From Finland Mr Gounden traveled directly to Addis Ababa to participate in the second day of the above seminar that took place from 15-16 October 2009.
Mr. Gounden was asked to Chair a session discussing the issue of “Building one Continental Approach in Mediation: Institutional Arrangements to support mediation of AU/REC’s and relations with partners”. The aim of the session was to discuss issues of collaboration and coordination between the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in mediation, and how to increase cooperation between them in order to build a more integrated approach to mediation.
Discussions included an assessment of the comparative advantages of the RECs and institutionalising collaboration with them; collaboration with the United Nations and other potential partners in mediation; looking at the nexus between mediation and implementation of the outcome of mediation processes and proposing systems and structures; policies; funding arrangements; personnel; roster and training needs to support mediation.
In March 2009 ACCORD, in collaboration with the Government of Finland, successfully hosted a Seminar in Ethiopia, with African Union Officials, focusing on the issue of Mediation.
