to be held later in the week
18 September 2006
New York - The African Union Peace and Security Council scheduled for
Monday, 18 September, will now possibly be held sometime during the week in New
York. The meeting will be convened to discuss the situation in Darfur and
consider the mandate of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
The reason for the postponement is to allow AU Heads of State and Government
comprising the 15-member AU Peace and Security Council, currently attending the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to participate in the Peace and
Security Council meeting.
South Africa will now be represented at the meeting by President Thabo
Mbeki, and supported by South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan.
South Africa's attendance of the AU Peace and Security Council comes within
the context of the country's commitment to consolidating the African Agenda
through among others support for post-conflict reconstruction and development
initiatives.
The AU Peace and Security Council meeting in New York today convenes against
the background of the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Security Council
Resolution 1706 that calls for the expansion of the UN mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
from the current 10 000 to 17 300 troops and an additional 3 000 civilian
police.
Resolution 1706 further urges the Government of Sudan to accept the
deployment of a UN force under Chapter VII mandate. In terms of the resolution,
part of the new force will be sent to Darfur to monitor the implementation of
the peace agreement signed in Abuja, Nigeria on 5 May 2006.
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
18 September 2006
