Assembly/AU/Dec.205 (XI) Page 2 8. 9. ACCEPTS the recommendation of HSGIC to take three key messages of importance for Africa to the G7 Summit scheduled for Hokkaido, Japan, from 7 – 9 July 2008, as follows: • That the Africa Action Plan remains the basis for Africa’s engagement with the G8; • Reactivation of the G8/NEPAD follow-up mechanism as agreed upon at the G8 Heiligendamm Summit of 2007 to ensure prompt and effective fulfillment of all G8 commitments and pledges to Africa; • Facilitate better access to concessional loans by African countries for the purpose of economic growth within the context of prudent macroeconomic management as part of the process of reviewing the issues of Financing for Development. This is all the more important in view of the burden of the hike in prices of oil and inflation in food prices faced by oil importing countries; EMPHASIZES that the Japanese “Cool Earth” Initiative should not compromise or undermine Africa’s positions and strategies on Climate Change being canvassed at the international level through the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC’s) Kyoto and post-Kyoto processes; 10. UNDERSCORES the need for early preparations by Africa for the 2009 G8 Summit in Italy and the 2010 G8 Summit in Canada, and the appropriate engagements at various levels by Africa with the leadership of the two countries for the necessary sensitization towards African priorities, interests and concerns; 11. APPROVES the new membership of the NEPAD HSGIC for the next two (2) years as follows: Central Africa Cameroon Congo DRC Gabon East Africa Ethiopia Madagascar* Sudan* Rwanda North Africa Egypt Algeria Libya Tunisia Southern Africa South Africa Namibia* Malawi* Lesotho* West Africa Nigeria Senegal Mali Benin* *New members 12. DECIDES that the country chairing the African Union during its term of office, shall automatically be a member of HSGIC, if not already a member and FURTHER DECIDES that the Republic of Tanzania shall be a member of HSGIC.