REPUBLIC OF UGANDA REMARKS

Transcription

1 REPUBLIC OF UGANDA REMARKS BY HON. SAM K. KUTESA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE 70 TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITALY S NATIONAL DAY 2 JUNE, 2016 [Please check against delivery] 1

2 Your Excellency Domenico Fornara, Ambassador of Italy to Uganda, Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies Heads of Mission accredited to Uganda The Italian community in Uganda, Ladies and gentlemen Buona sera! Good Evening. I am pleased to join you all this evening, the friends of Italy, as we celebrate seventy years (70) of the Italian Republic. I bring you warm congratulations from the Government and people of Uganda. Happy Republic Day! Your Excellency, Uganda and Italy have enjoyed a historical relationship, dating as far back as 1910, with the arrival of the first Comboni Missionaries at Pakwach. Over the years, including through our struggles for independence, the Comboni remained in Northern Uganda, educating and treating our people. While its Mission is mostly pastoral today, their legacy has remained. Some of the hospitals they helped to establish, such as Lacor and Kalongo have continued to flourish and expand, providing quality medical care to Ugandans. No doubt, the good works of these Missionaries paved the way for the strong bilateral relations between our two countries. We 2

3 commend the Italian government and its people for the support extended to Uganda especially in the areas of education and health. Since 1984, AVSI has been supporting various initiatives in the health and education sectors in Uganda, especially with HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria treatment. We welcome the increasing interest and investment of Italian companies in some of Uganda s strategic sectors, especially in energy and infrastructure. There is still a lot of potential for increased investment, in sectors that support Uganda s development, such as agriculture and agro-processing. With the establishment of the Italia-Uganda Business Club a few years ago, I am hopeful that more will be done to link businesses across the two countries. The Italy-Africa Ministerial Conference held in Rome two weeks ago, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of agriculture, technology and renewable energy, is a positive step in the right direction. We need to strengthen this partnership. Your Excellency, A week ago in Istanbul, the international community held the first World Humanitarian Summit. But as the Summit was concluding, something that has now become too familiar was happening on Africa s door steps. With the European winter cleared, thousands of desperate African migrants have resumed the risky Mediterranean trek to Europe. The results have been quite devastating thus far. 3

4 In a space of three days, three ships sunk, with over 700 people feared drowned. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 43,000 migrants had been rescued after leaving Libya by 27 th May, I salute the Italian authorities for the enormous effort to save these innocent lives. If not for the dedication of the Italian Coast Guards, a lot more people would have lost their lives at sea. At the level of the international community, achieving the core responsibilities agreed at the World Humanitarian Summit, such as preventing and ending conflict; leaving no one behind; and investing in humanity, will be important. In the short term, however, political stabilization of Libya is a must, and double efforts to tackle human trafficking across the Mediterranean. We should also learn our lessons on the shortcomings of illconceived humanitarian interventions such as Libya, and elsewhere in the world. Italy has been and continues to be a good friend of Africa, especially with peace support operations. In the Horn of Africa, Uganda notes Italy s contribution towards the peace process in Somalia. As we look forward to a positive electoral process, let us exert equal or more effort towards enhancing capacity building. The Somalia National Forces still need help, especially with strengthening command and control systems and remuneration. 4

5 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, let me now request you to join me to propose a toast to the continued good health of H.E Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic of Italy, and to the continued strong relations between our two countries. I thank you. 5