Assembly of the African Union

AFRICAN UNION
UNION AFRICAINE

UNIÃO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Téléphone : 5517 700 Fax : 5511299
web site : www. africa-union.org

Statement by the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha

ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION
SHARM EL SHEIKH, ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

Sharm El Sheikh, June 25, 2008- The Eleventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government will take place from 30 June to 1st July 2008, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Arab Republic of Egypt. Several African Heads of States, development partners, United Nations representatives and representatives from other international organisations are expected to attend.

The theme of this year’s July Summit is “Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation”. The Summit will also focus on the increase in the prices of food and agricultural commodities.

The opening ceremony of the Assembly on the 30th of June will include an official welcoming statement and remarks on the theme by H.E. Mr. Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The official opening statement will be delivered by the African Union Chairperson Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, who is also the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. A statement will also be made by AUC Commission Chairperson Mr. Jean Ping.

The meeting will also consider the current food crisis, which will be introduced by H. E. Mr. Hosni Mubarak. AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Mrs. Rhoda P. Tumusiime, the Chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGGAD); and League of Arab States Secretary General Mr. Amr Moussa. Representatives from Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) will speak on food situation.

Other meetings taking place during this period are:

∗ The 16th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), June 24 – 25, 2008.
∗ Meetings of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), June 26 – 29, 2008.
∗ The 13th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, June 27 - 28, 2008.
∗ The 19th Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC), June 29, 2008.
∗ Committee of Ten Heads of State on the United Nations Reforms, June 29, 2008.
∗ Peace and Security Council at Summit Level, June 29, 2008.
∗ Meeting of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), June 30, 2008.
∗ Committee of Twelve Heads of State and Government on Union Government will submit its report to the Assembly.

On the other hand, the Assembly is also expected to consider a number of issues proposed by Member States. These include: Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union; the Afro-Arab Cooperation, and integration of the Regional Economic Communities amongst others.

Main outputs of The Eleventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government will be the reform of the AU Commission, food security, progress on the Millennium Development Goals, economic integration of the continent amongst others.

The African Union wishes to thank the Government and the people of Egypt for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to all delegation; and for the tremendous efforts made in hosting this Summit and making available to us these excellent conference facilities.

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