Assahafa.com
Speakers of the Parliaments of the Atlantic African States have welcomed the Atlantic African States Process (AASP), initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
In the Rabat Declaration, issued at the close of the meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Atlantic African States, held in Rabat on Thursday, the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Atlantic African States welcomed the Royal Initiative to make the Atlantic seaboard a human space of economic integration, social prosperity and attractiveness for international investment, which complements HM the King’s Initiative to give the Sahel States access to the Atlantic Ocean.
They paid tribute to the nobility of the Process, which underpins historical and geopolitical challenges through the valorization of the potential of the 23 African countries along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, considering the AASP as an extremely promising initiative that constitutes a lever for the consolidation and reinforcement of the “African Continental Free Trade Area”, and one of its main gateways to the world.
The Declaration “For the transformation of the African Atlantic seaboard into a space of integration, prosperity, attractiveness and connection with the world,” recalls that this Process presents all the opportunities and levers for success, particularly in view of the strategic importance of the Atlantic Ocean for Africa, as well as its wealth, geographical position and capacity to attract global investment to implement major projects and infrastructure, in addition to the stability and security in terms of movement of goods and people that characterizes the Atlantic coast.
In this respect, the Speakers of the Parliaments stressed their ambition that this Process will turn the Atlantic seaboard into an international hub able to attract investments, services and tourism, as well as an international exchange platform, considering that the Process’ importance and efficiency are further reinforced by its complementarity with the Nigeria-Morocco Gaz Pipeline project, which will link 13 African States to Europe and will constitute an artery for the region’s economy, and the initiative aimed at facilitating the access of the Sahel States to the Atlantic Ocean.
They stated their conviction that the Process represents a fundamental basis for building a common future for the States along Africa’s Atlantic seaboard, and that it will unleash a sizeable momentum for their economies, through the construction of roads, ports and other basic infrastructures.
The Speakers also expressed their appreciation of the steps taken by the States’ governments to complete this ambitious project, underlining the importance of the participative and consultative approach adopted for its development, and calling for the diversification of mechanisms for joint reflection and planning, so that this project is appropriated by all the national institutions of the States concerned.
They also called for the AASP to be publicized in the concerned countries, as well as among other economic powers, with the aim of making it part of global economic and development agendas, and central to the interests of international investors, including states, financial institutions and international corporations.
To this end, the Speakers stated their determination, commitment and involvement, as representative institutions, in international advocacy in favor of the AASP, notably within the global parliamentary community, as part of their commitment to Africa’s just causes.
They emphasized their attachment to and deepening of the bonds of solidarity and support between African States, calling for disputes to be settled through dialogue and peaceful means, avoiding the use of force.
To ensure the sustainability and institutionalization of their actions, they decided to set up a parliamentary network in which the national parliamentarians of the States concerned would be represented, in order to coordinate their efforts and capitalize on the results of the various stages to come, deciding, to this end, to create a Technical Secretariat to monitor their actions.
The Rabat Declaration also reiterated the fundamental principles that should govern relations between African countries, and more specifically respect for the sovereignty of States and the integrity of their territories, the cornerstone of international relations.
In conclusion, the Speakers expressed their thanks to the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting this parliamentary meeting, which once again reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to promote Africa’s progress and prosperity, and to coordinate the efforts of African governments and parliaments in the vital interests of the continent, in keeping with the adage “Africa must trust Africa.”
Source: map
