Mr. President,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Let me begin by stating that my country is happy to endorse the Secretary General's Millennium Report, which is full of wisdom and insight, and sets out the agenda for the United Nations in the years to come.

We are especially pleased that the Report highlights the many challenges which Africa continues to face, and highlights the need for a clear plan of action.

Mr. President, it is a matter of great concern that poverty continues to be a major challenge for humanity. It is a shameful scandal for mankind that so many must live in poverty while others live in extreme wealth.

In Malawi, poverty reduction is the central goal of our policies, but our efforts continue to be hampered by factors beyond our control, including trade imbalances and unpredictable weather patterns resulting in recurrent drought.

Today, Malawi's very basis of economic survival, tobacco, is likely to be phased out due to the international anti-smoking initiative.

This is compelling my country to face the challenge of economic diversification. We have the will to take on this challenge, but we will need the sympathy and partnership of the wider family of nations.

Mr. President, similar to other Sub-Saharan African countries, Malawi continues to be weighed down by a crippling debt burden, which we believe is one of the great injustices of our time.

Debt servicing has diverted my country's meagre resources from effectively improving the quality of life of our people.

While Malawi appreciates the benefits of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, we remain convinced that only total debt cancellation would help us much better.

The money used to service these debts, which were inherited from an earlier generation of leaders, would best be used in our poverty reduction programmes, such as education, health, sanitation and infrastructures.

There is much talk at this forum about poverty reduction, but there cannot be any poverty reduction if the children of Africa remain heavily indebted even before they are born.

Mr. President, another very serious challenge threatening Sub-Saharan Africa's progress is the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

During the past decade, HIV/AIDS has inflicted havoc on our modest development gains.

Unfortunately, the costs of drugs that help decelerate the impact of HIV/AIDS patients are very prohibitive.

I believe that the international community has a moral obligation and responsibility to ensure that cheaper drugs are available to our poor countries through grants and not loans.

Mr. President, I am appealing for grants because our countries already have the burden of external debts hanging like a noose around their necks.

It is also a matter of great concern that conflicts continue to worsen the already existing conditions of poverty in a number of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In such countries, most resources are being spent on weapons of war and destruction rather than on food for the people.

In this regard, Malawi deeply appreciates the tireless efforts the United Nations is making towards the promotion of international peace and security.

We have also observed with concern the factors which seem to impede the Organisation's peace-keeping operations

In some parts of Africa, for example, events have clearly shown the need for a strong mandate for peace-keeping missions.

It is also evident that the Organisation needs a mechanism by which it can take quick decisions on the deployment of peace-keeping missions during emergencies.

Malawi, therefore, welcomes the recommendations of the UN Secretary- General on peace-keeping operations.

Mr. President, with regard to international trade, difficulties in accessing the markets.of the developed countries persist.

I believe that the developed countries have a duty to assist us in ensuring that we have the capacity for effective access to global markets, and meaningful participation in the globalisation process.

As long as this much-touted globalisation benefits only a few, the world cannot claim to be democratic, and those who benefit from such imbalances cannot have a clear conscience.

Mr. President, the people of Malawi will continue to have strong confidence in the United Nations despite the many difficulties it is facing.

The UN has suffered some reverses, but it can also look back at many triumphs of which we should all be proud. Long live the United Nations long live the unity, peace and progress of mankind.

Thank you, Mr. President.