DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AFRICA’S QUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE,

SECURITY IS ‘LIFE AND DEATH’ MATTER FOR MILLIONS, AT EUROPEAN UNION-AFRICA SUMMIT

Following is the text of remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro to the European Union-Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on 8 December:

It is an honour to be here.  I bring warm regards from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who regrets he could not be with you.

The Secretary-General and I are deeply grateful to the Government and people of Portugal for the focus you have placed on Africa during your Presidency of the European Union.

In the seven short years since the first European Union-Africa Summit, Africa has undergone significant change -- as has the international community’s way of interacting with it.  With the creation of the African Union five years ago, the leaders of the continent called on all Africans to redefine their destiny, to assume their full role and responsibility in global affairs, and to work together to find common solutions to common problems.

This has given both the European Union and the United Nations rich opportunities to build up our partnerships with Africa.

With this Summit, and the launch of the European Union-Africa Strategic Partnership, Africa and Europe will strengthen even further their unique historical, cultural and economic ties.

The issues you will discuss here are at the centre of the United Nations’ work.  Our work in peace and security, human rights and development reinforce each other.

We all have a vital stake in redoubling efforts to ensure that Africa reaches the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.  While the world as a whole is on target to meet the Goals, Africa remains off track.  Just past the midpoint in the work towards the Millennium Development Goals, we know that sub-Saharan Africa requires a special effort.  The Goals can still be reached in most countries -- but only if we act now.

That is why the Secretary-General established the Millennium Development Goals Africa Steering Group, together with the African Union, European Union and other multilateral organizations.  Through the Steering Group, we will work together on three main fronts.  We will strengthen international mechanisms to support African countries in health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and statistical systems.  We will strive to make aid more predictable, so African Governments can plan for greater investments in the Millennium Development Goals.  And we will collaborate more closely and effectively at the country level to support African Governments in reaching the Goals.

Since the creation of the African Union, the African Union and the United Nations have worked in close partnership to build up Africa’s capacity in peacekeeping.   Europe has been an important partner in this critical endeavour.

As you know, we are now at a critical point regarding the deployment of the African Union-United Nations hybrid force in Darfur.

Politically, we have made some headway on Darfur.

Our chief concern remains the early deployment of an effective, robust peacekeeping force.  Only in this way can we achieve security, or credible progress in the peace talks.  But this requires capability on the ground.  Most urgently, it requires helicopters.  In the past weeks and months, the Secretary-General has contacted, personally, every possible contributor of helicopters -- in the Americas, in Europe, in Asia.  And yet, not one helicopter has been made available.

In Europe alone, there are thousands of military helicopters of different types.  Large numbers of helicopters also exist in the key Asian Powers, and in the Americas.  Any assistance the Governments in these regions can offer would be profoundly appreciated, not least by the people of Darfur.

In the longer-term, the United Nations is working closely with the African Union, the European Union, and other partners to develop coordinated support for an African Peace and Security Architecture, including an African standby force.  We are stepping up efforts in conflict prevention, in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, and in enhancing regional and national capacities in this vital area.  We are strengthening institutional approaches to peacebuilding, through the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission.  And we are focusing on the dimension of rule of law in peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding throughout the continent.

We will continue to work together on the full range of challenges Africa faces.  How Africa fares in building development, human rights and peace and security is a matter of life and death for millions of Africans.  It is also a test of the ability of the United Nations to carry out the mandate our membership has given us.  The African Union and the European Union are our indispensable partners in this endeavour.

In that spirit, I wish you a productive and successful Summit.

Thank you very much.  Muito obrigada.

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For information media • not an official record