08/18/2007
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16th EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS-THE
SPEECH BY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAC
By leo Odera Omolo
Hon. Chairperson of the Council of Ministers
Hon. Ministers, Members of the Council of Ministers Distinguished Permanent
Secretaries
Distinguished Delegates and Observers
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am very pleased to welcome you to the Headquarters of the East African
Community on this auspicious occasion of the 16th Extra-ordinary
Meeting of the Council of Ministers which is being held to prepare for the
6th Extraordinary Summit.
I extend warm welcome to the distinguished delegations of
Rwanda and Burundi during their
inaugural participation in the Meeting of the Council as full Members of
the Community. The Secretariat is committed to ensuring the smooth transition
of these new Partner States as EAC Members. The activities that we have
engaged since last November to put in place mechanisms for effective participation
and contribution of the new members to the regional integration process
are proceeding very well.
During the just concluded EAC Annual Staff Retreat in Tanga, these arrangements were reviewed and further refined; and we are confident that we are on track. Hence the process of recruitment for the new positions which have been dedicated to Rwanda and Burundi is nearing conclusion. At the same time, among the issues this Council will take note and deliberate upon include adjustments of various administrative and financial systems and amendments of the EAC Treaty geared at accommodating the EAC enlargement.
Honourable Ministers
In turning to the specific matters before your meeting today, allow me
to observe that the last Summit in Kampala
set the pace for the Community and indeed the Agenda of today’s meeting
of the Council. The Summit directives specifically required
the finalization of the report of the National Consultative Process
on Political Federation; and the formulation of a
common EAC position in the negotiations of an Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA) with the European
Union.
I am pleased to report that there has been a robust response to the Summit ’s directives. Well deliberated conclusions and recommendations on these two issues , along with the other matters , including the Finance and Administration Report and the Report on the Progress in the Process towards the Establishment of the Common Market are therefore before you for noting, consideration and further reference to the Summit of Heads of State.
In appreciating the focused application of the Staff of the Secretariat
and the various Task Forces, I would like to take this opportunity to express
our great appreciation to the Council of Ministers for the keen support
and close guidance it has extended to us in making these achievements possible.
During the recent EAC Annual staff Retreat in Tanga, this positive development in the Community was widely shared and appreciated. An extensive review of the relations between the organs and institutions of the Community was undertaken and the need to entrench collaborative effort for progress among the broad spectrum of EAC stakeholders and key players was expressed.
On the whole, indulging this spirit, the EAC is in a position
today to move with confidence in the implementation of
the 3rd EAC development Strategy (2006-2010) with
its bold direction involving the establishment of the Common
Market, intensification of Infrastructure development programmes, Lake Victoria
development programme, Rural and Agricultural Development Programme,
as well as the various programmes in the Social and Political
sectors. The challenge is to put regional integration at the heart
of the Agenda of the East African leadership and the broad citizenry in order
to catalyze common purpose and a common cause on the basis of which our
region shall flourish.
Honourable Ministers
In the context of the foregoing, this Council Meeting and the upcoming
Summit Meeting are important. I believe they will seize the opportunity
to take the EAC to a new, higher plane in direction and performance.
With these remarks, I thank you for your attention and wish the Meeting
great success.
Thank you
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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