The sixth summit of the 53-member African Union (AU) opened on
Monday morning in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, focusing on peace,
unity as well as education and culture.
AU chairman, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, declared the
opening of the summit that has drawn more than 30 African leaders,
including South African President Thabo Mbeki and Moamer Kadhafi of
Libya.
Obasanjo said in the last year Africa has demonstrated
unprecedented capacity to champion the cause of peace, unity and
development, especially the achievements, although modest, in areas
of peace and stability.
"The events and developments in Guinea Bissau, Togo, Burundi,
Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire mark positive developments in our
collective and renewed determination to build a continent free of
conflicts and instability," he said.
However, he admitted that the situation in Sudan's Darfur
remains a matter of deep concern. He called on negotiating parties
in the ongoing inter-Sudanese Talks to try to "come up with
solutions that will help restore peace to the region."
In his welcome address, Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed
al-Bashir pledged to work with Sudan's neighbors and other African
countries to maintain peace and stability on the continent.
He said as one of the founding members of the Organization of
African Unity, AU's predecessor, Sudan has played an important role
in the continent's unity and integration, adding that with its
unique geographical location, it can also act as a link between
Africa and the Arab world.
Al-Bashir also called for the continuation of the AU mission in
Darfur, saying that only in this way can Africa prove its
capability in resolving internal conflicts.
AU has more than 7,000 troops in Darfur where violence broke out
in early 2003 when ethnic African tribes took up arms, accusing the
Sudanese government of neglect. Thousands have died since and over
a million others have been displaced. Negotiations on
reconciliation have not made much progress.
During the two-day meeting, with the theme of "Education and
Culture," in addition to convocation of bilateral summits between
member states, delegates are to mainly discuss issues on education,
culture and science, reports on the activities of the AU Security
and Peace Council, and proposals forwarded by some member states
about political, economic and cultural integration in the
continent.
AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare, Arab League Secretary
General Amre Moussa and Mohamed Sahnoun, representative of the UN
Secretary-General, also addressed the summit.
In his message delivered by Sahnoun, UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan welcomes the decision to make "Education and Culture" theme
of the summit, saying that sustainable development depends not only
on economic investment, but also on human resources.
Speaking of the situation in Sudan's Darfur region, Annan
promised that the UN will continue to work closely with the AU in
efforts to improve security, ensure humanitarian access and
energize the peace process.
After the opening ceremony, an Exhibition on Education and
Culture organized by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) was inaugurated.
In a following close session, the elected Executive Office of
the 6th ordinary session will approve the agenda for the summit.
And according to local media reports, the session will also choose
the new AU chairperson, with Sudan's al-Bashir the possible
candidate, despite split opinions on this issue due to current
situation in Darfur.
The AU, modeled on the EU, succeeded the Organization of African
Unity in 2002 to adapt itself to the globalization trend and march
toward peace and prosperity.
(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2006)
