MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 2000

Mr. President,

Let me commend you, once again, for focusing on Africa during your presidency of the Council for this month. It has been a useful, indeed exhilarating month, during which not only Council members, but also the larger membership of the Organization, and even some concerned members of civil society have been "educated". We had also received useful "education" on the complex workings of American politics during our meeting with Senator Jesse Helms. We believe that dialogue had been equally useful.

2.    During the month, we had dealt with many important African issues, especially on the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been an extremely useful exercise. However, a number of other African issues have not been addressed – namely those relating to Ethiopia and Eriteria, Somalia and Western Sahara. My delegation would like to believe, and to stress, that they were left out not because they were less important. These other issues remain important, which the Council will pay as much attention on, in the coming months.

3.    The Council has this month focused on Africa in a way the Council had not done before, lasting one entire month. This focus on Africa might perhaps have dispelled the impression that there is a bias on the part of the Council towards other regions. The US presidency of the Council has focused or refocused the attention of the Council on Africa – for which my delegation, like others – commend you, Mr. President. But what is equally important – indeed more important – is the need for follow-up actions – which you yourself had just underscored just now. These follow-ups should be our next order of business relating to Africa, beginning next month under the presidency of Argentina, and under subsequent presidencies. My delegation had very much hoped that at least on one particular issue – that of the DRC – the Council would have been able to initiate a resolution of the Council authorising a UN peacekeeping force in that country. We earnestly hope that what we are not able to do this month on the DRC, we will be able to accomplish next month; if not certainly as soon as possible, as time is of the essence if we want to build on the Lusaka Agreement which was painstakingly put together, and which we all believe remains the only viable basis for a lasting solution of the conflict in the DRC. Our ability to follow up on the DRC, as well as on the other follow-up actions, ahead of us, will in large measure reflect the success of the American presidency of the Council for this opening month of the new millennium. We are confident that having initiated the process, the United States will put its mighty weight behind these important follow up actions. The challenge before the Council – as I heard it from statements made this morning, including from the distinguished Permanent Representative of Algeria representing the chairmanship of the OAU, is that the Council must go beyond words to actions – concrete actions. I would like to believe the Council will be able to meet this challenge.

Thank you.

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