Minister Maite Nkoana - Mashabane to attend the 15th ordinary session of the AU Executive Council , 28- 30 June 2009

New York- International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana - Mashabane will, today Friday 26th June 2009 depart New York for Sirte, Libya ahead of the 15th ordinary session of the Executive council scheduled from 28 - 30 June 2009. The Executive Council will precede the AU Summit scheduled from 01 – 03 July 2009 where President Jacob Zuma will lead the South African delegation.

The AU Executive Council of Ministers Meeting will deliberate on a range of issues which will cover administrative, legal and institutional, political, economic and cultural matters and assess the implementation of programmes of the AU ahead of the AU Summit.

In Sirte, the AU Executive Council, meeting under the Theme “Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security” is expected to table a Draft Declaration on investing in agriculture, to the Heads of State which will include a programme of action. Other issues for discussion during the forthcoming AU Executive Council will include:
 

• Tabling a Report to the Heads of the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council on the Implementation of Decision Assembly on the Transformation of the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority, Tripoli, Libya, 15-16 April 2009;

• Tabling a Progress Report of the AU Commission on the Implementation of Decision of the Assembly on the Abuse of the Principle of Universal Jurisdiction as adopted by the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly;

• Tabling a Report of the Executive Council  Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government implementation Committee; to the Heads of State

• Deliberate on the Progress Report of the AU Commission on the Implementation of Assembly Decision on the Hissene Habre Case as adopted by the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly;

• Deliberate on the Report of the AU Commission on the Meeting of African States Parties to the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC); and

• Deliberate on the Report of the African Union Peace and Security Council, which will cover extensively progress to date on Continental issues relating to peace and security. 

Upon conclusion of the deliberations, the Executive Council is expected to present its outcomes report to the Assembly for consideration and adoption.

Issued by Nomfanelo Kota on +27 82 459 3787; kotan@foreign.gov.za
                                                      

South African Permanent Mission to the UN
New York
United States of America

26 June 2009