African Union to hold ministerial session in Sudan
Jan 16, 2006 (JOHANNESBURG) — The 8th African Union (AU) Ordinary Ministerial Session will be held in Khartoum, Sudan on January 20-21, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will head for Khartoum on Tuesday from Monrovia, Liberia where he is attending the inauguration of Liberian President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The ministerial meeting is charged with the responsibility of preparing for the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for January 23-24.
The department said that South African President Thabo Mbeki will participate in the AU ministerial meeting within the context of South Africa’s commitment to strengthen and consolidate the institutions of the African Union in order to promote the achievement of the African agenda.
Main agenda for the ministerial meeting include consider a number of reports on the World Trade Organization held in Hong Kong in December 2005, Draft Common African Position on the United Nations Review Process on the Plan of Action on Small and Light Weapons, the situation in the Middle East and Palestine and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
It is expected that the ministers of foreign affairs will make recommendations to the AU Heads of State and Government Summit.
(Xinhua)