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"In the light of global developments, including the formation of political and economic groupings on other continents, and in spite of some economic and political progress, Africa can be said to be running against time in its efforts at integration. For this reason, the continent must leapfrog to attain a dignified and promising place in the globalization process.
"Permit me to state unambiguously that, given the complexities and practical difficulties in the path of attaining this Union Government in one form or the other, the topmost prerequisite facing us as leaders of the continent should be mutual respect and trust among us all. We must also acknowledge the necessity for shared values in terms of respect for human rights, principles of good governance and the rule of law. These values should constitute the fabric of the Union's budding institutions like the Pan-African Parliament and the Union Court of Justice and Human Rights.
"Since it was agreed that this all important issue of Union Government should be debated upon within our various countries by our respective citizenry, it is hoped that whatever we the leaders would put forward as our view-points will reflect the views of our peoples. This should make our contributions human-centred and clearly owned by our peoples.
"With this as our guiding principle, everything else should be secondary. Gender, religion and country should all be subsumed under the welfare of the peoples of Africa who empower us as their leaders to meet at this Summit. Only our peoples' ownership of this debate will give this conference its legitimacy and sustainability."
The Accra Summit Meeting of the AU understood Chairperson John Kuffuor's message. It took historically important decisions that, certainly in our case, enjoy legitimacy and sustainability because they fully and faithfully reflect the will and the aspirations of the masses of our people.
The new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua drew our attention to the "more fundamental challenge" we face. He said: "As my predecessor and brother, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared at an earlier Forum on this issue (of the Union Government), is the presence of the requisite courage, vision, commitment, focus, and the political will to take decisions, abide by them, and implement such decisions diligently."
What now remains is that as South Africans we act together in unity, and as an integral component part of the African masses, courageously and diligently to implement the Continental Directive spelt out in the Accra Declaration. Yes indeed, as Tiyo Soga, Mangena Mokone, Langalibalele Dube and Pixley Seme foresaw, Africa must Unite!
Thabo Mbeki
President of South Africa
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