Chairperson receives credentials of the Permanent Observer of the United Arab Emirates

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, received in his office at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, 16 March 2011, the credentials of H.E. Dr. Youseif Eisa Hassan Alsabri as the first Permanent Observer of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the African Union.

Welcoming the new Permanent Observer, Dr. Ping recalled that since he took office three years ago, one of his top priorities has been to work towards strengthening cooperation ties with the Arab World.

In that regard, he was pleased to observe that in close collaboration with his counterpart, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS), the AU and LAS crowned their reinvigorated partnership with the successful organization of the 2nd Africa-Arab Summit in Sirte, Libya, in October 2010, more than three decades after the 1st Summit in Cairo, Egypt.

The Chairperson lauded the close collaboration between both organizations on several issues, including the search for peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia.

On his part, Ambassador Youseif Eisa Hassan Alsabri thanked the Chairperson for his warm welcome, adding that he was delighted to be the first Permanent Observer to the African Union from a Member State of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Chairperson and the new Permanent Observer exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including recent developments in some North African and Middle Eastern States.