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Interview : Review of diplomatic actions in 2019 with Minister Robert Dussey

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad Prof Robert DUSSEY speaks on the highlights of Togo’s diplomatic action in 2019

Question 1:

Greetings dear Minister! In a few days, we will cross the threshold of a new year. At the time of the balance sheet, are you satisfied with the contribution of diplomacy to the work of development of Togo and to the progress of the world?

ANSWER:

Hello. Thank you for this opportunity that you offer me to come back to the highlights of Togo’s diplomatic activity during 2019.

I would say that Togolese diplomacy, under the leadership of the Head of State, His Excellency Faure GNASSINGBE, whose vision and clairvoyance I welcome, has been at all meetings, both national and international, in sight to support the efforts of the Government in its quest for well-being for all the sons and daughters of our country.

However, to say that I am satisfied with it would be to be self-sufficient and minimal. The hope of a better and prosperous Togo is an everyday fight, an endless fight, in which self-satisfaction cannot be put. I can, however, say that the personnel of my department, both at the headquarters and in our diplomatic and consular missions, did their utmost to achieve the objectives we set ourselves at the beginning of the year. As for the results, I leave it to the Togolese and Togolese, including you media people, to appreciate.

QUESTION 2:

I would like, if you allow me, to get to the heart of the matter by mentioning a subject on which you have been very active. At the start of the year, your department was given new attributions, those of Togolese living abroad. What has been done in favor of the diaspora during these 12 months?

Answer:

This is a very interesting question insofar as a whole section of the activities of the Ministry has been devoted this year to the Togolese diaspora.

The Togolese diaspora, like that of elsewhere, whether we accept it or not, has become an essential player in the development process of the continent. It’s a fact. And needless to say, the amount of transfers it sends to Africa far exceeds official development assistance. In addition, the potential of what this diaspora can bring in terms of skills and relational networks is enormous. States have therefore become aware of the place of the diaspora, rich in its diversity and intelligence, in the development effort and have therefore implemented, in recent years, policies oriented towards the intensification of participation of their nationals from outside to national development efforts.

Togo is not the rest. The Government’s desire to take the diaspora into account in the development process of our country does not start today, as you seem to say. Indeed, since 2005, the Government has continued to multiply both institutional and administrative initiatives in favor of Togolese abroad. Without being exhaustive, we can note, to illustrate:

  • The creation by decree in 2005 of the Directorate of Togolese Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for implementing government policy aimed at protecting and defending the interests of Togolese outside;
  • the establishment of the diaspora program in 2010, focusing in particular on the use of diaspora skills (2010-2014);
  • the creation in 2014 of the inter-ministerial committee responsible for coordinating and monitoring migration and development activities;
  • the establishment of a diaspora cell responsible for supporting Togolese from the outside with projects in their implementation;
  • the designation since 2015 of focal points responsible for the diaspora in the diplomatic and consular missions of Togo;
  • diaspora meetings between 2013 and 2014;
  • the organization of the great diaspora conference in 2014 in Lomé;
  • visa exemption for Togolese living abroad who hold dual nationality;
  • the organization of the first edition of the Diaspora Success Week in 2016.

It is in this spirit that the Government has consolidated its commitment vis-à-vis our compatriots living abroad through new powers for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guardianship of this diaspora, taking into account in its name “Togolese from the outside”.

In accordance with this mission, which in truth is not new, since it is a continuation of the efforts already started by the government in favor of its diaspora, I launched on April 1, 2019, on behalf of the Government, the Roadmap for Togolese abroad which covers several activities, including the better organization of the Togolese diaspora with a view to its more adequate involvement in national development efforts. It is a question of making the diaspora an interlocutor of the public authorities. And, as everyone knows, our diaspora is extremely divided and heterogeneous, hence the need to better organize it to give it a face. The challenge was great in that it was a question of creating and instituting a logic of unity from the plurality characteristic of this diaspora.

We therefore launched at the beginning of July the online voting process which led to the election of seventy-seven (77) Country Delegates, members of the High Council of Togolese Abroad (HCTE) which is a consultative and non-partisan platform. The HCTE is a framework for exchanges and work between the government and Togolese and Togolese from outside on development issues, defending the rights and interests of the latter.

After their election, the 77 Country Delegates, members of the HCTE met for the first time in Lomé on 28 and 29 November 2019 on the occasion of the “HCTE-Diaspora Success” Forum.

 

QUESTION 3:

Precisely, Minister, what were you pursuing through the organization of the “HCTE Forum – Diaspora Success” which, according to many observers, was a resounding success?

Answer:

The “HCTE Forum – Diaspora Success” had two main objectives:

First, it was an opportunity for the Government to talk to the Country Delegates about their roles, their missions, their responsibilities and the legal framework for their actions, to present the development vision that underlies government action, on the one hand, and to define with them, the conditions for a more optimal contribution of the diaspora to Togo’s development efforts, on the other hand. At the end of the forum, the 77 Country Delegates of the HCTE were officially installed in their functions during an official ceremony chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr. Selom KLASSOU, on behalf of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE. It should also be said that the members of the HCTE were able to set up their office, composed of a Presidents and four Vice-Presidents for each of the geographic areas (Africa, America, Europe and Asia-Oceania).

Secondly, in view of the satisfactory results of the first edition of “Diaspora Success, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad organized the second edition, to celebrate Togolese excellence in the world. The Night of Diaspora Success took place on November 29, 2019 during a beautiful gala evening at the Palace of the Presidency of the Republic. It revealed to the world five talented Togolese from the diaspora whose achievements and inventions have helped advance humanity. Their merits being recognized in their country of residence, their homeland is duty bound to honor them.

By celebrating the success of these people, we are promoting a culture of excellence.

 

QUESTION 4:

Another topical subject, and not least, is the negotiations between the ACP and the EU for a post-Cotonou agreement by 2020. As your chief negotiator for the ACP group, tell us what about it? Is an agreement possible before the February 2020 deadline?

Answer:

Signed in 2000 for a period of 20 years, the Cotonou agreement which currently governs relations between the ACP and the EU expires on February 29, 2020. Negotiations with a view to concluding a new partnership have been launched September 20, 2018 in New York, on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

The current negotiations aim to lay the groundwork for a new dynamic and a new cooperation transcending classic development cooperation.

