President Koroma addresses the African Union Assembly Heads of State

As Coordinator of the Committee of Ten (C-10) Heads of State on the United Nations Security Council Reforms His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma delivered his speech to the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa on 28^th January, 2013.

After President Koroma presented the C- 10 Report he received an exceptional standing ovation from majority of the Heads of State present at the meeting.

The delegations from South Africa, Egypt and Lesotho among other delegations supported the adoption of the C-10 Report which was presented before the Assembly of the African Union by President Koroma.

The programme was chaired by the incoming Chairman of the African Union and current Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Hailemariam Dessalegn.

INTRODUCTION OF THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE ELEVENTH C-10 REPORT

by His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai KoromaPresident of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Coordinator of the Committee of Ten Heads of State on United Nations Reforms at the 20^th Ordinary Sessionof the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

January 2013

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies & Dear Colleagues,

Foreign Ministers & Representatives of Heads of State and Government.

 

1.  The Assembly’s decision made during the 19^th Ordinary Session held here in Addis Ababa in July 2012 required the Committee of Ten Heads of State on United Nations reforms to report to the 20^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly progress made since July 2012.

2.  It is my pleasure and singular honour to introduce to Your Excellencies and dear colleagues, the Supplement to the Eleventh Report of the Committee of Ten Heads of State on United Nations reforms and related matters, in particular, reform of the United Nations Security Council, together with its draft decision for adoption by this august assembly.

3.  Nature of the Report

3.1.  The report provides an update on the Security Council reform process over the last six months from 5 July 2012 to 18 January 2013 building on the report presented during the 19^th Ordinary Summit held here in Addis Ababa in July 2012. The report covers the following elements:

i.        A short introduction – paragraphs 1 to 3, refers to the last report and the decision adopted by the Summit which among others requested that we present an update on the United Nations Security Council reform to the 20^th Ordinary session of the Summit. This is followed by:

ii.        Recent developments – paragraphs 4 to 30 provide an instructive insight of developments on UN Security Council reform and related matters during the reporting period. Most critical to note is that since the end of the eighth round of Intergovernmental Negotiations in July 2012, the ninth round is yet to commence. The three major developments that took place within the setting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations namely: the Chair’s letter addressed to  the President of the 66^th session of the UN General Assembly detailing background to the Security Council reform process as well as his views, observations and recommendations; the General Assembly roll-over decision of the Intergovernmental Negotiations process and; the Chair’s letter of 4 December 2012 addressed to all Member States, and responses by various interest groups and Member States including the response of the C-10, though critical to the process, is peripheral to the Intergovernmental Negotiations itself.

1.             iii.        Also, in keeping with our mandate, we continued dialoguing and engaging with Member States and interest groups in building alliances and support for the Common African position articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte declaration. As our dialogue and engagement with Member States and interest groups continue to evolve, the L-69 Group has by a letter dated 9 January 2013, addressed to the Chair, subscribed to the view that new permanent members should have the same prerogatives and privileges as those of the current permanent members, including the veto. We should view this as a positive development as we continue to engage with the L-69 and other interest groups on both substance and process of the reform.
2.            iv.        The conclusion – paragraphs 31 to 38, whilst noting that the ninth round is yet to commence, as well as the L-69 being the only interest group to request for an amendment on its substantive position; reiterates the need to continue our dialogue and engagement with interest groups and delegations aimed at building alliances with the view of narrowing down areas of divergence.
3. 4.    In Conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the reporting period was marked by developments drawn from the eighth rounds that are peripheral to the reform process within the setting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, hence a supplement to the last report.

Going forward, as support for the Common African position gains momentum, it is critical that we remain cohesive and united, continue to speak with one voice in support of the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration as well as for an early reform of the UN Security Council. In that regard, we should continue to canvass and promote the African Common position which remains valid and viable until our objectives are achieved.

To that end, I will continue holding due consultations with Member States of C-10 to implement aspects of the Reaffirmed decision on convening C-10 meetings outside the margins of the Summit. In our view, such a meeting should consider to have on its agenda an assessment of the present state of play, the dynamics of the process and its under-currents and to explore possible ways of moving the process forward in the direction of correcting the historical injustice done to Africa and achieving the objectives of Ezulwini and Sirte.

At the C-10 Heads of State and Government Summit held on 26 January 2013, we had a consensus that the high-level meeting of the C-10 Heads of State and Government be preceded by, firstly, a meeting of C-10 Permanent Representatives to the UN and the AU and the respective Foreign Ministries. The meeting of the Permanent Representatives could be held before the next Summit in May this year.  Secondly, a meeting of C-10 Ministers of Foreign Affairs. It is envisaged that these preparatory meetings will be of added value to the high-level meeting of C-10 Heads of State and Government before our Summit in January 2014.

To further enhance our visibility, in addition to the high-level meeting, we also resolved to intensify our out-reach activities by engaging all members of the P-5 of the UN Security Council, other interest groups and delegations.

The attached draft decision based on our present report, among others, reaffirms “AU Decision, Assembly/AU/Dec430 (XIX) on the Eleventh Report of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, AND in this regard UNDERSCORES the need for the Committee of Ten in continuing to intensify efforts in advocating, canvassing and promoting the African common position to reach out at the highest political levels for the purpose of garnering and galvanizing the necessary political will in support thereof, and to consider holding High Level meetings of the Committee of Ten outside margins of the Summit of the African Union, to discuss issues relating to the UN Security Council reform  process including the intergovernmental negotiations, and the need to seek any guidance necessary in furtherance of its mandate”.

4.1.    Excellencies, in my capacity as Coordinator of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the United Nations Reforms, I recommend the adoption of the report together with its draft decision by this august Assembly.

I thank you for your attention.

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