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Remarks by H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union at the 24th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union

27 January 2014
Addis Ababa
Excellencies Ministers,
Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Excellency Dr. Carlos Lopes, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNECA,
Distinguished Delegates,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me, once again, welcome you all to Addis Ababa for the 24th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union. I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Permanent Representatives Committee for preparing the ground work to facilitate the smooth conduct of our session. I would also like to register my appreciation to Chairperson Zuma and her team as well as the entire staff of the Commission for their hard work.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year we lost a world giant - the late President Nelson Mandela. No word can explain our admiration for his life long struggle for freedom. His important thoughts and philosophies on freedom, justice, peace, equality, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity represent a significant gift not only to the people of South Africa but to humanity as a whole.
Nelson Mandela was indeed a great statesman who will continue to inspire current and future generations in Africa and beyond as we strive to build a better future - a peaceful and prosperous world. We could only honour his remarkable legacy by remaining true to those values that he struggled for throughout his life.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we start the New Year with a great sense of hope and optimism for the peace and stability as well as the development and prosperity of our continent, Madiba's words of wisdom will continue to guide us. This is what he had stated in his first address, as the President of Post-Apartheid South Africa, during the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU held in Tunis in 1994 and I quote:
"...Thus do we give reason to the peoples of the world to say of Africa that she will never know stability and peace, that she will never experience development and growth, that her children will forever be condemned to poverty and dehumanization and that we shall for ever be knocking on somebody`s door pleading for a slice of bread?
We know it is a matter of fact that we have it in ourselves as Africans to change all this. We must, in action, assert our will to do so. We must, in action, say that there is no obstacle big enough to stop us from bringing about a new African renaissance."

This is indeed the spirit that we should all embrace - a can do spirit to overcome the challenges facing our continent and strive for the realization of what we all dream about - the African Renaissance. This was indeed a major topic of our discussion during the first Ministerial Retreat that I was honoured to host in Bahir Dar over the last couple of days and I wish to once again express my satisfaction with the outcome of the Retreat.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Unfortunately, we are meeting against the backdrop of a deteriorating peace and security situation in our continent as a result of what has been unfolding in South Sudan and Central African Republic. The situation in these two sisterly countries has indeed been very alarming and there is no justification for the continuation of the crises in both places even for a day. Unless we find urgent solution, the situation in these two countries will have serious implications for peace and security in the region and indeed the whole continent. The fact that these humanitarian tragedies are unfolding in the two countries at a time when we are talking about African renaissance must be painful to all of us. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to help these two African States in restoring peace and stability and addressing their internal challenges.
With regard to the situation in South Sudan, I would like to congratulate the Government and the opposition for signing the Agreements on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Question of detainees. No doubt the problem cannot be resolved through the barrel of the gun. Therefore, I wish to reiterate our call for both parties to fully implement these two vital documents and continue to cooperate, without any preconditions, with the IGAD mediation team to address the root causes of the crisis. The current situation in South Sudan is a reflection of the challenges that face a post-conflict state and needs to be handled with a lot of wisdom and magnanimity. We all know that the people of this sisterly African State has paid tremendous sacrifices over the last decades and the South Sudanese political actors should rise above their individual interest to save the country from falling into the precipice.
It is imperative that the parties should continue to demonstrate the necessary political leadership and compromise so that the peace process initiated by IGAD and supported by the African Union, the United Nations and all other international partners succeeds. Let me underscore here that the rest of the international community should continue to put its weight behind the regional effort to find a peaceful solution to the situation in South Sudan. I cannot overemphasize the need for unity of purpose among all of us and the international community at large in sending the same message to all the South Sudanese stakeholders so as to achieve the desired result. Of course, this needs to be done in words and deeds.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The situation in Central African Republic remains a matter of concern particularly the senseless violence that has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population. Hence, it was crucial to take urgent action to avert the further escalation of the peace and security situation in that country. In this regard, I welcome the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 2127 (2013), which authorized the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Central African Republic (MISCA) for a period of 12 months. I also wish to note with satisfaction the transfer of authority from the ECCAS Peace Consolidation Mission in Central African Republic (MICOPAX) to MISCA which took effect on 19 December 2013.
We are all aware of the daunting challenges ahead of MISCA in terms of assisting Central African Republic in restoring peace and security and ensuring a successful transition towards a constitutional order in that country. The international community should remain fully committed to support this fragile state in its herculean task of stabilizing itself and organizing elections to ensure a successful political transition.
In this regard, we have been following the latest development in that country and we welcome the outcome of the ECCAS Summit that took place in Ndjamena on 9 January 2014. I also wish to note the resignation of the Interim President and Prime Minister and the election of H.E. Ms. Catherine Samba-Panza as the new President of the transition.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

With regard to Africa's relation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Ministerial Contact Group established pursuant to the decision of the extraordinary Summit held on 12 October 2013, undertook the necessary consultations with all members of the United Nations Security Council individually and collectively to push forward Africa's case. The Contact Group emphatically argued that the cases before the ICC do not solely concern the respected countries alone but have wider ramifications for peace and security in our continent.
The group also made it abundantly clear that the Council has the primary responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter. Furthermore, in line with article 16 of the Rome Statute, the Council has been bestowed with the power to differ cases before the ICC for twelve months or one year. Therefore, the Group conveyed Africa's request for deferral of the cases.
African members of the Council were entrusted to craft a resolution in line with the Assembly decision of 12 October 2013, and table it for discussion at the Council. However, it is regrettable to note that some members of the Council decided to stand on the wrong side of history by rejecting the legitimate request made by Africa.
I hope the Assembly will thoroughly deliberate on the implementation of its decision on Africa's relation with the ICC based on the report of the Commission and chart a way forward. The report details the work of the Ministerial Contact Group and Africa's participation in the 12th Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC.
It also includes the outcome of the brainstorming session organized by the Commission on the broad areas of the international criminal justice system, peace, justice and reconciliation as well as the impact of the ICC in Africa and the recommendations made on ways and means of strengthening African mechanisms to deal with African challenges and problems.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to note that Africa's economic prospect remains strong. There is, however, a clear need to sustain the continent's high growth trajectory over the coming years and decades so as to lift millions of our people out of poverty and ensure sustainable development. That is why we need to bring about structural transformation by promoting economic diversification and industrialization with a view to ensuring inclusive growth and creating jobs for the unemployed youth.
That is precisely what the strategic plan that was adopted by the 21st session of the Assembly in May 2013, seeks to achieve over the short and medium term – laying the foundation for the transformation of our continent. We will certainly have the opportunity to examine the progress made in the implementation of the strategic plan based on the report that the Chairperson of the Commission will present to us covering the past one year.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you can see from our agenda, we have quite a number of issues that we are expected to address in the coming two days. I, therefore, count on your support so that we could be able to finalize our work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
I conclude my remarks by wishing you a productive and enjoyable stay in Addis Ababa.
I thank you
Dates:
Jan.27.2014

Excellency Maky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal,
Excellencies heads of state and government,
Excellency Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD
Ladies and gentlemen

First and foremost, on behalf of the African Union, the Government and People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, I would like to welcome you all to Addis Ababa and extend my best wishes for a productive 30th session of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Maky Sall for his leadership and commitment. It is also my hope and expectation that in this session we will be able to raise a number of issues of far-reaching importance to our continent in the context of the priority areas of NEPAD and take stock of the challenges we have and continue to face in our collective efforts to carry through the implementation of our continent-level programmes.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

NEPAD has undoubtedly transformed the global debate about Africa by putting front and center the notion of the need for the continent to forge mutually beneficial partnership with the developed and emerging nations. It was due in large part to the principled position of the NEPAD leadership of the last decade or so that Africa was able to articulate its common stance on issues of governance and development and pursue a path of global partnership that primarily focuses on finding ways and means of making the best out of the continent’s factor endowments and other opportunities in a strict departure from engagements that had otherwise consigned Africa a net recipient of foreign aid without any meaningful say whatsoever on its priorities. The journey of the last decade has indeed been particularly rewarding for Africa though, obviously, a lot remains to be done in this regard.

That is of course why we should continue to further enhance Africa’s collective endeavor to find ways and means to address the seemingly perennial economic, social and political challenges that our continent faces and do so in a manner that will ensure the promotion of the interest of our peoples. Among the many issues that we will address this morning, the question of how to make good on our commitment to enhance infrastructural integration throughout Africa will undoubtedly be of utmost priority.

It is important that we look into the progress made on the NEPAD initiatives such as the Presidential Infrastructure Initiatives (PICI). This session will also provide us with the opportunity to hear the 2013 activity based report and look into the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan of the NEPAD Agency. I would like to take this opportunity to thank on behalf of myself and of the AU Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency, for his excellent leadership and exemplary commitment.

Excellencies heads of state and government,
Ladies and gentlemen

Another Important issue to be addressed is an assessment of the impact and future of Africa’s partnership engagements with our traditional partners as well as emerging ones. In doing so, it is important that we are mindful of the need to remain focused on making the best out of our partnerships and the promotion of the interest of our continent as an absolute priority. It is therefore imperative that we improve on past weaknesses while building on our achievements. In this regard, the need to bring on board newly emerging players whose partnership would go a long way in further solidifying the gains that NEPAD has made possible for the continent cannot be overemphasized.

