Compte rendu politique (24Mb) 


From 26 to 28 October 2003, the 6th Windhoek Dialogue Parliamentary Conference took place in Windhoek, Namibia with representatives from 15 African countries and 9 MEPs of the European Peoples' Party (Christian Democrats) - European Democrats Group in the European Parliament.

During the Conference, the participants discussed and concluded on the following topics:

1. NEPAD, an African initiative for development, human rights, democracy and good governance;
   
2. Parliamentary cooperation between the EPP-ED Group and African parliamentarians, related parties and groupings under the Windhoek Dialogue;
   
3. Regional cooperation in Africa - the possibilities of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement;
   
4. Financial Perspectives under the European Development Fund.
   

After intensive exchanges of views on the above-mentioned themes, the conference participants adopted the following declaration:

We, the participants of the 6th Windhoek Dialogue Parliamentary Conference hereby agree:

1. To intensify national and regional efforts to strengthen the Windhoek Dialogue as a means of cooperation based on the common values agreed upon at the first Windhoek meeting in March 1996, namely:

• respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the dignity of the person;
  
• promotion of a multi-party democracy, good governance and the rule of law in Africa through peaceful means;
  
• promotion of a federal political system based on the principle of subsidiarity;
  
• promotion of sustainable development through a market economy taking into account social and environmental aspects.
  

2. To promote national and regional political, social and economic dialogue within the framework of the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and under the banner of the African Union.

3. To promote the African parliamentary dimension of regional and federal cooperation, and in particular within the NEPAD and the AU framework. For this purpose, the African rapporteur on NEPAD, Mr. Boureima Gado, has been put in charge by the African participants to prepare a list of measures leading to the strengthening of the parliamentary dimension of NEPAD.

4. To encourage a higher rate of participation of women in the Windhoek Dialogue.

5. To increase and accelerate capacity building of Windhoek Dialogue members in fields related to the above-mentioned common values, in cooperation with the European Union partners.

6. To promote the development of programmes to fight the economic, political and social impact of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis as well as other poverty-related diseases;
in particular through the use of the European Development Fund and the Global Health Fund.

7. To promote conflict prevention initiatives such as the African Union Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Management Mechanism and the European Facility to use a percentage of the EDF to finance peace-keeping operations in Africa to be conducted under the aegis of the African Union.

8. To discuss and improve the implementation and the budgetisation of the European Development Fund (EDF) by means of a permanent dialogue with the African partners.

9. The African partners of the Windhoek Dialogue have agreed to renew the regional and federal organs of the Union of African Parties for Democracy and Development (UAPDD) as soon as possible in early 2004 and to abide by the Union's statutes in the future.

The 6th Windhoek Dialogue Parliamentary Conference was organised and held with the support of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, the European Peoples' Party, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Robert Schuman Foundation. We therefore take this opportunity of thanking all parties involved in helping to make this event such a success.



EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PARTICIPANTS

Mr BEBEAR, MEP, France

Mr BREMMER, MEP, Netherlands

Mr BRIENZA, MEP, Italy, Vice President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Mr CORRIE, MEP, UK, Vice President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Mr KHANBHAI, MEP, UK, EPP-ED Co-Coordinator in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Mrs LULLING, MEP, Luxembourg

Mr MAYER, MEP, Germany

General MORILLON, MEP, France

Mr SCHWAIGER, MEP, Germany, EPP-ED Co-Coordinator and Vice President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

AFRICAN PARTICIPANTS

ANGOLA Mr Samakuva, President of UNITA Mr Kandanda, UNITA

BENIN Mr Gnonlonfoun, President of Parti National ENSEMBLE

BOTSWANA Ms Segokgo, MP, Botswana Democratic Party

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Mr Simbi, Secr Gen, Parti Démocratique Social Chrétien

GABON Mr Abessole, Vice Prime Minister, Vice President UPADD Mr Boundzan'hou, member of Rassemblement pour le Gabon

MOZAMBIQUE Mr Dhlakama, Member of the UPADD Federal Committee Mr Ululu, MP, RENAMO

NAMIBIA Hon Kaura, Vice President UPADD, member DTA Hon Rattay, MP, DTA Hon Kamburdna, Secr Gen, DTA Special guests: Hon Gurirab, Prime Minister Hon Hamutenya, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Kaiyamo, SWAPO Hon Schimming Chase, MP, Congress of Democrats

NIGER Mr Gado, MP, MNSD-NASSARA Mr Salissou, Min of Higher Education, MNSD-NASSARA

SENEGAL Mr Sarr, General Manager, MAJ-PADS

SOUTH AFRICA Mr Zondi, Deputy Minister, member Inkhata Freedom Party Mr Lucas, MP, Inkhata Freedom Party Mr Kilian, New National Party

TANZANIA Mr Polisya, Secr Gen, NCCR-Mageuzi

TOGO Mr Agboyibo, President UPADD, President of CAR Mr Gbone, member Comité d'Action pour le renouveau (CAR)

UGANDA Mr Ssemogerere, Vice President UPADD, President DP Mr Kalimire, Administrator Foundation for African Development

ZAMBIA Mr Matongo, MP, United Party for National Development