Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will introduce the priorities of Germany's 2009 Africa policy in the area of peace and security on Thursday (26 February) at 10.30 a.m. in the atrium at the Federal Foreign Office. Additionally, he will open the exhibition “Building Peace and Security”.

The Federal Foreign Office is financing a new building for the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Commission in Addis Ababa. For this purpose, a building-design contest was launched together with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). Seventeen renowned architecture firms took part in the contest and their designs and models will be displayed in the atrium of the Federal Foreign Office beginning on Thursday.

The project is part of the Federal Foreign Office's broad-based commitment to strengthening African crisis prevention and crisis management capacities.

Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, will attend the opening along with members of the jury and the winners of the contest.