19 November 2004

(Envoy says U.S.-AU relationship must "grow, develop and prosper")

The United States believes that the African Union (AU) is a critical -- perhaps the critical -- component to peace and security in Africa, Ambassador John C. Danforth, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, stressed November 19.

In a statement issued from Nairobi, Kenya, where he chaired a two-day U.N. Security Council meeting on Sudan, Danforth said the relationships the African Union has with both the United States and the United Nations are critical and must "grow, develop and prosper throughout Africa."

Danforth is the president of the Security Council during the month of November.

"The recent deployment of the African Union Mission to Sudan and the AU-sponsored peace talks among the Darfur parties in Nigeria attest to the significant, multifaceted nature of the contribution that the AU makes to stability in the region," he said.

"The United States looks forward to working with the AU as it intensifies its peace-promoting activities and its efforts at conflict prevention," Danforth said.

Following is the text of Ambassador Danforth's statement:
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USUN PRESS RELEASE #255
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2004

[Nairobi, Kenya]

Statement by Ambassador John C. Danforth, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Institutional Relationship with the African Union, at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council in Nairobi, November 19, 2004

The United States believes that the African Union is a critical -- perhaps the critical -- component to peace and security in Africa. The recent deployment of the African Union Mission to Sudan and the AU-sponsored peace talks among the Darfur parties in Nigeria attest to the significant, multifaceted nature of the contribution that the AU makes to stability in the region.

The partnership between the United States and the AU -- and between the United Nations and the AU -- must grow, develop, and prosper throughout Africa. The United States looks forward to working with the AU as it intensifies its peace-promoting activities and its efforts at conflict prevention. Institutions such as in the AU's Conflict Management Center hold tremendous promise for Africa and the world.

As part of its commitment to work with the AU, the United States continues to assist with the training and equipping of military units, including an African Stand-By Force (ASF). The United States has provided over $40 million to support the expanded AU mission in Darfur, and the Department of Defense has transported troops and provided other logistical support at a cost of millions of dollars.

The United States has also enjoyed a mutually productive working relationship with organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States. We welcome the AU's efforts to work with ECOWAS and other sub-regional organizations such as the Southern African Development Community, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, and the Economic Community of Central Africa. The United States has also worked with the AU to ensure that some of the funds that we contributed to the AU's Joint Monitoring Commission were used to support the Ituri Pacification Commission, which oversees political dialogue in that region of the Congo.

While the role of the African Union in conflict resolution and prevention receives a great deal of international attention, we cannot lose sight of the vital role that the AU plays in economic development and human rights. In particular, the "New Partnership for African Development," with its objective of improving the lives of Africans through good economic and political governance, challenges African states and sub-regional organizations to effectuate policy changes and reforms that will bring a better quality of life to all Africans.

The United States applauds the African Union here today in Nairobi and we look forward to a continued relationship of friendship, trust, and progress in the coming months and years.

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