Final Communique of the Sixth Summit of Heads of States and Governments, May 2001

FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE SIXTH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATES AND GOVERNMENTS, MAY 2001

The Sixth Summit of the COMESA Authority of Heads of State and Government was held at the Cairo International Conference Center, Cairo, Egypt, 22-23 May, 2001 under the theme: “COMESA FREE TRADE AREA: Gateway to Investment”.

The Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government:

(a) His Excellency Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt

(b) The Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth Q.C., KCMG, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius

(d) His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

(e) His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma, President of the Republic of Namibia

(f) His Excellency Didier Ratsiraka, President of the Republic of Madagascar

(g) His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda

(h) His Excellency Colonel Azali Assoumani, President of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros

(i) The Right Honourable Dr. Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland

(j) The Right Honourable Dileita Mohamed Dileita, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti

The following Plenipotentiaries represented their countries:

(a) His Excellency Honourable Professor George Saitoti, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya

(b) His Excellency Ali Hosman Taha, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan

(d) His Honour Enock P. Kavindele, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia

(e) Honourable Joseph Ntanyotora, Minister of Commerce and Tourism of the Republic of Burundi

(f) Honourable Haile Woldensae, Minister of Trade and Industry of the State of Eritrea

(g) Honourable Denis Kalume Numbi, Minister of Planning of the Democratic Republic of Congo

(h) Honourable Mulatu Teshome, Vice-Minister of Economic Development and Co-operation of the

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (i) His Excellency Calixte d' Offay, Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles.

The following countries attended as observers: The Republic of Togo, Republic of South Africa, the Republic of India, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the Republic of Somali.

The following Chief Executives represented their organisations at the Summit: Mr. Mike Moore, Director General, World Trade Organisation (WTO); Dr. Ibrahim Fall, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN); Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); Dr. Prega Ramsamy, Executive Secretary, Southern African Development Community (SADC); Dr. Lansana Kouyate, Executive Secretary, Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS); Dr. Attala Hamad Bashir, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); Sylvain-Goma Louis, Secretary General of Economic Community for Central African States (ECCAS); Dr. Madani El Azhari, Secretary- General Community for Sahel and Saharan States (CEN-SAD); Mr. Caabi E. Mohamed, Secretary General, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC); Dr. Michael Gondwe, President, Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank); Mr. Shadreck Lubasi, Managing Director, PTA Re-Insurance Company (ZEP-RE); Mr. D. Dusoruth, Director, Indian Ocean Rim (IOR); Dr. Adebayo Oyejola, Secretary General, African Regional Organisation of Standardisation (ARSO) and Mr. Isa Lukwago, Acting Executive Secretary, COMESA Clearing House.

The following organisations were also represented: African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Secretariat; African Development Bank (ADB); Commission of the European Union (EC);Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC); International Monetary Fund (IMF); United States Agency for International Development (USAID/REDSO/ESA); Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The outgoing Chairman of the Authority, The Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius called the Summit to order and expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Government and the people of Egypt, for the excellent hospitality accorded to all the delegations and for hosting the Summit. Right Honourable Jugnauth then invited His Excellency President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak to address the Summit.

His Excellency, President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt welcomed all Heads of State and Government, Ministers and members of their delegations to the Sixth COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, dedicated to the theme: “COMESA FTA: Gateway to Investment”. He highlighted the fact that it was a historic event for Egypt to host the Sixth COMESA Summit.

President Mubarak stated that the Summit, as an annual event, was an important forum for the Heads of State and Government to discuss and reflect on the progress the Institution had made. In particular, he recognised the resounding success of the launch of the COMESA Free Trade Area. As the first African FTA he observed that it's creation was a major landmark in the African economic integration process and a step towards the realisation of the African Economic Community.

President Mubarak then identified the major work to be done by COMESA to consolidate the integration process. This work, the President noted, includes; the adoption and implementation of a Common External Tariff and Customs Union by 2004, expanding the membership of the FTA and attracting Foreign Direct Investment.

