ADDRESS BY H.E. MR. NELSON MANDELA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY ON 27 APRIL 1996

NINTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT Midrand, South Africa, 27 April - 11 1996 ADDRESS BY .. MR. NELSON MANDELA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY 27 April 1996 great gathering critical moment world faces challenges development world poverty. South Africa privilege host played vital role liberation. special joy, anniversary Freedom Day, hearty . South Africa' liberation brought opportunity address apartheid' legacy poverty inequality. brought propitious circumstances building framework promotion sustained growth balanced development Southern Africa. illusions immensity tasks face country, region continent - confident making progress learning valuable lessons. Issues trade development affect world, significance Africa, history circumstance bottom ladder determined realize promise rebirth. UNCTAD choosing country continent Africa location Ninth Ministerial Conference. opportunity Conference confidence expressed South African Government electing South Africa presidency UNCTAD. world leaders set decades create instrument UNCTAD overcome inequities world economy, scarcely expected closing years century witness hunger, homelessness unemployment scale . spite immense economic technological gains , spite cold war, reality world twentieth century secure place inhabitants, poverty continue blight lives. scourges , respects find world radically changed UNCTAD defined developing countries. economic trading blocs traced landscape world trade changed. world trade regime changed. 1 3 UNCTAD IX: Address President Nelson Mandela TD/.351 Capital movements freer - volatile, experiencing South Africa present. Technology increasingly rapid pace global scale, inducing rapid change industrial processes. bring great opportunities - severe challenges problems. specific meanings powerful players global economy power. Greater market access free fair trade prized capitals world - hold promise countries producing goods services trade, market power pursue interests. world, Developed Countries, inequities compounded lack access instruments countries similar positions. danger , left devices, current regime entrench inequality widen gap rich poor nations. mission, , shaped real history marginalized. leave vagaries world economy precisely wisdom informed founding UNCTAD. common United Nations restructure meet demands millennium. equal measure UNCTAD forge position world economy, light , equipped accomplish twenty- century objectives established. Central position, convinced, "Partnership Development", built ideas articulated UNCTAD years . South Africa' experience, grapple task addressing wide disparities wealth poverty, highlights aspects partnership. Firstly, economic trading groups place demand flexible arrangements simple relation developed developing nation. , South Africa' relation SADC, fundamental importance , partnership partnership European Union. , partnership require attention circumstances. , development responsibility government. Success requires Governments join hands social partners: -governmental organizations; private sector; parts civil society. Lastly, partners recognize potential contribution private sector development process great , infrastructure, technological change human resource development. regard cooperate making development integral part pursuit business, additional activity engage . confident Conference strengthen shared commitment create basis strengthening worldwide partnership development; prosperity peace. promote concrete support UNCTAD building partnership facilitating trade investment. shared responsibility roll harsh effects policies. owe future generations perpetuate patterns domination dependence; pessimism crude -interest. Peace development indivisible. relief poverty pervades world, democracy human rights formality, remain jeopardy. confident United Nations, Conference , world road partnership responsibility building equitable relations. deliberations, hope memorable stay country. 2 3 UNCTAD IX: Address President Nelson Mandela TD/.351 [UNCTAD Homepage][Events meetings] 3 3 UNCTAD IX: Address President Nelson Mandela TD/.351 TD Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce le éveloppement NATIONS UNIES Distr. LIMITEE TD/.350 29 avril 1996 FRANCAIS Original : ANGLAIS Neuviè session Midrand, 27 avril 1996 Document soumis par le Groupe des Etats 'Afrique, des Caraïbes du Pacifique (Groupe ACP) Note du secrétariat de la CNUCED la demande du Groupe des Etats 'Afrique, des Caraïbes du Pacifique (Groupe ACP), document intitulé "Principales conclusions recommandations du éminaire ACP sur la CNUCED IX" (10-12 avril 1996) (ACP/67/018/96/Rev.1) est mis à la disposition des participants dans les langues dans lesquelles il éé ç (anglais français), conformément à 'article 80 du èglement intérieur de la Conférence. Des exemplaires pourront en être obtenus au comptoir de distribution des documents. ----- TD/.350 page 2 ZA.96-55114F