Maputo, 10 July - The African Union (AU) Executive Council ended its third session on Wednesday, approving a budget of US$13.09 million for September to December 2003 and US$41.190 million for 2004.

The spokesperson for the AU, Desmond Orjiako, told journalists that the discussion on budgetary matters was smooth, but the Executive Council made it clear that the budget approved for 2004 is provisional pending review and input by the incoming commissioners.

“The Executive Council decided to ask for authorization to approve the new budget on behalf of the Assembly in the February/March 2004 Executive Council Session,” he said.

The Executive Council also adopted a decision that the salary of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson should be attractive enough to entice the right calibre of people required for the job and that it should be more than that of the chief executives of the regional economic communities (RECs). A study was undertaken by the AU Commission to this effect and a report submitted to the Executive Council.

Other issues discussed by the Executive Council included reports of the interim chairperson on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Pan-African Parliament, Report of the Permanent Representative Committee on structure and conditions of service and its financial implications.

On the situation of refugees, the Executive Council expressed dismay at the worsening numbers (six million) on the continent despite consistent efforts by the AU and its partners in tackling the root causes of the problem. "The Executive Council stressed the need to sensitise member states on the importance of preventing the conditions which create refugees," said Oniako.

Regarding the conflicts that prevail in some parts of Africa (Burundi, Comoros, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Somalia and Sudan), the Executive Council noted that progress in resolving all these conflicts was reported.

According to Orjiako, the Executive Council praised the achievements made in conflict resolution on the continent and urged that every effort should be made to keep the momentum, and to ensure that peace is achieved this year in Africa.

"Considering conflicts in Africa in general terms, the Africa Union has made progress. For example, Africa now confronts conflict .E. face to face ... such as in Burundi, in Liberia and in Sudan, just to mention few," he said.

The Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mustafa Ismail. told journalists that his government and the SPLA rebels have been meeting since last Sunday in Nairobi (Kenya), and a peace agreement may be signed soon.

"We believe that this is going to be the final round of negotiation, and we hope that before 15 August the peace agreement will be signed putting an end to one of the longest conflicts in Africa," declared Ismail. He added that, "we are ready to open a new page in the Sudanese history: a page of peace, stability and development".

Still related to the efforts to put an end to conflicts in Africa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently allocated some US$2 million to support the peace and security agenda for the AU, as well as a US$1 million contribution in 2002 to facilitate the transition from the Organisation of African Unity.

On the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the AU Executive Council decided that the integration of its Secretariat into the AU Commission should be gradual with a Co-ordinating unit of not more than five staff and should commence after the summit in Maputo with a possible duration of three years or until the AU structures are fully operational, whichever comes first.

The UNDP also helped the AU to develop a resource mobilisation strategy, create a framework to integrate NEPAD and undertake communication activities to raise its profile during the transition phase. (SARDC)

SARDC has been reporting on SADC from a regional perspective since 1990. SANF can be reproduced in print or broadcast with credit to SARDC and the author.