Hundred and seventy-fourth session

Transcription

1 ex United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board Hundred and seventy-fourth session 174 EX/17 PARIS, 23 February 2006 Original: French Item 38 of the provisional agenda RELATIONS WITH THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES (ECCAS) AND DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNESCO AND THAT ORGANIZATION SUMMARY In the context of strengthened cooperation with the African Regional Economic Communities, which are pillars of African Union programme implementation, the Organization wished to establish official relations with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The Secretary-General of ECCAS commended this initiative. In pursuance of Article XI, paragraph 1, of the UNESCO Constitution, the Director-General therefore requests the Executive Board to authorize him to establish such relations through the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two organizations. To that end, he hereby submits to the Executive Board, for approval, a draft cooperation agreement (Annex II) that has already been approved by the Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States. Decision proposed: paragraph UNESCO and ECCAS have always maintained cooperation relations but these have not been formalized through an agreement to date. In a letter dated 24 January 2006, the Secretariat of ECCAS informed the Organization that it approved the revised draft cooperation agreement between the two organizations. 2. ECCAS was established by a Treaty signed on 20 October 1983 in Libreville (Gabonese Republic) which entered into force on 18 December Its main purpose is to conduct the cooperation and integration process in Central Africa. Its Secretariat was set up in 1985 in Libreville. ECCAS covers 11 Central African countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central

2 page 2 African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad. It has been designated a pillar of African Union programme implementation and the focal point for the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) in Central Africa. A brief note presenting the structure and organization of ECCAS is attached to this document (Annex I). 3. A delegation of ECCAS took part, from 11 to 13 September 2004, in the inaugural meeting of the Forum of the Regional and Sub-Regional African Organizations in support of cooperation between UNESCO and NEPAD (FOSRASUN). This Forum was set up by the Director-General pursuant to the recommendations of the Ouagadougou seminar UNESCO-NEPAD from Vision to Action (5-7 March 2003), in which ECCAS also participated recommendations approved by the Executive Board at its 166th session (166 EX/Decision 4.1 (I)). It may be recalled that FOSRASUN is intended not only to provide a platform for dialogue and partnership between the Commission of the African Union, the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and UNESCO, but also to promote concerted action between these bodies in order to achieve the objectives of regional and subregional integration through education, science, culture and communication. 4. In accordance with the conclusions of the first meeting of the Forum, the Secretary-General of ECCAS has informed the Organization of the designation of a Focal Point for FOSRASUN within its Secretariat. 5. The cooperation agreement with ECCAS is a response in particular to the Forum s recommendation calling upon UNESCO and the RECs to facilitate policy-dialogue processes leading to the signature of cooperation agreements with a view to carrying out joint actions. It is also in the spirit of 164 EX/Decision 8.6, 166 EX/Decision 4.1 and 170 EX/Decision 4.1 on strengthening cooperation with the African institutions that are pillars of the NEPAD programmes and the regional integration process, and of United Nations General Assembly resolutions (A/RES/57/2 and A/RES/57/7) on NEPAD. 6. In conformity with the provisions of Article XI, paragraph 1, of the UNESCO Constitution, the Director-General submits to the Executive Board for examination and approval the draft cooperation agreement contained in Annex II. 7. In the light of the above information, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: Proposed draft decision The Executive Board, 1. Bearing in mind the provisions of Article XI, paragraph 1, of the UNESCO Constitution, 2. Having examined document 174 EX/17, 3. Noting with satisfaction the existing cooperation between the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and UNESCO, 4. Considering the desirability of establishing official relations between UNESCO and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS),

3 page 3 5. Taking note of the fact that the Secretary-General of that organization has approved the text of a possible draft cooperation agreement, 6. Approves the draft cooperation agreement which is reproduced in an annex to this decision; 7. Authorizes the Director-General to sign the cooperation agreement on behalf of UNESCO and to establish official relations with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

