JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE FIFTH SUMMIT OF

 THE SANA'A FORUM FOR COOPERATION

Addis Ababa, 26 February 2007

 

  1. H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan, and H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, President of the Republic of Somalia, upon the invitation of H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, held the Fifth Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation (SFC) on 26 February, 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

  1. The outgoing chairman of the Forum H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen presented a progress report on the follow-up of the activities of the Forum since the Fourth Summit held in Aden, on 28 and 29 December 2005. The Leaders commended the excellent performance and expressed their appreciation for his guidance and able leadership of the Forum since the 4th Summit.

 

  1. The Leaders congratulated H.E President Ali Abdullah Saleh for the confidence conferred upon him by the Yemeni people for his leadership, and his re-election for a new term of presidency.  They expressed their best wishes to H.E President Ali Abdullah Saleh for a successful leadership to accomplish greater achievements for the Yemeni People.

 

  1. The Leaders expressed their appreciation for the efforts exerted by the executive and specialized committees to ensure the implementation and the follow-up of the decisions reached at the previous Summits.

 

  1. The Leaders noted with satisfaction that the cooperation in the areas of trade, investment and tourism among the member countries of the SFC has been expanding.  With the view to enhancing the economic cooperation a Frame Work Agreement for the Promotion of Banking Relations as well as a bilateral agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation between Ethiopia and the Sudan were signed.

 

  1. The Leaders appreciated the inauguration of the Sana'a Forum Pavilion by the Ministers of Trade and Industries of the Member States, which was organized by the business communities of the Member States of the Forum. They commended the holding of the First Business Council meeting on the sidelines of the Summit.

 

  1. The initialed agreement for the establishment of the Secretariat of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation was signed at the Summit after it was approved by the leaders.

 

  1. The Leaders discussed wide range of issues related to situations in the member countries of the Forum, as well as regional and sub-regional issues of common concern. They expressed their sincere desire and full commitment to work together to attain durable peace, security and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa and the Southern Red Sea Regions.

 

  1. With regard to regional peace and security, the leaders underlining the new positive opportunity created in Somalia, which resulted from Ethiopia's response upon the invitation of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, expressed their collective commitment to restore peace and stability in Somalia.

 

  1. The Summit reiterated its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia and the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of  Somalia, consistent with purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the African Union

 

  1. The Summit expressed its full support to all relevant decisions of IGAD and AU and UN Security Council Resolution No. 1744 (2007) to deploy the African Union Mission (AMISOM) in Somalia and efforts being made towards that effect. The Summit also urged for a rapid deployment of the African Peace Mission in Somalia.

 

  1. The Leaders welcomed the initiative of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for national reconciliation and dialogue in Somalia involving all stakeholders, and called upon all Somalis to renounce all forms of violence and acts of terrorism.

 

  1.  The Leaders while confirming their full commitment and support towards achieving full peace, stability and reconstruction in Somalia, called upon all Somalis to rise up to the challenges and use the new opportunity to reconcile their differences and to work together towards the reconstruction of their country.

 

  1. The Summit also urged the international community to come forward to assist the people and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to consolidate the already achieved peace and stability, and to strengthen the achievements through unconditional and tangible political, economic, financial, technical, logistical as well as humanitarian support.

 

  1. On the situation of the Sudan, the Summit was briefed by H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan, and appreciated the efforts being made to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement, and Darfur Peace Agreement.  The Leaders welcomed the latest development and effort to include other factions in the Darfur peace process as well as the positive development in the relations between the Sudan and Chad.

 

  1. The Leaders expressed their desire for a peaceful and lasting solution to the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea which can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomatic means.

 

  1. The Summit welcomed the Mecca Agreement and called upon the Security Council and the Quartet for a prompt action to implement the Road Map, other relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative in order to establish an independent Palestine State and lifting of all sanctions against the Palestinian people.

 

  1. The Leaders reiterated their condemnation of all acts of violence, extremism and international terrorism in all its manifestations.  The leaders also called for enhancing the capacity of the member countries and cooperation among them to combat terrorism.

 

  1. H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minster of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, President of the Republic of Somalia welcomed the invitation extended by H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, to host the 6th Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation in Khartoum.

 

  1. H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan, and H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, President of the Republic of Somalia expressed their gratitude and thanks to the Prime Minister, the Government and the people of Ethiopia for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to them and their accompanying delegations during their stay in Addis Ababa.

 

Done at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

26th February 2007