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UN
President Sees African
Renaissance
on Horizon:
Freedom fighter turned statesman Dr. Theo-Ben
Gurirab, the president of the 54th session of the
UN General Assembly, spoke to an attentive crowd
of 125 on the campus recently and outlined his
hopes and dreams for both Africa and the United
Nations.
"I am where the UN is and I am, in this new
millennium, leading the UN, along with my brother
and colleague (UN Secretary General) Kofi Annan,
where it's going: towards a better, brighter and
humane future for humanity," said Gurirab.
 Gurirab said
that former freedom fighters like himself are now
at the forefront for social change and economic
development in Africa. A native of Namibia, he
received both his bachelor's degree and a
master's degree in international relations at
Temple University in Pennsylvania. Earlier this
year he was awarded an honorary doctor of law
degree from the University of Namibia.
In 1972 he became the UN representative of
Namibia's national liberation movement (SWAPO),
until 1986. He was also one of the leading
negotiators of the cease-fire agreement, signed
in March 1989, between South Africa's apartheid
regime and SWAPO, which set the pace for the
elections in Namibia and its transition to
independence. In 1990 he became the independent
Namibia's Foreign Minister, a position which he
still holds.
Gurirab explained the catalyst for change in
African countries is "African people
themselves," and while he acknowledged many
obstacles still loom, "the will and
determination of the people cannot be denied
anymore - Africa's time has come. We are talking
about a new beginning, which we are expressing in
a form of an African Renaissance. "
"I want to help transfer the dreams of the
people into real and funded programs,"
Gurirab said. "Empowerment and practical
knowledge are desperately needed for our people
to benefit."
The continent of Africa has the largest bloc of
United Nation member states. Among the core
issues facing the UN as a whole include gender
equality, the proliferation of small arms in
Third Worlds countries, HIV/AIDS and financing of
development, Gurirab said.
Gurirab's speech was part of the 2000
Distinguished Guest Lectures Series, sponsored by
UB's New England Center for International and
Regional Studies.
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