The ACP-EU partnership is mainly focused on the eradication of poverty and the sustainable and inclusive development of the ACP and EU countries. It covers three essential areas of action: development cooperation, political dialogue and trade.

Building on the lessons learned from 44 years of cooperation and making the most of the new context, the future agreement will open up unprecedented perspectives. By forming a strong political alliance, the ACP and its partners will be able to develop solutions adapted to the challenges specific to each region, including growth and job creation, human development and peace, migration and security issues. Many of the challenges currently facing the world call for a concerted, multilateral approach to achieve concrete results.

One year after the start of the post-2020 ACP-EU negotiations, discussions are progressing in peace.

The first challenge encountered was to find a consensus on the format of the future partnership agreement. It will be made up of a common base applicable to all member states and three regional pillars which will reflect the specific characteristics and needs of each of the regions that make up the ACP. This means that Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are called upon to directly negotiate their respective regional protocols with the EU, in the light of their development ambitions. By empowering the regions, the ACP group is convinced that they will do effective substantive work.

However, it is unlikely that these negotiations can be completed before February 29, 2020, the expiry date of the current Agreement. Already, on May 23, 2019, the ACP-EU Joint Council of Ministers, realizing the complexity of the task, had delegated its powers to the Joint Committee of Ambassadors with a view to adopting any required transitional measures which would avoid an interruption of the partnership or a vacuum legal, in case negotiations do not come to an end in due time.

Discussions on these transitional measures are also continuing between the two parties. The least we can say for the moment is that the two parties agree on a single extension of the Cotonou Agreement with the deadline of December 31, 2020. What I can tell you is that we are making every effort to progress as quickly as possible so that the initialling of the new Agreement can take place no later than the end of March 2020.

In this way, we will have enough time to prepare the new Agreement for signature.

QUESTION 5:

Minister, you have also been very offensive in bilateral relations. What are the countries to which you have directed your actions?

Answer:

As said above, our country needs partners for the realization of the PND. It is with this in mind that I paid official visits to Brazil, France and Algeria. Beyond the subjects of common, regional and international interest relating to better coordination of the fight against terrorism and violent extremism as well as that against maritime piracy, these trips were an opportunity for me to present to the of these friendly countries the opportunities offered by the PND and to encourage them to invest in Togo.

In the same vein, I received my counterparts in Lomé including those from India and Serbia for the intensification of our cooperation.

Question 6:

Minister, we’re coming to the end of this interview, your last word.

Answer:

I would like, at the dawn of this new year, to express to the Head of State, President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, leader of the tremendous transformation of our country, my wishes for good health, prosperity and of peace.

I associate these wishes with Prime Minister Selom KLASSOU and the whole government.

I also extend my best wishes to the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in Togo and to all the technical and financial partners of Togo who have not ceased to accompany the government in the implementation of actions in favor of the development of our country and the well-being of our people.

And for each and every one of the sons and daughters of this wonderful country, I would like to successively quote Victor Hugo and Madame de Sévigné in these terms; “Let us salute together this new year which ages our friendship without aging our heart”. And “May this year be happy for you; may peace, rest and health take your place of fortune ”.

As for the future, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry teaches us “that it is not a question of foreseeing it but of making it possible”. So let’s make it possible, Togo thrives as we want.

Signing of the framework agreement for cross-border cooperation and the Memorandum of security cooperation between Togo and Benin and the delivery of equipment to local communities in Grand-Popo, on December 23, 2019

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Address by Prof. Robert Dussey

Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Benin dear Aurélien AGBÉNONCI,

Minister of the Interior and Public Security of the Republic of Benin,

Dear colleagues Ministers of the Togolese delegation,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The proximity between our two countries, Togo and Benin, is not only spatial. Besides the choice of nature to make our two countries immediate neighbors – nature doing nothing without reason tells us KANT -, deep historical ties link our two nations, but also fraternal links which constitute the background and the motivational basis of our cooperative relationships.

The facilities made available to the Togolese delegation since our arrival and the hospitality regime reserved for us convinces us of the excellence of the relations of friendship and fraternal proximity between Togo and Benin. I would like to take this opportunity to convey to His Excellency Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin, the fraternal and friendly greetings from His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Republic of Togo.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The cooperative relations of our two countries are at the heart of these meetings and our governments have made the best choice to work towards their densification. Our co-belonging to the same sub-regional space and our common dependence, sometimes common vulnerabilities and common challenges, impose action on relationships. Paul VALERY did well to qualify our epoch of epoch of meetings and relationships.

Our era is forcing people and states to come together and we have no choice but to cooperate and act together. Acting together, says philosopher Hannah ARENDT, is “inseparable from the appearance-common-of beings”, from the fact that we are together with others, from the fact that existence is co-presence and belonging to the world . Being together provides opportunities to act together and that is what we are doing right now. We have the power to act together and we act.

The framework agreement for cross-border cooperation and the memorandum of understanding that we signed today endow relations between our two States with new normative frameworks in an historic time when we need to cooperate more for development, to cooperate more for regional and African integration, to cooperate more for the security and stability of each of our countries and the sub-region.

More cooperation for development since our two countries have common challenges linked to the emergence, more cooperation for regional and African integration since a better integrated Africa can only be credible and audible on the world stage, more cooperation for security, a primary public good, the enjoyment of which conditions and promotes the realization of the fundamental human right of our populations and our developing States.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The West African sub-region is the framework for the presence of our states in the world – and if ARISTOTE is right when he puts the primacy of the Whole over the Party – we cannot deal with the problem of the internal security of our countries regardless of the security situation in the sub-region. National security requires endogenous efforts, but it also requires the governments of the subregion for cooperation and a coalition of means. Networking national security strategies is the solution today.

The fight against crime, maritime piracy, cyber-insecurity and terrorism and the action which they imply, on both sides of our borders, must be deployed within the framework of a shared vision of responsibilities which urges each party to work in a spirit of co-dependence and co-responsibility.

Our States deploy efforts in this vision by evolving their paradigms and conceptions of intelligence with the exercise in sharing of some of their traditional royal attributes and we are convinced that the option for the reinforcement and the acceleration of the impulses of cooperation cross-border is good because it is lucid and in tune with the spirit of the times.

