Maravi

Piracy impacts on Regional trade, says Kibaki

Piracy impacts on Regional trade, says Kibaki
Written by George Chellah and Joseph Mwenda
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:19:25 PM

KENYAN President Mwai Kibaki has said the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia impacts on the regional and international trade and posses a great danger to the environment. And President Rupiah Banda, who is the incoming chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) reaffirmed his government's continued support to the ICGLR process in the promotion of peace, security, democracy and good governance and the observance of good human rights.

Addressing the 3rd ordinary summit of the ICGLR at Lusaka's Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) yesterday, President Kibaki described the security situation in Somalia as serious.

"A serious security situation still prevails in Somalia, related to this unresolved conflict is the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia, which remains a matter of great concern. This is a matter of international concern as it impacts on the regional and international trade and posses a great danger to the environment," President Kibaki said.

He appealed to the international community to assume greater responsibility in Somalia.

"In order to ensure the emergence of a stable and democratic country," he said.

He reminded the delegates that they were gathered to review the progress that they had made since committing themselves to co-operate in promoting peace, security and development in the region.

"You will recall that we signed a pact on security, stability and development in the great lakes region during our last summit held in Nairobi, Kenya," he said.

President Kibaki said he was happy to observe that much progress had been made after most of the member states ratified the pact.

He said the ICGLR has made very encouraging progress.

"We are encouraged by the co-operation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in addressing the issue of armed militia groups in Eastern DRC through their joint co-operations," he said.

He said the ICGLR was also encouraged by the renewed diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

"We hope that lasting peace will soon be realized in the region," he said.

He said a look at the issue of human development portrayed a region faced by the most serious challenges of poverty, hunger, disease and environmental degradation.

President Kibaki said he believed that with sincere commitment on the part of all member states and with the spirit of togetherness they had a great chance of success.

President Kibaki who handed over the chairmanship to President Rupiah Banda expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended to him during his tenure as chairman.

And President Banda urged the ICGLR to continue recognizing the assistance rendered by the Africa Union and United Nations.

"The assistance rendered by the Africa Union, United Nations and the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region is something we all must recognize, without the involvement of these bodies, a number of achievements would not have been recorded."

"It is therefore, only befitting that we consolidate these efforts by ensuring that the gains we have made with their support continue to be sustained," Banda said.

"I wish to reaffirm my government's continued support to the ICGLR process in the promotion of peace, security, democracy and good governance and the observance of good human rights."

"Regarding the current peace and security situation in the region, I wish to state that the region continues to face many challenges," he said.

Banda described the disarmament and border security initiatives between Rwanda and Congo DR, which was done within the framework of the Nairobi CommuniquŽ as encouraging to the region.

"The cessation of hostilities in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a positive move towards the attainment of peace in the region which we must all continue to pursue with determination," said Banda.

Banda applauded Nigeria's former president General Olusegun Obasanjo and Tanzanian former leader Benjamin Mukapa for their commitments towards the normalization of the situation in the region.

Banda further said Zambia had found suitable accommodation for the regional centre for democracy, good governance and civic education.

"I am happy to inform you that Zambia has found suitable accommodation for the region for the regional centre of good governance and civic education. As Zambia this gives us a sense of humility that you ICGLR member states proposed that the regional centre be named "The Levy Patrick Mwanawasa Regional Centre for the promotion of democracy, good governance, Human Rights and Civic Education."

"We indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in bestowing this honour on our late president.

And special envoy of the Secretary General on the Great Lakes region and former Nigerian president General Olusegun Obasanjo said he was glad that tension in the Great Lakes Region had eased in the past year.

General Obasanjo welcomed last week's summit between President Joseph Kabila of Congo DR and Rwanda's leader Paul Kagame.

"I commend both leaders' commitment to promote peace and stability in the Great Lakes region," he said. "This is no doubt a result of the collective efforts of the two countries and the region."

He said the meeting between the two leaders was an example of how the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) could serve effective instrument for change.

He further observed that the Great Lakes Region was still faced with profound security, humanitarian, developmental and environmental challenges.

And in his message to the (ICGLR) read for him by Ambassador Ahmed Haggag, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said his country attached particular importance to the attainment of peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

"This emanates not only from the geographical proximity, cultural bonds, but also from the Nile River that creates a life line binding the history and destiny of our peoples."

"Our endeavours in achieving real peace within this region should aim at formulating wider mutal confidence and practical capacity building programs.

"It should also include coordinating policies of disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants in the society, in addition to programs of repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons."

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mukapa and Central African Republic Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera were among the several dignitaries that attended the summit.

Labels: ICGLR, MWAI KIBAKI, PIRACY, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:56 PM