28/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a statement issued on Wednesday 28 January, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU expresses its support for the African peer review mechanism (APRM) as 29 heads of African states gather in Addis Ababa on 28-29 January for the meeting of this forum, dedicated to the process of internal democratic governance and human rights. The APRM has been a resounding success: of the 29 countries, nine have been reviewed and national dialogues have offered all stakeholders significant space to discuss public policy, the EU says. National discussions and preparation of programmes of action form an internal governance process that is, in itself, a positive outcome, the EU goes on. The challenge now, it says, is to implement the programmes of action, including level of participation, successfully. (A.B./transl.rt)