YOUR EXCELLENCY HAN SEUNG-SOO,
PRESIDENT OF THE 56TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
YOUR EXCELLENCY KOFI ANNAN,
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS,
YOUR EXCELLENCIES DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVES;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

LET ME BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, ON YOUR ASSUMPTION OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE 56TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MY DELEGATION PLEDGES ITS SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION TO YOU AND YOUR COUNTRY AS YOU DISCHARGE YOUR IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES.

I ALSO WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO YOUR PREDECESSOR HIS EXCELLENCY HARRI HOLKERI OF FINLAND, PRESIDENT OF THE 55TH SESSION. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE ABLE AND SUCCESSFUL MANNER IN WHICH HE PRESIDED OVER THE SESSION.

I WISH TO SALUTE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, MR KOFI ANNAN, ON HIS RE-ELECTION TO THE HELM OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS AN ATTESTATION OF THE COMMITMENT AND THE DYNAMISM WITH WHICH HE HAS GUIDED THE ORGANIZATION DURING THIS PERIOD OF GREAT CHALLENGES.

MR. PRESIDENT, I AM ADDRESSING THIS SESSION IN MY DUAL CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY. THIS OCCASION HOLDS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO ME AS I MAKE MY LAST STATEMENT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, HAVING ALMOST COME TO THE END OF MY SECOND AND LAST TENURE OF OFFICE OF MY COUNTRY.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,

THIS YEAR THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TAKING PLACE IN NOVEMBER AND NOT TWO MONTHS AGO, BECAUSE OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF 11TH SEPTEMBER. THOSE DEVELOPMENTS UNITED US ON THE NEED TO POSTPONE THIS SESSION, JUST AS WE WERE UNITED IN OUR RESOLVE TO FIGHT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, WHICH KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. INDEED, TODAY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, THE ENTIRE WORLD SEEMS MORE CONSCIOUS OF, AND GRIPPED BY THE EVIL OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND THE CONSEQUENT LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

TERRORISM IS AN AFFRONT TO HUMANITY. IT IS A HEINOUS AND COWARDLY ACT THAT IS HATED ALMOST AS MUCH AS WE HATED APARTHEID OR ANY FORM OF RACISM. IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT AFRICA HAS, FOR A LONG TIME, BEEN FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. IN ALGIERS,
ALGERIA, IN 1999, WE, AS AFRICAN LEADERS TOOK A MAMMOTH DECISION BY ADOPTING A CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM. ALTHOUGH THE CONVENTION HAS NOT ENTERED INTO FORCE, AFRICA HAS SINCE THEN BEEN SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT IN THE ADOPTION OF APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES FOR THE EFFECTIVE ERADICATION OF THE MULTIPLE ROOT CAUSES OF TERRORISM. WE REMAIN RESOLUTELY COMMITTED TO, AND UNITED IN THE PURSUIT OF THIS GOAL.

LET ME, HOWEVER, ALSO HASTEN TO ADD THAT IN SPITE OF ITS MAGNITUDE, THE THREAT OF TERRORISM MUST NOT OVERRIDE OR DEDUCT FROM THE APPROPRIATE FOCUS ON THE OUTSTANDING MATTERS ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA. BURNING ISSUES SUCH AS THE SCOURGE OF CONFLICTS, POVERTY ERADICATION, THE DEBT PROBLEM AND THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ACCORDED THE NECESSARY ATTENTION.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,

WHILE MANY GOOD THINGS AND POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT,

THESE ARE, NEVERTHELESS, LARGELY OVERSHADOWED BY THE MANY CONFLICTS THAT CONTINUE TO RAGE IN A NUMBER OF OUR COUNTRIES. WE HAVE WITNESSED CONFLICT IN THE MANO RIVER BASIN INVOLVING SIERRA LEONE, LIBERIA AND GUINEA; THE SITUATION IN SUDAN AND SOMALIA ARE YET TO BE SETTLED; DISTURBANCES RECENTLY ERUPTED IN THE COMOROS WHILE VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO THREATEN THE CONSTITUTIONALY ELECTED GOVERNMENT IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. THE GREAT LAKES REGION REMAINS A TINDERBOX, WHILE THE CONFLICT IN ANGOLA HAS EXPERIENCED NO MOVEMENT TOWARDS RESOLUTION FOR QUITE SOMETIME. MEANWHILE, THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO IS YET TO BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

AFRICA DOES NOT LACK THE POLITICAL WILL OR RESOLVE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THESE CONFLICTS. NEITHER HAS AFRICA SAT BACK AND WAITED FOR THE OUTSIDE TO COME AND RESOLVE THESE CONFLICTS. INSTEAD, AFRICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE CONFLICTS AND HAS SPEARHEADED EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE WHEREVER THERE HAVE BEEN CONFLICTS.