Besides, the challenges are great and impose on us the need to intensify cooperation between our two countries. The Togolese government remains convinced that effective cooperation between the Togolese and Beninese security, intelligence and civil protection services will allow our two states to consolidate their respective capacities to respond to current security challenges. Faced with cross-border challenges, we need coordinated and effective cross-border action.

Thank you for your attention.

Prize of excellence 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Togo

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Press release

Launched in 2014 by H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, “The Prize of Excellence” is an initiative which aims to celebrate merit by awarding distinctions to agents of the Ministry who, during the year, showed selflessness, voluntarism and commitment in the exercise of their work. It’s about encouraging everyone to give the best of themselves.

The evaluation process that led to the designation of the winners of this 6th edition includes two main components:

a “peer review” which reveals the appreciation of the agent by his colleagues: the members of the personnel designate by vote, on a list of agents nominated by the directors, the person whom they consider may deserve the price of excellence. This phase accounts for 25% for the research managers (Prize for excellence), 50% for the Secretaries (Prize for the best Secretary) and 75% for the Staff price (Drivers, cleaning agents and others) , Firstly ;
and an assessment of professional skills and competences by a neutral and independent jury made available by the National Employment Agency (ANPE), on the other hand. The evaluation by the jury represents 75% for the research managers, 50% for the Secretaries and 25% for the category of drivers and maintenance staff.

It should be noted that the selection of the best coach (among the directors) is left to the discretion of the hierarchy.

At the end of this process, the four lucky winners of the “Excellence Award 2019” are:

  • Best Coach Award: Mr. AKAKPO Koffi, Director of Togolese Abroad;
  • Award of Excellence: Mr. NOUWODOU Sokemawu, Researcher at the Directorate of State Protocol,
  • Best Secretary Award, Miss FOLI Mansa, Secretary at the General Inspection of Diplomatic and Consular Missions;
  • Staff Prize: Mr. KOUHOUNDJI François, Maintenance officer.

It should be noted, as a reminder, that the Prize for excellence was obtained by Mr. TCHASSANTI Bassirou (2014), Mr. TCHALARE Kader (2015), Mr. SOULEY Abdel Kahar (2016), Mr. BODE Manafi (2017) and M. FARE Gbandi (2018).

Lomé, December 13, 2019

Working visit to France: Robert DUSSEY meets Jean-Yves LE DRIAN

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PRESS RELEASE

1- S.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad made a working visit to France, from 23 to 24 July 2019, at the invitation of HE Mr. Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, Minister of Europe and foreign affairs of the French Republic.

2- During their meeting, the two Ministers exchanged views on issues of common interest related to bilateral cooperation and collaboration on regional and multilateral issues.

3- Referring to the bilateral issues, the two personalities welcomed the excellent quality of the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between France and Togo and reaffirmed their willingness to continue working closely together for the strengthening and development of these relationships.

4- The Minister DUSSEY did not fail to express the strong thanks of the Togolese Government for the multifaceted support that France brings to it in its drive towards development, notably through the actions of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Cultural Action Service, particularly in the field of water, sanitation, education, research, energy and culture.

5- Examining development issues, Minister Dussey declined the main axes of the National Development Plan (PND) and the opportunities it presents for the French private sector, already very present in Togo through twenty companies, and whose investments and expertise are highly anticipated.

France is one of Togo’s top trading partners and the Togolese Minister has called for the strengthening of these ties through a greater partnership between the private sectors of the two countries.

6- On the security front, the Minister praised France’s support in the training and preparation of the Togolese armed forces for missions abroad in the framework of peacekeeping operations as well as cooperation in the field of security. external operational information.

7- At the political level, the Minister LE DRIAN congratulated Togo for the considerable progress that it has made in recent months by carrying out the constitutional and institutional reforms and organizing in a peaceful and consensual manner, the legislative elections of December 20th, 2018 and the premises of June 30, 2019.

In this respect, Professor DUSSEY has asked for the support and accompaniment of French cities, which already have proven experience, to young Togolese communes who are starting a new apprenticeship in decentralization and management of local communities.
He also took the opportunity to reassure his counterpart of the inclusive preparation of the 2020 presidential elections.

8- Speaking of regional issues, the two Ministers expressed concern about the resurgence of acts of terrorism, radicalization, violent extremism and maritime piracy on the continent and particularly in West Africa.

9- In this regard, the Togolese Minister congratulated his French counterpart for his support to the West African States in their response to terrorism and violent extremism, through the Serval and Barkhane operations and the support at G5 Sahel.

He noted, however, that the military response alone can not suffice and recalled the importance of preventive diplomacy, which requires governments to assume their roles and take the responsibility to protect their citizens, to make efforts to move closer to grassroots communities, to anticipate socio-political crises, to know how to stay at an equal distance from religious denominations while respecting the principle of secularism while playing their role of sovereign regulator.

10. Concerning multilateral issues, the two Ministers expressed their concern over the repeated attacks against multilateralism in recent years.

11- They agreed to strengthen their collaboration in international fora, coordinating their positions, not only for a better defense of their common interests, but also for the preservation of international peace and security.
The Heads of French and Togolese diplomacy also welcomed the positive development of the ongoing negotiations for a new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.
They also reaffirmed their common desire to support all initiatives and take the most appropriate measures in the fight against global warming.

12- At the end of his stay, the Head of Togolese diplomacy expressed to his French counterpart his heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the quality of the reception he received and his delegation.

Done at Paris, July 24, 2019

Peace and Security Council meeting in Niamey

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PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
857TH MEETING
5 JULY 2019
NIAMEY, NIGER

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council at its 857th meeting held on 5 July 2019, on the situation in Libya and on the plight of African Migrants in Libya,

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling Article 4 (o) of the AU Constitutive Act stating the sanctity of human life and article 7 of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, as well as its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Libya and the situation of African migrants in the country, particularly press statement [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCCII)] of 802nd meeting held on17 October 2018, communiqué [PSC/MIN. (DCCXCVII)] of 797th meeting held at ministerial level on 24 September 2018, on the margins of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America, and 839th and communique [PSC/PR/COMM.(PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXXXIX)] meeting held on 9 April 2019;

Noting the remarks by H.E. Professor Robert Dussey Foreign Minister of the Togolese Republic, in his capacity as Chairperson of the PSC for the month of July 2019, and the Statement made by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission; further noting the presentation by Ambassador Smaïl Chergui, Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as the statement made by the Representative of the State of Libya;

Expressing grave concern, once again, over the situation in Libya, especially since 4 April 2019 and over the plight of African migrants in camps and detention centres in this country , in particular the recent bombing on migrants and refugees at Tajoura Detention Centre near Tripoli, in Libya, that left 53 dead and hundreds severely injured on 3 July 2019;

Expressing solidarity to the Government and people of Libya, and reaffirming its commitment and readiness to continue to supporting the Libyan stakeholder in addressing the crisis in their country, in line with the relevant AU instruments and principles.

