Addis Ababa, May 26, 2013 (SPS) - The President of the Republic and Secretary General of the POLISARIO Front Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz took part at the opening ceremony of the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government, convened at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The Summit was opened by listening to the African Union anthem, then a speech delivered by H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Current Chairperson of the Union and Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and other speech by H. E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The two AU officials presented a comprehensive assessment for the period between the two summits (20th-21st) in various fields.
Then, the floor was given to the President of Kenya Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, last president-elect to attend the summit.
The Summit has ratified the Union’s budget for the coming year, after it committed to initially look at how to find alternative sources of funding for the Union, based on a report submitted by the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
After an in-depth discussion, the Summit also ratified the report presented by the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr. Ramadan Lamamra, which dealt with security developments on African arena, including the issues of terrorism in Mali and Niger, the military coup in the Central African Republic and the developments of the situation in the Great Lakes region, Somalia and others.
The summit also endorsed the OAU-AU 50th Anniversary official declaration.
This historic document reflects Africa’s commitment to the principles of the continental organization, particularly those relating to the completion of comprehensive liberation and unity of the continent.
With regard to Western Sahara issue, the declaration stated that the Heads of State and Government of the African Union pledge to “complete the course of decolonization of the entire African continent and uphold the principle of self-determination for the peoples of Africa, which is still suffering from colonial domination,” expressing their commitment to the right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, and to enable these people of the genuine practice of sovereignty over their territory.
Session of the first day was closed by a ceremony honoring the former Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mr. Jean Ping. Two scientists from Africa were also granted Nkrumah Award for Science. (SPS)
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