BUDGET SPEECH, MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION (MIRCO)
In her budget speech, the Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah, also spoke on issues such as disarmanent as well as Palestine and Western Sahara. She also spoke out against the recent declaration by United States of Jerusalem as a Capital of Israel, amongst others. She said:
"The world should not only view disarmament through biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, but also through conventional weapons, especially small arms and light weapons that are creating instability in most of the developing countries, especially some parts of Africa. There is a clear link between crime and the proliferation of small arms that must not be lost. This will be Namibia's core message when we shall participate at the forthcoming review conference of the parties to the UN convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. It is important that as a country, we speak with one voice on the subject matter.
"Maintenance of peace is an important facet of our foreign policy. The long and bitter struggle against apartheid colonialism remains a fundamental factor that inform andshape our foreign policy. Our commitment to the inherent right of people’s self-determination and independence influence our foreign policy. This is why we continue to steadfastly speak out against the occupation of Western Sahara and Palestine, because we have lived it, and have felt the dehumanisation that comes with .
"Namibia denounces the recent declaration by United States of Jerusalem as a Capital of Israel. We strongly reject recent attempts aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the City of Jerusalem. Such attempts continue to violate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence. We continue to call for the full implementation of all relevant UN Resolutions on Western Sahara and Palestine, and reiterate our commitment to the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Palestine."