Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
15 May 2001
Pretoria, South Africa 11 May 2001
1. A meeting of the Ministers and other Representatives of the countries of the Region and the OAU Troika was convened in Pretoria, South Africa, on 11 May 2001, to review the situation in the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros since the signing, on 17 February 2001, of the Framework Agreement for Reconciliation in the Comoros.
2. The meeting was chaired by Honourable N.C. Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, and was attended by:
a. H.E. Mrs. Lila Ratsifandrihamanana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Madagascar;
b. H.E. Mr. A.K. Gayan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Co-operation, Republic of Mauritius;
c. Hon. S.K. Walubita, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia;
d. H.E. Mr. Hipolito Patricio, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Republic of Mozambique;
e. Amb. H.O. Kibelloh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, United Republic of Tanzania;
f. H.E. Mr. Noureddine Djoudi, Ambassador of Algeria to South Africa;
g. H.E. Mr. Kati Ohara Korga, Ambassador of the Republic of Togo in Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative of Togo to the OAU;
h. H.E. Prof. Ciarunji Chesaina, High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to South Africa.
3. The delegation of the OAU General Secretariat was led by Ambassador Said Djinnit, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, and included Hon. Francisco Madeira, Special Envoy of the Secretary General to the Comoros.
4. A Comorian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Mr. Mohamed El Amine Souef, attended the meeting and exchanged views with the Ministers and Heads of delegation.
5. The meeting reviewed the situation in the Comoros in the light of the Report of the Secretary General on the situation in the Comoros. Additional briefing was given by the Assistant-Secretary General for Political Affairs and the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to the Comoros.
6. The meeting recalled the talks held by the Ministers of the countries of the Region and the OAU Troika on the margins of the 73rd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers, as well as Council's decision on the Comoros, welcoming the signing in Moheli, on 17 February 2001, of the Framework Agreement for Reconciliation in the Comoros, and commending the Comorian parties, namely the Government and the political forces supporting it in Moheli and in Grande Comore, the Authority of Anjouan, the opposition and the civil society in the Archipelago for their commitment to and determination for a successful conclusion of the negotiations. In that decision, Council also decided, in view of the signing of the Framework Agreement and the progress made in the search for a solution, to immediately suspend the measures taken by the OAU against the leaders of the Anjouanese Movement, it being understood that the measures would be lifted definitively upon the establishment of the Transitional National Union Government provided for in the Framework Agreement.
7. The meeting reaffirmed that the Framework Agreement remained the only viable and consensual basis for the attainment of genuine reconciliation among the people of the Comoros and a lasting solution to the crisis in the Archipelago and appealed to all the parties to continue to honour their commitment.
8. The meeting expressed concern about the recent developments in the Comoros, which threatened to derail the reconciliation process and impede the implementation of the Framework Agreement. These developments concern specifically the lack of funds to finance the implementation process and economic recovery, as well as the decision by the Anjouanese party to suspend its participation in the Follow-up Committee. In this regard, the meeting welcomed the statement made by the Comorian delegation which announced the resumption by the Anjouanese party of its participation in the implementation process of the Framework Agreement and the disposition of the Comorian parties to persevere in their efforts to implement the Framework Agreement and respect the timetable.
9. After a lengthy exchange of views on the situation in the Comoros, and following consultation with the delegation of the Comorian Government, the meeting reiterated OAU's commitment to continue to support the efforts of the Comorian parties to find a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in the country, on the basis of the respect for unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros, an all-inclusive process and the return to constitutional order. It stressed its determination to assist in the implementation of the Framework Agreement in a faithful manner and in accordance with the decision on the Comoros adopted by the 73rd ordinary session of Council of Ministers, which met in Tripoli, Libya, from 24 to 26 February 2001.
10. The meeting also took note of the appeal made by the Comorian delegation for financial assistance to enable a smooth implementation of the Framework Agreement in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement. It further welcomed the message addressed to the meeting by the Chairman of the follow-up Committee.
11. The meeting appealed to OAU Member States and the International Community to extend financial assistance to sustain the implementation of the Framework Agreement through a contribution to the OAU Peace Fund. In this respect, it took note with satisfaction of the decision of the Secretary General to provide financial assistance towards the implementation of the Framework Agreement and for humanitarian assistance for Anjouan. It also expressed its gratitude to the Governments of Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa, for their financial contribution to the implementation process and humanitarian assistance.
12. The meeting stressed the importance of providing socio-economic support to the Comoros and appealed to the United Nations agencies, the European Union, and the international financial community, notably the African Development Bank (ADB), the Arab Bank for the Development of Africa (BADEA), the Bretton Woods institutions, the Islamic Development Bank, as well as to bilateral donors, to give all the necessary financial assistance for the speedy recovery of the Comorian economy. It requested the Secretary General, in close co-operation with the Government of Mauritius, to accelerate the necessary consultations and prepare for the convening in Mauritius, as soon as possible, of the donors' conference for the Comoros.
13. The meeting also mandated South Africa to initiate discussions with the government of France and other potential donors, with a view to accelerating the release of funds for the socio-economic development of the Comoros.
14. The meeting decided to recommend to the forthcoming session of the Council of Ministers, the lifting of the measures taken by the OAU against the leaders of the Anjouanese Movement, in conformity with the Tripoli Decision of Council and on the basis of the progress made in the implementation of the Framework Agreement.
15. In view of the need to safeguard the climate of trust and spearhead the ongoing reconciliation process, the meeting decided to dispatch a Ministerial delegation of the countries of the Region and the OAU Troika to the Comoros as soon as possible, to provide moral support and encouragement to the Comorian parties, and requested the Secretary General to make the necessary arrangements to this effect.
16. The meeting also decided to remain actively seized with the matter.
17. Finally, the meeting expressed its appreciation and gratitude to the South African Government for its generous hospitality and the excellent facilities it has made available for the success of this meeting.