Luanda - Angola's permanent representative to the United Nations, Francisco da Cruz, advocated on Tuesday, Jan 03, in New York, the urgent need to align the AU-UN partnership with broader global priorities, including those outlined in the Pact for the Future.
The Angolan diplomat was speaking at a meeting between the African Group and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, held at the African Union Permanent Observation Mission to the UN.
The moment served for interaction before the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Feb 15th and 16th, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in which Angola will take over the presidency of the organization.
Diplomat Francisco da Cruz highlighted Africa's active involvement in the preparatory process for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) and the reforms of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), highlighting the serious financing gaps that the continent faces, to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 AU Agenda.
In this context, he highlighted that the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) represents a unique opportunity to ensure that Africa's financing needs, particularly for sustainable development and debt relief, are prioritized and met.
Regarding the reform of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Francisco Cruz emphasized the need to give Africa a fairer voice in global financial governance and ensure equitable access to financial resources.
Referring to the UN Security Council reform, he highlighted that it remains a central priority for Africa, reaffirming the commitment to the Ezulwini Consensus and the Syrte Declaration, which provides 2 permanent and 3 additional non-permanent seats for the African continent.
Throughout his intervention, the diplomat praised the approval of UN resolution 2719 (2023), for adequate, predictable and sustainable financing of the African Union Commission's Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), which, according to him, will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the UN and the AU in matters of peace and security.
He reiterated Angola's commitment to continuing the collaboration with the UN in diplomatic efforts to find peaceful, sustainable and inclusive solutions to crises, mainly in Africa.
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