While appraising and taking stock of the progress thus far made, we should also focus on unblocking policy, legislative and regulatory challenges that are standing in the way of enhancing investment in infrastructure. Attention also needs to be paid to the issue of mobilizing domestic financial resources in our quest to realize the ambitious infrastructure development goals that we have set ourselves. We will hear from distinguished personalities on how best to address these and other challenges. It is my hope and expectation that we will conclude this session more invigorated, more enlightened and with a measure of clarity about our objectives.

As I conclude, I would like to once again thank all those who have done their best to keep NEPAD ever more focused on its priorities. It is my hope and wish that we have productive deliberations.

I thank you.

Statement by HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to the Twenty-second Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government

30 January 2014
Addis Ababa

Your Excellency, Hailemariam Desaglen, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union;
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the African Union;
Your Excellency, Mr. Laurent Lamothe, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti;
Your Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations;
Your Excellency, Dr. Carlos Lopez, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa;
Excellencies, Members of the Executive Council and other Ministers present;
Your Excellency, Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Mwencha and fellow Commissioners;
Your Excellencies, Heads of AU Organs, and other International agencies;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished invited guests;
Excellencies, members of the Permanent Representatives Committee;
Heads of African Regional Economic Communities and African Union Specialised and Representative offices;
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A warm welcome to the Headquarters of the African Union, and we wish you a healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2014! We also congratulate the Assembly for the decision just taken, to name this Plenary hall of our Union, after Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Let me start by expressing our sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Desalegn, Minister Tedros, Ambassador Konjit and the Government of the Federal Democratic of Ethiopia for their leadership and commitment during the year of Chairpersonship of the African Union, including the hosting of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Union and for the support they have extended to the Commission.

Special greetings to the Malagasy delegation, and HE President Mr. Hery M. Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana. A warm welcome back into the family of the African Union, and we look forward to your contribution and lasting peace in Madagascar. The same warm feelings go towards the Presidents of Mali and Somalia, and our assurance of solidarity with them on the journey towards lasting peace.

As we start the year, our hearts go out to the peoples of Central African Republic and South Sudan, that face the devastation of the conflicts in these countries, especially women and children who are the main victims of these conflicts. We have to work together to ensure that we effect lasting peace and security in these countries, as part of our efforts to silence the guns on the continent.

It is in this context that I am pleased to announce the appointment of a Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Mrs. Binta Diop, to ensure that the voices of women and the vulnerable are heard much more clearer in peace building and in conflict resolution.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We conclude the Year of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, inspired by the enthusiasm with which Africans from all walks responded to the call. The CALL to reflect on the continent’s past and present, and to contribute to the Africa they want.

Since this is the first Summit at the start of the next 50 years of our Union, I thought to follow a different format from my usual statements to the Assembly, and to read you this e-mail from the future, written from the year 2063, that we shared with Foreign Ministers and Members of the Executive Council at the recent retreat at Bahir Dar

Date: 24 January 2063
To: Kwame@iamafrican.com
From: Nkosazana@confedafrica.gov
Subject: African Unity

My dear friend Kwame,

Greetings to the family and friends, and good health and best wishes for 2063.

I write to you from the beautiful Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, located on Lake Tana, as we finalize preparations for the Centenary celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity, which evolved to the African Union in 2002 and laid the foundations for what is now our Confederation of African States (CAS).

Yes, who would have thought that the dream of Kwame Nkrumah and his generations, when they called in 1963 on Africans to unite or perish, would one day become a reality. And what a grand reality.

At the beginning of the twenty first century, we used to get irritated with foreigners when they treated Africa as one country: as if we were not a continent of over a billion people and 55 sovereign states! But, the advancing global trend towards regional blocks, reminded us that integration and unity is the only way for Africa to leverage its competitive advantage.

In fact, if Africa was one country in 2006, we would have been the 10th largest economy in the world! However, instead of acting as one, with virtually every resource in the world (land, oceans, minerals, energy, forests) and over a billion people, we acted as fifty-five small and fragmented individual countries.

The bigger countries that should have been the locomotives of African integration, failed to play their role at that time, and that is part of the reasons it took us so long. We did not realize our power, but instead relied on donors, that we euphemistically called partners.

That was the case in 2013, but reality finally dawned and we had long debates about the form that our unity should take: confederation, a united states, a federation or a union.

As you can see, my friend, those debates are over and the Confederation of African States is now twelve years old, launched in 2051.

The role played by successive generations of African youth contributed to our success. Already in 2013 during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, it was the youth that loudly questioned the slow progress towards integration.

They formed African Union Clubs in schools and universities across the continent, and linked with each other on social media. Thus we saw the grand push for integration, for the free movement of people, for harmonization of education and professional qualifications, with the Pan African University and indeed the university sector and intelligentsia playing an instrumental role.

