H.H. the Vice President Departs for AU Summit

source: Republic of Botswana (11/7/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 18 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline

D7) 27/6/09: H.H. the Vice President Departs for AU Summit

On Tuesday morning (30/6/09), at 0800 hrs, His Honour the Vice President Lieutenant General Mompati Merafhe will depart for Sirte, Libya in order to attend the 13th Ordinary Assembly of the African Union Heads of States & Government. His Honour will be attending the Assembly on behalf of His Excellency the President, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

The Assembly is to take place from the 1st to the 3rd of July, 2009, and will be preceded by a Meeting of the Executive Council (composed of Ministers) from the 28th to the 30th of June, 2009.

The theme for the Summit is “INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FOOD SECURITY”.

Additional issues that are expected to dominate the deliberations of the Summit include:

• the Transformation of the African Union Commission into an African Union Authority;
• the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC); and
• the issue of the Abuse of the Principle of Universal Jurisdiction by some non-African States.

The Assembly will also choose a new Chairperson for the African Union for the period 2010 to 2011. In this respect it is expected that Southern Africa will assume the Chairmanship for the period, taking over from North Africa.

His Honour the Vice President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honourable Mr. Phandu T.C. Skelemani, and senior Government officials.

The Vice President and his entourage will return to Botswana on the 4th July 2009.

Please further note that on Monday (29/6/09) at 1530 hours His Honour is scheduled to tour the construction site of the new Bokamoso Private Hospital. The visit will also provide His Honour with an opportunity to inspect the on-going construction work on the Gaborone Molepolole Road.