REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY
HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE STATE BANQUET
IN HONOUR OF HIS EXCELLENCY
ENG. JOSÉ EDUARDO DOS SANTOS,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
24 OCTOBER 2007 WINDHOEK
*Check Against Delivery

Your Excellency, Engineer José Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola; and Madam Ana Paula dos Santos, First Lady
Your Excellency, Dr Sam Nujoma, Founding President and Madam Nujoma
Right Honourable Nahas Angula, Prime Minister and Madam Angula
Honourable Theo-Ben Gurirab,Speaker of the National Assembly and Madam Guriras
Honourable Asser Kapere, Chairman of the National Council and Madam Kapere
Honourable Peter Shivute, Chief Justice and Madam Shivute
Honourable Ministers of the Republic of Angola
Honourable Ministers of the Republic of Namibia
Honourable Members of Parliament
Honourable Governor of the Khomas Region
Your Worship, the Mayor of the City of Windhoek and Madam Shikongo
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government and people of Namibia and indeed on my own behalf, allow me to extend to Your Excellency our warmest welcome and gratitude for honouring us with yet another State Visit. We are very happy to have you here in Namibia.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Your Excellency on your election as Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Co-operation. I wish to assure you of my Government’s readiness to render our co-operation to Your Excellency during your tenure of office.
Your Excellency,
Your visit bears testimony not only to our long-standing historical ties, but most significantly to the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between our two countries and peoples. We recall the selfless sacrifices and enormous contribution made by the brave sons and daughters of your great country during the protracted struggle for Namibia’s independence from the yoke of colonialism and apartheid.

Angola stood side by side with us during the difficult days and for this, we remain grateful. It is against this background of a shared history, heritage and struggle that I wish to reaffirm my Government’s unwavering desire to further consolidate the excellent bilateral cooperation and solidarity that exist between our two countries.

Your Excellency,
Our bilateral relations are characterized by a mutual desire and commitment to strengthen our socio-economic and cultural co-operation. Indeed, our cooperation includes sectors ranging from agriculture, safety and security, mines and energy to sport and culture as well as tourism and trade.

This cooperation has expanded since the signing of the Framework Agreement establishing the Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation which has been regularly reviewed and progress made in several areas.

It is in this connection that a preparatory meeting for the 3rd Session of the Namibia-Angola Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation met in Windhoek in June 2007. The Commission’s work resulted in the finalization of the 11 agreements that were signed today.

Moreover, I would like to commend the sound and strategic cooperation existing between our two countries in the areas of defence and security, as demonstrated by the successfully held 14th Session of the Namibia-Angola Joint Commission on Defence and Security, which took place at Ondjiva earlier this month.

Such cooperation has created firm foundation for us to continue working together in addressing common challenges facing our people and to improve their livelihood. We are looking forward to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Competition that will be hosted by Angola. Namibia stands ready to cooperate with your Government in order to make this event a huge success.

Your Excellency,
In order to improve the living standards of our people, we must strengthen trade and economic cooperation, while continuing to explore new opportunities such as the establishment of a free trade area. The pivotal role played by the private sector relies on this framework. I, therefore, propose that line Ministers of our two countries operationalize the Joint Trade Committee as soon as possible.

Your Excellency,
I would like to make use of this opportunity to congratulate you and the people of Angola for your firm commitment to peace, national reconciliation and unity, since the signing of the Luena Peace Accords. The restoration of peace and stability in Angola has created an enabling environment for the reconstruction and development that your country has been vigorously pursuing. We commend your Government’s efforts in the preparation of the Legislative and Presidential elections as part of consolidating the democratic process in Angola.

We urge the international community to support the people of Angola in the reconstruction and development of your country. The international community should lend a helping hand to the eradication of poverty and the effects of the long and destructive war in your country in order to achieve sustainable development.

Your Excellency,

As SADC member states, we continue to recognize that peace and stability are indispensable for economic development and regional integration. In this light, we must implement relevant instruments and protocols aimed at enhancing trade, economic cooperation, free movement of people and goods, as well as regional integration, in order to achieve our main objective of economic integration in Africa.

Namibia strongly applauds the holding of free and fair elections in DRC last year, as well as, the formation of a democratic Government led by His Excellency, Joseph Kabila. However, we are concerned about some groups who continue to undermine the rule of law in that country. We call upon them to refrain from violence and join the peace process. We are also concerned about the ongoing violence in the Darfur Region of Sudan and the conflict in Somalia where innocent civilians are suffering.

Your Excellency,
I wish to reiterate my country’s position with regard to the spectre of global warming and climate change. We believe that it is imperative for all nations of the world to join hands and adopt policies that are environmentally friendly and will reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Climate change has become, more than ever before, a global challenge that needs urgent redress.

The ongoing reform of the United Nations system, particularly the expansion and democratization of the Security Council should be expedited. In this context, I wish to re-iterate Namibia’s support for the Common African Position as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

My Government calls for the immediate and unconditional implementation of the UN Settlement Plan for Western Sahara, and all resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, with the aim of holding a free and fair referendum in Western Sahara.

Similarly, we are deeply concerned about the continuous suffering of the people of Palestine under Israeli occupation. I wish to reaffirm our full and unequivocal support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to establish a free and independent State of Palestine alongside Israel.

Our world needs peace and security so that humanity can work together towards the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. Our continent needs peace and security so that Africans can work towards greater economic integration and the eradication of hunger, diseases and poverty. I am glad that Your Excellency have come to Namibia so that we can share views on important issues facing our countries, our continent and our world.

Your Excellency
Distinguished Guests,
It is now my singular honour to kindly request you all to rise and join me in proposing a toast to the good health and prosperity of His Excellency Engineer José Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola, and Madam Ana Paula dos Santos, to the further strengthening of bonds of friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Angola and Namibia.

To the President!

I thank you.