Speech of Namibian President Hage Geingob at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. teleSUR
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00:00 Hello, welcome back to Tell Us More English and join us as we broadcast live the 78th
00:06 debate session of the United Nations General Assembly.
00:08 Let's see.
00:09 To address the Assembly.
00:12 Your Excellency, Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,
00:24 Your Excellencies, Head of State and Government, Your Excellency, the Deputy Secretary General
00:31 of the United Nations, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Namibia congratulates
00:39 you on your brilliant election as President of the 78th session of the General Assembly.
00:48 I am pleased to use this opportunity to pledge to you the commitment of Namibia to support
00:56 the priorities you have set out, namely peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability.
01:06 Namibia would like to thank your predecessor, His Excellency Shaba Qorosi, for steering
01:14 with diligence the work of the 77th session of the General Assembly.
01:22 Let me state that Namibia agrees with Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who a few months
01:32 ago said, quote unquote, "Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for
01:43 a world that might have been."
01:49 Therefore the theme of this session, quote, "Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity,
02:00 Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards
02:07 Peace, Progress and Sustainability for All" is fitting.
02:13 With the onset of COVID-19, the number of people living in extreme poverty rose for
02:22 the first time in a generation.
02:26 It demonstrates that, in fact, at midpoint to the global goals, we face the stark reality
02:37 that we will miss our goals and targets.
02:42 This 78th session serves as a clarion call to reset and to work in the true spirit of
02:51 partnership for better results on the ground.
02:57 Indeed, the world is in a state of flux and progress is uneven.
03:07 Taking cognizance of the interconnectivity between all the goals and targets, we should
03:16 accelerate investments in health care, renewable energy, education, clean water and sanitation.
03:29 The terrifying gap between wealthy and the marginalized is not just a moral concern,
03:37 but also a threat to political stability and harmony.
03:43 We are therefore duty-bound to create an environment where prosperity is shared and is inclusive.
03:53 In our collective pursuit of the 2030 Agenda, Namibia looks forward with hope and optimism
04:03 to the summit of the future next year as an opportunity to prioritize meaningful reforms
04:11 that can reinvigorate the global goals to give impetus to the broader system-wide UN
04:20 reform agenda.
04:23 Namibia also welcomes UN 2.0 and a Quartet of Change, aiming to provide the United Nations
04:33 family with cutting-edge capabilities in data, digital innovation and expertise in order
04:42 to deliver better and effective member-state support to accelerate development.
04:49 Mr. President,
04:51 The health of a nation is a bedrock for all developmental activities.
04:57 This morning, the General Assembly will adopt a political declaration on pandemic prevention,
05:04 preparedness and response.
05:09 Pandemics have long been formidable adversaries that disproportionately recovered in the socio-economic
05:18 fabric of developing countries.
05:22 These crises go beyond their immediate health implications, unravelling years of development
05:29 progress, straining health care systems and exacerbating existing socio-economic disparities.
05:42 We need to change the status quo.
05:44 To do so, we must end vaccine apartheid.
05:50 We need to ensure equitable access to health products.
05:55 We need stronger commitments from healthy countries on technology transfer and on the
06:01 removal of intellectual property barriers, and on investments in manufacturing to enable
06:11 vaccine production in the global South.
06:15 Mr. President, I always say that inclusivity spells harmony and exclusivity spells conflict.
06:27 The continued advocacy for gender equality is a core in our collective journey towards
06:33 a just and inclusive world.
06:36 Therefore, advocating for gender equality is not only a matter of fairness.
06:42 It is an essential step towards unlocking innovation, diversity and social cohesion.
06:49 We are indeed proud to be ranked by the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report of
06:56 2023 as the number eight country in the world for the efforts to close the gender gap.
07:08 In addition to having 44 per cent female representation in Parliament, we have women in the positions
07:17 of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and current Deputy Prime Minister has been selected
07:23 by the ruling party to be the candidate.
07:27 And very soon after I leave, in a year's time, she may be the one to come and stand here,
07:32 who is here with us.
07:36 About two-thirds of our key banking institutions are headed by women.
07:42 In the same vein, we believe in promoting inclusive and effective governance that ensures
07:49 that the youth are integrated into decision-making structures to play their part in the future
07:57 they have helped to shape.
08:00 Mr President, rapid advances in technology, quantum computing and artificial intelligence
08:08 are transforming the global landscape, offering unprecedented challenges and opportunities
08:14 for growth and development.
08:17 Therefore, developing countries should not be left behind in this digital revolution.
08:25 Because technology can bridge gaps in education, health care and economic development, propelling
08:32 nations towards progress.
