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Opening Remarks by H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace

Commissioner for Department for Rural Economy and Agriculture,

AMCEN Consultative Meeting in Preparation for UNFCCC COP 19

17th November 2013; 09:00 am – 04:30 pm
Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel
Warsaw, Poland

Honourable Minister of State-Environment in Tanzania, and the AMCEN President
Honourable Ministers of AMCEN Bureau
Executive Secretary of AMCEN
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by welcoming you and also conveying to you the warm greetings and best wishes from the Chairperson of the African Union, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Her Excellency Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, is not here with us much as she would have wished to come. She is aware of and appreciates the important role you are playing in advancing Africa’s common interests.

I would also like to register appreciation to UNEP and the AMCEN Secretariat and our other partners for the cooperation and collaboration with the African Union Commission and all the special efforts and hard work involved in convening this important meeting in preparation for the ongoing UNFCCC COP 19 here in Poland.

Excellences,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our meeting today is taking place just after the 5th AMCEN Special Session held in Gaborone, Botswana last Month, during which we discussed the preparation for the COP 19 and development of Flagship Programs.

Before that, in preparations for this COP 19, the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) met in New York on 24th September 2013 to ensure that Africa, as per our recent tradition, speaks with one voice, under the political leadership of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and, the current CAHOSCC Coordinator; and H.E. Minister of State-Environment in Tanzania, and the current AMCEN President.

CoP19 matters a lot to Africa. It is a critical juncture to strategize our common position at the ongoing negotiations of COP19 here in Warsaw, Poland, towards a fair agreement expected to be concluded in 2015 at COP 21 in Paris.

Excellences,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Part of our strategies include: maintaining our unity of purpose in the negotiations, having a stronger voice, and reaffirmation of Africa’s interests in the global negotiations.

Our discussion today is at the right moment for Africa to take stock of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Sustainable environmental management, and adaptation to, and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change are some of the areas that require our joint efforts.

Meantime, I urge our Developed Countries Partners to consider the plight of the teeming African populace most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and to take on more ambitious emission cuts for the Second Commitment Period and to further ensure the survival of Planet Earth from the different climate-related disasters. We treasure our partnerships with other regions of the world, we are keen to strengthen these partnerships and we wish to invoke their sense of solidarity in respect of this common cause against climate change.

Excellences,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Harnessing the opportunities offered by Pan Africanism strengthens our position in speaking with one voice and acting with a common sense of purpose in the global climate change negotiations here at COP 19. Pan Africanism is also very crucial for us to move together as a block looking forward to the global binding agreement.

African Renaissance on the other hand, gives us the sense of confidence that it is Africa’s turn to be a global force. That feeling of renewed confidence in our own capabilities will act as a stimulus in driving us towards the achievement of Africa’s Common Vision 2063 and we have to do everything possible to prevent climate change undermining this trajectory.

Excellences,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my conviction that the AMCEN has a critical role to play in steering the Ministerial process but also linking up with continental political engagements for effective synergies and drive to secure a fair Global climate change agreement. Unfortunately, the road ahead does not seem to be easy as we see limited commitment on the part of a number of State Parties and some recent pronouncements by some in the developed world have been disheartening.
In this regard, I wish to reassure you that the African Union Commission will continue to support AMCEN activities and African Group of Negotiators (AGN) towards promoting and strengthening African Common Position on Climate Change and in general, environmental sustainability on the continent and in marshalling partnerships to combat climate change and deal with its impacts.
For Africa, let us stay the course. We have more at stake than others.
Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind attention.

Statement of Libya during the Africa Arab Senior Officials Meeting , 14 November 2013

THIRD AFRICA-ARAB SUMMIT
SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING
14 - 15 NOVEMBER 2013
KUWAIT CITY, THE STATE OF KUWAIT

STATEMENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY JEAN-BAPTISTE NATAMA, CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS

KUWAIT CITY, STATE OF KUWAIT
14 NOVEMBER 2013

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a an honour and privilege for me to take the floor, on behalf of the African Union Commission and the Chairperson, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, at this opening ceremony of the meeting of Senior Officials which marks the beginning of the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit.

I am also delighted on this occasion to express my gratitude to the State of Kuwait for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the delegation of the African Union Commission since its arrival in this beautiful and marvelous Kuwait City, pearl of the Golf, whose charms no one can fail to recognise.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

During these two days, our meeting will examine a number of documents jointly prepared by the African Union and the League of Arab States for the Joint Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Africa and the Arab States.

These documents are:

 The joint activity report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States to which the matrix of actions proposed for strengthening the institutional capacity of the Africa-Arab partnership has been attached. I will have the honour of presenting it later during this meeting;

 The proposal for the rationalisation of the implementation and follow-up mechanisms of the Africa-Arab partnership;

 The report of the 2nd meeting of African and Arab Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, held in Riyad, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

 The proposal for the strengthening of cooperation in the area of migration;

 The report of the joint mission to review the performance of the Bamako Afro-Arab Cultural Institute;

 The proposal for the creation of a mechanism to fund Afro-Arab joint projects;

 The conclusions of the Africa-Arab Economic Forum held on 11 and 12 November 2013, which focused on the strengthening of the Africa-Arab Partnership in the areas of Trade and Investment;

 The Kuwait Declaration and the resolutions.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you may have observed, the meeting will consider a total of eight documents, three of which will be presented by the African Union Commission, three others by the League of Arab States, and the last two by the host country, as was agreed upon.

At this point, I wish to commend the spirit of collaboration and understanding that prevailed throughout the process for the preparation of documents for the Summit.

The commitment demonstrated by all is eloquent proof of our determination to take this partnership which links our two regions as far as possible, in order to generate dividends that are beneficial to our respective populations.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to conclude by expressing the hope that our deliberations will be fruitful, for I have no doubt that your discussions will be marked by the warmth and camaraderie that has always characterized our meetings.

