Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff Visits Nigeria; Joint Communique Calls for Security Council Reform

Nigeria: Jonathan, Rousseff of Brazil Back UN Security Council Reform

24 FEBRUARY 2013

Abuja — Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Dilma Rousseff of Brazil on Saturday called for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic and reflective of the changes in the international architecture.

Both leaders made the call in Abuja when Rousseff paid a State visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the Nigerian President.

In a joint communiqué issued by both leaders after a closed-door meeting, they said that the on-going effort at reforming the UN was a welcome development.

They noted that the reform would equip the global organisation better to meet the current challenges in the maintenance of international peace.

The two presidents spoke highly of the friendly relations and cooperation between Africa and South America.

They also expressed their appreciation for the convening of the seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic in January.

The two presidents exchanged information about Nigeria's candidature for election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2014 to 2015.

They also exchanged information about Brazil's Ambassador Roberto Azevedo's candidacy for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

They agreed in principle to consider favourably the candidatures, as well as other candidatures from both countries in the light of their excellent bilateral relationship.

The two presidents noted the importance of energy to the development and industrialisation efforts of the two countries.

They restated their commitments to collaborate in the energy sector for a mutually beneficial partnership.

They, therefore, pledged to work together for the prompt implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy, signed in 2009.

The MoU covers initiatives in the areas of power generation, transmission and distribution as well as the production and commercialisation of bio-fuels.

The two leaders agreed to actively collaborate in the other sectors including agriculture and aviation.

They noted the importance of implementing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), and agreed that the facility of direct air links between the two countries would encourage people to people exchanges and enhance trade between Brazil and Nigeria.

The leaders agreed to encourage exchange of visits by officials in the Defence and Security sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas.

They agreed to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Brazilian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of friendly relations and co-operations between Nigeria and Brazil in the past 56 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961.

Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefits, mutual respect and mutual interests.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rousseff who arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 11 a.m., was received by Jonathan, ministers and other presidential aides.

The visiting President inspected a guard of honour mounted for her, followed by a 21-gun salute before the closed-door meeting. (NAN)


Nigeria, Brazil trade volume hits $9 billion

Posted by: Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja on February 24, 2013

Nigeria and Brazil yesterday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering agriculture and food security, petroleum, power, bio-fuel, trade and investment, mining, education, aviation, infrastructure management, finance and culture.

It was the high-point of the visit of President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil to Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan said at the end of bilateral talks between the two countries that a bi-national commission will be set to implement the MoU.

The MoU, according to him, will be used to “leverage on the economy of our people, improve the lot of unemployed young men and women and make sure Nigerians and Brazilians are happy people.”

Also speaking, President Rousseff said: “Our exchanges have actually outgrown significantly between 2009 and 2012, years marked by crises. Our trade exchanges have grown and for 2012 the figures come to $9billion.”

“We agreed that we must diversify and make it a more balanced trade.”

Later in a communiqué, the two leaders directed their ministers of foreign affairs to commence the immediate implementation of the agreement.

It said:”Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual interest.

“The two leaders instructed that the joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil should convene the 7th meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja as soon as possible to follow up the outcomes of President Rousseff’s visit to Nigeria.

“Both Presidents welcomed the positive trends in the development of their bilateral trade and pledged to work together towards attaining a more balanced, diverse and mutually beneficial trade relationship.

“The two presidents noted the importance of implementing bilateral air services agreement (BASA) and agreed that the facility of direct air links between the two countries will encourage better people to people exchanges and enhance trade between Brazil and Nigeria. They therefore underscored the need to take appropriate measures to promote the re-establishment of direct air links between the two countries.

“The two leaders noted the significant roles played by the two countries in the maintenance of peace and security in their respective regions and expressed readiness to work together to promote international peace and security, democracy as well as development.”

In the area of Political and Security Cooperation, the Presidents agreed to “encourage exchange of visits by officials in the Defence and Security sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas; to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Brazilian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.”

On the crisis in Guinea-Bissau and Mali, they pledged their support for “the global approach to the solution of the Malian crisis, as set out by the ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations Security Council.

“They commended the efforts of the international community, the ECOWAS and the neighbouring countries aimed at supporting the Malian people in restoring its national unity and territorial integrity, building democratic institutions and fighting the twin scourges of terrorism and organised crime.”

They also expressed serious concern on the present political and institutional crisis in Guinea Bissau and the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation of its people”.

The leaders also discussed the importance of cultural and educational exchange programs in solidifying closer ties and friendship between Nigeria and Brazil as they instructed the Ministers of Education of both countries to work through existing MoU or establish a relevant one on cultural and education exchange cooperation.

The Brazilian President was coming from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where she attended the just concluded Africa-South America Summit.

President Jonathan also attended the Malabo summit.

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