Final Declaration of the III Meeting of the Africa-South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
NEW YORK, September 28, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, gathered in the city of New York, on 27 September 2010 with the purpose to attend the III Meeting of the Africa-South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in compliance with the mandate specified in paragraph 95 of the Final Declaration of Nueva Esparta, approved on 27 September 2009, by the Heads of State and Government of Africa and South America;
Expressed satisfaction with the positive outcome of the II Africa-South America Summit (ASA) held from 23 to 27 September 2009, in Isla de Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and its importance for the advancement of the cooperation and bi-regional strategic partnership;
Reaffirmed their determined political commitment to continue strengthening coordination at the highest level of the Africa-South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF) and endeavoured to double their efforts in order to advance towards the achievement of their commendable objectives;
Welcomed the significant outcome of the I Working Meeting of the Strategic Presidential Working Committee, held in Caracas, Venezuela, on 6 August 2010, and endeavoured to encourage the fulfilment of the commitments assumed on that occasion;
Also welcomed the inauguration of the Executive Secretariat of the Strategic Presidential Working Committee in its present format for an initial three years with further elaboration to reflect the regional representation from Africa as well as the two founding members;
Congratulated Ambassador Jesus Arnaldo Perez for his appointment as Executive Secretary, wishing him success in the performance of his responsibilities and guaranteeing the full support of the ASACOF Member countries;
Welcomed the transfer of the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Africa-South America Summit (ASA) from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, country host of the III ASA Summit;
Took note of the report presented by the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on its preparations of the forthcoming III Africa-South America Summit (ASA) in the Great Jamahiriya in the last quarter of 2011;
Reviewed the most urgent matters faced by the international community and agreed to undertake regular consultations regarding issues that might become threats to peace and security, as well as those relating to the forthcoming Summit on Climate Change to be held in Cancun, Mexico, in November 2010;
Commended the efforts deployed by the United Nations in the successful promotion of the Review Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, which took place on 20 September 2010, and committed to promote within ASA the execution of its conclusions;
As a result of deliberations held, the ASACOF Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs has decided to:
Approve the Africa-South America Implementation Plan agreed in the Senior Officials Meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 7 September 2010, and welcome proposals to its improvement as well as the integration of the Africa- South America Strategic Agenda 2010-2020;
Request the Executive Secretariat of the Strategic Presidential Working Committee as elaborated to start working as soon as possible in those areas of common action stipulated in the Africa-South America Implementation Plan 2010-2015;
Commended the Chairmanship of Ecuador of the Union of the South American Nations (UNASUR) and the upcoming Chairmanship of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as well as the election of former President Nestor Kirchner as Secretary-General of the aforementioned organization;
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs expressed their congratulations to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the holding of successful parliamentary elections on 26 September 2010;
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs further expressed their gratitude to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the African Union for the excellent organisation of this important meeting.
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
