African Union summit to discuss ICTS development in the continent
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 21, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Holding under the theme: “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development”, the 14th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on the 25 January 2010, with the meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and will end on 2nd February 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
Under Legal and Institutional Matters, the Nineteenth Ordinary Session of the PRC will discuss the status of the OAU/AU Treaties and the Progress Report of the Commission on the Abuse of the Principle of Universal Jurisdiction, while under Political matters, they will consider the Report on the Situation of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa as well as the Report of the Commission on Africa’s Strategic Partnerships amongst others.
With regard to Economic, Social and Cultural matters, the PRC will share views on the Report of the Commission on the Dissolution of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa and the proposed AUC Directorate of Sport in accordance with the new Architecture for African Sport. They will also exchange views on the Report of the Commission on the Preparations for the First Meeting of the Ministers of Meteorology in Africa; and the Report of the Commission on the State of Play of the WTO Doha Round Negotiations. The PRC meeting will end on 26 January 2010 at the AU Headquarters.
The Ambassadors will submit their report to the Executive Council scheduled for 28 and 29 January 2010, at the Headquarters of the African Union. The African Union Ministers meeting at their sixteenth ordinary session, will adopt reports of ministerial conferences. These include: the Report of the 7th Ordinary Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission; Report of the 2nd AU Conference of Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport; Report of the 3rd Conference of African Ministers of Sport (CAMS3); Report of the 7th Session of the African Population Commission; Report of the AU Conference of Ministers responsible for Gender and Women Affairs; Report of the Extraordinary Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance; and the Report of the Ministerial Meeting on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs that constitute the Executive Council of the African Union will also consider the Report of the Commission on the Climate Change Negotiations in the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-17 December 2009 as well as the Report of the Commission on the accession of the African Union to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
The Report of the Commission on the Participation of the Commission in the World Expo Shanghai 2010 scheduled for the period 1st May to 31st October 2010 in Shanghai, China; the Report of the Commission on the State of Play of the WTO Doha Round Negotiations;
the Report of the Commission on the 13th Session of the Standing Commission for the Afro-Arab Cooperation; the Report of the Commission on the Situation in the Middle East and Palestine; are amongst items to be discussed by the Executive Council.
The Ministers will also brainstorm on the Report of the Chairperson of the Conference of African Ministers of Integration (COMAI); the Report of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the Report of the President of the General Assembly of ECOSOCC; the Report of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR); the Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR); and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on Candidatures within the International System.
Finally, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union Member States will meet at their 14th Ordinary Session on 1st and 2nd February 2010 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
One of the highlights during the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government is the launch of the New African Union Flag and the Continental Scientific Award Ceremony for two (2) successful African Scientists. There will be a presentation of the theme of the Summit alongside a 15 minute Video documentary to showcase ICT Investment in selected Member States.
The AU Assembly will adopt the Staff Regulations and Rules; the Budget for the 2010 financial year and appoint new members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC). The African Heads of State will also consider several reports including : the Report on the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa along side that of African Year of Peace and Security ; and the Report of the Commission on Unconstitutional Changes of Government. They will further consider and adopt the Report of the Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee ; the Report of the Ministerial Meeting on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) ; the Report of the Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms; and the Report of the Commission on the Implementation of Previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Progress Report of the Commission on the Implementation of Assembly Decision on the Hissene Habre Case adopted by the Thirteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2009 will also be at the center of discussion during the 14th AU Summit, including the items proposed by AU Member States.
For more information, consult the Special Summit web page on the African Union website: www.africa-union.org .
Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 19th Ordinary Session of the PRC on 25 and 26 January 2010, the16th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 28 and 29 January 2010 and the 14th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on 1st and 2nd February 2010.
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