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

  1. Condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the perpetrators of the savage attack, whoever they are, which was carried out on 3 July 2019 at Tajoura Migrant Detention Centre in the vicinity of Tripoli in Libya, against migrants, which caused loss of lives and left hundreds injured, among them; expresses its deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes speedy recovery to all the injured migrants and refugees;
  2. Endorses the Press Release of the Chairperson of the Commission of 3 July 2019, condemning this horrific crime and calling for an independent investigation on the perpetration of this crime;
  3. Decides that an independent inquiry be urgently instituted, with the participation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), with a view to establishing the facts of the 3 July 2019 attack on the Tajoura Detention Centre near Tripoli and providing recommendations on practical measures for ensuring dignity, well-being, safety and security of migrants; in this context, Council requests the Commission to submit the outcome of the investigation to Council by 30 September 2019 for its consideration;
  4. Emphasizes the central role of the AU, working closely with the countries of the region, in the search for a durable solution to the crisis in Libya; in this context, Council insists that all partners engaged in supporting the efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis should complement and respect the approach of the AU; in this respect, Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to further enhance his diplomatic engagement with all those concerned to ensure that collective action is expeditiously and effectively taken to put an end to the crisis in Libya;
  5. Reminds that the United Nations (UN), though its Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter; accordingly, Council requests the Security Council to take full responsibility towards the speedy resolution of the crisis in Libya, bearing in mind that the continuation of this crisis has severe consequences, especially illegal circulation and use of arms, trafficking, proliferation of terrorist groups, transnational organized crime, among other, on Libya itself, the region and the African Continent;
  6. Demands that all the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice without delay; In this context, Council urges Libyan authorities and other stakeholders to extend the necessary cooperation, to the investigation on the attack on the Tajoura Migrant Centre;
  7. Calls on the Libyan authorities to take concrete measures for the protection of civilians in Libya, including the migrants and refugees, in line with International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law; further calls on Libyan authorities to dismantle all detention centers/camps in Libya, with a view to reducing the vulnerability of the migrants and refugees;
  8. Underscores the need on the part of Member States to take measures to decisively address root causes of irregular migration; calls on all concerned countries to redouble efforts with view to facilitating the speedy repatriation, including provision of logistical support, of their nationals from Libya in order to prevent any further exploitation of their fragile situation;
  9. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the political situation in Libya; Reaffirms that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis and emphasizes the imperative of a political solution as the only viable peaceful solution in resolving the prevailing crisis;
  10. Strongly condemns the external interference, by whomsoever, into African peace and security issues; in this respect, Council particularly expresses concern over increasing external intervention in domestic affairs of Libya as manifested by continued supply of arms to military factions and militias in violation of the UN arms embargo, deliberate attempts to divide Libyan  stakeholders, which is undermining efforts to definitely resolve the crisis in Libya; in this regard, Council stresses that any external support must complement African-led efforts for dialogue and reconciliation among the Libyan stakeholders; in this context, Council warns that it will proceed to naming and shaming those involved in order to address this problem;
  11. Demands the warring factions in Libya to immediately cease hostilities and commit to a permanent ceasefire and reengage in a genuine national dialogue in order to promote a political and inclusive solution to the crisis and reiterates its full support to the reconciliation conference to be organized by the African Union Commission and the AU High-Level Committee of Heads of State and Government of Libya;
  12. Looks forward to the planned meeting of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on Libya to take place on the margins of the inaugural AU-RECs Coordination Summit in Niamey, Niger;
  13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Launch of the High Council of Togolese Abroad: Speech by Minister Robert Dussey

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Ladies and Gentlemen Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of International Organizations and Organizations of Civil Society,

Mr. Secretary General,

Ladies and Gentlemen Directors,

Ladies and Gentlemen Division Chiefs,

Dear friends of the press,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Distinguished guests,

 

The Greek philosopher Epicurus said about friendship: “It is not so much the intervention of our friends that helps us but the fact that we can always count on them. The dimension of his thought that interests me is the fact that Epicure has the confidence and the guarantee of being able to always count friends as the base of friendship. Your presence on this day here is reiterative and convinces us that Togo can always count on you dear partners.

The ceremony that brings us together today is indeed a culmination since it announces the realization of a project whose beginnings date back to 2014. The establishment of the High Council of Togolese Abroad (HCTE) translates ambition clearly displayed the President of the Republic and the Government to raise the level of involvement of the Togolese diaspora in our national development effort and march towards collective prosperity.

It will be remembered that on April 1, we were here on the occasion of the launch of the Togolese Roadmap from the outside. The creation of the High Council of Togolese Abroad will materialize one of the essential axes of this Roadmap. By taking the decision to create the Togolese High Council, the Government intends to federate our diaspora to make its contribution to the development of our country even more significant.

The Togolese diaspora is a diaspora crumbled into several associations with difficulties to regroup and organize themselves in a way that ensures its representativeness. It is therefore essential to unite these different associations in order to increase their capacity for action in the direction and service of the country. The initiative for the creation of the Togolese High Council for Foreign Affairs (HCTE) is partly a response of the Government to a request from the diaspora itself.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The High Council of Togolese Abroad will include all Togolese and Togolese residing outside the national territory. It will be the framework par excellence for exchange and mutual trust between the Togolese diaspora and the Government on all issues of common interest. The HCTE will also be responsible for monitoring and coordinating the development activities of the Togolese diaspora, promoting everywhere the defense of the rights and interests of Togolese abroad and supporting them whenever the circumstances so require and making periodic consultations. with the Togolese and Togolese host countries of the diaspora.