His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak also pointed out the significance of the Summit theme “COMESA FTA : Gateway to Investment”, noting that the COMESA liberalisation programme was beginning to provide attractive investment opportunities throughout the region. President Mubarak highlighted the main programmes to which Egypt had made a contribution including air transport liberalisation and the development of small and medium scale enterprises. He also called for deeper co-operation between the regional economic groupings in Africa and took note of the need for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to continue addressing issues of peace and security.

Finally, President Mubarak noted that the economic development and prosperity of the people of COMESA could only be obtained through collective action.

His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius and out-going Chairman of the Authority delivered a key note address in which he thanked His Excellency, President Hosni Mubarak, President of the Republic of Egypt, on behalf of his colleagues and on his own behalf for hosting the Summit and for the warm hospitality accorded to the Heads of State and Government and all other delegates.

Prime Minister Jugnauth stated that since the launch of the FTA there has been a noticeable increase interregional investment flows, which he said is encouraging and needs to be complemented and sustained through increased intra-COMESA investment and foreign direct investment. He said that the launching of the FTA and the establishment of the African Trade Insurance Agency are important steps in improving the attractiveness of the region as an investment destination. He urged members that have not joined the FTA to do so as a matter of urgency. He stated that other regions are moving ahead in leaps and bounds to integrate their regions and the COMESA region should do the same to avoid being marginalised in global issues.

The Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth also reported that as Chairman of COMESA he had held a meeting with the Chairman of SADC, His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma, on the 22nd May, 2001 and they had agreed to set up a joint COMESA/SADC task force at Secretariat level to coordinate the programmes and activities of both institutions and to report on progress through their relevant policy organs.

Sir Anerood Jugnauth identified the major international economic agreements that have a bearing on the region. These included the Cotonou ACP/EU Agreement, the WTO arrangement and the African Growth and Opportunity Act of USA. These agreements, he noted, have an impact COMESA countries and there was need for COMESA member States to remain cohesive as they face these global challenges. The Prime Minister also emphasised the need to continue addressing the issues of peace and security.

Sir Anerood Jugnauth also called upon all member States to develop effective strategies in the fight against the HIV/AIDs pandemic, which, if unchecked, threatens to reverse economic gains.

Finally, Sir Anerood Jugnauth made a statement in which he deplored the violence unleashed by Israel against the Palestinian people and called upon Israel to accept the various regional and international initiatives which provide a framework for the resolution of the conflict.

His Excellency, Dr. Sam Nujoma, President of the Republic of Namibia, moved a vote of thanks to the host President on behalf of his colleagues and on his own behalf. President Nujoma observed that COMESA had made great strides with its integration agenda and this was likely to have positive benefits such as the attraction of investment. President Nujoma also reported on the need to harmonise and rationalise the programmes of COMESA and SADC and reported on the decision taken with Prime Minister Jugnauth to set up a task force to harmonise and rationalise the activities of the two organisations. President Nujoma also highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the region if inter-state trade is to grow and be promoted. Finally, President Nujoma expressed gratitude to His Excellency Mohamed Hosni Mubarak for the warm hospitality extended to all the Heads of State and Government and their delegations. After the formal opening of the Summit, the Authority:

ELECTED by acclamation the Arab Republic of Egypt as Chairman, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as Vice Chairman and the Republic of Mauritius as Rapporteur.

CONSIDERED and ADOPTED the reports of the Tenth and Eleventh Meeting of the Council of Ministers and that of the Second Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs relating to COMESA activities and programmes.

COMMENDED the member States implementing the COMESA Free Trade Area for their achievement.

RECALLING the Authority decision at the fifth Summit with regard to member States joining the Free Trade Area, urged all member States not yet participating in the COMESA Free Trade Area to do so as soon as possible.

DIRECTED the Secretariat to finalise the rules and regulations for safeguard and remedial measures and, in the interim, member States may invoke Treaty provisions.

ENDORSED the programme leading to the attainment of the COMESA Common External Tariff and Customs Union by December 8, 2004.

MANDATED the Bureau of the Council of Ministers to undertake negotiations with the co- operating partners on the setting up and co-financing of projects identified for funding under a COMESA Fund.

COMMENDED the six member States that had successfully founded the African Trade Insurance Agency, to be officially launched in Kampala, Uganda on 31st August 2001, and invited as many African Heads of States as possible to attend.

