Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
Tarikh/Date : 17/11/92
Tajuk/Title : THE DINNER HOSTED BY THE PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA HIS
EXCELLENCY DR SAM NUJOMA
Your Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma,
President of the Republic of Namibia,
Madame Nujoma
Excellencies;
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first of all thank you, Mr President, for your
kind words of welcome and the generous tribute paid to the
government and the people of Malaysia. My wife and I and
members of my delegation are indeed delighted to be here in
this beautiful city of Windhoek, on our first visit to the
Republic of Namibia. I would like to thank you for your
kind invitation to visit your country and for the excellent
arrangements made for this visit. That you are willing to
receive us at this time while you are in the midst of a cam-
paign for your local and regional elections bears testimony
to the importance you attach to our bilateral relations and
to the depth of your feelings of goodwill and friendship for
Malaysia and its people.
2. It was only about two months ago that we had the privi-
lege and honour of receiving you in Malaysia. During the
visit we had a wide-ranging discussion on issues of common
interest, in particular on ways and means of bringing our
two countries closer together through cooperative endeavours
for the mutual benefit of our peoples. We agreed to encour-
age trade and investment and to cooperate in manpower devel-
opment. My visit to your country provides me with the
opportunity of strengthening that spirit of mutual under-
standing, to reaffirm Malaysia's commitment to cooperate
with Namibia and to further strengthen our relations. I
look forward in the next few days not only to savour the de-
lights of the many touristic attractions of your country but
also to looking at close range the many opportunities for
trade and investment in your country as well as the areas in
which Malaysia could cooperate towards meeting Namibia's de-
velopment needs.
3. Our two countries have already begun discussions on a
number of agreements that would provide the necessary frame-
work for enhanced cooperation. The signing of the Economic,
Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement at the end of
my current visit to Namibia and other agreements such as the
Trade Agreement and the Visa Abolition Agreement in the fu-
ture would give impetus to our mutual desire to intensify
relations between our two countries. While these agreements
would facilitate such cooperation, the success of whatever
economic ventures agreed to would be determined by the re-
spective business sectors and how best they pursue the op-
portunities presented to them.
Mr. President,
4. It is for this reason that I have brought along with me
a number of prominent Malaysian businessmen. They would be
meeting their counterparts within the next few days. Their
meetings and discussions should help expand existing cooper-
ation and identify new areas for our mutual benefit. In-
deed, tremendous possibilities exist for cooperation and
joint ventures in areas such as tourism, construction, min-
ing and fishing. I would like to assure you that Malaysia
will do what it can to facilitate trade and ensure business
cooperation with Namibia. Given our commitment to strength-
ening South-South Cooperation, I am confident that together,
the government and the private sectors of both countries,
would, before long, be able to construct a web of new re-
lations and understanding across many sectors. Toward this
end, there should be more frequent exchanges of visits by
leaders of both countries and the business community so as
to be better acquainted with one another.
Mr. President,
5. We have been most impressed by the policies of the gov-
ernment of Namibia under your wise leadership since your in-
dependence on 21 March 1990. You have been able to
transform your country, whose society was once divided
within itself, into a nation where all Namibians are able to
live and work together in harmony and unity, regardless of
their cultural and ethnic differences. We applaud the vi-
sion and statesmanship of the leaders of Namibia for having
had the courage and magnanimity to embrace a policy of re-
conciliation. The wisdom of your decision is clear for all
the world to see, contrasting sharply with the tragic events
that unfold in those countries blighted by the curse of eth-
nic chauvinism. It is an undeniable truth that for multira-
cial countries like ours, if they are to enjoy peace and
prosperity, their policies must be guided by pragmatism and
the just consideration of competing demands of various
groups, and a willingness to compromise and to make sacri-
fices for the larger interest of the nation.
Mr. President,
6. Namibians also have every reason to be proud of their
democratic credentials. We have seen that since independ-
ence your democratic system of government has flourished
with much vigour and vitality, proving to those who had cast
doubts on your commitment to multiparty democracy that they
were thoroughly mistaken. The credit must go to the leaders
and the people of Namibia. The world will again be watching
with interest on how you go about your forthcoming nation-
wide elections for your local and regional councils. I be-
lieve this election will be the first to be conducted since
independence and without the involvement of the UN or other
international observers. We have no doubt, whatsoever, that
you will come out with flying colours in the conduct of the
elections.
7. I have been impressed with the current efforts under-
taken by your government in the development of your country.
Judging from the prudent policies of your government I am
confident that the government of the Republic of Namibia
will be able to successfully harness its human and natural
resources in its endeavour to further enhance the country's
prosperity. Malaysia stands ready to cooperate and help in
our small way in these efforts and participate in areas in
which Malaysia could play an effective role for our mutual
benefit.
Mr. President,
8. As I have often reiterated, changes in the interna-
tional, political and economic scenes leave developing coun-
tries, such as ours, in a vulnerable position. Our
economies are heavily dependent upon external trade. There-
fore the existence of a free and open global trading system
is a prerequisite for our economic well-being. Although un-
der the GATT we have managed to remove most tariffs the
tendency for certain countries to introduce new non-tariff
barriers, is worrisome. Such protectionism will seriously
impede the development of a world trading system that is
both free and fair.
9. I am on my way to the G-15 Summit Meeting to be held in
Dakar, Senegal. It is my fervent hope that the Summit of
the Group of 15 countries of the South would come up with
new and concrete ideas in terms of increased trade, invest-
ment and technological cooperation among countries of the
South. A greater reliance on South-South Trade and Cooper-
ation would ease some of the problems faced by the countries
of the South.
Mr President,
10. We are happy to note the winds of change sweeping
Africa today. Many countries in Africa are now undergoing
positive reforms. These augur well for the region and
Africa as a whole as these countries can now settle down to
tackling issues of development and economic upliftment of
their people.
11. Sadly, however the lack of progress in South Africa
with regard to the struggle of the black majority in their
quest for majority rule in their own country stands as a
stark contrast to the rays of hope emanating from the rest
of Africa. The CODESA talks which was abruptly halted fol-
lowing the Boipatong massacre remain suspended. The longer
the delay in the establishment of a democratically elected
government in South Africa, the longer it will be for the
country to find its rightful place and re-assert its role in
the international community of nations. It is in the inter-
est of all parties in South Africa to cooperate and work
closely together to revive the negotiating process under
CODESA. It will enable the early creation of an interim
mechanism for the eventual establishment of a democratic,
non-racial and united South Africa.
Mr. President,
12. I take this opportunity once more, to express our sin-
cere appreciation and gratitude for your kind hospitality
and for receiving us with such warmth and friendship. We
certainly look forward to the opportunity of meeting a cross
section of the people of Namibia and take back with us many
pleasant memories of our visit to Namibia.
Thank you.
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