Africa 'in need of support' from UN
April,18,2008
China on Wednesday called on the United Nations to
enhance logistical support to the African Union (AU)
to solidify the regional bloc's role in resolving
conflicts in Africa.
Speaking at a high-level meeting on peace and
security in Africa at UN headquarters, Vice-Foreign
Minister Wang Yi said the UN should address AU's
personnel, material and financial limits and make
"capacity building" a priority in UN-AU cooperation.
"The United Nations and the international community
should respond positively to AU's legitimate
requests and introduce creative thinking to deliver
on the promises and translate their pledge into
action," Wang said.
The UN should work closer with the AU in areas where
it has experience, such as personnel training,
information swap, resources management and
logistical assistance, he said.
Lack of financial resources is limiting AU efforts
to realize its commitments in settling its own
conflicts. The Somalian conflict has been singled
out as an example, where the AU failed to get the
8,000 soldiers it requested from its members to
intervene in the crisis.
Wang hailed AU's role in conflict solving in Africa
and said the UN should build a "predictable,
sustainable and flexible" framework for cooperation
with AU.
"While maintaining its authority, the Security
Council should give priority to supporting the AU's
role in resolving regional conflicts," he said.
China supports the UN in taking over the AU's
peacekeeping in Somalia, and expects the AU-UN
"hybrid operation" in Darfur to complete deployment
at an early date, Wang said.
Source: China Daily
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