Crucial steps to write off African debts
Regional-European Union, Politics, 4/4/2000

On the fringe of the African and European foreign ministerial meetings Sunday, the Dutch Foreign Minister said EU member states will announce during the summit a series of crucial steps to write off African debts.

Van Aaretse said negotiations are underway between the EU and Africa on that score. "The Netherlands earmarks dlr. 100 million annually for the purpose of canceling the debts of the poorer African countries," he said.

In statements on Sunday, the Belgian Foreign Minister spoke of an unconventional new system to be adopted by the EU in dealing with the issue of relieving Africa of its debts.

Louis Michel pledged EU help in removing anti-personnel landmines from many African countries, especially Libya.

Hans Smida, the EU coordinator of development affairs at the summit who, like the Dutch and Belgian top diplomats, expressed the EU's desire to pardon the debts of the least developed African nations.

Smida also said that the EU was interested in the gradual expansion of the scope of partnership with African countries.

The EU is fully convinced of the feasibility of restructuring the Organization of African Unity in view of a plethora of staff, according to Smida.

On the landmines problem, Smida believed that their removal was the primary responsibility of those countries which had planted them during World War II.

Moreover, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D' Alema on Sunday hailed Egypt as a strong country that plays an important role on the international arena, specially when it comes to the Middle East, the Arab world and Africa.

Addressing the Italian community in Cairo, d'Alema said that Egypt and Italy are coordinating their stances vis-a-vis a number of issues of mutual interest.

"Egypt tops the list of countries benefiting from the Italian cooperation program," he said.

The Italian premier set at 170,000 the number of Italian tourists visiting Egypt every year, which reflects the depth of the two countries' ties.

D' Alema expressed his happiness over visiting Egypt to attend the first Africa-Europe summit.

He reiterated Italy's keenness on playing a key role on the international scene.

"The Cairo summit is the first of its kind for initiating talks with African countries and exchanging views on an array of issues such as establishing peace and fostering democracy and human rights," d'Alema said.

Italy is playing an important role in solving the African debts issues, added the Italian prime Minister.

Previous Stories:
  Baz: Africa-Europe Summit boosts development in Africa   (4/3/2000)
  German Foreign Minister: Cairo summit is a chance to focus on African problems   (4/3/2000)
  Five main issues in declaring African - European summit   (4/3/2000)

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