Yesterday marked an important milestone in the annals of humankind. On that day 50 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the Universal Declaration, this body reaffirmed in concise and simple language the faith of the peopl…
South Africa remains committed to the struggle of the Palestinian people to achieve self- determination and national independence.
My delegation believes that the settlement of the question of Palestine and the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East are interdependent proc…
I have the honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of the member States of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 30, “United Nations reform: measures and proposals”.
I would like to express our appreciation to the Se…
This body is meeting once again to consider the draft resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.
On previous occasions this Assembly made a sufficiently compelling case for ending the embargo by recordin…
My delegation also would like to commend our two Vice-Chairmen, Ambassadors Breitenstein of Finland and Jayanama of Thailand, for the able manner in which they have guided our deliberations on the agenda item before us in the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on an…
Agenda item 39, “Oceans and the law of the sea,” is an important one for South Africa. My delegation wishes to thank the Secretary- General for the high quality of his comprehensive annual reports on this item, contained in documents A/52/487, A/52/491, A/52/555 and A/52/557. It is our view that the…
My delegation attaches particular importance to this agenda item and is pleased to participate in this debate.
The United Nations has for decades been at the forefront of the struggle of peoples around the world for justice, equality and the exercise of their democratic rights and fundamental freed…
The report of the Secretary- General draws attention to the deteriorating security situation in Angola which, if left unchecked, could have a negative impact on the ongoing efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the representatives of the three observer States to defuse t…
South Africa adds its voice to those who have already congratulated you on your skilful stewardship of the Council’s business during this month. We also extend our appreciation to Ambassador Owada of Japan for the most able manner in which he presided over the Council’s deliberations during the mont…
My delegation commends the Secretary-General for the comprehensive report on the progress made towards consolidating the peace process in Angola. We also commend the ongoing efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the representatives of the troika of observer States and all p…
My delegation welcomes this debate on the comprehensive test-ban treaty, as it affords us the opportunity to address an issue of utmost importance to the international community.
When the Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) …
My delegation would like to thank you, Mr President, for convening this meeting, which provides us with an opportunity to voice our concern at the disturbing turn of events in Burundi.
The ordinary men and women in Burundi have no way of knowing whether the first rays of a new dawn will bring hope …
My delegation wishes to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of July. May I also extend a word of congratulations and appreciation to Ambassador Elaraby of Egypt for the efficient manner in which he presided over the deliberations of the Council la…
I should like to join those who have congratulated you, Madam, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We have no doubt that your experience and wisdom will enable you to steer its meetings successfully.
By the same token, allow me to extend a word of gratitude …
In its capacity as Chairman of the African Group for the month of November, the South African delegation is pleased to introduce draft resolution A/50/L.27 entitled “Assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia”.
In the preamble to the draft, the Assembly recalls its previous res…
In 1986, this Assembly took the momentous step of declaring the Atlantic Ocean, in the region between Africa and South America, a zone of peace
However, the unrelenting spirit of man, who yearns for a better world to live in, a world where peace and not war prevails, has been responsible for the ch…
In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of African States for the month of November 1995, I have the honour to inform the General Assembly that the candidatures of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Togo and Tunisia have been endorsed by the Group for election to the Economic and Social Council fo…
In the months preceding the present discussion, the Open-ended Working Group was charged with examining the “Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters”. It heard the many and varied views of delegations. My delegation would lik…
My delegation considers that the agenda item before us represents one of the important aspects of the principles guiding this body.
Even as a young democracy, South Africa has already experienced many of the facets that the draft resolution and the Secretary-General’s report address. Having experie…
In my capacity as Chairman of the African Group for the month of November 1995 I have the honour to inform the General Assembly that the candidatures of Guinea-Bissau and Egypt for election to the two non-permanent seats on the Security Council for the period 1996-1997 were endorsed by the African G…
