|
Membe: We all want African state, but...
2007-07-05 09:00:05
By Federica Sikale
African Union member countries represented at the just-ended heads of state summit in Accra, have all accepted the formation of a continental government.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, said it had been agreed that formation of the continental government would come after a feasibility study had been undertaken.
He said the delegates were dominated by the Casablanca and Monrovia groups, which held opposing views.
Membe said:`One group wanted the immediate establishment of a continental government, while the other preferred the establishment to go through a road map.`
The minister said a number of areas had to be considered first. “We needed to improve the regional economic communities,” he added.
`The issue of sovereignty should be considered before the government is formed, especially the military aspects. People should understand what is going on,`said Membe.
He added that the summit, through its permanent resident councilors from all the 53 states, would conduct research whose outcome would be presented to their parliaments in January next year.
`Auditing of the AU is very important as it links the continental government and its member states. The continental government will be vital as raw materials produced in Africa will not be sold to other continents,` Membe added.
He, however, refuted claims that some member states belonging to the pro-unity group had threatened to go it alone.
|