We were a youthful continent at the start of the 21st century, but as our youth bulge grew, young men and women became even more active, creative, impatient and assertive, often telling us oldies that they are the future, and that they (together with women) form the largest part of the electorates in all our countries!

Of course this was but one of the drivers towards unity. The accelerated implementation of the Abuja Treaty and the creation of the African Economic Community by 2034 saw economic integration moved to unexpected levels.

Economic integration, coupled with infrastructure development, saw intra-Africa trade mushrooming, from less than 12% in 2013 to approaching 50% by 2045. This integration was further consolidated with the growth of commodity exchanges and continental commercial giants.

Starting with the African pharmaceutical company, Pan African companies now not only dominate our domestic market of over two billion people, but they have overtaken multi-nationals from the rest of the world in their own markets.

Even more significant than this, was the growth of regional manufacturing hubs, around the beneficiation of our minerals and natural resources, such as in the Eastern Congo, north-eastern Angola and Zambia’s copper belt and at major Silicon valleys in Kigali, Alexandria, Brazzaville, Maseru, Lagos and Mombasa, to mention but a few such hubs.

My friend, Africa has indeed transformed herself from an exporter of raw materials with a declining manufacturing sector in 2013, to become a major food exporter, a global manufacturing hub, a knowledge centre, beneficiating our natural resources and agricultural products as drivers to industrialization.

Pan African companies, from mining to finance, food and beverages, hospitality and tourism, pharmaceuticals, fashion, fisheries and ICT are driving integration, and are amongst the global leaders in their sectors.

Africa is now the third largest economy in the world. As the Foreign Minister’s retreat in Bahir Dar in January 2014 emphasized, we did this by finding the balance between market forces and strong and accountable developmental states and RECS to drive infrastructure, the provision of social services, industrialization and economic integration.

Let me recall what our mutual friend recently wrote:
“The (African) agrarian revolution had small beginnings. Successful business persons (and local governments) with roots in the rural areas started massive irrigation schemes to harness the waters of the continent’s huge river systems.

The pan-African river projects - on the Congo, the Nile, Niger, Gambia, Zambezi, Kunene, Limpopo and many others – financed by PPPs that involved African and BRIC investors, as well as the African Diaspora, released the continent’s untapped agricultural potential.

By the intelligent application of centuries-old indigenous knowledge, acquired and conserved by African women who have tended crops in all seasons, within the first few years bumper harvests were being reported. Agronomists consulted women about the qualities of various grains – which ones survived low rainfalls and which thrived in wet weather; what pests threatened crops and how could they be combated without undermining delicate ecological systems.

The social impact of the agrarian revolution was perhaps the most enduring change it brought about. The status of women, the tillers of the soil by tradition, rose exponentially. The girl child, condemned to a future in the kitchen or the fields in our not too distant past, now has an equal chance of acquiring a modern education (and owning a farm or an agribusiness). African mothers today have access to tractors and irrigation systems that can be easily assembled.

The producers’ cooperatives, (agribusinesses) and marketing boards these women established help move their produce and became the giant food companies we see today.’

We refused to bear the brunt of climate change and aggressively moved to promote the Green economy and to claim the Blue economy as ours. We lit up Africa, the formerly dark continent, using hydro, solar, wind, geo-thermal energy, in addition to fossil fuels.

And, whilst I’m on the Blue economy, the decision to form Africa-wide shipping companies, and encourage mining houses to ship their goods in vessels flying under African flags, meant a major growth spurt. Of course the decision taken in Dakar to form an African Naval Command to provide for the collective security of our long coastlines, certainly also helped.

Let me quote from our mutual friend again:
‘Africa’s river system, lakes and coast-lines abound with tons of fish. With funding from the different states and the Diaspora, young entrepreneurs discovered… that the mouths of virtually all the rivers along the east coast are rich in a species of eel considered a delicacy across the continent and the world.

Clever marketing also created a growing market for Nile perch, a species whose uncontrolled proliferation had at one time threatened the survival of others in Lake Victoria and the Nile.

Today Namibia and Angola exploit the Benguela current, teaming with marine life, through the joint ventures funded by sovereign funds and the African Development Bank.”

On the east coast, former island states of Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and Mauritius are leading lights of the Blue economy and their universities and research institutes attract marine scientists and students from all over the world.

My dear friend, you reminded me in your last e-mail how some magazine once called us ‘the hopeless continent’, citing conflicts, hunger and malnutrition, disease and poverty as if it was a permanent African condition.

Few believed that our pledge in the 50th Anniversary Declaration to silence the guns by 2020 was possible. Because of our firsthand experience of the devastation of conflicts, we tackled the root causes, including diversity, inclusion and the management of our resources.

