Economic Development Indispensable for consolidation of African Union: Meles

 Addis Ababa, July 11 (ENA)--Economic Development Indispensable for consolidation of African Union: Meles

 Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says the African Union could not achieve the desired results unless decisive measures are taken to alleviate poverty in the continent and terminate the trend of dependency on foreign aid.

   Meles said African countries should give due attention to economic development to extricate themselves from the abject poverty.

   Meles was speaking at the conclusion of the 37th African Heads of States and Government Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, on Wednesday

  Prime Minister Meles expressed his support to the new development and democracy program prepared by South Africa and Senegal.

  Meles underscored the need to join hands and swiftly implement the program, which he said would help bring about economic growth in the continent.

   The conference has reached on consensus to implement the decisions and plan of actions passed by the African leaders on HIV/AIDS in Abuja, Nigeria, last June.  

  The conference stressed on the importance to work together with international partners to curb the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the continent.

  Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis, director of Africa with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the three-day conference in its close-door sessions decided that the transition period from the Organization of Africa to an African Union should be one year.

  The headquarters of the union would be in Addis Ababa, the director said.

  Meanwhile, Prime Minister Meles returned home this evening after attending the Lusaka summit.

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