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President
Kufuor asks EU to consider Africa's socio-economic and
political concerns
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Lisbon
Lisbon, Dec. 8, Ghanadot/GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor,
Chairman on the African Union (AU), has called on the
European Union (EU) to show genuine appreciation for the
socio-economic and political concerns of Africa as the two
continents looked into the future together.
"To secure dignified places in the on-rushing Global
Village, Europe needs Africa as much as Africa needs
Europe", he said at the opening of the EU-Africa Summit in
the Portuguese Capital, Lisbon, on Saturday.
He said both parties must therefore be committed to promote
and sustain economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation,
recognizing Africa's rights to integrate itself into the
world economy in terms of trade, investments and capacity
building on basis of its sovereignty.
President Kufuor and Mr Jose Socrates, Prime Minister of
Portugal, whose country holds the EU Presidency, jointly
chaired the two-day summit, which was designed to open up
new horizons for partnership.
Peace and security, development, good governance, migration
and climate change, were the main issues at the centre of
the agenda for discussion by the 66 Heads of State and
Government present.
It comes amidst the growing Chinese investment and influence
in Africa and the increasing recognition that the continent
is no longer "Europe's private hunting grounds."
President Kufuor said the real significance of the meeting
should be to build strong foundations for a new relationship
based on mutual respect, trust and true commitment to pursue
common and mutual interests.
He said previous partnership arrangements had been slow to
come up to expectation but this time "Africa has come here
believing that it can be different and for the better."
He said with its vast untapped resources, Africa was the new
business frontier that must be explored and that as a
partner, Europe could bring on board in this venture its
mature scientific and technological know-how and significant
capital.
This must be the rationale for the new partnership between
the two for purposeful cooperation.
President Kufuor also spoke of the need for the adoption of
an action plan for the implementation of their joint
partnership strategy for the benefit of their peoples.
For efficacy, he suggested that the process of
implementation must involve critical public institutions,
the private sector and civil society stakeholders, to ensure
an all-inclusive ownership.
Prime Minister Socrates said it was time Europe and Africa
wrote a new page in their relationship through frank and
open dialogue with "no taboos."
He said the summit was one of equals, adding that, "We are
equal not just in our human dignity but also equal in terms
of political responsibility."
He said Europe wanted a partnership with Africa based on
shared vision and mutual respect: that would defend Africa's
priorities and provide solutions to its problems.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, in an
address read for him, called for the redoubling of efforts
to assist Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
MDGs).
He also appealed to the EU to help provide logistics support
to allow for the deployment of the Hybrid Force in the Sudan
Darfur region.
GNA
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