Libya And Liberia Discuss Ways To Strengthen Relations
Panafrican News Agency
November 19, 2000
Tripoli, Libya
The Libyan minister for African Union Affairs, Ali Triki,
Sunday held discussions with the visiting Liberian
foreign minister, Mounir Qobtan, on ways to consolidate
bilateral relations.
Official sources said in the Libyan capital that the two ministers affirmed
the need for the two countries to support the process of economic
integration in the African continent ahead of next March's extraordinary OAU
summit (Sirte II), during which the African Union is officially expected to
come into existence.
The Liberian foreign minister said that President Charles Taylor would soon
submit the draft treaty of the African Union to the Parliament of Liberia
for approval.
President Charles Taylor, who arrived in Tripoli Saturday has already met
with the Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Kadhafi.
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Tripoli, Libya
The Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Kadhafi Saturday welcomed the "Fomboni"
agreement for national reconciliation in the Comoros and expressed "support
for government's efforts to end the crisis" in the separatist island of
Anjouan.
In a joint communiqu� issued in Tripoli at the end of a visit by the
Comorian President, Col. Ansoumani Azali, Kadhafi also commended the
efforts being made to bring about administrative reforms in the Comorian
islands.
Encouraged by this first external support, which he had vainly sought
within the African community, local political and trade union circles,
President Azali paid hommage to Kadhafi's growing role on the African
political scene.
He commended Kadhafi's role as co-ordinator of efforts to end conflicts and
tensions in central Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes region.
The two parties welcomed the outcome of the African mini-summit held in
Libya from 7-8 November, involving all the protagonists in the Democratic
Republic of Congo conflict.
The Libyan leader and the Comorian President reviewed the outcome of the
last OAU summit in Lome, Togo, during which the constitutive act of the
African Union was signed.
They urged African countries to rapidly ratify the treaty so as to speed up
the African Union and create a viable entity that would enable Africa to
enter the third millennium strong and united.
The two also stressed the need "to create an Arab-African space capable of
responding to the needs of Arab and African peoples."
The joint communiqu� indicated that the two sides also examined ways to
enhance and develop bilateral relations in various sectors.
As members of the League of Arab states, the two leaders affirmed the need
to consolidate Arab solidarity so as to guarantee the right of the
Palestinian people to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
They also stressed the necessity to hand over all the occupied Arab
territories.
On international affairs, Col. Kadhafi and President Azali also reviewed
the international crisis and challenges arising from globalisation.
They urged the international community and international financial
institutions to honour their commitments and respond to the aspirations of
African countries for a fair solution to the debt problem, which is an
impediment to the continent's balanced development, economic and social
stability.
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Copyright � 2000 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed by
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