Geingob praises the UN
By Tracy Tafirenyika
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob has praised the United Nations saying that it has become the guarantor of human dignity for millions of people across the world.
Speaking at the occasion of the UN 75th anniversary commemoration, Geingob said he recognises the pivotal role that the organisation has played to promote and sustain world
peace in the decolonisation of Africa. “The fact that for 75 years, we have averted a Third World War is testament to the success of this great human experiment in multilateralism.
We recognise the pivotal role this distinguished organisation has played to promote and sustain world peace and in the decolonisation of Africa. As Namibians, we can attest to this fact, given our own history,” said Geingob.
Geingob further explained that Namibia is grateful that the UN accompanied the country to independence.
“We are grateful that the United Nations was able to accompany us to independence and it was a proud day, when on March 21 1990, we received the instruments of power from Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, to commence a new chapter in Namibia’s history.
“Not only did the United Nations contribute to the establishment of democracy in a free and independent Namibia, it also laid a cornerstone for our democracy by establishing
the United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN), where I had the privilege to be a director for 12 years. This Institute helped train young Namibians in order to equip them with the
requisite expertise and knowledge to become leaders and administrators in an independent Namibia.” He added that Namibians continue to reap the benefits from the UN whose alumni include the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice amongst other key figures in the political, public and commercial spheres.
He said the commemoration of the UN 75th Anniversary, is a great day for Namibia and the rest of the world. “The United Nations has always championed equality and therefore Africa cannot continue to be sidelined. Let us make this anniversary an ideal moment for us to engage in collective introspection and to take this organisation to the next level.
Let us embrace multilateralism in order to augment the values and ideals upon which the United Nations was founded.
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Geingob further urged Africans to consider occupying rightful positions at the UN, in the interest of global peace and stability.