欧美文化:Algeria urges Africans to "speak with one voice" in int'l organizations

ALGIERS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Thursday urged Africans to "speak with one voice" in international organizations, including the UN Security Council, in a bid to influence the decisions being taken concerning the African continent.

"We believe there is still more room for improvement, to achieve our common goal Africa must speak with one voice capable of influencing decision-making in the UN Security Council," said Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra in his opening speech at the 8th High-level Conference on Peace and Security in Africa that kicked off Thursday in Algeria's western province of Oran.

This voice must be "strong and decisive," said Lamamra, stressing that the African countries "must also renew their attachment to the values and ideals of Pan-Africanism and to act collectively to avoid any factor that could endanger the unity of the African Union."

"This pan-African enterprise implies recognition of our own shortcomings and redoubling every effort to achieve the vision enshrined in the AU (African Union) Agenda 2063 for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa carried by its own citizens to become a dynamic force on the world stage," the Algerian top diplomat added.

The 8th High-level Conference on Peace and Security in Africa is attended by top officials from member countries of the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN's Security Council. Experts and representatives of international organizations, including the Arab League, also attended the event.

The conference discussed ways to promote cooperation among African countries at the UN Security Council and the AU, so as to uphold the continent's positions relating to peace and security issues, in a bid to associate Africa to the international community decision making.