If I have to single out one issue that made peace happened, it was our commitment to invest in our people, especially the empowerment of young people and women. By 2013 we said Africa needed a skills revolution and that we must change our education systems to produce young people that are innovative and entrepreneurial and with strong Pan African values.

From early childhood education, to primary, secondary, technical, vocational and higher education – we experienced a true renaissance, through the investments we made, as governments and the private sector in education and in technology, science, research and innovation.

Coupled with our concerted campaigns to eradicate the major diseases, to provide access to health services, good nutrition, water and sanitation, energy and shelter, our people indeed became and are our most important resource. Can you believe it my friend, even the dreaded malaria is a thing of the past.

Of course this shift could not happen without Africa taking charge of its transformation, including the financing of our development. As one esteemed Foreign minister said in 2014: Africa is rich, but Africans are poor.

With concerted political determination and solidarity, and sometimes one step back and two steps forward, we made financing our development and taking charge of our resources a priority, starting with financing the African Union, our democratic elections and our peacekeeping missions.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations were the start of a major paradigm shift, about taking charge of our narrative.

Agenda 2063, its implementation and the milestones it set, was part of what brought about this shift. We developed Agenda 2063 to galvanize and unite in action all Africans and the Diaspora around the common vision of a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa. As an overarching framework, Agenda 2063 provided internal coherence to our various sectoral frameworks and plans adopted under the OAU and AU.

It linked and coordinated our many national and regional frameworks into a common continental transformation drive.

Planning fifty years ahead, allowed us to dream, think creatively, and sometimes crazy, to see us leapfrog beyond the immediate challenges.

Anchored in Pan Africanism and the African renaissance, Agenda 2063 promoted the values of solidarity, self-belief, non-sexism, self-reliance and celebration of our diversity.

As our societies developed, as our working and middle classes grew, as women took their rightful place in our societies, our recreational, heritage and leisure industries grew: arts and culture, literature, media, languages, music and film. WEB du Bois grand project of Encyclopedia Africana finally saw the light and Kinshasha is now the fashion capital of the world.

From the onset, the Diaspora in the traditions of Pan Africanism, played its part, through investments, returning to the continent with their skills and contributing not only to their place of origin, but where the opportunities and needs were found.

Let me conclude this e-mail, with some family news. The twins, after completing their space studies at Bahir Dar University, decided to take the month off before they start work at the African Space Agency, to travel the continent. My old friend, in our days, trying to do that in one month would have been impossible!

But, the African Express Rail now connects all the capitals of our former states, and indeed they will be able to crisscross and see the beauty, culture and diversity of this cradle of humankind.

The marvel of the African Express Rail is that it is not only a high speed-train, with adjacent highways, but also contains pipelines for gas, oil and water, as well as ICT broadband cables: African ownership, integrated planning and execution at its best!

The continental rail and road network that now crisscross Africa, along with our vibrant airlines, our spectacular landscapes and seductive sunsets, the cultural vibes of our cities, makes tourism one of our largest economic sectors.

Our eldest daughter, the linguist, still lectures in Kiswahili in Cabo Verde, at the headquarters of the Pan African Virtual University. Kiswahili is now a major African working language, and a global language taught at most faculties across the world.

Our grand children find it very funny how we used to struggle at AU meetings with English, French and Portuguese interpretations, how we used to fight that the English version is not in line with the French or Arabic text!

Now we have a lingua franca, and multi-lingualism is the order of the day.

Remember how we used to complain about our voice not being heard in trade negotiations and the Security Council, how disorganized, sometimes divided and nationalistic we used to be in those forums, how we used to be summoned by various countries to their capitals to discuss their policies on Africa?

How things have changed. The Confederation last year celebrated twenty years since we took our seat as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and we are a major force for global stability, peace, human rights, progress, tolerance and justice.

My dear friend, I hope to see you next month in Haiti, for the second round of unity talks between the Confederation of African States and the Caribbean states.

This is a logical step, since Pan Africanism had its roots amongst those early generations, as a movement of Africans from the mother continent and the Diaspora for liberation, self-determination and our common progress.

I end this e-mail, and look forward to seeing you in February. I will bring along some of the chocolates from Accra that you so love, which our children can now afford.

Till we meet again, Nkosazana

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

We are back in 2014, and this is but one dream of the future we want. The discussions on Agenda 2063 allow us to look towards the future, and to chart the road towards this future.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, that pre-eminent Pan Africanist whose passing we mourned last year, used to say, (after fighting for an end to apartheid for over 50 years) that it is impossible, until it is done.

My dream as articulated in this email may seem impossible. But it can and must be done.

Let us start this journey towards 2063. Asante sana
Dates:
Jan.30.2014

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

--

ADDRESS TO THE OPENING OF
THE TWENTY SECOND ORDINARY SESSION
OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION

Addis Ababa, 30 January 2014

Your Excellency, Ato Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairman of the African Union,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Your Excellency, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring you best wishes from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who deeply values the strategic partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. Together with our colleagues at the UN he is committed to the success of this partnership.

