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OAU Ministers Meeting Continues as More Leaders Arrives
The 74th session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) continues on Sunday afternoon after reaching consensus on most issues.
OAU spokesman Desmond Orjiako briefed a press conference here on Sunday afternoon that there has been a general agreement with the report of OAU Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim.
The ministers reached a consensus that the report has succeeded in addressing a series of issues and preparing for the transformation of the OAU into the African Union.
However, they stressed that the African Union should be different from the OAU and avoid becoming a "mere continuation of the OAU with a different name".
The African Union should be a "community of the African people" and committed to enhancing the political, economic and social integration of the continent, the delegates said.
According to Orjiako, the ministers are still to discuss some political issues and draft resolutions on several matters, but he did not elaborate on the point.
On the issue of who will represent the Somali delegation to the summit, the spokesman said the OAU regards all factions in that country as important and will ensure the country be "fully represented" at the summit meeting.
However, he mentioned that the interim government in Somalia has been widely recognized by the international community.
Earlier, a Somali faction lodged a protest against the OAU secretariat's decision to invite another faction group in Somalia, namely the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council.
As the meeting continues, African leaders are trooping in, among them are President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi. Former South African President and facilitator of the Burundi peace process Nelson Mandela has also arrived.
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