•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.
•DistinguishedCommonwealth 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.
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