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Friday, November 27, 1998
His excellency President Jacques Chirac, Brothers and Dear friends, the heads of the sisterly African States and Heads of the Governments, The Secretary-General of the United Nations, The Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, Allow me to start my address, making heartfelt greeting to dear friend President Chirac and highlight the convocation of this important conference in friendly France in whose constructive role and constant contribution to supporting the causes of peace, culture and development, not only in Africa but all over the world, we take pride, at a time when the international order is witnessing radical changes bound to make great effects on the future of humanity everywhere. I also forward sincere thanks to brotherly President Eyadema of the sisterly republic of Togo for the objective presentation he made over the issue of peacekeeping in Africa which has been recently gaining increasing importance in view of its impact on prospects for fulfilling comprehensive security in different parts of our glorious continent. Brotherly Presidents and Dear friends, Our meeting today comes at a time when our African continent is facing momentous developments, most of them are inspiring optimism, while some is causing a sense of worry and fears. while Africa has succeeded, by dint of long years of struggle, to gain its political independence, and moved afterwards to attain objectives of socio-economic development for its peoples many of them have achieved promising growth rates, the fruit of this struggle is being today threatened by what some areas in the country is experiencing in terms of internal strives and regional showdowns which are by no means suitable for the stage which dictates upon us to unify ranks, piece together efforts for security and stability, expand joint co-operation, extend the bridges of dialogue and togetherness for forging a better future to all peoples of the continent. As President Eyadema aptly mentioned, the events being witnessed by some states of the continent should not distract our attention away from the positive developments experienced by the continent in its endeavours to get rid of the residues of the past and its agonies, though we realise that the road ahead is still long, and fraught with thorns and clouds. We have to reinforce the effectiveness of the regional balances through consultation, the exchange of views and recognition that this is vital for our common future. Ladies and Gentlemen, The fulfilment of security, as we see, cannot be complete without three components. First: The guarantee of national security with all its political, economic and social elements: Secondly, The materialisation of regional security with its implications being repudiating the policies of aggression, refraining from interference in the domestic affairs of every country and complying with respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity: The Third component resides in maintaining world security and peace and developing balanced international relations based on the principles of justice, equality and mutual respect among the nations. Proceeding from this fact, Africa's sages were far-sighted when- on setting up the Organisation of African Unity in 1963- they were keen to laid stress in its covenant on denouncing all acts that jeopardise national security of the member states, obliging all countries to shun any subversive activities in other states. The charter has also established a host of necessary principles as a foundation for fulfilling the African security, foremost among which is the principle of the sanctity of the existing borders, respect for sovereignty of the African states and their territorial integrity, and non-interference in their innermost affairs. Also we do agree amongst ourselves on the close and reciprocal inseparability between realising security and peace on the one hand, and the issues of socio-economic development on the other. This interrelationship makes it incumbent upon us to search for the latent motives behind this series of disputes being experienced by our glorious continent and identify their different causes and dimensions, whether they are related to the problems of poverty, hunger and debts or to the ethnic feuds, the proliferation of the small arms, the increase in military spending as well as the phenomenon of terrorism which is endangering a lot of Africa's parts and victimising with its crimes the innocent citizens. This lends credence to our view that this phenomenon is global and enhances our call for convening an international conference to lay down the basics which ensure the emergence of effective co-operation among countries of different continents in standing up to and uprooting them. Dear Friends, Egypt, which in the past proudly sided firmly and vigorously with the legitimate rights of the African peoples to get their freedom and gain their independence, feels today that it is duty-bound to extend the hand of help to brethren in facing these crises and undertake its responsibilities seriously and resolutely in order to contribute to enhancing security and stability for the continent's peoples and urging the adoption of dialogue as a means to reach compromises to its disputes which are sapping its resources and playing havoc with its riches. Needless to mention anew at this point the role being played by Egypt through its participation in the peacekeeping forces, out of interest in preserving stability in the continent. This has taken shape in several contributions, the latest of which being participation in the Minurca Troops which actually provides a good example of the preventive endeavour. This is matching Africa's keenness and resolve to undertake its responsibilities in facing these crises either through the Security Council, the Organisation of African Unity and its institutions, or within different African groupings, out of realisation that its role should be in the forefront. Proceeding from this, we are of the view that any arrangements to establish African peacekeeping forces or devising a set-up allowing the intervention of a number of African states, when needed, is an issue which should be endorsed by the Organisation of African Unity. Establishing the mechanism for the peaceful settlement and management of disputes within the Organisation of the African Unity in 1993 marked a significant step in order to provide an effective tool ensuring Africa's contribution and affirming its political willpower in handling these situations through primarily counting on the preventive diplomacy approach. Since its establishment, the African mechanism has gained Egyptian support which we intend to continue, so that this important body would play its sought-after role, side by side with Egypt's contributions to building the African capabilities and grooming the necessary cadres through the training courses given by the Cairo Centre over the past two years in settling disputes and keeping peace in Africa, and the courses planned to be launched during the weeks ahead. In this regard, I would like to refer to another key step taken by Africa to enhance the concept of security, i.e. signing in Cairo in 1996 the Blendaba Treaty to set up a nuclear-free area in the continent, and the related call made to embark on similar steps in other regions of the world, notably the Middle East whose security is closely connected to that of Africa. Dear Friends, You may share me the view that this African orientation towards shouldering greater responsibilities in handling the issues of security and peace in the continent, should elicit larger world support so as to expand the role of the Organisation of the African Unity, and providing it with necessary political support and financial and technical capabilities because the role of the organisation of African unity does not supplant that of the UN or its responsibilities, nor does it contradict them: rather they are complementary. Therefore, this African orientation requires the consolidation of existing co-operation between the two organisations in this domain. This does not mean to disregard the responsibility of the world community in preserving international security and peace. The UN, represented in the security council, is still the body entrusted with the key responsibility in this respect in different parts of the world. Africa is not an exception. Accordingly, I reaffirm the importance of keeping the peacekeeping operations in Africa based on international legitimacy, respect for the principles stipulated in the charters of the UN and the Organisation of the African Unity and that the Security Council should take proper and well-timed resolutions in a way that ensures effective and swift move in facing these crises. Dear Friends, While demanding the world community to do its duty in supporting Africa's endeavours in grappling with it problems, notably that of fulfilling security and stability, we are confident that dependence on self-capabilities and courage in facing reality assure the world of our sincere resolve and serious intention in taking the first step along the road of success and providing the key component of each African endeavour to solve the continent's problems. Proving in the past his ability to surmount hardships, African man is equally able to overcome the difficulties of the present and is determined to endeavour and make the effort to forge his future and make it brighter and more prosperous. |
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