Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 17:02:23 +0100
An Eritrean Delegation led by, Mr. Biniam Berhe, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to the African Union (AU) and UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) took part in the 26th AU Summit held at the Headquarters of the Union in Addis Ababa, on 30 and 31 January 2016, according to the Eritrean Permanent Mission to AU and UNECA.
The Summit was held under the theme ‘African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights.’
The Eritrean Mission also stated that one of the decisions adopted by the Summit was the violation of the immunities and privileges of the Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the AU and UNECA, Ambassador Araya Desta, and his spouse by Ethiopian security personnel on 14 May 2014 at the Addis Ababa Airport.
It said that the Executive Council regretted the violations and urged the Ethiopian Government “to accord to the Permanent Mission, its Head and diplomatic staff of Eritrea the same immunities and privileges it accords to the diplomats from other AU Member States as well as to abide by its hosting obligations.”
The Eritrean Delegation also attended the meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council at the Level of Heads of State and Government, held on 29 January, to deliberate on the fight against terrorism and the promotion of peace in South Sudan.
Eritrean representatives took also part in meetings of the Executive Council held from 27-29 January, as well as the meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) that took place from 12-22 January. The Delegation expressed Eritrea’s views on the various issues raised at the meetings, the Mission said.