DECISION ON AFRO-ARAB COOPERATION
DOC. EX.CL/391 (XII)
The Executive Council:
1. TAKES NOTE of the Report;
2. On the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit:
a) EXPRESSES CONCERN over the long delays in convening the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit;
b) UNDERSCORES the vital role the Summit would play in providing new directions to Afro-Arab Cooperation in order to fulfil the aspirations of the peoples and Governments of the two regions;
c) URGES the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States to take all necessary measures to ensure the early convening of the 2nd Afro-Arab Summit.
3. On the General Agreement on Cooperation Between the African Union and the League of Arab States:
a) NOTES WITH SATISFACTION that the General Agreement on Cooperation Between the African Union and the League of Arab States singed in March 2007, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has come into effect upon endorsement by the 10th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 128th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the League of Arab States in accordance with Article V of the Agreement;
b) REQUESTS the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States to:
i) Circulate the Agreement among all Member States Departments and other Organs of the African Union particularly the Commission and the Arab League as well as to the relevant agencies within the United Nations Organization with a clear description of expected action;
ii) Hold regular consultations and meetings between the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretary General of LAS and among the professional staff of the two organizations;
iii) Take all necessary measures to ensure that the delegation of one party attending the Summits, Ministerial Meetings and other Meetings of the other party is accorded with all necessary protocol and security services in host countries, as envisaged by the Agreement.
4. On the upgrading of the Afro-Arab Cooperation Unit:
a) NOTES that the role and responsibilities of the current Afro-Arab Cooperation Unit within the Commission is continuously expanding with the inclusion of new programmes, and consolidation of the existing ones;
b) REQUESTS the Commission and the PRC, through its Sub- Committee on Structures to submit appropriate recommendations on the upgrading of the Current Afro-Arab Cooperation Unit to the level of a Division with the necessary human and financial resources to enable it efficiently discharge its growing responsibilities and submit a report to the next Ordinary Session of the Council in July 2008.