The High Council of Togolese Abroad will be a consultative body of non-partisan, non-partisan and non-profit, and will not be affiliated with any confessional, ideological or political obedience. The challenge is to bring everyone together, make the plural diaspora of Togo a unique platform in the service of the prosperity of the nation, reconcile the logic of plurality and that of unity. Blaise Pascal said well in his book Thoughts that “the multitude that is not reduced to unity is confusion; the unity that does not depend on the multitude is tyranny “. Our differences are an asset for the country.

Finally, once again, I would like to take this opportunity to renew to you, dear friends, the gratitude of the Government for your presence at this ceremony, which shows your unwavering support when it comes to initiatives for the cause. of our country’s development. You are, to paraphrase a thought of Pythagoras, companions who help Togo to move on the path of prosperity.

I thank you for your kind attention !

Official visit to Brazil: Press Release

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1- At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, HE Ernesto ARAUJO, HE Prof. Robert DUSSEY , Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad , made an official visit to Brasilia on 17 and 18 June 2019.

2- During this visit, the two Ministers exchanged views on issues of common bilateral, regional and multilateral interest.

3- Addressing bilateral issues, Ministers ARAUJO and DUSSEY welcomed the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation that have united the two countries since 1972 and reaffirmed their willingness to work closely together for the deepening and the development of these relationships.

4- Referring to the agreement establishing the Joint Commission for Cooperation between the Government of the Togolese Republic and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, signed on 18 August 1988 in Brasilia, the two Ministers undertook to organize in the future the first session of the latter, with a view to strengthening their collaboration in the political, economic, security, scientific, cultural and technical fields.

5- They also agreed on the forthcoming signing of several agreements including a memorandum of understanding between the Rio Branco Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Togolese Republic on cooperation in the field of diplomat training, an agreement in the field of air service and a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of security and defense.

6- Examining development issues, Minister DUSSEY announced that Togo has recently adopted a National Development Plan articulated around three axes concerning the establishment of a logistics hub of excellence and a development center. first-rate business in the West African sub-region, the development of agricultural processing, manufacturing and extractive industries poles and the consolidation of social development and strengthening of the mechanisms of inclusion.

7- In this regard, he invited the Brazilian side to support Togo in the implementation of this plan, through the mobilization of investments.

8- Also, the two Ministers agreed on the forthcoming organization in Brazil of a Togo-Brazil Economic Forum to be attended by the Head of State HE Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE , President of the Togolese Republic.

9- Welcoming the cotton4 + initiative that has helped to strengthen the technical capacity of Togolese cotton farmers by Brazilian experts, Minister DUSSEY expressed the desire of the Togolese side to see this experience extend to other sectors, including coffee, cassava, cashew and cattle breeding.

10- Furthermore, the Togolese Minister took note of the Brazilian offer to assist African countries in controlling their borders, training pilots and sailors and expressed the willingness of the Togolese side to benefit of this offer.

11- Noting the need to strengthen cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries, the two Ministers pledged to work together for the organization of exchange and prospection visits for economic operators from Togo and Brazil and their participation. major meetings organized in one or the other party in the economic and related fields.

12- In this regard, the Togolese and Brazilian Ministers invited the chambers of commerce and other professional associations of businessmen of both countries to sign partnership agreements.

13- Speaking of regional issues, the two Ministers referred to the resurgence of acts of terrorism, radicalization, violent extremism and maritime piracy on the continent and particularly in West Africa.

14- In this regard, the Togolese Minister congratulated his counterpart for the Brazilian initiative to develop a joint strategy with West Africa on security in the South Atlantic and agreed with him on the forthcoming organization in Lomé of a high level meeting on security issues between West Africa and Brazil.

15. With regard to multilateral issues, the two Ministers stressed the importance of strengthening their collaboration within the framework of International Organizations, in particular by giving each other mutual support in the event of their candidacy for a position within the Organization. a given organization.

16- In this regard, the Togolese Minister informed his counterpart of Togo’s support for the candidacy of the Federative Republic of Brazil for the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022-2023.

17- In the margins of this interview, Prof. Robert DUSSEY led a conference on “Violent Extremism and Security Challenges in West Africa: What Role for Preventive Diplomacy? At the Rio Branco Institute of Brazil.

18- In his presentation, Minister Dussey, after recalling that extremist groups want to make West Africa a multi-hazard society, has demonstrated the limits of security and military response to the threat and listed some solutions based on preventive diplomacy to stem the evil.

19- In this regard, he recalled that preventive diplomacy requires governments to assume their roles and take the responsibility to protect their citizens, to make efforts to get closer to citizens and communities, to anticipate socio-political crises, to be able to stay at an equal distance from communities and religious denominations while respecting the principle of secularism while playing their role of sovereign regulator.

20- In addition, Minister DUSSEY was received in audience by Mr. Wilson WITZEL, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Cooperation issues were at the center of their discussions.

21- In the framework of the execution of the axis 1 of the PND, the Minister DUSSEY and the governor WITZEL agreed the signature of the agreements of cooperation between the Togolese government and the State of Rio de Janeiro in the fields of trade , tourism and financial activities. An agreement between Lomé and Rio de Janeiro and another between the chambers of commerce of Togo and the State of Rio de Janeiro are also planned.

22- He finally exchanged with the leaders of the Afro-Brazilian communities and the Togolese diaspora in Brazil that he invited to take part in the Economic Forum of the African diaspora planned in Lomé on 28 and 29 November 2019.

23- At the end of this visit, the DUSSEY expressed to the Minister ARAUJO, to the Government and to the Brazilian people, its warm thanks for the quality of the hospitality and hospitality reserved for him and his delegation during their visit. stay in Brazil and invited his counterpart to visit the Togolese Republic.

24- HE Mr. Ernesto ARAUJO accepted this invitation, the terms of which will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

Done at Brasilia on June 18, 2019

#NewACPEU: Measuring Progress in Brussels

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New ACP-EU Partnership: Chief negotiators assess progress made and move talks on to next stage

Brussels, 23 May 2019

Following the recent consultations at regional level with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, Chief Negotiators Commissioner Mimica and Togolese Minister Robert Dussey met in Brussels today to discuss the outline for the future ACP-EU agreement.

