Europe News
EU-Africa summit opens in Lisbon
Dec 8, 2007, 12:20 GMT
Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, is the focus of attention as he takes his seat prior to the start of the EU/Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, 8 december 2007. His presence brought the withdrawal from the summit of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. EPA/ANDRE KOSTERS
Lisbon - Almost 80 European and African leaders gathered in Lisbon on Saturday to open two days of talks aimed at creating a new alliance between the continents.
'The message is clear: there is no time to lose. We have to begin looking for new solutions for the future of the continents. You are all here to meet an invitation from history,' Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, hosting the meeting, said.
But experts warned of potential storms over issues of human rights, trade and migration, with a row over the invitation of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe having divided the leaders before the summit even opened.
The summit between the European and African Unions, which began with a concert on Friday evening, is set to discuss a sweeping range of issues, from climate change to democratic governance.
All 53 heads of government of the AU, the leaders of 26 out of 27 EU member states and top officials from the EU and AU bureaucracies are attending the meeting, which is the first in seven years and only the second such summit ever.
They are scheduled to hold five plenary debates on key areas for future cooperation: peace and security, good governance and human rights, energy and climate change, trade, and migration.
One leader from each side will launch each debate. Angela Merkel of Germany and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa are set to discuss human rights, while Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon are due to open the talk on peace and security.
When she arrived, Merkel told journalists that she would address both the opportunities and the problems in relations between the EU and Africa, including the human-rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Her comments are likely to receive a heated response from Mugabe, who has long accused Western states, especially Britain and the US, of plotting against him.
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is boycotting the summit because of Mugabe's attendance. In his place has come the Leader of Britain's House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos - herself a woman of African parentage, born in Guyana.
Romano Prodi of Italy and Maitre Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal are set to discuss trade - another sensitive issue, as some African states accuse the EU of trying to force them into unfair deals.
The debate on migration could also strike sparks, with Jose Zapatero of Spain and Moamer Gaddafi of Libya as speakers. Spain is one of the EU states worst hit by illegal migration, while Libya is seen as a key source and transit route for migrants.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda are due to talk on energy.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
We ask the african countries;
Have you ever seen a black Tarzan?
Do you see one Tarzan makes fool of all drum beating blacks of african jungles?
Do you see any black superman?
IT IS ONLY THE DOMAIN OF WHITEMAN, YOU FOOLS!
WORSHIP THWE WHITEMAN LIKE MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS DO.
WHITEMAN IS YOUR GOD!
To: Those that will listen, the time has come.
Once there lived a village of creatures
along the bottom of a great crystal river.
The current of the river swept silently over them all -
young and old, rich and poor, good and evil,
the current going its own way, knowing only its own crystal self.
Each creature in its own manner clung tightly
to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom,
for clinging was their way of life,
and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.
But one creature said at last, 'I am tired of clinging.
Though I cannot see it with my eyes,
I trust that the current knows where it is going.
I shall let go, and let it take me where it will.
Clinging, I shall die of boredom.'
The other creatures laughed and said,
'Fool! Let go, and that current you worship will throw you
tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks,
and you will die quicker than boredom!'
But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go,
and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks
Yet in time, as the creature refused to cling again,
the current lifted him free from the bottom,
and he was bruised and hurt no more.
And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried,
'See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies!
See the Messiah, come to save us all!'
And the one carried in the current said, 'I am no more Messiah than you.
The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go.
Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.'
But they cried the more, 'Saviour!' all the while clinging
to the rocks, and when they looked again he was gone,
and they were left alone making legends of a Saviour.
Richard Bach
from 'Illusions'
We are not afraid of the TRUTH, are You?
We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.
We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.
We are a growing nation of people that encourage anyone or Nation anywhere to become part of the New American Republic!
Sincerely,
Judah Ben-Hur
Ambassador
The American Republic
American Mujahideen Army Council
Headquarters: United States of America
TO
Judah Ben-Hur
Ambassador
The American Republic
American Mujahideen Army Council
Headquarters: United States of America
Is it in killings of Afghanistan, Pakistanian tribal areas, India, Philipines or Iraq?
Patriot takes the Dumbest Poster Of the Day Award!! Congratulations!
Patriot, go watch the movie zeitgeistmovie.com and you might get a bit smarter!!!
page: 1
TruthDec 8th, 2007 - 14:53:26
Pretty much 80 African puppets of the West met to assure the West that their blundering of the African resources will go without any glitch!
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