Today, I will briefly speak about how the African Union and the United Nations can work together to address pressing crises and to build on Africa’s progress to also promote our global development agenda. The world needs this continent’s vitality, entrepreneurship and diversity.

As the rest of the world struggles to recover from the economic crisis, we meet at a time of advancement and impressive growth for Africa.

Now this growth should be translated into transformative economic development, more jobs, greater equality and better living conditions.

The United Nations is your unwavering partner in this pursuit.

The AU Agenda 2063 can serve to mobilize Africa to fulfil its potential, in fitting tribute to the OAU/AU jubilee.

Africa has already made major strides towards the Millennium Development Goals, especially on education, maternal and child health, and on gender equality.

But many MDG targets remain lagging.

L’agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire, qui est le thème du Sommet de cette année, sont essentielles à la réalisation des objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté et des OMD en Afrique.
Je salue vos efforts dans le domaine de la lutte contre l’insécurité alimentaire qui s’inscrivent dans le cadre du Programme détaillé pour le développement de l’agriculture africaine. Je me félicite de l’engagement de l’Union africaine en faveur des initiatives Défi Faim zéro et Renforcer la nutrition.

Alors que nous célébrons l’Année de l’agriculture et de la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique, je rends hommage aux gouvernements qui ont intégré la promotion de l’égalité des sexes au sein de leurs politiques de sécurité alimentaire.

Promouvoir l’égalité des sexes et l’autonomisation des femmes est un moyen pour l’Afrique de réaliser tout son potentiel agricole, et de promouvoir le développement durable et la justice sociale.

Je suis choqué par la mort atroce de nombreux migrants africains, comme on a pu le voir l’an dernier au large des cotes de Lampedusa ou dans le désert du Niger. Ces êtres humains méritent toute notre compassion et doivent pousser tous les pays concernés à faire un examen de conscience et à agir.

Investir davantage dans l’enseignement, la santé, la technologie, l’innovation et l’entreprenariat permettra d’accélérer le développement sur tout le continent et d’offrir de nouvelles opportunités.

La désertification, les conditions climatiques extrêmes et les catastrophes naturelles sont autant de phénomènes qui peuvent remettre en cause les avancées réalisées par l’Afrique.

I welcome the strong African voices for an ambitious climate agreement in 2015. I encourage African participants at the Secretary-General’s September 23rd climate summit to present bold ideas on mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

I am proud to be joined at this Summit by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoys on Climate Change, John Kufuor, former President of Ghana, and Jens Stoltenberg, former Prime Minister of Norway.

Africa has shown admirable leadership in the post-2015 process, not least through the continued active and skilled engagement of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. I applaud the emerging African Common Position’s focus on structural transformation and inclusive economic growth.

There is hardly any higher priority for the United Nations than tangible and sustainable development in Africa. We support African-owned and African-led efforts to achieve this objective.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Peace, development and human rights as well as the rule of law are inextricably linked.

Conflict-shattered economies can take a quarter of a century to recover.

The United Nations aims to deepen our partnership with the AU Peace and Security Architecture.

While more work needs to be done, we have already seen positive results in a number of crises, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Somalia.

As I returned to Mogadishu after more than 20 years last year, I noted the remarkable progress, and felt new hope and resilience. At this crossroads for Somalia, we all have a responsibility to ensure that state- and peace-building move forward.

Like you, I remain deeply concerned about South Sudan. Our combined efforts should now focus on protecting civilians, preventing gross violations of human rights and facilitating humanitarian assistance. I urge the parties to strictly adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed last week, and to intensify their efforts for reconciliation and domestic peace. The UN warmly commends and supports the mediation efforts of IGAD.

La situation en République centrafricaine nous préoccupe tous au plus haut point. Notre objectif commun doit être de mettre un terme aux affrontements atroces qui opposent les communautés chrétiennes et musulmanes, et de restaurer les relations harmonieuses qui ont existé pendant si longtemps entre ces deux communautés. Nous devons agir sans délai pour prévenir de nouvelles atrocités.

Pour l’heure, notre priorité immédiate doit être de soutenir la MISCA, qui manque sérieusement de fonds. J’encourage tous les États Membres de l’ONU à être généreux lors de la conférence d’annonce de contributions qui se tiendra ce samedi.

Je me félicite de notre engagement conjoint a faire respecter les droits de l’homme et salue a ce titre le fait que l’Union africaine ait dépêché des observateurs au Mali et en République centrafricaine pour aider à y faire respecter les droits de l’homme. De son côté, le Secrétaire général vient d’annoncer la formation d’une commission d’enquête internationale sur les violations commises en République centrafricaine.

