Maher welcomes African Union birth
Regional-Egypt, Politics, 7/10/2002

The launching of the African Union, twinned with the establishment of the new partnership for African development, increases hopes for creating a better future for the people of Africa, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher said Monday.

Maher's statements came on the sidelines of the 38th summit, the last ever, of the Organization of African Unity, that was to open late yesterday to celebrate the OAU transform into the AU, Maher is leading Egypt's delegation to the gathering.

The Foreign Minister, was to also attend, on behalf of President Hosni Mubarak, the maiden summit of the AU that is to open and wrap up Wednesday.

On Egypt's support for the nascent AU's marked democratic trends, Maher said that Egypt, as a democratic country, believes that it would be in Africa's best interest to embrace the principles of democracy.

True development nurtures on freedom and democracy, Maher said. He said that a free person living in a democratic country can do a lot to build his community.

Many African leaders from the new 53-member AU, built on style of the European Union, would be present in Durban to witness the inauguration of the AU that is expected to meet the African people's hopes for an organization that would skillfully handle the continent's political, social and economic ailments.

Turning to the issue of the NEPAD, the Egyptian Foreign Minister said that it was a program which was drawn up by the leaders of five African countries; Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa to address African economic development problems and define the policies which the African countries wish to follow to manage their resources and serve their interests.

He said that the African countries attended the G-8 summit in Canada to invite the world's major industrialized countries to be partners in the NEPAD.

Maher refused to draw any sort of comparison between the Arab and African worlds. The two worlds are in a way different from each other, he said.

The Arabs have their own circumstances, shortcomings and achievements, and so do the Africans, he said.

He said that the Arabs are at present preoccupied with making their dream for establishing a common Arab market come true.

He added that it is the true wish of the Arab peoples and leaders to coordinate efforts for a common Arab action.

Maher welcomed the idea of the establishment of an African security and peace council.

He said that nothing has been decided as yet as regards the countries that would host the different organs of the new AU.

Previous Stories:
  African union poses step on African unity   (6/29/2002)
  35 years of the life of The Organization of African Unity (OAU)   (5/25/2002)
  Euro-Mediterranean meetings kick start today in Athens   (5/20/2002)

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