, 8 SEPTEMBER 200

125 East 73rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10021

MR. PRESIDENT,

EXCELLENCIES,

MR. SECRETARY‑GENERAL,

THIS SUMMIT PROVIDES US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IN DEPT, H ISSUES CRITICAL r FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND WELL‑BEING OF ALL PEOPLES.

POVERTY AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDER EMPLOYMENT AND LACK OF ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CLEAN WATER CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN MANY COUNTRIES.

ARMED CONFLICTS AND LOCAL WARS CAUSED BY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FACTORS PERSIST AND ENDANGER THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, WIDENING THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES. THEY ARE AMONG THE MAIN BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE WITH NO PARALLEL IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND. BUT THEY HAVE ONLY BENEFITED A FIFTH OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION. THIS SMALL PERCENTAGE CONTROLS 86% OF THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION, 82% OF THE EXPORT MARKETS, 68% OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND 74% OF ALL TELEPHONE LINES IN THE PLANET.

INITIATIVES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO COUNTER THIS INCOME CONCENTRATION TREND THROUGH STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS FAR FROM REDUCING POVERTY ENDED UP INCREASING INEQUALITIES BECAUSE THEY ONLY PROMOTE GROWTH AND NOT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS HAPPENING MOSTLY IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WHERE ALMOST HALF OF THE POPULATION SURVIVE ON LESS THAN TWO DOLLARS A DAY.

MR. PRESIDENT,

ALTHOUGH THE GLOBALIZATION HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, CHANGING ALL AREAS OF HUMAN LIFE AND ESPECIALLY THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN POOR COUNTRIES, THESE NATIONS STILL LACK CAPACITY TO FACE THE CHALLENGES ENGENDERED AND ARE UNABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES BEING CREATED OR TO MINIMIZE ITS UNFAVORABLE ASPECTS.

IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT, AFRICA IS THE POOREST OF ALL CONTINENTS. IT SHOULD, THEREFORE, RECEIVE GLOBAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING DEBT RE‑SCHEDULING AND EVEN FORGIVENESS. ITS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE FINANCED BY A GLOBAL ASSISTANCE FUND THAT WILL LINK ECONOMIC REFORM TO POVERTY ERADICATION.

MR. PRESIDENT,

MANY SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE INSISTED ON THE NEED TO ADAPT OUR ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT CHALLENGES OF TODAY'S WORLD. ANGOLA FULLY CONCURS.

ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ARE CURRENT PROPOSALS FOR GREATER DEMOCRATIZATION AND STRENGTHENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS, TO FACILITATE ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS UNIQUE MISSION TO PROMOTE A MORE DIGNIFIED, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL WORLD, PRESERVING AND REINFORCING THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF ALL MEMBERS IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE WAY.

ANGOLA REITERATES ITS FIRM SUPPORT TO THE AFRICAN COMMON POSITION ON THE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION IN AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AIMED AT SECURINGTWO PERMANENT AND TWO NON‑PERMANENT SEATS FOR AFRICA ON

r

AN ENLARGED SECURITY COUNCIL.

IN CONCLUSION, ALLOW ME TO REAFFIRM ANGOLA'S DETERMINATION

TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SECURE, MORE PROSPEROUS AND MORE

UNITED WORLD FOR ALL IN THIS THIRD MILLENNIUM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.