FREE DAILY EMAIL

Date : 28/05/2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Iran


SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, AT THE 30th SESSION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC), OF FOREIGN MINISTERS, Tehran, Iran, 28 May 2003

Your Excellency, President Mohamed Khatami,
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Excellency Mr Kamal Kharrazi,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Excellency Dr Abdelouahed Belkeziz,
Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Excellencies, The Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors,
Distinguished delegates!

Allow me to express our deep gratitude to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to our delegation. On behalf of the African Union (AU), I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to address this 30th session of the OIC Foreign Ministers and would like to wish you success in your deliberations.

Four days ago, Africa celebrated the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity(OAU).

In coming together to determine the correct route for our own development, we launched the African Union in July last year (2002) and have given concrete meaning to the dream of the people of Africa, that Africa must unite, Africa must take her rightful place as an equal in the affairs of the world. The launch and inaugural meeting of the African Union, reaffirmed the decision that the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to constitute its programme for the socio-economic regeneration of Africa.

NEPAD is envisaged as a long-term vision of an African-owned and African-led development programme. NEPAD is a partnership amongst Africans in the first instance. It is also a partnership amongst Africans themselves and amongst countries of the South and the North for the renewal of Africa.

Mr President, Your Excellencies,

We are all aware that the majority of the peoples of the AU and OIC are amongst the poor of the world. According to the recently released World Bank Report, the number of poor people in the world is not declining, but is increasing. The Report notes that on current trends, poverty reduction goals would probably be met in all regions except in sub-Saharan Africa where the impoverished people will increase from 315 million to 405 million in 2015, and in the Middle East from 5 million to 8 million. The AU and the OIC are confronted with common challenges, thus it is incumbent on us to work together in partnership in addressing the scourge of poverty and underdevelopment.

Co-operation, unity and solidarity amongst our countries and movements, remain the only way to guarantee the effectiveness of the voice of the developing world on global affairs. We are all party to the Millennium Development Goals, the Monterrey Consensus, the World Conference Against Racism and Related Intolerances, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development's (WSSD) Johannesburg Plan of Action. All of these seminal gatherings have provided humanity with concrete ways in advancing the development agenda. It is our responsibility to ensure that a follow-up and implementation programme are in place in order to create a better life for all.

We must also express our concern at the logjam currently being experienced in the negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Round, especially on the issue of agricultural subsidies which impacts on all of our economies. We call upon countries of the North to continue negotiations in good faith.

In recent times, we have witnessed the weakening of the United Nations and the drift towards unilateralism. In order to effectively address the development and the security agenda, we must collectively as the AU and the OIC work towards the strengthening of the United Nations and multilateral organisations. We need to remind developing countries that we must work together through the United Nations for our common security. We must also engage the North to make them realise that their peace and security are inseparable from ours.

We need to reassert the centrality of the United Nations in all global affairs, be it economic, political or social. One of the major security challenges is terrorism. After the September 11 terrorist actions, the international community acted in unison through the United Nations and we are making important progress in working together to counter-act terrorism.

We must continue to work through the UN to address the fight against terrorism, including the most recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. We all express deep concern over the plight of the people of Iraq.

It is imperative that the humanitarian crisis, as well as the restoration of peace and security in Iraq receives immediate attention. We should all support the Iraqi people in ensuring that they are able as soon as possible to form a free and representative government of their choice and to reassert their sovereignty and to build a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. As articulated in its founding charter the position of Palestine is central to the OIC. Likewise, the AU would also like to reiterate our unqualified support for the peace process in Palestine.

We welcome the publication of the Road Map and the recent efforts towards the creation of an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in harmony under conditions of peace and security alongside Israel. The success of this process will depend on the willingness of all parties to carry out their obligations as well as our collective effort to ensure success. We, from the African Union and the OIC, have contributed to the rich, social, cultural and religious legacy of humanity.

This legacy, which has nourished civilization for thousands of years, continues to underpin the fabric of our societies. It is this rich tapestry that must continue to be shared and celebrated amongst all humanity. We must ensure that our socio-cultural and religious heritage does not become a factor that divides us, but should rather serve as a binding force to unite us in celebrating our common humanity. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that we of the African Union and the Islamic Conference should be in constant consultation on global issues. Our collective strength can create a world of peace and security and a world free from poverty. A world of tolerance and good neighbourliness.

I thank you!

For more information, contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853 or Nomfanelo Kota at 09 98 21 9 13 213 29 24
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs, 28 May 2003
Source: SAPA

SPONSORED BY

Advanced