Resolution on the Afro-Arab Cultural Institute

CM/Res.994 (XLII)

Annex I

DRAFT STATUTES OF THE AFRO-ARAB CULTURAL INSTITUTE

PREAMBLE

Recalling the terms of the Declaration on Programme of Action of Afro-Arab Co- operation adopted by the First Summit Conference of the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Africa Unity and the League of Arab States held in Cairo from 7 to 9 March 1977,

Recalling the resolution adopted by the Joint Meeting of the two General Secretariats of the League of Arab States and the Organization of African Unity and their specialized organs held in Tunis from 30 May to 1 June 1980,

Recalling Resolution CM/Res.862 (XXXVII) adopted by the OAU Council of Ministers meeting in its Thirty-first Ordinary Session in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 to 26 June 1981, and Resolution 3971 adopted by the Sixty-Fourth Session of the LAS Council held in Tunis on 15 September 1980,

Desirous of strengthening Afro-Arab Co-operation, bilaterally and multilaterally, in all fields,

Conscious of the fact that geography, history and socio-cultural values have established multiple links of complementarity between African and Arab peoples,

Conscious of the need to draw up a common programme of socio-cultural exchanges between the two Arab and African communities,

The contracting parties have agreed to the following:

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1

An international institution to be known as “The Afro-Arab Cultural Institute” hereinafter referred to as “The Institute” shall be established within the context of Afro-Arab Co-operation.

ARTICLE 2

The Institute shall have the legal personality enabling it to enter into contracts, appear in court and acquire movables and real estate.

ARTICLE 3

Its permanent Headquarters shall be established at :

The activities shall be carried out on the territory of each of the contracting parties. ARTICLE 4

A Headquarters agreement shall be concluded to lay down the reciprocal obligations of the host country and the Institute.

ARTICLE 5

The Institute, its related bodies staff properties and the members of the various bodies shall enjoy privileges, immunities and other benefits in conformity with the

General Convention of Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States.

CHAPTER II

OBJECTIVES AND FUCTIONS

ARTICLE 6

The objectives of the Institute shall be:

1. facilitate and promote mutual knowledge between the African and Arab peoples through their respective culture;

2. strengthen cultural co-operation between them so that it may become an essential factor for Afro-Arab Co-operation.

For this purpose the Institute shall among other things:

1. conduct research and studies on Afro-Arab relations and cultural values, so as to project the dignity of the Arab and the African man and his contribution to human civilization;

2. promote research and studies on cultural exchanges and socio-cultural development between the two communities;

3. work for the establishment of Afro-Arab Research and Cultural Centres;

4. co-ordinate the activities of those centres, collect and disseminate information and data necessary for their functioning, cater for the training of the staff required;

5. organize symposia, conferences and festivals which shall bring together people involved in cultural matters, scientists, youths, academics and publish works resulting from these meetings;

6. endeavor to ensure the collecting, protecting and development of the common cultural heritage, including manuscripts, monuments, works of art, historical relics, etc… and shall make effort to recover the cultural artefacts removed from Africa and the Arab World;

7. contribute to the publication and distribution of school, university materials and general intellectual works with a view to bringing them within everyone’s means as may be proposed by the Member States within the framework of Afro-Arab Co-operation, and to ensure the harmonization of their contents;

8. organize competitions, award prizes and offer scholarships with a view to encouraging emulation among people involved in cultural matters, scientists, youths, sportsmen,

9. organize exchanges of youths, cadres, sportsmen;

10. compile an Afro-Arab encyclopedia;

11. compile bilingual dictionaries of Arabic and African Languages;

12. contribute to reciprocal translations of the best Arabic and African works from their original languages;

13. publish and disseminate Afro-Arab intellectual, literary and artistic works;

14. organize the exchange of Lecturers and Students and draw up cultural exchange programmes;

15. organize joint training courses for Arab and African Cadres.

ARTICLE 7

The working languages of the Institute shall be those of the League of Arab States and the Organization of African Unity.

CHAPTER III

BODIES

ARTICLE 8

The bodies shall be:

• The Executive Council;

• The Academic Board;

• The establishment Council;

• The Administration of the Institute.

ARTICLE 9

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

It shall be the supreme body of the Institute. It shall be composed of:

• the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States or his representative;

• the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity or his representative;

• the Director-General of the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization;

• Director of the Educational, Scientific, Cultural and Social Affairs Department of the General Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity;

• the Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Universities;

• Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities;

• the Director of the Fund for Technical Assistance to African and Arab countries;

• the Director of the Inter-African Cultural fund;

• Five members appointed for 4 years by the League of Arab States;

• Five members appointed for 4 years by the Organization of African Unity according to geographical distribution.

The Director-General of the Institute shall be an Ex-officio member of the Executive Council. He shall provide the Secretariat for the Council.

