Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Receives The Ambassador of The Republic of Turkey, Bearer of a Special Message From Prime Minister Erdogan

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 7, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Dr. Jean Ping, received in his office at the AUC Headquarters on Monday, 7 May 2012, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union, H.E. Mr. Yĝur Kenan Ipek, who was bearing a special message from the Prime Minister of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for the Chairperson.

The Ambassador presented to the Chairperson a cheque of US one million dollars, which he said the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Turkey, had sent to the Commission to support its work during the current fiscal year.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Commission, the Chairperson extended, via the Ambassador to the Prime Minister, the Commission's deep appreciation for Turkey's gesture and its sustained support to the African Union, within the context of the Africa-Turkey Partnership.

In addition, the Ambassador presented to the Chairperson a joint invitation from the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Erdogan, to join them in co-chairing the 2nd Istanbul Conference on Somalia, scheduled to take place in Istanbul from 31 May to 1 June 2012, under the theme: “Preparing Somalia's Future: Goals for 2015.”

According to the invitation letter, the Istanbul Conference will be the first major international Conference on Somalia since the London Conference of 23 February 2012. Participants from 51 countries and several international organizations, including the African Union and the United Nations, will discuss key political, security and economic development issues pertaining to Somalia. They will take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the Somalia road map and identify immediate actions in the political, security, recovery and development spheres necessary to ensure a smooth end of the transition in that country.

The Conference is expected to bring together Heads of State and Government, Ministers and a wide range of national, regional and international actors, as well as the Somali business sector, civil society, women and youth. It will seek to build consensus on an inclusive and broad-based political dispensation in Somalia, post-August 2012 and endeavor to outline a long term framework for state building and economic development in the post transition period.

The Chairperson thanked the Prime Minister, the Government and People of Turkey for their friendship and constructive role in Africa, especially within the framework of international efforts to resolve the crises in Somalia and pledged the full support and participation of the Commission, to ensure the success of the Istanbul Conference.

“This is a crucial period in the history of Somalia. We all agree on that. It is essential, therefore, to build and sustain momentum towards peace, stability and development in this important AU Member State,” the Chairperson emphasized.

The audience was also attended by the Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the Chairperson and the Chairperson's Political and Diplomatic Advisor.