Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday emphasized Egypt’s keenness on the active involvement in efforts of mediation and settling disputes along with pushing forward efforts aimed at achieving stability and development.
“Egypt – as a peace making nation – is eager to actively engage in efforts of mediation and resolving disputes alongside supporting efforts aimed at attaining stability and development through active participation in the peace-keeping forces and providing training for African cadres in various domains, in a way the contributes to supporting state’s national institutions, within the framework of Egypt’s pioneering status regarding the Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) file and its chairmanship of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee,” Shoukry said.
The foreign minister was addressing the inaugural session of the fourth edition of Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, which kicked off in Cairo earlier Tuesday.
“This edition of the forum is taking place amid critical time when the world and African continent are facing massive challenges amid the geopolitical tensions, global economic challenges and an international community battered by unprecedented exacerbated wars and conflicts, whether in Gaza or Sudan, a matter that presses African nations to adopt a comprehensive vision for confronting challenges facing peace, security and development,” Shoukry said.
He said that the event is an extension of Egyptian efforts aiming at advocating the African interests, noting that this year Egypt will celebrate the anniversary of hosting the first summit of the Organisation of African Unity in 1964.
“Aswan forum, which has been launched during Egypt’s chairmanship of the African Union in the year 2016, has been serving as a platform for discussing complex challenges besetting the African continent,” Shoukry said.
He added that the forum contributes to crystalizing joint visions for handling challenges through boosting efforts of preventing conflicts and fulfilling peace.
This came speech at the inaugural session of the fourth edition of Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, which kicked off in Cairo earlier Tuesday with the participation of a galaxy of notable officials including Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit and Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Egypt – in light of its membership of the African Peace and Security Council (PSC) – is keen on upholding active contribution to prevention and settlement of crises across Africa alongside intensifying efforts to put into effect Silencing the Guns initiative, the foreign minister said.
Egypt is keen on developing the mechanisms of the African Union to ensure its effectiveness, Shoukry said, adding that Egypt attaches great significance to problems facing the continent, specially those related to repercussion of the climate change, in light of its efforts during chairmanship of the UN Climate Chane Conference (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh city.
Convening the 4th Aswan forum comes ahead of the anticipated Summit of the Future, slated for September in New York, creates an opportunity for addressing means of adopting a more resilient international order capable of dealing with challenges international peace and security, the foreign minister added.
Titled: “Africa in a Changing World: Re-envisioning Global Governance for Peace and Development”, the two-day Aswan forum tackles a number of top-priority files, including ways to achieve peace and security in a changing world.
It sheds light on the role of states in building resilient institutions capable of achieving sustainable peace in the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
Also on the agenda of the forum are the files of education, youth and women and post-conflict reconstruction.
Participants will discuss the future of partnerships with the continent, as well as the African perspective on climate, peace and security.