4 Annex I ANNEX I Note on ECCAS Member States 1. The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) comprises 11 Member States: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad. Historical background 1. This Community stemmed from the Lagos Plan of Action of April 1980, aimed at economic, social and cultural development in Africa, in particular through the creation of subregional and regional structures which could progressively lead to a Common Market. 2. Established by a Treaty signed in October 1983, in Libreville, ECCAS was created by the Member States of the Central African Customs and Economic Union (CACEU) and those of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes States (CEPGL) (Burundi, Rwanda and the then Zaire), together with Sao Tome and Principe. Angola remained an observer until 1999, when it became a member of the Organization. The General Secretariat of ECCAS was set up in 1985 in Libreville, Gabon. 3. ECCAS experienced a period of inactivity between 1992 and During that period, seven of its 11 Member States were involved in conflicts, rendering the subregional institution inoperative. It was in 1998 that the Heads of State and Government decided to give fresh impetus to the activities of ECCAS. 4. In view of the recurrent conflicts in the subregion, the Heads of State and Government added the promotion of peace, security and stability in Central Africa to the original objectives of ECCAS. 5. It is against this background that the Conference of Heads of State and Government, held in Yaoundé in February 1999, adopted the decision to create a mechanism for the promotion of peace, security and stability in Central Africa called the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX). 6. In the context of the renewal and revitalization of ECCAS, the Heads of State and Government, meeting in Malabo in June 1999, adopted a new vision of integration focusing on the following four main areas: human integration; development of capacities for analysis, action, intervention, entrepreneurial initiatives, communication and collective negotiations; development of physical, economic and monetary integration; development of capacities to maintain peace, security and stability.

5 Annex I page 2 7. The ECCAS institutional structure is as follows: The Conference of Heads of State and Government; The Council of Ministers; The Court of Justice; The General Secretariat; The Consultative Commission; Specialized technical committees. The main purposes of ECCAS are to: 8. Promote and strengthen harmonious cooperation and balanced and self-sustained development in all fields of economic and social activity; 9. Gradually eliminate obstacles between Member States to the free movement of persons, goods and services, and capital, and to the right to settle; 10. Harmonize national policies with a view to promoting Community activities, in particular in the fields of industry, transport and communications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, trade, currency and finance, human resources, tourism, education and culture, science and technology; 11. Create a cooperation and development fund; 12. Ensure the rapid development of landlocked States, island States, semi-landlocked States and/or States belonging to the category of least developed countries; 13. Promote peace, security and stability in Central Africa; and 14. Carry out all other activities aimed at achieving the Community objectives that may be pursued jointly by Member States. The NEPAD framework 15. As one of the pillars of the African Union, ECCAS has been designated the focal point for NEPAD in Central Africa. 16. An office for the Regional Coordination for NEPAD Implementation in Central Africa (CRNEPAD/AC), whose secretariat is provided by ECCAS, has been set up by the Conference of Heads of State and Government. 17. Twelve priority projects have been adopted by this Regional Coordination office in the framework of the implementation of NEPAD in Central Africa.

6 Annex II ANNEX II COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES (ECCAS) AND THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO The Economic Community of Central African States (hereinafter referred to as ECCAS ), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter referred to as UNESCO ), Considering that ECCAS was established to promote and strengthen harmonious cooperation and balanced development in all areas of economic and social activity, especially in the fields of education, culture, science and technology, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter and the Treaty establishing ECCAS, Considering that the goals of ECCAS include the formulation of a common education policy encompassing education models based on economic and sociocultural realities in the subregion, and the promotion of all forms of cultural expression with a view to making them better known, Considering that in addition to its original mandate under the Treaty it also has the task of promoting peace, security and stability in Central Africa, Considering that UNESCO has a constitutional task to advance, through the educational, scientific and cultural relations of the world s States, the objectives of international peace and the common welfare of humankind, Considering that UNESCO s programmes are aimed at making a positive contribution to sustainable human development through education, science, culture, communication and information, Desirous of coordinating their respective efforts in pursuit of their common goals, in accordance with the Treaty establishing ECCAS and the Constitution of UNESCO, Having regard to the Declaration of Ouagadougou of 5 March 2003 establishing a Forum of the Regional and Sub-Regional African Organizations in support of cooperation between UNESCO and NEPAD (FOSRASUN), Having regard to EX/Decision adopted by the Executive Board of UNESCO at its. session (ref.: ), Having regard to ECCAS decision 007/CEEAC/CCEG/18/99 of 25 June 1999 authorizing the Secretary-General to seek and enter into any agreements with international partners concerning technical and financial assistance,

