Press Release N0. 07 / 16th AU Summit

18th Session of the Executive Council under the banner of shared values

Addis Ababa, 26 January 2011 - The 18th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) will hold in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 27 to 28 January 2011 under the banner of shared values. This decision was taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to have a common understanding of the values that Member States of the continental organization share and which should guide their actions toward greater unity and an integrated Africa.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs or other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of Member States who form the Executive Council will review the draft Declaration on the Summit theme "Shared Values in Africa: for greater unity and integration" before it is sent to the AU Assembly. The Council will also review the status of signatures and ratifications of the OAU / AU treaties. Some of the texts are of a binding nature whose entry into force would be a breakthrough for fundamental shared values such as democracy, governance and respect for human rights. These include the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the AU Convention on Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) which ultimately would have a significant impact on the humanitarian situation on the continent.

Issues of peace and security will also be discussed, including the Report of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa and the Report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities. On the sidelines of the 18th Session of the Executive Council, January 28, there will be a Peace and Security session at presidential level on Côte d'Ivoire. The Ministerial Committee of the African Union on post-conflict reconstruction and development for the Sudan, the Summit of the East Africa Standby Force (EASBRIG) and the Special Summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will be held on January 29.

Decisions from the 18th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will be submitted to the Assembly for adoption. Mr. Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of India, Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development will take part in that ceremony as invitees and will speak before the Council.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the Council meeting on 27 January 2011 at 09:00 am in the Plenary Hall of the African Union.