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AAPSO Structure

AAPSO organizational structure is based on its Constitution adopted in its first conference and amended in subsequent congresses. It comprises: the Congress, the Presidium, the Bureau of the Presidium and the Permanent Secretariat. The Presidium comprises heads of all national committees and reviews the functioning of the Organization, adopts programmes of action, discusses urgent questions and guides the Permanent Secretariat. The Bureau reviews the development of events between two sessions of the Presidium. It is composed of the President, the Secretary General, the Vice Presidents, heads of elected associate members and the Permanent Secretariat.

The Permanent Secretariat is responsible for carrying out day to day activities for implementing the decisions of the higher organs and undertakes regular contacts with the National Committees. It includes representatives from member committees from Afro-Asian countries and associate member committees, elected at the Congress.

As part of the worldwide democratic movement of peoples, AAPSO cooperates with all international organizations and NGOs which value independence and freedom. AAPSO endeavors for a world without war and violence. It calls for non-use or threat to use force for the settlement of any disputes and deems they should be settled among states through negotiations. The principles of Bandung and Non-Aligned Movement as well as any new developments in view of current changes serve as the guidelines of the Organization's activities.

History

The Organization flourished in the 60's during the escalating liberation struggles and crowned its successes in the 70's with the victory achieved by the people of South Africa against Apartheid and racial discrimination.

Liberation struggles were behind the birth and independence of numerous Afro-Asian countries that suffered under the yoke of imperialism. The Palestinian people's issue and peace process in the Middle East continues to be one of the major concerns of the Organization that supports the establishment of a free and independent Palestinian state.

Many conditions have changed in African and Asian countries. New internal and external issues emerged such as democracy, human rights, development, debts, corruption, technology, scientific revolution, the environment and population, border disputes, internal tribal and ethnic disputes, refugees, aborigines and ethnic minorities, disarmament and South-South cooperation, North-South cooperation. Therefore, it was incumbent upon the Organization to adopt these new issues in Afro-Asian countries. This by reorganizing itself and revising its perspectives particularly in the aftermath of the bipolar system, the Cold War and in light of globalization.

The organization was fully aware of these events and shouldered its new responsibility by incorporating them in its agenda and in the activities of its national committees.

Some major activities Since 1958

Meeting of the Congress:

AAPSO convened seven conferences in: Cairo (Egypt 1957-1958), Conakry (Guinea 1960), Moshi (Tanzania 1963), Winneba (Ghana 1965), Cairo (Egypt 1972), Algeria (Algiers 1984), New Delhi (India 1988).

Meetings of the Presidium:

The Presidium met in between the sessions of the Congress in: Cairo (1974), Nicosia (1975), Aden (1976), Congo Brazzaville (1976), Cotounou (Benin 1977), Nicosia (1980), Aden (1981), Kabul (1981), Tashkent (1982), Nicosia (1983), Algiers (1984), Nicosia (1985), Ulan Bator (1986), Delhi (1988), Cairo (1989), Aden (1990), Damascus (1990).

Meetings in support of Arab Peoples:

The Organization convened numerous meetings in support of Arab peoples in: Nicosia (Cyprus 1980), Athens (Greece 1981), Cairo (Egypt 1987), as well as a conference on "An Arab or Middle Eastern Grouping" in Cairo (Egypt 1994), a seminar on "In Defence of the Arab Identity of Al Quds" in Cairo (Egypt 1995), Baghdad (Iraq 1998), Sanaa (Yemen 1999), Cairo (Egypt 2002).

Meetings of Arab Solidarity Committees took place in: Beirut (Lebanon 1975), Aden (Yemen 1983), Cairo (Egypt 1986), Aden (Yemen 1986), Tripoli (Libya 1988), Baghdad (Iraq 1989), Sanaa (Yemen 1990), Damascus (Syria 1990), Cairo (Egypt 1991), Tunis (Tunisia 1993), Cairo (Egypt 1994),

Damascus (Syria 1995), Beirut (Lebanon 1996), Amman (Jordan 1998), Baghdad (Iraq 1998), Sanaa (Yemen 1999), Cairo (Egypt 2002), Baghdad (Iraq 2002).


Meetings on solidarity with the peoples of Africa:

AAPSO convened several international conferences on solidarity with the peoples of Africa in: Khartoum(Sudan 1969), Lourenco Marques (Maputo, Mozambique 1975), Luanda (Angola 1976), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia 1976), Lusaka (Zambia 1979), Brazzaville (Congo 1986), Paris (France 1986).

A seminar was held on "Developments in the Great Lakes Region and their impact on socio-economic conditions in Africa" in Cairo (Egypt 1997).

Meetings devoted to Asia and the Pacific:

AAPSO held several conferences on peace and security issues in Asia and the Pacific in: Baghdad (Iraq 1975), Bangalore (India 1986), Pyongyang (DPR Korea 1987), Kabul (Afghanistan 1988), Antananarivo (Madagascar 1988), Phnompenh ( Cambodia 1988), Cairo (Egypt 1993).

