Issued by: Office of the Prsidency
2 September 2002
Your Excellency President Chissano, President of Mozambique and Vice Chair of the African Process and Chairperson of this event;
Your Excellency President Wade, the President of the Republic of Senegal, and Coordinator of the Environment Initiative for the New Partnership for Africa's Development;
Your Excellency President Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Organiser of the Final Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Partnership Conference;
Your Excellencies;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
All United Nations Agencies;
Members of the Donor Community;
Civil Society and Private Sector Representatives;
Members of the Media;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the government and President Mbeki, to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and in particular this Partnership Conference on the African Process for the Development and Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
I am delighted that our deliberations here today will entail the development of a second round of project proposals to extend this African Process beyond the current participating countries.
I can think of no better occasion to hold the Partnership Conference than as part of the WSSD. I don't think we are here simply to point out Africa's plight to others.
Rather, we are showcasing our commitment to doing something about it ourselves, and exemplifying our determination to map out our own destiny.
It is also another opportunity to influence this global agenda, in particular on issues pertaining to Africa's coastal and marine resources.
I believe that there are tremendous opportunities for African States to address some of the thorny issues hampering poverty eradication and sustainable development on our continent.
The role that the Marine and Coastal environment can play in addressing some of the underlying causes of poverty, food and economic security cannot be over emphasised.
Today is yet another opportunity to agree on practical mechanisms, with achievable timeframes involving all stakeholders, to implement a practical plan of action. Given the achievements of the African Process since its inception, I have no doubt that this Partnership initiative will grow from strength to strength.
The Organisation for African Unity, now the AU, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, the African Process itself and numerous other fora have provided the necessary platforms for the political endorsement at the highest level of all the activities that we are involved in on this continent.
We know that the political will exists to address the multitude of problems facing Africa, therefore the involvement of the current governments in this process and the endeavours to extend it beyond the current participating countries, demonstrates that Africa is serious about her own development.
I am therefore delighted to share my observation with you that this African Process is another example of how we as Africans are taking responsibility for our own future and our continent as this process has progressed from mere words and resolutions to concrete actions.
Let me take this opportunity to extend our gratitude for the significant monetary contribution provided by the Global Environment Facility and other partners to initiate the technical implementation of the African Process.
Furthermore I would like to acknowledge the role played by the implementing agents, the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, as well as the experts, national and regional co-ordinators and consultants in ensuring the success of the African Process.
It is gratifying to note that the ministerial colleagues have committed themselves and worked relentlessly in an unselfish manner to make this process a success.
The African Process does not come to an end at this Partnership Conference. In addition, the fact that both the political will, together with the willingness of all stakeholders is there to take this process forward, we need to sustain this enthusiasm so that the second cycle of the African Process can achieve similar or even better results.
In our efforts to unite Africa, let us extend the scope of this process and make it continent wide to include all African countries.
In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to extend the gratitude of President Mbeki and our people, to all the participating countries for entrusting this African Process to the leadership of South Africa and our neighbour, Mozambique.
This was yet another opportunity for us as Africans to work together to achieve a common objective, which proved to be successful. Once again welcome and all of the best with your deliberations here today. I now declare this conference officially open, and wish the meeting well in all deliberations.
I thank you