Date: 05/03/2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AU
STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, N'djamena, Chad, 5 March 2003
We would like to thank the President and the government of the people of the Republic of Chad for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us since our arrival and for giving us the opportunity to meet in their country.
We thank the Interim Chair of the Commission for all the work they have done so far in following up the structures of the AU. Last month we met in our capital for the Extraordinary Summit and in Paris for the Franco-Africa Summit both to strengthen the AU and its partnership with France. We have just returned from Malaysia for the Non-Aligned Movement Summit where we had to deal with problems facing all of us in developing countries. The question of peace and stability in the world loomed large in our deliberations. As a result some of our colleagues will join us later. Ambassador Djanit, the Interim Commissioner for Peace and Security and Political Affairs, has been asked by President Mbeki to lead an AU NEPAD delegation to attend a meeting of Heads of State special representatives in Berlin, so he will not be here with us.
Pushing back the frontiers of poverty was another major preoccupation. The poor of the world belong to Africa. As the rich become richer, Africans are becoming poorer. This widening gap is not only between the North and Africa but also within our own countries, the gap between the poor and the rich is widening. Therefore all the millions of our people look upon us, and the continental organisation to spare no effort to deliver them out of this crisis of poverty and underdevelopment. It is therefore critical that right at the beginning we set our organisation on a sound footing. Our Permanent Representatives have been grappling with issues such as contributions, scale of assessment, sound financial practices, the budget etc. These are fundamental to the activities of the AU. The satisfactory settlement of these matters will free us to deal with the socio-economic development and integration of our continent. If we are committed to pushing back the frontiers of poverty on our continent, we shall find it necessary and crucial to put up the necessary resources for the activities of our continental organisation.
Honourable Excellencies, it is also necessary that we put in place sound financial systems right at the inception of the African Union. I am sure that we are all aware that we have to contribute more to the AU that we did to the OAU for obvious reasons, but it would be preferable that we do that in the knowledge that we have put in place sound financial management. Your Excellencies, we should be prepared to build the necessary capacity in the Commission to ensure this.
The resolution of the matter of the scale of assessment of the AU is rather urgent. I need not remind my colleagues that the AU has a vastly expanded mandate from the AU, not to mention the pressing business of setting up the organs of the AU.
The developments regarding the relationship between the Regional Economic Communities and the AU is welcome as we will have to devote more attention to the socio-economic developments, the RECs are going to be the implementing organs of NEPAD and many other programmes that the AU engages in. At the same time, they will give us feedback on the developments in the regions.
The process of electing the Commission from regions, 16 candidates including women in the panel may also be useful when we develop consolidated responses to ACP EU, WTO and AGOA.
Honourable Excellencies and delegates, the coordination between Addis Ababa, Brussels and Geneva cannot be overemphasised.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a number of forthcoming events. Firstly, the Experts meeting on the development of a common African Defence and Security Policy in accordance with the decision of the Head of State in Durban last year. All member states are expected from 27 to 29 March 2003 in South Africa.
Lastly, it gives me great pleasure to remind the colleagues of the 3rd Extra-ordinary session of the Executive Council which will open on the 25th of May 2003, which is the 40th Anniversary of OAU Africa Day, to the 28th in Johannesburg and Sun City. The main agenda items will be 1. Common African Defence and Security
2. Discussion on the Diaspora
3. Follow-up on the Transitional issues in preparation of the Summit as well as any other matters arising.
Dear colleagues, it is clear that we have a considerable amount of work before the Assembly session in July at the Summit.
I hope that we shall continue with our work in a business - like but thorough manner and quality and efficiently conclude the matter before us.
I thank you!
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
5 March 2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AU
STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, N'djamena, Chad, 5 March 2003
We would like to thank the President and the government of the people of the Republic of Chad for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us since our arrival and for giving us the opportunity to meet in their country.
We thank the Interim Chair of the Commission for all the work they have done so far in following up the structures of the AU. Last month we met in our capital for the Extraordinary Summit and in Paris for the Franco-Africa Summit both to strengthen the AU and its partnership with France. We have just returned from Malaysia for the Non-Aligned Movement Summit where we had to deal with problems facing all of us in developing countries. The question of peace and stability in the world loomed large in our deliberations. As a result some of our colleagues will join us later. Ambassador Djanit, the Interim Commissioner for Peace and Security and Political Affairs, has been asked by President Mbeki to lead an AU NEPAD delegation to attend a meeting of Heads of State special representatives in Berlin, so he will not be here with us.
Pushing back the frontiers of poverty was another major preoccupation. The poor of the world belong to Africa. As the rich become richer, Africans are becoming poorer. This widening gap is not only between the North and Africa but also within our own countries, the gap between the poor and the rich is widening. Therefore all the millions of our people look upon us, and the continental organisation to spare no effort to deliver them out of this crisis of poverty and underdevelopment. It is therefore critical that right at the beginning we set our organisation on a sound footing. Our Permanent Representatives have been grappling with issues such as contributions, scale of assessment, sound financial practices, the budget etc. These are fundamental to the activities of the AU. The satisfactory settlement of these matters will free us to deal with the socio-economic development and integration of our continent. If we are committed to pushing back the frontiers of poverty on our continent, we shall find it necessary and crucial to put up the necessary resources for the activities of our continental organisation.
Honourable Excellencies, it is also necessary that we put in place sound financial systems right at the inception of the African Union. I am sure that we are all aware that we have to contribute more to the AU that we did to the OAU for obvious reasons, but it would be preferable that we do that in the knowledge that we have put in place sound financial management. Your Excellencies, we should be prepared to build the necessary capacity in the Commission to ensure this.
The resolution of the matter of the scale of assessment of the AU is rather urgent. I need not remind my colleagues that the AU has a vastly expanded mandate from the AU, not to mention the pressing business of setting up the organs of the AU.
The developments regarding the relationship between the Regional Economic Communities and the AU is welcome as we will have to devote more attention to the socio-economic developments, the RECs are going to be the implementing organs of NEPAD and many other programmes that the AU engages in. At the same time, they will give us feedback on the developments in the regions.
The process of electing the Commission from regions, 16 candidates including women in the panel may also be useful when we develop consolidated responses to ACP EU, WTO and AGOA.
Honourable Excellencies and delegates, the coordination between Addis Ababa, Brussels and Geneva cannot be overemphasised.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a number of forthcoming events. Firstly, the Experts meeting on the development of a common African Defence and Security Policy in accordance with the decision of the Head of State in Durban last year. All member states are expected from 27 to 29 March 2003 in South Africa.
Lastly, it gives me great pleasure to remind the colleagues of the 3rd Extra-ordinary session of the Executive Council which will open on the 25th of May 2003, which is the 40th Anniversary of OAU Africa Day, to the 28th in Johannesburg and Sun City. The main agenda items will be 1. Common African Defence and Security
2. Discussion on the Diaspora
3. Follow-up on the Transitional issues in preparation of the Summit as well as any other matters arising.
Dear colleagues, it is clear that we have a considerable amount of work before the Assembly session in July at the Summit.
I hope that we shall continue with our work in a business - like but thorough manner and quality and efficiently conclude the matter before us.
I thank you!
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
5 March 2003
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