Economic problems:

Economic problems of Afro-Asian countries were the subject of many AAPSO meetings, especially in the post colonial stage in: Baghdad (Iraq 1976), Paris (France 1979), Grenoble (France 1981), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia 1982), Brazzaville (Congo 1983), Manila (Philippines 1987). A seminar was held on the South Committee Report entitled "Challenge of the South" in Cairo (Egypt 1991), and a conference on "The aftermath of September 11 and its repercussions in the world" in Colombo (Sri Lanka 2002).

Problems of Afro-Asian Women:

AAPSO convened meetings on problems of Afro-Asian women in: Cairo (Egypt 1961), Ulan Bator (Mongolia 1973), Alexandria (Egypt 1975), Cairo (Egypt 1995), Cairo (Egypt 1998).

A seminar was held on "Global economy and women's bodies" Cairo (Egypt 2001, another on "Unified labour law and its effect on women", Cairo (Egypt 2001).

Conferences on the historical Bandung meeting:

AAPSO conferences on the historical Bandung meeting focussed on the problems of the Non-Aligned Movement and took place in: Colombo (Sri Lanka 1975) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of NAM, Dar-Es-Salam (Tanzania 1985), Cairo (Egypt 1989, 1990, 1992).

Other conferences, seminars and round table meetings:

These are as follows:

* The International Conference against Military Bases for Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean, Valetta (Malta 1979).
* The International Conference on the 40th Anniversary of Victory over Fascism, Cairo (Egypt 1985).
* AAPSO International Conference on the Role of Public Opinion in Resolving Regional Conflicts, Kabul (Afghanistan 1988).
* AAPSO Presidium on Information and Education , Budapest (Hungary 1988), Conakry (Guinea 1989).
* Conference on the New World Information Order, Kabul (Afghanistan 1989).
* International Meeting to Celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of Nehru, and Meeting of AAPSO Presidium Committee, Cairo (Egypt November 1989).
* Consultative Conference of SAARC Country Committees, Dhaka (Bangladesh 1991).
* Round table on NAM and the Present World Situation, Cairo (Egypt 1992).
* Round Table on Human Rights, Cairo (Egypt 1992).
* Seminar on OAU and African NGOs Cooperation, Cairo (Egypt 1993).
* Consultative Conference of SAARC Country AAPSO Committees, Colombo (Sri Lanka 1993).
* Preparatory meeting for the 2nd Conference for Solidarity and Cooperation among Mediterranean Countries, Cairo (Egypt 1994).
* Seminar on the Environment and regional Cooperation (AAPSO with Egyptian Research and Information Center) Cairo (Egypt 1994).
* Economic Cooperation in the Middle East: Hopes and Challenges, Cairo (Egypt 1994)* Convention on Non- Nuclear Proliferation, International Campaign for Disarmament and Non Proliferation (Coordinating Committee for the International Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Non Nuclear Proliferation), Cairo (Egypt 1994).
* AAPSO seminar on the preparation of the International Social Development Conference, Cairo (Egypt 1995).
* AAPSO seminar on the Future of NAM, Cairo (Egypt 1995).
* Asian National Solidarity Committees conference and Dialogue with ASEAN, Hanoi (Vietnam 1995).
* Seminar on the 50th Anniversary of the Victory over Fascism, Cairo (Egypt 1995).
* Seminar on women, "What next after Beijing" and " Action : No more Recommendations" , Cairo (Egypt 1996).
* International conference on " Conflict of Civilizations or Dialogue of Cultures?", Cairo (Egypt 1997).
* Special round on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of AAPSO entitled, " South-South Cooperation for the Achievement of Human Rights," New Delhi, (India 1998).

* Forty years of solidarity in defense of peoples in the South since 1958 and up to date, Cairo (Egypt 1998).
* Celebration of the 40th anniversary of AAPSO sponsored by the British Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, London (England 1998).
* The International situation and South problems, Cairo (Egypt 1999).
* Seminar on " Iraqi Kurdistan" Cairo, (Egypt 1999).
* Seminar on " Democratic perspectives in the globalization era" Cairo (Egypt 1999).
* Seminar on " The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" Cairo, (Egypt 1999)
* Meeting of the International Coordinating Committee to follow up UN resolutions on Palestine, Cairo (Egypt 1999).
* Seminar on the results of the 3rd WTO Ministerial meeting in Seattle and impact of the Uruguay Round, Cairo (Egypt 2000).
* Seminar on civil wars and conflicts in Africa, Cairo (Egypt 2000)
* Conference on Culture in 21st Century : " Renewal perspectives and Expected Deterioration" Cairo (Egypt 2000)
* Symposium on " The World Conference against Racism and racial Discrimination", Cairo (Egypt 2000)
* Seminar on " Globalization of World Trade and Interests of South Peoples", Cairo (Egypt 2001)
* Seminar on Israel's nuclear missiles and missile defence systems, Cairo (Egypt 2001)
* Meeting of AAPSO Secretariat for disarmament for the preparatory meeting of the conference on reviewing the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty, Cairo (Egypt 2002)
* Seminar on the environment and sustainable development from Stockholm to Johannesburg, evaluation of results and means for sustainability, Cairo (Egypt 2002)