Addis Ababa – The Heads of State and Government of the 54 member countries of the African Union (AU) started, on Saturday in Addis Ababa, the proceedings of the 37th ordinary session of the pan-African organization’s Summit, with Morocco taking part.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, is representing HM King Mohammed VI at the 37th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The Moroccan delegation includes Ambassador Mohamed Arrouchi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the AU and UNECA, Ambassador Mohamed Methqal, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, and Hassan Boukili, Director of Greater Maghreb, AMU and AU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
The 37th AU Summit will consider a number of reports, including on the institutional reform of the Union, the evaluation of the first ten-year implementation plan for Agenda 2063, and the adoption and launch of the
2nd ten-year implementation plan.
The Heads of State and Government will consider reports on the activities of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), the 4th biennial review of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
Among the items on the agenda of this ordinary session of the Summit are the modalities of participation and the priorities of the AU within the G-20, the reports of the Conference Committees and draft legal instruments, the election and appointment of ten members of the PSC, as well as preparations for the election of members of the African Union Commission in 2025.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse
Head of the Progressive Socialist Party, MP Taymour Jumblatt, warned against the accumulating risks as a result of the rise in Israeli attacks on Lebanon to escalatory levels that could lead to unknown military possibilities by the Israeli enemy, as matters could get out of control if not remedied and contained as quickly as possible.
He called for “giving existing diplomatic efforts the opportunity to mature the necessary solutions and understandings, to spare Lebanon, exhausted by the weight of its crises, from a widespread war, and to make possible efforts to provide permanent stability and the return of the displaced, and to rely on Resolution 1701 and implement its provisions in full.”
In an issued statement on the sidelines of his Saturday meetings at Al-Mukhtara Palace, MP Jumblatt denounced the brutal massacre committed by the enemy in Nabatieh and expressed his pain for the fallen victims, most of whom were children, women, and wounded, in a manner that is inconsistent with international and humani
tarian laws, conventions, and norms. He offered his deep condolences to the families of the martyrs and his wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.
On another note, Jumblatt met today with the Army Chief-of-Staff, Major General Hassan Audeh, who thanked him for the efforts of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Democratic Gathering that led to his recent appointment by the Council of Ministers.
Jumblatt, in turn, wished Major General Audeh success in his duties, reiterating ‘the position of the PSP and the Democratic Gathering in highlighting the necessity of fortifying institutions, especially the military institution, in the face of the great security challenges facing Lebanon and the region,’ hoping that ‘the appointment step will constitute a strong incentive to complete the Military Council and open a serious window to end the vacuum at the level of the presidency of the republic.’
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon