The President of the Federal Republic of Germany His Excellency Joachim Gauck paid a working visit to the EAC Headquarters (today) and addressed a large gathering comprising of members of staff of the EAC Organs and Institutions, civil society organizations, members of the East African Assembly, Arusha City authorities and local residents at the Chambers of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Prior to his address, H.E Gauck held private joint discussion with the Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. Sezibera, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon Daniel Kidega; His Lordship the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja; and the Executive and senior staff of the Secretariat and Organs of the Community.
In his speech to the East African Community, President Gauck expressed his extreme happiness to be at the EAC Headquarters premises, a building he described as "where the commitment to peace and freedom, to democracy and the rule of law, and to human dignity and humanity has found a home".
The President cautioned the EAC to guard against setbacks, skepticism, self-doubt, and public criticism that could derail the integration process and urged the EAC Partner States to borrow a leaf from the European Union's (EU) book, saying several areas of the two blocs were in common.
The German President called on the EAC Partner States to consider focusing on youth who were beneficiaries of most of the initiatives and decisions being made today.
However, he cautioned the youth that alliance of their countries though good, the process would take time and effort, for solutions had to be discussed, negotiated and achieved over and over.
He said conflicts between countries ought to be resolved peacefully and that reliable rules for dealing with each other on the international level ought to be in place. "Human rights violations must not be tolerated. And those who violate human rights must be held to account," he said, stressing that human rights belonged to every person, regardless of origin, religion, or social or material status.
President Gauck admitted that the EU integration was also facing conflicts and crises that were a huge test to the strength of the bloc.
"We often grapple with the speed and extent of integration. However, we also sense that commitment to peace, rule of law, and cooperation is valuable," President Gauck said.
He said EAC was seeking its own path by ensuring Partner States work on their own solutions, pursue their own agenda and in their own time.
"This is what is happening at the moment, and this is the way it should," said the German President, observing that EAC was, as a result of the ambitious goals it had set for itself, become a role model and a peace setter in Africa.
EAC member states had enjoyed continued average economic growth of over 6 per cent in the past decade and its over 145 million people speak a common language of Kiswahili, a 'luxury' that EU was lacking, he said.
President Gauck said it was worth investing much energy in the regional integration for the bloc to foster stability, growth, and prosperity.
"Apocalyptic thinkers regularly predict the end of the Euro or even the complete downfall of Europe. Please, do not trust those who propagate such doom and gloom," he cautioned. Seeking compromises, remaining patient, and putting selfish interests aside for the sake of democratic principles and the rule of law, according to him, preserved cohesion during difficult times.
The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega commended the warm and cordial ties between EAC and Germany, which is reflected in the German support through GIZ-EAC programmes including the construction of the EAC headquarters.
He urged both Germany and the EAC to strengthen the existing bonds and ties to new and higher levels for the benefit of citizens.
The EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, said Germany was the first development partner to commit financial and technical support to the EAC since its nascent stage in 1996.
He said EAC had grown to a stable region with business policies and regulations in place including protocols on single Customs Union and Common Market. "We are working with the private sector through its umbrella associations to facilitate trade," said Amb. Sezibera, adding that students were moving freely across the bloc and paying local fees.
Hon. Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, Chairperson of the East African Council of Ministers and Minister of East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon Jumanne Maghembe, Minister for Water and Irrigation, Ambassador. Egon Kochanke, Federal Republic of Germany's Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and Representative to the EAC; Mrs Dagmar Freitag, Head of the Parliamentary group on East Africa; State Secretaries, the Regional Commissioner of Arusha, Hon Daudi Felix Ntibenda; and several representatives of the German Government were present.
Ends
For more information please contact:
Owora Richard Othieno,
Head of Department;
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs;
Tel: +250 735 833683; Email: oothieno@eachq.org;
Photos: https://photos.eac.int/photos | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proudlyeastafrican | Twitter: @jumuiya | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/eacweb
