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The Address of H.E. The President of the Republic of the Sudan at the Opening Session of ACP 5th Summit Thursday 7 December 2006 Friendship Hall Khartoum 7-8 December 2006 In the name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassions H.E president of Mozambique , Mr. Armando Emilio Guebuza, the chair of the current session of the Summit , Your Excellencies Heads of state and government of the ACP states Group. Your Excellencies the Ministers, Best greetings and “ Assalamu Alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.” It is my pleasure to bid your august gathering a warm welcome in your second country, the Sudan, the land of loving peace, you are, indeed, dear brothers and sisters and most welcome guest of honors. It is a great opportunity to meet you at the bank of eternal Nile to renew our support in favor of our group in its march towards sustainable development and eradication of poverty in our countries. On behalf of the people of Sudan and my self, I wish you a good and enjoyable stay in the capital of our country: Khartoum . Your Excellencies On the outset, may I call upon you all to reaffirm our solidarity and endeavourer to boost it further. For it is the unity of stance, firm solidarity, fostered interaction and close ties which shall enable us to deter the pending challenges and dangers facing us in the world of today. I would further assert the preponderance of Sudan to work and collaborate with the CAP member states on the one hand, and the international community on the other in order to achiever our common goals and interests such as keeping of peace, security and stability under the prevalence of justice, equality and respect of sovereignty of other states, in addition to the foremost of our priorities: sustained development and eradication of poverty. Your Excellencies This summit is held at a time wherein the world is subjected to tension and acute polarization of the international relationships, which toppled the setting of international community. This international situation is further aggravated by the widening gap between the advanced world and the developing countries, coupled with the imbalance of trade which caused the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Such gap shall always be impossible to bridge under the augmenting foreign debts and the interests imposed upon them, the result of which is the stoppage of the development process and incapacitated the economies of many of our countries. It unfortunately, blocked their economic progress, the vehicle towards achieving prosperity and welfare and the means which enables them to catch with the developed countries. Brothers and Sisters, The convening of this very important summit in our country this year has a special significance to us. For your meeting coincides with our commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the independence of the Sudan , it further comes after the elapse of more than one year of the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in Nairobi – Kenya . This agreement has fortunately, put an end to a war which lasted for half century, I . e. the war in the south. This year is equally, opportune for our country as it witnessed last May the signing of the Darfur peace agreement in Abuja . Nigeria . Furthermore we signed last October the East peace agreement in Asmara – Eritrea . We are now close to conduct the legislative and presidential elections in order to avail citizens the opportunity to elect their leaders by means of free and fair elections. All these peaceful and democratic achievements put our country in the threshold of sustainable development. May I mention in this connection, that the experience of our country in attaining peace is worthy to be noted for it has relied on the recognition of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. No doubt, agreement on the legal and constitutional formula, which makes of such diversity a source for strength and consolidation, required a long time to fulfil. We however, shall endeavourer to make of diversity a tool for consolidation, and that the implementation of the peace agreements be carried in a manner which shall disseminate the spirit of loving concord, equity, justice and peace among all citizens. We further, hope it shall assert the belief in its positive outcome which shall be in the benefit of all, that is , the emergence of strong unified Sudan that can resume its effective role on both regional and international levels. May I, ladies and gentlemen, allude here to the significant economic success has lately achieved to enhance its economic performance, boost import and export rates, decrease of inflation rates and maintain fixed rate of national currency. These achievements availed Sudan to be one of the fastest 10 countries to realize economic growth in the world, as its rate was 7% thereof, and are amongst the top 20 countries in attracting foreign investments. These achievements and success shall, therefore, be a robust resource for the states of the group and a major factor in strengthening ties of cooperation between our peoples. Your Excellencies, As you know, the most important issues to be discussed by the summit are related to peace, security and stability, in addition to democratic government, rule of law, good governance and human rights. It shall moreover avail the opportunity to hold consolations on the further of the African, Caribbean and pacific States, coordination and unification of stance with regard to the economic partnership negotiations with our European partners, and review of other economic, development, commercial and inter cooperation matters. May I indicate here, that the noble principles of democracy and good government are principle in which we believe and exalted by our teachings, values and traditions across our countries. It should, however, be noted that the principles of good governance on the national level should not be a part from those adopted internationally. It would be delusive to believe that imposition of good governance on the regional level could be effected under international unjust and imbalanced system of government. This imbalance does not only apply for the United Nations System, but cover, as well the international funding institutions which lack fair and equitable representation to realize the goals of development and eradication of poverty, hunger and disease Your Excellencies, Many of our countries do suffer from conflicts and disputes created by colonial