The Italian government has set aside 40 million euros for supporting peace and security efforts in Africa, the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konare, said on Thursday.
The funds, to be channelled through the Italian Africa Peace Facility, would support the principles and action of the AU to strengthen its institutional, operational and logistic capabilities, aimed at promoting peace and security, Konare explained.
For Italy, the peace facility constitutes an important framework for its political action in favour of stability and security in Africa, based on the principle of ownership and partnership, he said.
Konare told the 10th Ordinary Session of the AU underway here that he signed the agreement on the facility 8 December 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
For the AU, resources provided by the facility will permit the organisation to reinforce its institutions and capabilities for prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
