•The
President of the Senate of Cameroon,
•The
President of the National Assembly of Cameroon, Current Chairman of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,
•Distinguished
Heads of House of Parliament,
•The
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations,
•The
Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
•The
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,
•The Prime
Minister, Head of Government of the Republic of Cameroon,
•Distinguished
Members of Government,
•Excellencies,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of International
Organizations,
•Distinguished
Members of Parliament,
•Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I would like, on behalf of the Cameroonian
people, to wish you a warm welcome to Cameroon, on African soil, and a pleasant
stay in Yaounde. I salute in particular our good friends who have come here
from afar and those who are setting foot on African soil for the first time. As
you know, it is always a great pleasure to welcome friends from distant places.
• Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
• Distinguished Participants,
Your conference is taking place in an
international context marked by the persistence of many hotbeds of tension.
Several parts of the world continue to witness political, economic and social
crises. Armed clashes abound. There are repeated and senseless terrorist
attacks and acts of maritime piracy which challenge the international
community.
This gloomy picture has been compounded by the
outbreak of the Ebola viral epidemic. Within months, it has already claimed
thousands of lives in Africa. The virus poses a real threat that transcends
State boundaries, while the international community is yet to find an
appropriate response to contain it.
Therefore, we should hail this conference which
is opening today despite the hostile international context. Your presence
affirms and confirms your determination to address the challenges of this
century.
My country is delighted to have been chosen to
host the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. The people of Cameroon are
honoured by this mark of esteem and confidence.
The massive turnout of Commonwealth Members of
Parliament is an eloquent testimony to their interest in fostering solidarity
among the peoples they represent. For the great Commonwealth family, it
is also an excellent example of its deep commitment to working relentlessly and
resolutely for a better world. This is truly a source of satisfaction, but also
and above all, of hope.
•Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
•Distinguished Participants,
The theme of your discussions at the Yaounde
Conference is “Repositioning the Commonwealth for the Post-2015 Development
Agenda”.
Besides being fully in line with the very foundations
of our organization, this theme is highly topical.
In fact, social progress and human development
issues are prime concerns of the Community of Nations. They are interwoven with
those of peace and security, as there can be no development without minimum
security and stability.
The 69th Session of the United Nations General
Assembly which has just opened in New York is working on the framework and
content of the world’s Post-2015 Development Agenda.
As you are aware, the adoption of the Declaration
on the Millennium Development Goals on 8 September 2000 raised new hopes for a
world where peace, security and prosperity would be shared at last.
Fifteen years following the adoption of these
goals, it must be acknowledged, unfortunately, that they will not be achieved
by 2015 as agreed.
Certainly, significant progress has been made in
some areas such as education, immunization coverage, the fight against HIV and
malaria, and gender promotion in school. This is commendable.
Theseappreciable efforts notwithstanding,
it should be admitted that much remains to be done in key areas. Hunger has not
been eradicated, poverty reduction is extremely slow, unemployment, especially
among the youth, remains a thorny problem and health coverage remains inadequate.
The international community must learn lessons
from the difficulties faced over the last fifteen years.
The Post-2015 Agenda shoulddevise new strategies
to substantially improve the population’s living conditions.
All players will need to demonstrate a stronger
political will, greater generosity and more effective, more concrete and more
active solidarity. Such are the demands of the interdependence of States and
unity of humanity on us. Without this extra touch of the soul, development by
the end of the new Agenda may remain a distant goal.
•Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The UN’s adoption of a Post-2015 Development
Agenda reflects reckoning with past lapses as well as recognition of the need
for immediate action, with greater determination and greater commitment in
order to secure the future.
To that end, African countries have prepared a
common position which proposes the alignment of the Agenda with national and
international development programmes, fully consistent with the African Union’s
2063 Agenda. This common position also comprises new cooperation thrusts aimed
at eradicating poverty, creating endogenous conditions for economic
transformation, preserving peace and progressing towards prosperity and sustainable
development.
•Distinguished Commonwealth Parliamentarians,
The challenges I have just outlined are not
peculiar to Africa. They are common to all peoples of the world of whom many of
you are the elected representatives.
It behoves you to plead with national and
international authorities to honour their commitments. It is your bounden duty
to work towards giving such commitments force of law in your respective
countries.
While hoping that the Yaounde Conference will be
a confirmation of your commitment to shared development in the world, and
wishing you every success in your proceedings, I declare open the 60th
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
Long live the Commonwealth and Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II!
Long live Cameroon!
Thank you.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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