Several issues to be discussed at 8th AU summit

Jan 22, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA ) — The eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) will be held on Jan. 29-30 in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to discuss several issues, organizers said on Sunday.

All 53 heads of state and government of the AU are expected to attend the summit of which the themes will be “Science, Technology and Scientific Research for Development” and “Climate Change in Africa”, the organizers said.

The summit proceedings will commence with a meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee from Monday to Tuesday. They will consider administrative and financial matters; legal and institutional matters; political matters; economic, social and cultural matters; as well as the draft agenda items for the 10th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

The Executive Council will meet from Thursday to Friday. New members of the Peace and Security Council will also be elected during this meeting.

The summit of heads of state and government will take place at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on Jan. 29-30. The summit will elect a chairperson of the African Union and bureaus of the assembly. It will also launch 2007 as the International Year of African Football.

During the summit, presentations on the two themes of the summit will be made by AU commissioners. The heads of state will then adopt the AU budget for 2007.

(Xinhua)