Je salue l’initiative prise par l’Union africaine de créer une commission d’enquête sur les violations des droits de l’homme commises durant le conflit au Soudan du Sud. Ce ne sont là que quelques exemples de l’action que nous menons en commun pour lutter contre l’impunité et prévenir la commission de nouveaux crimes.

Toutefois, nos efforts collectifs pâtissent d’un manque de ressources. Je me fais l’écho de l’appel à contribution lancé par l’Union africaine pour financer ses opérations de soutien à la paix. J’invite également les donateurs à soutenir l’action menée pour prévenir, gérer et résoudre les conflits.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As we address crises facing African countries, we celebrate Africa’s impressive progress.

I was inspired by hearing the AU anthem today. Its call for Africans to work together for lasting peace and justice resonates deeply with the UN.

The United Nations stands firmly at the side of the African Union and its Member States as you advance for the benefit of all the people of this great continent, offering them a better future and a life of dignity.

Thank you.
Dates:
Jan.30.2014

Check against Delivery

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union at the 22nd ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union

30 January 2014
Addis Ababa
Excellencies Heads of State and Government,
Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Distinguished delegates, Inviting Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to welcome you once again to the headquarters of our Union for the 22nd ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. I would like to recognize H.E. Mr. Laurent Salvador Lamothe, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti for being here with us as a Guest of Honour representing his President H.E. Mr. Michel Martelly. I wish to, on behalf of all of you, welcome the Prime Minister to our Summit.
We are holding our Summit under the theme "Agriculture and Food Security" marking the 10th anniversary of CAADP - one of our flagship projects aimed at achieving agricultural transformation in Africa. This is the time to celebrate the progress made over the past decade in implementing the goals and objectives set by CAADP and renew our commitment to do more in the coming years and decades. In this regard, I am indeed very pleased to note that more and more countries are allocating 10% of their national budget to the agricultural sector. The transformation of agriculture holds the key to the success of our collective efforts to realize our vision.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It was indeed a great honour and privilege for me to have presided over the work of our Union for the last one year. I would like to thank you all most profoundly for the opportunity that you have given me and my country to serve in this high office. I am particularly indebted to each and every one of you for all the support and cooperation that you have rendered to me over the last one year, which has indeed been invaluable in the discharge of my heavy responsibilities.
You would recall that when I took over the chairmanship last January, I had briefly outlined my priorities in advancing the objectives of our Union. Today, I am pleased to note that we have covered a lot of ground in implementing those priorities and move our continental agenda forward.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Top on the priorities of my Chairmanship over the last one year was, of course, the Golden Jubilee celebration of the OAU/AU. It is a happy coincidence that Ethiopia assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Union at this historic moment, which has a special significance for my country as a proud host of our continental organization for the last 50 years. Therefore, we have worked closely together with the Commission, member States and all other relevant stakeholders to mark this historic milestone by undertaking a collective reflection of our past, present and future under the overarching theme of "Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance".
In the 50th Anniversary solemn declaration that we have adopted in our 21st ordinary session, we pledged to act together with our peoples and the African Diaspora to realize our vision of Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance. We should, therefore, remain true to our commitment as we strive to achieve a better future for our peoples.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our continental organization at a time when multilateral negotiations have started in earnest to formulate a global development framework for the post 2015 era. As we participate in this process, it is imperative for us to ensure that the progress made thus far in achieving the Millennium Development Goals is sustained and that Africa’s development priorities are fully taken on board in the post-2015 Development Agenda as well as in the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
All this is with the view to speaking with one voice on the basis of an African Common Position on an issue which is currently perhaps the most important process with respect to defining the nature of international development cooperation for the next decades. In this context, you would recall that I had proposed the establishment of a committee of African Heads of State and Government to lead the efforts in canvassing support for Africa’s development priorities in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.
I am pleased to note that the Committee has indeed been discharging its responsibilities. The committee under the able chairmanship of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been working to finalize the common African position which will be submitted to this Assembly for its consideration and adoption. Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation to President Sirleaf for her leadership in this effort. Of course, since the negotiation on the formulation of Sustainable Development Goals is going to commence in March 2014, it is absolutely critical that we make the necessary advance at this Summit so that we have our common position before March.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The past one year has also witnessed enhanced cooperation and partnership between Africa and its strategic partners. In this regard, the 3rd Africa-South America Summit, the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), the 3rd Afro-Arab Summit and the 12th Annual AGOA Forum have been held successfully. These partnership forums served as an excellent platform to advance our development agenda and further strengthen our partnerships with a view to ensuring mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
In the context of promoting Africa's collective voice and enhance its visibility on the international stage, we have participated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw (COP-19) and delivered Africa's key messages with regard to the ongoing global climate change negotiations. We have also participated at the G-8 and G-20 Summits held in Northern Ireland and St. Petersburg, respectively, and advanced our continental development agenda. It is in this spirit that we look forward to the upcoming Africa-EU Summit due to be held in April this year.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The issue of peace and security has been our major preoccupation during the past one year. While I am encouraged to note the progress that we have made in resolving some of the conflict situations in our continent, I am nevertheless deeply concerned by the emergence of new conflicts which, if not addressed urgently, will have a potential to seriously threaten our collective peace and security and undermine the gains that we have made in recent years.
I am referring here to the unfolding situation in South Sudan and Central African Republic. We need to find urgent solution to rescue these two sisterly countries from falling into the abyss. Failure to do so will have serious implications for peace and security in the region and indeed the whole continent. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to help these two fragile African States in restoring peace and stability and addressing their internal challenges.
With regard to the situation in South Sudan, both protagonists should know that the problem cannot be resolved through the barrel of the gun. Therefore, they should be fully committed to seat at the negotiating table without any preconditions so as to find a political settlement to the crisis. We all know that this new African State has made tremendous sacrifices to gain its independence and the South Sudanese political actors should rise to the occasion and avoid the country from falling into the precipice.
It is imperative that the peace process initiated by IGAD and supported by the African Union, the United Nations and all other international partners succeeds and the parties demonstrate the necessary political leadership and compromise to achieve peace and durable reconciliation. Let me underscore here that the rest of the international community should continue to put its weight behind the regional effort to find a peaceful solution to the situation in South Sudan. I cannot emphasize enough the need for unity of purpose among all of us and the international community at large in sending the same message to all the south Sudanese stakeholders so as to achieve the desired result.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The situation in Central African Republic remains a matter of concern particularly the senseless violence that has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population. Hence, it was crucial to take urgent action to avert the further escalation of the peace and security situation in that country.
We are all aware of the daunting challenges ahead of the African-led Peace Support Mission in Central African Republic (MISCA) in terms of assisting Central African Republic in restoring peace and security and ensuring a successful transition towards a constitutional order in that country. The international community should remain fully committed to support the Central African Republic in its difficult task of stabilizing itself and organizing elections to ensure a successful political transition.
I wish to commend the African Union Commission for organizing a Donor's Conference on 1 February 2014, in collaboration with the United Nations to mobilize the necessary financial support to MISCA. I wish to call upon member States to demonstrate African solidarity and contribute to the efforts aimed at stabilizing Central African Republic.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Several African States have conducted legislative and presidential elections last year. Those elections have certainly helped some member States to come out of their political crisis and others to consolidate their democratic governance. I welcome the restoration of constitutional order in Mali. ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations and other partners should continue to support Mali in consolidating the gains made thus far and enabling the country address its multifaceted challenges.
I also wish to commend the people of Madagascar for conducting a successful presidential election, which is critical in ending the country's political crisis. In the same vein, we look forward to the holding of elections in Guinea Bissau in March 2014, which will facilitate the restoration of constitutional order in that country. I would like to express my appreciation to ECOWAS and other international partners for their sustained efforts in supporting Guinea Bissau to come out of its political crisis.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

