Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 08 December 2014: African perspectives must be considered whenever African issues are discussed at the United Nations Security Council. African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma raised this need during a meeting with the Spanish State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ignacio Ybaňez. The two met on Monday 8 December 2014, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Spanish State Minister of Foreign Affairs had come to express appreciation for Africa's support to the election of Spain as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council.

During the meeting H.E. Mr. Ingacio Ybaňez assured the AUC Chairperson H.E. Dr. Dlamini Zuma that Spain will push and advocate for an African perspectives on African issues during its tenure at the UN Security Council. He said Spain will always remain close to African countries directly, but also through the representations in Addis Ababa and in New York.

Amongst issues, they discussed issues of women’s empowerment, peace and security, particularly the AU’s goal of “Silencing the Guns by 2020.”

Besides meeting with the Chairperson, the visiting Spanish State Minister and his delegation is also meeting with other AUC Departments including Departments of Political Affairs and Peace and Security.

Spain is joining the UN Security Council as from 1 January 2015, for a two-year period 2015-2016. Other four newly elected members are Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Venezuela.

JEE/

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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