I thank you for your kind attention.

ARAB – AFRICA ECONOMIC FORUM
“BEYOND PROMISES: MOVING FORWARD TOWARD AN EFFECTIVE AFRICA ARAB PARTNERSHIP”

HE Mrs. Rhoda Tumusiime

Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union (AU)/Chair of the Session on the Theme: Mutual Arab-African Cooperation in Food Security
during the Afrirca - Arab Economic Forum leading to the Third Africa – Arab Summit, 11-12 November, 2013

The Secretary General of the Arab League, H.E Mr. Nabil El Araby,
The Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, H.E Mr. Abdulwabab Al Bader,
Distinguished Representatives of Partner Organizations;
Honorable Ministers and Senior Officials and Experts of the League of Arab States and AU Member States;
Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
Invited Guests and Speakers,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Courtesies

I would like to add to the messages of all the previous speakers that conveyed appreciation to the leadership and people of Emirate of Kuwait, including the Kuwait Fund and also the Secretariat of the League of Arab States for organizing well the Arab – Africa Economic Forum on the Theme: “Beyond Promises: Moving toward and Effective Arab Africa Partnership” building up to the Third Africa-Arab Summit in a few days’ time.

Introduction

The theme of this Session which I am honored and pleased to chair is on Mutual Arab-African Cooperation in Food Security. It provides us an opportunity to discuss ways and means of enhancing cooperation within the context of Africa-Arab Partnership to accelerate investment towards ensuring that the populations of our respective regions enjoy a decent living with adequate food which is nutritionally secure and safe for health.

We are all aware that availing food will not necessarily mean that each and every person has to go to the field and cultivate; some will require purchasing power to access the food.

In order to attain this goal of a food and nutrition secure and poverty free populace for the two regions, we need to take advantage of the of the resources available from extensive arable land to large labour reserve offered by Africa and the financial and technical support coming from the Arab region.

As envisaged for this session, we can initially focus on three sectors, notably: crops, livestock and fisheries. In order to optimize mutual benefit for the people of our two regions, investment in these sectors should be based on comparative and competitive advantage of our regions and countries.

To this end, a lot of groundwork has been covered as evidenced by the deliberations and recommendations of the First Joint Africa-Arab Conference of Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt in 2010 and the Second Conference of the same Ministers held last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Areas of cooperation in food security have been agreed on through a robust process with the political level supported by the technical level.

In follow up, the African Union Commission and the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development have been coordinating the process since the Second Summit of Africa-Arab Heads of State and Government meeting in Sirte, Libya in 2010 agreed that a Joint Facilitation Unit be set up to take forward the areas related to agriculture and food security cooperation.

Three presentations on cereals, fisheries and livestock, which play an important role in our food security, will be made during the current session.

The three papers to be presented will inform us on the importance of how the promotion of: 1) production and supply of cereals; 2) the fisheries industry as well as 3) the livestock industry in Arab and African countries, can contribute to strengthening the mutual cooperation between Arab and African countries and open great possibilities for trade and economic development.

The African Union through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) considers these as critical.

The first presentation by Dr Mahmoud Elsohl, Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas will be followed by the presentation by Dr Tarek Ben Moussa Zadjali, Director General of the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and then by the presentation by Dr Hassane H. Mahamat, Coordinator of the African – Union Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC). The three presentations will show their complementarity for food and nutritional security and poverty eradication.

Bios
Dr Mahmoud Elsohl , International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), has a PhD , Genetics from the University of California , Davis. He recently stressed that "combining grain legumes and dryland cereals - both highly nutritious, drought-tolerant crops - in their diets are the best bets for smallholder farmers in marginal environments to achieve food and nutritional security and improve their livelihoods."

Dr Tarek Ben Moussa Zadjali is Director General of the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD) which was established in 1970, for coordination among Arab countries between their different policies in agriculture, natural and human resources as well as economic development, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a fully integrated Arab economies with the aim of achieving a fully integrated Arab economy union, and food self-sufficiency. Dr. Tarek is at the helm of this Organisation and we have been working closely in pursuit of our shared mandate.

Dr Hassane H. Mahamat, Coordinator of the African – Union Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC), a specialized technical office of the African Union.

Prof. Tandeka Nkiwane, Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency will be the discussant.
Let us now listen to our first speaker, Dr. Mahmoud Elsolh.

N.B Attached is the Forum endorsement of Resolution
Resolution on Mutual Arab African Cooperation in food security
Africa Arab Economic Forum, 11 – 12 November 2013, Kuwait

1. On Food Security

• The Forum resolves to endorse the Riyadh Resolution following the 2nd Africa Arab Ministerial Conference on Agriculture on Agricultural Development and Food Security held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2nd October 2013

• The Forum recommends supporting Research and Development in the area of food security. Africa Arab financial institutions need to enhance cooperate and invest in the sectors of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries to ensure that both regions will benefit from these areas in order to boost the availability of food in the regions through resolving the problems of production, productivity, diseases, and standards, among others.

2. On Cooperation in Implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Agricultural Development and Food Security in Africa and the Arab Region

The Forum calls upon African and Arab States to intensity their cooperation in the fields of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries through the development of Joint Africa Arab programmes/projects to increase investment and production of commodities and reinforce the establishment of the Joint Facilitation Unit.

3. On Investments

Public and private sectors should ensure complementarity in investments in the development of rural infrastructures (slaughter houses, storage facilities, roads, etc.) to improve the transformation of products and boost value addition for export market.

The Forum request the Arab Authority for Agriculture Development and Investment to widen its mandates and works in African countries

The Forum recommends feasibility studies to facilitate the establishment of Africa-Arab companies to collaborate in the establishment of commodities based systems.