FINAL COMMUNIQUE

bitmap in copaz

FINAL COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2ND SUMMIT OF THE CO-PROSPERITY ALLIANCE ZONE ABUJA, NIGERIA, 28 MAY 2007

On the margins of the Inauguration Ceremony of the President-elect of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar Adua, the 2nd Summit of the Co-Prosperity Alliance Zone, (COPAZ) took place in Abuja on Monday, 28 May 2007. It was chaired by His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and attended by His Excellency, President John Kufuor of Ghana, His Excellency President Boni Yayi of Republic of Benin; and the Minister of Commerce, Mr. Savi De Tove, representing the President of Togo.

 

  1. In his opening remarks, President Obasanjo, cordially welcomed his brother Heads of State, and congratulated them for their determination to ensure that COPAZ was successful. He informed them that Nigeria has donated office accommodation in Lagos for the Technical Support Facility (TSF) of COPAZ, towards early take-off and the smooth operation of the COPAZ project.

 

  1. The Heads of State re-affirmed their commitment to the noble Ideals of COPAZ and expressed their willingness to reinforce the scope of their cooperation. In this regard, they affirmed that, for integration to be meaningful and strong, policies have to be pursued in stages, with each building on existing ones in an integrated manner.

 

  1. They expressed satisfaction with the successful conduct of the Presidential elections in Nigeria and their desire to work with the in-coming Government for the success of COPAZ.

 

  1. The Heads of State noted with satisfaction their informal gathering in Cotonou on 13th February, 2007, when Ghana formally joined as the fourth member State of COPAZ.

 

  1. They noted the progress towards fulfilling the objectives of COPAZ, with the commissioning at Sakete, Benin Republic on 13th February 2007, of the electricity Interconnection between Nigeria, Benin and Togo and the launching at Itoki in Ogun State, Nigeria, on 27th April 2007. of the West African Gas Pipeline project supplying Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
  2. The Heads of State expressed their determination to set new targets in order to build on the achievements in these areas. They expressed their commitment to ensure that by the next Summit the power pool should be operational, that the Gas project should be on stream and that free movement of persons and goods and services produced in each COPAZ country should be ensured within the Zone.

 

  1. The Heads of State expressed strong conviction that the direct involvement of the private sector must be enhanced to give dynamism to the COPAZ project. To this end, the Heads of State directed the active participation of the private sector in all future meetings of COPAZ.

 

  1. The Heads of State noted the nomination by Benin and Nigeria of the principal officers of the TSF and reiterated their desire to make COPAZ an instrument of rapid sub-regional integration and an operational tool for effective socio-economic development.

 

  1. They agreed to appoint a working group of experts comprising the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance and Budget to recommend the legal framework, status, organogram and funding of the TSF.

 

  1. The Heads of State agreed that the next Summit of COPAZ would hold in Lome, Republic of Togo.

 

  1. The Council noted the nomination of Dr. Adeyemi Fatal of Benin as Executive Secretary and Ambassador F. R. Aderele of Nigeria as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Alliance. It urged the Governments of Ghana and Togo to nominate their respective Deputy Executive Secretaries accordingly.

 

  1. The Heads of State expressed their profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Government and good people of Nigeria for the brotherly reception and warm hospitality accorded them in Abuja.

 

 

Done in Abuja, Nigeria, 28 May 2007, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic