# HEAD OF STATE'S SPEECH
# In Response to the Presentation of New Year Wishes by the Diplomatic Corps
Yaounde, 6 January 2017
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
It is always a great pleasure for me to welcome you to this venue on the occasion of the traditional ceremony of presentation of New Year wishes by the Diplomatic Corps. The ceremony affords us an opportunity each year to review the global situation together.
Right away, I would like to thank your Dean for his subtle analysis of the said situation and for his words of encouragement for Cameroon. Also, the wishes he has extended, on your behalf, to my country, my family and me, go straight to my heart.
Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, you have underscored our people's exploit in rebuilding their unity despite their multiple diversities. As I have always stated, this unity forms an integral part of our people's very existence.
I have repeatedly urged my compatriots to jealously preserve this unity.
Our diversity forms part of our identity.
Our people are committed to these two fundamental values, namely unity and diversity.
In the spirit of dialogue that I have always advocated, I will, with all my compatriots, continue making every effort to strengthen our desire to live together.
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Unfortunately, the essentials of global economics have hardly changed over the past months.
Three issues, namely insecurity, economic instability and environmental degradation, remain the core concerns of peoples and their leaders.
Regarding security, public opinion is showing grave concern about the persistence or even heightening of tensions, notably in the Middle East and in Africa.
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In the Middle East, and more precisely in Syria and Iraq, what we now have is a major war raging between various antagonists. This horrific war is claiming scores of innocent lives and causing waves of refugees. At present, the regime in Damascus is on the offensive and appears to have the upper hand. However, the situation is so complex that it is foolhardy to make any prediction.
No one will regret the possible defeat of the Islamic State which is one of the poles of international terrorism.
However, it is clear that the return to peace will require great diplomatic efforts and consideration of the political, religious and economic interests of the various parties involved. In this regard, the rapprochement between Damascus and the Syrian Opposition, endorsed by the Security Council, is a step in the right direction.
We are aware that the spread of terrorism is not unrelated to the situation in the Near and Middle East. The attacks carried out in Europe, in the United States, in Turkey and in Africa are often claimed by the Islamic State organization. If it collapsed, this could facilitate the eradication of movements that have pledged allegiance to it.