EXPRESSED gratitude to the World Bank, the European Union and the Government of Japan for funding the project, which resulted in the establishment of the African Trade Insurance Agency.

ENDORSED the decision of the Council of Ministers on the decision and implementation of a new cross-border payment and settlement system, to be completed within a period of one year.

DIRECTED the Secretariat to develop a programme on the use of electronic commerce by member States.

AGREED that the member States of the ACP should remain united in the ongoing negotiations under the Cotonou Agreement particularly regarding the future of the Economic Partnership Agreements.

DIRECTED the Secretariat to support the negotiating positions of the member States in the negotiations under the Cotonou Agreement and World Trade Organisation process, in close co- operation with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and other Regional Economic Communities.

URGED the COMESA Business Council to be more actively involved in regional policy formulation.

NOTED the progress being made by the Secretariat with regard to gender streamlining and the development of the COMESA gender policy. NOTED the efforts being undertaken by the Secretariat and FAO to ensure regional food security and

DIRECTED the Secretariat to prepare, in consultation with the member States, a position paper for the forthcoming Global Forum/World Food Summit.

URGED all the member States to implement the regulations adopted by the Eleventh Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers on the operations of the COMESA air transport services market.

APPOINTED the Honourable Mr. Justice A.M. Akiwumi (Kenya) as the new President of the COMESA Court of Justice and the Honourable Mr. Justice Jean Mutsinzi (Rwanda) as Judge of the COMESA Court of Justice.

INVITED all the member States to sign and ratify the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Labour, Services, the Right of Establishment and Residence as adopted by the Authority.

CONDEMNED the violence unleashed by Israel on the Palestinian people and called upon Israel to immediately stop that violence and to accept and implement relevant UN resolutions aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

CONSIDERED the necessity of peace and security in the COMESA region in order to promote the objectives of the COMESA Treaty and INVITED the member States to fully engage in the search for peace and stability in the COMESA region.

RECALLED the past decision of the COMESA Authority condemning the continued destabilisation of Angola by UNITA bandits and REAFFIRMED their support to the UN resolution imposing sanctions on UNITA and the OAU declaration of UNITA's Savimbi as a war criminal.

URGED the concerned parties of the Lusaka Agreement on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo to comply fully with their commitments.

DIRECTED the COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs to continue to address issues of peace and security.

ADOPTED the report of the Second Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs, including the role and functions of the policy organs responsible for peace and security and the mode of co-operation with the private sector and civil society.

RE-AFFIRMED their past decisions requiring member States to support the ZEP-RE in its operations.

CALLED on member States that have not yet joined the PTA Bank to take up membership of the Bank as soon as possible.

EXPRESSED appreciation to all the co-operating partners for their continued support to COMESA programmes.

ENDORSED the joint decision of the Chairman of COMESA and Chairman of SADC to set up a Joint COMESA/SADC Task Force at Secretariat level to coordinate the process of rationalising and harmonising the programmes of both institutions and to report to their respective policy organs on progress made. EXPRESSED appreciation to the Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth Q.C., KCMG, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, and his Bureau, for the excellent work done during their one-year term of office.

EXPRESSED gratitude to His Excellency Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the government and the people of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the warm and fraternal hospitality extended to all delegates.

His Excellency Colonel Azali Assoumani of the Federal Republic of Comoros moved a closing vote of thanks. He extended the gratitude of all those present to His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak and the government and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the excellent hospitality extended to all the delegates. President Assoumani also extended the gratitude of this government and the people of Comoros to the African States that had assisted them during the crisis. He expressed hope that Comoros would continue to be assisted in settling the crisis permanently and in the reconstruction process.

The Authority adopted its Final Communiqu頡s read by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, His Excellency Youssef Boutros Ghali, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

In closing the Sixth Summit, His Excellency Mohamed Hosni Mubarak expressed appreciation to all Heads of State and Government for attending the Summit. President Mubarak noted that the Summit had been successful in advancing the integration agenda of COMESA. Finally, President Mubarak wished all the Heads of State and Government and their delegations safe return to their capitals.

DONE at Cairo in the Arab Republic of Egypt on 23rd May 2001 in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.