UN General Assembly a success: Zuma

The 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York was a great success in terms of highlighting the post-2015 development approach, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

 

"We were able to raise issues that are of concern to the development world especially Africa," Zuma said in a statement.

 

"In particular, we raised the need for the post-2015 development agenda to focus on socio-economic development."

 

Zuma said it was important to ensure the developed world did not renege on its undertakings to the south to contribute 0.7 percent of its gross national income to overseas development assistance and to remove possible non-tariff barriers to development.

 

Zuma arrived back in South Africa on Thursday night, the presidency said.

 

He was accompanied by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.

 

Zuma said there was a link between development and security.

 

"It is for this reason that we raised sharply the need to democratise the United Nations Security Council so that the world does not continue to be beholden to the interests of a few countries," he said.

 

"As Africa, a continent of one billion people, we have to ensure that this matter of reform sits at the top of the agenda of the UN as it heads towards its 70th anniversary."

 

Zuma was satisfied that other developing countries had also expressed the importance of reform.

 

-Sapa