The European Union (EU) has expressed its welcome and support to the inauguration of the African Union (AU), which was concluded in Durban in eastern South Africa on Wednesday.
With this historic event, African nations have taken an important step towards creating a stronger and more coherent framework for peace, stability, good governance and economic development in Africa, said an EU press release reaching here Wednesday.
It said the EU is encouraged by the perspectives presented for the implementation of the AU and looks to African leaders to demonstrate the resolve and take the concrete actions necessary tomake it operation.
The EU "is fully supportive of the AU presidency in this process," and will continue its support to the New Partnership forAfrica's Development (NEPAD) as a catalyst for the African development, in line with the aims of the AU.
The EU attaches special importance to the NEPAD principles of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and political and economic good governance as well as conflict prevention as cornerstones for the creation of a more conducive environment for peace, stability and development in Africa, said the release.
It also reaffirmed EU's determination to look forward to the opportunities which the AU brings to build on earlier co-operationand to deepen political dialogues.
The AU summit, which was opened on July 9, shows that the AU has formally replaced the 39-year-old Organization of African Unity (OAU).
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was elected the chairman of AU, described the first AU summit as "an excellent beginning," calling upon African nations to pull together to produce results and to ensure that decisions of the new organization were put into action.
(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2002)
