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Europe should not close its eyes to injustice in
Africa-President Kohler
Accra, Jan. 13, GNA - German President Horst Kohler said on
Saturday that it was inconsistent for Europe to demand
justice for itself while closing eyes
to the political and economic injustices in Africa.
He said it was therefore about time the North changed its
behaviour to the continent by refusing to accept human
rights violations taking place in the
region and the removal of its bar on Africa's way to export
opportunities.
"The hunger for justice is great everywhere, particularly in
young people. If we do not give our young people a future,
we have failed in the present. Hopelessness is the prime
source of violence."
President Kohler was speaking at the opening of the two-day
German-Africa Partnership Forum he is co-Chairing with
President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Kofi Annan
International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra on
Saturday.
Four other African Heads of State, including President
Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, President Festus Mogae of
Bostwana, Liberian President Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and
President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin, together with the
Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mr Alpha Oumar
Konare and Mr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS
Commission, are also attending.
The Forum, a baby of the German President, is being held
under the theme: "Two Generations, One Future" and provides
the platform for high-ranking African and German
personalities in politics, research, business and civil
society to dialogue with about 50 young leaders from the
continent and Germany.
Among the wide range of issues lined up for discussion were
the environment, education and training, conflict, violence
and democratic processes.
President Kohler expressed concern about the European Union
(EU) fisheries policy, which has built overcapacities and
bought fishing rights from African countries as well as its
subsidized exports of surplus foodstuff, flooding African
markets and preventing the independent development of
sustainable food bases on
the continent.
The refreshing news however, he noted, was that Germany,
which assumes the presidency of both the EU and the Group of
Eight industrialized countries (G8)
this year, would use the presidency to set a good example.
President Kohler said looking at the encouraging examples of
countries like Japan, China, India, Vietnam and Thailand,
which have modernized successfully, he saw no reason why
Africa could not find its way into its own modern age.
President Kufuor on his part, said it was the expectation
that the outcomes of the Forum would contribute to the
realization of the objectives of the New Partnership for
Africa's Development (NEPAD).
He asked that the proceedings should be conducted in a
spirit that emphasized their inter-dependence and common
humanity within the global society rather than their
differences.
"Within this approach, we will find innovative ideas to
address the concerns of European and African youth from
diverse backgrounds and foster greater understanding among
them."
President Kufuor said this way; the Forum would have
contributed to bridging the ethnic, religious, cultural,
gender and other social divides between the youth in the
region and their German counterparts.
He observed that both as President of the Federal Republic
of Germany and a former Managing Director of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr Kohler has shown
himself as a great friend of Africa, an icon in the field of
development and a champion for the building of collaboration
for the good of nations.
"I believe that we can count on him to ensure that Africa
remains a privileged partner, not only to Germany but also
of the EU. We expect that at the end of our deliberations,
he would help to drive the move from dialogue to action."
GNA
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