STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE REGIONAL OVERSIGHT MECHANISM FOR THE PEACE, SECURITY AND COOPERATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE DRC AND THE REGION, ADDIS ABABA, 26 May 2013

Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the ICGLR and SADC,

Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you to the AU Commission on the occasion of the first meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Region that was signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February 2013.

Yesterday, we commemorated our fiftieth Anniversary. It was an important moment of reflection on our past and rededication to the future of Africa. Today is the first day of that future we have planned for Africa. Today we are making the first step towards Africa 2063.

Amongst our pledges for the future, we undertook not to bequeath wars to the next generation of Africans. The conflict in the Great Lakes, and finding lasting solutions, is therefore part of these first steps we must take into the future.

The signing of the Framework in February this year was an expression of our collective awareness, solidarity and a shared responsibility. It illustrated the commitment of all the countries of the region to make renewed efforts to peace and a better life for all the people of the region. It generated hope for a region that had more than its share of violence and conflict.

We therefore have to build on this in order to realize our shared goal of peace, security, stability and development in the Great Lakes Region. As we gather here today, I have no doubt that each of the leaders of the signatory countries would endeavor to fulfill the commitments made. In this respect, allow me to welcome the establishment, by the DRC authorities, of their National Oversight Mechanism.

On its part, the African Union will spare no efforts in supporting the regional efforts. The AU Peace and Security Council welcomed the signing of the Framework Agreement; and recently undertook a mission to the DRC, including the eastern part of the country, to assess the situation on the ground and determine support to the ongoing efforts in both the DRC and the region as a whole.

The African Union, notably through Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Ambassador Boubabacar Gaoussou Diarra, will continue to closely work with the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and the Southern African Development Community, as well as with the United Nations and other international stakeholders in a spirit of true partnership.
I congratulate Mme Mary Robinson on her appointment as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General. Her experience and commitment will undoubtedly contribute towards sustaining the momentum for peace and help mobilize international support.

Essentially, the objective of this meeting is to reach an understanding on a process for the development of benchmarks for the implementation of the Framework. It is also an opportunity for all signatory parties to update each other on the steps that have been taken since the signing of the Framework, in February 2013.

We are confident that we will emerge from this meeting with renewed determination and commitment to implement the Framework in letter and spirit.

In so doing, we must keep in mind the ultimate goal of all our interventions: to allow the people of the Great Lakes to live in harmony and peace, to use the proceeds from their natural resources to build infrastructure, social services and contribute towards a shared prosperity; to participate in development of their country. It is therefore critical that in all our endeavours, we involve women and youth, as drivers of peace, transformation and prosperity.

In conclusion, I would like to commend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his continued commitment to this process.