South Africa will be hosting a Consultative Summit on the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) on 5 November 2013 at OR Tambo Building. The purpose of the Summit will be to consult with volunteering countries that have expressed willingness to contribute to the ACIRC. The meeting will consider the modalities for operationalisation of ACIRC.
During the May 2013 African Union Summit, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government decided, in principle, to establish an African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), as a transitional arrangement pending the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) within the framework of the agreed upon African Peace and Security Architecture.
A Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting will present a report to the HOS/G at the Summit on 5 November regarding their deliberations on the operationalisation of the ACIRC mechanism.
The summit will be a first round of informal consultations between like-minded and willing contributing countries on the issue of rapid response to crises, within the context of the proposed Africa Standby Force. It is an interim measure to deal with conflict on the continent in the context of African Solutions for African Problems.
The expected outcome of the consultations is an agreed upon framework for modalities and to identify a Roadmap for a way forward.
It was deemed important by President Zuma to host the Consultative Summit in order to address the urgency of operationalising ACIRC after the AU decision in May 2013.
Media are invited as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Time: 18h00 to 22h30
Venue: DIRCO Conference Centre, OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria
Media Programme:
17h00 : Media to arrive
18h00 to 22h00 : Summit in Session (opening and closing session)
22h00 : Press Conference
RSVP: Media wishing to cover the event must submit their details for accreditation to Ms Juanique Bowman, bowmanj@dirco.gov.za as soon as possible. (Details are full names, ID/Passport number, media house, designation and contact details)
NB: There will be live accreditation taking place from 2 November 2013 . Venue for accreditation is Dennis Adami Hall on the corner of Wren and Soutpansberg Road. Members of the media are requested to present their press cards and ID/passports at the accreditation venue.
Enquiries:
Nelson Kgwete
Cell: 076 431 3078
Clayson Monyela
Cell: 082 884 5974
