Nujoma optimistic about prospects for 2004

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma believes 2004 will be a better year for humanity with all countries expected to work towards peace, stability and sustainable development.

Delivering his annual New Year’s message to diplomats in Windhoek on Friday, President Nujoma said it was the duty of the United Nations Security Council to address conflicts and threats to international peace and security. However, he advocated that for the UN to carry out its mandate, the Security Council needed to be reformed urgently.He said the African continent was experiencing continuing conflicts in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau: conflicts that undermined efforts to bring economic prosperity and security to the continent.”We are delighted to note that irreversible peace now prevails in the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.We are confident that the efforts made towards peace and reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will reach fruition soon,” he said.Nujoma said successful initiatives aimed at bringing lasting peace to Burundi, Sudan and Liberia were a positive development as they offered hope for a better future for the people of those countries and for Africa as a whole.Namibia has contributed 850 troops, as well as equipment, to the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia in response to an appeal by the UN.However, he advocated that for the UN to carry out its mandate, the Security Council needed to be reformed urgently. He said the African continent was experiencing continuing conflicts in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau: conflicts that undermined efforts to bring economic prosperity and security to the continent. “We are delighted to note that irreversible peace now prevails in the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. We are confident that the efforts made towards peace and reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will reach fruition soon,” he said. Nujoma said successful initiatives aimed at bringing lasting peace to Burundi, Sudan and Liberia were a positive development as they offered hope for a better future for the people of those countries and for Africa as a whole. Namibia has contributed 850 troops, as well as equipment, to the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia in response to an appeal by the UN.