IT WAS AFRICA, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA, THAT BROUGHT ABOUT AN END TO THE ETHIOPIA?ERITREA CONFLICT; THE GUNS WERE SILENCED IN LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE LEADERS OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION
OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, WHO ARE STILL LEADING THE EFFORT TO BRING PEACE TO THE MANO RIVER BASIN. THE LEADERS OF THE INTER?GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY FOR DEVELOPMENT HAVE CONTINUED TO SEEK PEACEFUL SETTLEMENTS IN SUDAN AND SOMALIA, WHILE THE LUSAKA
PEACE PROCESSES HAVE ADDRESSED THE CONFLICTS IN ANGOLA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. MOST RECENTLY, A TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY WAS INAUGURATED IN BURUNDI, ON 1ST NOVEMBER, 2001, AS A CULMINATION OF EFFORTS STARTED BY THE LATE MWALIMU JULIUS NYERERE AND COMPLETED BY NELSON MANDELA, TWO OF AFRICA'S MOST DISTINGUISHED SONS.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,

IT IS CLEAR FROM THE FOREGOING THAT WHAT AFRICA NEEDS TO SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE THE CONFLICTS ON THE CONTINENT IS THE MORAL AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. AFRICA HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE DICTUM THAT IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL NATIONS BELONG TO A COMMON GLOBAL COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED DESTINY AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES.

TO THIS END, AFRICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN READY AND WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE WHERE PEACE HAS BROKEN DOWN, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE LOCATION OF THE REGION. OUR MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SERVED AS PEACEKEEPERS IN EUROPE, IN ASIA AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT PEACE IS INDIVISIBLE.

AFRICA, THEREFORE, EXPECTS THAT, JUST AS WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO SERVE IN THE PROMOTION AND DEFENCE OF PEACE EVERYWHERE, SO, TOO, SHOULD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BE FULL PARTNERS IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN AFRICA.

IN THIS REGARD, I CANNOT HELP BUT REGISTER OUR DISAPPOINTMENT THAT, AFTER THE PAINSTAKING EFFORTS BY SIR KETUMILE MASIRE TO ORGANISE THE INTERCONGOLESE NATIONAL DIALOGUE IN ADDIS ABABA ON 15TH OCTOBER, 2001, AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE MANY PLEDGES MADE TO FINANCE IT, THE DIALOGUE COULD NOT TAKE OFF DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. I WOULD, THEREFORE, LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THROUGH THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY, TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO SIR KETUMILE MASIRE, THE FACILITATOR OF THE INTER?CONGOLESE DIALOGUE, TO ENABLE HIM PROCEED WITH ORGANISING THE DIALOGUE AND CONCLUDE THE DRC PEACE PROCESS.

IN PARTICULAR, I WISH TO MAKE A SPECIAL APPEAL TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE MADE PLEDGES TO THE FACILITATOR TO RELEASE THESE PLEDGES URGENTLY.

MR. PRESIDENT, CONFLICTS DO NOT STAND ALONE OR DEVELOP IN A VACUUM. POLITICAL CONFLICTS AND SOCIAL TENSION ARE A RESULT OF IMBALANCES IN THE DISPENSATION OF POLITICAL POWER, ECONOMIC WEALTH AND BENEFITS AS WELL AS SOCIAL SUPPRESSION, SEGREGATION AND REPRESSION OF ONE OR MORE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, ETHNIC OR EVEN RELIGIOUS GROUNDS. THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, BARELY 40 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE, HAS SUFFERED CENTURIES OF FRACTURED DEVELOPMENT, DEPRIVATION OF RESOURCES AS WELL AS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SUPPRESSION OF ITS PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS AT THE CENTRE OF AFRICA'S CURRENT STRUGGLE TO REDRESS BOTH THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IMBALANCES.

THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA THIS YEAR, MADE A MAJOR HISTORICAL REFOCUS ON THAT HUMAN INJUSTICE OF THE PAST, AND WHOSE CONSEQUENCES CONTINUE TO RAVAGE OUR SOCIETIES TO THIS DAY. THE CONFERENCE CONDEMNED SLAVE TRADE, SLAVERY, COLONIALISM AND APARTHEID AS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. THE CONDEMNATION OF THE PAST INJUSTICES SHOULD BE WITH A VIEW THAT WE NOW HAVE THE WILL, THE RESOLVE, THE COMMITMENT TO EMBARK UPON THE PROCESS OF HEALING, RECONCILIATION AND REDRESS. OUR FINAL OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE, POLITICAL LIBERATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A FAIR SOCIAL SYSTEM WHICH PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS, NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY OF STATES, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND CO-OPERATION.

