The Egyptian move in the African arena
Egypt-Regional, Economics, 12/8/2004

In an interview with Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, he was asked about the position of the African Continent in the Egyptian agenda and he answered as follows: Excerpts

ÊÊÊ -Undoubtedly, the African Continent ranks high in the agenda of the Egyptian foreign affairs and a proof that the President Mubarak's participation in the NEPAD Summit which was held in Algiers, besides his declaration of Africa sovereignty and the participation with a million dollar for the initiative.

-NEPAD, as you know, is a participation initiative among the Continent states and the international community to set up enterprises seeking the enhancement of the Continent economy.

Egypt is not only a part of this initiative, but one of the five state-founders of this Initiative and it undertakes the agricultural file and the penetration through it to the markets.

Hosting by Egypt of the next NEPAD Summit in April 2005 is a strong proof in achieving the comprehensive development in Africa.

- Africa was and still a non-separatable part of the whole Egyptian diplomatic heart and mind, but sometimes some events may need more focusing in dealing with it. However, "our interest in the African issues is still under our microscope and we tackle actively with it."

Some bilateral high committees are under preparation between Egypt and a number of African states, such as Senegal, Guinea and South Africa."

-COMESA is no longer an economic grouping and Egypt sought to confirm the importance of the regional stability since its joining of the grouping and that to reinforce efforts of the development and economic cooperation among its countries.

There is an African persistence to rally efforts in treatment of problems and disputes, either in the framework of COMESA or the African Union.

-African market is promising as Egypt's exports to COMESA never exceeded the $ 44 million in 1998, but it jumped to $ 267.4 million in 2003.

"Really our imports reached $500 million, but our exports' growth rate is running up, which will return balance to the mutual trade exchange."

We do not worry about the increase of the COMESA imports to Egypt, as it is a healthy indicator for a growing economic and strategic relation between Egypt and the COMESA states, particularly in the Free Trade Zone that includes 11 countries.

As regards Egypt's occupation of higher positions in the Organization of African Unity after the establishment of the African Union, Abul-Gheit said that " it is normal for Egypt to give the opportunity for the others after the nomination of one of our distinguished ambassadors as the Assistant General Secretary for the OAU for successive terms, but this does not mean that Egypt would not present one of its men up to the high positions in the appropriate time."

ÊÊÊ As for Darfur crisis, Abul-Gheit said that Egypt was one from the first countries to confront this situation, either by aid efforts for the Sudanese brothers in Darfur or through the participation in the regional and international efforts in this respect.

-The best acknowledgment by the international community of the importance of Egypt's role is the invitation directed to Egypt to attend the historical meeting by the Security Council which was held in Kenyan capital of Nairobi some days ago.

This meeting was a chance to confirm our stance towards the running conditions in Sudan and to show our keenness on the solidarity of the Sudanese territories that can bring back benevolent benefits upon the Sudanese people in all regions.

We raised our perception of the volume of the human sufferings by the Sudanese brothers in Darfur and we participate in the AU watchdog mission to Darfur, as we look forward to a near happy reconciliation future for all parties.

-On the current conditions in Cote d'Voire, Egypt follows up the development of the events with concern, and calls upon all parties to cease military operations, respecting the Lina-Markusi Accord for cease fire signed in 2003.

He also pointed out that Egypt calls for the speed halt of the riots currently existing in Abidjan and to respect rights and security of the civilians, public and private properties.

Tackling the dimensions of the Security Council expansion, the Foreign Minister preferred first to uncover that Egypt is completely committed to Hirari Declaration in 1997, which claims for an African non-permanent 5-seats with other 2 permanent seats to be taken in rotation between the African states."

ÊÊÊ I declared in front of the UNGA last September Egypt's readiness to represent the Continent in the Council and to shoulder the responsibilities of the permanent membership.

Inquired if it's the time to revive Arab-African cooperation, Abul-Gheit answered that there are broad horizons for the Arab-African cooperation and that there must be an action to activate it in the light of the mutual interest between the two sides as well as the historical role of the Arab in sustaining liberation movements in Africa and the African countries role in backing the Arab legal rights in Palestine and other occupied territories.

-The Arab League (AL) and the African Union (AU) have their role in the Arab-African cooperation and Egypt, as an old bridge between Africa and the Arab world, perceives well its shouldered responsibility considering its location, weight and historical relations, to activate this cooperation.

Egypt will spare no efforts to coordinate with both the AL and AU to start this organic and vital cooperation for the future of the Arab region and our African Continent.

On the water file between Egypt and the water Nile Basin countries, Abul-Gheit said that Egypt looks at the Nile as a cooperation arena and put into consideration the necessity to develop the Nile's resources on an integrated base that preserves the interests of its 10 countries.

We hope to set up enterprises of millions of dollars on the Nile basin as an initiative that represent the institutional frame in which cooperation relations among the Basin countries are institutionalized.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt boosts trade ties with Congo, Rwanda within framework of COMESA   (11/26/2004)
  Egypt exerts efforts to set fair competitiveness rules to liberalize African trade   (11/23/2004)
  Contract to manufacture the first Arab computer in Cairo   (10/4/2004)
  Going ahead with Egypt's Afro-Arab power cooperation   (7/28/2004)
  Egypt calls for integration among African oil- producing countries   (7/13/2004)
  Egypt new strategy to sieze economic opportunities in Africa   (7/12/2003)
  Africa's economy is based in few countries   (6/12/2003)
  Egypt-East Africa business council seeks concluding free trade agreement with Tanzania   (3/13/2003)

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