Bob Dewar

UK Heads of Mission from West Africa meets in Abuja

A special event this week- the getting together in Abuja of all the UK Heads of Mission from up and down West Africa. The idea is to work better together; to work better with our other international friends; and above all to support ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) to operate more effectively.

We believe in helping building Africa's capacity to sort out its own problems. ECOWAS are taking the lead regionally in keeping peace and security, in building post-conflict stability and democracy and in promoting trade and regional integration. There are new threats like drugs and terrorism undermining the region - and also the difficulties posed by the global economic recession.

So it's more important than ever that ECOWAS exerts influence on its states to meet internationally acceptable standards. Making sure states act constitutionally and that there is no reversion to military regimes is one key task. Bringing about free and fair elections, with independent electoral institutions within an increasingly accountable and transparent system which citizens can trust, is another.

And a third is to continue to improve the free movement of goods and people within the region, and to encourage more effective engagement with the rest of the world, to stimulate competition, investment and improved jobs and wealth for its citizens. We're keen to help on all these in a genuine partnership, as we made clear to Dr Chambas the President of the Commission and to the Foreign Minister of Nigeria- the country currently Chairing ECOWAS.

Posted at 16:17 02 June 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]