The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Hon. Moses Wetangula, chaired the 307th Session of the AU Peace and Security Council, held at the AU plenary Hall today.

The principal agenda of the session was the evolving AU-UN Strategic Partnership in Peace and Security.  The debate of the Council was framed by the report of the AU chairperson, which was presented by H.E Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security, that elaborated the form and content of the desired optimal relationship between the UN, in particular the UNSC, which has a mandate to maintain international peace and security, and the AU, in particular the AU PSC, the AU organ mandated to undertake efforts to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts, as well as undertake post conflict reconstruction in the continent.

In view of the importance of this agenda to the African Union, the session was organised as an open joint Peace and Security Council/Permanent Representative Committee session, with an expanded participation of Permanent Representative of  UNSC Members to the AU, and a number of partners of the AU, including the EU and the LAS.  The debate took place ahead of a similar one scheduled to take place in New York, where South Africa is chairing the UNSC, on 12th January 2011.  For the full statement of the minister, refer to the section under documents and speeches.

Kenya is the chair of the AU PSC for the month of January 2012, and the minister, together with the Ambassador, Dr. Monica Juma will be in attendance at the AU-UN partnership session, as well as ealier briefing on Somalia, at the UNSC, in New York