Mofa Statement
Newsletter 16
Joint communiqué of the executive committee
Of the Sana’a forum for cooperation (SFC)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
19 July 2006
H.E Ato Seyoum Mesfin, the Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E Dr. Abubaker A. Al-qirbi, Minister of Foreign and Emigrant Affairs of the Republic of Yemen, H.E Mr. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and H.E Mr. El Samani El Wasila El-Sheikh El- Samani, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 18-19 July 2006 for the regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation.
§ The Executive Committee took note of the progress report presented by H.E Dr. Abubaker A. Al-Qirbi, Minister of Foreign and Emigrant Affairs of the Republic of Yemen on activities of the Forum since the last follow up meeting of the Executive Committee held in Sana'a, from May 3-4/ 2006.
§ The Executive Committee held discussions on briefings of current regional issues mainly on the current situations in the Sudan, Somalia and Ethio- Eritrea that are relevant to peace and security of the region and charted out their collective response with a view to enhancing the security and stability of the region.
§ The Executive Committee held extensive discussions on strengthening political, economic and security cooperation among members of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation.
§ The Executive Committee reviewed and endorsed the reports of the Economic and Trade, and the Political specialized committees. The Executive Committee welcomed the signing of Agreements in the economic and commercial fields that could eventually lead for economic integration, and called upon relevant institutions of member countries to expedite the implementation of the agreements of the Forum.
§ The Executive Committee noted with satisfaction people to people relations and the efforts being exerted to encourage Business Communities to play a leading role in enhancing commercial and economic cooperation among member countries.
§ The Executive Committee acknowledged the work of the Specialized Committees and their follow-up of the agreements signed and decisions adopted since the 4th Summit of the Sana’a Forum, and emphasized the need to enhance their efforts with a view to achieving greater levels of coordination and cooperation among member states of the SFC.
§ In consideration of the importance of establishing a secretariat to further strengthen cooperation and coordinate activities of the Forum, the Executive Committee signed an agreement for the establishment of a Secretariat of the Sana’a Forum for Cooperation in Sana’a, the Republic of Yemen.
§ The meeting reaffirmed its commitment to continue fighting terrorism in all its disguises in partnership with the world community, and to take all the necessary steps to eradicate its sources.
§ On the current situation in Somalia, the meeting recalled and fully supported the decision of the IGAD Council of Ministers Extraordinary Session held in Nairobi, Kenya on 13 June 2006, the 55th AU Peace and Security Council Communiqué issued in Addis Ababa on 17 June 2006 and the AU Summit Declaration on the Situation on Somalia adopted in Banjul, the Gambia on 2 July 2006.
§ The Executive Committee reiterates its commitments to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia and its 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 African Union.
§ The Meeting called upon the international community to support and help implement the National Security and Stabilization Plan of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia and, adopted by the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament in May 2006 and welcomed by IGAD, AU and the UNSC. The meeting supported the continued involvement of IGAD in the peace process in Somalia and the early deployment of the IGAD Peace Support Mission (IGASOM) which will subsequently be taken over by the African Union.
§ The Executive Committee welcomes the statements of the UN Security Council on revising the arms embargo to pave the way for the TFI'S to develop Somalia's Security sector and national institutions capable of responding to security issues.
§ The meeting lauded the efforts exerted by H.E. President of the Republic of Yemen in achieving the national reconciliation in Somalia, particularly the meeting which was held in Aden between H.E the President of the Republic of Somalia and the Speaker of the Somali Parliament.
§ The meeting commended the initiative of H.E. the President of the Republic of the Sudan, current Chairman of the League of Arab States for convening a dialogue in Khartoum between the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia and the Union of Islamic Courts in the quest of reaching a settlement which preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. The meeting call upon all parties to put the interest of Somalia at foremost of their agendas and called for a stop of any outside interference in Somali’s affairs.
§ The meeting also called upon donor countries and international humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of people affected by the draught and the conflict in Somalia.
§ The meeting called upon the Islamic Courts to adhere to the agreement signed in Khartoum and to stop all military action and urged the leaders of Islamic Courts to continue the dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and its institutions as the only legitimate authority is Somalia towards establishment of a stable and united Somalia.
§ The Governments of Ethiopia, Yemen, and Somalia commended the Government of National Unity of the Sudan for the efforts being made in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). They also called upon the international community to meet their pledges towards the reconstruction of the Sudan.
§ They also commended the signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed 5 May 2006, and call upon the parties to ensure the scrupulous implementation of the Agreement. Further more, they appealed to those who have not yet signed the Agreement to do so without further delay, and refrain from any act which undermines the implementation of the Agreement.
§ The meeting further commended the role played by AMIS and urges the international community to fully provide it with the necessary support. They agreed that any transfer of mandate of AMIS to UN should be subject to the consent and approval of the Government of the national unity of the Sudan.
§ Underling the importance of the peaceful resolution of the Ethio- Eritrean boundary dispute for the two countries and the region at large, the Governments of Yemen, the Sudan and Somalia call for the settlement of the boundary dispute on the basis of the Algiers Agreements paving the way for durable peace and stability in the region.
§ Member countries of the Forum condemned the recent escalation of violence in Palestine and Lebanon, and called upon the UNSC to take the necessary steps to implement an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated settlement for the exchange of prisoners on both sides. The UNSC should initiate an active involvement for the final settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict based on the UN resolutions relevant to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Arab Peace Initiative.
§ During their stay in Addis Ababa the Foreign Ministers of Yemen, The Sudan and Somalia were received by H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia during which they briefed him on the activities of the Executive Committee.
§ The Ministers of Sudan, Yemen and Somalia expressed their thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to them and their accompanying delegations since their arrival in Addis Ababa.
§ Finally, the Ministers agreed to hold their next meeting at the end of December 2006 in Addis Ababa in preparation for the 5th Summit of the Sana’a Forum for Cooperation.
