african union on somalia

8/8/2019 African Union on Somalia

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JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 1

YOUR EXCELLENCY THE SECRETARY OF THE PEOPLESCOMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN LIAISON AND INTERNATIONALCOOPERATION OF THE GREAT LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA,

YOUR EXCELLENCY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OUTGOINGCHAIRPERSON,

YOUR EXCELLENCIES MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF

AFRICAN AND ARAB COUNTRIES,

YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE

LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES,YOUR EXCELLENCY, REPRESENTATIVES OF REGIONAL AND

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,

MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,

INVITED GUESTS,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

1.It is my honour and privilege to address you today on the occasionof the opening of the Joint Meeting of African and Arab Ministers of

Foreign Affairs.

2.At the outset, please allow me to express my profound gratitude toH.E. Mr. Mussa Kussa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Great


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Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as well as the Government and people of

Libya for the warm hospitality extended to us all since our arrival in

this historic city.

3.Let me also extend my heartfelt appreciation to H.E. Amre Moussa,Secretary General of the League of Arab States and his Deputy

H.E. Amb. Ahmed Benheli, as well as the entire staff of the League

of Arab States for their dedication and commitment that made theconvening of this meeting, and indeed the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit, a

reality.

4.My appreciations also go to all other African and Arabpersonalities, countries and Institutions that made contributionstowards the successful holding of this meeting.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,


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5.Afro-Arab Cooperation is the oldest and indeed the firstcooperation arrangement that Africa entered into with its external

partners. It is a cooperation between two highly interrelatedpeoples, who co-habit the same continent, share the same past

and work towards a common destiny. Africans and Arabs are

immediate neighbors. It is instructive to note that the Arab

communities also have significant African presence, not to mention

the interesting fact that nine out of the 22 members of the Leagueof Arab States are also active members of the African Union. The

cooperation between the two sides is also characterized by a high

degree of complementarity and interdependence.

6.Cognizant of these realities, the African Heads of State andGovernment, who held their first historic summit in Cairo, Egypt, in

March 1977, agreed to formalize the long standing relations. In

doing so, they adopted a Declaration and Program of Action to

regulate their relations.

7.Allow me at this juncture to seize the opportunity to hail theforesightedness of our leaders of [yore] for their determination and


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wisdom, which have laid a strong foundation for the solidarity that

exists between our peoples and the respective Governments of our

two regions.

EXCELLENCIES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

8.Despite the foresight and determination of our pioneer leaders toinstitutionalize our relations, the engagement and interactions

between us never really concretized. Indeed, several political,

cultural, economic, financial as well as organizational factors have

contributed to this low level of engagement. These were furtheraccentuated by the none convening of the meetings of joint policy

organs established by the first Afro-Arab Summit. This created a

vacuum in the joint decision making process as well as the non

functioning of the coordinating mechanisms. Furthermore,

inadequate financing was also one of the major problems which

stultified (hinders) the implementation of Afro-Arab Cooperation

projects and activities. Above all, the low involvement of the


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private sector and civil society in the planning and implementation

of Afro-Arab projects have created a lack of a sense of ownership

and participation on the part of these important actors. In thisenvironment, people to people interactions were not adequately

promoted and never created a better understanding and increase

in knowledge of each others realities.

9.These internal problems were further compounded by externalfactors such as the recurrent economic and financial crises, the

skewed (distorted) global and international economic order and

the proliferation of new blocks and cooperation arrangements that

diverted our attentions away from each other.

10.Permit me also to mention, in this regard, the cold war and itsaftermath, climate change and its impact, the world food crisis the

accelerated process of globalization as well as conflicts and civil

wars which threatened to marginalize the two regions.


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11.However, it is these same problems and challenges which nowcompel us to bound together to overcome them effectively through

our collective actions, since no single country can manage themsingle handedly.

12.In the past, we could only talk of limited initiatives such as theexchange of political views and giving diplomatic support to each

others causes like the Palestinian issue and Africas liberation

struggles and in channeling technical and financial assistance to

needy African countries through the Arab Bank for Economic

Development in Africa and other national and regional Funds,

under the umbrella of Afro-Arab Cooperation. The organizations of

Afro-Arab Trade Fairs and Business weeks as well as the

establishment of the Afro-Arab Cultural Institute in Bamako are also

worth mentioning.

13.Although these initiatives are laudable and encouraging, it ishowever important to note that the level of cooperation and


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collaboration has ample room for much more support and

assistance in all the areas of engagement.