With regard to the work of our Commission, we have adopted the Strategic Plan for the years 2014-2017 that took into account the lessons learnt from the achievements and challenges of the previous strategic plan and adequately reflected the views of member States and all other relevant stakeholders. We need to mobilize all the necessary efforts of member States, the Commission and other organs of our Union to ensure the implementation of the eight priorities identified in the strategic plan so as to make a difference in the lives of our peoples.

As part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, the Commission together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank has been in the process of elaborating the framework for Agenda 2063 through a consultative process involving all sections of the African society. Our Ministers have also deliberated on the draft framework document during their retreat a few days ago. At this Summit, we will have the opportunity to examine the draft and make our own inputs and contributions. I believe the Framework will guide our efforts over the coming years and decades as we strive to achieve the socio-economic transformation of our continent.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I believe we need to build on the progress that we have achieved in the past year and exert more efforts to address some of the emerging challenges confronting our continent. Let me congratulate my successor, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and pledge my full support as he continues to work on these issues and advance the objectives of our Union. I would like to express my very best wishes to him in the successful discharge of his heavy responsibilities.
Finally, I wish to once again express my heartfelt thanks to Your Excellencies, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. I am also very grateful to Chairperson Zuma and her team for facilitating my work over the past one year. Furthermore, I wish to express my appreciation to all those who, in one way or another, have contributed to the successful discharge of my responsibilities.
I conclude my remarks by wishing a happy and prosperous 2014, as we strive to achieve our collective vision - a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa.

I thank you
Dates:
Jan.30.2014