15Th Edition of Diplomacy News Enewsletter
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Diplomacy News Republic of Kenya A Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issue No. 0015 September, 2017 Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed delivers country statement during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2017 in New York, USA. Kenya Calls for Consolidation of UNEP Function By Edward Irungu financing and ability of UNEP to fulfil its unique coordination mandate within the UN system.” oreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed has urged United Nations Member States to The Cabinet Secretary was speaking in New York on fully consolidate headquarters functions of UNEP in September 22 2017, where she represented President Nairobi. Uhuru Kenyatta at the 72nd Session of the United F Nations General Assembly. “Kenya insists on the implementation of the decision by heads of state, now enshrined in the Rio Declaration, to consolidate Delivering the country position address at the UN headquarters functions of UNEP in Nairobi,” said Amb. headquarters in New York during the UN general debate, Amina. Amb. Amina Mohamed said climate change is disrupting the livelihoods of millions of people and called for firm “This matter is of grave concern and continues not to receive environmental conservation actions as outlined in the the attention it deserves. The importance of having UNEP in Paris climate agreement. Kenya, in the global south, cannot also be over-emphasized,” added the Cabinet Secretary. “Climate change costs Kenya’s economy approximately 3% of GDP annually,” said the CS. At the same time, the Cabinet Secretary commended the UN for the measures that have been taken so far to strengthen Saying the capacity of the planet to sustain life was and upgrade UNEP to enable it to respond to environmental threatened, the CS urged developed countries to extend challenges. financial, technological and capacity building support to enable developing countries transition to low-carbon Said Amb. Amina Mohamed: “We welcome the move to development. Cont’d page 2 universal membership and the efforts to enhance the PS Juma Congratulates the Sudan on Lifting of Sanctions………………….. 2 Kenya Committed to Stabilisation of Somalia says, CS Mohamed….5 EU to Fund Peace Programs in The Horn of Africa…………………………. 3 Kenya — UAE in Pact to Strengthen Relations……………………... 6 Kenya-Lithuania in Political Pact……………………………………………. 4 ‘Strengthen Cooperation to end Human Trafficking’……………….6 PS Juma Hails Kenya-Cuba Ties……………………………………. ……….. 4 PS Juma Congratulates the Sudan on Lifting of Sanctions By Kawira Githinji oreign Affairs Principal Secretary Amb. Monica Juma has applauded the Government and the people of the Republic of Sudan following the Flifting of international sanctions against their country by the United States of America. PS Juma who is currently in the Sudan to attend the African Union Strategic Consultative Peace and Security meeting that started on October 8, 2017, attributed much of the peace and security challenges in Horn of Africa to state fragility. Principal Secretary Monica Juma chairing a session during the Africa Union Strategic “I urge for protection and deepening of Consultative Peace and Security meeting in Khartoum. democracy, enhanced state effectiveness Prof Ghandour congratulated Kenya and shared regional vision and prosperity the electoral law before the repeat and in particular President Uhuru in order to insulate from violent extremism polls. Kenyatta for respecting the verdict of as some of the imperatives to be considered The two officials agreed to the Supreme Court saying these gesture to reverse state fragility in the region,” she had elevated Kenya’s democratic said. enhance cooperation both at the political and economic levels. credentials. During a bilateral meeting with Sudan’s They also agreed to organise a The PS also paid a courtesy on her Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Ibrahim meeting soon for political counterpart Amb. Abdul Khan Al Ghandour, she briefed the Minister of consultations and explore more Kareem, the Undersecretary of the Kenya’s forthcoming elections and the ways of enhancing cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the challenges on the proposed amendments to between the two countries. Republic of Sudan. Call to Consolidate UNEP Function Cont’d from page 1 “We urge developed countries to meet “The Platform brings together the States to establish an Urban Assembly their pledges to the Green Climate Fund, to government, development to replace the 58-member Governing help developing countries deal with partners, private sector, civil Council at the UN-Habitat in order to adaptation issues,” said the Cabinet society and the UN. This Platform better coordinate urban matters across Secretary. has created diverse SDG the entire UN system. The Cabinet Secretary also called for strong accelerator windows of which “We welcome the confidence that the partnerships toward the realization of Primary Healthcare has been the UN membership has expressed in our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) first”. country by locating UN-Habitat in saying there is a lot of talk about Amb. Amina Mohamed said Kenya Nairobi,” said Amb. Amina Mohamed. partnership but not enough practical, on- targets to enhance health care the-ground support to make partnerships services for women, children and The Cabinet Secretary also addressed a effective in practice. adolescents across the country wide range of other multilateral issues including the reform of the United “Governments and stakeholders should which will pave way for universal Nations Security Council, global revitalize the global partnership for health coverage for all 46 million terrorism, peace and security, global sustainable development, particularly Kenyans by 2021. counter trafficking in persons, through development co-operation and The CS quoted President Uhuru prohibition of nuclear weapons and development financing,” said the CS. Kenyatta saying: “I pledge to take management of refugees and The Cabinet Secretary said Kenya was the needed sustainable actions to migrants. committed to achieving the SDGs citing the end all preventable deaths of The CS affirmed Kenya’s commitment provision of free maternal health care women, children and adolescents to multilateralism saying Kenya was services across the country as the first step. within a generation and ensure their well-being; we hold ourselves committed to working together with The Cabinet Secretary further said Kenya, accountable for our collective other members of the international together with the United Nations, has progress towards this goal.” community in tackling the challenges established an SDG Partnership Platform of the 21st Century. that aims to accelerate the attainment of The Cabinet Secretary also called the SDGs in the country. upon United Nations Members 2 EU to Fund Peace Programs in The Horn of Africa IGAD Foreign Ministers and Vice President of the European Union H.E. Federica Mogherini when they met in Brussels to discuss Regional Peace & Security on September 29, 2017. By Jane Kariuki Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and the peace process in South Sudan in Uganda after a meeting held in June. enya is among countries in March 2017 in the margins of the the Horn of Africa that will African Union Summit in Addis Both sided concurred on the crucial receive approximately 4.1 Ababa. importance of Somalia’s security and billion Euros from the state building progress for the stability KEuropean Union to fund commercial The meeting focused on the multiple of the region. related programs that are linked to challenges affecting the security, stability and prosperity of the Horn of The EU reiterated its support for the promoting peace, security and post- African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) conflict reconstruction in the region. Africa ranging from protracted conflicts and transnational crime to while highlighting the need for fairer The allocation that has already been irregular migration and poor burden sharing of the international approved by EU Parliament will be economic development. community and a gradual ownership administered directly by the EU by the region. Mrs. Mogherini reiterated the EU’s External Action Service, the equivalent In dedicated discussions on the of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. continued engagement and support to the security and stability of the Horn, humanitarian situation in the Horn, The announcement was made on through close political ties and the Commissioner Stylianides welcomed September 29, 2017 in Brussels during EU’s substantial cooperation and the solidarity shown by several an informal Ministerial meeting security commitments, including countries in the Horn hosting millions between Foreign Ministers of through its EUCAP Somalia and of refugees. International Governmental Authority ATALANTA missions. Both sides Amb. Amina Mohamed reiterated the for Development (IGAD) member states agreed to reinforce collaboration on need for burden sharing as a way of and Mrs. Federica Mogherini, the Vice transnational crime, maritime supporting each other in the President & High Representative of the security and border management, in repatriation process. European Union for Foreign Affairs and full respect of the rule of law and Security Policy. protection and of human rights. “The success of the Nairobi Action Plan is anchored on the willingness of all Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet They also exchanged views on stakeholders to mobilize needed Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed concrete avenues for cooperation on resources and