Gentlemen, I would like to say a word about the two young soldiers who lost their lives yesterday in a tragic accident. We all grieve for them and we would like to express our sympathy and deep condolences to their families, for whom it will have been a very great shock. They saw these two Corporals come away with high hopes, to an extremely important task, the United Nations.
Our soldiers do many things the world over, sometimes defending our territory, sometimes in NATO, sometimes in Northern Ireland, sometimes in Hong Kong, sometimes acting as part of the United Nations.
When I heard what had happened, it made me quite determined, if it was possible, to come here to demonstrate my support, and the support of the United Kingdom, for the work that the United Nations is doing here to bring this country of Namibia to independence. [end p1]
It is an important task. It must be carried out with total integrity. It cannot be carried out without the work of the United Nations and they will depend upon us for the specialist work which this particular advance group of soldiers were carrying out under the leadership of the advance party, under Lt. Philippa Owens.
They are doing their job extremely well. We cannot succeed without them. And I know they will carry on doing it. And may I say this: the work of this unit, to be followed by others, can help to determine the whole future of Southern Africa.
They stand at the gateway to peace, with freedom and justice. It is an extremely important role and we are proud of our people who are doing it and we know that it will be carried out with total integrity, total professionalism, total impartiality and we would like to thank them and wish them all well and hope that this great venture, the carrying out of the United Nations Resolution to bring this country to independence will be achieved on time and as we have all hoped.
Thank you very very much and may I say thank you to all those who are taking part in it.