APO News from Africa:
1. The European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the United Nations (UN) met in Brussels on 23rd May 2017 to assess developments in Libya since their last meeting in Cairo on 18th March 2017 and further coordinate their efforts to advance the political process and assist Libya in its democratic transition.
2. The meeting was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Ms. Federica Mogherini and attended by the AU High Representative for Libya, former President Jakaya Kikwete, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Mr. Martin Kobler.
3. The Quartet reiterated its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya and its institutions under the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat while renewing its call to cease contacts with parallel institutions outside the Libyan Political Agreement. It underscored the urgent need for a Libyan-led peaceful resolution of the political crisis and reiterated its rejection of the threat or use of armed force by any Libyan party as well as any foreign military intervention in Libya.
4. The Quartet strongly condemned the unprovoked attack on Brak al-Shati last week and expressed its serious alarm at reports of the high number of fatalities, including civilians, and of alleged summary executions. It stressed that such acts of violence constitute a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law and that the perpetrators must be held fully accountable. It called on all parties to refrain from further violence and any act that may undermine ongoing efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict.
5. The Quartet also expressed its concern about recent security incidents and threats of violence in Tripoli. It saluted efforts aimed at consolidating a reduction in tensions in the capital and welcomed the return of calm in the oil crescent. It called on the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord to continue to assert its authority and address security issues in the capital and elsewhere and called for renewed efforts among all parties to consolidate more durable security arrangements throughout the country.
6. Recognizing the importance of consolidating stability and security along Libya’s borders, the Quartet reiterated its support for Libyan and regional measures to improve border security and pledged to enhance coordination in this field.
7. The Quartet commended the efforts by the Constitutional Drafting Assembly to finalize a draft constitution and expressed its appreciation for the work made so far, most recently with the draft published on 16 April 2017. It called for the constitution-drafting process to be concluded as soon as possible to pave the way to general and presidential elections.
8. The Quartet continued to encourage all Libyan parties to engage in constructive and inclusive talks to fully implement the Libyan Political Agreement. It welcomed all efforts and encouraging progress resulting from recent meetings between Libyan stakeholders, in particular between Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Abu Dhabi on 2-3 May 2017 and between the President of the House of Representatives, Agila Saleh and the President of the High State Council, Abdulrahman Sewehli in Rome on 21st April 2017.
9. The Quartet similarly welcomed the appointment of dialogue committees by both the House of Representatives and the High State Council and urged them to seek consensus on outstanding issues to ensure the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement. It reiterated its commitment to support these efforts and to work in a complementary manner to advance the UN-facilitated political process towards a comprehensive resolution of the crisis in Libya.
10. The Quartet expressed its appreciation for ongoing regional efforts to support the Libyan political process. It welcomed the final communique of the 11th meeting of Libya's Neighbours held in Algiers on 8th May 2017, which reaffirmed support for a comprehensive political solution based on the Libyan Political Agreement.
11. The Quartet expressed its concern about the economic situation in Libya, underlining the need for the Libyan authorities to tackle the serious and urgent fiscal and monetary challenges facing the country. It encouraged all concerned stakeholders – in particular the Central Bank and the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord – to further cooperate and address these challenges, including through reforms, as developed within the framework of the Economic Dialogue.
12. The Quartet reiterated its support to the coordination role of the UN and encouraged the UN to take the lead in any effort to facilitate a limited amendment of the Libyan Political Agreement including the development and facilitation of a roadmap charting the way to a limited set of amendments to the Libyan Political Agreement, which are to be agreed as a package deal through a Libyan-led inclusive process. The Quartet also welcomed the series of activities and events convened by the UN to facilitate a national reconciliation process in Libya.
13. The Quartet recognized the important role of the African Union and welcomed the recent consultations the AU High Representative for Libya, former President Jakaya Kikwete, had with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and President of the House of Representatives, Agila Saleh, in Tripoli, and Bayda respectively. The Quartet looks forward to additional consultations by the High Representative in the coming weeks.
14. The Quartet recognized the responsibility of the League of Arab States to promote a peaceful resolution of the situation in Libya, and welcomed its determination to continue these efforts and achieve national reconciliation among all Libyans based on the Libyan Political Agreement as reiterated by the recent Arab Summit held on 29th March 2017. It also welcomed the mediation efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, including during his recent consultations in Tripoli, Tobruk and Bayda.
15. The Quartet welcomed the continuing support of the European Union aimed at accompanying Libya's transition towards an inclusive democracy, in particular its efforts to foster stabilization and rehabilitation, including its substantial cooperation assistance package, as well as its enhanced cooperation and dialogue with Libyan authorities and institutions and international partners to enhance their capacity to address the challenges of irregular migration.
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
Climate change and trade – impact on food security in Africa:
The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) are jointly organizing a session on “How taking into account climate change can help Africa to pursue better trade policies, with a focus on food security” on the margins of the 20th Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis, which will take place at Purdue University, Indiana, USA, from 7-9 June under the theme, “Global Economic Analysis in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities”.
The objective of the session is to examine the interactions between climate change, agricultural production, trade and their overarching effects on food security in Africa. In this interactive system, trade is expected to provide a pull factor in addressing shortfalls from agricultural production emerging under climate triggered shifts in changing crop habitats and achieving food security.
Despite the considerable opportunities trade creates in moving goods from surplus to deficit areas, the trade aspect in addressing food security and climate change in Africa seems to be largely missing.
Three research papers will be presented during the session, namely: “Attaining food and environment security in an area of globalization” (by Thomas Hertel, Center for Global Trade Analysis and Uris Lantz Baldos, Purdue University, USA); “Improving the resilience of African countries to food shocks” (by Michael Puma et al, Columbia University, USA); and “Climate change, agricultural production and trade in Africa” (by Yodit Balcha Hailemariam, ACPC/ECA and Jamie Macleod, ATPC/ECA).
Subsequent discussion and recommendations from the session will seek to strengthen the ongoing project activities ATPC and ACPC are conducting in East and West Africa looking at the interactions between climate change, agricultural trade and food security.
A nexus approach is being used to develop a framework that diagnoses emerging opportunities for agricultural trade in a changing climate and responds to food security in Africa.
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
AU condemns Manchester bomb attack; condoles with United Kingdom:
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, extends his most sincere condolences to the families of those who died in last night's bombing in Manchester, the United Kingdom.
“I strongly condemn this senseless act of violence and loss of life, this time in Manchester,” said H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The Chairperson also extended his wishes of quick recovery to those who sustained injuries.
“Africa stands with the people and government of the United Kingdom in reaffirming our solidarity with them during this difficult time,” the AU Commission Chairperson said. “A people united against fear and terror, can never be divided,” he noted.
The Chairperson of the Commission appeals to the international community to renew its commitment to defeat terrorist groups and stresses the urgency of a coordinated response, in view of the continued threat that terrorism poses to peace and security around the world.
Distributed by APO on behalf of African Union Commission (AUC).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
