2nd
Session of the Pan- African Parliament Opens in Midrand,
South Africa.
The
2nd Session of the Pan African Parliament was on Thursday,
September 16, 2004 declared open at Gallagher Estate
in Midrand, South Africa at a ceremony attended by
the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr.
Thabo Mbeki, the President of the Pan African Parliament,
Ambassador Gertrude Mongella, the Commissioner for
Political Affairs, Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner, who represented
the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and
distinguished guests from other parts of the world,
including the President of the Republic of India,
Dr. Abdul Kalam, and President Chiage Oogi of the
Japanese Senate.
President Mbeki underscored the importance of the
Pan African Parliament and said that it was meant
to, among other things, help Africa meet the goals
it has set for itself and for the masses to reflect
about their condition and their history. “The Pan
African Parliament”, according to Mbeki, “will create
a new space for us as Africans to forge a collective
identity and to act together in our interest both
within and between our countries as well as in many
important global engagements with other regions and
the rest of the World”.
The
President of the Pan African Parliament, Ambassador
Gertrude Mongella noted that the Pan African Parliament
was meant to be a Parliament in which the voices of
all Africans are heard.
Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner in her remarks commended the
efforts deployed by Member States of the African Union
in accelerating the launching of the Pan African Parliament
and particularly the Republic of South Africa, in
planning and hosting this great occasion.
The
Second Parliamentary Session under the theme: “One
Africa, One Voice” will before adjournment in fourteen
days, among other things discuss the Vision, Mission
and Strategic Plan of the African Union, debate NEPAD
and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), discuss
security issues, adopt its own Rules of Procedure,
budget and Recommendations and Resolutions. Till date,
46 Member states have ratified the Protocol relating
to the establishment of the Pan African Parliament.
Gallagher Estate, Midrand, South Africa.
Thursday,
September 17 2004
