"AU to Launch Peace, Security Council"

BuaNews (Pretoria)
May 24, 2004
Posted to the web May 25, 2004

by Karen Pretorius
Cape Town

The African Union (AU) will launch its Peace and Security Council in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa tomorrow; on the day Africans will be celebrating Africa Day.

Africa Day commemorates and honours the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which fostered unity among African states towards Africa's decolonisation, liberation, equality, justice and economic development.

Founded in 1963 in Addis Ababa, the OAU ultimately gave birth to the African Union (AU) and its socio-recovery plan Nepad in July 2002, to address the challenges and ensure that the 21st Century truly becomes an African one.

Speaking today during the Parliamentary Media Briefing Week, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the Peace and Security Council would address issues of security and stability on the continent.

It is planned that the organ will allow for timely and effective response to conflict and crisis situations in Africa.

"In terms of the provisions of the Peace and Security Council, all African countries should establish their own Early Warning Centres (EWC)," he said.

The early warning centres should have the capacity to alert the continent about impending natural and political disasters such as famine, genocide and instability.

Minister Lekota said plans were that the continental early warning center should be operational by 2008.

"While South Africa is still developing its own EWC, we are participating in regional and continental planning sessions in this regard," he said.

The Peace and Security Council comprises 15 member states, including South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Gabon, Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Libya and Togo.

Five of the member states would serve a three-year period, while ten to serve for two years.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma are attending the launch in Ethiopia tomorrow.

Reproduced for fair use only from:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200405250021.html