African Union Permanent Representative Committee

– As delivered –

Address by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, to the African Union Permanent Representative Committee

 

 

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues,

I want to start with an unfortunate truth: when the UN was established, in 1945, Africa did not play a major role.  In fact, only four of the original 51 UN Member States were African. And, when the United Nations General Assembly had its first meetings, many African nations were still under colonial rule.

But, things have changed dramatically since then.

The African continent has been blazing a trail. Since the early 2000s, many African countries have recorded significant progress. They have reduced poverty. They have stimulated economic growth. And they have seen progress in efforts to consolidate peace.

Today, Africa is one of the most important actors, on the international stage. When it speaks, we all listen. And, when it acts, we all watch – and we all learn.

And so, we have entered a new period. One in which partnerships between the African Union and the United Nations are seen, not as an aim, but as a necessity.  And, as I said at the annual AU retreat in New York last week, it is about time.

Because, the simple truth is that the United Nations cannot achieve any of its goals without Africa.

So, I want to thank you for inviting me to address you today. In particular, I want to thank the Chair of the African Union’s Permanent Representative Committee.

Furthermore, I want to congratulate President Kagame on his election as AU Chairperson, and acknowledge the commitment shown by his predecessor, President Condé.

In my address today, I will focus on four key areas. They are all priorities for my presidency. And I believe they all present major opportunities for deeper engagement between the African Union and the United Nations.

First, I will talk about peace.

It is a priority for the United Nations. And it is a priority for the African Union. In fact, both the UN Charter, and the AU’s Constitutive Act, have peace at their core.

Here, I want to state a firm belief of mine. Which is that the United Nations must do more to prevent conflicts – rather than respond to them, once they have already broken out.

And, I am not the only one to think this. Actually, it is a position which has been affirmed by all UN Member States. And this is why moves towards a new approach have begun.

In 2005, the UN’s peacebuilding architecture was established. The UN Peacebuilding Commission, or PBC, formed part of this new mechanism. Its aim was to preserve the fragile peace in six African countries, which were emerging from conflict. But, this was not enough.

And, so, these efforts were stepped up a gear, in 2016. The United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council joined forces, to call for a different approach. And so, a new era, of “Sustaining Peace”, began. This marked the beginning of a UN better equipped to prevent conflicts. And, it signalled the end of a UN which is known for conflict response.

But, the ideal of “Sustaining Peace” cannot be fully realised without the African Union. The AU has the national and local knowledge. It has the experience from the ground. It has the networks and relationships with key stakeholders. And, it has pioneered initiatives, which the United Nations must learn from.

This is true for conflict prevention. The African Union is working to make its Continental Early Warning Systems operational. It has also established quick reaction capacity, through the African Standby Force, across all of its five regions.

And, this prevention perspective is also seen through the AU’s longer-term planning. For example, in October 2017, consultations began on a regional strategy for peace and security in the Horn of Africa. And, we have heard growing calls from the region to address the link between climate change, and peace and security.

Furthermore, we stand to learn from African efforts to make peace more inclusive. Many AU members are strong champions of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The newly-established African Women Leaders Network can create new opportunities for women to participate in peace talks and mediation. And, increasing focus is being placed on the role for young people as local, national and regional peacebuilders.

And, finally, Africa’s peacekeeping experience also presents a major opportunity for learning, and experience-sharing. Because, this continent is not only home to the majority of UN peacekeeping missions; it is also the fuel, which powers UN operations around the world. Many of the UN’s top troop contributing countries are from Africa.  This means that African countries have suffered some of the heaviest losses, and paid some of the highest prices. Not only do we owe them a great debt – but we must also listen, and learn, from their experiences.

All of this points to one clear assessment: the African Union has a lot to share. From insights, experience and lessons learned – to knowledge of national and regional contexts.

And the United Nations must do more to create spaces and platforms for this to happen.

I hope to create one such opportunity, through my High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace – which will take place on 24 and 25 April. This meeting is intended to take stock of what we have done, since entering this new era of Sustaining Peace, in 2016. And, importantly, it should identify what we have left to do.

And, enhanced AU-UN cooperation will be a major theme. We should look at ways in which AU-UN partnerships for Sustaining Peace can be strengthened. And we should have a frank discussion about the challenges faced, and how to overcome them. This will include the question of sustainable, and predictable financing. Ultimately, we should come away with an even clearer vision of the future for AU-UN partnerships around prevention and peace.

The second area I want to focus on, today, is Sustainable Development. Because, not only must we maintain momentum in this area, we must increase it – drastically.

We have known, for some time, that better coordination between the international community and Africa is needed. Since 2002, the NEPAD, or the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, has offered concrete guidance on AU-UN economic cooperation.

And, in 2015, all UN Member States came together to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Not only did this entail bold, new areas for international cooperation on development. But it also put increased focus on partnerships.

