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afrol News, 12 May - Yesterday, foreign ministers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) met in the South African capital "to review the situation" in Comoros since the signing of the reconciliation agreement in February. On 17 February 2001, the so-called Framework Agreement for Reconciliation in the Comoros had been signed by the federal government in Moroni and the separatist government of Anjouan under pressure from the OAU. The OAU had imposed sanctions on Comoros after the Moroni government had accepted a plan that could have led to the independence of Anjouan (the "Fomboni Declaration"). A Comorian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Mr. Mohamed El Amine Souef, attended the Pretoria meeting and exchanged views with the Ministers and Heads of delegation, according to a statement by the South African government. The meeting reviewed the situation in the Comoros in the light of the report of the OAU Secretary General on the situation in the Comoros. The OAU ministers expressed "concern about the recent developments in the Comoros, which threatened to derail the reconciliation process and impede the implementation of the Framework Agreement." The breakaway Comoran island of Anjouan last month withdrew from a committee set up to monitor the reconciliation accord. The accord aimed to end the Indian Ocean archipelago's separatist crisis after Anjouan unilaterally declared independence in 1997. According to the official OAU statement, "these developments concern specifically the lack of funds to finance the implementation process and economic recovery, as well as the decision by the Anjouanese party to suspend its participation in the Follow-up Committee." In this regard, the meeting welcomed the statement made by the Comorian delegation which announced the resumption by the Anjouanese party of its participation in the implementation process of the Framework Agreement and the disposition of the Comorian parties to persevere in their efforts to implement the Framework Agreement and respect the timetable. After a lengthy exchange of views on the situation in the Comoros, and following consultation with the delegation of the Comorian Government, the meeting reiterated OAU's commitment to continue to support the efforts of the Comorian parties to find a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in the country, on the basis of the respect for unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros, an all-inclusive process and the return to constitutional order. The meeting also took note of the appeal made by the Comorian delegation for financial assistance to enable a smooth implementation of the Framework Agreement. It requested an acceleration of the preparations for the convening in Mauritius of a donors' conference for the Comoros. Yesterday's meeting commended the Comorian parties, namely the Government and the political forces supporting it in Moheli and in Grande Comore, the Authority of Anjouan, the opposition and the civil society in the Archipelago for their commitment to and determination for a successful conclusion of the negotiations. The meeting reaffirmed that "the Framework Agreement remained the only viable and consensual basis for the attainment of genuine reconciliation among the people of the Comoros and a lasting solution to the crisis in the Archipelago and appealed to all the parties to continue to honour their commitment." The OAU Council also decided, in view of the signing of the Framework Agreement and the progress made in the search for a solution, to immediately suspend the measures taken by the OAU against the leaders of the Anjouanese Movement, it being understood that the measures would be lifted definitively upon the establishment of the Transitional National Union Government provided for in the Framework Agreement.
Sources: Based on South African government and
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