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JOINT DOCUMENT
ON FRANCO-BRITISH CO-OPERATION IN AFRICA

LE TOUQUET, 4 FEBRUARY 2003

At the St Malo and Cahors Summits, France and the United Kingdom expressed their determination to co-operate as closely as possible in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our conviction has not changed: Franco-British cooperation in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa can be a driving force for the European Union, promoting peace and development and respect for human rights and the rule of law. Our efforts will be focused on countries that demonstrate a political and financial commitment to good governance and the rule of law, work towards poverty elimination and pursue policies that spur economic growth.

Continuing our co-operation according to what is by now a well-established practice, we have today decided to focus our joint effort on the following areas:

1. Our two countries reaffirm and will demonstrate their support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development, (NEPAD), and the Action Plan for Africa adopted by the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit, implementation of which will be reviewed at the Evian Summit on the basis of the report of the Personal Representatives for Africa.

2. The initiative launched by our two countries at the Johannesburg Summit to promote public-private partnerships for growth and sustainable development is progressing. We shall strengthen the links which join our main instruments of cooperation and development. With the Evian Summit in mind, a conference will be organised in order to further co-ordinate and adapt the efforts of the development finance institutions.

3. Preventing conflict and keeping or re-establishing peace in Africa are our constant concern. Both countries would like to emphasise that primary responsibility falls on Africa in this matter. We will take joint initiatives to that end at the United Nations and within the European Union and G8, ensuring in particular that they support the efforts of the African Union and of the sub-regional organisations, and that they strengthen Africa's peace-keeping capability. These initiatives will include developing African capacity so that by 2010 Africa will be able to deploy a permanent and substantial force for observation, peacekeeping and peace-building operations. Our two countries will explore how to work together to build a DRC national army; and will undertake a joint study on the regional dynamics of conflict in Africa.

4. Our two countries welcome the signature of the accord by the Ivorian political forces in Marcoussis on 24 January and approved by the Paris Heads of State Conference of 25-26 January. They urge all concerned to implement the agreement in good faith, and reaffirm their readiness to do all they can to help bring lasting peace and stability to Cote D’Ivoire.

5. Our two countries undertake to continue to act with determination in order to bring about lasting stability and peace to the Mano rivers region, especially in the International Contact Group on Liberia. The current situation encourages us to place our efforts to end instability in Liberia in the wider perspective of regional reconciliation. The recent opening of a French diplomatic office in the building of the British High Commission in Freetown is an illustration of the extent of Franco-British cooperation.

6. Britain and France have continued their discussions on the different ways to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Our insistence on a respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law applies for this country as well as all others. Our two countries will continue to provide humanitarian aid for the population of Zimbabwe suffering from famine.

7. The plundering and illegal exporting of natural resources and the development of organised crime in Sub Saharan Africa remain sources of serious concern for both our countries and we should like to assist the countries of Africa in combating those scourges with vigour. At this summit we undertook to support initiatives to ensure better accountability and greater transparency in corporate and government behaviour and to prepare a joint study on organised crime in Africa.

8. France and the United Kingdom will continue to provide humanitarian aid, giving priority to those regions that are suffering or are in danger of suffering from famine, in particular those in the Horn of Africa and in Southern Africa.

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As a sign of our common willingness to act in this spirit, our two Ministers for Foreign Affairs will for example in the next few months make another joint visit to the Great Lakes region.