PROMOTING DURABLE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 1999 (VIS) - Msgr. George Panikulam, charg‚ d'affaires 'ad interim' of the Holy See to the United Nations, made a speech on December 8 before the plenary of the 54th session of the General Assembly of the U.N. on item 46: "Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa."

Msgr. Panikulam focussed his address on two points, "the deadly conflicts and the inadequate development in Africa." He recalled that since 1970 there have been more than 30 wars on the continent, and 14 out of the 53 nations of Africa have been affected by armed conflict. "Each conflict has caused over a million deaths and created the same amount of refugees and almost the same amount of displaced persons."

"In Africa," he went on, "the world has witnessed for years unthinkable atrocities like genocide and maiming. Violence begets hatred and hatred results in continued atrocities."

Msgr. Panikulam affirmed the existence of "a strange paradox. Impoverished countries acquire large quantities of weapons to kill, and the richer countries, from within Africa and from abroad, profit from the thirst for power of a few, dooming millions to utter starvation. ... Resolving conflicts remains the first step towards security and development in Africa."

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