Namibia has pledged support to Iran saying the unilateral economic sanctions, such as those imposed on Teheran by the West, restrict free trade and would not promote lasting world peace.

Foreign Affairs Minister Utoni Nujoma recently told the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Teheran, Iran, that joint global governance over issues of international trade is important for sustainable peace in the world.

"It is for these reasons that Namibia condemns the illegal unilateral economic embargo imposed on Cuba. We also condemn the illegal unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Iran by the West. We call for the immediate and unconditional removal of these illegal measures," said the Foreign Affairs Minister. He described the theme of the summit, 'Lasting Peace through Joint Global Governance', as pertinent and timely because the world today is far from being a peaceful, just and secure place.

Nujoma said simmering disputes, violent conflicts, aggression, foreign occupation and interference in the internal affairs of states continue to obstruct the building of a new international order based on cooperation and solidarity instead of confrontation and coercion; democratisation of global governance instead of domination and equitable shared development instead of exploitation.

"We recognise that lasting peace and security depend as much on socio-economic as on other factors. Sharply reduced prospects for economic development and social advancement, large-scale unemployment, abject poverty and severe environmental degradation also have the potential to endanger peace. We cannot therefore hope to attain comprehensive security and lasting peace through global joint governance without making substantive progress in the war against poverty, under-development, disease and social injustice," he said. He urged the United Nations (UN) to remain the main instrument of global governance and the centrepiece of international order.

"Countries must now more actively contribute to the reform, restructuring and democratisation of the UN organs, particularly the UN Security Council to make it more efficient, effective and more responsive to the current geopolitical realities of the world," suggested Nujoma. All attempts for unilateral action in resolving international disputes should be resisted as recent history and current events have proved that unilateral interventions have plunged the world into more dangerous and unstable situations. He said Namibia is also 'gravely concerned' about the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has condemned the support provided to the armed rebels by a neighbouring country.

"I also wish to reiterate Namibia's unequivocal condemnation and rejection of any attempt to dismember the sisterly country of Mali. We support the efforts by ECOWAS aimed at helping the Government of Mali to put an end to the destabilization of that country. We urge the United Nations to support ECOWAS and the African Union without further prevarications," he said.