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Statement
adopted at the meeting
of African parliaments, Cape Town, 28 June 2002
- We, the representatives of Parliaments of
Africa:
1.1 Inspired by the
heroic struggles waged by our peoples and our
countries for political independence, human dignity,
economic development and human security;
1.2 Convinced of the
need to accelerate the process of implementing the
Treaty establishing the African Economic Community
in order to promote the socio-economic development
of Africa and to face more effectively the
challenges posed by a rapidly changing world;
1.3 Noting the
progress achieved since the Fourth Extraordinary
Session of the Organisation of African Unity in
Sirte, Libya, and, the 37th Ordinary
Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the OAU held in Lusaka, Zambia, by
which the Assembly began the process of
transformation of the OAU into the African Union in
terms of the AU Constitutive Act adopted in Lome,
Togo, at the 36th Ordinary Session of the
OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, thus
achieving the ultimate objectives of the Charter of
our continental organisation and the Treaty;
- Report as follows:
2.1 We deliberated extensively on steps that must
be taken to ensure a strong and effective role for
Parliaments in advancing the objectives of the
African Union and those elaborated in the Pan
African Parliament (PAP) Protocol;
2.2 Re-affirmed our
commitment to implementing the PAP Protocol and
welcome reports of countries that have ratified the
Protocol. Agreed that it is essential that
Parliaments proceed to ratify the Protocol as a
matter of urgency.
2.3 Affirmed in particular,
- the significance of the meeting as a further
advance towards unity in Africa;
- that Parliamentarians as the representatives
of the peoples of Africa must play an
effective role in enhancing continental unity;
- that the gathering lays a firm basis for
accelerating the establishment of the Pan
African Parliament; and
- the urgent imperative of consolidating the
aspirations of Africans for greater unity,
solidarity and cohesion, in an united
Africa-wide community that will transcend
cultural, ideological, ethnic, religious and
national differences;
2.4 Asserted that:
- the objectives of the African Union cannot
be effectively realised without the full
involvement of Parliaments;
- the core principles that guide Parliaments,
i.e. transparency, accountability, democracy
and public participation, will lend positive
weight to the activities of the African Union;
- the creation of the Pan African Parliament
will give concrete expression to the vision of
a united, integrated and strong Africa;
- Parliaments must play a role in achieving
the socio-economic development of the
continent particularly as detailed in the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);
and
- Parliaments must make a vital contribution
towards the eradication of wars and conflicts
on our continent;
2.5 Strongly urged
that:
- Effective mechanisms for ensuring the
involvement and active participation of
Parliaments in the present and all phases of
the African Union be put in place;
- Heads of State and Government should
accelerate the ratification of the Protocol to
the Treaty Establishing the African Economic
Community Relating to the Pan African
Parliament, and ensure its implementation in
accordance with the relevant national
constitutions; and
- Heads of State and Government meeting at the
launch of the African Union set a firm date
and venue for the inaugural meeting of the PAP
and commit financial and any other necessary
resources for this event to enable the PAP to
continue to function;
2.6 Strongly urge that
Parliaments proceed to put in place structures and
mechanisms to begin preparations for the
inauguration of the PAP. To this effect, we
recommend that the Assembly instructs the Commission
to establish a representative steering committee of
Parliamentarians that will support and co-ordinate
the steps necessary to achieving this objective.
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