- Title: ETHIOPIA: UN chief Ban Ki-moon calls for restraint in Egypt at AU summit
- Date: 31st January 2011
- Summary: CONFERENCE HALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, NICOLAS SARKOZY, SAYING: "France will be at the side of Tunisians and Egyptians during this crucial period, that isn't just a crucial period for these two countries, but the world." MALAWIAN PRESIDENT AND OUTGOING AU CHAIRMAN BINGU WA MUTHARIKA AND AU COMMISSION CHAIRMAN JEAN PING SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ETHIOPIA PRESIDENT MELES ZENAWI WALKING INTO MEETING KENYAN PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI WALKING INTO MEETING FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI WALKING INTO MEETING SOMALI PRESIDENT SHEIKH SHARIF AHMED WALKING INTO MEETING VARIOUS OF LEADERS GROUP PHOTO
- Embargoed: 15th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ethiopia, Ethiopia
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA2A7O8DL435W1FPJ0G33LB9TNT
- Story Text: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon called on Sunday (January 30) for Egypt's government and protesters to show restraint during the current period of unrest.
Speaking to reporters at an African Union summit dominated by the political crises in Egypt and Ivory Coast, Ban stressed the need for stability.
"Government should ensure that proper channel of communication is ensured under freedom of speech, expression and freedom of association should also be ensured. Now it is also important that all this kind of expression of their wishes should be done in a peaceful way. Their demonstrations, they have the right to express their wishes in demonstrations but all this should not lead to social instability and political instability and should be handled in a peaceful manner," Ban said.
The U.N. secretary-general also urged African leaders at the summit to stand firm against efforts by Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo to cling onto power. Both the U.N. and A.U. recognise Gbagbo's challenger Alassane Ouattara as the president-elect of the world's largest cocoa producing country.
The AU announced late on Friday (January 28) that it would form a panel of five heads of state to resolve the leadership crisis in the Ivory Coast by coming up with a binding settlement within a month.
"The current stalemate is not acceptable, the longer it persists the greater the risks. I welcome African Union decision to tackle this problem within a month through the work of the high level panel. The United Nations stands ready to work as close as possible with this panel," Ban told reporters.
"There is one overriding thing that is at the heart of all these issues and indeed all that we do, you know what that is, the need to listen closely to one another, to keenly hear the voices of the people, to deliver on the people's legitimate aspirations for a better standard of living and a decent quality of life. Social and economic development is pivotal to securing lasting peace and security in Africa," added Ban.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy highlighted the need for reform in the African world before broaching the subject of Egypt.
He suggested that Egyptian protests would impact upon the rest of the world.
"France will be at the side of Tunisians and Egyptians during this crucial period, that isn't just a crucial period for these two countries, but the world," said Sarkozy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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