Thursday, September 06, 2007

(HERALD) ‘Zim must be represented at EU-Africa summit’

‘Zim must be represented at EU-Africa summit’

BERLIN. Zimbabwe should be represented at December’s European Union-Africa summit despite Britain’s reservations, an EU commissioner said yesterday. Plans for a summit between the EU and the African Union have been on hold since 2003 because Britain and several other EU states have refused to attend if President Mugabe is invited. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said "a high-ranking government minister" could attend the summit and represent Zimbabwe.

"I understand that the British naturally have a big problem (over this issue), but we should not let our political relationship with Africa fall apart because of (President) Mugabe," she said in an interview with German daily Financial Times Deutschland.

SA and several other African countries are expected to say that (President) Mugabe, who has vowed to run for another term as president next year, should be allowed to attend the summit.

The summit is expected to focus on areas including co-operation between Europe and Africa, notably in trade, migration and an energy partnership. — Business Day.

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