INTRODUCTION
I AM DELIGHTED TO REPRESENT THE SWAZI NATION AT THIS HISTORIC MILLENNIUM SUMMIT.
THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS
HAS GATHER-ED TOGETHER FOR THESE THREE DAYS, TO AGREE ON HOW OUR ORGANISATION MUST ADAPT,
TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY.
THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND IS PRESENTING HER
PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS, TO ENABLE OUR ORGANISATION TO SUPPORT
US MORE EFFICIENTLY, IN OUR EFFORTS TO MEET THE DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF OUR PEOPLE
GLOBALISATION
INTER-DEPENDENCY
WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING MUCH-NEEDED CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OPERATIONS OF
THE ORGANISATION.
BUT THE SUMMIT
ALSO PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF GLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND IN
PARTICULAR, HOW TO CORRECT THE IMBALANCE OF WEALTH AND SOCIAL STANDARDS, BETWEEN THE NORTH
AND THE SOUTH.
IN THIS
INCREASINGLY INTER-DEPENDENT WORLD, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR MEMBER STATES TO
WORK TOGETHER, IN UNITY, AND WITH RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL VIEW- POINTS OF ONE ANOTHER,
REGARDLESS OF SIZE, INFLUENCE AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
WE HOPE THAT THE
SUMMIT WILL RE-CONFIRM THE AGREEMENT OF ALL MEMBERS, THAT CONCEPTS SUCH AS GLOBALISATION,
ARE INTENDED AS A WAY FOR ALL COUNTRIES TO BENEFIT EVENLY FROM THE NEW WORLD ORDER; AND
NOT AS A MEANS OF CONTINUING DOMINATION BY THE STRONG OVER THE WEAK.
AND WE WOULD
EXPECT THAT THE NEEDS OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD ARE TREATED SERIOUSLY, WITH COMMITMENT FROM
OUR PARTNERS, TO SUPPORTING OUR PRIORITY OBJECTIVES IN AN OPEN AND HONEST MANNER, WHILE
RESPECTING NATIONAL WISHES AND BELIEFS, AND WITHOUT CONDITIONS THAT UNDERMINE SOVEREIGNTY
AND INDEPENDENCE.
THREE PRIORITIES
THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND HAS THREE MAJOR
CONCERNS THAT WE BELIEVE REQUIRE UNITED NATIONS LEADERSHIP IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.
THESE INVOLVE THE
ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE ORGANISATION, OF A LEADING ROLE IN: CONFLICT
PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION RESOURCE , MOBILISATION FOR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES; AND THE
FIGHTAGAINST HIV/AIDS.
FROM AN AFRICAN
PERSPECTIVE, IT IS A FACT THAT CONFLICTS AND INSTABILITY ON OUR CONTINENT, NOT ONLY CAUSE IMMENSE SUFFERING TO THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED, BUT CAN ALSO HAVE A
NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE REST OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE THEREFORE FULLY
SUPPORT THE CALL BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TO WORK HAND-IN-HAND
WITH REGIONAL GROUPINGS, TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT, BY ADDRESSING THE ROOT
CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS.
IN THE GLOBAL EFFORT TOWARDS ERADICATING
POVERTY, WE BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS MUST TAKE A MUCH STRONGER POSITION, IN
ASSISTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO MOBILISE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WITH WHICH TO IMPLEMENT
THEIR PRIORITY PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY IN JOB CREATION AND ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
HIV/AIDS
AND FINALLY, WITH THE
TERRIBLE THREAT OF HIV/AIDS CASTING ITS SHADOW OVER THE START OF THIS NEW CENTURY, THERE
IS SURELY AN URGENT NEED FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TO TAKE THE LEAD, IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT
AGAINST THIS POWERFUL ENEMY OF MANKIND.
BECAUSE OF AIDS, ARO'UND A QUARTER OF MY PEOPLE
WILL NOT SURVIVE BEYOND THE NEXT TEN YEARS; AND THIS IS A FATE THEY SHARE WITH ALL TOO
MANY OTHERS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AIDS IS A FAR GREATER THREAT
TO GLOBAL STABILITY, THAN EVEN THE GREAT WARS OF THE LAST CENTURY. WE HAVE TO ACT NOW TO
STOP THE SPREAD, BEFORE ITS DEVASTATING EFFECTS OVERTAKE THOSE OF THE CURRENT CONFLICTS,
ON WHICH WE CONCENTRATE SO MUCH OF OUR ATTENTION AND RESOURCES.
AMONGST ALL THE WORTHY
TALK OF UNITED NATIONS R-E-STRUCTUR-ING, LET THIS MESSAGE ON HIVAIDS BE STRONG, FOCUSED
AND RESOURCE-ORIENTED. THIS IS TRULY A ROLE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS MUST PLAY IN THIS
CENTURY, IF IT IS TO FULFIL ITS MANDATE TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.
CONCLUSION
THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
PLACES GREAT FAITH AND HOPE IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS SUMMIT. OUR PEOPLE DESERVE THE FULLEST
COMMITMENT OF ALL MEMBER STATES TO RE-CREATE AN ORGANISATION, THAT LIVES UP TO THE IDEAL
OF OUR FOUNDING CHARTER.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
NOW TO SET THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE RIGHT COURSE FOR THE REST OF THE CENTURY. THE KINGDOM
OF SWAZILAND STANDS READY TO PLAY HER FULL PART IN THE PROCESS.
I THANK YOU.
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