14.We in the African Union Commission believe that Afro-ArabCooperation has neither a substitute nor an alternative. It is a

unique type of cooperation, whose level of interdependence is

continuously on the increase.

15.The continued conflict situations in some of our common memberStates such as Somalia and Sudan have made it clear that our two

sides must join efforts to ensure that a sustainable and lasting

solution is found to these conflict situations.

16.In the economic front, it has become clearer that Africa is the bestdestination for Arab investment. This is in the light of its vast

natural resources and the geographical proximity that makes

transportation easier and cheaper. Its huge internal market and

skilled labor force are also among the incentives that caught the

attention of serious investors from beyond.


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17.At this stage, I wish to reiterate that Africa is a continent of greatopportunities. Africa is the richest continent in the world, in terms of

its natural and mineral resources, including agricultural and marine

resources, which are capable of powering its economic growth and

sustainable development. Africa supplies up to 31% of the worlds

demand for bauxite, cobalt, gold, manganese, phosphate and

uranium. Additionally, it supplies 57% of the worlds need for

chromium and diamonds, and the hydrocarbon (oil) deposits are

immense. Ironically, due to the low level of industrial

development, the continent consumes very little of these resources.

Most are exported as raw materials without any local value addition

and beneficiation. Through the establishment of the African Union

and the adoption of NEPAD as the strategic programme of the

Union, Africa is determined to resolve with all its partners this

paradox of poverty in the midst of abundant resources.

18.Whatever success we achieve in fighting and overcoming ourchallenges will definitely open up the great opportunities and


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potentialities that the continent holds in its bosom. Its immense

natural resources, if well-harnessed, will accrue benefits not only to

its people but also to all its partners. It is also the continent thatoffers the highest returns on investment.

19.Furthermore, as Africas population continues to grow, the size ofits market also increases and could reach about 1, 4 billion

consumers by 2020/2025. By 2050 Africa may have a population of2 billion, thereby making it even more attractive to investors. It is

this market size and natural resources deposits that have drawn

the interest of emerging powers of both the North and the South.

And, it is what explains its appeal as a strategic partner.

EXCELLENCIES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

20.The potentials are enormous and the political will to acceleratethe cooperation is currently on the upbeat. What is needed now is

to focus our activities and select the most viable and feasible areas


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for infusion of investment in order to use our human and material

resources more effectively and productively.

21.Your meeting today is convened mainly to prepare for the 2ndAfro-Arab Summit that will be held on this coming Sunday. In this

regard, you will have an opportunity to consider and endorse the

Afro-Arab Partnership Strategy, the First Joint Action Plan 2011

2016 as well as the Political Declaration. It shall also endorse thedraft Agenda of the Summit.

22.The new Afro-Arab Partnership Strategy, subject to its adoptionby the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit, is intended to replace the Program

of Action on Afro-Arab Cooperation adopted by the historic firstAfro-Arab Summit held in Cairo, Egypt in March 1977. This

document will shape and guide the direction of our future

cooperation, transforming it into a higher level of partnership.

23.The final draft Strategy presented for Your Excellenciesconsideration is the outcome of a continuous consultation and

scrutiny by the Preparatory Committee of the Second Afro-Arab


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Summit and the Standing Commission for Afro-Arab Cooperation.

It is based on the review of the cooperation between the two sides

in the past three decades and attempts to address all theshortcomings observed in the past three decades.

24.The Strategy is accompanied by a Joint Plan of Action whichfocuses on the most viable and feasible areas for accelerating Afro-

Arab Partnership in the first six years (2011 2016). The SectoralAction Plan on Agricultural Development and Food Security,

developed by the Joint Afro-Arab Ministerial meeting on Agricultural

Development and Food Security held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt,

from 14 to 16 February 2010, is one of the integral parts of this

document, while activities in Peace and Security, Investment andCultural Cooperation are also elaborated.

25.The Plan is open for modification and inclusion of activities inother sectors that would be developed from time to time by relevant

Ministerial meetings.


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26.We in the African Union Commission are more than ready toeffectively implement the new Strategy and any other decisions

that come out of this meeting and the Summit for the interest andbenefit of our two peoples. We are prepared, more than ever

before, for Afro-Arab partnership, which prides itself on mutual

interest and sense of solidarity.

27.We are convinced that our joint and concerted efforts would liftour two regions out of poverty and food insecurity, thereby creating

a prosperous life for our peoples.

28.With these few remarks I wish you success in your deliberations.

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