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E.A. High Commissioners Meet The Minister of Foreign Affairs

East Africa High Commissioners of Kenya and Tanzania called on the Uganda Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon.Sam Kutesa, and in a spirit of congratulations to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, upon his election victory. They commended Government for the mechanism it put in place for smooth campaigns which resulted in the peaceful, free and fair elections.

REGIONAL INTEGRATION

They expressed the hope that since the regional integration was one of the platforms of President Museveni's Manifesto, his victory would spur the region into political Federation. They requested for a Ministry for East Africa Cooperation be set up in Uganda as this would give a strong message since Tanzania and Kenya already have this in place. They highlighted the advantages of regional federation including borderlessness and market access. The regional integration and especially the trade opportunities that would accrue from it, would benefit all within the federation. It was suggested that Tanzania rejoins COMESA. They requested that this matter be raised when President Museveni and President Kikwete meet.

Hon. Sam Kutesa observed that Government was pleased with the election results. He said that democracy has shown to have triumphed through the people's demonstration and dedication to express themselves freely in choosing a government. He added that democracy is not an event but a process and that the degree to which they are free and fair is a measure of commitment to the process.

The Minister said that Uganda looks forward not just to close working relations but also to the integration process and fast tracking the political federation. He concurred with the High Commissioners that the work of the E.A.C had been stalled by the respective electoral calendars. Now that elections were over he assured them that Uganda was ready to proceed with the E.A.C. Calendar and that the President would attend the Summits.

With regard to President Kikwete's visit, the President would not have to wait until May 2006. There are no major events to stop the visit before May 2006 and Uganda looks forward to President Kikwete's visit according to his schedule.

The Minister emphasised that Uganda was ready for formal normal business. The EAC Secretary General sent a letter calling for an Extra-Ordinary Council of Ministers to deal with tariffs on maize and rice because of the drought in the region. Uganda' position is positive to allow reduction of tariffs on those items so that people import food cheaply.

The Minister stressed the importance of EAC integration to Uganda Government and it was a key NRM Manifesto in its campaign. President Museveni expressed in all his campaign that he had a role to play and that he wants to use the next 5 years to fast track the political federation, move on and achieve the integration because of the strong belief in its benefits for the economy, security and movement of people. It is also the right course because it is an important building stone towards the unity of Africa.

The Minister recalled that at the last AU Summit in Khartoum, there was always an item which the Libyan Leader Co!. Gadaffi brings up: the immediate government of Africa. President Museveni regards this as rather precipitous. As Chair of the Sub­ Committee, he had written a strong paper that the position of Uganda is to first strengthen regional blocks, make them work and become one entity. Issues of non-regional nature could have a coordinator of everybody's efforts such as stopping the spread of the desert. Such issues can be done at Continentalleve!.

On the question for Tanzania rejoining COMESA, the Minister said Uganda's position is not about which country belongs to which regional group. The best approach is for EAC to negotiate as a group with COMESA or EAC to negotiate as a group with SADC, so that issues are harmonized. In terms of the Customs Union for instance, tariff rates should not be differing hence the need for a common agreement with COMESA and a common agreement with SADC. The Minister said that the political federation is not just good as a word but that it brings strength in negotiations and that we are perceived better than as individual countries.

In July/August 2006, at the last EAC Council of Ministers meeting and the Retreat in Ngorodoto, the overriding consensus was that instead of Tanzania leaving SADC and rejoining COMESA, it would be more appropriate ifEAC as a unit could negotiate with SADC and COMESA. The main issue is tariffs, and that both COMESA and SADC are moving towards the same tariff rates.

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