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Remarks by the Chairperson of the Commission on the 7th consultative meeting between the members of the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union

Members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union,
Members of the United Nations Security Council,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me a pleasure to address this joint consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. This gathering is a further testimony of the growing partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. I have no doubt that your meeting will agree on further steps aimed at enhancing the relationship between the two organs. Indeed, our capacity to meet the ever complex and changing peace and security challenges confronting the African continent is contingent upon our commitment to work together and the judicious combination of our respective comparative advantages.

In welcoming you in Addis Ababa, I would like to express our gratitude to the Security Council for its support to African endeavors. Over the years, our partnership has enabled us to make strides in our quest for lasting solutions to the conflicts and crises that continue to afflict the continent. I can point to the significant gains recorded in Somalia thanks to the invaluable support extended by the UN, in the relations between Sudan and South Sudan, in the Great Lakes region and in Mali.
Today's meeting provides an opportunity to exchange views on all these situations, and to discuss how best to consolidate the progress achieved. Indeed, we cannot relent, as the path towards lasting peace and stability requires a long-term investment to address the root causes of violence. We should continue to urge the concerned stakeholders to persevere in their efforts and continue to demonstrate the necessary resolve and political commitment. We should ensure that peace dividends swiftly materialize to provide further incentive for peace. We should be firm with spoilers to prevent the reversal of hard-won gains and the relapse into violence.
While the progress made is undeniable, Africa continues nonetheless to grapple with serious peace and security challenges. These range from inter-State conflicts, some of which have so far defied all attempts at peacemaking, to internal crises, many of which are linked to governance problems, to organized crime and terrorism, as so tragically highlighted by the cowardly attack against the west gate shopping mall in Nairobi.
Overcoming these challenges would require more sustained efforts from the continent and its political leaders, concrete steps to improve compliance with relevant instruments of the AU, and addressing the developmental needs of our people, a greater willingness to compromise from the parties involved, and an enhanced partnership with the rest of the international community in support of African-led initiatives.
I am glad that the issue of the enhancement of the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations features on your agenda. It my earnest hope that your discussions will mark another step forward in the building of an innovative and flexible relationship based on a creative reading of the provisions of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. Two weeks ago, the Peace and Security Council, meeting in New York at the level of the Heads of State and Government, reviewed in-depth the African Union-United Nations partnership. It formulated a number of proposals on the way forward. On my part, I note with satisfaction that the Peace and Security Council intends to convene regular meetings in Addis Ababa with the Security Council members to exchange on issues of common concern. I look forward to the early implementation of this decision.
As we meet here, nowhere on the continent is the need for a forward looking partnership more relevant than in the Central African Republic. The dire security and humanitarian situation prevailing in that country for a swift and coordinated United Nations response, notably through flexible, predictable and sustainable support to AFISM-CAR, to enable the early deployment of the Mission and the creation of the required conditions for a follow on United Nations operation.. In this respect, we look forward to the early adoption by the Security Council of the resolution on the matter submitted by France.
I thank you and wish you successful deliberations.

Opening Remarks by the Commissioner H.E. Martial De-Paul IKOUNGA during the Fifth African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST V) 1 – 4 October 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Statement Delivered by H.E. Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peaceو Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission on the occasion of The Second Joint Conference of Africa-Arab Ministers of Agriculture, October 2, 2013, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Our Host, Honourable Dr. Fahad Bin Abdul Rahman Balghunaim, Minister of Agriculture, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Outgoing Chair, Honourable Ayman Abou Hadid, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, The Arab Republic of Egypt

YE. Ambassador Dr. Mohammed bin Abraham Al Twaijri, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of the League of Arab States

Honourable Ministers from African and Arab States

Distinguished Heads of Delegations

Dear Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All protocol observed.

It is an honour for me to address you on behalf of the African Union Commission during this Opening Session of the 2nd Africa Arab Ministerial Meeting on Agricultural Development and Food Security.

I wish to bring to you warm greetings and best wishes from H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Let me, from the outset, express our profound gratitude to the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously hosting this important Conference and for the warm welcome, generous hospitality and the excellent facilities accorded to us to make our stay and our Conference enjoyable and fruitful.

I also wish to extend our appreciation to our partners, the League of Arab States, for their good will and partnership in furtherance of our shared interests in the area of agriculture and food security.

I would like to salute Honourable Ministers present at this Conference, from both Africa and Arab regions, for remarkable commitment as demonstrated by your prioritization of this Conference out of your busy schedules.

Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

The global challenges that we are currently facing pose serious concerns that make it absolutely imperative for us to rethink the priorities of development. The high population growth rate, the fast rate of urbanization, the changing patterns of consumption, the environmental challenges, and so on, that our two regions are currently experiencing demand that we embark on a development trajectory that accelerates transformation of strategic sectors as well as building strategic partnerships.

The African Union and its Member States have reaffirmed that sustainable agricultural growth; food and nutrition security concerns should be effectively and properly addressed to meet the challenges of transformation and development. This commitment is demonstrated by the formulation, adoption and subsequent rolling out of an overarching continental framework, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), that guides strategies, policies, programmes and collective actions to enhance agricultural development and achieve food and nutrition security objectives. CAADP has stood out as a powerful instrumental in terms of aligning and harmonizing the efforts of AU Member States as well as harnessing and mobilizing strategic partnerships around a shared vision and principles of mutual accountability for results and impacts. Key among the lessons that we have drawn from a decade of experimentation with CAADP implementation is that we should sustain the momentum in making use of CAADP to deepen partnerships to unleash our potential to meet the aspirations of our people for prosperity.

