ADDIS ABABA, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Third African Development
Forum ended here on Friday afternoon with a consensus statement,
stressing the importance of the African unity.
   The common value embedded in African traditions, rule of law
and constitutionalism formed the foundation for an effective and
democratic African Union, said the statement.
   The statement said African unity is the major challenge facing
people of all African countries and Africa's political and
economic integration is the main concern for all Africans.
   During the five-day forum, about 1,200 delegates from more than
45 countries have discussed the issues such as the historical
prospects for regional integration, the physical integration
through infrastructure development, the economic policies for
accelerating regional integration, the building of an effective
union and peace security architecture.
   The statement also noted that Africa's regional efforts have
been hampered by many factors, including the failure to achieve
economic transformation and development, the low level of
implementation of treaty obligations, the conflicts and an overly
economic approach that has neglected the resolution of political
differences.
   Progressive sharing of sovereignty is required if Africa is to
achieve greater common good, it said, adding integration requires
governments to forego some of their sovereign powers in both the
political and economic spheres in order to achieve a more
prosperous, stable, democratic and powerful African collectivity.
   The commitment by the African Heads of State to create the
African Unity represents the most serious attempt to achieve
regional economic and political integration and the establishment
of the African Union promises to place profound responsibility on
African leaders at both national and regional level, according to
the statement.  Enditem