Madam Speaker, 

As a result of our violent past and gross violation of human rights, we as South Africans are bound to make an immense contribution in restoring world peace and reconciliation. 

Nowhere is this experience of peace building and reconciliation more acute than in South Africa. South Africa is seen as a beacon of hope by many countries and peoples who are crippled by conflict and violence.  

Despite the daily realities of poverty, joblessness, crime, hunger, HIV/AIDS, racism, sexism and poor education our country has made a lot of gains towards peace and reconciliation. Our country can highlight a number of important changes, including a new democratic order, with the right to vote and elect representatives in free and fair elections, and a new constitution, with guaranteed political, civil and socio-economic rights.    

Our own home-made starting point to this debate, revolves around the revival of the African concept of ubuntu not only in the South African milieu but throughout the whole world. We recognize Ubuntu as the foundation of all human interaction. This means that no person and no country is an island. We are part of one global village. We must respect everyone and treat everyone with compassion and empathy, and in a manner that recognizes their intrinsic human dignity.  

With the spirit of Ubuntu come all the noble values you may think of. 

We must embrace our differences and accept the notion that we are all equal under law, of course, but the world and its countries is nonetheless made up of many different cultures, groups, races, religions, communities and peoples.  

When we talk about peace and reconciliation, we don't have to look at it in a global manner because people think of peace and reconciliation in a variety of ways depending on their situation. Reconciliation demands openness, dialogue and space. There are occasions that bring peace but no reconciliation. In Rwanda, for example, people look to peace and reconciliation as the only way to hope in the future of the country that has undergone genocide.  

Peace for South Africans at this current juncture is an end to violent crime, racism and gender violence. 

But the effort to secure international peace and reconciliation is a task that concerns everyone. Individual countries cannot simply leave it to the UN to find solutions that do not directly concern them. 

All countries are morally obliged to work for international peace and reconciliation especially in cases where the UN and the Security Council are not able to solve the problem on their own.  We are all aware that conflicts in neighbouring and even distant countries increasingly have a direct effect on domestic security, for example through increased flows of refugees, organised crime and growing terrorism.       

Political conflicts in countries such as the Middle East, Sudan, Somali, Sri Lanka stretch back for many years but solutions can be found if parties to the conflict and international community join forces and pull in the same direction.     

It is our belief that global poverty is the biggest threat and stumbling block towards sustainable peace and global reconciliation. If we don't eradicate poverty and inequalities, soon rather than later, we must recognise that the movement towards building human dignity, peace and reconciliation is fragile. 

We must deepen democracy, promote fair trade, respect the sovereignty of nations and spread prosperity among our people. In addition, the rule of law and Ubuntu must be clearly seen to be established.  

I thank you.