AU Monitor: Issue 109, 2007

[AU-Monitor Analyst/Editor]

*Issue 109, 2007- Weekly Roundup*


In this week's AU Monitor, we bring you news and updates from the Pan
African Parliament. Members from the European and Pan African Parliaments
<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/429/>met in South Africa to
prepare for the upcoming EU-Africa Summit. Parliament leaders stress the
need for a strong parliamentary dimension when it comes to policies and
decision-making; the development of a joint declaration is also in the
works. In other Parliament news, the Pan African Parliament elected the Hon.
Malik Al Hassan Yakubu from Ghana as its Fourth
Vice-President<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/428/>.
Also, the Protocol of the African Court on Human and People's
Rights<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/424/>has been
ratified by 23 of the 53 member states of the African Union. All
state parties are being urged to rectify the Protocol to contribute to Human
Rights development and protection in Africa.



In financial news, South Africa is opposed to the new generation issues in
the economic partnership agreements
(EPA's),<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/426/>including
liberalisation of the services sector, investments, competition
policy, and intellectual rights. Nkululeko Khumalo of the South African
Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) states, "the coercive approach
adopted by the European Union on service liberalisation poisons the
negotiating atmosphere".   In donor news, at a recent UN General Assembly
meeting, Benin's representative Jean-Marie Ehouzou urged UN-led development
initiatives <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/425/> to develop
international trade strategies in their aid policies in Africa.  Ehouzou
also criticized developed countries for failing to provide the resources
needed to accelerate economic reforms in African countries. Further, The
Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)
<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/423/>held a series of actions
that coincided with the International Financial Institution (IFI) meetings
in Washington, D.C. Demands from this civil society alliance include greater
accountability, transparency and democratic governance in the IFI's. Lastly,
in its 300.000 USD pledge to the African Peer Review Mechanism
<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/427/>, Italy supports the
African continent in managing its own economy and development efforts in the
framework of NEPAD.

* *
**
**
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*Pan African and European Parliaments Hold Talks*

Press Release—Parliamentarians representing the Pan African and European
Parliaments held talks here in Midrand, South Africa October 19th ahead of
the EU-Africa Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Lisbon next
December.
**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/429/


**
**
*PAP Elects New Vice-President*

Press Release—In a special Session today, the Pan African Parliament (PAP)
elected Hon. Malik Al Hassan Yakubu from Ghana as its new Fourth
Vice-President. Hon. Yakubu replaces the outgoing Dr. Theophile Nata, from
Benin.

*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/428/


**
* *

*Italian APRM Pledge*

Daily Monitor—Italy on Tuesday pledged 300.000 USD to the African Peer
Review Mechanism Secretariat.
**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/427/




**
*Services Issue Delaying EPA Talks*

Sam Nzioki (IPS)—Including the so-called new generation or Singapore issues
in the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) will make the conclusion of
the deals unlikely by the December 31 deadline.
**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org
/aumonitor/comments/426/<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/426/>

* *
**
**
*Donors Lack Political Courage*

Haider Rizvi (IPS)—Diplomats here are warning of possible setbacks to
U.N.-led development initiatives in Africa if the rich donor countries do
not change their ways on international aid and trade.
**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/425/


**
**
*Call to African Court*

Every October, precisely on the 21st day, Africa celebrates its Human Rights
Day. This date originated from the fact that The African Charter entered
into force on 21 October 1986.
**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/424/


**
**
*GCAP IFI Focus*

As the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
near, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is preparing a
weekend of high profile actions in Washington DC from October 20th to 22nd.

**
*Read more: *http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/423/


-- 
Gichinga Ndirangu
Consultant Policy Analyst / Editor
AU- Monitor
aumonitor.editor at gmail.com

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