Namibia is confident that the United Nations will lead successful peace negotiations in regions confronted by war, particularly the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has adversely affected food and energy supply chains across the globe, President Hage Geingob said.
In his message for United Nations Day celebrated yesterday, Geingob said since Namibia’s membership in the UN at independence, the UN has been a significant development partner.
“Through its affiliated agencies, the UN funds and supports various programmes in key sectors such as health, education, and many others. These are commendable efforts that the UN is championing in our country in pursuit of addressing and meeting our developmental aspirations and those of the UN,” he said.
Geingob said the global community should engage in international cooperation and progressive dialogue for the benefit of all.
“We should all combine efforts and embrace the unity of diversity to realise the common agenda and goals of the 193 countries of the UN in the hope of achieving a prosperous and peaceful global planet,” he added.
Geingob said the UN has grown to become a global organisation with legitimacy, convening power, reaching and humanity in profound ways.
“The UN continues to promote peace and prosperity for all in an ever-changing world,” Geingob said, adding that the celebration amplifies common agenda of peace, prosperity, and achievements and advocates for support for its work.
This year’s UN Day is celebrated under the theme: ‘Our Planet. Our Future’.
Geingob said the theme recognises the continent’s responsibilities as citizens of the world to protect the planet against pressing issues threatening the existence of humanity, both now and in the future.
Also, he said this year’s theme comes at the right time when our planet is confronted by political, social, environmental, and economic problems.
“As nations and people with a shared future and common purpose, we should speak with one voice against conflicts and diseases that are compromising global developmental progress.”
“We should rise against poverty and inequalities that are creating tensions and division. We should rise against carbon emissions that are destroying our planet and future,” he said.
“Namibia’s commitment to multilateralism is deep-rooted and we pledge to strengthen global governance as the most effective way to respond to current and future global challenges,” Geingob said.
UN secretary general António Guterres said last year, the UN helped deliver 1.4 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, facilitated education for nearly 50 million out-of-school children and extended water access to almost 50 million people.
He said there is no other global organisation with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations.
“No other global organisation gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater,” he said.
UN Day, celebrated every year, offers the opportunity to amplify the common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have been a guide for the past 77 years.
“On UN Day, let’s renew our hope in what humanity can achieve together,” he said.