The Heads of State as well as heads of delegations of the 54 African Union member countries proceeded in the morning with a tree planting ceremony at a site identified for that purpose within the premises of the new building at the AU headquarters. It was a symbolic act aimed at sensitizing the African population on the need to preserve green vegetation to fight drought on the continent.
Addressing the Assembly, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Jean Ping, presented the high moments of the year 2011, which he described as a tough period for the Union, as several outbreaks hindering the peace process on the continent had been of great concern to the leadership of the AU, pointing that the Union remained adhere to the need to find solution to the conflict in Western Sahara based on the respect for Saharawi people’s right to self-determination.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, expressed satisfaction on the partnership between the UN and the AU saying that the UN will continue to support the efforts for democracy and shared values. “I am committed to deepening the ties between the AU and the UN … united we can make good progress”, he noted, underlying that both the AU and the UN must see how effectively and quickly the two institutions are able to respond to crises.
Addressing the Assembly, President Marzouki, underlined that Tunisia will do its best to preserve peace within the country and in the region. “We will play an active role in the development process of the continent”, he unlined, reiterating the need to restore the people’s dignity and democracy in the country. “We believe in Africa because Africa is the continent of the future”, he noted.
The guest of honor at this occasion was Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese Peoples’ Political Consultative Conference of the Peoples’ Republic of China in recognition of the gift of the AUCC, which was built by the Chinese Government, as a gift to the people of Africa.
The AU Heads of State and Government will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the Panel of the Wise; the report Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC); and his report on the 17th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 17), that took place in Durban, South Africa, 28 November – 9 December 2011.
The Presidents and Heads of Delegations will also exchange views on the report of Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Africa’s Coordinator on Africa’s preparations for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) with respect to the Common Position and Strategies vis-à-vis the challenges posed by the global economy and the international governance of the environment. They will discuss the report of Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms and that of Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the 4th High Level Forum on Aid effectiveness held in Busan, South Korea, 29 November – 1st December 2011. (SPS)
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