UN pledges continued support for ECOWAS
Abuja, 20 Feb – (ANA) - The United Nations has pledged its continued support to the newly elected leadership of ECOWAS and paid tribute to the dedication and achievements of the outgoing team. Speaking in Abuja, the Nigerian capital at the 40th Ordinary Session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Said Djinnit, who represented UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, congratulated Ivorian President Alassane Dramane Quattara on his election as ECOWAS president. Djinnit also congratulated Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso who was designation new President of the ECOWAS commission. He also reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support the efforts of ECOWAS in addressing emerging threats to the stability of the sub-region, including the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the food crisis and insecurity in the Sahel Region resulting in new flow of refugees and fuelled by an increased numbers of smuggled arms in the fallout of the crisis in Libya, as well as drug trafficking and organized crime. (ANA)
FA/ANA/20 February 2012----------