LIBYA: CEN-SAD countries discuss common stance in Libya ahead of AU summit in Ethiopia

Record ID: 453195

  • Title: LIBYA: CEN-SAD countries discuss common stance in Libya ahead of AU summit in Ethiopia
  • Date: 28th January 2009
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (JANUARY 27, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) AFRICAN DELEGATIONS IN HALL BEFORE START OF SESSION VARIOUS OF MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS IN PROGRESS MOHAMMED ABDEL-RAHMAN SHALGAM, LIBYAN FOREIGN LIAISON AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION MINISTER, TALKING DELEGATES LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED ABDEL-RAHMAN SHALGAM, LIBYAN FOREIGN LIAISON AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION MINISTER, SAYING: "As I said, we won't impose (our views) on our foreign minister colleagues or our heads of states at the summit. We will ease things for them, we will give them mature points of view. We will help the commission, when presenting them with practical suggestions that saves time and gives us practical decisions and positions." VARIOUS OF DELEGATES IN MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DR. ALI TREKI, SECRETARY OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS AT THE LIBYAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, SAYING "The outcome of the meeting. We agreed co-ordinating the stance of the CEN-SAD countries during the emergency session for the African Union to discuss the establishment of the federal government. There was a unianimous agreement on backing the establishment of this government and the speeding up of the process in accordance to the Jamahiriya (Libyan) proposal on this matter." VARIOUS OF DELEGATES SPEAKING CONFERENCE HALL
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2009 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAZTYQWKZGKPUN9JJP5DO6RBZM
  • Story Text: Ahead of an African Union meeting next month in Ethiopia, members of Africa's CEN-SAD countries meet in Libya to attempt to reach consensus and convey a common message at summit.
    Representatives of 28 African states that make up the regional economic community CEN-SAD (Community of Sahel-Saharan States) gathered in the Libyan capital on Tuesday (January 27) in an attempt to reach a common position on the idea of a federal government as African leaders prepare to meet in Ethiopia for an African Union (AU) summit.
    Members of CEN-SAD include countries situated around the Sahara desert and the west coast of the continent. The organisation aims to free people's movement and capital across member states and has partnership agreements with other international organisations.
    Libya's foreign liaison and international co-operation minister, Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Shalgam, said the meeting should send a unified message for the countries leaders ahead of the AU summit in Addis Ababa.
    "As I said, we won't impose (our views) on our foreign minister colleagues or our heads of states at the summit. We will ease things for them, we will give them mature points of view. We will help the commission, when presenting them with practical suggestions that saves time and gives us practical decisions and positions," he said.
    Dr. Ali Treki, Secretary of African Affairs at the Libyan foreign ministry, said members had agreed on the need for a federal government to strengthen Africa's global standing.

    "The outcome of the meeting, we agreed co-ordinating the stance of the CEN-SAD countries during the emergency session for the African Union to discuss the establishment of the federal government. There was a unianimous agreement on backing the establishment of this government and the speeding up of the process in accordance to the Jamahiriya (Libyan) proposal on this matter," he said.
    The proposal will be a major issue at the AU summit when African leaders meet the first week of February. Of the continent's 53 members, 20 have agreed to the idea in principle. The structure of the government and the extent of its powers are still a matter of debate.
    Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi has been one of the most vocal supporters of the plan and has often visited other countries to drum up support for the plan.
    The AU has traditionally encouraged integration and greater unity among its member states.
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