23 May 2011
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has described Zambia’s participation at the inauguration ceremony for Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Quattara as vital for the promotion of the tourism sector and infrastructural development.
Speaking in an interview yesterday at Lusaka International Airport shortly after arrival from Abidjan, Mr Kunda said Zambia valued such fora because they gave an opportunity to market the country as well as learning from each other in development projects.
Mr Kunda, who was accompanied by Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo and Commerce Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma, said the meeting also gave them an opportunity to speak to various leaders who attended the ceremony.
He said it was a wonderful occasion because it opened up opportunities to learn from each other on failures and achievements of each country.
And speaking before departure from Abidjan, Mr Kunda said Zambia was hopeful that stability and reconciliation would be restored to IvoryCoast following the official investiture of Alassane Quattara yesterday as president of the West African country.
Dr Quattara’s official installation as Ivorian president comes after five months of the country’s political unrest which was triggered by former president Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step down after last year’s elections.
Mr Kunda who witnessed the colourful ceremony in the Ivorian political capital Yamoussoukro said Zambia supported Dr Quattara by attending the event following an invitation from the Ivorian government which had sent its prime Minister earlier this year, toreport progress made on that country’s democratic process.
The vice-president attended the ceremony on Saturday alongside severa leminent world leaders among them France’s President Nicholai Sarkorzy,United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, Senegalese leaderAboudalaye Wade, African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Jean Pingand Idriss Derby of Chad and Liberia’s Ellen JohnsonSirleaf. Times/ZANIS
AllAfrica – All the Time