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FILE - Cyclone Idai, Mozambique. [File photo: Txopela]
CPLP: Joint armed forces response mechanism for disasters
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Praia, June 1, 2021 (Lusa) – The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) will have a mechanism for the response of the Armed Forces in disasters, such as the conflict in Cabo Delgado, considered a priority by the Cape Verdean presidency of the organisation’s Defence ministerial group, the Cape Verdean minister said.
“We have to provide continuity and have a greater responsibility when we assume the presidency because the drive, dynamism and implementation of deliberations will also depend on the energy that we devote to the CPLP cause,” Cabo Verde’s defence minister, Janine Lélis said.
Speaking to journalists in the city of Praia, on the sidelines of the 20th meeting of CPLP defence ministers, held by videoconference and chaired by Brazil, Lélis explained that the agenda for this meeting, amongst other issues, includes the deliberation on the creation of a response mechanism for the armed forces at the community level for disaster situations.
“This means that a response capacity is being created at the community level so that, as a way of solidarity and whenever necessary, there will be a joint effort to help,” said the Cape Verdean minister, who in 2022 will take over the rotating presidency of the CPLP defence ministerial group.
She explained that the mechanism that is now being prepared is not envisaged as a permanent force but rather as a response force in disaster situations, even considering that request and response procedures are planned.
“It should not exist as a permanent reality, but rather as an ad hoc force, to meet needs,” she added. Today she made her public debut in this role, which she took over in May after being the minister of justice and labour in the previous government.
Lélis explained that the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, or the difficulties caused last year by the Covid-19 pandemic explain the need to implement this response mechanism at the level of CPLP countries.
“It is because of this that the creation of these instruments becomes urgent. The community, as well as showing solidarity, has put this mechanism on the table, precisely because situations of this nature happen so that we can be in a position to organise ourselves to respond,” said the minister, referring to the conflict in Cabo Delgado.
“We must say that the conception of the mechanism has all the underlying logistics, from how the request is made, under what terms it should be made, as well as the terms under which the response should be provided, in an organised manner so that effectively this aid, when needed, may arrive,” Lélis said.
The approval of deliberation on creating this mechanism at the level of the CPLP Defence ministers is one of the relevant points on the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting.
“I believe that as soon as we manage to implement this resolution, we will be able to help in an organised way,” she said.
Among other issues, the ministers will also deliberate on the Defence Strategy of the CPLP, how it should respond, especially for peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations of the United Nations, explained the Cape Verdean leader.
A United Nations resolution on the role of women in promoting the human rights of children and of people who are victims of violence in armed conflicts will also be considered, she added.
Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor are the member states of the CPLP.
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