OREANDA-NEWS. July 30, 2010. An ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) took place in Kampala, Uganda, from July 25-27.

The keen deliberation on a wide range of topical issues of the regional and international agenda has confirmed the desire of the African community to intensify its joint search for answers to the challenges facing the continent. The participants underlined the need to increase the effectiveness of intra-African economic cooperation, and expedite interregional integration, favorable conditions for which emerge as Africa exits from the global financial crisis. In political terms, the task was accentuated of systematic collective action aimed at counterterrorism and conflict resolution.

The common basic opinion of the summit participants was that the African community should more actively take responsibility for the continent's destiny into its own hands, while at the same time pursuing a flexible and diversified policy of cooperation with foreign partners.

A Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin attended the AU Assembly as an observer.

The Russian position at the summit was based on a tradition of partnership with African states, at the core of which lies the willingness to continue to provide comprehensive assistance for the sustainable development of the continent and to address other acute problems facing it. Russia and many African states show mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in the foreign policy, economic and humanitarian fields, as well as in the joint fight against international terrorism.