powers and further aggravated by poverty, backwardness and the lack of recognition of the root causes therein. It is high time, however, to surpass and address them through dialogue, as you realize we witness a new phase of the world of today wherein its people are availed to closely interact, thanks be to the boom in the filed of information technology, thanks to the information technology, migration, travelling and cross movement of individuals and cash, so we are now living in a world that looks like a small village. This situation urged that a culture of peaceful coexistence, respect for human rights, prevalence of justice and lifting of injustice on vulnerable societies be installed in addition to of endeavours be exerted by governments to realize a better life for their citizens. Your Excellencies, Following the millennium summit in 2005 and the adoption of its recommendations, on issues of development and how to implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly the issue of funding development as agreed upon in Monterey, it was evident that the international community is still unable to allocate the required funds for development, in spite of what has been achieved at the level of the 8 MDGs. Despite these achievements did not meet the ambitions of most of our countries which are troubled by diseases and threatened by famines, backwardness and suffer under the heavy burden of debts, but connecting the MDGs which international funding mechanism is a must in addition to paving the way for international trade. It is also appropriate in spite of the stumbling blocks that we reiterate our commitment vis a vis what we have agreed upon in the MDGs and to renew our determination to realize its goals for a better life for all humanity. We should also emphasize our states rights to set their priorities in terms of development without preconditions or commitments that hinder their efforts and shake their priorities. We also would like to assert our keenness that the new proposed mechanism of development funding should n not have negative impact on the financial flows. In this respect, we have to stress the importance of complete cancellation of debts that stand as a stumbling blocks in achieving MDGs, specially in Africa and LDCs, namely, the ACP group. Setting of an conditions to cancel these debts will hamper development in countries that suffer from debts. It is worth reporting that it is important the rich countries commit to their pledges and obligations vis a vis funding development according to Monterey concept and reforming funding institutions in a way that strengthens transparency and realize wider representation for the developing countries and which doubles financial and technical assistance to facilitate trade through AID For TRADE program. That is necessary to improve investment opportunities for the private sector, enhancing infrastructure, environmental reform and combating corruption. The prevailing quota system hampers export volume, taxes in semi – manufactured commodities, the usage of industrial alternatives weaken our countries capabilities and potentials to approach the EU markets. Making an international partnership according to all international initiatives is important for the realization and development. Unfortunately, the most fable of all points is the international partnership which will never be achievable unless disparities between development levels are removed, the LDCs are empowered to have full integration with the international economy, integration is one of the goals set by Cotonu convention. On the other hand imposing obligatory economic measures including unilateral sanctions against developing countries hinder the freedom of trade and investment. Issues of fund, transfer of technology remain necessary for sustainable development. That why we emphasize the importance of providing assistance to the ACP group especially in the field of technology transfer education, health control of disease such as HIV/ AIDS, TB and Malaria. Your Excellencies, Today we are living in a world where challenges and threats are interrelated. The international community knows very well that development, peace and security are closely interrelated as well according to the document high calibre meeting last year. The greatest challenge that faces the international community today is to maintain international peace and security, hand in hand with achieving economic advancement and development, that is achievable only through concerted collective action led by competent and efficient international organization. Here I would like to bring to your memory tow important documents adopted in the second south summit held in Doha , these are Doha declaration and plan of action. In these two documents, international cooperation fro development has been stressed and all forms of economic sanctions unilaterally imposed have been rejected, resolution of conflicts on peaceful emphasized and rejection of threatening of usage of forces in international relations. The declaration has also asserted the importance of dialogue among civilizations and south – south cooperation to bridge the gap of development. Excellencies, This summit is held in the aftermath of a high calibre Un meeting of the mid comprehensive review to Brussels plan of Action for the LCDs for 2001 –2010. the review revealed many issues of deep concern such as HIV/ AIDS, TB and Malaria in the group of the ACP states, particularly retreat of social indicators in Africa . The figures also indicate increase of poverty that makes Brussels plan of action and partnership plan difficult to implement, that is why a great action is needed, an action that takes so many factors in account such as renewal and enhancing of the ACP group of states and other concerned states and their partners in development commitment to implement the plan of action through mobilization of powers, capacity building and provision of financial resources. Consequently, development partners have to commit to their pledges and obligations, cancellation of debts, building capacities and removal of imbalances of world trade through opening markets and facilitation of trade. Your Excellencies, The economic partnership agreements must be a real tool for sustainable development in our countries rather than a means to penetrate into our markets in a way that affects our revenues and cripple our productive powers when our national industries and agricultural products enter into unfair competition with the European products which are originally subsidized. The economic partnership cannot be a partnership for real development unless the necessary additional financing is provided to cover the impacts resulting from the adoption of the open door policies and the loss of revenue due to the decrease of customs tariff and to resolve the problems of production and building the capacities related to trade. Moreover, the economic partnership agreements have to support the efforts of regional economic integration and building strong regional markets that are capable to compete through the support of specialized production and resolving the problems of infrastructure and the poor production and marketing policies relevant to the external market represent a major obstacle for our external trade. Therefore, we welcome the cooperation between the ACP group and the EU to overpass these obstacles. We also welcome the cooperation with the European Union, the European parliament and the joint parliamentary council to support the efforts of cooperation in the fields of democracy, rule of law and good governance. We should not forget in this welcoming address the tenth development fund the investment window and the water and peace fund in Africa we are aspiring for the optimum use of these resources in a manner that serve the development in the states of the group. Your Excellencies, You have been following up the process of WTO negotiations which has resulted in freezing the talks on Doha Development Agenda as a result of attaining any success. You have also following up the hard line stances of some great states in the issue of raising subsidy of the agricultural products despite the harmful consequences on the developing countries and the least developed countries. Obviously, the removal of the different forms of agricultural subsidies contributes to the fair trade competition and increases the opportunities for the developing. Countries and LCDs, as well as orienting the world trade towards the right direction, without confusing or hindering the trade. However, it is unavoidable to continue the dialogue with our European partners and the others to re- activate and continue the negotiations and to find a break through in the current impasse for the creation of an international economic system of more equity and fairness to the developing countries. Your Excellencies, The world is facing today rapid and fast transformations in its political and economic systems within the globalization and the uni- polar system. This is an issue that requires us to be a unified, integrated and strong block more than ever before. It can only be realized through the presence of the political will and the believe in the objectives of this group so as to reach the level of the effective economic blocks so as to play its role in the making of the future and to take its proper status among the nations. For that reason, there is a dire need to activate the mechanisms of cooperation in this group and the exchange of expertise and information and experiences in the different domains , and then to open to the developed world hand in hand with one heart to benefit from its development support, including the transfer of modern technology for building a prosperous future for our people and creating a world free of disparities and prejudice and inequity, a world where peace, security and cooperation are prevailing in for the sake of all humanity. The formation of a multi – polar world governed by the international laws requires conducting radical reforms in the UN system the consolidation of the UN role also necessitate a hard work to activate its institutions and to provide them with the basic requirements it is in need of to carry out its duties in the different parts of the world. Thus it is essential and vital to posses the political will that will enable this international organization to bear its responsibilities and carry out its duties, organization to bear its responsibilities and carry out its duties, particularly form the part of the security council permanent members. A great and major responsibility lay a head of these states to realize this goal in a way that will enable the organization to carryout its functions within a real democracy which is capable to overcome the inherited situations since the end of the world war 11. In this context, Sudan appeals for the realization of a new formula that guarantees the reform of the security council and modernizing the pattern of its work in view of the fact that its is the international issnistion directly responsible of maintaining international peace and security. The current formation of this council. The modes of its work and manner of its decision making process do not respond to the desired need and do not provide the aspired opportunity of the member states in this organization to express their view points regarding vital and crucial issue affecting all of us. This international organization has been and should remain, the collective forum representing the collective responsibility and the concept of political pluralism and the collective strive and the strong international will to create a sage and stable world. The difference in view points that have prevailed the previous deliberations on the reform of the security council should not dissuade and keep us away from going forward to resolve this issue, and for this reason we call for intensifying the efforts to realize this goal. What gives more credibility to our appeal for reform is the break out of disputes form time to time in a way that threat the peace and security without an effective initiative movement from the security council. These consequences, with no doubts, affirms that the structural and organizational reform of the security council becomes a pressing issue for today more than ever. Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,Allow me, at the end of my address, to extend our thanks to all of you to participate with us in this important summit despite your great national tasks. I am sure that your presence in our country will give all of us a good chance to know each other and to think about a lot common issue, I wish fruitful and constructive deliberations. Allow me also, to express on behalf of all of you our greatest thanks and gratitude for the European commission, which has supported the steering of this summit. That support is a real incorporation for the concept of the existing partnership between our countries and the European Union. Thank you for your attention.
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