CENSAD SUMMIT ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE

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