n •-*•—*-r .?-• «i Office of th UN Common Premises Alick Nkhata Road Tel: (260-1) 250800/254417 P.O. Box 31966 Fax: (260-1)253805/251201 Lusaka, Zambia E-mail: [email protected] D «f s APR - I 2003 bv-oSHli i EX-CUilVtMtt-I'Jt To: Iqbal Riza L \'. •^.ISECRETAR^-GEN Chef de Cabinet Office of the Secretary General Fax (212) 963 2155 Through: Mr. Mark MallochBrown UNDGO, Chair Attn: Ms. Sally Fegan-Wyles Director UNDGO Fax (212) 906 3609 Cc: Nicole Deutsch Nicole.DeutschfaUJNDP.oru Cc: Professor Ibrahim Gambari Special Advisor on Africa and Undersecretary General United N£ From: Olub^ Resident Coordinator Date: 4th Febraaiy 2003 Subject: Zambia UN House Inauguration Reference is made to the above-mentioned subject. On behalf of the UNCT in Zambia, I would like to thank you for making available to us, the UN Under Secrets Specia] Advisor to Africa, Professor Gambari, who played a critical role in inauguration oftheUN House. We would also like to thank the Speechwriting Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General for providing the message Jrom the Secretary General that Professor Gambari gave on his behalf. The UNCT_took advantage of his_ presence and_ asked .him.. to also launch the Dag Hammarskjold Chair of Peace, Human Rights and Conflict Management, which is part of to conflict prevention in the sub region. The Inauguration of the UN House was a success, with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs; Honourable Newstead Zimba representing the Government while members of the Diplomatic Corps and Civil Society also attended this colourful and memorable occasion. Kindly find attached '., thejiewspaper 1 clippings of both the hiauguration of the UN House Chair of .Peace, Human Rights and Conflict Management, as well as relevant sp eec h es . With kind Regards (THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA) STATEMENT BY HONOURABLE NEWSTEAD L. ZIMBA, MP, ACTING MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE FORMAL INAUGURATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS HOUSE AT PLOT NO. 9350 ALICK NKHATA ROAD - 27™ FABRUARY, 2003 FEBRUARY, 2003 HIS EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR IBRAHIM GAMBARI, UNITED NATIONS UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL AND SPECIAL ADVISOR ON AFRICA; YOUR EXCELLENCIES MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE TO WITNESS THE FORMAL INAUGURATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS HOUSE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRSTLY THANK HIS EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR IBRAHIM GAMBARI FOR SPARING A FEW MOMENTS OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO BE WITH US HERE TO FORMALLY LAUNCH THE UNITED NATIONS HOUSE IN ZAMBIA. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNISE THE TREMENDOUS WORK CARRIED OUT BY THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IN ZAMBIA, MS. ALUBANKE KING AKELERE. SHE HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE ALLY IN THE COUNTRY'S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE POVERTY REDUCTION, FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, FIGHTS AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND ENSURING THE OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, THE INAUGURATION OF THIS HOUSE IS TESTIMONY OF THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLVE TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM WORKS AS A UNIT IN ZAMBIA. IT IS THE COHERENCE OF THE WORLD BODY'S ACTIVITIES THAT FACILITATES THE SUCCESS OF ITS PROGRAMMES. THE HOUSE BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATIONS MULTIPLE FUNDS, PROGRAMMES AND SPECIALISED AGENCIES. THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF THE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM FACILITATES COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY TEAM PROGRAMMES. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, ZAMBIA WELCOMES THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK (UNDAF) WHICH WAS DEVELOPED TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG THE UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE 2002-2006 UNDAF INITIATIVE. THE INITIATIVE WELL BRING TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA, PARTICULARLY THE POVERTY STRICKEN RURAL POPULATION. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, THE CENTRAL MISSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS THE MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY. IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT THE READINESS AND CAPACITY OF THE ORGANISATION TO PREVENT CONELICTS AND CONSOLIDATE PEACE AFTER CONFLICTS, IS ENHANCED. THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD EXERT MORE EFFORTS IN IDENTIFYING AND ELIMINATING CAUSES OF CONFLICTS RATHER THAN REACTING TO CONFLICTS AFTER THEY HAVE ERUPTED. WE, THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS NEED A STRONG VOICE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF THE ORGANISATION. WE NEED NOT BE WAITING FOR A FEW NATIONS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MAJORITY. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT ZAMBIA WELCOMES THE GROWING TRANSPARENCY IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE TRANSPARENCY WILL ENHANCE THE WORKING METHODS AND STRENGTHENING OF THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS THE MAIN DELIBERATIVE BODY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN WHICH ALL MEMBER STATES HAVE AN EQUAL VOICE. