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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,

1. It is my honour and privilege to address you today on the occasion


of 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 to


H.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 the
convening of this meeting, and indeed the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit, a
reality.

4. My appreciations also go to all other African and Arab


personalities, countries and Institutions that made contributions
towards 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 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.

6. Cognizant of these realities, the African Heads of State and


Government, 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 the


foresightedness 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 to


institutionalize 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 further
accentuated 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 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.

9. These internal problems were further compounded by external


factors 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 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.

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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.

13. Although these initiatives are laudable and encouraging, it is


however 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-Arab


Cooperation 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 member


States 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 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.

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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.

18. Whatever success we achieve in fighting and overcoming our


challenges 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 that
offers the highest returns on investment.

19. Furthermore, as Africa’s population continues to grow, the size of


its market also increases and could reach about 1, 4 billion
consumers by 2020/2025. By 2050 Africa may have a population of
2 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 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

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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 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.

22. The new Afro-Arab Partnership Strategy, subject to its adoption


by the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit, is intended to replace the Program
of Action on Afro-Arab Cooperation adopted by the historic first
Afro-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 Excellencies’


consideration 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 the
shortcomings observed in the past three decades.

24. The Strategy is accompanied by a Joint Plan of Action which


focuses on the most viable and feasible areas for accelerating Afro-
Arab Partnership in the first six years (2011 – 2016). The Sectoral
Action 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 and
Cultural Cooperation are also elaborated.

25. The Plan is open for modification and inclusion of activities in


other 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 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.

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