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EU-African
leaders hail Summit as a major turning point
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu,
GNA Special Correspondent, Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Dec. 10, GNA - African and European leaders have
hailed their two-day summit in the Portuguese Capital,
Lisbon, as a significant turning point in the relations of
their two continents.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of the African Union
(AU), said at a joint press conference that the open, frank
and direct talking had put Europe-Africa relations on a new
platform "that eschews impunity and imposition."
There was now the spirit of mutual respect, goodwill and
equality, he added.
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr. Jose Socrates, whose
country holds the EU Presidency, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso,
President of the EU Commission and Mr Alpha Omar Konare,
Chairman of the AU Commission, all shared this view.
The meeting attracted a record number of Heads of State and
Government, as well as International Organisations and Civil
Society groups. It ended with the signing of a new strategic
partnership pact, at the heart of which are the promotion of
peace and security, good governance, democracy and trade.
President Kufuor expressed optimism that the partnership
they had entered into would help the two continents to make
positive impact on globalisation.
He underlined the need for Africa and Europe, to constantly
engage each other for the benefit of their peoples.
Prime Minister Socrates said the summit gave "voice to
everyone and every issue", adding that, it would go down in
history as having created a new sense of friendship and
respect, an important requirement for a more just
globalisation.
Mr Barroso, called on both sides to match their commitment
with concrete deeds for concrete results.
He also responded to concerns about the Economic Partnership
Agreement with Africa and said the EU was ready to dialogue
and address those concerns to help create a better system
that would work.
Africa's exports that stood at 2.1 percent, 30 years ago,
had dropped to 0.9 percent, whilst that of all other
developing countries outside the continent had doubled.
He said it was this that the EPA was seeking to address.
Mr Konare, however, warned that, there could be a problem if
signing of the EPA should be based on the weakness and lack
of unity of Africans.
GNA
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