Date: 21/05/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki: AU meeting: 3rd Extra-ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, THABO MBEKI, AT THE 3rd EXTRA-ORDINARY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SESSION OF THE AFRICAN UNION, Sun City, 21 May 2003
Your Excellencies, Ministers,
Your Excellency, Mr Amara Essy,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of you to South Africa and this third Extra-Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council.
I am very happy that so many of you have come here, to help accelerate the pace of the important work that would ensure that we build strong structures and put together the necessary mechanisms so that our continental organisation, the African Union (AU), is better able to face the many challenges confronting all our countries and peoples.
Once again, this demonstrates your continued and abiding faith in, and commitment to, our continental body as well as your determination to strengthen our unity.
With just over a month left before the second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique, I am confident that this gathering will assist all of us to ensure that this important summit meeting takes us forward towards making the Union fully operational.
We have successfully concluded our business relating to the amendments to the Constitutive Act. I would like to thank all who made this possible. I am confident that the process has helped to improve the structures and processes of the Union, to prepare it to carry out its tasks more efficiently and effectively.
As we discuss the various issues on the agenda particularly the various Organs of the African Union, I am sure that we would be guided by the need to achieve the central objectives of this continental body, which are democracy, peace, stability, development and prosperity.
In this context, in considering the recommendations relating to the Commission, we will be mindful of the critical role of this institution as the engine that must ensure that our Union and continent move forward with the necessary speed and determination.
Further, we are aware that the Common African Defence and Security Policy will guide the work of the Peace and Security Council. As such, we need to take into account the already established common ground as reflected in existing instruments, treaties and agreements that have been signed and ratified.
These include work that we have done regarding such issues as those of terrorism, landmines, small arms as well as humanitarian law. At the same time, this gives us an opportunity and poses a challenge to this leadership to set new standards, not only for the continent and the African people, but also for the international community.
We also have an opportunity to discuss the operationalisation of the Peace and Security Council. I would like to thank those member states that have already ratified the protocol establishing this important structure and encourage those that are still in the process of doing so to do so without further delay.
In this regard, I trust that we will specifically consider the African Standby Force, which would be crucial to all future peace initiatives on the continent. As we know, the African Standby Force shall be established in order to enable the Peace and Security Council to perform its responsibilities with respect to the deployment of peace support missions and interventions pursuant to article 4(h) and (j) of the Constitutive Act.
All of us are aware of the challenges that face our continent with regard to peace and stability. We are aware of the debilitating negative consequences of conflicts and wars. We know that many of our countries are poor and underdeveloped partly because many of our people have seen too much conflict, death and displacement.
Accordingly, we are agreed that we must continue to spare no effort to banish forever the wars and conflicts that are a serious obstacle to our common programme for the development of our countries and continent.
We are indeed happy that we have made progress with regard to the conflicts in C
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki: AU meeting: 3rd Extra-ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, THABO MBEKI, AT THE 3rd EXTRA-ORDINARY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SESSION OF THE AFRICAN UNION, Sun City, 21 May 2003
Your Excellencies, Ministers,
Your Excellency, Mr Amara Essy,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of you to South Africa and this third Extra-Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council.
I am very happy that so many of you have come here, to help accelerate the pace of the important work that would ensure that we build strong structures and put together the necessary mechanisms so that our continental organisation, the African Union (AU), is better able to face the many challenges confronting all our countries and peoples.
Once again, this demonstrates your continued and abiding faith in, and commitment to, our continental body as well as your determination to strengthen our unity.
With just over a month left before the second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique, I am confident that this gathering will assist all of us to ensure that this important summit meeting takes us forward towards making the Union fully operational.
We have successfully concluded our business relating to the amendments to the Constitutive Act. I would like to thank all who made this possible. I am confident that the process has helped to improve the structures and processes of the Union, to prepare it to carry out its tasks more efficiently and effectively.
As we discuss the various issues on the agenda particularly the various Organs of the African Union, I am sure that we would be guided by the need to achieve the central objectives of this continental body, which are democracy, peace, stability, development and prosperity.
In this context, in considering the recommendations relating to the Commission, we will be mindful of the critical role of this institution as the engine that must ensure that our Union and continent move forward with the necessary speed and determination.
Further, we are aware that the Common African Defence and Security Policy will guide the work of the Peace and Security Council. As such, we need to take into account the already established common ground as reflected in existing instruments, treaties and agreements that have been signed and ratified.
These include work that we have done regarding such issues as those of terrorism, landmines, small arms as well as humanitarian law. At the same time, this gives us an opportunity and poses a challenge to this leadership to set new standards, not only for the continent and the African people, but also for the international community.
We also have an opportunity to discuss the operationalisation of the Peace and Security Council. I would like to thank those member states that have already ratified the protocol establishing this important structure and encourage those that are still in the process of doing so to do so without further delay.
In this regard, I trust that we will specifically consider the African Standby Force, which would be crucial to all future peace initiatives on the continent. As we know, the African Standby Force shall be established in order to enable the Peace and Security Council to perform its responsibilities with respect to the deployment of peace support missions and interventions pursuant to article 4(h) and (j) of the Constitutive Act.
All of us are aware of the challenges that face our continent with regard to peace and stability. We are aware of the debilitating negative consequences of conflicts and wars. We know that many of our countries are poor and underdeveloped partly because many of our people have seen too much conflict, death and displacement.
Accordingly, we are agreed that we must continue to spare no effort to banish forever the wars and conflicts that are a serious obstacle to our common programme for the development of our countries and continent.
We are indeed happy that we have made progress with regard to the conflicts in C
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