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and EU’s Chief Negotiator, Neven Mimica, said: “The agreement is taking shape. It is time to step up our efforts and speed up our progress to deliver as expected. Today’s discussions on the regional partnerships bring us a step closer to this new and stronger cooperation we are aiming for”.

Togo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Africa integration, also ACP Chief Negotiator and Chair of the Ministerial Central Negotiating Group, Robert Dussey, said: “We started this negotiation in September last year and have made steady progress since then. The consultations with the three regions were beneficial in so far as giving a good idea of the needs for each region. We look forward to concluding an Agreement which is focused on the current and future needs of our Member countries.”

Next steps

While talks on the specific regional partnerships progress, the EU and ACP negotiating teams will continue their work on the text of the agreement that covers all 79 countries (also referred to as “the common foundation”). Upcoming negotiation sessions will notably focus on the institutional set-up. The aim is to make maximum progress before the next chief negotiators’ meeting, due to take place in the second half of July.

Background

The Cotonou Agreement currently governing EU-ACP relations is due to expire in 2020. Negotiations on a new ACP-EU Partnership were launched in New York on 28 September 2018 in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

The initial rounds of talks mainly focused on the common foundation at EU-ACP level. This common foundation sets out the values and principles that bring the EU and ACP countries together and indicates the strategic priority areas that both sides intend to work on together.

In addition, the future agreement is planned to include specific, action-oriented regional pillars focusing on each region’s needs. The first round of consultations on the regional pillars has now concluded.

The future ACP-EU Partnership will serve to further cement the close political ties between the EU and ACP countries on the world stage. Together, they represent more than half of UN member countries and over 1.5 billion people.

SPEECH BY H.E. PROF. ROBERT DUSSEY IN THE  EU-AFRICA REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS FOR THE ACP-EU POST-COTONOU AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

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  Eswatini, 04 May 2019

 

His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of ESWATINI,

Honourable Ministers,

Mr. President of the Commission of the African Union,

Mr. Secretary General of the ACP States, Dr. Patrick GOMES,

The Chief Negotiator for the European Union in the post-Cotonou Agreement,

Excellencies the Ambassadors,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

To start with, I wish to thank the King of Eswatini, the Government and the people of our host country for their courage of hospitality. Since we arrived in this African land of the ACP States, our impressions are very good as regards their great sense of hospitality. I have done in your beautiful country what Alioune DIOP, a convinced great pan-African, founder of the Magazine Présence Africaine, who wanted Africa to be present on the world stage, called ” the intimate experience of African life “. The experience of your astonishing sense of otherness has awakened in me my pan-Africanist intuitions and passions back to my earliest childhood.

I would also like to thank the various delegations here. Your strong involvement in these regional consultations is undoubtedly a good reflection of your interest in the ongoing negotiations. The stakes are common, and so is your commitment.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Pacific region, which held its regional consultations on 25th and 26th February 2019 in Apia, Samoa, is directly negotiating the EU-Pacific pillar of the new agreement with the EU. The Caribbean region has followed the same pattern and held its regional consultations on 15th April in Kingston, Jamaica. The EU-Africa Regional Consultations this week are announcing at the African level the formal start of the negotiations on the EU-Africa pillar of the future ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, even though in recent months excellent technical work has been done on the negotiations at the African Union level.

The specific characteristics of Africa in terms of challenges, potentials, priorities, development frameworks (commercial, economic and human) and partnership with the outside are known. There is a long history of partnership between the EU and Africa that was reaffirmed in Abidjan in 2017. Consistent with the current EU-Africa partnership and in a new spirit, Africa is called to negotiate the EU-Africa pillar of the post-Cotonou Agreement.

The Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) being created in Africa is a qualitative evolution, which, in the near future, will give a new face to the intra-African and international trade in Africa.

The pillar of the EU-Africa post-Cotonou Agreement must be in line with the strategic orientations of the CFTA, the AU 2063 Agenda and the EU-Africa Summit in Abidjan, as well as with the clearly stated desire for development in Africa. Africa must broaden its trade with Europe; raise the level of political dialogue with the EU on issues as crucial as security, peace, human rights, African cultural properties still existing in Europe, the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change and migration.

The topics that will be at the center of the negotiations in the EU-Africa protocol of the agreement are of vital importance for Africa and the ACP Group. Africa, must conduct its regional negotiations with professionalism and a high of sense of responsibility. Through our work, on an African scale, we must prove to the ACP Group that it made the right choice at the right time by opting for autonomy and freedom of action of the regions in negotiating the regional pillars. The moment is historic and the work must be done with an ethics of responsibility. I am convinced that the African negotiators are aware of their responsibility.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to finish with a thought of Kwame NKRUMAH that we Africans must never lose sight of: “United, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world “.

Thank you for your attention

Post-Cotonou Agreement 2020: Continuation of ACP-EU negotiations in Kingston.

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Negotiations between the ACP Group of States and the European Union are continuing to reach a post-Cotonou agreement by 2020.
This time, the discussions are taking place in Jamaica after N’Djamena and Samoa. None of the geographical regions concerned are forgotten.

In Kingston, there are the same interlocutors including the Central Negotiating Group (GCN), the European Commissioner for Development, Neven Mimica and Robert Dussey, the chief negotiator for the ACP countries.

“Coming to Jamaica I am African, but I also feel deeply Caribbean,” said the Togolese diplomat, speaking at the debates. This Caribbean island is in fact mostly populated by descendants of African slaves.

Discussions are proceeding at a rapid pace to reach agreement by 2020 and perhaps even before.

Mr. Dussey pointed out, however, that despite the progress made, ‘both parties have also recognized the need to speed up negotiations so that the bulk of the negotiations can be concluded by the summer of 2019’

He praised the merits of a future agreement based on strategic regional priorities.

The great novelty is indeed based on the needs and specificities of each geographical area, unlike the current one, the 79 countries forming the ACP bloc are not uniform. The demands of the Pacific or Caribbean countries have nothing to do with those of Africa.

The purpose of the talks is to reach a new agreement consisting of a common core and three regional partnerships.

The common ground, applicable to all members of the partnership, will list objectives, priorities and general principles and will enhance cooperation at the international level.

Regional partnerships will be the center of gravity and will set specific regional priorities for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, in line with strengthened regional dynamics and the increased importance of regional organizations.

European, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries conclude second round of talks on a new ambitious partnership

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Brussels, 4 April 2019

Today, chief negotiators emphasised the progress made while launching the next phase of the negotiations. This new step will ultimately lead to the creation of tailor-made pillars with each region, which are among the novelties to be introduced in the future ACP-EU Agreement.

Today, in N’djamena, Chad, the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “We are on track with the drafting of the foundation text, and we are now pleased to embarkon a new path with the negotiation of EU-Africa, EU-Caribbean and EU-Pacific pillars. These pillars will not only fuel our cooperation in bringing new dynamics to it, but they will ultimately allow us to achieve more in responding accurately to the needs and challenges facing each partner.”

The ACP Chief Negotiator and Chair of the Ministerial Central Negotiating Group who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Africa integration of Togo Professor Robert Dussey, said: “We have taken stock of the negotiations launched six months ago. I am happy to report that substantial progress has been made and we remain focused to ensure that the Agreement will stand the test of time and serve the needs of our people by tackling present and emerging global challenges.”

Next steps

While the drafting process continues to run its course, EU and ACP countries will carry on the regional pillars consultations with each region. As illustrated during the high-level dialogue with Pacific leaders on 26 February, such consultations provide a privileged space to further discuss the needs and priorities faced by each region. Similar meetings with Caribbean and African partners are due to take place soon.

Background

The Cotonou Agreement currently governing EU-ACP relations is due to expire in 2020. Negotiations on a new ACP-EU Partnership were launched in New York on 28 September 2018 in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. The two first series of talks mainly focused on the common foundation at EU-ACP level. This contains the values and principles that bring the EU and ACP countries together. It also indicates the strategic priority areas that the two sides intend to prospectively work on together. In the future agreement, on top of the foundation there will be three action-oriented regional pillars to focus on each region’s specific needs. Through the future partnership, EU and ACP countries will seek closer political cooperation on the world stage. Together, they represent more than half of all UN member countries and unite over 1.5 billion people.

For more information

Q&A on the future EU-ACP partnership

EU Negotiation directives

ACP Negotiation directives

Press Release: Presentation of the Road Map for Togolese Abroad

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, HE Prof. On April 1, 2019, Robert DUSSEY presented the “Government Roadmap for Togolese Abroad”. The roadmap of the Government for Togolese Abroad meets the vision of the President of the Republic, HE Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, that of ensuring a better organization of the Togolese diaspora for its more appropriate involvement in the efforts national development. Its mission is to create the conditions for a more inclusive involvement of the Togolese Diaspora in the work of national construction.

In keeping with this vision, the government’s actions in favor of the Togolese diaspora revolve around three (03) major axes, namely:

valuing the human, economic and social capital of the diaspora;
strengthening communication between the Government and the diaspora;
Improving the protection and defense of the interests of Togolese abroad.
The execution of these strategic axes is planned in two main components: Priority Actions Program (PAP) and Medium and Long Term Program (LTPP).

The Priority Actions Program refers to two main axes, namely: enhancing the human, economic and social capital of the diaspora and strengthening communication between the Government and the diaspora.

In implementing the first strategic axis dedicated to enhancing the human, economic and social capital of the diaspora, the government intends to achieve the following three objectives:

mobilize the investments, skills and know-how of Togolese abroad;
implement the program of co-implementation of local development projects in the regions of origin of migrants;
develop a solidarity volunteer project for development.
With regard to the implementation of the second strategic axis dedicated to strengthening communication between the Government and the diaspora, the Government will pursue the following three objectives:

create structures that can mobilize and support the return of the Togolese diaspora. These include working to set up the High Council of Togolese from outside;
to map the Togolese diaspora and its distribution in the world;
organize an economic forum of Togolese from outside.
Under the strategic axis 3 on the improvement of the defense and the protection of the interests of Togolese living abroad, included in the actions of the Medium and Long Term Program (LTA), the Government will put the focus on the negotiation of bilateral agreements with countries in which strong Togolese communities reside and those offering attractive employment opportunities in order to better supervise Togolese labor migration in accordance with international labor standards. The Government will also work to establish a Migration and Diaspora Observatory and to facilitate the consular and administrative procedures of members of its diaspora in the countries of residence.

It should be noted that several projects in favor of the diaspora are included in this roadmap.

Moreover, it must be remembered that the Government has already had to carry out several actions for the Togolese diaspora. Among these, the establishment of the Togolese leadership from outside by decree in 2005, among others, can be considered; the creation in the same year of the High Commissioner for Returnees and Humanitarian Action (HCRAH); the development and implementation of the Diaspora program including the use of diaspora skills (2010-2014); the creation in 2014 of the interministerial committee for the coordination and monitoring of migration and development activities; the establishment of a diaspora unit to accompany Togolese from abroad who carry projects in their implementation; the designation since 2015 of focal points responsible for the diaspora in the diplomatic and consular missions of Togo; touring encounters with the diaspora in 2013 and 2014; the organization of the major events of the diaspora in 2014; the visa exemption for Togolese foreigners with dual nationality (2014); the organization of the first edition of the “Successful Diaspora” week (2016).

On another note, the Government attaches great importance to the Togolese diaspora in the perspective of the contribution of all Togolese and Togolese women to the national construction, in this case for the implementation of the National Development Plan (PND).

Also, the Government intends to organize from May 2019 actions to raise awareness of Togolese abroad on this new vision including the Economic Forum Togolese Abroad scheduled for 28 and 29 November 2019.

Done at Lomé on 1 April 2019

Speech by Minister Robert Dussey at the launch of the roadmap for the togolese abroad

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INTRODUCTIVE WORD OF PROF. ROBERT DUSSEY, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AFRICAN INTEGRATION AND TOGOLESE ABROAD ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE ROADMAP OF THE TOGOLESE ABROAD

Excellency Ladies and Gentlemen Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of International Organizations and Organizations of Civil Society,

Mr. Secretary General,

Mr. Director of Cabinet,

Ladies and Gentlemen Directors,

Ladies and Gentlemen Division Chiefs,

Dear friends of the press,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is with a real pleasure that I address you on this day of launching the roadmap that the Head of State, HE Mr. Faure ESSOZIMNA GNASSINGBE, has kindly entrusted to us in the context of strengthening the fiber patriotic that binds Togo to its diaspora.

