Co-operation arrangements must be based on mutual gain

Editor,Regional groupings of nations for political or economic reasons are not a new idea. Pacts and treaties tying one nation to another, or to group of nations, in pursuit of mutual interests is as old as organised nationhood has been in existence.In early times when states were organised on monarchial systems, co-operation treaties were sealed by marital unions, but other pact agreements developed as states became republics or monarchs became mere figure heads.But behind any co-operation arrangement, there must be mutual gain, and a fair and level play field. What is disturbing with modern day regional pacts is the basis on which they are formed. Many of them are merely formed because the states involved share a geographical location as opposed to having genuine comparative advantages to exploit, and where some advantage exists, political vision may be so diverse that economic co-operation is not possible.This situation was well manifested in the defunct East African Community. The same problem may be the undoing of the present East African Union.If regional unions have to be successful, they should be only formed when all partners have the same political vision and a total willingness to promote social and economic aspirations of the populations involved. They should be unions of the masses, not just fancies of bureaucrats and politicians.Ronnie Sessanga, Kigali(Reaction to the article ‘Johnny come lately’ on regional integration’, by Eddie Mugarula Baraba, The New Times, November, 24)

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Co-operation arrangements must be based on mutual gain