Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia hail Rabat summit results for sustainable peace in Mano river sub-region
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/28/2002

The Presidents of Liberia, Charles Taylor, of Guinea, Lansana Conte, and of Sierra-Leone, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah welcomed their meeting in Rabat, at the invitation of King Mohammed VI, and the progress achieved with a view to reestablishing a climate of trust and restoring sustainable peace in the sub-region of the Mano River.

The sovereign's initiative to convene the tripartite summit to seek means of establishing a lasting peace in the Mano river region and defusing tension between the three countries was hailed as a happy initiative by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The reconciliation summit was also welcomed by the European Union as an encouraging phase in the efforts made to defuse tension in the sub-region. The EU hailed the move to hold political dialogue at the highest level and urged the three heads of state to conduct this dialogue in a constructive spirit and to be future-oriented.

Guinea and Liberia charge each other of backing groups that wage attacks against their respective territories. Following an escalation of attacks in southern Guinea, at the borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone, by the end of 2000 and early 2001, the Guinean president declined to meet Liberia's Charles Taylor. Liberia is also charged with extending backing to a rebel movement in Sierra Leone.

The Mano River Union was set up in 1970 in a bid to improve trade relations and exchanges between the three countries. Mano River flows down from north-western Liberia, at the border with Guinea, runs along Sierra Leone's borders and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

In a press release issued in Rabat at the end of their reconciliation summit, the three heads of state underlined the historic character of the Summit meeting which, they said, "thanks to the readiness of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, opened optimistic perspectives for a forthcoming sustainable peace in the Mano River Union sub-region."

The presidents of the three African countries adopted a set of measures concerning security along their common borders, repatriation of refugees and assistance to displaced persons, and reactivation of the Mano River Union administration.

They called upon the international community and the United Nations to support and help implement the decisions adopted during the Summit.

Here follows the full text of the press release that was read out by Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa: "On the invitation of his Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and within the efforts deployed for the restoration of peace, security and stability in the Mano River Union sub-region, a summit meeting was held in Rabat (Morocco) on February, 27th 2002.

The following Heads of State participated:

- General Lansana CONTE

President of the Republic of Guinea;

- Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan KABBAH

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone;

- Dahkpanah Dr. CHARLES Ghankay TAYLOR

President of the Republic of Liberia.

During the Summit, His Majesty King Mohammed VI welcomed the acceptance by their Excellencies the heads of state of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia to meet in Morocco in order to overcome the obstacles that prevent the peoples of the Mano River sub-region from benefiting from peace, security and stability;

Their Excellencies welcomed the meeting in Rabat as well as the progress achieved with a view to reestablishing a climate of trust and restoring sustainable peace in the sub-region.

The three heads of state expressed their commitment to maintaining dialogue at all levels, particularly among them, in order to promote mutual trust, consolidate peace, understanding, good neighborliness and the development of cooperation between their countries.

The heads of state outrightly condemned the activities of armed non-state actors in their region;

In this regard, a number of measures were identified and adopted concerning specifically:

- Total security along their common borders;

- Repatriation of the Refugees and assistance to Internally Displaced persons;

- Reactivation of the Mano River Union Administration.

The three heads of state expressed their appreciation and encouraged the contribution of the Mano river Women Peace Network, Civil Society Movement and inter-faith groups.

They directed the Joint Security Committee (JSC) to meet in Freetown on the 4th March, 2002, to commence the implementation process. The JSC will submit a progress report to the Foreign Ministers no later than 28th March, 2002.

The Ministers of foreign affairs shall meet one week after the submission of the progress report in Rabat, for the purpose of reviewing the report and preparing for the next summit of heads of state.

In the context, it was agreed that the above mentioned follow-up summit meeting will take place in Morocco.

His Majesty the King warmly congratulated Their Excellencies the three Heads of State for the brotherly spirit and understanding they showed during their discussions.

Their Excellencies the three Heads of State underlined the historical character of the Summit meeting which, thanks to the readiness of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, opened optimistic perspectives for a forthcoming sustainable peace in the Mano River Union sub-region.

They called upon the international community and the United Nations to support and help implement the decisions adopted during the Summit.

Their Excellencies the three Heads of State expressed their deep gratitude to His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, to the Moroccan Government and People for the organization of the Summit meeting as well as for the hospitality and outstanding working conditions that contributed to the success of the Meeting."

Previous Stories:
  Inter-parliamentary union holds meeting in marrakesh in march   (2/27/2002)
  King Mohammed holds work session with Presidents of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone   (2/27/2002)
  Presidents of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, in Morocco for summit talks on Peace in Mano River region   (2/26/2002)

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