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UNION AFR
RICAINE
AFR
RICAN UNIO
ON
U
UNIÃO AFR
RICANA
Addis Abab
ba, ETHIOPIA
A, P. O. Box 3243
3 Telephone +251 11
1 5517 700 Fax:
F +251-55
517844
we
ebsite: www
w.africa-union
n.org
STAT
TEMENT BY
Y
H.E. DR
R. JEAN PIING
CHA
AIRPERSO
ON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
A THE OPE
AT ENING SES
SSION OF
THE JOINT MEET
TING OF AFRICAN AN
ND ARAB MINISTERS
M S OF FOREIIGN AFFAIR
RS
SIRTE, LIBYA
A, 8 OCTOB
BER 2010
REVISED V
VERSION 6 OC
CTOBER 23H5
55 PM
YOUR EXCELLENCY THE SECRETARY OF THE PEOPLE’S
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN LIAISON AND INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION OF THE GREAT LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA,
YOUR EXCELLENCY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OUTGOING
CHAIRPERSON,
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,
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.
YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 2
5. Afro-Arab Cooperation is the oldest and indeed the first
cooperation arrangement that Africa entered into with its external
partners. It is a cooperation between two highly interrelated
peoples, 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 League
of 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.
wisdom, which have laid a strong foundation for the solidarity that
exists between our peoples and the respective Governments of our
two regions.
EXCELLENCIES,
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 this
environment, people to people interactions were not adequately
promoted and never created a better understanding and increase
in knowledge of each other’s realities.
10. Permit me also to mention, in this regard, the cold war and its
aftermath, 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.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 5
11. However, it is these same problems and challenges which now
compel us to bound together to overcome them effectively through
our collective actions, since no single country can manage them
single handedly.
12. In the past, we could only talk of limited initiatives such as the
exchange of political views and giving diplomatic support to each
other’s causes like the Palestinian issue and Africa’s 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.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 6
collaboration has ample room for much more support and
assistance in all the areas of engagement.
16. In the economic front, it has become clearer that Africa is the best
destination 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.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 7
17. At this stage, I wish to reiterate that Africa is a continent of great
opportunities. 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 world’s
demand for bauxite, cobalt, gold, manganese, phosphate and
uranium. Additionally, it supplies 57% of the world’s 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.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 8
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 that
offers the highest returns on investment.
EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
20. The potentials are enormous and the political will to accelerate
the cooperation is currently on the upbeat. What is needed now is
to focus our activities and select the most viable and feasible areas
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 9
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 2nd
Afro-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 the
draft Agenda of the Summit.
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 the
shortcomings observed in the past three decades.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 11
26. We in the African Union Commission are more than ready to
effectively implement the new Strategy and any other decisions
that come out of this meeting and the Summit for the interest and
benefit 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 lift
our 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.
JOINT MEETING OF ARAB AND AFRICAN MINISTERS Page 12