Co-operation Among Greater Horn Countries Imperative for Disaster prevention, Security:Meles

Addis Ababa, July 30(ENA)-- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said close co-operation among the countries of the Greater Horn of Africa is absolutely imperative in a bid to prevent the ill effects of disaster and maintaining of sustainable security.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Golden Spear 2003 Ministerial Symposium here on Wednesday the prime minister said the region has no chance of overcoming the challenges it has faced without effective collaboration.

He said it would be erroneous to believe that the countries succeed individually to address the challenges emanating from natural and man made disasters and those related to security.

Meles said the region has been prone to conflicts and attracted the attention of those determined to spread chaos.

The Prime Minister said, "The major impediment to effective cooperative among the countries is lack of political will and the abuse of commitment to values that should underpin effective co-operation".

He said, however, these values could be fostered through patient work and strengthening the coalition of those who stand for common sense.

General John P. Abizaid, Commander of the U.S. Central Command said disaster comes in many forms and averting it needs a collective action.

''We must be responsible for collective decisive response whatever disaster may happen as people who value peace and stability", he said.

He said the U.S. Central Command and its combined joint task force in the region were committed to helping and reinforcing those efforts that are collective and helpful to peace and stability in the region.

General Abizaid said establishing peace and stability in the region is tantamount to bringing prosperity, adding that commitment to one another was vital to organize efforts in maximizing speed and effectiveness for relief and assistance.

The 2003 Golden Spear meeting discussed and refined the work accomplished at the previous meetings and the way a head for the establishment of a Regional Disaster Management Mechanism.

Accordingly, an action plan was designed and approved for the establishment of Regional Disaster Management Mechanism that has a vision statement of enhanced security and protecting development gains within the Golden Spear participating countries.

It has also a mission of strengthened regional capacity for disaster mitigation, preparedness and response as well as boost disaster management capacity for sustainable regional development.

The Golden Spear committee of ministers signed an agreement for the reaffirmation of commitment to understanding and cooperation.

The Golden Spears Symposium series began in 2000 with participating countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda.

The US central command sponsored three day long meeting and organized by the African Center for Strategic Studies was attended by participants from Golden Spear countries and high-ranking officials drawn from the USA, Europe and other countries.