Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
From the outset, I would like to exp gratitude and sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Goran Persson and I his Government for the invitation extended to the African Union to participate in the Stockholm International Forum 2004, on "Preventing Genocide -Threats and Responsibilities." Clearly, this forum is a further testimony to Sweden's well-known and long- standing commitment to the promotion lot peace, security and stability, and respect for human rights and on behalf of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, I commend Prime Minister Goran Persson for having taken this initiative.

It is also with keen interest that I a dress this gathering to share the African Union's perspective on the issue being discussed over these three days.
In a few months from now, the Africa Union will be commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda. In conformity with the UN General Assembly Resolution entitled “International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda", adopted on 19 December 2003, the rest of the international community will also be joining us in this event.

In upholding this initiative, the AU aims not only at keeping the memory of the Rwanda Genocide alive, but also a reflecting on how best to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy.

The timeliness of this Forum, therefore, cannot be overemphasized. In bringing together a vast array of Heads of State and Government, the Stockholm Forum will no doubt help us move a step further in our collective efforts to meet the challenge at hand and create conditions for a safer world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The memory of the Genocide in Rwanda is still fresh in our minds. Its effects are still being felt in the entire region of the Great Lakes.

Not only did the international community fail to recognize the threat, which was all but dear, but it also lacked the political will and the resolve required to stop the unfolding massacre, of innocent lives.

The subsequent decision by African leaders to establish a Panel of Eminent Personalities to investigate the Genocide and the Surrounding Events was informed by this unfortunate failure of the international community. The objective was two-fold: on the one hand, there was a need to gain a better understanding of what happened and to assess the roles and responsibilities of the various local, regional, and international actors who could have played a role in averting the Genocide; on the other hand, the Panel was expected to come up with concrete recommendations on how the continent could, in the future, avoid the recurrence of such a tragedy. It is against this background that I would like to highlight some of the provisions of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which was adopted in Lomé, in 2000.

One of the most noticeable departures from the 1963 OAU Charter is the affirmation in the Constitutive Act of the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State, pursuant to a decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

This provision puts clear limits to the principle of non-interference in Member States' internal affairs, which, more often than not, has been used as a shield to protect political leaders against international scrutiny. It is a clear demonstration of the commitment of African leaders not to allow the recurrence of the Rwanda Genocide.

The Protocol on the establishment of the Peace and Security Council, which entered into force in December 2003, reaffirms the provisions contained in the Constitutive Act on the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State in certain circumstances. In particular, the Council has been given the power to anticipate and prevent policies that may lead to genocide and crimes against humanity. Equally important is the affirmation by the Constitutive Act of the respect for the sanctity of human life, as well as the condemnation and rejection of impunity.

The Protocol also provides for the establishment of a Continental Early Warning System, whose role is to gather information on potential conflicts and other threats to peace and security, in order to facilitate timely action by the Peace and Security Council. In addition, the establishment of an African Standby Force, which will be composed of standby contingents provided by African countries, has, among others, the mandate to carry out interventions in Member States in the circumstances mentioned above.

More generally, the AU has, over the past years, adopted a number of legal and political instruments aimed at promoting democracy, good governance and respect for human rights, as part of an overall policy for the prevention of conflicts and other threats to peace and security, including crimes against humanity. In this respect, I would like to mention just a few, such as the 2000 Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, the 2002 Durban Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the 2002 Durban NEPAD Declaration on Democracy and Political Governance, the Solemn Declaration on Security, Stability, Development, and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) adopted by the OAU in Lomé, in 2000, and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding on CSSDCA adopted also in Durban in 2002. The Memorandum's objective is to give effect to the common values agreed upon by AU Member States, particularly with regard to the promotion of respect of human rights and good governance.

It is also worth mentioning the NEPA Peer Review Mechanism, as it will contribute to entrenching the values of human rights, democracy and good governance on the continent.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Clearly, Africa has endowed itself with the principles and mechanisms required to avert tragedies such as me one which occurred in Rwanda. Sustained efforts are being exerted to ensure their effective implementation.

The recently established Peace Fund, to which Member States have fully committed themselves, will greatly facilitate the attainment of the objectives that we as a continent have set ourselves. In this endeavour however, I cannot but emphasize the need for a stronger support by the international community. In particular, the latter should be more responsive and forthcoming to Africa's I repeated appeals for assistance in its conflict prevention and resolution efforts.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that, in confronting the threats of genocide and other mass murders, what the international community needs the most is political will and determination. It is my fervent hope that this Forum will contribute to building such political will and determination.

I thank you.