7 Annex II page 2 Have agreed as follows: Article I Cooperation 1. UNESCO and ECCAS shall establish between them mutual cooperation ties through the bodies competent for that purpose. 2. Such cooperation shall encompass any matter pertaining to the fields of education, science and culture concerning such similar tasks and activities as both organizations may pursue. Article II Consultation 1. The competent bodies of both organizations shall consult each other regularly on all matters mentioned in Article I which are of common interest. 2. When circumstances so require, both organizations shall hold special consultations in order to determine the most appropriate means of optimizing the effectiveness of their respective activities in fields of common interest. 3. ECCAS shall inform UNESCO of any of its programme activities which may be of interest to the Member States of UNESCO. ECCAS shall study any proposal submitted to it by UNESCO in its fields of competence with a view to coordinating efforts between the two organizations. 4. UNESCO shall inform ECCAS of any of its programme activities which may be of interest to the Member States of ECCAS. It shall study any proposal submitted to it by ECCAS in its fields of competence with a view to coordinating efforts between the two organizations. Article III Reciprocal representation 1. UNESCO may invite ECCAS to attend as observer the General Conference of UNESCO and meetings of the Executive Board whenever matters of common interest are discussed. 2. ECCAS may invite UNESCO to attend as observer the Conference of Heads of State and Government and meetings of the Council of Ministers whenever matters of common interest are discussed. 3. Appropriate arrangements shall be made by agreement between the Secretary-General of ECCAS and the Director-General of UNESCO to ensure the reciprocal representation of ECCAS and UNESCO at other meetings convened under their respective auspices which deal with matters of interest to the other organization. Article IV Joint ECCAS/UNESCO commissions 1. ECCAS and UNESCO may refer any matter of common interest to a joint commission, should they deem it appropriate. 2. Any joint commission of this kind shall be composed of representatives appointed by each organization, the number of representatives to be appointed by each being determined by agreement between them.

8 Annex II page 3 3. Any such joint commission shall meet every two years and whenever deemed appropriate or necessary by both organizations. The reports of the joint commission shall be communicated to the Secretary-General of ECCAS and to the Director-General of UNESCO. Article V Exchange of information and documents Subject to such measures as may be necessary to protect the confidentiality of particular documents, UNESCO and ECCAS shall exchange information and documents on all matters recognized by both organizations as being of common interest. Article VI Execution of the Agreement The Secretary-General of ECCAS and the Director-General of UNESCO shall, for the purpose of executing this Agreement, enter into any such additional arrangements as may prove desirable in the light of experience. Article VII Review and examination 1. This Agreement may be amended with the mutual written consent of both parties. 2. Either of the parties may denounce this Agreement by giving six months written notice to the other party. The denunciation of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to the execution and completion of any projects or programmes under way. Article VIII Entry into force This Agreement shall enter into force upon approval by the respective competent organs of both organizations and signature by the Secretary-General of ECCAS and the Director-General of UNESCO. This Agreement has been drawn up in two original copies in the French language, both being equally authentic. Done in... on... For the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) For the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Louis Sylvain-Goma Secretary-General. Koïchiro Matsuura Director-General This document has been printed on recycled paper.