No single Sustainable Development Goal can be achieved, without AU engagement. And, this means that no single Sustainable Development Goal can be achieved, without the AU’s own Agenda 2063.

This framework was adopted, here, even before the SDGs were gavelled, in New York. It acts as a landmark achievement for African Development cooperation. But it also offers a major opportunity for SDG implementation.

Because, it is an African response, to African challenges. It is an example of strong African leadership for Africa’s own development. And, essentially, it is Africa telling us what will and will not work on this continent. We would be foolish not to listen.

Africa is clearly in the driving seat of its development. The SDGs should not present obstacles. Instead, they must make it a smooth journey – for all. And, this is a journey which should result, not only in sustainable growth, but also in more peaceful, and inclusive, African societies.

Luckily, so far, we are going in the right direction. Just last month, the UN Secretary-General and the AU Commissioner signed an agreement to strengthen coordination and partnerships in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the AU’s Agenda 2063.

The General Assembly has also been active.  Last year, it adopted a new 10-year mechanism called, PAIDA, or the Framework for a Renewed UN-AU Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda 2017-2027.

But we need to make sure these partnerships work both on paper, and in practice.

As part of my own efforts to maintain momentum on the SDGs, and increase partnerships, I will be organising three initiatives.

On the 22nd of March, I will be launching the International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development. I have already seen the passion and urgency attached to this issue by many African delegations, in New York. And I hope we will welcome many of your high-level delegates to New York in March.

Two months later, on the 30th of May, I will be hosting a Youth Dialogue. We are meeting, today, in the world’s youngest continent. By 2050, Africa will be home to 38 out of the 40 youngest countries in the world. That is why we need African voices to be heard, loud and clear, during this dialogue.

Finally, the third event will focus on financing. And it will take place on the 11th of June. The world’s most comprehensive framework on financing for development was agreed here, in this very city. So, I know that I do not need to stress why this issue demands greater attention. And I know that I do not need to stress how crucial the African perspective will be.

Now, I will move to the third area I will focus on today, which is migration.

As you all know, in 2016, all UN Member States committed to adopting the world’s first comprehensive framework on migration. And, last week, in New York, negotiations on this Global Compact began.

As many of your colleagues in New York have pointed out, migration is not a new phenomenon. Throughout its history, African countries have served as countries of origin, transit and destination.

However, this has not always been reflected in the prevailing narrative. As a result, some people may not even be aware that the overwhelming majority of African migration takes place, here, on this continent.

Now is the time to change this. It is time for real dialogue. It is time for coordinated action. It is time for narratives, based on realities, and evidence – not perceptions or politics. And it is time for a global response to this global phenomenon.

We must turn to Africa for lessons, and for advice. We must ensure that the African experience is reflected in our negotiations. And, when this document is agreed in July, and adopted in December, we must work so that the African Union is ready and mobilised for implementation.

Finally, before I conclude, I will speak very briefly about the ongoing reform processes, in New York. Because, it is crucial to ensure that the United Nations changes with the world around it.

The UN Secretary-General has proposed significant reforms in three main areas: the peace and security architecture, the structure of management, and the development system. UN Member States have taken steps in response to all three proposals. The perspectives and priorities of African delegations will be crucial as this process moves forward. Particularly as extensive institutional reforms are currently taking place, within the AU.

Of course, I also need to speak about the process of Security Council reform. As you all know, intergovernmental negotiations are ongoing. I do not know what their outcome will be. Because, this process lies entirely in the hands of member states. But I do know something, for certain: change is needed. And it must lead to a greater African presence.

This is not only the right thing to do, to ensure that the Council can reflect the reality of today’s world. But it is also the smart thing. Because greater participation of Africa stands to benefit both the work of the Security Council, and wider UN efforts for peace and security – within and outside of Africa.

I am following these, and other, reform processes closely. And I am constantly looking for opportunities to lend greater support. That is why I do not want to leave Addis Ababa, without hearing your perspectives and ideas for the future of the United Nations.

Excellencies,

I am here, today, as a representative of the United Nations. And, as a representative of its most inclusive body: the General Assembly.

It is my firm belief that the United Nations must, always, be at the core of our multilateral system. But, for it to reach its full potential – for it to bring us all closer to the world described in the UN Charter – it cannot work alone. It needs the African Union.

I started with an unfortunate truth: at the time the United Nations was established, Africa could not play its rightful role.

But, that era is over. And it will never come again.

Africa’s voice is loud. Its presence is strong. Its influence is felt – both within and beyond the continent.

And, one way or another, it is blazing a trail. The United Nations must work to join forces. Or else, it will be forced to watch, from the side-lines.

Thank you, all, for listening to me today. And I look forward to engaging with you – both now and over the coming months.

I thank you.