We have taken note of the fact that the Secretary-General's report for the pa...

We have taken note of the fact that the Secretary-General's report for the past year was prepared and compiled after a broad and extensive consultation with the 13-entity network — a fact greatly appreciated by my delegation, given that it has enriched the report by making it one informed by the conditions and experiences on the ground. No doubt it is one of the most comprehensive reports ever prepared on this matter, and it represents to a large extent the great deal of progress in dealing with this scourge. We are particularly pleased that United Nations peacekeeping and political missions, as well as country teams, were primary sources of information for the report. For South Africa that is crucial, because the report is informed by the experiences of people who are at the cold phase.