By deciding to change the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding: Togolese Abroad,

the President of the Republic wanted to show the importance and the role of the diaspora in the development of Togo.

There is no nation, teach us Ernest RENAN and today Jean BAECHLER, without a sense of community of destiny, without a national conscience.

Fate among the Stoics is absolute, so Stoicism has a deterministic conception of the cosmos. Destiny is the causal chain of events. Cicero writes in his treatise on divination: “I call fate (fotum) what men call the heimarmene, that is, the order and the series of causes, when a cause linked to another by itself produces an effect (…) we understand that fate is not what superstition means but what science says, namely the eternal cause of things, under which past facts have arrived, the presents arrive and the futures must arrive “.

The universality of destiny does not exclude human action. He integrates it into his consolidations.

The Togolese nation is a community of citizens and the Togolese community of the diaspora is a significant part of our social contract and forms the community of destiny. The number of Togolese living abroad is estimated today at more than two million people and the strongest Togolese communities are reported in neighboring countries (Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso), Nigeria, Gabon, Chad , in Niger, Equatorial Guinea, Europe (France, Germany, Belgium, etc.) and in certain countries of the American continent (Canada, United States, etc.).

The roadmap to be presented at this ceremony by the Director of Togolese Abroad makes the protection and defense of the interests of Togolese abroad a national priority. Compatriots, because one of the basic needs of every human being is the need for security, wherever they are in the world, must feel safe and protected. Our compatriots in the diaspora have the right to expect more protection from the motherland.

The implementation of the roadmap will enable our country to make the diaspora, a strategic partner of the National Development Plan (NDP), including through the promotion of skills and activities transfers, the strengthening of relations between national actors and Togolese expatriates, and the mobilization of resources.

The Government’s new policy towards foreign compatriots is based on a deep conviction: our national construction project is a forward-looking project that needs the support of all. The diaspora is already playing a role, but it can still do better.

I remind you, for the record, that the Togolese money transfers from the outside to the homeland have continued to grow exponentially since 2010 to reach nearly 423 million US dollars in the year 2017. represents, on average, about 10% of our country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The Government is working to create the conditions for greater involvement of the diaspora in the work of national construction. This is the place to recall the actions that the Government has already had to carry out in favor of the diaspora. I can mention, among other things, the creation of the Togolese Direction of the outside by decree in 2005; the development and implementation of the Diaspora program, including the use of diaspora skills and the carrying out of studies (2010-2014); the creation in 2014 of an interministerial committee to coordinate and monitor migration and development activities; setting up a diaspora cell to accompany the Togolese from outside with projects; the designation since 2015 of focal points responsible for the diaspora in the diplomatic and consular missions of Togo; the diaspora meetings in 2013 and 2014, which will be renewed

this year ; the organization of the major national meetings by geographical area of ​​the diaspora in 2014; the visa exemption for Togolese foreigners with dual nationality in 2014 and the organization of the first edition of the “Successful Diaspora Week” in 2016.

Moreover, the Government is working to strengthen the positive freedom of Togolese in the diaspora wherever they are, wherever they work. The freedom of the citizen, as Amartya SEN teaches us (Indian, Nobel Prize of economy in 1998 and philosopher), is a social and political responsibility. The President of the Republic and the Togolese Government are well aware of this fundamental truth.

On 28 and 29 November 2019, the Government will organize the first Togolese Foreign Economic Forum, which will provide an appropriate framework for the Government and the diaspora members carrying out projects to explore the financing capacities of Togolese abroad and to mobilize them for the implementation of the PND.

Living the Togolese diaspora,

Long live Togo,

Thank you.

Diplomag 18th is available to download!

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The year 2018 is a thing of the past, the new one has only just begun, the one to come is already on our heels. Vladimir Jankélévitch once asked himself: «How can such short years be made with such long days? Time is flight and place of deployment of human existence. The human being is born in time, lives in time, acts in time and dies in time. The dimension of temporality linked to action is very essential in what the philosopher Hannah Arendt calls the «domain of human affairs». Through our actions, wherever we are, whoever we are, whatever we want, we impact the world in a variety of ways.

The history of the world in a not insignificant proportion is that of man and his action. That of Togo is that of his sons, their actions and interactions, commitments and expectations. At the diplomatic level, the year 2018 is marked in Togo by a series of actions carried out under the impetus of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, whose vision and spirit of anticipation allowed to improve the international influence of the country.

Togo has not only put its leadership at the service of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the past year, but also organized and hosted major international meetings, and currently chairs the Central Negotiating Group of the ACP Group for the post-Cotonou, the Cotonou Agreement coming to an end in February 2020. This issue of DIPLOMAG looks back on some strong sequences of the Togolese diplomacy during the year 2018. This is for the Togolese diplomacy of an opportunity to write oneself in a retrospective perspective. This editorial highlights in a synthetic approach two key moments of the diplomatic action of Togo in 2018 and the perspectives for this new year.

Click here to download

ACP Pacific High Level Meeting in Apia

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Robert Dussey, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of Negotiations Post-Cotonou ACP 2020, participates in the two-day meeting, which starts today in Apia, the capital of Samoa, with the aim of engaging in-depth discussions and dialogue with the EU with a view to finalizing a new agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The dialogue is convened as part of the political consultations between the different ACP regions and the EU on the negotiations for a post-Cotonou agreement, in accordance with the processes approved by the ACP Group and the EU at the start of the negotiations in November 2018.

On the sidelines of this meeting, Minister Robert Dussey had a meeting with Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Goodbye dinner in honor of US Ambassador David Gilmour

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‘Action does not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action’. Quoting American author William James, Foreign Minister Robert Dussey paid a warm tribute on Monday night to David Gilmour, the US ambassador, who has completed his mission in Togo.

Il a salué ‘non seulement le diplomate exceptionnel que vous êtes, mais aussi l’ensemble des actions que vous avez entreprises au cours de votre mission  au côté du gouvernement en faveur de ses populations’.

Les Togolais ont, et garderont de vous, l’image d’un diplomate exemplaire, a souligné M. Dussey. 

‘History is the ally of men who forge history because they know how to remember them and their actions. Posterity will tell you and diplomatic memories of our two countries: an American diplomat by the name of David Gilmour lived in Togo from 2015 to 2019, concluded the Togolese diplomat.