Decision on the Progress Report on the Implementation of Assembly Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.412(XVIII) on the Preparations for the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU on 25th May 2013, - Doc. EX.CL/735(XXI)

DECISION ON THE PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF ASSEMBLY DECISION (Assembly/AU/Dec.412(XVIII) ON THE
PREPARATIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 50™

ANNIVERSARY OF THE OAU/AU ON 25™ MAY 2013

DOC. EX.CL/735(XXI)

The Assembly,

1. TAKES NOTE of the Progress Report on the preparation for the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the OAU/AU and the recommendations contained therein;

2. COMMENDS the Ethiopian Government for the arrangements already made and the huge effort deployed for active preparation of the 50^th Anniversary of OAU/AU;

3. ENCOURAGES the Commission, in close collaboration with the Ethiopian Government, to work together with all the Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as other AU Organs to organize various activities, including media events, debates and competitions in schools and universities, public opinion surveys, sessions in local and national legislatures, and other activities to celebrate the year of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance so as to enhance the awareness of the new generation of Africans about the ideals of Pan-Africanism;

4. REQUESTS the Commission, in close collaboration with the Ethiopian Government, to submit the final proposals on the activities to be undertaken together with the financial implications to the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) through the Advisory Sub - Committee on Administrative, Budgetary and Financial Matters and AUTHORISES the PRC to approve the necessary expenditures in this regard, using the arrears of contributions as well as voluntary contributions from Member States and other African sources of funding;

5. DECIDES that, in accordance with the decision of the 18^th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union(Assembly/AU/Dec.412(XVIII)), which declared 2013 as the Year of Pan­Africanism and African Renaissance, the theme of the Summit in 2013 shall be "Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance";

6. WELCOMES the offer of the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia to host a special summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa on 25 May 2013 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Organization of African Unity;

7. DECIDES the regular sessions of the Policy Organs of the African Union initially planned to take place in Libya in July 2013 will instead be held in Addis Ababa back to back with the special Summit as follows:

• 26 & 27 May 2013 - 21^st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of

Heads of State and Government;

• 22 & 23 May 2013 - 23^rd Ordinary Session of the Executive

Council of the African Union;

• 19 & 20 May 2013 - 26^th Ordinary Session of the Permanent

Representatives’ Committee.

8. REQUESTS the Commission, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Government, to report on the implementation of this Decision to the 20^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in January 2013.