Palestine has expressed interest in partnering and working closely with Africa in the implementation of the continent’s development goals. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed the interest at the opening of the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly attended by over 35 Heads of State. President Abbas said his country had capacities that would come in handy as the continent pursued Agenda 2063, a 50-year development strategy launched in 2013. The Agenda 2063 outlines the African Union’s ambitions in economic, social, political and security aspects. “We are fully ready to cooperate with you in various fields as we do have the skills, the competence and the human resources that are highly qualified and will be beneficial to all of us,” he said. The cooperation with Africa, he said, would be based on mutual ties and benefits for both parties. “This cooperation will be part of our faithfulness policy that we are pursuing with this continent as an example of our appreciation for cooperation,” Abass said. To lay the ground for partnership, he noted that a delegation from Palestinian International Cooperation Agency would soon meet with the African Union commission officials to identify areas of partnership. He noted the continent was significant enough to have a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and they would offer necessary support to see that actualised. On the issue of terrorism, he said that they stand ready to work closely with the continent in dealing with terror. “We stand beside you and show special solidarity with you to help in combating terror across Africa in all its forms, and terrorist groups,” he said. Palestine was granted the African Union observer status at the Union’s 21st Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2013. Palestine is a state in the Middle East. Its independence was declared on November 1988 by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). editorial@newtimes.co.rw
