President Mubarak called on the Extraordinary African Summit for Refugees and Displaced Persons to alleviate the pains of the refugees, to protect them and to facilitate their safe return to their homelands, as he said “we are capable to do this with our own resources and with the support of the international community and our international partners”.

And Mubarak added in his speech that was given on his behalf by Dr. Ali Moslhi the Minister of Social Solidarity, in front of the African Extraordinary Summit which started on Thursday in Kampala in Uganda and will be held for two days:

"We all know the complexity of the issue of migration and displacement in Africa; therefore, we have to cooperate with our international partners, with the coordination of the African Commission and the United Nations to alleviate these pains”.

And he emphasized Egypt’s continuous commitment in dealing with refugees, through its responsibility to international law and the founding charter of the African Union. He stated that Egypt in this endeavor is cooperating with the UNHCR, and its regulations and policies through assisting refugees, according to the available resources as all the other African states do.

Following, is President Mubarak’s speech to the Extraordinary Summit for Refugees and Displaced Persons in Africa that was given on his behalf by Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moslhi:

Your Excellency President Youri Mossveni

Presidents and Leaders of Africa

Ladies and Gentlemen

First, allow me to express my gratitude to my dear brother President Youri Mosivni for holding this important summit in his country. I am sure that his wise leadership will contribute to the success of this summit that we all look forward to.

This Extraordinary Summit is held within times of unprecedented international conflicts and crises in level and consequences; and in a time when Africa is witnessing ongoing armed conflicts that reflect suffering on many refugees and internally displaced persons. This is considered as a fundamental challenge, which we have to deal with in this Summit with the highest level of efficiency and responsibility to overcome its causes and consequences, and to provide protection to refugees and displaced in Africa.

Brothers and Sisters

This summit is the first summit of its kind on the African level, as it allows us to discuss all the aspects of this issue; its causes, political, economic, social and humanitarian consequences. This is an issue that has been highly debated in the United Nations and outside it; in relation to regional and international security and its link to the issues of human rights , women rights, specifically children rights; considering that they are the most affected groups among refugees and displaced persons.

Yes, the debated issue in this Summit is closely linked to the current situation of peace and security in Africa, and our collaborative efforts within the framework of the African Union to reconcile the armed conflicts, to entrap its causes and to achieve the required reconciliations between brothers connected through bonds of neighborhood and common interests for the good of their countries and their people.

The problems of refugees and forced migrants and their suffering will continue to be confined to our ability, for, we, the Africans, to reconcile the armed conflicts, to provide the reasons for economic and political stability. It will also be confined to our ability to deal with natural disasters, the phenomena of desertification and aridity. Until this happens, we should take responsibility towards alleviating their pains, protecting them and helping them return to their home countries. We are able to do this our own resources and with the assistance of the international community, our international partners and the United Nations, its bodies and the UNHCR in particular.

We all know how complex and inter-connected the problems of seeking refuge and migration are. We know of the difficulties facing hosting countries to refugees and displaced people; in providing for their needs, and how this is considered an additional burden on these countries. We should work together with our international partners and coordinate between the African Union and United Nations to alleviate those burdens.

Dear presidents

The number of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa are around 17 to 22 million refugee and displaced persons. And it is a huge number that reflects the magnitude of this problem, the challenges it creates and the economic, humanitarian and social suffering it imposes. We; in Egypt are hosting a big number of refugees from 36 different nationalities, mostly from African countries. We provide them with the needed support as stated in international and regional treaties that put in consideration human factors that force people to seek refuge and become displaced.

Egypt always emphasizes on its commitment – when dealing with refugees- and its responsibility according to the International Law and the Charter of the African Union. It cooperates with UNHCR in this endeavor, in accordance with the statues and regulations it formulates. It supports them according to the available resources; and in this; it is not different than all the fellow African countries, each according to its capacities.

The responsibility of protection is recognized as a fundamental principle of Human Rights, and it is considered as a high priority for International work on the governments and non-governmental organizations levels. This important Summit, with its released declaration and the African treaty it will adopt to provide protection to refugees, is a huge and important step in the common African efforts in this issue.

Hereby, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to President Musivini and the African Commission, for their efforts in holding this Summit and its preparatory process.

Thank you

Peace Be Upon You

* This article appeared in 7th Day newspaper website

* Translated by the Psycho-Social Training Institute of Cairo 9-11-09