Chairperson Konare,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am glad to be here today among so many good friends. I am especially pleased that my final days in office will mark the first days of a promising new chapter in UN - AU relations.

The United Nations has always been an unwavering ally of Africa, and Africa's regional and sub-regional institutions have become more and more active partners with us over the years. Today's Declaration not only reaffirms this commitment, but significantly strengthens it. And, more important, it seeks to address Africa's needs, and we believe that the best way to do it is to pool our efforts –then we have our greatest impact.

It builds on previous agreements between the UN and the AU, and the OAU before it. It reflects our joint commitment to maintaining peace and human security, promoting human rights and post-conflict reconstruction, and advancing Africa's development and regional integration. This holistic approach will serve all of us well.

For too long, Africa's development has remained hostage to conflict. Today, I am proud that the AU and the UN are working together to change that. Let me take this opportunity to recognize the AU's efforts in Darfur, and to assure you once again that the UN will continue supporting your work and help you strengthen African capacity in peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding as well as other areas.

The AU may be a young organization, but it has already done much to make every African proud.

Finally, let me register my delight at the renewed and strengthened ties between ECA, the AU and the African Development Bank. These three institutions are pivotal to Africa's future. I commend President Alpha Oumar Konare and Mr. Donald Kaberuka for their commitment to fostering a closer partnership with the ECA. And I appreciate my colleague Abdoulie Janneh's efforts to facilitate this process. I am confident that, under their guidance, Africa's development agenda will remain in good hands.

I will not end my remarks without paying special tribute to my friend and brother, President Alpha Konaré. Since he became the Chairperson of the African Union, he provided dynamic leadership to a young institution that was confronting difficult conflicts on our continent. Under his wise leadership and unflinching commitment, the African Union has grown from strength to strength. I have no doubt that our continent will continue to benefit from his guidance.

Friends, for us Africans there is indeed cause for optimism. Our continent has always had the resources, it has always had the talent, but we have not used it well. But today, we also have the institutions and the vision. So let's step forward and claim the 21st century as Africa's century.

Thank you very much.