CEN-SAD foreign ministers harmonise positions

Sirte- Libya (PANA) -- Foreign ministers from the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) on Saturday met here on the sidelines of the session of the AU Executive Council that opened in Sirte Friday.
Attended by CENSAD's secretary-general, Mohamed Al-Madani Al- Azhari, the meeting examined ways of harmonising positions of member countries on various issues on the agenda of the AU Executive Council.
These include the proposed United Nations reforms and Libyan proposals on how to consolidate the AU institutions to enable the continental body speak with one voice at international meetings and to accelerated progress and development in Africa.
Libya has proposed the creation of ministries of foreign affairs, defence, external trade, transport and Communications within the AU Commission in Addis Ababa.
Tripoli's suggestions to remove customs barriers between AU member countries, unify customs tariffs, means of transport and communications and the launching of an African satellite are expected to be submitted before the 5th AU summit on 4-5 July in Sirte.
CEN-SAD groups 23 African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Chad, Niger, Sudan, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Senegal, Somalia, Togo, Tunisia, Eritrea, Egypt, Djibouti, Ghana and Sierra Leone.