THE AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITION HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA OF THE UNITED NATIONS SINCE THE DECADE OF INDEPENDENCE. SLAVERY, COLONIALISM, APARTHEID AND NOW PERVASIVE POVERTY, MISERY AND SQUALOR FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO RAVAGE THE CONTINENT WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE HUMAN LIVES. WITH THE ADVENT OF HIV/AIDS, COUPLED WITH CENTURIES OLD DISEASES LIKE MALARIA, TUBERCULOSIS AND MANY OTHER COMMUNICABLE, YET CURABLE DISEASES LIKE CHOLERA, DYSENTRY AND DIARRHOA AND OTHERS, HAVE REDUCED AFRICAN LIFE EXPECTANCY FROM 68 YEARS TO 50 YEARS, AND IN SOME COUNTRIES TO ONLY A PATHETIC 38 YEARS. CHILD MORTALITY RATE OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 YEARS, RANGE .AROUND 140 PER 1,000 BIRTHS ON THE AVERAGE. SUCH AN ADVERSE SOCIAL CONDITION CANNOT BE CONDUCIVE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE STANDARDS OF LIVING. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF POST-COLONIAL OR INDEPENDENT AFRICA HAS ALSO ACCUMULATED DEBT AND SUFFERED NEGATIVE TERMS OF TRADE FOR ITS RAW MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS EXPORTED TO THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. THE RESULTING HUGE TRADE DEFICITS TO THE AFRICAN NATIONS, REDUCES THEIR PURCHASING POWER FOR TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND INVESTMENT CAPITAL NEEDED FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE DEFICIT ON THE OTHER HAND, INCREASES THE FOREIGN DEBT, SHRINKS THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMME ON INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION AND HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEMS, THEREBY FURTHER SUPPRESSING THE VERY CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,
 

AFRICA IS NOT ASKING FOR CHARITY! WHAT AFRICA IS ASKING FOR ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE CONDITIONS FOR ITS RAW MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS AT PRICES WHICH ARE FAIR AND CONDUCIVE TO DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO ACCESS THE ENHANCED
HEAVILY INDEBTED POOR COUNTRIES INITIATIVE (HIPC), SO THAT THE FREED RESOURCES COULD BE USED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOLS, COMBAT DISEASES, PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND INVEST IN INCOME GENERATING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THESE ARE THE MEASURES WHICH WILL REDUCE POVERTY. WE FURTHER CALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO INTENSIFY AND ACCELERATE INITIATIVES WHICH SHOULD BRING SUBSTANTIAL DEBT CANCELLATION TO THE POOR COUNTRIES. THERE CANNOT BE A CREDIBLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY IN AFRICA WITHOUT DEBT CANCELLATION.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA HAS ACCEPTED AND FULLY SHARES THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH GLOBALISATION. AS A DEVELOPING CONTINENT, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RE-ORGANIZE OURSELVES TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIME. THE 37TH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF OAU HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT HELD IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA, LAST JULY, TOOK AFRICA ONTO A NEW HISTORICAL STEP WHEN IT LAUNCHED THE AFRICAN UNION (AU). THE AU WILL ELEVATE AFRICA'S INTEGRATION AGENDA BY FORGING A MORE COHESIVE POLITICAL UNION, WHILE ALSO CREATING AN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. THE UNION ALSO SEEKS TO PROMOTE NEW LEVELS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, PEACE AND SECURITY. AT THE LUSAKA SUMMIT, THE OAU ALSO ADOPTED A NEW ECONOMIC CENTRED RECOVERY PROGRAMME AND POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY CALLED THE NEW AFRICAN INITIATIVE (NAI), WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE NEW AFRICAN PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD).

I WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS AFRICA'S APPRECIATION TO THE GROUP OF EIGHT COUNTRIES, WHICH AT ITS MEETING IN GENOA, ITALY IN JULY ENDORSED THE AFRICAN INITIATIVE. I ALSO WISH TO THANK THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHO DURING OUR MEETING LAST MONTH IN BRUSSELS PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT TO THE INITIATIVE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT AFRICA HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN GLOBAL TRADE LIBERALISATION INITIATIVES. WE THANK THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE PRACTICAL STEP IT HAS TAKEN THROUGH THE AFRICA GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (AGOA). IT IS A PIONEERING EXAMPLE IN EXPANDING TRADE AND EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICA AND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

DEBT RELIEF, DEBT CANCELLATION, INCREASED PRODUCTION, ACCESSIBILITY TO EXPORT MARKETS, BETTER TERMS OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ARE THE WAY FORWARD TO AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION. UNDER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IMPROVED SOCIAL CONDITIONS, DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE WILL BE SUSTAINED, CONFLICTS REDUCED AND MANAGED, WHILE PEACE AND SECURITY WILL LAST.
 

MR. PRESIDENT,

TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOUR TO SERVE IN THIS DISTINGUISHED CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES IN AFRICA FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE OAU AND FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT; AND ALL OF YOU IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. I HAVE TRIED MY BEST DURING MY TENURE OF OFFICE AND CAN, THEREFORE, ONLY HOPE THAT I HAVE LIVED AND PERFORMED UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS. SOON ZAMBIA WILL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT. IT IS MY HOPE THAT HE WILL BE ACCORDED THE SAME SUPPORT AND COOPERATION YOU HAVE SO KINDLY GIVEN TO ME IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

I THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.