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, ZAMBIA IS ONE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHICH ARE HARDEST HIT BY THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC. THE MAJORITY OF THE ZAMBIAN POPULATION ARE YOUTHS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF CONTRACTING THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES AIDS. THE HIGH POVERTY LEVELS IN ZAMBIA WORSENS THE VULNERABILITY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE EPIDEMIC. ZAMBIA THEREFORE GREATLY WELCOMES THE EFFORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY TEAM TO SUPPLEMENT THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO AMELIORATE THE SUFFERING OF HIV/AIDS VICTIMS. IN THIS REGARD AFFORDABLE ANTI-RETROVIRAL DRUGS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED. MORE OF THESE DRUGS ARE REQUIRED. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGION IS FACING SERIOUS THREAT OF FOOD SHORTAGES CAUSED MAINLY BY UNFAVOURABLE CLIMATE FACTORS. ON 29™ MAY, 2002, THE GOVERNMENT DECLARED A NATIONAL DISASTER AND LAUNCHED AN APPEAL FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE. THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION (FAO) LAUNCHED AN APPEAL FOR FOOD AID ESTIMATED TO COST US $25 MILLION TO FINANCE 13 EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS. THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT 3 IS GRATEFUL TO THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM FOR POSITIVELY RESPONDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AND AS A RESULT OF THAT SUPPORT, TOGETHER WE WERE ABLE TO PREVENT THE WORST, AND MANY LIVES WERE SERVED. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE FOOD SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY IS IMPROVING. WITH FURTHER COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, THE COUNTRY INTENDS TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT IN FOOD REQUIREMENTS THIS YEAR. MY GOVERNMENT WISHES TO INVITE THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IN ZAMBIA TO JOIN HANDS WITH GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LET ME CONCLUDE BY EMPHASIZING ZAMBIA'S STRONG FAITH IN THE UNITED NATIONS. THE CENTRALITY OF THE ORGANISATION IN THE RESOLUTION OF ALL INTERNATIONAL MATTERS MUST NEVER BE QUESTIONED. THE WORLD BODY PROVIDES A FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AMONG THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD TO BUILD THEIR LIVES AND RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. THE ORGANISATION IS INDISPENSABLE IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. IT REMAINS THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE FOR ACHIEVING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. YOURS EXCELLENCIES, THE INAUGURATION OF THIS HOUSE IS TESTIMONY OF THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLVE TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM WORKS AS A UNIT IN ZAMBIA. IT IS THE COHERENCE OF THE WORLD BODY'S ACTIVITIES THAT FACILITATES THE SUCCESS OF ITS PROGRAMMES. THIS HOUSE BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UN SYSTEM UNDER ONE ROOF. ON BEHALF OF THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT ALLOW ME TO COMMEND YOU FOR ELLAB ORATING THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK (UNDAF) WHICH WAS DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION AMONG THE VARIOUS AGENCIES AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THE UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY TEAM (UNCT) UNDER THE ABLE LEADERSHIP OF MRS ALUBANKE KING AKELERE IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, FOR WHICH MY GOVERNMENT IS GRATEFUL. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR GOOD WORKS. I THANK YOU. 4 (gj United NatlOllS Office of the Resident Coordinator ' ' in Zambia UN Common Premises AlickNkhataRoad Tel: (260-1)250800/254417 P.O. Box 31966 Fax: (260-1)253805/251201 Lusaka, Zambia E-mail:, [email protected] Welcome Remarks by Ms. Olubanke King-Akerele UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative at the Inauguration of the UN House, Lusaka Zambia, 27 February 2003 Honourable Newstead Zimba, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Government Spokesman, Honourable Ministers, Professor Gambari, UN Under-Secretary General and Special Advisor on Africa, Your Worship the Mayor, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps., Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners Senior Government Officials, Heads of International Organisations, Colleagues, members of the UN family, Representatives of Civil Society and NGOs, Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me much pleasure to welcome you all to this historical occasion marking a milestone in Zambia's progress in the implementation of the UN Reforms that the Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan presented to the General Assembly six years ago. From the outset and on behalf of the UN System in Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Acting Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Zimba and the Under Secretary General, Professor Gambari for accepting to grace this important occasion despite their busy schedules. More particularly Prof. Gambari who has just terminated your Mission in Angola as UN SRSG. I would also like to thank all of you present here today for your support as we inaugurate the United Nations House in Zambia Today Zambia proudly becomes one of the member countries that have established a UN House to accommodate the various UN Agencies operating in the country. Due to space limitations, there are four agencies in these premises, namely, World Food Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Development Programme. The United Nations House Annex, Which is located on the junction of Andrew Mwenya and Beit Roads near St Ignatius Church, Rhodes park houses World Health Organisation, UN AIDS, UNDP-Global Environment Fund and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation' renewable energy project International Organisation of Migration is also located there.