Assembly/AU/2 (XI)
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the PSC, as a record of the discussions and outcomes of the sessions, as mentioned
in Annex II.
11.
One of the sessions held provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on
developments in the peace and security situation in Africa between the PSC and the
Chairman of the AU, President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania,
on 29 April 2008, under the chairmanship of Ethiopia. The newly sworn in
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission also attended the
session, which discussed various aspects of conflict prevention and management in
Africa, with a particular emphasis on funding for and troop contribution to AU peace
support operations.
12.
Some other sessions focused on preparations for AU observation of elections
in some member States, namely, the Union of the Comoros (elections in Anjouan,
then scheduled for 15 and 29 June 2008) and Zimbabwe (2nd round of the
presidential election then scheduled for 27 June 2008). Others covered the evolution
of the situations and issues relating to Chad/Sudan, Djibouti/Eritrea and Burundi. The
briefing sessions and the outcomes are reflected in Annex II attached to this Report.
c)
Activities relating to the Joint Meeting between the PSC and the
UN Security Council, New York, 17 April 2008
13.
It should be recalled that the first joint meeting between the PSC and the UN
Security Council (UNSC) took place in Addis Ababa on 16 June 2007. The meeting,
among other things, agreed to hold a joint meeting at least once a year in Addis
Ababa and New York, alternatively. Notably, the mechanism of the joint meeting
provides the two organs with opportunities for exchanging views on issues of
common interest relating to conflict and post-conflict situations in Africa and for
moblising joint efforts towards the establishment of the African Peace and Security
Architecture.
14.
It was against this background that Amb. Ricardo Alberto Arias, President of
the Security Council for the month of February 2008, sent an invitation to the
Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of March 2008 and the
Chairperson of the Commission to the second joint meeting in New York, then
scheduled for 16 April 2008. The invitation also proposed issues for discussion at the
meeting, namely, situations in Somalia, Sudan, Chad/CAR, Cote d’Ivoire,
Ethiopia/Eritrea, DRC and Kenya, as well as other issues of mutual interest between
the two institutions.
15.
In preparation for the New York joint meeting, Council met on 4 and 11 April
2008 to exchange views on the issues proposed by the UNSC President. Council
completed the preparations in New York on 15 April 2008. The New York meeting
assigned Burkina Faso to address the joint meeting on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire
and Uganda was similarly assigned to address the meeting on the situation in
Somalia.
16.
Subsequently, again, on 15 April 2008, the PSC received a briefing from the
South African Embassy in New York on the meeting of the Security Council at the
level of the Heads of State and Government, then scheduled for 16 April 2008,
regarding the report of the Secretary-General on the relationship between the UN