08:35 We must navigate technological challenges and harness opportunities by fostering an
08:41 environment that is conducive to technology transfer, technology adoption, skills development
08:49 and collaboration.
08:52 As we march towards COP28, the final global stock date, we are acutely aware that the
09:00 energy transition is not only a necessity for combating climate change, but also an
09:07 opportunity for economic development.
09:11 Consistent with their pledges made at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015, developed nations
09:18 must provide financial and technological support to enable developing countries to shift to
09:26 cleaner energy sources without hampering development.
09:32 Three years ago, during the 78th General Assembly, Namibia boldly announced its intention to
09:37 change its economic structure by leveraging innovative financial tools to mobilize sustainable
09:45 climate financing to combat climate change.
09:49 One year later, in Glasgow, Scotland, on the margins of COP26, we announced the development
09:56 of large-scale green hydrogen projects that will provide the world with the clean monocles
10:03 needed to decarbonize hard-to-abate sections.
10:07 Today, we have more than five such projects under development, looking to deploy more
10:14 than US$20 billion in order to develop our world-class renewable energy potential to
10:22 give our future generations a fighting chance against warming climate.
10:28 Mr. President, developing a new synthetic fuels industry in Namibia is not just an opportunity
10:36 to fight climate change, but indeed offers an unparalleled opportunity for green industrialization.
10:44 Namibia has now attracted new industries that are looking to make use of the cheap, clean
10:51 electricity and molecules that shall be produced in Namibia.
10:56 One such pioneering example is the Ocevela project by Hai Iron, which plans to use Namibian-produced
11:05 green hydrogen to deliver the first industrial production of iron at net-zero emissions.
11:13 During the first phase of the project in 2024, an annual output of 15,000 tons of direct-reduced
11:21 iron is planned.
11:24 Ocevela will be one of the biggest primary production sites of green iron worldwide and
11:31 is expected to sequestrate 27,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent
11:40 to 50 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions of Namibia's entire power industry today.
11:49 In order to transport the clean molecules to their final destination, shipping, which
11:55 is yet another hard-to-abate sector, will also need to deploy innovative solutions.
12:01 This is why Namibia is now developing green shipping corridors with Maas, McKinney, Mola,
12:09 and Senda for zero-carbon shipping, as we look to map and fund the development of carbon-neutral
12:19 maritime value chains, from production, transportation, storage, and consumption of clean fuels and
12:29 carbon-free products made in Namibia and traded with the world.
12:34 We are working with Campaign Maritime Belgium, a shipping company from Belgium, with plans
12:41 to build a clean ammonia-fungering facility in Wall Street Bay.
12:48 At a cost of more than 2.2 billion euros, in partnership with Namibia's own Old Harbor
12:56 and Lease Company.
12:58 On the 28th of September, this partnership, named Plenary, is expected to reveal plans
13:07 to construct their first Namibian green hydrogen multi-model service station.
13:15 I always say that you do not make peace with your friends.
13:21 You make peace with your enemies.
13:25 These measures, imposed for over half a century on the Republic of Cuba, have brought untold
13:33 hardships that have disenfranchised the Cuban people.
13:39 The embargo against the Cuban people remains unjust and must, therefore, be lifted.
13:46 Namibia appeals to the United States of America to remove the Republic of Cuba from the list
13:53 of state sponsors of terrorism, as there is no evidence to support such classification.
14:01 Selective punitive measures against Zimbabwe and Venezuela must also be lifted, as these
14:07 measures constitute the greatest obstacle to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
14:15 Sustainable Development.
14:16 The United Nations Charter remains an important source of inspiration, reflecting the commonality
14:25 agreed upon values of diplomacy and peaceful coexistence.
14:30 We regard the Charter's enshrined rights to self-determination for all peoples as essential.
14:37 This rings true for the people of Western Sahara.
14:41 While our right to self-determination has been upheld, the people of Western Sahara
14:47 continue to remain under occupation.
14:50 We recall how Morocco supported our right to self-determination, and now we call on
14:57 them to do the same for the people of Western Sahara.
15:02 Similarly, the people of Palestine yearn to transition from the inhuman conditions of
15:08 oppressors' rule.
15:10 Namibia is therefore pleased with the decision of the General Assembly to submit to the International
15:17 Court of Justice a request for an advisory opinion on legal consequences arising from
15:25 the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
15:31 Mr. President, the challenges we face today are not insurmountable.
15:39 By holding hands and by renewing our commitment to marginalism, we can reverse the worst effects
15:48 of the unprecedented global challenges of global warming, global inequality, pandemics
15:55 and conflicts.
15:56 By holding hands, we have it within us to act now and to build the world we want.
16:07 In that world, no one should feel left out.
16:12 I thank you.
16:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]