Partly because of the emphasis that our Member States have placed on agriculture, the growth performance of African countries whose economies are predominantly agricultural has been impressive over the last decade. Today, some of the fastest growing economies in the world are on the African continent, some of them not even producing oil. This fact is generating its own dynamics in terms of jobs, incomes and wellbeing and, indeed, in changing the patterns of trade and investment in Africa, a continent on the rise and a dynamic force on the global arena.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

African agriculture and, in particular the food sector, offers a huge potential for trade and investment. In fact, over the last few years, the flow of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa has been fast growing. At the same time, we take note of the fact that the level of Arab investment in African agriculture has been increasing but could be much higher than what it is today. And, there is ample evidence that we can make the Africa-Arab Cooperation a powerful instrument to enhance trade and investment to the desired levels that match the strong cultural ties, the geographic proximity and the tremendous potential that exist within our regions.

It is in this context that the theme of this Conference, “Strengthening Africa-Arab Cooperation through Promoting Sustainable Investment in Agriculture and Food Security in the Context of Joint Action Plan” is both timely and relevant. It is also taking place within the Year of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, the Theme of OAU/AU 50th Anniversary and is also part of the prelude to 2014 The AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security.

In this respect, the situation calls for us to seize all available opportunities to ensure that the mutually agreed-upon plans are implemented, despite some difficulties being faced. It is critical that we strengthen the mechanisms that facilitate effective implementation and monitoring of progress in a more vigorous and coordinated fashion. The speedy operationalization of the Facilitation Unit that we jointly established is of paramount importance, and I would like to reiterate the commitment of the African Union Commission to take concrete steps in this direction. We look to you, Honourable Ministers, for leadership in ensuring implementation in your respective countries.

I am sure that our senior officials have done a wonderful job of reviewing the progress made thus far within our partnership, as well as formulating proposals for Honourable Ministers’ consideration and further guidance in expediting the implementation of the Joint Action Plan that the First Joint Ministerial Conference adopted in Sharm El Sheikh in 2010 and was subsequently endorsed by the Africa-Arab Summit.

I wish you productive deliberations and thank you for your attention.

Welcome Remarks by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
at the Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, USA

Office of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, 305 East 47th Street, 5th Floor, New York, USA

24 September 2013

Your Excellency, Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Coordinator of CAHOSCC
Your Excellency, Ato Haile-Mariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union
Excellences, Members of CAHOSCC
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome You Excellences to the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) convening here in New York at the AU Office of the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations.

I would like to convey the AU Commission’s tribute for all the efforts of the late Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, who was the former CAHOSCC Coordinator, in supporting the interests of Africa on climate change. Our gratitude extends to H.E Prime Minister Haile-Mariam Dessalegn for successfully steering the transition.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to refer to the Kampala July 2010 AU Summit decision, which endorsed the recommendations of CAHOSCC on the streamlined single negotiation structure at the Ministerial and Experts’ levels, with a view to ensure African effective coordination of the negotiation on climate change of the UNFCCC and for Africa to speak with one voice.

By convening our meeting here today, CAHOSCC moreover is implementing another decision taken by the 20th AU Ordinary Session held in January 2013 in Addis Ababa, on the coordination of CAHOSCC and Africa’s preparation for COP 19 of the UNFCCC due in Warsaw, Poland, in November 2013.

Given the seriousness of the climate change challenges, developed countries that are historically responsible for this dangerous externality should provide compensation for the damage to Africa caused by global warming. This is particularly, given the fact that despite contributing virtually nothing to global warming, Africa has been one of the primary victims of its consequences as the most vulnerable continent. The AU Assembly, therefore, decided that Africa should be represented by one delegation, which is empowered to negotiate on behalf of all Member States, with the mandate to ensure that the resource flow to Africa is not reduced.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my sincere hope that the efforts of today’s session will boost Africa’s demand for significantly scaled up financial resources to address climate change impacts. In particular, I call upon the developed countries to honor their financial commitments to Africa.

In addition to enhancing the flow of financial resources to Africa, developed countries must also double their efforts to address the root cause of the problem. They must urgently commit themselves to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Scientific Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Irrespective of whether advanced developing countries agree to emissions reductions that are binding, developed countries must take the lead and agree to ambitious emission cuts. The action of developed countries to cut emissions must therefore be in line with increase of engagement on their part to support Africa’s programs on mitigation and adaptation.

I am sure that Africa’s Common Position on climate change and negotiations strategies will be updated, consolidated, and championed by CAHOSCC and all Africa’s technical negotiators, under the political leadership of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and, the current CAHOSCC Coordinator.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The African Union attaches considerable importance to the issue of climate change because its impacts threaten to undo Africa’s development efforts. I would like therefore to assure Your Excellences of the commitment of the AU Commission to support the African Group in the global climate change negotiations with a view to realize a successful deal for Africa at COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland in November 2013, as we move towards COP 21 in Paris, France.

I thank you all for your kind attention, and also wish you fruitful deliberations!