ARTICLE 10

The Council’s main functions shall be to:

1. direct general policy and the activities of the Institute;

2. approve its work programme;

3. examine and approve the budget;

4. appoint the Director-General of the Institute who shall be answerable to him and define his duties and attributions;

5. amend the statutes of the Institute;

6. fix the scale of contributions;

7. take all appropriate measures for the attainment of the Institute’s aims and objectives;

8. follow-up the implementation of the decisions it has taken;

9. establish a subsidiary organ required for the smooth running of the Institute;

10. approve the co-operation agreements concluded by the Director- General of the Institute.

ARTICLE 11

The Executive Council shall meet in Ordinary Session once a year at the date it shall fix or in extraordinary session at the request addressed by at least one third of its members to the Chairman of the Council.

Observers, representing cultural and scientific organizations (national, regional and international) co-operating with the Institute, may be admitted to participate in the deliberations of the Council without the right to vote.

ARTICLE 12

The quorum for the meeting of the Executive Council shall be 2/3 of its members.

The decisions of the Council shall be taken by the majority of members present.

The Council shall at the beginning of each Ordinary Session, elect its Chairman and officers for a period of one year.

The Chairman shall ensure the implementation of the Council’s decisions during the inter-session period, and deal with urgent matters falling outside the competence of the Director-General.

ARTICLE 13

The Council formulates and adopts its Rules and Procedure. ARTICLE 14

THE ACADEMIC BOARD

It shall regularly consider the problems of disparity between the programmes of the Institute and the objectives of Afro-Arab Co-operation. It shall be composed of ten members appointed for a four-year term:

• Four members appointed by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States;

• Four members appointed by the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity;

• the Director-General of the Institute;

• a representative chosen by the Academic Staff of the Institute.

The Board shall meet twice a year. It shall elect its Chairman at each Session. It shall formulate and adopt its Rules of Procedure.

The Director-General of the Institute shall provide the Secretariat for the Academic Board. During the initial period, the Board shall undertake the following:

• prepare programmes including the take-off programmes;

• look for funding resources;

• prepare draft agreements with African and Arab research centres, African and Arab, regional and international institutions.

ARTICLE 15

THE ESTABLISHMENT COUNCIL

The Institute shall have Establishment Council whose composition and functions shall be laid down in the Rules of Procedure of the Institute.

ARTICLE 16

ADMINISTRATION

The Institute shall be administered by a Director-General appointed by the Executive Council for a renewable term of four years.

The Executive Council may, in the same manner, terminate the appointment of the Director-General should this be required for the proper administration of the Institute.

The Director-General shall represent the Institute at official functions.

He may delegate his powers. He shall participate in the drawing up of the Institute’s policy. He shall be responsible for the preparation of the Institute’s work programme and ensure its implementation. He shall appoint the staff of the

Institute in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Institute. He shall prepare the draft budget and the accounts of the Institute.

The Director-General shall be assisted by a Deputy Director-General appointed under the same terms and conditions.

ARTICLE 17

STRUCTURE

The Administration of the Institute shall be subdivided into two Departments:

1. Studies and Research Department;

2. Exchanges and Co-operation Department.

1. STUDIES AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

It shall comprise four sections:

1. Social, Economic and Technological Development Section;

2. Cultural Relations and Civilization Section;

3. Education and Teaching Section;

4. Information Studies Section (public opinion, mass media, communications).

2. EXCHANGES AND CO-OPERATION DEPARTMENT

It shall comprise four sections:

1. Information, Documentation and Library Section;

2. Intellectual Creativity and Translation Section;

3. Training and Conferences Section;

4. Publication and Dissemination Section.

SUBSIDIARY BODIES

The principles and modalities for the establishment and running of any subsidiary body deemed useful shall be defined by the Executive Council.

CHAPTER IV

BUDGET

ARTICLE 18

An Afro-Arab Cultural Fund shall be established for financing the activities of the Institute.

1. The financial sources of the Institute shall include the following:

1. contribution of the League of Arab States;

2. contribution of the Organization of African Unity;

3. contribution of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

4. the Director-General may, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, accept all donations, bequests and subventions made to the Institute by Governments, public or private institutions, or individuals.

2. The Director-General of the Institute shall prepare, each year the accounts and draft budget of the Institutes and shall submit them to the Executive Council.

CHAPTER V

FINAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 19

AMENDMENTS

These statutes may be amended or revised at the request and with the consent of the contracting parties.

ARTICLE 20

ENTRY INTO FORCE

These statutes shall come into force after signature by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, following approval by the appropriate authorities of the two organizations.

ARTICLE 21

Done in … … … … … … … … … … … on … … … … … … … … … … ..

in three original copies, Arabic, French and English, the three texts being equally authentic.

FOR THE LEAGUE OF ARAB FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF

STATES AFRICAN UNITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL SECRETARY GENERAL