The 12th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) attended by ministers from 53 AU members concluded late Wednesday in Addis Ababa, seat of the pan-African body.

During four days instead of three days as scheduled of closed-door meetings, African unity, Economic Partnership Agreements ( EPAs) negotiation with the European Union (EU), the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have been duly discussed and debated.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the AU and the group of RECs (Regional Economic Communities) was signed in cooperation in economic and peace and security fields.

Ten countries from five African regions have also been elected as members of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) during the session. They are Burundi and Chad from central Africa, Rwanda and Uganda from eastern Africa, Tunisia from northern Africa, Swaziland and Zambia from southern Africa, and Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali from western Africa.

The session was held within the framework of the 10th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government due to take place from January 31 to February 2 under the theme "industrial development in Africa."

Highlights of the summit are expected to include the election of AU Commission chairperson and other members, discussion of peace and security on the continent and in the Middle East, industrial development of Africa, and also the African Union Government.

Other topics to be discussed during the summit will include the adoption of the 2008 AU Budget, consideration of the Reports of the Executive Council on the Audit of the Union and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government, the Report on the activities of the Peace and Security Council and the State of Peace and Security in Africa as well as the AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Report.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)