Statement by ambassador Vijay S. Makhan, assistance secretary-general of the organization of African Unity: united nations system wide special initiative on Africa

Abstract

Statement by Ambassador Vijay S. MAKHAN Assistant Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity At the Launching of the United Nations System Wide Special Initiative on Africa. Ambassador MAKHAN, on his remarks highlighted that, The Cairo Agenda for Relaunching Africa's Economic and Social Development was the result of this candid stocktaking. The message that went out was loud and clear: Africa must take charge of its own comprehensive development. Member states recognized that one of the main reasons for the failure of the various development strategies and programmes adopted for the continent was the total absence of action at the national level to implement those strategies and programmes. The Special Initiative on Africa comes in as a breath of fresh air in the stifling environment in which the African continent has been struggling during this transitional period of its economic and political reforms, especially in the face of very difficult national and international conditions.