UNCLAS COTONOU 000369

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W DANA BANKS

E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: PROL PGOV BN
SUBJECT: CENSAD SUMMIT ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE

REF: COTON0U 348


1. On June 20, 2008, a communiqu from the June 17-18 CEN-SAD
summit proposed the creation of an authority to coordinate
agricultural policies and an agricultural development fund.


2. The Libyan Leader, Muammar Khadafi, praised CEN-SAD's progress,
growing international credibility, and "noble ambitions"
highlighting the powerful role CEN-SAD purportedly played in the
creation of the African Union. He also commended CEN-SAD's creation
of a framework to give community leaders the opportunity to discuss
ways to develop the continent's immense mining, oil, agricultural
and fishing resources.


3. Khadafi urged all African countries, especially CEN-SAD members,
to oppose "centrifugal forces" and "balkanization" from external
powers and entities and to unite against globalization and
aggressive economic expansion.


4. The 10th summit praised Khadafi, the "Highest Permanent Mediator
for Peace and Security" for his "laudable" and "responsible"
initiatives to achieve peaceful and negotiated solutions to members'
crises and conflicts. The summit applauded Khadafi for
underscoring, during the 2007 Africa-European Union summit, Western
countries' responsibility for the difficulties most African
countries face in struggling to establish more balanced
relationships, especially in the field of trade. The CEN-SAD
leaders and heads of state endorsed the 33rd ECOWAS summit call for
re-negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement to protect the
interests of African states, producers, and consumers. The CEN-SAD
participants encouraged Khadafi's efforts to strengthen CEN-SAD as
an instrument to promote peace, security and individual and
collective development. The conference created a committee of
moderators, under the leadership of Khadafi, to monitor crisis
situations and suggest solutions.


5. CEN-SAD welcomed ECOWAS' efforts to adopt a convention on light
and small caliber weapons, munitions and related material. It urged
ECOWAS to reinforce and operationalize the light weapons group,
which aims to inform, promote appropriate policies, and draft and
implement programs to combat light weapons trafficking.


6. The conference noted the report of the 11th extraordinary
session of the AU's Executive Council held in Arusha, Tanzania, and
called for joint efforts to create a United States of Africa
Government at the June 30-July 1, 2008 AU summit in Egypt. The
conference mandated President Boni Yayi, as the new CEN-SAD
president, to represent CEN-SAD members at the upcoming AU summit.

BROWN