Ethiopia-AU summit underway
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
February 1, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The 10th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government kicked off here in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Thursday under the theme of “industrial development in Africa”.
Issues of conflicts in various parts Africa, particularly crisis in Kenya, have dominated the opening session.
Opening the summit, the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare stressed the need to urgently act to end post election violence in Kenya which has claimed lives of over 800 people.
“AU has duties and responsibilities to support mediation efforts of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General Konare said adding. “If Kenya burns then there remains nothing for tomorrow.”
On Darfur issue, Konare said, the effort of AU-UN hybrid force deployed in the region is the last chance to bring sustainable peace.
Regarding Somalia, the Chairperson indicated the need for the international community to support ongoing peace efforts in the Horn of Africa country.
He appreciated peace progress in Cote d’ Ivoir, and stressed need of intensifying efforts to ensure peace in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone.
Speaking about the theme of the summit, the chairperson said it is high time to build capacity of Africa to move forward in industrialization and economic development.
According to Konare strengthening mandate of United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) is crucial with a view to accelerating industrialization development in Africa.
“The present mandate of UNIDO is very restricted- this mandate should be strengthened”, he said.
The summit must adopt important decisions to develop industrialization in the continent, he said.
UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, one of the top officials who are attending the summit emphasized the UN-AU partnership to bring negotiated settlement to the Darfur Crises, and to support the long term economic development of the region.
Ban ki-Moon said UN system and its multilateral and regional partners have exerting efforts to scale up the implementation of MDGs in Africa.
In today’s second day summit, the house didn’t come to an agreement on establishing a Union Government of Africa, but decided for further talks on the coming African leaders meeting to be held on June.
The proposal of establishing a united African government has been controversial since the proposal was forwarded back in 1999.
Mean while Gabonian deputy foreign minister Jean Ping is elected to be African union commission chairman from other 6 nominees. He will be the commissioner for the next 4 years replacing outgoing AUC Chairperson Professor Alpha Oumar Konare.
In other news IGAD member countries have started meeting in Addis
The meeting today has hold talks on Somalia and Kenyan situations
Members have agreed to send a committee to Kenya, to bring ways of ending post election ethnic violence.
(ST)