STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY
HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL
BANQUET IN HONOUR OF H. E. KIM YONG NAM,
PRESIDENT OF THE PRESEDIUM OF THE
SUPREME PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA,


20 MARCH 2008 WINDHOEK


*Check Against Delivery

Your Excellency, Mr Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Your Excellency, the Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma and Madame Nujoma
Right Honourable Prime Minister and Madam Angula
Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly and Madam Guriras
Honourable Chairman of the National Council and Madam Kapere
Honourable Chief Justice and Madam Shivute
Honourable Ministers of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and 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
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,




May I kindly request you to rise to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late Comrade John Alfons Pandeni, who was our Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural development, who passed away in a tragic vehicle accident on 14 March 2008. (I thank you, you may be seated).

On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Namibia and, indeed, on my own behalf, I would like to warmly welcome Your Excellency and your distinguished delegation to our country. I am most grateful to you for accepting my invitation to visit Namibia.

We are delighted to have you amongst us as we celebrate our 18th Independence Anniversary. I recall with fond memories that during your tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, you led the official delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Independence Celebrations of Namibia on 21st March 1990. The ties of friendship between our two countries date back many years. We recall with appreciation that the Government and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea stood firmly with us during our struggle for national liberation and independence.
Your Excellency,

The solidarity and material support extended to our people by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during our struggle against apartheid colonialism will forever be remembered by our people. After independence, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea assisted Namibia in the construction of the Heroes Acre and the new State House which will be inaugurated tomorrow. These two structures are powerful symbols of our nationhood. They also represent important milestones in the bilateral cooperation between our two countries. I wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for this valuable support.

Your Excellency,

Over the years we have exchanged high-level visits that helped to further strengthen cooperation between our two countries. In this context, it may be recalled that the Founding President of our Republic, His Excellency, Dr Sam Nujoma, visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on several occasions.
These visits have helped to cement the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between our two countries and peoples.

We, therefore, view your visit to Namibia as a continuation of the traditional ties of friendship and solidarity that happily exist between our two countries and peoples.

Within the framework of the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, our two countries should continue to explore more areas of cooperation such as trade and commerce, transport and communication, energy as well as the important areas of health care, education and environmental issues.

Your Excellency,

Namibia follows with keen interest developments in the Korean Peninsula. The Summit held between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea in Pyongyang in October 2007 and the adoption of the Declaration calling for peace and joint prosperity, demonstrates the commitment of the Korean people towards peaceful re-unification.

Your Excellency,

Namibia remains aware of the proud legacy of the visionary leaders of Asia and Africa who fifty years ago, came together to chart a common course.

The Bandung Conference in 1955 added momentum to the fight against colonial rule, and gave rise to strong bonds of solidarity, understanding and cooperation among the peoples of Asia and Africa. The Bandung Spirit remains a source of inspiration to all our peoples within the framework of the Non-Alignment Movement and South-South Cooperation. On that historic occasion, the peoples of Asia and Africa resolved to take their destiny in their own hands in their search for freedom, justice and prosperity. We must continue to give expression to that spirit as we forge stronger ties of co-operation between our two countries.

At the bilateral level, our two countries share a commonality of views with regard to the search for international peace and security.


Our two countries are also working actively as members of the UN to contribute to the reform of the UN system to make it more democratic and representative in order to bring about fair and just global trade as well as sustainable development that is inclusive in nature.

Your Excellency,

At this juncture, I am honoured to announce that in recognition of the invaluable support granted to the Republic of Namibia by the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea in the construction of the new State House, I have decided, in accordance with the powers vested in me under Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, to confer the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun to His Excellency, Comrade Kim Jong IL, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army.





Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is now my singular honour and pleasure to request all of you to rise and join me as I propose a toast to the continued good health and well-being of His Excellency, Comrade Kim Jong IL, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, and to the lasting bonds of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the Republic of Namibia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. To His Excellency!

I thank you.