Organization (SWAPO) aswellaswiththesupport oftheinternational community, theCouncil, afterrelentless andarduous efforts, wasabletofulfilitsimportant mandate. TheSpecial Committee, asthefocalpointfordecolonization inthe UnitedNations, hasconsistently extended itsunqualified support forandfull co-operation withtheworkoftheCouncil forNamibia inadvancing thecauseofthe decolonization ofthatland. Itistherefore withadeepsenseofsatisfaction andaccomplishment thatwe congratulate theCouncil forNamibia todayonitsoverwhelming success inbringing toanendoneoftheworld's mostpernicious formsofcolonialism. Wesalutethepeopleofthefreeandindependent MemberStateofNamibia. We· sympathize withthesegallant sonsanddaughters ofAf.icaforthemanyyearsof anguish anddevastation theysuffered duringtheirstruggle forindependence. Theirfortitude inthefaceofadversity, theirendurance despite theoverwh~lming vicissitudes thatconfronted themand,ledbytheirnational liberation moV'ement, SWAPO,theirunswerving devotion tothecauseofanindependent Namibia, culminated inthatnation's takingitsrightful placeinthisassembly ofsovereign and independent States. Similarly, wesalutetheOrganization ofAfrican UnityanditsLiberation Committee, aswellastheNon-Aligned Movement anditsCo-ordinating Bureauatthe UnitedNations, fortheall-round assistance rendered tothepeopleofNamibia in theirarduous struggle forindependence. Special gratitude goestothefront-line Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryBCT/fc A/44/PV.96 27 (Mr.Tadesse. Chairman, Special Committee of24) Statesthatmadeenormous sacrifices fortheprincipled standtheytookregarding Namibi~. Indeed, wepaya~ribute toallthosewbohavecontributed tothe enhanced roleoftheCouncil, andparticularly itslastPresident, Ambassador PeterZuzeofZambia, forhisindefatigable efforts inthefulfilment ·of theCouncil's mandate. Since1962theSpecial Committee hasdevoteditselftothecauseof decolonization. Thatgoalwasgreatly advanced andenhanced byNamibia's accession toindependence. Aswemarkthesuccessful fulfilment ofthemandate ofthe Council forNamibia, wecannothelpbutrecallthattherearestill 18Non-Self-Governing Territories ontheSpecial Committee's listthathavenotyet exercised theirrightt.oself-determination andindependence. ThoseTerritories, forthemostpartsmallislandTerritories inthePacific andtheCaribbean, now remainthecentral focusoftheSpecial Committee's efforts incarrying outthe mandate entrusted toitbytheGeneral Assembly. Ireferinparticular to resolution 43/47,adopted bytheAssembly in1988,inwhichitproclaimed theyears 1990to2000theInternational DecadefortheEradication ofColonialism. Withtheco-operation andsupport oftheinternational community, theSpecial Committee isfirmlycommitted tothatvitaltask.Itsfervent intentisthat withinthecurrent decadetheSpecial Committee shallbeinthesameposition as theUnitedNations Council forNamibia -thatis,abletopresent tothis international assembly Stateswhichhavefullyexercised theirrightto self-determination andi~dependence, thereby demonstrating thesuccessful completion ofthetaskentrusted totheSpecial Committee bytheAssembly. ThePRESIDENT: Wearehappytowelcome theMinister ofLocalGovernment andHousing oftheRepubl~c ofNamibia, HerExcellency TheHonourable Libertina hmathila. Inowinvitehertomakeherstatement. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryBCT/fc A/44/PV.96 28 Ms.l\MATHILA (Namibia): TheGovernment andthepnopleoftheRepublic of Namibia havedonemethehonourofasking metorepresent themonthismomentous occasion, setasideforthepurpose ofpayingadeuerved tribute totheUnited Nations Council forNamibia, ~ttheconclusion ofitshistoric mission, forajob welldone. Itakethisopportunity toexpress, oube~alfofouryoungRepublic, our sincere gratitude totheStates Me~bers oftheUnitedNations, andparticularly to theGeneral Assembly forthecourageous decisionittooksome24yearsago,byits adoption ofresolution 2145(XXI)in1966,todefendthejustcaussandaspirations oftheNamibian peopletoself-determination andnational independence" Underthe subsequent General Assembly resolution 2248(S-V),of1967,theUnitedNations Council forNamibia wasentrusted withtheexecution ofthesacredtrustof ensuring thefulfilment ofthedirectresponsibility oftheUnitedNations for Namibiauntilindependence. Asallrepresentatives hereknow,thattaskwasnotaveryeasyone.The Namibian peoplehadtoendurepainandsuffering forma~yyearsatthehandsof apartheid colonialism. Wewereforcedtotakeuparmsindefence ofourvery
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a celebratory speech or declaration, congratulating the United Nations Council for Namibia on its successful mission to facilitate the independence of Namibia. The text highlights the efforts of various organizations and individuals involved in the decolonization process, and emphasizes the importance of self-determination and national independence. Given the historical context and the focus on decolonization, it is likely that the text is related to international relations and politics.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief