Friday, March 28, 2014

Germany Urged to Support Africa’s Integration Agenda, and Contribute to Silencing the Guns by 2020
African Union Commission Chair Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

March 27, 2014

ADDIS ABABA – Ahead of the Africa-European Union Summit scheduled for 2-3 April, 2014, in Brussels, Belgium, a delegation of German authorities visiting the African Union has been urged to support Africa’s integration agenda, in a true spirit of partnership.

The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, accompanied by the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners urged for the German support, as a key member of the European Union, when they met with the visiting delegation, led by the Federal Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the African Union headquarters on March 24.

Appreciating Germany’s support toward the continent’s efforts to maintain peace and security, the AU Commission Chairperson said, “We must all move beyond conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacemaking, to work for Africa’s development and its integration agenda, which will target the drivers of conflict.”

Members of the AU Commission called for more mutually beneficial partnerships that would see more African youths and women trained, grow massive industries that would create employment for millions of African youths, and preventing them from being lured to using dangerous means to seek better opportunities.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma enjoined the German government to support Africa in realizing the Heads of States and Governments’ decision to silence the guns by 2020, as decided in their solemn declaration during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the OAU-AU in May 2013.

Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the AU for taking more responsibilities, particularly in forging ahead with the resolution of regional conflicts. The German delegation also expressed the interest to see more African contribution to funding the AU’s activities.

In this light, the AU Commission noted initiatives underway such as the Africa Solidarity Initiative and the fundraising conference for the Africa-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) which saw far more contributions from African countries than the partners. It was noted that the holding of the Conference of Africa’s Ministers of Economy and Finance at the end of March is within the context of generating African finance to support African solution to Africa’s problems.

The German Foreign Minister spoke briefly about ongoing efforts to reach consensus on cooperation in the crisis in Ukraine, in order to find a way out through diplomatic means. – African Union Commission.

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