PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF NAMIBIA
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF NAMIBIA
19970522
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Namibia had recognized the new Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Sam Nujoma of Namibia announced at a Headquarters press conference this morning.
Noting that the new government's priorities now included peace, social and economic well-being and reconstruction, President Nujoma said the international community should do all it could to assist those most affected by the transition. All efforts should be made to provide refugees in the eastern part of the country with much-needed humanitarian assistance.
Responding to questions, he said the Democratic Republic of the Congo had a huge potential for economic development. It was a rich a country and he hoped the new leadership headed by President Laurent Desire Kabila of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) would have the strength and wisdom to ensure that the resources of the country were utilized, first and foremost, for the people.
He said the Democratic Republic of the Congo could also make a great contribution for the maintenance of world peace and for humanitarian assistance, when asked what effect the changes in the country could have on the neighbouring countries. He also replied that if the country was "really developed" under the new leadership, it could have a positive effect on its neighbours. The effect could be negative, however, if the situation did not move in the right direction, he added.
Asked whether, as an African leader, he was worried about reports that the Alliance had been helped to power by neighbouring countries and also what he thought of cross-border attacks, Mr. Nujoma said the events in Zaire should be considered in its historic context, beginning from its independence from Belgium in 1960; the cold war struggle by the super-Powers for influence there; the subsequent assassination of Zaire's first President Patrice Lumumba; and the coup which brought former President Mobutu Sese Seko to power. President Nujoma said the "Belgian colonialists" never trained the indigenous people to administer the huge country. Foreign countries and multinational companies had plundered its resources. What had happened in the country now was a reaction of the people. He did not think the events were instigated by other countries.
Namibia Briefing - 2 - 22 May 1997
Asked if he was confident that African States could "take care of the situation" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo without United States' involvement, President Nujoma said he would rather like to see all countries, including the United States, supporting the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General. That would make things easier, he said. Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) supported the new government and would do everything, politically, diplomatically and economically, to ensure that peace and stability returned to the country. He hoped others, including the United States, would do the same.
A correspondent asked whether the "political complexion" of Angola would change now that the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) no longer had "a real base in Zaire". Would the Government harden its attitude towards UNITA? the correspondent further asked. President Nujoma said he had paid a state visit to Angola from 15 to 17 May and had discovered that UNITA officials occupied positions in the Government and the armed forces. They were also members of parliament. He said UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi should seize the opportunity of the presence of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) because "there was no other better protection" than that offered by the military component of UNAVEM. He hoped the UNITA leader would return to Luanda and participate meaningfully in political activity.
Asked for his Government's opinion about a proposed African stand-by peace-keeping force, he said he did not agree with the idea. The world should look at the United Nations as the Organization with responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security.
How did he see economic groupings evolving now in the subregion following the changes in Zaire? a correspondent asked. Mr. Nujoma said Namibia would endorse the Democratic Republic of the Congo's application to join SADC, whose member States were committed to the rule of law, multi-party system, democracy and justice for all. They would do everything to help the new leadership, he added.
Responding to a question about what action should be taken to ensure that all Member States paid their assessed contributions to the United Nations, he said every Member State should be committed to do so. Namibia did that every year, and others should do the same. Those who did not, he added, should not have the right to vote, or to participate in the activities of the Organization. Those measures should be made clear to the membership. Responding to a question about the United States' arrears, he said he was sure that it was aware of the rules and regulations governing the payment of assessed contributions.
Namibia Briefing - 3 - 22 May 1997
A correspondent said that there was a bill before the United States Congress to expand the volume of trade between the United States and African countries. There was no doubt, the correspondent said, that the bill, if passed, would go a long way to help Africa's economic development. Africa's huge external debt, however, could undermine that effort, he said, and asked what panacea the Namibian President had for solving Africa's external debt crisis?. President Nujoma replied: "As Africans, we just have to organize ourselves. We shouldn't cry like babies. We have major resources. We have to train our people, scientists included, so that we exploit the natural resources of the continent and be able to compete with the rest of the international community. Why should we depend on others?"
In opening remarks, the Namibian President who met with Secretary- General Kofi Annan this morning, said the United Nations should position itself to effectively meet the increasing demands being made on it by new problems. It was Namibia's view, he said, that the Organization's ongoing reform process should enhance its effectiveness to meet the increasing socio- economic needs of developing countries, especially those in Africa. Namibia was participating in the reform process. "We have seen how the neglect of development can lead to conflicts which are more costly to resolve", he said.
Through concerted efforts by the United Nations and regional organizations, he said, a solution should be found urgently to the hotbeds of tension in the world, especially those in Africa, Europe, South Asia and the Middle East. United Nations peace-keeping was an ongoing commitment which Member States could not run away from, he stated. Namibia saw the United Nations as "a sure guarantee for the maintenance of peace and security in the world as well as sustainable human development".
Namibia would actively participate in the June special session of the General Assembly to review implementation of Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The international community should give equal emphasis to economic and social priorities and environmental protection, he said, and added that the need for new and additional financial resources for implementation of Agenda 21 could not be overemphasized.
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