Addis Ababa, May 27, 2013 (SPS) - The 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union closed today’s morning by the ratification of a number of decisions, in the presence of the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.
African Heads of State and Government signed on the official declaration of OAU/AU 50th Anniversary. It also adopted the AU Commission Strategic Plan 2014-2015 and Union’s budget for the year 2014.
The Summit approved some decisions related to peace and security, such as the decision to work on the formation of an African force for rapid intervention and other issues, such as finding alternative sources of financing the Union and the development agenda beyond 2015, as well as the dialogue between Africa and BRICS group, in addition to fighting AIDS.
Also among the other documents, a decision on lifting the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America over the Republic of Cuba, and another decision on the Universal Jurisdiction and the International Criminal Court.
Based on proposals made by some countries, the Summit endorsed some other decisions such as the implementation of global projects of the African Diaspora Heritage and promotion of African leadership in the process of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and supports the African film production.
The Union also decided to install four members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and four others in the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
The summit closed by an address delivered by H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union, and a word of thank on behalf of African leaders by H.E. Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. (SPS)
090/089/TRA