From: Patrick A. Firempong, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja.

Abuja, Jan.30, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said the report of the High-Level Committee of Heads of State and Government on the African Union Common Defence and Non-Aggression Pact had provided a vision by which African Leaders could build a strong and united Africa.

He said the report was being realistic about what was achievable now and what could be achieved in future.

President Kufuor made the remarks when he chaired the seven-member Committee to deliberate on the report as a prelude to the two-day Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which opens in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday.

Membership of the Committee are Ghana, Algeria, Congo, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique and the Chairperson of the AU Commission. He said it had long been recognised by member States of the AU that there would be no stability and sustainable development on the African Continent until and unless the leaders work out joint strategies to deal with intra-state and inter-state conflicts as well as external aggression.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Acting Foreign Minister, briefing newsmen after the meeting said the report was unanimously accepted as a working document to the AU Summit in Abuja.

He said: " everybody was satisfied with the work done by the Foreign Ministers of the member States of the Committee and an indication that a united Africa is taking peace and stability seriously."