Press Release
Chairperson holds meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, met today, 01 February 2011, in his office at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa with the United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who had attended the 16th AU Summit from 30-31 January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

On this occasion, the Secretary-General congratulated the Chairperson on the successful outcome of the Summit, despite the current challenges facing the continent.

Several issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting, including the situation in Cote d’Ivoire and the establishment of an AU High-level Panel for the resolution of the Ivorian political crisis, ways to better enhance the strategic partnership between the AU and UN, as well as other issues related to peace and security, sexual violence in zones of conflict, violence against women, climate change and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

The Chairperson reiterated the importance of the existing cooperation between both organizations on these issues and expressed the wish to see these ties reinforced.

The meeting was attended by senior officials on both sides, including on the UN side, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict , the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, and the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary-General, and on the AU side, the Commissioners for Peace and Security and Economic Affairs, as well as the Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the Chairperson.

Addis Ababa, 01 February 2011

Office of the Spokesperson to the Chairperson, African Union Commission, P.O. Box 3243 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel: +251 11 551 7700 Ext. 401 Mobile: +251 91 151 1723 Email: NoureddineM@africa-union.org / n.mezni@gmail.com