France - Africa leaders discuss continental issues
North Africa-France, Politics, 11/27/1998

On Thursday, the first informal meeting held in the framework of the 20th France-Africa summit convening in Paris on Friday and Saturday. The summits of the heads of state of Africa and France are held every two years alternately in France and in an African country. Morocco hosted the 15th summit in 1988.

The restricted meeting gathered around President Jacques Chirac the heads of delegations of 18 countries having privileged historical relations with France in the African francophone space.

The problems related to security, main topic of the summit, were debated during the informal meeting, with a special focus on conflicts prevention, peace keeping mechanisms, refugees problems and post-conflicts reconstruction.

Debates also covered the impact of the European single currency, the Euro, on the CFA franc which is indexed on the French franc, and the renewal of the Lome convention binding the European union to several african countries.

This traditional rendez-vous to celebrate the privileged relations between Paris and the African continent that was initially restricted to African French-speaking countries is now attended by some 50 African countries.

The 20th summit is held under the topic of security and debates will surely focus on the congolese crisis, especially so as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Former Zaire), Laurent Desire Kabila and several leaders of the countries involved in the conflict are attending the gathering.

The war between Eritrea and Ethiopia and france's assistance to its traditional partners at a time Paris is devising a new cooperation policy are also on the agenda.

The U.N secretary general Kofi Annan will participate for the first time in the France-Africa summit that will provide him with the opportunity to meet several parties involved in African regional conflicts.

Previous Stories:
  Annan resumes north Africa tour on november 30   (11/20/1998)
  Aideed visits Sanaa to initiate a Yemeni reconciliation   (9/14/1998)
  Eritrea wants Arab support in its crisis with Ethiopia   (6/2/1998)

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