REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY ALHAJI DR. AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY
OF THE CEN-SAD PROTOCOLS RELATING TO (A) MECHANISM FOR THE PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT
AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS AND (B) CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN SECURITY,
DURING THE 8TH CONFERENCE OF LEADERS AND HEADS OF STATE HELD IN TRIPOLI,
THE GREAT JAMAHIRIYA -FROM 1ST - 2ND JUNE 2006.
One year ago, during the seventh (7th) Conference of CEN-SAD Leaders and Heads of State in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Sierra Leone acceded to the Treaty establishing this coveted Organization. It was at the same summit that I signed the Protocol on "AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN ROAD TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT BETWEEN MEMBER STATES" to demonstrate our confidence in, and commitment to, the ideals and objectives of the Community of the Sahel-Saharan states.
During the one year period of Sierra Leone's membership of CEN-SAD, I have personally followed the activities of the Organization with keen interest and have endeavored to ensure that Sierra Leone becomes an active member in spite of our many constrains resulting from the priority engagement with massive post war reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes. Thus, representatives from Sierra Leone participated at the inaugural meeting of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council held in Bamako, Mali from the 15th to 17th February 2006 while a Ministerial Delegation also participated at the Thirteenth (13th) Ordinary session of the Executive Council convened in Rabat, Morocco from the 15th to 17th March 2006.
I am pleased to express the satisfaction of my Government with both the reports submitted on these activities and my personal positive impression during the one-year of my keen observation of CEN-SAD. At this juncture, let me mention that it is a consequence of the foregoing observations that it has pleased my Government to approve the signing of the other two protocols relating to (A) MECHANISM FOR THE PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS and (B) CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ASSISTANCE INS ECURITY.
This signing ceremony is meant to reaffirm the commitment of my Government and people to the objectives of the Community of the Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and I shall, hereafter, ensure that the ratification of the three (3) signed protocols is expedited and the Instruments be deposited soon after.
In conclusion, please permit me to pay tribute to the great vision of The Leader and Guide of the Great Al-Fateh Revolution, my dear Brother Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, for his laudable initiative in proposing the establishment of the CEN-SAD. I wish to also commend the dedication and hard work demonstrated by the General Secretariat under the able direction of Dr. Mohamed Al-Madani Al-Azhari while at the same time reassuring you of Sierra Leone's continued keen interest and cooperation in the affairs of this Community.
I thank you for your attention