Second African Forum for Dialogue

Ambassador Masri
Distinguished speakers
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure to be with you for the Second African Forum for Dialogue to mark Africa Day 2010. Allow me, first of all, to thank Ambassador Masri and the African Union for their efforts in organizing this important event to reflect on the critical link between peace and security and sustainable development. This Annual Forum is already developing into a valuable tradition here in Geneva.

The focus of today’s discussion is indeed timely. Experience has taught us that peace promotes development. And development sustains peace. But while the lessons may be clear, their practical application continues to pose a challenge. This is a shared responsibility that Africa and the international community must shoulder together, in an inclusive partnership. I hope this day can serve to consolidate this.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
With the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals fast approaching, the Secretary-General has designated 2010 as the year of development, with a focus on Africa. The high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the MDGs in New York in September will be an opportunity to mobilize support for scaling up MDG successes, identify gaps that need urgent attention, determine priorities and build a coalition for action. As part of the preparations, the Secretary-General has established an MDG Advocacy Group of eminent personalities to raise awareness. Africa needs to be actively engaged in the run-up to the Summit and to be well represented there to share African views and experience.

The facts are clear: we have made progress towards the Goals. But, it has been insufficient and uneven – at global, regional and national levels. Parts of Africa, in particular, stand to miss several of the goals altogether. This is simply not acceptable. It is also clear that we cannot reverse this situation if we do not address challenges related to peace and security. The United Nations fully supports the Year of Peace and Security, designated by African leaders, and is working with African nations to turn this year into real peace gains for African people.

Firstly, we need to reinforce efforts for conflict prevention. The United Nations has been working to strengthen its capacity for preventative measures in collaboration with regional players. The collaboration between the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS and international partners on the Ouagadougou Joint Declaration concerning the situation in Guinea is an example in this respect.

Secondly, peacebuilding capacity needs to be enhanced and applied better. The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission is currently focused on Burundi, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau in support of nationally-driven peacebuilding strategies. The Peacebuilding Fund has provided 130 million US dollars to peacebuilding projects in 10 African countries. Four of out every five dollars from the Fund has gone to Africa. At the same time, there is consensus that the new peacebuilding architecture, which has been innovative for the United Nations, needs to be strengthened to realize its potential fully. African nations need to be engaged in this review.

Thirdly, conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts must be underpinned by firm democratic foundations. The resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in the region is of serious concern. It runs counter to fundamental United Nations values and to the African Union’s own Constitutional Act. The United Nations has peacekeeping or peacebuilding operations in many of the countries that are scheduled to have elections over the coming two years. We are working in all of these countries to help to bolster electoral capacity for credible elections that reflect the will of the people.

Fourthly, we need to confront challenges to peace and security broadly. Drug trafficking and organized crime are rising threats to peace and security on the African continent. Climate change and environmental degradation carry the inherent risk of exacerbating tension over access to scarce resources and to fuel instability.

Across all of these efforts, we must strengthen disarmament. Proliferation and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons are a drain on African development efforts. Globally, we need to advance the strategic disarmament agenda. With global military expenditure approaching 1.5 trillion dollars annually, much-needed resources could be liberated for development purposes. With the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, which entered into force in July of last year, Africa is leading by example. We need Africa to continue to remind world leaders to follow.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Africa Day is also an opportunity to look at the vast potential of the continent. Africa is rich not only in natural but also in human resources. Today, we also pay tribute to the resilience, courage and determination of the African people in taking forward efforts for peace and security and for development. It was these very qualities that paved the way for the independence of many African nations 50 years ago, which we are also celebrating this year.

We need to maintain the focus on building, refining and applying this resource in support of African efforts. This means continuing to expand the reach and quality of education. It also means improving public health, as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis continue to take an unacceptable toll in Africa. Special attention is needed for maternal health, which has the greatest potential to be an engine for development but is the area where we are lagging the furthest behind the targets set for the MDGs.

The empowerment of women has to be at the centre of our work to unlock the potential of Africa. Several African nations have made important strides in this area. As we mark this year the 10th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, we need to work together to increase a meaningful participation of women in decision-making in national, regional and international mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. The implementation of the Resolution has so far fallen short of expectation. This year, the international community must rededicate itself to the aims of the Resolution. This has to include scaled up efforts to address gender-based violence – in conflict and after.

Africa is a vital and dynamic continent. Let us continue to work together in partnership to allow it to capitalize on this potential.

Thank you very much.